8 Thus saith the Lord: In an acceptable time have I heard thee, O isles of the sea, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee my servant for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;8 Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners: Go forth; to them that sit in darkness: Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.10 They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.12 And then, O house of Israel, behold, these shall come from far; and lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. [1 Nephi 21:8–12]12 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. [Isaiah 49:8–12]
The Lord says “my servant” (a book of Mormon retention) will establish scattered Israel in the “ isles of the sea” (another Book of Mormon text retention) (v. 8). The expression “to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages” may have reference to the choice land, and promised blessings of the Nephites that were destroyed and negated because of their wickedness (v. 8).
Nephi gives the following interpretation of the verses quoted above (8–12):
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.
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.
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. [1 Nephi 22:10–12]
The Lord will show his power, or “make bare his arm in the eyes of all nations” (1 Nephi 22:10) by “bringing about his covenants and his gospel” to those of the house of Israel. The children of Israel (“Prisoners” in 1 Nephi 21:9) will be brought out of the spiritual captivity of the Gentiles, and “be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance” (1 Nephi 22:12). They will “be brought out of obscurity” (not identified with Israel), “and out of darkness (taught the truth), and “come to know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel” (the true knowledge of God) (1 Nephi 22:12). The Lord will miraculously open the way for them to return to their lands (1 Nephi 21:9–11). The pioneer trek from Nauvoo, Illinois to the Rocky Mountains, was the major and most obvious example of the Lord opening the way. The way has been opened, and will be opened, in every land to one degree or another. The power of God will be both physical and spiritual in redeeming and delivering his people. The Book of Mormon retention of “And then O house of Israel” (1 Nephi 21:12) shows that the majority of the people of Israel will be gathered after the major trek to the west. The verses that follow further substantiate this thesis.