Nephi and his people were a part of the initial waves of the scattering of Israel because of apostasy. Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were scattered both before and after the coming of their Redeemer. Thus, the Nephites were acutely aware of the reality of being scattered. Therefore, Nephi provided his people and later readers of the Book of Mormon with three prophetic witnesses of the future of the House of Israel: (1) his own vision, (2) the testimony of his brother Jacob, and (3) the words of the great prophet Isaiah.