1 Nephi 22: 12

12 Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.

Verses 10, 11, and 12 really go together to show why the Lord is doing what he’s doing. And actually, as I look at it, this statement really begins in verse nine, where Nephi tells us that through the Abrahamic Covenant, “all the kindreds of the earth [shall] be blessed.” Verse ten says that cannot happen unless the Lord “shall make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations.” Verse 11 tells us that in order to make bare his arm he needs to fulfill his covenant with the house of Israel. Verse 12 tells us that the gathering of Israel is evidence of the lord making bare his arm, or fulfilling His covenant to bless all the kindreds of the earth through Abraham’s seed. Then when you go back to verses seven and eight of this chapter, we learn the important role played by the gentiles in the Lord’s effort to keep the covenant. D&C 35: 25 makes it clear that this gathering will be led by those holding the priesthood keys, which is where the Restoration enters. The keys of the priesthood had been removed from the earth, so they had to be restored in order to ultimately bless all the kindreds of the earth. In essence, the covenant made between God and Abraham has shaped world history significantly. That thought drives home the notion that one man can really make a difference in the world. Abraham’s righteousness in keeping his side of the covenant has been significant. What role do I play in this covenant?

• Psalm 80: 19 (17–19)
• 1 Nephi 19: 15
• D&C 35: 25

1 Nephi 22: 11

11 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel.

This verse confirms that the way the Lord will precede to make himself known, or reveal himself, is through fulfilling his covenants with Israel. The Restoration of the gospel is key to the Lord making bare his arm. Again, this was done through the gentiles in these latter days. And as the Restored Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints grows and rolls forth among all nations of the earth, His arm is being made bare. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it for what it is, but those who have eyes to see and ears to hear recognize the Lord’s “bare arm” in the growth and progress of this Church.

1 Nephi 22: 10

10 And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations.

This verse makes total sense to me. This covenant of Abraham doesn’t give the Gentiles or anybody else any special powers to bless the kindreds of the earth alone. We make the blessings of God available to all mankind by making them aware of Him and his Atonement. The term, “make bare his arm,” reminds me of another saying we have. To “tip your hand” has to do with card playing, but refers to showing the cards you are holding, to share with others your position or your capabilities. When I think of the Lord making bare his arm I think He will reveal to the world his capabilities to save and redeem. He will finally reveal to all men that He has the power over all flesh to save them from both physical and spiritual death. The arm seems to be a symbol of the ability to do work, and the work that has been done is the Atonement. This is of great worth to all kindreds. The other thing this phrase brings to my mind is just rolling up our sleeves and getting the job done. That’s what the Lord has accomplished as well. He rolled up his sleeves (thus making bare his arms) and is working through the covenant to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. This is the time in the history of the world when that work is being done. As his covenant people we need to roll up our sleeves, make bare our arms, and help the Savior accomplish his work and glory.

1 Nephi 22: 9

9 And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

I find it interesting that of all the teachings of Nephi that we have record of, he invests so much in the gathering of Israel, in the relationship between Israel and the Gentiles, and in this latter-day prophecy generally. Of course, he knew that ultimately he was writing to us of the latter days, but his immediate audience was alive more than 2,500 years ago. What worth was there in this theme to his unbelieving brothers? I think the answer to that question is found in 1 Nephi 19: 23, where Nephi states that his purpose is to “more fully persuade [his brethren] to believe in the Lord their Redeemer.” I think he clearly sees these Isaiah writings about the scattering and gathering of Israel as strong evidence of the Savior’s love for His people, and the power of a covenant with Him. I think that besides the ultimate purpose of teaching and testifying to us, he really wants his brothers to buy into the Atonement. He really wants them to be converted. Remember that Nephi saw the future history of his people. He knew that he and his followers would break away from his brothers’ people. He knew of the wars between them, and he knew the outcome (see 1 Nephi 15: 4–5). Yet in spite of this foreknowledge, Nephi never gave up trying to convert his brethren until the Lord told him to separate from the Lamanites. He knew it would do no good, but he never stopped trying. I wonder if Nephi ever felt like Mormon, who would live at the time of the destruction of the Nephites. Mormon led his people in battle against the Lamanites time and again, and he loved his people, “according to the love of God which was in [him], with all [his] heart; and [his] soul had been poured out in prayer unto…God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts” (Mormon 3: 12—emphasis added). I wonder. It’s a great lesson to us that we should not give up on those within our stewardship who may have wandered, or worse, rebelled from the right path.

• 1 Nephi 14: 5 (1–5)
• 1 Nephi 15: 13 (13–17)
• 2 Nephi 28: 2
• 2 Nephi 29: 14 (13–14)
• 2 Nephi 30: 3 (1–7)
• 3 Nephi 20: 25 (25, 27)
• Abraham 2: 11 (8–11)

1 Nephi 22: 8

8 And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.

Nephi gives some clarification of Isaiah’s prophecy that Israel will be nursed and carried by the Gentiles. He states that the Gentiles will not literally do these things, but the marvelous work that the Lord God will do among them will be a blessing to Israel as well. This marvelous work is what will make the gathering of Israel possible, and it is the means of the gathering. Of course this “marvelous work” is the restoration of the fullness of the Gospel. As Israel accepts the Gospel they are gathered back into the covenant with God, which is of great worth to them.

• Isaiah 29: 14
• 1 Nephi 14: 7
• 2 Nephi 27: 26
• 2 Nephi 10: 10
• 3 Nephi 16: 6 (4–7)
• 3 Nephi 5: 23 (21–26)
• 3 Nephi 21: 7 (4–29)
• Mormon 5: 19

1 Nephi 22: 7

7 And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be scattered.

Now Nephi makes it very clear that this prophecy of the scattering of Israel includes Lehi’s descendants. This is not just something that will happen in Jerusalem, but the prophecy applies to this land as well. Of course, Nephi saw this before, in his vision of Lehi’s dream (see 1 Nephi 13: 12–14). In fact, that vision of Nephi’s may have been at least part of the reason he chose to read the Isaiah chapters that he did. He is trying to convince his brethren that the scriptures are more than just a collection of moral stories. They are written for them (and us). They apply to them (and us). This is an attitude that is popular today, even among some Christian churches and clergy, that the Bible is nothing but a collection of stories, fictional stories that are intended to teach morals.

This particular verse has reference to how the American Indians were pushed off their lands and segregated onto reservations by the United States government. I don’t know the history of Central and South America so much, but a similar thing could have happened with those people with colonization, etc. But I know for sure this prophecy has reference to what occurred in North America.

• 1 Nephi 13: 14 (12–14)
• 2 Nephi 1: 11
• 3 Nephi 20: 27