In John 10, Christ declares himself as the Good Shepherd. Thieves and robbers have attempted to lead His sheep, but the sheep do not follow them because the sheep know the voice of their shepherd. 

In John 10:16, Christ says “[a]nd 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.”

While the referent of “other sheep” in this verse could be interpreted as more general, Latter-day Saints have the unique privilege of interpreting this verse more specifically since Christ specifically identifies the Nephites of the Book of Mormon as at least among the “other sheep” that he needed to visit and bring to the Gospel.

In 3 Nephi 15:21–24, the risen Christ declares:

And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: 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. And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching. And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice—that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost. But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me; and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me.

In the next chapter, Christ further states that:

…I have other sheep, which are not of this land, neither of the land of Jerusalem, neither in any parts of that land round about whither I have been to minister. For they of whom I speak are they who have not as yet heard my voice; neither have I at any time manifested myself unto them. But I have received a commandment of the Father that I shall go unto them, and that they shall hear my voice, and shall be numbered among my sheep, that there may be one fold and one shepherd; therefore I go to show myself unto them (3 Nephi 16:1–3).

Latter-day Saints are blessed to know this information. Christ’s ministry was not limited to Palestine. His work was not done by missionaries centered in that region and that proselytized after His death. He personally ministered to many nations before he ascended more permanently to the Father. He and the Father have also given the nations books out of which they will be judged (2 Nephi 29:11–13).

Eventually, the Book of Mormon promises us that “my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever” (2 Nephi 29:14).

The text in 3 Nephi 15 and 16 simultaneously confirms the connection between the Bible and Book of Mormon as well as testifies of God’s care for all of His children, wherever they may be.