Redemption at the Gentiles’ hands will come after they have first scattered the Lehites, then experienced a “marvelous work” that will change their hearts. Both branches of Lehi’s descendants suffered multiple scatterings, typically at the hands of more than one nation. Nephi sees that the marvelous work will greatly benefit the Gentiles themselves (v. 9), but here he focuses on its effect on his own people, about whom he is most keenly concerned. This restoration of the gospel will be an act of such “great worth” that it will be compared to “being nourished” and “carried” by the Gentiles. Thus, the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith and its subsequent spread fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy.
Variant: As Oliver copied from the original manuscript to the printer’s manuscript, he misread nursed as nourished. The original read “likened unto their being nursed by the Gentiles.” The original word fits with the reference to Isaiah in 1 Nephi 21:22–23 and the use of nursed in 1 Nephi 22:6.