Higher or Lesser Law? Could it be that they set a pattern into motion wherein they preferred to follow Moses the man rather than Jehovah the Lord? Were they saying, “Moses, let God talk to you, and you’ll talk to us?” Again, unable to recognize that with higher responsibilities (statutes) they would receive higher rewards (judgments), they chose a lesser way, resulting in many written commandments, rules and regulations. Instead of relying on the “Rock of Salvation,” the pattern of self-sufficiency became the millstone of Israel - each time they forgot the Lord, they were on their own. They turned down the higher statutes (commandments) and lost the highest judgments (rewards) God wanted to give them. “Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments where­by they should not live; And I polluted them in their own gifts . . .” (Ezekiel 20:25-26)

Wandering Jews: The children of Israel wandered first for forty years and later wandered and became scattered and desolate throughout the world. Wandering from place to place, has been one of the major components of Jewish history. The Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv plots the far-flung dispersion of Jews throughout the world. It includes references to many people claiming to be of the House of Israel (including Mormons). The museum is also chronicling the gathering of Israel as more than five million have made their way back to the land of their inheritance.

Another Great Exodus: There must be a gathering going on because when I was born in 1941, there were a few hundred thousand Jews in what was to become the land of Israel. Alone, in the last ten years, almost a million Jews have gathered. Most of them were from the north, Russian-speaking Jews. There were months when over twenty thousand Russian immigrants were landing in Israel. Mobile homes were hastily bought and built to ac­commodate them. Many of those mobile homes were built under the direction of a Latter-day Saint, Fred Huckvale of California (Joseph was blessing Judah!).

Fulfilling Prophecies: During that peak arrival period, the brethren in a Jerusalem Branch priesthood meeting were discussing Jeremiah’s prophecy: “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.” (Jeremiah 16:14-15)

The Work of Gathering: This exodus from the Diaspora, when viewed in its complete scope, will be greater than the exodus from Egypt. The State of Israel has special emissaries assigned through­out the world to assist the Jews in gathering to Israel. This is a frustrating thing to some religious Jews. They feel that the State of Israel should be established by the Lord through a Messiah. They have strong traditions (mentioned in previous lessons) of a latter-day “Messiah ben Joseph, a Joseph, son of Joseph, who would receive the keys of the gathering of Israel and restore Temple worship.”

Two Simultaneous Great Gatherings: A parallel gathering is taking place since the keys of the gathering of Israel were restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. during Passover week in 1846. Special emissaries are also assigned through­out the world to find and assist the “Blood of Israel” to gather to the Lord. The scope of this gathering is the greatest gathering the world has ever known. Calculating for a moment, we see that just before Prophet and President David O. McKay was leading the Lord’s work there was one Mormon for every 100,000 persons on the earth. Now, Prophet and President Gordon B. Hinckley is leading the Lord’s work with one Mormon for every 600 persons on the earth! These eye-opening statistics are fruits of the Lord’s work.

Coming Home–Spiritually: On one hand, the Jews, without knowing the Lord, are making an exodus from the far-flung reaches of the world and are being gathered home. On the other hand, through­out the world, Latter-day Saints are making an exodus from not knowing the Lord and are being gathered to an eternal home. They are striving to follow the modern prophets who, like the ancient prophets, wanted them to know the Lord. Their response is in being worthy to know the law in their hearts, without having to be told by many commandments, rules and regulations. “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-33)

The Time Has Arrived: “. . . when the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has set his hand again the second time to recover the remnants of his people . . . and with them to bring in the fullness of the Gentiles, and estab­lish that covenant with them, which was promised when their sins should be taken away. See Isaiah 6: Romans 6:25, 26 and 27, and also Jeremiah 31: 31, 32 and 33. This covenant has never (before) been established with the house of Israel, nor with the house of Judah . . .” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section One 1830-34 Pg.14)