![Crossing the Sweetwater](https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/186/2017/02/pioneers-crossing-river-37725-gallery.jpg)
“Helping the Martin Handcart Company across the Sweetwater River,” by Clark Kelley Price
(LDS Media Library)
I strongly agree that this is a book that merits wide reading and serious discussion among American Christians today — including Latter-day Saints, who have a history of “gathering” and, as we all know, of withdrawing to “the valleys of the mountains” when we were obliged to do so:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865674191/Should-Mormons-choose-the-6Benedict-Option7.html
Rod Dreher calls it the “Benedict Option.” We’ve traditionally called something like it the doctrine of “The Gathering of Israel.”