he Twelve He affirmed that never had the Father
commanded Him to inform the Jews concerning the existence of the
Nephites, except indirectly by mention of other sheep not of the Jewish
fold; and as, "because of stiffneckedness and unbelief," they had failed
to comprehend His words, the Father had commanded Him to say no more
with reference either to the Nephites or to the third fold--comprizing
"the other tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away
out of the land." To the Nephite disciples Jesus taught many other
matters that had been withheld from the Jews, who through unfitness to
receive had been left in ignorance. Even the Jewish apostles had wrongly
supposed that those "other sheep" were the Gentile nations, not
realizing that the carrying of the gospel to the Gentiles was part of
their particular mission, and oblivious to the fact that never would
Christ manifest Himself in person to those who were not of the house of
Israel. Through the promptings of the Holy Ghost and under the
ministrations of men commissioned and sent would the Gentiles hear the
word of God; but to the personal manifestation of the Messiah they were
ineligible.[1473] Great, however, will be the Lord's mercies and
blessings to the Gentiles who accept the truth, for unto them the Holy
Ghost shall bear witness of the Father and of the Son; and all of them
who comply with the laws and ordinances of the gospel shall be numbered
in the house of Israel. Their conversion and enfoldment with the Lord's
own will be as individuals, and not as nations, tribes, or
peoples.[1474]

The adoring multitude, numbering about two thousand five hundred souls,
thought that Jesus was about to depart; and they tearfully yearned to
have Him remain. He comforted them with the assurance that He would
return on the morrow, and admonished them to ponder upon the things He
had taught, and to pray in His name to the Father for understanding. He
had already informed the Twelve, and now stated to the people, that He
would show Himself and minister "unto the lost tribes of Israel, for
they are not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken
them." Voicing the compassion He felt, the Lord directed the people to
fetch their afflicted ones, the lame, halt, maimed, blind and deaf, the
leprous, and the withered; and when these were brought He healed them,
every one. Then, as He commanded, parents brought their little children,
and placed them in a ci