Commenting on Jer. 23:3-8, Elder Bruce R. McConkie, in The Millennial Messiah, wrote:
"Messiah's latter-day reign over the chosen people, his triumphant rule over the Twelve Tribes of Israel, his exercise of kingly power like his father David - all this presupposes the gathering together of scattered Judah and lost Israel. Let Israel gather first and then let Messiah reign. And so we read in holy writ: I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.' They shall come into the fold of Judah in Jerusalem, into the fold of Joseph in America, into the folds established in the stakes of Zion in all nations.And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them.' Once again they shall hear the good word of God; they shall bask in the light of the gospel; they shall rejoice in Jehovah as their Shepherd. And they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.' All their needs will be supplied by the Shepherd of Israel."Then a glorious thing will happen. The kingdom will be restored to Israel, and they shall gain the political power as well as the ecclesiastical.Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.' Jehovah reigneth; Christ reigneth; the Son of David sits on the throne of his father. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely' - the two ancient kingdoms shall be one again -and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.' The King who reigns on David's throne is the Lord.
"With Israel gathered again, with the scattered remnants of Jacob rejoicing anew in the very things their fathers possessed, with the Appointed One reigning on the throne of David forever, is it any wonder that the glories of their ancient history shall fade into a comparative insignificance? `Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The Lord liveth which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.' What was the deliverance from Egypt, with the plagues and miracles and parting of the Red Sea, in comparison with the assembling of Israel from the ends of the earth to bow before the Lord Our Righteousness? The Lord Our Righteousness, he who is our Lord when we are righteous - what can compare with his personal reign? The seed of Israel will be more blessed than were their fathers of old; the latter-day glory will exceed that of Sinai and Horeb and Carmel."
