2 Nephi 30:1-2

Chapter 30

Converted gentiles shall be numbered with the covenant people—Many Lamanites and Jews shall believe the word and become a delightsome people—Israel shall be restored and the wicked destroyed. About 559–545 B.C.

The Lord had ceased to speak to Nephi at the end of Chapter 29.  Nephi makes this clear in verse 1, where he wrote, “I would speak unto you; for I, Nephi…” (2 Nephi 30:1). 

There are those who believe they are “better” than other people are.  Some in the Church believe they are more righteous because they are part of the restored Gospel.  Nephi warns against this attitude. 

If we don’t keep the commandments and follow Christ’s teachings, we are no better off than those who don’t have the restored Gospel.  If they fail to repent, these people will perish the same as those who are wrapped in the chains of hell.

During His ministry, Christ taught:

THERE were present at that season some that told him of the Galilæans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:1-5

The Lord has His covenant people.  If the Gentiles repent, they will be a part of the covenant people.  In his epistle to the Galatians, Paul told them:

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:26-29

If the Jews fail to repent, they will be cast off.  The covenant cannot save them.  Repenting and believing in Christ is required for their salvation.  John the Baptist taught:

And [John the Baptist] came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation [GR offspring] of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you [JST Luke 3:13 ... Abraham is our father; we have kept the commandments of God, and none can inherit the promises but the children of Abraham;   for I say...], That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Luke 3:3–9; see also JST Luke 3:4-11

The Book of Mormon tells us of the day when the Jews will accept Christ.  Hugh Nibley explains that repentance is an individual act.

You do not have to wait for the group to change, for the society to repent, nor do you have to change your ways to comply with theirs; the individual is free to ignore the multitude, and only he is free. Only an individual can repent. Repent is a reflexive verb—you can't repent somebody else or force anybody else; you just repent. The clear rule for assuring desirable change is set forth in 2 Nephi: "As many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews who will not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son" (2 Nephi 30:2).[1]

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[1] Change out of Control, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed December 26, 2013.