One of the most consistent signs which is to precede the Lord’s fulfillment of the promises made to the fathers regarding the restoration of the house of Israel is this sign—that the Jews shall be persuaded to believe in Christ. This sign is given in numerous other passages, 2 Nephi 9:2, 2 Nephi 10:7, and 2 Nephi 30:7. As Nephi explains, when this happens, the Lord will set his hand…to restore his people and proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men (v. 17). The Lord has already set his hand to recover his people and has been performing his marvelous work and a wonder for the past 170 years. Therefore, this scripture, that the Jews are persuaded to believe in Christ, must have already come to pass.
This may not make sense to some. One could argue that the Jews of today have not yet accepted Christ in sufficient numbers to fulfill this prophecy. Such an interpretation misunderstands the difference between the way Nephi used the term, “Jews,” and the way that we sometimes use the term, “Jews.” If we think of the “Jews” as that group of people which recognizes its heritage, accepts the religion of Judaism, and is returning in vast numbers to the Holy Land, the scripture doesn’t make sense. That group of people is not turning to Christ as their Messiah in any great numbers. When the Savior comes again there will be some of this group which ask, What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet (DC 55:68), signifying that they have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as the Messiah.
However, if we understand the way in which Nephi uses the term, “Jews,”—to mean anyone of the house of Israel—this prophecy makes a lot more sense (see 2 Nephi 9:1-2). In that sense, all those of Nephite and Lamanite descent who have accepted the Book of Mormon and the gospel of Jesus Christ have fulfilled this prophecy. All those who lived in Europe and America, who unknowingly are of the blood of Israel, and accepted the gospel have fulfilled this prophecy. The blood of Israel has been scattered all over the earth. Those who accept the gospel are either adopted into the house of Israel or belong to it by birthright, even if they did not realize their own lineage. This is what Nephi was speaking of when he said, And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ (2 Nephi 30:7).