Jesus said that all this could happen only if the Gentiles had been established in America as a free people. They would not only have to be politically free but have a government that allowed freedom of religion. As it turned out, the United States was the only spot on earth where the gospel could have been restored without having the servants of God either thrown into prison or burned at the stake. Furthermore, America was the only place where contact could be made with the Lamanites so they could be taught the gospel and gradually brought into the Church.