Nephi is speaking of the time of Christ's death, and specifically notes that " Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power..." There are two ways in which the crucified Lord will make himself known, both directly and by the unleashing of the forces of nature. While the Old World received the forces of nature (save the more private experiences of the believers with the risen Lord) the New World fulfills the other portion of Nephi's prophecy, and they hear his voice.