The Lost Tribes of Israel are the portion of the Israelite population carried away by the Assyrian Empire around 721 B.C. after it conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel. They are called “lost” because they were separated from the other tribes and their whereabouts dropped out of the record. Nephi states that the more part of all the tribes had already been led away from the knowledge of those at Jerusalem and scattered upon the isles of the sea, with none knowing where they were taken (1 Nephi 22:4).
Their writings figure in the gathering of records. The Lord declares that he will speak to the Jews, the Nephites, the other tribes he has led away, and all nations, and each will write his words (2 Nephi 29:12); the Jews, the Nephites, and the lost tribes will each come to hold the others’ writings (2 Nephi 29:13). Records of the Lord’s dealings with the lost tribes therefore exist but are not in the present text (2 Nephi 29:12).
During his ministry among the Nephites, the resurrected Christ said the Father had given him no commandment to tell them about the other tribes, whom the Father had led away out of the land (3 Nephi 15:15). The Father had separated the other tribes from them, and because of the people’s iniquity those at Jerusalem knew nothing of them (3 Nephi 15:20). Christ said he would go to show himself to the lost tribes, who are “not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them” (3 Nephi 17:4).
The lost tribes are tied to a future gathering. The work of the Father will commence among the dispersed and the lost tribes when the gospel is preached (3 Nephi 21:26), and those scattered into the north countries will be gathered in as partakers of the covenant made with Abraham (Ether 13:11). The Three Nephites are to minister to all the scattered tribes of Israel and bring many souls to Christ (3 Nephi 28:29). Latter-day Saint belief holds to the literal gathering of Israel and the restoration of the Ten Tribes (Articles of Faith 1:10).