2 Nephi 25:22-23

Discussing his record, Nephi makes clear his record will be passed “from generation to generation as long as earth shall stand” (2 Nephi 25:22).  They will go forth to the entire world.  And, those that possess these records will be judged according to the words in the records.

Nephi wrote the words of the Lord.  “For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.”  (2 Nephi 29:11).

During his ministry in the Americas, the Savior told the Nephites:

Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are forbidden.

Write the works of this people, which shall be, even as hath been written, of that which hath been.

For behold, out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works be known unto men.

And behold, all things are written by the Father; therefore out of the books which shall be written shall the world be judged.

And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just.  Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be?  Verily I say unto you, even as I am.

3 Nephi 27:23-27

Elder Neal Maxwell sums up the future of the Book of Mormon.

We know the book's influence will continue to grow. "Wherefore, these things shall go from generation to generation as long as the earth shall stand; and they shall go according to the will and pleasure of God; and the nations who shall possess them shall be judged of them according to the words which are written" (2 Nephi 25:22). Among other words foretelling the book's growing influence are these: "The day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the house tops" (2 Nephi 27:11). Hence the Book of Mormon's best days still lie ahead![1]

The believers, Nephi tells us, do all they can to convince children and brethren to believe in Christ.  Why?  “[F]or we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we do” (2 Nephi 25:23).

What is meant by this statement?  In Romans, Paul wrote:

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by [GR through] the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God without the law [GR apart from, without intervention of] the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

[JST Rom. 3:24 Therefore being justified only by his grace] through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:20-24

What is mean by the law in these scriptures?  The law referred to is the Law of Moses.  It will not save us.  Only the atonement of Christ and His grace will save us. 

Alma2 told Corianton:

And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state, which man had brought upon himself because of his own disobedience;

Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice.  Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.

And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.

Alma 42:12-14

We fell because of disobedience.  We could be saved only through the plan of redemption.  Without it, justice would have laid claim to our souls.  Through Christ’s grace, the plan of redemption became a reality.

Noel Reynolds writes:

Nephi had two principal purposes for this record, and he points them out to us. Let's look at 2 Nephi 25:23 first, because this is his principal purpose: "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." So his first and principal purpose is to persuade his descendants to believe in Christ. Why? Because man can only be saved through the grace of Christ. He says, "It is by grace that we are saved, after all that we can do."[2]

Nephi tell us all our works cannot save us.  We cannot do enough to be saved.  Everything we do falls short.  What ultimately saves us is the grace of Christ. 

Without grace no one except Christ would be saved. But it is also essential that each of `us do all that is within our power to live fully the principles of the gospel. Even if all we do is pitifully small compared to what the Savior does for us, it is still absolutely vital to our salvation. "It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23).[3] 

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[1] By the Gift and Power of God, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 26, 2013.

[2] Nephi's Teachings in the Book of Mormon, Noel B. Reynolds, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 26, 2013.

[3] The Word Is Powerful, by Dennis H. Karpowitz, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 26, 2013.