The Savior taught the righteous Nephites that several generations after his appearance to them their descendants would become wicked again; finally the Gentiles would be brought to occupy the lands that had been given for the inheritance of the Nephites. However, the Savior also tells the Nephites that "if the Gentiles do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, . . . Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver." (3 Nephi 20:15-16.) Later in his sermon the Savior repeats this prophecy (3 Nephi 21:12); then he says: "wo be unto the Gentiles except they repent." (3 Nephi 21:14.)
A possible interpretation of this prophecy has been given by Daniel H. Wells as follows:
To add to the sufferings and great calamities of the American nation, they will be greatly distressed by the aborigines, who will "marshall themselves, and become exceeding angry," and vex them "with a sore vexation." This event, we believe, may not take place in its fulness until the nation has been greatly weakened by the death of millions in their own revolutionary battles. To what extent the Indians will have power over the nation, is not stated in this revelation; but from what Jesus informed their forefathers at the time of his personal ministry among them, as recorded in the Book of Mormon, they will have power in a great measure over the whole nation. In speaking upon this subject, Jesus prophesies as follows:"Therefore, it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him" (Joseph Smith) "to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant; and my people, who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver." [3 Nephi 21:11-12.]
. . . It appears more improbable, now, to the people of the United States, that the Indians should ever become so powerful an enemy and so dreadful a scourge to them, . . . that they would ever engage in so dreadful a civil war as that now raging. Yet this will as surely be fulfilled as have the other portions of this prophecy. (Millennial Star, 27:187.)