When the Lord determined Israel would be His chosen people, His decision was immutable. To become redeemed is to become a part of Israel. It is necessary again in our day to reconnect to Israel to obtain a hope of becoming part of God’s chosen people. This was the Gospel on the earth at the time of Christ. And it is the Gospel in our day.
Paul wrote in former times:
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Gal. 3: 29–4: 7.)
The message in the New Testament times was intended to bring all into the house of Israel through Christ’s Church.
This message is also given to us: “But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.” (3 Ne. 16: 13.) We can rejoin the covenant community anytime we decide to accept the covenants He offers to us.
Nephi is again confirming that connecting to Israel by forming a covenant with God (upon God’s terms) is how we participate in God glorifying Himself. It is, after all, God’s work and glory to bring to man immortality and eternal life. (Moses 1: 39.) He intends to do so through Israel, who comprises His chosen people in all generations. So the question for our day is whether we are numbered among those who are “Israel” by having made and faithfully kept the covenant which makes us such.