Gospel Principles
Unit 9: The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
Chapter 42: The Gathering of the House of Israel
Concept 1: The House of Israel Are God's Covenant People
"Jacob was a great prophet who lived hundreds of years before the time of Christ. Because Jacob was faithful, the Lord gave him the special name of Israel, which means "a prince of God" (Genesis 32:28 "And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."). Jacob had twelve sons. These sons and their families became known as the twelve tribes of Israel, or Israelites (Genesis 49:28 "28 ¶ All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to hisblessing he blessed them.").
Jacob was a grandson of Abraham. The Lord made an everlasting covenant with Abraham that was renewed with Jacob and his children (Deuteronomy 32:7-9;
"7 ¶ Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.
8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
9 For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance."
see also chapter 15, "The Lord's Covenant People " The Lord's Covenant People, Gospel Principles Comments and Resources).
God promised that the Israelites would be his covenant people as long as they would obey his commandments (Deuteronomy 28:9-10;
"9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.
10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee."). They would be a blessing to all the nations of the world by taking the gospel and the priesthood to them. Thus, they would keep their covenant with the Lord and he would keep his covenant with them.
Discussion
Discuss the promise of the Lord to make the Israelites his chosen people."