Literal Gathering
of the House of Israel

Leaving the book of Helaman, we next consider the history in the book of Third Nephi to see what parallels it may hold for the days ahead. Chapters 3 and 4 describe when the Nephites and Lamanites gathered themselves into one body to protect themselves from the ravages of the Gadianton robbers, who had reemerged. This bears likeness to the literal gathering of the House of Israel that will take place in the latter days.

Reemergence of the Beast

Earlier, we noted that fire will apparently be involved in the destruction of the global oppressors, as the swords of their own hands fall upon their own heads. Daniel beheld that "the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame." (Dan. 7:11.) In Book of Mormon history as well, the chastened and humbled Nephites "swept away the band of Gadianton from amongst them insomuch that they [had] become extinct...." (Hel. 11:10.)

However, shortly after that, "an exceedingly great band of robbers" was built up again, and they "did make great havoc, yea, even great destruction among the people of Nephi, and also among the people of the Lamanites." (Hel. 11:26,27.) They "did slay...many of the people, and did lay waste...many cities, and did spread...much death and carnage throughout the land..." (3 Ne. 2:11.) Apparently a secret combination will also reemerge in the latter days after being destroyed. John described the beast as, "...The beast that was, and is not, and yet is." (Rev. 17:9.) Perhaps this latter beast will be a driving force to stir up all nations to fight against the Jews at Jerusalem. (17:14; Zech. 14:2.)

Gathering Into One Place

The reason the Nephites and Lamanites assembled themselves "unto one place" was to protect themselves from being destroyed by the restored band of Gadianton. (3 Ne. 3:13) In the latter days as well, a literal gathering "unto one place" will be called so that the elect might "be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked." (D&C 29:8.) The saints will no longer be commanded of the Lord to "build up [his] church in every region," but they will of necessity be commanded to "be gathered in one" to "the city of the New Jerusalem [which] shall be prepared...." (D&C 42:8,9.)⁽¹⁾

One reason the Nephites gathered together was to "fortify themselves against their enemies" by building fortifications and combining their strength. (3 Ne. 3:14,25.) Zion will also provide protection for her people. She shall be "a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God; and the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it...." (D&C 45:66,67; 61:14-16; 3 Ne. 22:14 = Isa. 54:14; 4:5,6.) Christ himself "will be in the midst." (3 Ne. 21:25; 3 Ne. 20:22; Zech. 2:10,12.)

Describing the nature of those who will inhabitant the New Jerusalem in the latter days, Moroni said, "Blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb...." (Ether 13:10.) Possibly foreshadowing this, those who gathered anciently "did repent of all their sins...." (3 Ne. 3:25.)

Book of Mormon history also contains a plausible parallel for the location of the latter-day gathering place. (3 Ne. 21:24.) "The land which was appointed" for the Nephites' and Lamanites' gathering "was the land of Zarahemla...." (3 Ne. 3:23.) It also included the land of Bountiful. (Ibid.) The record continues, "...Yea, ^a.to the line which was ^b.between the land ^c.Bountiful and the land ^d.Desolation." (3 Ne. 3:23.) The wording here is very similar to a statement in the Doctrine and Covenants about the lands that the Saints were to purchase in preparation for the latter-day gathering: "...Every tract lying westward, even ^a.unto the line running directly ^b.between the ^c.Jew and the ^d.Gentile." (D&C 57:4.)⁽²⁾

Actually, the Book of Mormon gathering did not include "Lamanites," for "all the Lamanites who had become converted unto the Lord did unite with their brethren, the Nephites, [and] were numbered among the Nephites, and were called Nephites." (3 Ne. 2:12,16.) Those Lamanites who were not converted apparently joined with Gadianton's band, for all who gathered "were called Nephites...." (3 Ne. 3:24.) This ancient assimilation reflects Christ's statement about the latter days: "If the Gentiles will repent and hearken unto my words, they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob [the Lehite descendants], unto whom I have given this land [the American continent] for their inheritance." (3 Ne. 21:22; Ether 13:8; Gen. 49:22-26.)

Up to this point the Nephites have paralleled the modern Gentiles, and the Lamanites have been analogous to the latter-day House of Israel. These comparisons would have the Nephites be numbered among the Lamanites and be called Lamanites, rather than the other way around as it is stated above. However, anciently the Nephites were identified as "a chosen people of the Lord." (Hel. 15:3.) So the comparison here is that a heathen people become numbered among a chosen people.

The Lamanites Blossom as a Rose

We also learn from the Nephite account that at this point the "curse was taken from [the converted Lamanites who united with the Nephites], and their skin became white like unto the Nephites; and their young men and their daughters became exceedingly fair." (3 Ne. 2:15,16.) We recall that "the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark that was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren...." (Alma 3:6.) The Lord promised that this curse would not be permanent if, as he said, "they [would] repent of their wickedness and turn to me that I may have mercy upon them." (3:14.)

This promise was fulfilled anciently, so we might expect that it will be fulfilled again in the latter days. Nephi might have alluded to this when he prophesied that in the latter days, "...many generations shall not pass away among [the latter-day Lamanites], save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people." (2 Ne. 30:6.)

As the Nephites were delivered from destruction anciently, they "did ^a.break forth, all as one, in ^b.singing, and praising their God for the ^c.great thing which he had done for them, in ^d.preserving them from falling into the hands of their enemies." (3 Ne. 4:31.) This is amazingly similar to certain statements about the House of Israel's deliverance in the latter days. Take this verse from Isaiah, for example: "Sing, O ye heavens; for ^c.the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: ^a.break forth into ^b.singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath ^d.redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel." (Isa. 44:23; D&C 45:71.)

A Highway Cast Up

As part of the latter-day restoration, Moses conferred the "keys 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." (D&C 110:11.) It seems appropriate that he was the one to bestow these keys, for numerous prophecies infer that "as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be." (D&C 103:18; Micah 7:15; Isa 52:4; 11:15; 10:26; Jer. 16:14,15; Zech. 10:10.)

The hallmark of the ancient deliverance was the children of Israel's being led through the waters of the Red Sea on dry ground. Several prophecies of the latter-days describe how once again, the Lord will make "the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over." (Isa. 51:10 = 2 Ne. 8:10.) They talk of how a highway be "cast up," over which the redeemed of the Lord will return. (Isa. 62:10; 35:8; 11:16 = 2 Ne. 21:16; Isa. 49:11 = 1 Ne. 21:11; Zech. 10:11; D&C 133:27.) Significantly, therefore, in the portion of Book of Mormon history we are now discussing, the record states that "there were many highways cast up...." (3 Ne. 6:7,8.)

This likely tie-in is solidified in the fact that the previous verse states that "there were many cities built anew, and there were many old cities repaired." (3 Ne. 6:7,8.) As we mentioned previously, many prophecies speak of how the House of Israel "shall build the old wastes, and they shall repair the waste cities...." (Isa. 61:4.) Joseph Smith declared that the reason the wicked will be swept off the face of the United States will be "to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country."⁽³⁾

The Ten Tribes are going to gather first to America. (D&C 133:26,32; 110:11.) However, their final destination is apparently the land of Israel, along with the Jews, with Jerusalem as the capital. (Ether 13:11; 2 Ne. 25:11; 3 Ne. 20:29.) Analyzing Mormon's remarks in the Nephite record reveals a possible foreshadowing of this scenario.

In Third Nephi 5, Mormon breaks his narrative of the history to make various comments. He ends the chapter with the declaration that the House of Israel "shall...be ^a.gathered in from the four quarters of the earth ^b.unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed...." (5:26; Ezek. 17:21.) The Ten Tribes were scattered from the land of Israel, so that is apparently where they will ultimately return.

In the first verse of the very next chapter, Mormon makes the following statement (note the same wording): "And now it came to pass that the people of the Nephites did all ^a.return ^b.to their own lands...." (3 Ne. 6:1.) Thus the land of Zarahemla served only as a temporary gathering place, and once its purpose had been fulfilled (the threat of the reemerged Gadianton band removed), they were able to go to their own lands.

Tying together his statements about the Nephites with his declaration about the House of Israel, it seems possible that Mormon is suggesting that the Americas will be a temporary gathering place for the Ten Tribes. Once the Jerusalem of Old has been redeemed--her enemies having been destroyed--the Ten Tribes will be able to gather to that land which is their own.

Laws According to Equity and Justice

We might make one more note regarding Zion. Above we discussed the destruction by fire of the conspiratorial dictatorship in the latter days. Inasmuch as that beast will apparently constitute the governing power on the earth before it is destroyed, we may wonder what will replace it. In Book of Mormon history, following the destruction of the Gadianton band,⁽⁴⁾ the people "formed their laws according to equity and justice." (3 Ne. 6:4.) This could foreshadow the Kingdom of God that will be set up in force in Zion once the beast is destroyed. (Dan. 2:44; 7:26.) Joseph Smith taught that the Kingdom of God will be a theocratic governing structure that will "protect all in their equal rights...and furnish freedom for all."⁽⁵⁾ But what about the political condition elsewhere in the world following the dramatic destruction of the global oppressor? Will the world experience, at least temporarily, a taste of equity and justice before Satan stirs men's hearts up again--this time to combine against the Jews? Whatever the case may be, in the end we know that once Satan is bound and the millennium ushered in, the Kingdom of God will "[fill] the whole earth." (Dan. 7:35.)