1 Nephi 22
It is almost surprising that Laman and Lemuel would ask if the prophecies of Isaiah were physical or spiritual when you consider that they were currently a part of a literal scattering. It seems that they were more ready to believe in a spiritual fulfillment than a literal one. A full understanding of the principle of gathering shows that the process of scattering and gathering is a continual process – not confined to one people (the Jews), one place (Jerusalem), or one time. While Satan desires to sift us as wheat – hoping that we will blow away with the chaff the Lord uses the scattering and gathering cycle as part of His refining process by which He makes up His jewels. The physical scattering tends to follow the spiritual scattering. That physical scattering opens the doors for the subsequent gathering (both physical and spiritual).