The great sign that the last days have arrived is the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. This has been a recurrent theme from 1 Nephi to Mormon’s concluding remarks about 3 Nephi. The reason this sign is so important is that the promises which the Lord has given the House of Israel are so important. After two millennia of being scattered, smitten, abused, and ridiculed, the house of Israel finally has something to look forward to. Every prophecy of Isaiah which speaks of the redemption of Israel will come to pass, for with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee (Isa 54:8).
’As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand…
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face…
I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
And I will purge out from among you the rebels…
For in mine holy mountain…there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them…
I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
And ye shall know that I am the Lord.’ (Ezek 20:33-42)
“We often teach the gospel without mentioning the covenant of Abraham or the house of Israel, as though these covenants did not even exist. In the Book of Mormon, Jesus teaches us that the ancient covenants are as valid today as they were 4,000 years ago. I believe that they have something to do with the political events occurring in the world and also with our children and grandchildren traveling to various places of the earth, among war and revolution, to tell of the restoration of the gospel and of the Book of Mormon. These events are occurring before our very eyes. According to Jesus’ own words, the covenants of Abraham Isaac, Jacob and Joseph are still important to the Father and to Jesus and should also be important to us.” (Robert J. Matthews, Book of Mormon Symposium Series, 3 Nephi 9-30, edited by PR Cheesman, MS Nyman, and CD Tate, Jr., 1988, p. 38)