The first gathering through Moses eventually concluded with the Lord scattering the children of Israel abroad because of their rebellion against him. Yet this scattered condition was not to be permanent: "In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." (3 Ne. 22:8; Isa. 54:8.) The restoration of the House of Israel in the latter days has been anticipated by all the holy prophets. Surely every blessing promised to Abraham's seed will come to fruition. However, the promised restoration is not an event, it is a process. Book of Mormon history appears to contains many comparisons to important elements of that process, including the chief role that the United States of America has played and will yet play.
The prophets foretold that the gospel would be restored first among the Gentiles; and then, after it had gone forth among the Gentiles, it would be taken to the House of Israel. (Appendix H briefly discusses the feasible modern identity of the Gentiles and the House of Israel.) We live at a time when the first half of this process has already taken place: the gospel has been restored and has spread in large measure among the Gentile nations. The segment of Book of Mormon history that seems to parallel this modern era is the period described between the books of Omni and Helaman.
During this episode, the Nephites are closely comparable to the modern Gentiles, and the city of Zarahemla parallels the United States of America. Some of the major events mirrored are the Pilgrims' colonization of America, the Revolutionary War, the establishment of the Constitution, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the rise of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the early Saints' persecution, the Civil War, the birth of Communism, World Wars I and II, and the coming of the Space Age.
The fact that these latter-day events appear to be paralleled in Book of Mormon history suggests their far-reaching impact. By applying the scriptures' commentary on ancient events, we can obtain a more divine perspective regarding their modern counterparts. As we make these sometimes sobering associations, we begin to see more clearly why the modern prophets of God have admonished us the way they have.
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