1 Nephi 22

This chapter probably won't make much sense without some basic translation. Nephi is prophesying of things to come (actually, he is just expounding on what he just read out of the Brass plates, which are a portion of the Old Testament)—most of the events are in the future for him, but in the past for us. Here are some foundational things to notice/understand:

V. 3-5 The Scattering of the House of Israel: Jacob in the Old Testament, whose name was later changed to Israel, had 12 sons and all together the 12 sons and their descendants are known as the House of Israel. The 12 sons divided into two kingdoms in 925 B.C. Ten tribes formed the northern kingdom; they were known as Israel, or the northern kingdom. The southern kingdom, consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, was headquartered at Jerusalem.

The northern kingdom soon went into apostasy and adopted the practice of worshiping idols, and the kingdom was captured by the Assyrians and the people carried away captive into Assyria. They have therefore become known as the “lost ten tribes.”

Since their captivity they have never yet returned to their homeland, but extensive promises and prophecies speak of the time when they of the “north countries” shall return when they are ready to obey the gospel. The gathering of the lost tribes is to be a more spectacular event than the children of Israel coming out of Egypt in Moses’ day. Prophecies of their return include: Isa. 11:10–16; Jer. 3:18; 16:14–21; 1 Ne. 22:4–12; 2 Ne. 10:21–22; 3 Ne. 15:13–15; 16:1–5

(let's be honest, I stole most of that definition from another source--I'm not that smart)

V. 6-7 The Gentiles: In the scriptures, Gentiles are basically all people who aren’t of the House of Israel (or since most of the House of Israel is lost, it is anyone who is not a Jew since that is the only tribe that was not lost). 

V. 7 the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be scattered. The mighty nation among the Gentiles that Nephi is prophesying about is the United States of America (“even upon the face of this land”--remember the Book of Mormon takes place on the ancient American continent). The Native American Indians are Nephi’s descendants hundreds of years down the road, and here Nephi is prophesying that the settlers of the American nation will scatter his seed (and indeed, the American settlers scattered the Indians around the country and kicked them out of their homes). 

V. 8 And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; The marvelous work is the restoring of the full church and gospel of Jesus Christ through the modern-day prophet, Joseph Smith, in the 1820’s. This is a whole other lesson but an important one (it’s the story of why, when, and how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came about). This is a pretty good resource if you are interested (about 2-3 pages long): http://www.lds.org/topics/church-organization/the-church-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

V. 9-12 When it talks about “In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed” and “the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel” and “they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel”—this refers to the missionary work of the church and the spreading of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ across the earth.

V. 13-14, 23 refers to the fall of any church, kingdom, or nation that fights against the work of God in the latter-days (Latter-days=the time between the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the early 1800's until the 2^nd coming of Jesus Christ)

V. 15-19 refers to the 2^nd Coming of Jesus Christ

V. 20-21 This is a prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ. If it is a prophecy of the 1^st coming of Jesus Christ then this jumps backward in chronology, but I suppose it could also be a prophecy of the 2^nd coming.

These verses wrap up the chapter well. Amen!

 30 Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God.

 31 Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified, and also taught them. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen.

 Congratulations on finishing the first book in the Book of Mormon!!