The Lost 10 Tribes of Israel | How They Return & Our Role in It (LDS Doctrine)

Send us Fan MailWhere are the lost 10 tribes of Israel, and how will they be restored? In this LDS (Latter-day Saint) episode, Tia Smith teaches the doctrine of the scattering and gathering of Israel and makes the case that the 10 tribes return in two ways at once — gradually, through the missionary and temple work happening right now, and in the future as an actual body led from "the land of the north."Starting from Article of Faith 10, which lists "the literal gathering of Israel" and "the restoration of the 10 tribes" as distinct promises, the episode explains that Israel was scattered because they broke the everlasting covenant — so gathering means returning to that covenant, not merely a change of address. It walks through the keys of the gathering and "the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north" restored by Moses in the Kirtland Temple (D&C 110) through a thinning of the veil; the fishers and hunters and the land of the north in Jeremiah 16; and the striking scene in D&C 133, where the tribes come with their own prophets, the ice flows down at their presence, a highway is cast up, and they are crowned in Zion by the children of Ephraim. Tia argues the tribes exist as a coherent body because they carry their own records and genealogies (2 Nephi 29), to be joined one day with the Bible and the Book of Mormon.She's careful about our role: Ephraim and Manasseh are charged with preparing the way through temple and priesthood, but every member leading out in his or her own tribe — Judah, Dan, and the rest — shares that foreordained calling to bring their tribe back. Drawing on Russell M. Nelson, James E. Talmage, Joseph Fielding Smith, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, and John Taylor, the through-line is this: the family history and temple work we do today, on both sides of the veil, prepares the way for both the Second Coming and the return of the lost 10 tribes of Israel.Q: Where are the lost 10 tribes of Israel, and how will they return, according to LDS teaching?A: This episode teaches they were scattered when they broke the everlasting covenant, and will be restored two ways: gradually, through missionary and temple work happening now, and as a body led from "the land of the north" in a future, miraculous gathering (Jeremiah 16; D&C 133). Tia Smith holds that both are true, citing prophets including Joseph Fielding Smith and Orson Pratt who taught the 10 tribes return as an actual group, not merely as a figure of speech.Q: Is the gathering of Israel the same thing as the restoration of the 10 tribes?A: Not exactly — Article of Faith 10 lists them separately, and this episode explains the difference. Scattered Israel is gathered as individuals receive the gospel and its covenants; the 10 tribes are restored, returning as a body with their own prophets and records to receive their temple blessings under the hands of the children of Ephraim.Q: What is our role today in the return of the 10 tribes?A: Tia Smith teaches that Latter-day Saints — Ephraim and Manasseh especially, but every member leading out in their own tribe — prepare the way by building temples and doing family history and temple work, including for those on the other side of the veil, so the ordinances and records are ready when the tribes come to Zion. This is why the work of redeeming the dead is describedCITATIONS:AOF 1:10, 3 Nephi 20:13, D&C 110:1, 11-12, Jeremiah 29:18, Ether 4:17, 3 Nephi 15:15, 3 Nephi 16:3,5, 3 Nephi 17:4, Jeremiah 16: 14-16, Exodus 4:1-4, Exodus 12:27, Exodus 13:21, Exodus 14:13-14, 19-22, 3 Nephi 21:20, 23-26, D&C 133:17-18, 26-34-Russell M. Nelson, “Hope of Israel”, Footnote-Joseph Fielding McConkie, “A Scriptural Search for the Ten Tribes and other Things we Lost”, BYU Lecture, June 1987-Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual, Chapter 24, “The Scattering and the Gathering of Israel”-Talmage, Articles of Faith, 328–29-Russell M. Nelson, “The Gathering of Scattered Israel”, Oct. 2006-(3 Nephi 20:26) Gospel Principles Chapter 42-Gerald N. Lund, “The Coming of the Lord [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1971}, 161-162. Emphasis added)-Wilford Woodruff, JOD 10:214, 4:44    Orson Pratt, JD 7:176, 18:16-Joseph Fielding Smith, (The Way to Perfection, pg. 130)-James E. Talmage: April 1916 General Conference-JOD 18:68 Enrichment D of the Old Testament Student Manual 2 for Institute classes-Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers To Gospel Questions 5:72-74Support the show