Mine Elect Hear My Voice: The Gathering of Israel , the recently published book by Marvin R. VanDam, is a one-of-a-kind treatment of the vitally important subject of the gathering of Israel. It covers scriptural facets of the history and purpose of the house of Israel and of the unfolding of the Lord’s work of the latter days. It draws exclusively from the four scriptural standard works of the Church, thus avoiding opinion, commentary and conjecture. This uncompromised approach enhances scriptural understanding and gives the book authority it otherwise could not have.
This comprehensive study of the history and doctrines pertaining to Israel fills a significant need in that it methodically and understandably brings together what the scriptures have to say about this otherwise complex and elusive subject, which is scattered throughout the standard works. It is thus unique among other books on this topic in Latter-day Saint literature.
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This book’s purpose is to help the reader learn from scripture what God has given the Latter-day Saints to understand concerning the origins of, his promises to, and the latter-day role of His covenant people, Israel. For one to understand the progressive unfolding of God’s plan for His children of this earth, it is essential to understand the history of the house of Israel, which history began in pre-mortality and will continue into the life hereafter.
Context Necessary
Likewise, it is not possible to understand the Lord’s work of the latter days except in the context of the gathering of the house of Israel.
Many Latter-day Saints do not understand the doctrines of Israel – its origin, its purpose, the Abrahamic covenant, the fact that we as Latter-day Saints are Latter-day Israel, and that the covenant with Israel is applicable today to each member of the Church, and to the Church collectively.
Likewise, many Latter-day Saints do not understand that Israel continues to be God’s chosen and elect people, nor the vitally important fact that all of God’s children on this earth may choose membership in the house of Israel. The book shows that if one is not of Israel by foreordination, then one may become of Israel by adoption through faith in Christ, baptism, and the receipt of the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It sets forth how all mankind may inherit the eternal blessings promised to Israel, God’s covenant people.
Even though this topic has appeal for the serious gospel student, Mine Elect Hear My Voice is readable and understandable, thus being of interest to a broad cross-section of LDS readers. Mine Elect carefully walks the reader through God’s plan for this world’s inhabitants, beginning in the pre-mortal realm of spirits, focusing on the centrality of Christ to it all, and ending with the house of Israel’s habitation of the celestialized earth.
It teaches broadly of Israel’s significance, and of how and why each of us should aspire to eternal membership in the house of Israel. It teaches the details of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s and the tribe of Ephraim’s role in the latter-day restoration and gathering, who the Gentiles are and their vital role in relation to Israel and the gathering, and how the Lamanites were prophesied to accept the gospel – and are now doing so.
The book contains historical and statistical sections that give the reader a valuable understanding of the phases and progress of the gathering – of the marvelous results of the Church’s missionary work since its organization.
Latter-day Significance
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This book contains many topics of latter-day significance. For example, the chapter on Ephraim and the Gathering highlights the simple but compelling fact that the gathering of the ten tribes of Israel commenced in 1820 with the appearance of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith, Jr. in the Sacred Grove – young Joseph being of the tribe Ephraim and the first to be “gathered.”
It cites the relevant scriptural passages that demonstrate that “Joseph Smith’s Ephraimic heritage was neither by coincidence nor was it unimportant. Ephraim holds the birthright in and presides over Israel. Ephraim has care for the house of Israel. Ephraim presides over the latter-day Church. It is for Ephraim to raise the ensign to the nations and accomplish the work of the latter-day gathering.” The chapter concludes with data on tribes of Israel lineage as declared by Church patriarchs.
Personally, the book has remarkably confirmed to me that every prophet on every continent and in every dispensation has been in complete harmony concerning the doctrines of and the prophecies about Israel and the latter days. I agree with other readers who stated that it was spiritually thrilling to see how all of the pieces of the scriptural mosaic fit together into a perfect whole. It has increased my gratitude for being of the house of Israel, and it has deepened my desire to have membership in the house of Israel forever. I understand better than ever my covenant relationship with God.
Mine Elect Hear My Voice: The Gathering of Israel is enlightening and profitable reading. It makes an important contribution to LDS literature. A copy should be in every LDS home.
