Scattering as a necessary prerequisite for gathering — Part 1 of 2

Something in one of Stisa\’s latest posts caught my attention. In speaking about Zenos\’ allegory, he said:

He is now planning on how to be able to obtain good fruit again, by grafting the natural branches back into the \”mother tree\” among other things (the gathering of Israel in these latter days). (link to post)

As I read this, an idea struck me. The scattering is a necessary prerequisite before the gathering can take place. The foreknowledge of God allows for a grand plan to come into reality.  Knowing that his covenant people would fall away repeatedly, God prepared a way for this rebellion to help accomplish His purposes. Just as Isaiah said that the conquering foreign kings would be nothing more than tools in the hand of God (see 2 Nephi 20:15), the long foretold rebellion of the Lamanites and Nephites set the stage for the grand final gathering in the latter days.

In this two-part post, we\’ll first look at references in the Book of Mormon to the scattering of Israel.

The Scattering

What follows below is a sampling of the many references to the scattering of Israel in the Book of Mormon.  This is not a tangential side-story — it is a major theme.

Lehi taught about the scattering:

12 Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree, whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth. (1 Nephi 10) 

11 Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten. (2 Nephi 1)

As did Nephi:

14 And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten. (1 Nephi 13)

17 And this is what our father meaneth; and he meaneth that it will not come to pass until after they are scattered by the Gentiles; and he meaneth that it shall come by way of the Gentiles, that the Lord may show his power unto the Gentiles, for the very cause that he shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the house of Israel. (1 Nephi 15)

3 Wherefore, the things of which I have read are things pertaining to things both temporal and spiritual; for it appears that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations. (1 Nephi 22)

15 Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations; yea, and also Babylon shall be destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered by other nations.  (2 Nephi 25)

Nephi quotes Isaiah on the subject:

1 And again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people; yea, all ye that are broken off, that are scattered abroad, who are of my people, O house of Israel. Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken ye people from far; the Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (1 Nephi 21)

Jacob teaches the same doctrine:

10 And after they have hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks against the Holy One of Israel, behold, the judgments of the Holy One of Israel shall come upon them. And the day cometh that they shall be smitten and afflicted.
11 Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh, and shall not be suffered to perish, because of the prayers of the faithful; they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated… (2 Nephi 6)

Samuel the Lamanite preached it:

11 Yea, even if they should dwindle in unbelief the Lord shall prolong their days, until the time shall come which hath been spoken of by our fathers, and also by the prophet Zenos, and many other prophets, concerning the restoration of our brethren, the Lamanites, again to the knowledge of the truth—
12 Yea, I say unto you, that in the latter times the promises of the Lord have been extended to our brethren, the Lamanites; and notwithstanding the many afflictions which they shall have, and notwithstanding they shall be driven to and fro upon the face of the earth, and be hunted, and shall be smitten and scattered abroad, having no place for refuge, the Lord shall be merciful unto them. (Helaman 15)

When Christ ministered to the Nephites, he taught the same doctrine several times:

13 And then shall the remnants, which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them. (3 Nephi 20)

 29 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord seeth fit in his wisdom that they shall minister unto all the scattered tribes of Israel, and unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, and shall bring out of them unto Jesus many souls, that their desire may be fulfilled, and also because of the convincing power of God which is in them. (3 Nephi 28)

Finally, Mormon also taught this doctrine:

15 And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles; for this people shall be scattered... (Mormon 5)

In part 2 of this series, we\’ll look at the many prophecies of the gathering of Israel.