1 Nephi 22

Yesterday, I blogged the idea that the blood of Israel has been spread through all nations. Statistically, it's very probable that almost everyone has an ancestory line to Israel. This becomes more evident as Nephi told his brothers -

"...for it appears that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations.
4 And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea; and whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 22:3 - 4)

And because of that -

"...since they have been led away, these things have been prophesied concerning them, and also concerning all those who shall hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they harden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be hated of all men." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 22:5)

And as such, since many are scattered and mixed through all nations, Nephi will then suggest that they are also gentiles also. Thus I see this that in many ways, we are of the house of Israel but also considered gentile therefore in the latter days -

"...the Lord has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and set them up for a standard, and their children have been carried in their arms, and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders, behold these things of which are spoken are temporal; for thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers; and it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 22:6)

In my mind, the words "also all our brethren" would suggest any that are willing to keep the commandments and their covenants with the Lord. In this way Israel is gathered. But not necessarily gathered to one place, but -

"...he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 22:12)

I personally believe that lands of their inheritance would be the "stake of Zion".

One more thought. The angel told Nephi -

"...that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book..." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 13:28)

We see a few of these things as Nephi quotes Isaiah -

"Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.
18 Behold, my brethren, I say unto you, that these things must shortly come; yea, even blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke must come; and it must needs be upon the face of this earth; and it cometh unto men according to the flesh if it so be that they will harden their hearts against the Holy One of Israel.
19 For behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 22:17 - 19)

I don't believe these words can be found in our present Old Testament. It is a comforting thing that Isaiah prophecies that -

"...the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire." (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 22:17)