11 Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy and holiness shall be upon their heads; and they shall obtain gladness and joy; sorrow and mourning shall flee away.11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.12 I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you. Behold, who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of man, who shall die, and of the son of man, who shall be made like unto grass?12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made asgrass;13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor?13 (no differences)14 The captive exile hasteneth, that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.14 (no differences)
The “redeemed of the Lord” who were to “return, and come with singing unto Zion” with “everlasting joy” (v. 11) are identified in the Doctrine and Covenants as “the righteous [who] shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy” (D&C 45:71; see also 66:11; 101:18). Only the righteous coming to Zion is consistent with and holiness that is retained in the Book of Mormon text. Their joy will be because the Lord will comfort them, and they will no longer fear the natural man who has oppressed them, and kept them in bondage to the Gentile culture (vv. 12–14). The return has begun, but it will not be completed until the center place of Zion is built up “that the prophets might be fulfilled” (D&C 101:19).