r scattering of
Israel would be accomplished, and the eventual gathering of the covenant
people, were predicted, with frequent reference to the inspired
utterances of Isaiah bearing thereon.[1482] The future of Lehi's
descendants was pictured as a dwindling in unbelief through iniquity; in
consequence of which the Gentiles would grow to be a mighty people on
the western continent, even though that land had been given as an
ultimate inheritance to the house of Israel. The establishment of the
then future but now existent American nation, characterized as "a free
people," was thus foretold and God's purpose therein explained: "For it
is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land,
and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these
things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the
covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with
his people, O house of Israel."[1483]

As a sign of the time in which the gathering of the several branches of
Israel from their long dispersion should take place, the Lord specified
the prosperity of the Gentiles in America, and their agency in bringing
the scriptures to the degraded remnant of Lehi's posterity or the
American Indians.[1484] It was made plain that all Gentiles who would
repent, and accept the gospel of Christ through baptism, should be
numbered among the covenant people and be made partakers of the
blessings incident to the last days, in which the New Jerusalem would be
established on the American continent. The joyful account of gathered
Israel as Jehovah had given it aforetime through the mouth of His
prophet Isaiah, was repeated by the resurrected Jehovah to His Nephite
flock.[1485] Admonishing them to ponder the words of the prophets, which
were of record amongst them, and to give heed to the new scriptures He
had made known, and especially commanding the Twelve to teach the people
further concerning the things He had expounded, the Lord informed them
of the revelations given through Malachi, and directed that the same be
written.[1486]

The prophecies so reiterated by Him who had inspired Malachi to
utterance, were at that time obviously of the future, and are even yet
unfulfilled in their entirety. The advent of the Lord, to which these
scriptures testify, is yet future; but that the time is now near--that
"great and dreadful day of the Lord"--is attested by the fact that
Elijah who was to