# 3 Nephi 21

*Paraphrase*

### The Sign of the Gathering

I’ll give you a sign so you’ll know when these things are about to happen—when I gather my people, the house of Israel, from their long scattering and restore Zion among them.

Here’s the sign: When the things I’m telling you now—and the things I’ll reveal later through the Holy Spirit the Father gives you—are made known to the Gentiles, they’ll learn about this people, a remnant of Jacob’s family, and about how my people will be scattered by them. When the Father makes these things known to the Gentiles, and they bring them back to you, it’s because the Father wants them established in this land as a free people, so these things can come from them to a remnant of your children. That way the Father can fulfill the covenant he made with his people, the house of Israel. So when these works—and the works that will happen among you later—come from the Gentiles to your descendants who’ve fallen into unbelief because of their wickedness, the Father wants it to come through the Gentiles so he can show his power to them. That way, if they don’t harden their hearts, they can turn back, come to me, be baptized in my name, and learn the truth of my teachings. Then they’ll be counted among my people, the house of Israel. And when these things happen—when your descendants begin to understand them—it will be a sign that the Father has already started fulfilling the covenant he made with the house of Israel.

### Kings Will Fall Silent

When that day comes, kings will fall silent. They’ll see what was never told them. They’ll witness what they never heard of. On that day, the Father will do an incredible work for my sake—something marvelous among them. But some won’t believe it, even when someone tells them plainly. My servant’s life will be in my hands. They won’t be able to kill him, though they’ll wound him. But I’ll heal him—I’ll show them my wisdom is greater than the devil’s cunning.

Anyone who refuses to believe my words—I am Jesus Christ—which the Father will have this servant bring to the Gentiles, giving him power to do it, will be cut off from my covenant people. It will be just as Moses said.

### Like a Lion Among Sheep

My people who are a remnant of Jacob will be among the Gentiles, right in their midst, like a lion in the forest or a young lion among sheep. When a lion passes through, it tramples and tears everything apart, and no one can stop it. They’ll raise their hand against their enemies, and all who oppose them will be destroyed.

### Warning to the Gentiles

Disaster is coming for the Gentiles unless they turn back. The Father says: “On that day I’ll wipe out your horses and smash your chariots. I’ll demolish your cities and tear down all your fortresses. I’ll eliminate sorcery from your midst. You’ll have no more fortune-tellers. I’ll destroy your carved idols and sacred stones. You’ll never again worship the things your hands have made. I’ll uproot your sacred groves and level your cities.“

All the lies, deceptions, jealousies, conflicts, corrupt religious practices, and sexual immorality will come to an end. The Father says: “On that day, anyone who won’t turn back and come to my beloved Son, I’ll cut them off from my people, the house of Israel. I’ll unleash vengeance and fury on them like nothing the nations have ever experienced.“

### The New Jerusalem

“But if they turn back, listen to my words, and don’t harden their hearts, I’ll establish my church among them. They’ll enter the covenant and be numbered among this remnant of Jacob, to whom I’ve given this land as their inheritance. They’ll help my people, the remnant of Jacob, and everyone from the house of Israel who comes, to build a city called the New Jerusalem. Then they’ll help gather my scattered people from across the whole earth into the New Jerusalem. The power of heaven will come down among them, and I’ll be there in their midst.

### The Father’s Work Begins

That’s when the Father’s work will truly begin—when this gospel is preached among the remnant of this people. I’m telling you, on that day the Father’s work will begin among all my scattered people, even the lost tribes he led away from Jerusalem. The work will begin among all my scattered people, with the Father preparing the way for them to come to me, so they can call on the Father in my name. Then the work will begin among all nations, as the Father prepares the way for his people to be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. They’ll come from every nation. They won’t leave in panic or run away. I’ll go before them, says the Father, and I’ll protect them from behind.“

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/3-nephi/21)*
