3 Nephi 21

“I will give you a sign,” Jesus Christ said to the Nephites, “so that your descendants will know I am about to gather them in from their dispersion and reestablish them in my Zion. When these words about their ancestry through the family of Israel are made known to the Gentiles, through the power of the Holy Ghost and my Father, the time is near. At that time, these same Gentiles will have conquered and scattered your descendants. Through the wisdom of my Father, this knowledge shall be reestablished in this land where the people are governed in freedom, and your remnant descendants will learn of their ancestry through these Gentiles.

“When this knowledge is brought to your descendants, they will have dwindled in strength and numbers as a result of their unbelief and sinfulness. It behooves my Father that this knowledge will come from the Gentiles so that he may show his power to them, in hopes that they too will soften their hearts, repent their sins, come to me, and be baptized in my name. I want them to know the truth of my doctrine so that they may be counted among my people also. When these things happen it will be a sign to your descendants that the work of my Father in fulfilling his promises to his people of Israel has already begun. When that day comes, kings will be silent because they will see and hear things that they hadn’t imagined possible. When that day comes, my Father will perform a great and amazing work among the people. There will be some who do not believe it, even though my servant will declare it to them.

“My servant will be tormented because of those who do not believe him, but they will not hurt him because his life will be in my hands. I will heal him and show those who oppose him that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil. When this time comes, I will cause my words to come to the Gentiles through this man. Those who do not believe these words will be cut off from among my chosen people. My remnant people among the Gentiles who are descended from Israel will become like lions among their prey. These people will track down and tear unbelievers to pieces. Rescue for them will be impossible.

“My people’s hand will be lifted up against their enemies who have been cut off. It will be a terrible pity except to those Gentiles who repent. ‘I will destroy their horses and chariots,’ my Father has said. ‘I will destroy their cities and fortresses. I will end all witchcrafts in the land, and banish soothsayers. I will smash their idols. Lies, deceptions, enviousness, conflict, priestcraft, and fornication will come to an end. On that day, whoever doesn’t repent and come to my beloved Son, will be destroyed. I will cut them off from the family of Israel. I will exercise such vengeance and fury on them as they have never imagined possible.’ ”

“ ‘But if they repent, listen to my words, and soften their hearts,’ ” Jesus Christ continued quoting his Father, “‘I will establish a church among them that allows them to enter into my covenant and be counted among the family of Israel to whom I have given this land as an inheritance.’

“These Gentiles who convert,” continued Jesus Christ, “will assist my people who are descended from Israel in building a city that will be called New Jerusalem. They will help my people to gather up their scattered remnants from across the land, and bring them all to New Jerusalem. The power of heaven will come down among them and I will be in their midst. The work of my Father will begin on that day. His gospel will be preached among the remnants of his people, including the lost tribes. The work will begin to prepare the way so that they may come to me, call on the Father in my name, and be gathered to the land of their inheritance.

“ ‘I will lead them from the front,’ says my Father, ‘and I will also protect them from behind.’ ”