A talk I gave during the adult session of Stake Conference on August 6, 2022.
On June 7, 1851, Arthilla Williams was born in Wapello, Iowa. Thilla, as she was sometimes called, married James G. Chappell on September 4, 1872. James and Thilla had six children, two girls, and four boys. Sometime after the birth of their last child in 1887, they moved to Tacoma, WA, where they spent the rest of their days. Arthilla passed away on May 9, 1903, at 51.
In January 2014, my mother gave me family cards for a temple trip with my eldest son, Jared. Among those we baptized were Arthilla and her four sons. A few weeks later, during Stake Temple Week, I completed the initiatory and endowment for Arthilla while my husband, Nathan, and other members of this stake completed those same ordinances for her sons. Later that month, I knelt at the altar, acting as proxy for Arthilla, and Nathan served as proxy for James as we sealed them to their six children.
During the sealing of this family, I felt the Spirit in a way I hadn't previously. It was consuming and burning. I could feel Thilla’s joy. Motivated by this experience, I discovered more about her family over the next several years and found two siblings and her parents, which we also sealed as an eternal family. This family led me to many more.
When Arthilla married James, she joined a branch in my family tree. James is the brother of my great-great-grandfather. Previously untouched by temple hands, this line is not part of my direct line. They are branches. Now known to me. Always known to Father.
Elder Gong taught that "...Living trees have roots and branches. …Connect the roots and branches in your living family tree."
SHARING EXPERIENCE
Late last year, a young woman was hired to help in the office where I work. She had recently moved to Utah from a neighboring state because she felt she needed a change in her life. As we talked about our children, I mentioned that I have two sons serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One in Brazil, the other in Florida.
Over the next few months, she asked many questions about church doctrine, culture, and policy, and I silently pleaded for words from the Spirit.
I shared the interactions with my coworker during calls with my sons. With their encouragement, I invited her to attend church with me, and she agreed. Unfortunately, that Sunday morning, she sent me a text that her daughter was sick and would not be able to attend, so please ask her again.
A couple of weeks later, she became very ill and was hospitalized. With no immediate family in-state, I wanted to support her in a way I could. I felt prompted to offer her a priesthood blessing from my husband. I was reluctant since she had shared traumatic experiences with male pastors in her previous church. But I took courage and sent the text. To my surprise, she accepted. The Spirit was present in the hospital room, and with tears in her eyes, she thanked us for coming. Later she confessed she was worried it would be awkward, but all she felt was God’s love.
I offered to arrange for her to meet with missionaries, but she wanted to attend Sacrament meeting first. She decided she would attend on Easter. Shortly before Easter Sunday, I acted on a prompting to mark passages in a Book of Mormon, write my testimony and give it to her that day at work.
GATHERING ISRAEL
As you know, I am speaking about gathering Israel on both sides of the veil. Before you tune me out, I ask you to stay present with me for a minute. I refuse to stand up here and be a hypocrite. I fully admit I struggle to carry out this vital work. I struggle with consistency and maintaining a desire to act. You may say, “Well, you just shared these experiences.” Yes, but after hitting a dead end with Arthilla’s line a few years ago, one night I prayed and said, please tell Elijah I’m sorry, but I need a rest. If not for the eagerness of my coworker to learn more, I may not have invited and shared as much as I did. Both situations were given to me, like gifts. I only chose to act.
So please don’t tune out. I invite you to open your heart to the Spirit and see where that takes you and me over the next couple of minutes.
In Doctrine and Covenants, we are told, "Ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts…."1 Every baptized member of the church is called to this work through covenants we have made with Father.
Often when we don't fulfill a calling well, it's because we don't know how we can do it. There isn't a step-by-step outline to get from here to there. Many of us want to be anxiously engaged in the work of Gathering Israel, but maybe we aren't sure where to start or what precisely to do.2 Perhaps we assume that others will take care of it, and we can just watch.
Maybe we aren’t sure how to fit the Gathering into our busy lives. Perhaps, we doubt our abilities and knowledge. The good news is, I have found that Heavenly Father rewards even the most minor, weakest effort when I seek His ways and try to do His will. He loves to amplify and consecrate small actions, and I rely heavily on that goodness.
It can be easy to get caught up in comparing our “Gathering Israel'' efforts with the efforts of others. Because of my weaknesses, some things I see others do, I am totally not comfortable doing or can’t make a priority at this time in my life. But, using my strengths and led by my Father through the Spirit, I can gather in ways that work for me and fit in my life. Our circles of influence are different. Father needs each of us to accomplish His work in our sphere. We can pray and ask Heavenly Father to present us with opportunities we are comfortable acting on.
CHARITY
"Whenever we show Christlike love toward our neighbor, we preach the gospel - even if we do not voice a single word."3 We are told that “charity never faileth.”4 Christlike love never fails as a response, especially when we gather Father’s children.
Gathering does not mean we sort out other people’s wiring or struggles. When we are told to “bear one another’s burdens…mourn with those that mourn… comfort those who stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God…”,5 that does not include fixing people, their burdens, or the weaknesses we perceive. Charity never requires an account of adherence to gospel standards or repentance progress reports. Some struggles may require that we set clear boundaries or distance ourselves from an individual. However, in most situations, gathering means we hold space for that person as they are. We walk with them. We offer our support. We find ways to include. We strive to show Christlike love. But most importantly, we invite them to reach for and bind themselves to Jesus Christ. He is the Advocate, Healer, Comforter, and Redeemer.
"Let all your things be done with charity."6 "And faith, hope, charity, and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, [will] qualify [us] for the work."7 Our commission is to love, share, and invite all.
WHAT CAN WE DO
About a month ago, on a call with my missionary son Isaac, he asked about my current efforts to Gather Israel. He asked me to identify people, members or not, that I could just uplift or strengthen and asked, "Mom, what's the next step for you?" I work from home most days and rarely leave the house, even in the evening. So, I said, "I can smile and wave when I see this person. That would be the first step there. And maybe I can leave the house more to interact with others." He encouraged me to commit to those things. Maybe the Madagascar penguins had it right when they suggested we, "Smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave."
Now, listen. I know that I need to be open to the guidance of the Spirit to do more than smile and wave when prompted. But if you feel discouraged, overwhelmed, apathetic, like the Heavens are closed to you, or you suffer from anxiety or depression, or any other challenging circumstance, I see you. At times, I feel right there with you. If you feel like you can't add one more thing, join me in asking Heavenly Father for the desire to remain open to promptings from the Spirit and to have the strength and energy to act in ways you can.
Elder Gary E Stevenson reminds us, "Sometimes the invitation is something we extend inward—an invitation to ourselves, giving us awareness and vision of opportunities surrounding us to act upon."8
"...the Lord has never required expert, flawless …efforts." Instead, Elder Uchtdorf shares, "the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind."9 Sometimes, just turning our hearts to be willing to gather Israel, “even if [we] can no more than desire,”10 is all the Lord needs to begin to work through us.
I invite you to ponder what is your first or next step, your one percent11 improvement, to help Gather Israel. Will you smile and wave? Is it beginning your day with prayer? Is it to visit the FamilySearch Center? Is it choosing to speak more openly or positively about your church experience to those with whom you interact? Is it to make an appointment to attend the temple?
I wish I could tell you that my work friend came to church with me on Easter Sunday. I wish I could say that she met with the missionaries and read the Book of Mormon. A week or so after giving her the copy of the Book of Mormon, she abruptly switched jobs and declined more communication. I mourn over this. In lamenting the outcome with my missionary sons, they congratulated me and said, "Now you’re a real missionary, Mom."
I am grateful for these words from our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, “As we seek to teach the gospel, raise righteous families, magnify our callings, and minister to those around us…”,12 “anytime we do anything that helps anyone - on either side of the veil - to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel.”13
Brothers and Sisters, please plant gospel seeds everywhere! You never know when those seeds will sprout and eventually bloom under the right conditions and at the right time.
We can share the love of God in natural and normal ways with those who cross our path. We can extend sincere invitations as guided by the Spirit. We can connect our family roots and branches through small but deliberate efforts. All of this is possible through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.