The ASvior describes Himself in John 10:14-15 as the good Shepherd who will lay down His life for the sheep. Then Jesus added. "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10:16.)

Jesus never taught the jews any more about these "other sheep."Why? Because of the Jews' "stiffneckedness and unbelief," the Father commanded His Son not to say more about the people in the Western Hemisphere. (3 Ne. 15:18-19.)

After His resurrection and during His visit to the American continent, the Savior said the jews thought He was speaking about the Gentiles bacause they "understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching." (3 Ne. 15:22.)

In Studies in Scripture, Vol. 8 - Alma 30 to Moroni, Robert J. Matthews a professor of ancient scripture at BYU, wrote that this misunderstanding by the jews also is suggested in John 7:35, when the unbelieving Jews asked if the Lord would go to the dispersed Gentiles and teach them.

"This misconception has been a popular interpretation by modern biblical scholars also," Matthews wrote.

But, the BYU professor emphasized, Jesus will not at any time manifest Himself personally nor by His audible voice to a Gentile nation.

"Such an event is declared to be a blessing reserved for those who are of the house of Isreal," Matthews wrote. matthews said the Savior told the Nephites precisely three things about these so-called "lost tribes:"

*"I have other sheep, which are not of this land (America), neither of the land of Jerusalem, neither in any parts of that land round about whither I have been to minister. (3 Ne. 17:1.)"

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*He (the Savior) had never personally visited the lost tribes.

*The lost tribes were about to receive such a visit that probably would be similar to His visit to the nephites.

In 3 Ne. 17:4, Jesus said the lost tribes were not lost to the Father.

"It seems natural to conclude that when we receive the record of the lost tribes, it will contain an account of Jesus' visit, showing His body to them with the same unmistakable evidence as He did to the Nephites . . . ." Matthews concluded.

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