"Commentary on D&C 109:59–67 The prayer emphasizes the need to gather Israel, particularly the children of Judah, to their homelands (D&C 109:59–67). While members of the Church are Israelites, either by lineage or adoption (the Lord makes no distinction), the prayer also points out that most members of the Church “are identified with the Gentiles” (D&C 109:60). This wording distinguishes between Jew and Gentile in the same way the Book of Mormon does on its title page—a Jew is a Jewish national, while a Gentile is a person from a Gentile nation.[1] Our joint Israelite and Gentile heritage is an important part of our identity as members of the Church. Every member of the Church can celebrate and find joy in the culture they were born into and the culture they inherit as part of the house of Israel. Joseph Fielding Smith declared: Let us also remember that we are of the Gentiles! By this I mean that the Latter-day Saints have come to their blessings through the Gentile nations. President Brigham Young . . . said that Joseph Smith was a pure Ephraimite. This is true; yet Joseph Smith came also of Gentile lineage. So do most all members of the Church. We may boast of our lineage, and rejoice in the fact that patriarchs have declared us to be of Ephraim, but at the same time let us not despise the Gentiles, for we are also of them. If it were not so the scriptures would not be fulfilled."

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