2 Nephi 25:12-14

Nephi continues prophesying about the Jews.  After their return from the Babylonian Captivity, they will have wars and problems.  The day will come when “the Only Begotten of the Father … shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him” (2 Nephi 25:12).  They reject Christ because they have become a wicked, hard-hearted, and stiff-necked people.

After the Jews reject Christ, he will be crucified and laid in a sepulcher.   Nephi₁ wrote early in his record “the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos…” (1 Nephi 19:10).

John’s Gospel tells us, “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.  There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.” (John 19:41-42).

After three days, Christ will rise from the dead.  King Benjamin emphasized this point is his great sermon.  “And he sha1l rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men” (Mosiah 3:10).

Malachi prophesied, “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall”

(Malachi 4:2).

Nephi reminds us that he saw this day.  “And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.  And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world” (1 Nephi 11:32-33). 

“The Savior is personified by the tree … He, like the branches of the tree of life which encompass the entire earth, protects and gives life to every living thing.  A further reminder is that Christ was crucified and lay three days in a sepulchre. It appeared to all that he was dead, but at the end of the three days he rose "from the dead, with healing in his wings" (2 Nephi 25:13). The imagery suggests that even without its leaves, the tree is endless.”[1]

After Christ’s resurrection, Jerusalem shall again be destroyed.  Christ’s words would be recorded in the New Testament.

AND Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things?  verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Matthew 24:1-2

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Then let them which are in Judæa flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries [GR districts or regions] enter thereinto.

For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days!  for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled [JST Luke 21:24 Now these things he spake unto them, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem].

Luke 21:20 - 24

John Tvedtnes comments:

Like Jacob, [Nephi₁] refers to the scattering and gathering of the Jews (2 Nephi 25:9-11), then goes on to add that there will be wars and speaks of the coming of Christ among the Jews (2 Nephi 25:12-14). He notes that the Jews will be scattered and gathered a second time after Christ's appearance among them (2 Nephi 25:14-17) and that they must ultimately come to believe in the Messiah (2 Nephi 25:18-20).[2] 

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[1] The Tree of Life - a Personification of Christ, Jeanette W. Miller, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 18, 2013.

[2] Answering Mormon Scholars, John A. Tvedtnes, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 18, 2013.