2 Nephi 29:1-2

Chapter 29

Many gentiles shall reject the Book of Mormon—They shall say: We need no more Bible—The Lord speaks to many nations—He will judge the world out of the books thus written. About 559–545 B.C.

The words in this chapter are the words of the Lord and recorded by Nephi.  The Lord again reveals more to Nephi about the “marvelous work” He will do among men.  What is this marvelous work?  It will be the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.  Hugh Nibley asks the question, “Why the Book of Mormon?”. 

The twenty-seventh and twenty-ninth chapters of the book of 2 Nephi explain the conditions under which the Lord has brought forth the Book of Mormon in modern times and his purpose in doing so:

·         To show the human race the vanity of their wisdom and to show them "that I know all their works" (2 Nephi 27:26—27).

·         To teach the meek and correct ancient misunderstandings (2 Nephi 27:25, 30).

·         To serve as a great central rallying point for the work of the last days: "a standard unto my people," recalling them to their covenants (2 Nephi 29:1—2).

·         To stand beside the Bible as "the testimony of two nations ... a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another" (2 Nephi 29:8).

·         "That I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; ... for my work is not yet finished" (2 Nephi 29:9).

·         It is "written to the Lamanites ... and also to Jew and Gentile ... —Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations" (Title Page to the Book of Mormon).

·         At a time when men "cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught" (2 Nephi 33:2), the Book of Mormon, containing "the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also; ... was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to others by the ministering of angels, and is declared unto the world by them—Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old; Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever. Amen" (D&C 20:9—12).[1]

When the Lord does his work, he will do it “that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men” (2 Nephi 29:1).  At this time, He will, for a second time, “recover my people which are of the house of Israel” (2 Nephi 29:1).

Jacob taught the Nephites about the second time the Lord will recover the house of Israel.  “And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him” (2 Nephi 6:14).

Hugh Nibley continues:

[The appearance of the Book of Mormon] is not a triumphant one at all, but only marks the first step, the very beginning, of the latter-day work: "Therefore, when ye shall receive this record ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land" (Ether 4:17). It shows "that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel" (2 Nephi 29:1). It is characteristic of adventist and millennialist sects to preach a hasty and spectacular consummation of all things. Not so the Book of Mormon, whose coming forth is depicted only as the opening scene of a long and eventful drama. With it, "the work of the Father" has commenced, not ended (1 Nephi 14:17; 2 Nephi 3:13; 30:8; 3 Nephi 21:26—28; Mormon 3:17).[2]

The Book of Mormon will go forth because the Lord promised both Nephi and Lehi that the words of Nephi’s seed would “proceed forth out of my moth unto your seed” (2 Nephi 29:2).  As he was writing his last comments on the plates, Moroni2 wrote, “I declare these things unto the fulfilling of the prophecies.  And behold, they shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the everlasting God; and his word shall hiss forth from generation to generation.  And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true” (Moroni 10:28 - 29).

The Book of Mormon will go forth along with other words of the Lord.  Hugh Nibley explains:

Question: Do you feel that the Lord's hand was involved in the discovery of [the Dead Sea Scrolls]?

Answer: Yes, he said he would bring these things out in his own way and in his own time, and it's really quite miraculous the way these things have happened, when you see the opposition to them. The Lord said he would send his words hissing forth from the dust (cf. 2 Nephi 29:2; Moroni 10:28), and none would be able to stop them…[3]

The Lord’s words will go forth to the entire world, “a standard unto my people which are of the house of Israel” (2 Nephi 29:2).

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[1] Introduction to an Unknown Book, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed December 14, 2013.

[2] Prophecy in the Book of Mormon: The Three Periods, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed December 14, 2013.

[3] Apocryphal Writings and Teachings of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed December 14, 2013.