The remnant of Joseph who was brought out of Egypt was Lehi, a descendent of Manasseh (see Alma 10:3), and Ishmael a descendent of Ephraim (see Nephi 7:4–5, JD, 23:184). Thus, both branches of Joseph ran “over the wall … unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills” (Genesis 49:22–26). Joseph’s latter-day city will be built in Independence, Missouri (D&C 57:3), and will be built by a remnant of Jacob, but assisted by others of the House of Israel and the Gentiles who repent.
22 But if [the Gentiles] will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance;
23 And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem.
24 And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.
25 And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst. [3 Nephi 21:22–25]
In modern revelation the members of the Church are designated as “my people, which are a remnant of Jacob, and those who are heirs according to the covenant” (D&C 52:1–2). The type or parallel of Joseph being brought unto Egypt and the remnant of Joseph brought to the America’s (vv. 7–8) seems to need no further comment. Enoch of old was also shown the building of this city.
62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem. [Moses 7:62]
The righteousness that was to be sent down from heaven must represents angels restoring the Book of Mormon and the priesthood.
The new heaven and the new earth (Ether 13:9) again places the city of Joseph into the millennium, although it will be built before Christ comes, as shown above. The power of heaven coming down among them (3 Nephi 21:25 above) also indicates the millennium, although Christ can certainly visit his temples before the millennium. As stated in the Articles of Faith: “Zion (New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American Continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory” (Article of Faith, 10). The paradisiacal glory is the terrestrial glory. Isaiah foresaw “the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage” prior to Christ reigning “in Mount Zion and Jerusalem” (Isaiah 24:19–23; see also 13:13 and 2 Nephi 23:13). At the end of the millennium, “this earth will be rolled back into the presence of God, and crowned with celestial glory” (TPJS, 181).
The New Jerusalem to follow the new heaven and new earth (Ether 13:10) seems to be an enlargement upon the same New Jerusalem that should come down out of heaven (v. 3). Those whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb and are numbered with the remnant of the seed of Joseph (v. 10) seem to be the members of the Church who have passed away, but are returning to the earth as resurrected beings to minister during the millennium.
Returning to Old Jerusalem, Ether is again describing those who have passed on and are resurrected—”washed in the blood of the Lamb” (v. 11). Those gathered from the north countries are apparently the lost tribes. The fulfilling of Abraham’s covenant was not to be fulfilled until after the Lamanites were “driven and scattered by the Gentiles” (Mormon 5:20); or to “be fulfilled in the latter days” (1 Nephi 15:18). Their gathering and coming to Jerusalem will fulfill the covenant made to Abraham of occupying the “land from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates” (Genesis 15:8) that will make of Abraham “a great nation” (Abraham 2:9). This has never been fulfilled in any age of the world.
The first being last and the last being first (Ether 13:12) has reference to the gathering of Israel. In order, the three main bodies of Israelites that were taken away are first the ten tribes (721 B.C.), the Jews second (607 B.C.), and the people of Lehi last (600 B.C.). When Ether saw their return, he saw the remnant of Joseph first (vv. 6–8), the Jerusalem of old second (v. 11), and those from the north countries last (v. 11). The allegory of the house of Israel, given by Zenos, taught the same principle as he described the branches of Israel being grafted back into the mother trunk, the last first, and the first last. “Graft in the branches; begin at the last that they may be first, and that the first may be last, and dig about the trees, both old and young, the first and the last; and the last and the first, that all may be nourished once again for the last time” (Jacob 5:63). The gathering of Joseph is well underway. Judah has begun to gather physically in preparation to a spiritual gathering, and the ten tribes are still not identified.