We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
The 10th Article of Faith touches on several different events we believe will happen just prior to and at the beginning of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
Gathering of Israel and Restoration of Ten Tribes
It was prophesied that Israel would be scattered among the nations of the earth because of the people’s wickedness, and scattering began when the Assyrians carried the ten tribes away into captivity.
“Israel was scattered because she apostatized; because she broke the Ten Commandments; because she rejected the prophets and seers and turned to wizards that peep and mutter; because she forsook the covenant; because she gave heed to false ministers and joined false churches; because she ceased to be a peculiar people and a kingdom of priests. When she became as the world, the Lord left her to suffer and live and be as the world then was” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, 186).
During the latter-days (we believe that time is now!) Israel will be gathered together once again, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be spread to all nations and peoples. The gathering of Israel in the latter days consists of the following: (1) the spiritual gathering, which includes coming to know that Jesus is the Christ and joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; (2) the assembling of Church members to organized stakes; and (3) the gathering of the descendants of Jacob’s twelve sons-including the lost ten tribes (D&C 110:11)-to the lands of their inheritance.
Events leading to the separation of the ten tribes of Israel-later known as the ten lost tribes-are linked to the division of the Israelite monarchy (c. 930 B.C.). The Lord revealed through Old Testament prophets that the ten tribes would return and receive promised blessings. Isaiah prophesied “that the Lord shall set his hand again…to recover the remnant of his people” (Isa. 11:11). Jeremiah declared that “remnants” would come from “the land of the north” (Jer. 3:18;16:14-15; cf. 23:7-8; 31:8) and that the Lord would “make a new covenant” with them (Jer. 31:31).
The Gathering of Israel and the Restoration of the Ten Tribes is one reason why missionary work is considered so important by members of the LDS Church.
New Jerusalem and Christ’s Reign
The writings of Ether, written prior to 125 B.C., abridged by Moroni 2 in the Book of Mormon, prophesy of the preparations for the coming of the messiah and of a New Jerusalem in the Western Hemisphere. It is to be built by the remnant of the seed of Joseph of Egypt (Ether 13:3-10). ] Joseph Smith revealed that the city of New Jerusalem, where Christ would reign from during the millennium, would be built in Independence, Missouri, and will co-exist with the old Jerusalem that will be built back up again, each existing as a hemispheric capital. The City of Enoch will come down out of heaven and become part of the New Jerusalem.
Jesus Christ will come down to the earth once again, where He will reign for one thousand years as both political and spiritual leader over all the earth.
Renewal of the earth
The prophet Isaiah spoke of this time when “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isa. 2:4). He further declared that the natural fears and enmities within the animal kingdom will cease, that “the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid” (Isa. 11:6-9; cf. D&C 101:26). Ezekiel prophesied that the earth, which lost its pristine character as a result of the Fall of Adam (cf. Gen. 3:17-19), will return to its paradisiacal state once again (Ezek. 36:35), and be as it was during the time when Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden.
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