Lessons from the Lost Tribes

Last night our Relief Society Enrichment study group met. The topic was The Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. It wasn't the most exciting thing I've studied, at least in the beginning. But these things have a way of picking up as you begin to see the big picture and how exciting it all is.

Along the way, I learned a few things, such as....

1. The Lost Tribes are not lost to the Lord. And neither are we.
No matter how alone we feel, how separated or different or disenfranchised, the Lord knows where we are, how we are, and what we are.

2. The Lord has spectacular plans for His children.
In spite of our wickedness, our bad choices, our inadequacies, He has quite a show planned for us, and a Promised Land prepared for us at the end of our journey.

3. There is purpose to everything that happens.
We may be driven out, away or towards something not of our choosing, but it just might put us in a place or circumstance that will be for our blessing or the blessing of others.

4. Whatever our circumstance in life, there is always the choice to be made to follow the Lord or to follow the world. And those choices make all the difference to us and to those around us,
in this world and in the next.

5. We really are one big family, with God as our Father and Jesus as our Brother, and where e'er our paths may take us, we can find our way Home.

In my searching, did I find the Lost Tribes? No.

But I found a part of me, a part of my forgotten identity.
I found I was part of the House of Israel, of a holy nation, of a peculiar people.
I found a sense of belonging to a family rich with tradition and faith.
I found the great love of the Father and Jehovah for all of their children.
I found purpose in our responsibility to gather those who are lost.
I found a great destiny, if I make and keep sacred covenants.
I found the way Home.

"To believe in God is to know that all the rules will be
fair and that there will be wonderful surprises."