During his ministry to the Nephites after his resurrection, Jesus identified a body of his followers who were neither Nephite nor among the house of Israel at Jerusalem. He told the people: “And verily, verily, I say unto you that I have other sheep, which are not of this land, neither of the land of Jerusalem, neither in any parts of that land round about whither I have been to minister” (3 Nephi 16:1). He distinguished them from the Nephites, whom he had already named as the “other sheep” of John 10:16 (3 Nephi 15:21), and from the lost tribes of Israel separated by the Father (3 Nephi 15:15-20).
Of this further group he said they had not yet heard his voice, and that he had not at any time manifested himself to them (3 Nephi 16:2). He said he had received a commandment of the Father to go to them, that they would hear his voice and be numbered among his sheep, “that there may be one fold and one shepherd” (3 Nephi 16:3). The record gives no detail of their identity or location and does not report that visit.