Jacob’s Sermon

The Restoration of Israel

2 Nephi 10:1–2

The next day Jacob continues, teaching about the restoration of Israel.

And now I, Jacob, speak unto you again, my beloved brethren, concerning this righteous branch of which I have spoken. For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us according to the flesh; wherefore, as it has been shown unto me that many of our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief, nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many; and our children shall be restored, that they may come to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer.

2 Nephi 10:3–6

Christ will come among Jerusalem’s Jews—they are the only ones who would crucify their God; other nations would have believed him and repented.

Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ— for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name— should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him— for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.

For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would repent, and know that he be their God. But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified. Wherefore, because of their iniquities, destructions, famines, pestilences, and bloodshed shall come upon them; and they who shall not be destroyed shall be scattered among all nations.

2 Nephi 10:7–9

The Lord promises a gathering in the last days, in fulfillment of prior prophecy.

But behold, thus saith the Lord God:

“When the day cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance.

“And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth; and the nations of the Gentiles shall be great in the eyes of me, saith God, in carrying them forth to the lands of their inheritance.

“Yea, the kings of the Gentiles shall be nursing fathers unto them, and their queens shall become nursing mothers; wherefore, the promises of the Lord are great unto the Gentiles, for he hath spoken it, and who can dispute?”