Lessons for Our Day From the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ - 2024
Lesson No. Thirty-One

The Lord’s Covenant to Gather Israel is Being Fulfilled in Ukraine

There are two stated purposes of the Book of Mormon: First, “Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever.” Second, “And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations” (Book of Mormon, Title Page).

Many members of the Church could quote the second stated purpose of the Book of Mormon, but we also should remember that the first stated purpose is to teach the people of the latter days, especially the house of Israel, “the covenants of the Lord” so that they will know “that they are not cast off forever.” This purpose helps accomplish the other major role of the Book of Mormon as then stated by Moroni: “The convincing of Jew and Gentile” (which is the entire world) “that Jesus is the Christ.”

For the covenants of the Lord to be fulfilled Israel must gather together as one fold in their lands of inheritance, and live as a Zion people. (See 3 Nephi 16:3, 5) The second public sermon the resurrected Savior gave to the Nephite multitude has been called the Law and Covenant Discourse and is recorded in 3 Nephi 15 – 16. In this sermon Jesus explained that He had now fulfilled the Mosaic law, but that key portions of the Abrahamic Covenant, including the gathering of Israel, had not yet been fulfilled. Jesus explained that He had “other sheep” that were not in America or in Jerusalem, and that “I have received a commandment of the Father that I shall go unto them, and that they shall hear my voice, and shall be numbered among my sheep, that there may be one fold and one shepherd” (3 Nephi 16:1-3). He was talking about the house of Israel who have been “scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations” (1 Nephi 22:3).

The Lord has commenced to fulfill His covenant and gather Israel in Ukraine:

1. In 1843 Joseph Smith spoke about how the bringing of the gospel “to that vast empire (Russia, including Ukraine) is a subject to which is attached some of the most important things concerning the advancement and building up of the kingdom of God in the last days, which cannot be explained at this time” (History of the Church 6:41).

2. In September 1991 there was approximately 70 Ukrainian members of the Church living in Ukraine. The application to the government for official recognition of the Church in Kiev was granted on Sept. 9, and the number of full-time missionaries receiving visas to serve in Kiev rose to 20. Our son John was one of them.

3. Elders Boyk K Packer and Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve and 41 other people gathered shortly before 7 a.m., Sept. 12, 1991, on a hillside overlooking Kyiv and Elder Packer dedicated Ukraine for the preaching of the Gospel. In offering the prayer of blessing upon the land of Ukraine, Elder Packer said, "We are gathered here as missionaries and as members, a small group. This gathering is prescient of the tens and the hundreds and the thousands and the hundreds of thousands that will yet join Thy Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in this land…And in due time, the spires of temples will be seen across this great land."

4. The Lord moved quickly, and the people of Ukraine voted for independence on December 2, 1991. The Soviet Union dissolved on December 26, 1991. With a free Ukraine these first missionaries had sons of Mosiah like missionary experiences baptizing many strong families and individuals. Branches of the Church were established within weeks, and by July 1994 over 4,000 convert baptisms in Ukraine.

5. The Kyiv Ukraine Temple was announced on July 20, 1998 and dedicated on 29 August 2010 less than 20 years after Ukraine was dedicated for the preaching of the Gospel. Except for Kirtland and Nauvoo a temple has never been dedicated so soon.

6. The Church continued to grow in Ukraine and in other surrounding countries. Millions of temple ordinances have been performed in the Kyiv Ukraine Temple for both the living and the dead.

7. In February 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine, and missionary work and temple service have been difficult. Life in Ukraine is very hard and dangerous. Support for Ukraine has been questioned in the United States and in many of our allies. Experts predict its demise. From a worldly standpoint the future of Ukraine looks bleak.

8. But, the Lord has not abandoned Ukraine, and the people of Ukraine are good and kind, courageous, strong, and resilient. Victor Lehostaiev, a 13 year old boy from a suburb of Kyiv is a great example. Three hundred women and children hid in the basement of a school for many days while their town was occupied by Russian soldiers who raped and killed indiscriminately. Viktor was asked by a young child, “does it hurt to die?” Viktor’s kindness and example reassured this child and many others. Viktor is living for a few months with the founder of the Utah charity, To Ukraine With Love. I have gotten to know Viktor and I believe he will be a great leader of the Church in Ukraine.

9. Russian soldiers got within 3 kilometers or 1.86 miles of the temple, and they stopped for no apparent reason. There was no significant military resistance, but members of the Church knew the reason. In the Dedicatory Prayer President Monson prayed that the temple “be protected from any devastating influence, destruction or defacement.”

10. In October 2024 General Conference Elder David Bednar reminded us of the words of Joseph Smith written in 1842: “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (emphasis added).

Testimony – Along with the members of the Church in Ukraine we can have confidence in the promises of the Lord and the future of His work if we stay on the covenant path. Remember what the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote at a very difficult time in Church history: “You know, brethren, that a very large ship (the world) is benefited very much by a very small helm (the Church) in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves. Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed” (D&C 123:16-17, parentheses are mine).

Released on October 20th. 2024.