12Д¬hurch leaders in the 1890s began encouraging new members to remain in their homelands. Finally, in 1887, United States antipolygamy legislation disincorporated the ChurchвЂ™s Perpetual Emigrating Fund, limiting the ChurchвЂ™s ability to aid immigration in the way it had since 1849. 11 In the missions, the constant flow of converts away from local branches toward the stakes in Utah made proselytizing efforts more difficult. 10 New members abroad-especially those in Great Britain and Scandinavia-eagerly followed Church leadersвЂ™ instructions, so much so that Latter-day Saint settlements faced challenges supporting and integrating the large numbers of immigrants economically. In 1848 Church leaders urged converts in Europe to вЂњemigrate as speedily as possibleвЂќ to the Great Basin. 8 He explained that the вЂњmain objectвЂќ of the gathering was вЂњto build unto the Lord an house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and glories of His kingdom and teach the people the ways of salvation.вЂќ 9ДЄfter Joseph SmithвЂ™s death, the Saints migrated to the American West, where they continued to establish stakes of Zion and build temples. Joseph Smith taught that in one sense, вЂњthe whole America is Zion,вЂќ and the Saints could gather anywhere so long as there was a temple. In Nauvoo, Illinois, the Saints established a large stake and began building a new temple.

7 Thousands of converts began to flock to Latter-day Saint stakes in Ohio, Missouri, and later, Illinois. Kimball and Orson Hyde were soon called to England, establishing the ChurchвЂ™s first overseas mission. The gathering gained further impetus in April 1836 when the Old Testament prophet Moses appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple and gave them the вЂњkeys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the Land of the North.вЂќ 6 Apostles HeberВ C. 5 The Saints were expelled from the county in 1833, preventing them from building the promised city, but they continued to establish settlements in surrounding counties to which converts could gather. 4 While believers flocked to Kirtland, Ohio, a revelation to Joseph Smith identified an area near the village of Independence in Jackson County, Missouri, as the place to begin building the city of Zion.

Within months of the organization of the Church in 1830, a revelation to Joseph Smith instructed newly baptized members to leave their homes and gather вЂњin unto one place upon the face of this land.вЂќ 3 Further revelation designated Ohio as the first place of gathering.

At the same time, the Saints were to build a вЂњcity of ZionвЂќ to which converts could gather in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This gathering would occur as they preached throughout the world, bringing the gospel to the scattered descendants of Israel and to all who desired to be adopted into the covenant family. 1 The newly translated Book of Mormon and the LordвЂ™s revelations to Joseph Smith taught early Latter-day Saints that they lived in the time in which the promised gathering would begin. Old Testament prophecies reassured the children of Israel that, although they would be scattered among the nations, they would also one day be gathered again.

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