Thalia-

You've just asked the easiest question in the world to answer - Where are the lost Ten Tribes? Answer: I don't know! And neither does anyone else, or they wouldn't be lost. Theories abound as to where they might be, but-no one knows.

How did they get lost in the first place? In 721 B.C. the Ten Tribes, ruled by Rehoboam, and known as the Kingdom of Israel, (as opposed to the remaining two tribes in Jerusalem who were ruled by Jeroboam and known as the Kingdom of Judah) were carried captive into Assyria by King Shalmaneser. Years later, when they were finally released from captivity, they did not return to Palestine to the land of their inheritance, but departed into the north and disappeared. We learn from President Joseph Fielding Smith that,

"to this day they are lost to the world. As they journeyed to the north many of their number straggled and fell behind and mingled with the peoples in the lands through which they passed, but the main body continued on their journey and were hidden by the hand of the Lord." (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Restoration of All Things, p. 131.)

From the words of the prophets recorded in the scriptures, we learn a bit more. Nephi, some where between 12 and 30 years after he left Jerusalem reported that,

there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea; and whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away (1 Nephi 22:4).

This scripture suggests that, being "scattered to and fro" they may not exist as a defined nation but rather exist as individuals among other nations, as Judah has done until a nation was defined for them after the Second World War. But the Savior, speaking to the Nephites after his resurrection, assures us that at that time they existed as a body,

- But now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them (3 Nephi 17:4).

We learn from the scriptures that the lost Ten Tribes will one day return and be recognized for who the are. Nephi again tells us that,

And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews (2 Nephi 29:13).

The Savior revealed to the Nephites that at some future time the redemptive work would be introduced among the tribes that have been led away (3 Nephi 21:26).

To Joseph Smith in D&C 133:26-34, the Lord revealed some rather specific information concerning the return of the ten tribes:

26 And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence. 27 And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep. 28 Their enemies shall become a prey unto them. 29 And in the barren deserts there shall come forth pools of living water; and the parched ground shall no longer be a thirsty land. 30 And they shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants. 31 And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence. 32 And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim. 33 And they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy. 34 Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows. The rather enigmatic statements, and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence, and an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep, both suggest that when the ten tribes return they shall be in a body.

They were apparently in a body when John the Revelator was sent to minister to them. The question is, where are they now and what has been their state during the 2000-year interval between the advent of John among them and their eventual return to be crowned with glory in Zion? On this the scriptures are silent and their identity to date has not been revealed nor discovered. It is an idle and unprofitable exercise to speculate as to where they are now - whether they live together as a nation or whether they will be gathered from among the nations; whether they have lived for 2000 years with the knowledge of their scriptures, or whether their scriptures will be rediscovered as were the scriptures of the Nephites; whether the highway to be cast up in the midst of the great deep shall miraculously emerge from the ocean, or whether it will be cast up as the 26-mile highway over Lake Pontchar train was cast up; whether the living pools of water will be the result of geological or climatic changes, or will be the result of developments in irrigation.

But one thing is certain: When all these things occur, we shall recognize that they represent the fulfillment of prophecy, and our faith shall be confirmed. Great things are in store!

Gramps

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