中英對照/福音原則/第42章

以色列家族的聚集
The Gathering of the House of Israel

以色列家族是神的約民
The House of Israel Are God’s Covenant People

● 神的約民對世界各國負有哪些責任？

• What responsibilities do God’s covenant people have to the nations of the world ?

雅各是一位偉大的先知，他生活在基督降生前好幾百年的時代。

Jacob was a great prophet who lived hundreds of years before the time of Christ.

雅各很忠信，因此主賜給他一個特別的名字以色列，意思是「與神一起得勝」或「讓神得勝」（見創世記32：28）。

Because Jacob was faithful, the Lord gave him the special name of Israel, which means “one who prevails with God” or “let God prevail” (Bible Dictionary, “Israel,” 708).

雅各有十二個兒子。

Jacob had twelve sons.

這些兒子和他們的家人就成了眾所周知的以色列十二支派，或以色列人（見創世記49：28）。

These sons and their families became known as the twelve tribes of Israel, or Israelites (see Genesis 49:28) .

雅各是亞伯拉罕的孫子。

Jacob was a grandson of Abraham.

主曾與亞伯拉罕立下永約，這個約又與以撒和雅各及其子孫重新訂定（見本書第15 章；亦見本章描繪雅各祝福其子的圖片）。

The Lord made an everlasting covenant with Abraham that was renewed with Isaac and with Jacob and his children (see chapter 15 in this book; see also the visual in this chapter, depicting Jacob blessing his sons).

神應許，只要以色列人遵守祂的誡命，他們就會成為祂的約民（見申命記28：9-10）。

God promised that the Israelites would be His covenant people as long as they would obey His commandments (see Deuteronomy 28:9–10) .

他們會因為將福音和聖職傳給萬國，而成為世上萬國的祝福（見亞伯拉罕書2：9-11）。

They would be a blessing to all the nations of the world by taking the gospel and the priesthood to them (see Abraham 2:9–11).

因此，只要他們遵守與主所立的約，主也必遵守與他們訂立的聖約。

Thus, they would keep their covenant with the Lord and He would keep His covenant with them .

以色列家族被分散
The House of Israel Was Scattered

主的眾先知再三警告以色列家族，如果他們變得邪惡會有什麼下場。

Again and again prophets of the Lord warned the house of Israel what would happen if they were wicked.

摩西預言說：「耶和華必使你們分散在萬民中，從地這邊到地那邊」（申命記28：64）。

Moses prophesied, “And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other” (Deuteronomy 28:64) .

以色列人不顧這警告，一再違反神的誡命。

Despite this warning, the Israelites consistently broke the commandments of God.

他們彼此爭戰，分裂成兩個國家：北國稱為以色列，南國稱為猶大。

They fought among themselves and split into two kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom, called the kingdom of Israel, and the Southern Kingdom, called the kingdom of Judah.

以色列有十支派住在北國。

Ten of the twelve tribes of Israel lived in the Northern Kingdom.

在一次戰役中，他們被敵人征服而被俘擄。

During a war they were conquered by their enemies and carried away into captivity.

有些人後來逃往北邊，自此下落不明。

Some of them later escaped into the lands of the north and became lost to the rest of the world .

北國淪亡將近100 年後，南國也被征服。

About 100 years after the capture of the Northern Kingdom, the Southern Kingdom was conquered.

首都耶路撒冷在公元前586 年被毀，以色列剩下的兩個支派也有許多人被俘擄。

The capital city of Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 b.c., and many members of the remaining two tribes of Israel were taken captive.

後來，這些支派當中有些人又回來，重建耶路撒冷。

Later, some of the members of these tribes returned and rebuilt Jerusalem.

就在耶路撒冷被毀滅之前，身為以色列家族一員的李海和他的家人離開了耶路撒冷，到美洲大陸定居。

Just before Jerusalem was destroyed, Lehi and his family, who were members of the house of Israel, left the city and settled in the Americas .

基督的時代過後，耶路撒冷再度被毀，這次是毀在羅馬士兵的手下。

After the time of Christ, Jerusalem was again destroyed, this time by Roman soldiers.

猶太人被分散到世界各地。

The Jews were scattered over much of the world .

今天，在世界各國中都可以找到以色列人。

Today Israelites are found in all countries of the world.

很多人並不知道自己是古代以色列家族的後代。

Many of these people do not know that they are descended from the ancient house of Israel .

● 神的約民散居世界各地，對神的兒女有什麼助益？

• What benefits have come to God’s children because His covenant people have been scattered throughout the earth ?

以色列家族必須聚集
The House of Israel Must Be Gathered

● 主為什麼要祂的人民聚集？

• Why does the Lord want His people to be gathered ?

● 以色列家族要如何聚集？

• How will the house of Israel be gathered ?

主曾應許，祂的約民總有一天會重聚：「我要將我羊群中所餘剩的，從我趕他們到的各國內招聚出來」（耶利米書23：3）。

The Lord promised that His covenant people would someday be gathered: “I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them” ( Jeremiah 23:3) .

神透過傳道事工聚集祂的兒女。

God gathers His children through missionary work.

人們一旦認識耶穌基督，接受救恩的教儀，並且遵守相關的聖約時，就成為「聖約中的子孫」（尼腓三書20：26）。

As people come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ, receiving the ordinances of salvation and keeping the associated covenants, they become “the children of the covenant” (3 Nephi 20:26).

祂要聚集祂的兒女是有重要原因的。

He has important reasons for gathering His children.

祂聚集他們，使他們能學習福音的教導，準備好自己，在救主再次來臨時迎見祂。

He gathers them so they can learn the teachings of the gospel and prepare themselves to meet the Savior when He comes again.

祂聚集他們，使他們可以建造聖殿，為沒有機會接受神聖教儀就去世的祖先們執行教儀。

He gathers them so they will build temples and perform sacred ordinances for ancestors who have died without having this opportunity.

祂聚集他們，使他們能夠彼此鞏固，在福音中團結合一，保護自己不受世上邪惡的影響。

He gathers them so they can strengthen one another and be unified in the gospel, finding protection from unrighteous influences in the world.

祂也聚集他們，使他們可以準備好自己，與人分享福音。

He also gathers them so they can prepare themselves to share the gospel with others .

1836 年，先知摩西在嘉德蘭聖殿顯現，賜給約瑟．斯密指導以色列家族聚集事工的能力和權柄（見教約110：11）。

The power and authority to direct the work of gathering the house of Israel was given to Joseph Smith by the prophet Moses, who appeared in 1836 in the Kirtland Temple (see D&C 110:11).

從那時起，每位先知都持有聚集以色列家族的權鑰，而這聚集向來都是本教會的重點工作。

Since that time, each prophet has held the keys for the gathering of the house of Israel, and this gathering has been an important part of the Church’s work.

約民因為接受復興的福音，侍奉亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各的神而正在聚集（見申命記30：1-5）。

The covenant people are now being gathered as they accept the restored gospel and serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Deuteronomy 30:1–5) .

以色列人先要在靈性上聚集，然後才實質聚集。

The Israelites are to be gathered spiritually first and then physically .

他們加入耶穌基督後期聖徒教會，訂立並遵守神聖聖約時，就是在靈性上聚集。

They are gathered spiritually as they join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and make and keep sacred covenants.

這靈性的聚集始於先知約瑟．斯密的時代，而且今天仍在全世界繼續進行。

This spiritual gathering began during the time of the Prophet Joseph Smith and continues today all over the world.

加入本教會的歸信者，若不是血統上的以色列人，就是經收養而成為以色列人。

Converts to the Church are Israelites either by blood or adoption.

他們屬於亞伯拉罕和雅各的家族（見亞伯拉罕書2：9-11；加拉太書3：26-29）。

They belong to the family of Abraham and Jacob (see Abraham 2:9–11; Galatians 3:26–29) .

約瑟．斐亭．斯密會長說：「本教會的教友……來自許多國家，……他們前來是因為主的靈與他們同在；……接受了聚集之靈之後，他們為福音的緣故捨棄一切」（Doctrines ofSalvation, comp. Bruce¬R. McConkie, 3 vols.[1954–56], 3:256;italics in original）。

President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “There are many nations represented in the ... Church.

... They have come because the Spirit of the Lord rested upon them; ... receiving the spirit of gathering, they left everything for the sake of the gospel” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 3:256; italics in original) .

以色列實質的聚集是指約民將「回到繼承的土地聚集，也必在他們所有的應許地上建立」（見尼腓二書9：2）。

The physical gathering of Israel means that the covenant people will be “gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise” (2 Nephi 9:2).

以法蓮支派和瑪拿西支派會在美洲大陸聚集。

The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh will be gathered in the Americas .

猶大支派會回到耶路撒冷城和附近地區。

The tribe of Judah will return to the city of Jerusalem and the area surrounding it.

失落的十支派將從以法蓮支派接受被應許的祝福（見教約第133：26-34）。

The ten lost tribes will receive from the tribe of Ephraim their promised blessings (see D&C 133:26–34) .

教會成立之初，聖徒們得到指示要到俄亥俄州聚集，然後到密蘇里州聚集，最後到鹽湖谷聚集。

When the Church was first established, the Saints were instructed to gather in Ohio, then Missouri, and then the Salt Lake Valley .

不過，近代的先知教導說，今日的教友們要在自己的土地上建立神的國度。

Today, however, modern prophets have taught that Church members are to build up the kingdom of God in their own lands.

羅素．納爾遜長老說：「是否要選擇歸向基督，問題不在於你身處何方，而在於你個人的承諾。

Elder Russell M. Nelson said: “The choice to come unto Christ is not a matter of physical location; it is a matter of individual commitment .

一個人不用離開自己的國家就可被帶到『主……的知識中』〔尼腓三書20：13〕。

People can be ‘brought to the knowledge of the Lord’ [3 Nephi 20:13] without leaving their homelands.

沒錯，在教會早期，歸信往往也意味著移民。

True, in the early days of the Church, conversion often meant emigration as well.

不過現在，聚集地就在自己的國家。

But now the gathering takes place in each nation.

……巴西聖徒的聚集地在巴西；奈及利亞聖徒的聚集地就在奈及利亞；韓國聖徒的聚集地在韓國；以此類推。

... The place of gathering for Brazilian Saints is in Brazil; the place of gathering for Nigerian Saints is in Nigeria; the place of gathering for Korean Saints is in Korea; and so forth.

錫安是『心中純潔者』〔教約97：21。

Zion is ‘the pure in heart.

〕。

’ [D&C 97:21.

凡有正義聖徒的地方就是錫安」（2006 年1 月，利阿賀拿，第181 頁）。

] Zion is wherever righteous Saints are” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2006, 85; or Ensign, Nov. 2006, 81) .

以色列人實質的聚集則要等到救主第二次來臨，進入千禧年時才會完成（見約瑟．斯密──馬太1：37）。

The physical gathering of Israel will not be complete until the Second Coming of the Savior and on into the Millennium (see Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37).

屆時，主的應許將會實現：「日子將到，人必不再指著那領以色列人從埃及地上來之永生的耶和華起誓，「卻要指著那領以色列人從北方之地，並趕他們到的各國上來之永生的耶和華起誓，並且我要領他們再入我從前賜給他們列祖之地」（耶利米書16：14-15）。

Then the Lord’s promise will be fulfilled: “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) .

● 你如何在靈性上被聚集，成為主的約民之一？

• In what ways have you been gathered spiritually as one of the Lord’s covenant people ?

● 你曾如何參與聚集其他人的事工？

• In what ways have you participated in the gathering of others  ?

給教師：人們講述自己歸信耶穌基督復興福音的經歷時，就是在分享他們在靈性上聚集的故事。

For teachers: When people share their stories of being converted to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, they are sharing stories about being gathered spiritually.

考慮在事前邀請一些人講述他們歸信福音的過程。

Consider asking a few people in advance to tell about how they were converted to the gospel .

其他經文
Additional Scriptures

● 創世記17：1-8（神與亞伯拉罕立約）
• Genesis 17:1–8 (God’s covenant with Abraham)
● 羅馬書9：4-8；加拉太書3：29（凡跟隨耶穌基督及其話語的人都是聖約的子民）
• Romans 9:4–8; Galatians 3:29 (those who follow Jesus Christ and His word are the children of the covenant)
● 尼腓二書30：2；摩賽亞書5：10-11（凡悔改、聽從先知、對耶穌基督有信心的人，就成為主的約民）
• 2 Nephi 30:2; Mosiah 5:10–11 (those who repent, follow the prophets, and have faith in Jesus Christ become the Lord’s covenant people)
● 列王紀下第17 章（北國被俘擄）
• 2 Kings 17 (Northern Kingdom taken captive)
● 歷代志下36：11-20（南國被俘擄）
• 2 Chronicles 36:11–20 (Southern Kingdom taken captive)
● 聖經雅各書1：1（十二支派散居各國）
• James 1:1 (twelve tribes scattered abroad)
● 尼腓一書10：12-13（尼腓人的遷徙是分散的一部分）
• 1 Nephi 10:12–13 (Nephite migration was part of the scattering)
● 耶利米書3：14-18（從一城取一人，從一族取兩人）
• Jeremiah 3:14–18 (one from a city, two from a family)
● 以西結書20：33-36（以色列將自各國聚集）
• Ezekiel 20:33–36 (Israel will be gathered from all countries)
● 尼腓三書20：29-46（猶太人將聚集到耶路撒冷）
• 3 Nephi 20:29–46 ( Jews will be gathered to Jerusalem)
● 尼腓一書15：13-18；尼腓三書21：26-29（聚集始於福音的復興）
• 1 Nephi 15:13–18; 3 Nephi 21:26–29 (gathering starts with Restoration of the gospel)
● 教約38：31-33（主的約民必得救）
• D&C 38:31–33 (the Lord’s covenant people will be saved)
● 以賽亞書11：11-13（主將救回祂自己的人民）
• Isaiah 11:11–13 (the Lord will recover His people)
● 啟示錄18：4-8（有一個聲音會宣告聚集）
• Revelation 18:4–8 (a voice will proclaim the gathering)
● 教約133：6-15（外邦人聚集到錫安，猶太人聚集到耶路撒冷）
• D&C 133:6–15 (Gentiles to Zion, Jews to Jerusalem)