“Man must take time to meditate, to sweep the cobwebs from his mind, so that he might get a more firm grip on the truth and spend less time chasing phantoms and dallying in projects of lesser worth … .
“Take time to meditate. Ponder the meaning of the work in which you are engaged. The Lord has counseled, ‘Let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds’ (D&C 43:34). You cannot do that when your minds are preoccupied with the worries and cares of the world” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 390).
“Third Nephi contains some key passages relative to the promises of the Lord to the house of Israel. I have particular reference to chapters 16, 20, and 21. These passages have been misunderstood and misused. … To that end, perhaps these observations ought be made:
“1. The Book of Mormon came forth to gather Israel—all Israel, not a particular or exclusive part of Israel. On the title page Moroni states that the purpose of the book 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.” Note that the emphasis is on the remnant of Israel, not a remnant. Long before Christ visited the Nephites, Israel had been scattered throughout the earth (see 1 Nephi 22:4), thus, Christ’s announcement to the Nephites that there were still others that he had been commanded of the Father to visit. All these scattered remnants of Jacob have claim on the promises made to their fathers. Each is ‘a remnant of Jacob,’ and collectively, they are ‘the remnant.’ …
“2. These chapters cannot be properly understood in isolation from the rest of the covenant sermon. They assume an understanding of the call and ordination of the Twelve (see 3 Nephi 18:36; Moroni 2:2). The whole idea of there being ‘twelve’ instead of some other number is their symbolic representation of the twelve tribes of Israel. The unity with which they stand at the head of the Church was and is to be a constant reminder of the Lord’s promise to unite all of Israel in his millennial kingdom. The gathering of Israel and building of Zion must take place under their direction. Any doctrine that holds that some remnant of Israel can do some portion of the gathering or the building of Zion independent of the direction of the Twelve, … is out of harmony with the covenant of baptism and the covenant to sustain the Twelve … , with which the Savior began his instruction to the Nephites (3 Nephi 12:1).
“It ought also to be observed that the same pattern and principle exists in our dispensation. The keys of the gathering of Israel and the building of Zion rest with the First Presidency, the Twelve, and none others … .
“3. Spiritual stability and sound understanding are not found in strained phrases. We ought to be inherently suspicious of interpretations that aggrandize a particular group or some marvelous or mighty leader that is going to come onto the scene to straighten out the Church. The Twelve are in place … .
“4. Wisdom suggests moderation and caution in scriptural interpretation. In discussing chapters 16, 20, and 21, … Elder McConkie observed: ‘It is not always possible for us in our present state of spiritual enlightenment to put every event into an exact category or time frame.’ He also noted that some of these texts ‘apply to both pre- and post-millennial events; some have an initial and partial fulfillment in our day and shall have a second and grander completion in the days ahead’ (Millennial Messiah, 251).
“5. In a past General Conference we were warned about false views relative to the gathering. The warning was specifically against ‘cults’ and ‘colonies’ ([Packer, ‘To Be Learned Is Good If … ,’] 73). The caution was to beware of those who think themselves a part of some inner circle, who think their understanding is ahead of those called to hold the keys of the gathering of Israel, and thus, who think they are to preside over all that takes place relative to it” (McConkie, “Doctrine of a Covenant People,” 177–79).