Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20: Lesson 132

Jeremiah 16

“I Will Bring Them Again”

The Savior asks us to participate in the greatest work on earth today: the gathering of Israel, which includes sharing His gospel. The gathering of Israel is so important that the Savior inspired ancient prophets such as Jeremiah to prophesy of it thousands of years ago. This lesson can help students participate in the gathering of Israel by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Invite students to ponder possible concerns Latter-day Saint teens might have with sharing the Savior’s gospel and ways to overcome those concerns. They can prepare to share their thoughts with the class.

Possible Learning Activities

The Savior’s power

Consider beginning class by having students discuss the following question. If they need help, you could remind them of miracles they have studied in the Old Testament. (You might want to keep this discussion brief so you have enough time for the lesson.)

• What do you think are some of God’s greatest miracles or manifestations of power?

If students didn’t mention parting the Red Sea, consider displaying a picture of Moses and the Red Sea. Explain that this event was so miraculous that for centuries people referred to it when teaching about the Savior’s mighty power (see Hebrews 11:29; 1 Nephi 4:2; Helaman 8:11).

Think about the amazing miracles God has done in the past as you read the following statement from President Russell M. Nelson:

So many wonderful things are ahead. In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. (“Overcome the World and Find Rest,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 95)

Read Jeremiah 16:14–15, looking for something the Savior will do in the last days that will be even more monumental than His deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

• What did you discover?

  If students need help, you could explain that in these verses, Jeremiah prophesied of the latter-day gathering of Israel.

  As needed, explain that President Nelson taught that the gathering of Israel refers to “offering the gospel of Jesus Christ to God’s children on both sides of the veil” (in Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], Gospel Library). This lesson will focus on gathering Israel on this side of the veil.

• When you think about God’s plan for His children, why might gathering Israel be an even greater miracle than delivering Israel out of Egypt?

Ponder your thoughts about the following questions:

• Is the gathering of Israel important to you? Why or why not?

• How do you feel about participating in it?

Like He did through Moses, the Savior can manifest His miraculous power through you as you participate in the gathering of Israel. As you study Jeremiah 16 today, pay attention to any impressions you receive from the Holy Ghost. Ponder how the Savior can use you in this great gathering.

Scattering and gathering

In Jeremiah 16:10–18, the Lord inspired Jeremiah to prophesy of the Israelites’ destruction, which came because of their rebelliousness. The Lord taught them that “their iniquity [was not] hid from [His] eyes” (verse 17) and that He would send them a just punishment if they continued to rebel.

Read Jeremiah 16:13, looking for consequences the Israelites would experience because of their wickedness.

Help students understand that Jeremiah prophesied that God would scatter the Israelites in Jerusalem into different lands because of their rebellion. This was fulfilled when many Israelites were taken captive into Babylon. During this time, the Lord also scattered righteous individuals, such as Lehi and his family, who were led to the American continent to preserve their lives from wicked people (see 2 Nephi 10:20–21).

In Jeremiah 16:14–15, Jeremiah then prophesied that in the latter days, the Savior would show His power to gather Israel back to Him and His Church.

Consider inviting students to discuss the following with a partner or small group.

Read Jeremiah 16:16, looking for comparisons the Lord made about people who help gather Israel.

• Why might fishing and hunting be good comparisons for people who help gather Israel?

• What do you learn about our role in gathering Israel?

Along with other truths students might share, help them see that Jesus Christ calls us to find scattered Israel and bring them back to Him.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about this great gathering:

The gathering is the ultimate recognition that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” [Doctrine and Covenants 18:10]. It is as simple as that. We are gathering God’s children in these last days that they might have “blessings poured out upon their heads” [3 Nephi 10:18] and the promises of “the riches of eternity” [Doctrine and Covenants 78:18]. It follows that to gather Israel we need missionaries. (“How Great Will Be Your Joy,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 52)

• What does Elder Rasband’s statement teach you about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Participating in the gathering

Students could provide answers to the following question. Consider inviting a student to list these answers on the board.

• What concerns might Latter-day Saint teenagers have about sharing the Savior’s gospel and gathering Israel?

To help students address these concerns, consider displaying the instructions below.

You could organize students into small groups, with each student working on a different study option. Once they finish, they could teach each other what they learned.

Choose one of the following study options. Prepare to share which concern or concerns you feel the scripture passage best addresses and why.

1. Read Jeremiah 1:6–9, looking for what the Lord said when He called Jeremiah to share the gospel.

2. Read Doctrine and Covenants 123:12, 16–17, looking for what Joseph Smith taught the early Latter-day Saints that relates to sharing the gospel.

3. Read Moses 6:32–34, looking for what the Lord said when He called Enoch to share the gospel.

4. Find a different scripture that you feel helps with any of the concerns on the board.

Students could discuss the following questions as a class or in pairs or small groups.

• As you studied and tried to resolve a concern on the board, what did you learn about the Savior?

• How could what you learned about Him affect your desire to share His gospel with others?

Make a plan

Prepare students to make a plan for sharing the gospel. For example, you might show a video such as “Simple Ways to Love, Share, and Invite for Youth” (2:50), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Students could look for ways they can share the gospel. They could then share additional ways they can think of.

• What experiences have you or people you know had with sharing the Savior’s gospel with others?

You might want to share any experiences you have had. Then display the following statement so students can refer to it as they make their plan.

President Russell M. Nelson extended the following invitation:

There is nothing happening on this earth more important than gathering Israel for Him. Let your Heavenly Father know that you want to help. Ask Him to put you to work in this glorious cause. (“Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], Gospel Library)

In your study journal, make a personal plan for sharing the Savior’s gospel with others. Before making this plan, you might follow President Nelson’s invitation by prayerfully expressing your desires to help gather Israel for Heavenly Father.

Consider including in your plan any impressions from the Holy Ghost that you might have received. For example, you might include who you would like to share the gospel with, such as individuals who are not members of the Church or who are not actively participating in the Church. Consider also including how and when you could share with them.

Consider concluding with your feelings about the Savior and about helping bring souls to Him.

Additional Resources

How important is the gathering of Israel?

President Russell M. Nelson explained:

You were sent to earth at this precise time … to help gather Israel. There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. …

This gathering should mean everything to you. (in Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], Gospel Library)

What is our role in the gathering of Israel?

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

As viewed through a clear lens, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have the great privilege of loving, sharing, inviting, and helping gather Israel to receive the fulness of the Lord’s covenant blessings. … “This gathering shall continue until the righteous are assembled in the congregations of the Saints in the nations of the world” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 438). (“Safely Gathered Home,” Liahona, May 2023, 22)

What blessings can we receive from sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

Please understand that there are remarkable blessings in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The scriptures speak of joy and peace, forgiveness of sins, protection from temptations, and sustaining power from God. Looking beyond this mortal life, we will be prepared to share the gospel with those “in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead” [Doctrine and Covenants 138:57]. (“Safely Gathered Home,” Liahona, May 2023, 23)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Ideas for sharing the gospel

To help students generate ideas for sharing the gospel, you could invite them to search share.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Jeremiah 17. Sabbath day observance

If you think students could benefit from discussing Sabbath day observance, invite them to read Jeremiah 17:21–27, marking the words if and then. You could invite students to share the Lord’s promises if the Israelites kept the Sabbath day holy and the negative consequences if they chose to neglect it.

You could then invite students to share what principles they learned about keeping the Sabbath day holy. They might use different words, but help them identify the following principle: If we keep the Sabbath day holy, then the Lord will preserve us and help us prosper. Students could then share experiences from their lives that testify of the truthfulness of this principle.

Jeremiah 18–19. Clay in the Lord’s hands

To help students understand that the Lord is willing and able to change our lives, consider bringing a lump of soft clay. Invite a student to quickly form a pot out of the clay. You could then ask the student what they could do if they do not like the pot they just made. Then invite the student to start over and form another pot.

Invite students to read Jeremiah 18:1–6, looking for how this object lesson relates to the Lord’s message to the Israelites. Consider asking questions such as the following:

• What does it mean to be clay in the Lord’s hands?

• What do you think it means to be molded and reshaped by the Lord?

Help students identify a truth similar to the following: If we choose to repent, the Lord can mold and reshape our lives.

Explain that the Jews rejected Jeremiah’s words (see Jeremiah 18:11–12). Invite students to read Jeremiah 19:1–2, 10–11, looking for what the Lord said would happen because the Jews rejected His invitation to repent.

Students could then share ways they have seen God mold or reshape their lives or the lives of others they know.

Jeremiah 20:7–9. Sharing the gospel—even when it’s hard

Consider adding the following study option in the “Participating in the gathering” section of the lesson. You could first explain that many people in Jeremiah’s day openly rejected the gospel. His efforts to share the gospel were met with violence and mocking (see Jeremiah 20:7–8). It might also help to explain that the word “forbearing” means pausing, delaying, or stopping; the word “stay” in this context means to stop or stand still.

• Read Jeremiah 20:9, looking for why Jeremiah continued talking about the Savior and His gospel, even though he was tempted to stop because the people rejected his message.

The effect one person can have

Consider showing the video “Inviting All to Come unto Christ: Sharing the Gospel” (4:30) after the study activity in the “Participating in the gathering” section of the lesson. You could invite students to look for the effect one person can have as they work to gather Israel, even when it might be difficult.