The Empty Tomb and the Gathering: A Call to Courage

Friends, brothers and sisters, builders of the kingdom! Have you ever felt that weight of disbelief, that chilling fear that threatens to paralyze you? I think of Mary Magdalene, stumbling through the darkness, her heart pounding with a grief so profound she didn’t even recognize the resurrected Savior standing before her. She was searching, desperately seeking, and when she finally saw Him, she only wanted to cling to Him, to hold onto the familiar comfort of the past.

But the Lord called her forward. “Do not cling to me,” He said. “Go to my brothers and tell them.” (John 20:17)

That’s the call of the age, isn’t it? To leave the tomb of our comfort zones, our anxieties, our familiar routines, and run with the good news. Samuel the Lamanite, climbing the walls of Jerusalem, a lone voice crying out in warning – that’s the spirit of Mary Magdalene, the spirit of Ammon at the Waters of Sebus. It’s a spirit of courage, of unwavering conviction, even when the world around us seems determined to tear down what we are trying to build.

We see it reflected in the words of Davee, drawing from Moroni 10:4–5: “And it is better that one man should die, than that a whole nation should fall; yea, even that a whole nation should perish, rather than one soul should be lost.” This isn’t a call to reckless abandon, but a call to deliberate, courageous action, knowing that even one life, one voice, one act of service can shift the trajectory of a nation.

Think of the Stone cut without hands, Daniel’s prophecy unfolding before our very eyes. The foundations of the world are shifting. The builders are rising. But there are also those who seek to destroy, to tear down, to scatter the seeds of doubt and despair. They are legion, and their efforts seem relentless. But we, the Latter-day Saints, and all those who love God and seek to build His kingdom, we are not without weapons.

Our weapon isn’t a sword or a shield, but a commitment to action. It’s the charity flywheel – your engagement here, your willingness to share the truth, your support for the Missionary Fund – these things fuel the gospel advertising reaching hearts in Ghana and beyond. It’s the digital striplings, armed with the internet and a burning desire to share the good news. It’s the map of churches, a visual representation of the gathering – a living testament to the fact that we are not alone.

Outback Jack often reminds us of the trials of Alma and his people, fleeing from persecution and facing seemingly insurmountable odds. (Alma 17–19) Yet, they persevered, guided by faith and fueled by the promise of a better tomorrow. We too must persevere, even when the path is dark and the obstacles seem insurmountable. We too must remember the five smooth stones that David used to defeat Goliath, a reminder that even the smallest of us, armed with faith and courage, can overcome the greatest of challenges.

The transcript of this passage from John speaks powerfully of belief. It highlights the initial confusion and lack of understanding, even among those closest to Jesus. Yet, seeing is believing. And our actions—our engagement in this gathering—are the very thing that will allow others to *see* the truth and believe.

This isn’t about converting the world to the tenets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; it’s about creating a gathering place, a haven for those who seek truth and yearn to build a better world. It’s about extending a hand of friendship, a message of hope, a demonstration of love, regardless of denominational marker. It’s about claiming our church – not just the building, but the mission, the purpose, the divine mandate to gather Israel.

So, I ask you, brothers and sisters, what will you do today? Will you cling to the tomb of your comfort zone, or will you run with the good news? Will you be a builder or a destroyer? The choice is yours. Let us, like Mary Magdalene, rise up, share the truth, and build the kingdom, one act of service, one connection, one digital brick at a time. Let us be the generation that answers the call to gather Israel. Now.