“Thoughts to Keep in Mind: The House of Israel,” Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 (2026)
“The House of Israel,” Come, Follow Me: 2026
Thoughts to Keep in Mind
The House of Israel
Somewhere in the wilderness east of Canaan, Jacob nervously awaited an encounter with his twin brother, Esau. The last time Jacob had seen Esau, about 20 years earlier, Esau wanted to kill him. Jacob spent all night in a wrestle, seeking a blessing from God. As a result of Jacob’s faith, persistence, and determination, God answered his prayers. That night Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, a name that means, among other things, “he perseveres with God” (Genesis 32:28, footnote b).
Near the Jabbok River, Jacob received the name Israel.
This is the first time the name Israel appears in the Bible, and it’s a name that perseveres throughout the book and throughout history. The name soon came to refer to more than just one man. Israel had 12 sons, and their descendants were collectively known as the “house of Israel,” the “tribes of Israel,” the “children of Israel,” or the “Israelites.”
Throughout history, the children of Israel attached great significance to their descent from one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Their lineage was an important part of their covenant identity. The Apostle Paul proclaimed that he was “of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1). One reason Lehi sent his sons to Jerusalem to retrieve the plates of brass was that the plates contained “a genealogy of his fathers” (1 Nephi 5:14). Lehi discovered that he was a descendant of Joseph, and his posterity’s understanding of their connection to the house of Israel proved important to them in the years that followed.
In the Church today, you may hear about Israel in expressions like “the gathering of Israel.” We sing about the “Redeemer of Israel,” the “Hope of Israel,” and “Ye Elders of Israel.” In these cases, we aren’t talking or singing about the ancient kingdom of Israel or the modern nation called Israel. Rather, we are referring to people who have been gathered from the nations of the world into the Church of Jesus Christ. We are referring to people who persevere with God, who earnestly seek His blessings, and who, through baptism, have become His covenant people. In the words of President Russell M. Nelson, to be of Israel means “to let God prevail in our lives, … to let God be the most powerful influence in our lives.”
Your patriarchal blessing declares your connection to one of the tribes of the house of Israel. That’s more than an interesting piece of family history. It also has to do with your present and future. Being a part of the house of Israel means you have a covenant relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It means that you, like Abraham, are meant to “be a blessing” to God’s children (Genesis 12:2; Abraham 2:9–11). It means, in the words of Peter, that “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). It means that you “let God prevail”—that you are one who “perseveres with God” as you honor your covenants with Him.
Family Tree of Jacob (Israel), by Brent Evans