2 Nephi 26:26-29

26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.

27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.

28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.

29 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.

Nephi asks, “[h]ath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation” (2 Nephi 26:27).  No!  The choice is ours.  It has been given to us, free for all.  Paul wrote, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

We see that salvation is a gift, given to freely, by the Savior.  All he asks is that we repent and follow Him. 

Has God commanded anyone that they should not partake of His goodness?  He commands no one.  It is our choice.  No one is better than anyone else is.  Paul told the Romans, “For there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11).

Alma₂ told Zeezrom, “Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared—“ (Alma 13:5).

Nephi had made this same point to Laman and Lemuel. 

“And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay.

“Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous?  I say unto you, Nay.

“Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God.  “But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it” (1 Nephi 17:33-35).

Nephi makes it very clear that “there shall be no priestcrafts” (2 Nephi 26:29).  What did Nephi mean when he tells us the Lord commanded no priestcrafts among the people?

“Priestcraft, a word not in most modern dictionaries, is defined by the 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster as ‘the stratagems and frauds of priests; fraud or imposition in religious concerns; management of selfish and ambitious priests to gain wealth and power, or to impose on the credulity of others.’ This is in contrast to the same dictionary's definitions of priesthood: (1) ‘the office or character of a priest’ and (2) ‘the order of men set apart for sacred offices; the order composed of priests.’ From these definitions, it is clear that priestcrafts, including the order of Nehor, are counterfeits or frauds of priesthood or the sacred priestly order.”[1]

A man  who practices priestcrafts are more interested in getting “gain and praise of the world, but they seek no the welfare of Zion” (2 Nephi 26:29).

After converting to the gospel, Simon the Sorcerer saw Peter and John exercising their priesthood.

“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

“Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

“(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

“Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

“And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

“Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

“But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money” (Acts 8:14-20).

The Savior warned the Nephites:

“And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them” (3 Nephi 16:10).

The Lord warned Joseph Smith:

“Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen.  And why are they not chosen?

“Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

“That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

“That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man” (D&C 121:34-37).

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[1] Conflicting Orders: Alma and Amulek in Ammonihah Conflicting Orders: Alma and Amulek in Ammonihah, Thomas R. Valletta, Maxwell Institute.

2 Nephi 26:21-25

21 And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malice.

22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.

23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.

24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.

The day will come when the Gentiles will face challenges and stumbling blocks. One of these will be the churches. There will be many churches built, but they will not be built unto the Lord. In fact, these churches will be responsible for the problems they face. They will be responsible for envyings, strifes, and malice.

Paul warned: “Now I beseech you, brethren, [beware of] them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the [innocent]” (Romans 16:17-18).

In addition to the problems that will be caused by the churches, secret combinations will continue to plague society. The devil the founder of these groups, groups involved in murder and works of darkness. They devil leads them “by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his stronger cords forever” (2 Nephi 26:22).

Nephi would later write:

“For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger, and perish;

“For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

“And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell” (2 Nephi 28:19-21).

Richard Rust discussed secret combinations.

“The nature, rise, and effect of secret combinations is a third significant type of narrative that is reinforced and confirmed by repetition. Jacob anticipates the problem of Gadiantonism when he warns the Nephites about the devil's stirring up secret combinations (2 Nephi 9:9). Likewise, Nephi's prophecies of secret combinations among the Gentiles and Alma's testimony that the Jaredites were destroyed because of their secret works (2 Nephi 26:22; Alma 37:30) prefigure the effect such works of darkness will have on the Nephite nation. The character of secret combinations is presented dramatically and frighteningly in the detailed accounts of Kishkumen and Gadianton and their band (Helaman 2–16) and of Akish's machinations (Ether 8). One account confirms the other.”[1] 

Secret combinations work in secret. They hide their membership; the do their works in secret. Nephi reminds us, unlike the secret combinations, “the Lord God worketh not in darkness” (2 Nephi 26:23).

The Lord has one purposed. He does nothing unless we benefit. Ammon would proclaim, “Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever” (Alma 26:37).

Christ made clear that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). He explained “if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32).

Jacob taught, “Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him” (2 Nephi 9:5).

The beauty and power of Christ’s offer is that salvation is an offer, nothing more; nothing less. Lehi taught, “men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27).

Christ welcomes all people. He turns none who come to Him away.

Elder Neal Maxwell told us:

“Nephi tells us that God "doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world" (2 Nephi 26:24). The knowledge concerning God's plan of salvation, repeatedly and carefully set forth in the Book of Mormon, can counter the hopelessness and despair of some who lament the human predicament in which they feel mortals are ‘conceived without consent’ and ‘wrenched whimpering into an alien universe.’ So many mortals desperately need to know there is divine design. No wonder the Lord told Joseph Smith that the Restoration came to increase faith in the earth! (see Doctrine and Covenants 1:21).”[2]

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[1] "To Show unto the Remnant of the House of Israel" - Narrators and Narratives, Richard Dilworth Rust, Maxwell Institute.

[2] By the Gift and Power of God, Neal Maxwell, Maxwell Institute.

2 Nephi 26:20

20 And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.

After prophesying about the coming forth of his record, Nephi tells us “that those who have dwindled in unbelief shall be smitten by the hand of the Gentiles” (2 Nephi 26:19).  Nephi had been shown in vision, “many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten” (1 Nephi 13:14).

The descendants of Lehi, through Laman and Lemuel, as well as the descendants of the sons of Ishmael, would suffer because they turned away from the Lord.  Christ taught those that survived the calamities that occurred after Christ’s resurrection:

“But wo, saith the Father, unto the unbelieving of the Gentiles—for notwithstanding they have come forth upon the face of this land, and have scattered my people who are of the house of Israel; and my people who are of the house of Israel have been cast out from among them, and have been trodden under feet by them;

“And because of the mercies of the Father unto the Gentiles, and also the judgments of the Father upon my people who are of the house of Israel, verily, verily, I say unto you, that after all this, and I have caused my people who are of the house of Israel to be smitten, and to be afflicted, and to be slain, and to be cast out from among them, and to become hated by them, and to become a hiss and a byword among them” (3 Nephi 16:8-9).

Emphasizing the importance of the record, Mormon would write, “And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as naught among them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people” (Mormon 5:9).

Over time, the Gentiles will be lifted up in their pride and but they will stumble.  Solomon warned, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom”

(Proverbs 11:2). 

What will cause them to stumble is the churches they build up.  Ezekiel warned, “Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand” (Ezekiel 3:20).

Nephi explained this to his brethren.  “For the time speedily shall come that all churches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those who must be brought low in the dust; they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet” (1 Nephi 22:23).

Nephi saw, in vision, that there would be two churches.  “And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look, and behold that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations, whose founder is the devil. And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth” (1 Nephi 14:9-10).

These churches will “put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain” (2 Nephi 26:20).  Jacob knew of Nephi’s prophesy.  This would lead him to say, “O that cunning plan of the evil one!  O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men!  When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not.  And they shall perish” (2 Nephi 9:28).  Nephi would write, “And they shall contend one with another; and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance … O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!” (2 Nephi 28:4, 15).

Elder Neal Maxwell would explain how important the things of God are in a true religion.

“Benjamin, who twice pointedly mentions his ‘clear conscience’ (Mosiah 2:15, 17), did not do so to be legalistic, but instead, he wanted to do everything he could to keep his people ‘in wisdom's paths’ (Mosiah 2:36). But the wisdom's path he cited is sharply distinguished from the ‘world and the wisdom thereof’ (I Nephi 11:35). Benjamin knew that without revelations, prophets, and sacred records, mankind must settle for ‘preach[ing] up . . . their own wisdom’ (2 Nephi 26:20), which is not much of an offering, brothers and sisters. Only the Holy Ghost can keep us on the strait and narrow path, which is wisdom's path (see Mosiah 2:36).”[1]

Richard Draper explains how the Nephite pride would lead to their fall.

“In sum, the Nephites committed hubris in two ways: they rebelled against God, attempting to relegate to themselves his power by force; and they sought that which was forbidden—to avenge themselves on their enemies. The work of pride caused them to compete with both God and man. The result was atē—spiritual blindness so profound that the people could neither see nor feel. Final catastrophe was their unsought reward—not ultimately of losing battles to the Lamanites but dying in rebellion against God. To those living in the last days the Lord warned: ‘Beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old’ (D&C 38:39). The reason God's warning lies particularly upon the Americas seems to be the unprecedented wealth the land provides. Partaking of its easy abundance, Americans often forget from whom the blessings flow. In their blindness, they attribute their success to themselves and desire more. Pride sets in. As in the case of Nephite society, ‘the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning, yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches’ (3 Nephi 6:12). Nephi knew this was exactly the condition that would beset those upon this continent in the latter days. The Gentiles, he attested, ‘are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor’ (2 Nephi 26:20).”[2]

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[1] King Benjamin's Sermon: A Manual for Discipleship, Elder Neal A. Maxwell.

[2] Hubris and Atē: A Latter-day Warning from the Book of Mormon, Richard D. Draper.

2 Nephi 26:17-19

17 For thus saith the Lord God: They shall write the things which shall be done among them, and they shall be written and sealed up in a book, and those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God.

18 Wherefore, as those who have been destroyed have been destroyed speedily; and the multitude of their terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away—yea, thus saith the Lord God: It shall be at an instant, suddenly—

19 And it shall come to pass, that those who have dwindled in unbelief shall be smitten by the hand of the Gentiles.

Nephi tells us that the things the Lord does among his people will be written in these books.  During his vision, Nephi saw this being done.

“And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.

“And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.

“And they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in one; for there is one God and one Shepherd over all the earth.

“And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last” (1 Nephi 13:39-42).

Towards the end of his record, Nephi would write the Lord’s words:

“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.

“For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it” (2 Nephi 29:11-12).

The words written in these books will be sealed.  This was a common practice among the Jews in Nephi’s time.  John Welch writes:

“[T]he Book of Mormon is indeed a binding document, a legal warning, a proclamation, a testament, covenant, and contract. Its provisions are about covenants of the Lord. It has much to do with rights of land possession, and it contains the terms and conditions that the owner of the land of promise requires those who occupy that land to obey. In other words, the religious and secular spheres were not widely separated in antiquity, and the Book of Mormon presents sacred materials often by using legalistic forms or concepts. These factors may well explain why Nephi would associate this legal form, typically used for legal contracts, with the final presentation of the Nephite records.

“Moreover, the process of sealing up the Nephite records served several practical and religious purposes. To keep the record pure, Nephi and his posterity were instructed that the records should be ‘sealed up to come forth in their purity’ (1 Nephi 14:26). As further protection against destruction, the Lord instructed his scribes to seal up the writings in a book so that ‘those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God’ (2 Nephi 26:17). Prophetically, Nephi reported that the book would be dedicated to the Lord, ‘sealed up again unto the Lord’ (2 Nephi 30:3).”[1]

Hugh Nibley explains:

“Because the world is touchy and resentful of what it does not understand—'Dogs bark at strangers,’ says the immortal Heracleitus—the keeping of the record is much concerned with hiding, withholding, dissembling, rationing, and disguising: ‘Having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer the records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred, to fall into the hand of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites would destroy them) therefore I . . . hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord.’ (Mormon 6:6); ‘Those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God." (2 Nephi 26:17.) Such things are "sealed up" and ‘shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them.’ (2 Nephi 27:8.)”[2]

The threats to the records were real.  Enos would tell us the Lamanites “swore in their wrath that, if it were possible, they would destroy our records and us, and also all the traditions of our fathers” (Enos 1:14).  Shortly before his death, Mormon would tell us “having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer the records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred, to fall into the hands of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites would destroy them) therefore I made this record out of the plates of Nephi, and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni” (Mormon 6:6).

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[1] Doubled, Sealed, Witnessed Documents: From the Ancient World to the Book of Mormon, John Welch, Maxwell Institute.

[2] A Strange Thing in the Land: The Return of the Book of Enoch—Part 1, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute.

2 Nephi 26:12-16

12 And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God;

13 And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.

14 But behold, I prophesy unto you concerning the last days; concerning the days when the Lord God shall bring these things forth unto the children of men.

15 After my seed and the seed of my brethren shall have dwindled in unbelief, and shall have been smitten by the Gentiles; yea, after the Lord God shall have camped against them round about, and shall have laid siege against them with a mount, and raised forts against them; and after they shall have been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten.

16 For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust.

Continuing to discuss the Jews and Christ, Nephi tells us that not only is it important that the Jews be convinced that Jesus is the Christ, but the gentiles must be convinced as well. He would later write:

“And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall also become a delightsome people.

“And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about the restoration of his people upon the earth” (2 Nephi 30:7-8).

Mormon would emphasize:

“Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due time.

“And this is the commandment which I have received; and behold, they shall come forth according to the commandment of the Lord, when he shall see fit, in his wisdom.

“And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go—that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant” (Mormon 5:12-14).

Christ will reveal Himself to all who believe in Him through the power of the Holy Ghost. Miracles, signs, and wonders will be done among all people according to their faith. When the people cry to the Lord, He will hear their prayers.

“And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage” (Mosiah 21:15).

Nephi begins to prophesy concerning the last days. The Lord will bring forth these things to the children of men. Those who are descended of the Nephites and Lamanites will have dwindled in unbelief.

They will have suffered at the hands of the Gentiles. They will undergo abuse and “shall have been brought down low in the dust” (2 Nephi 26:15). But, the prayers of the righteous “shall be written and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have dwindle in unbelief shall not be forgotten” (2 Nephi 26:15).

The records will be those who are destroyed speaking from the dust. ”[T]he Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust” (2 Nephi 26:16).

Richard Rust writes about the concept of dust.

“After the Nephites have been brought ‘down low in the dust, . . . yet the words of the righteous shall be written,’ and the Lord God shall speak concerning them 'even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust’ (2 Nephi 26:15-16). In other words, the latter-day Lamanites shall be awakened to repentance by a voice considered dead. Life shall come out of death, words of eternal life from the voice out of the dust.”[1]

John Tvedtnes and Hugh Nibley look at records from the dust.

“Among the books to come forth was the Book of Mormon, which Nephi wrote about when likening the prophecy found in Isaiah 29 to his own people and their records. He wrote of a sealed book that would be ‘kept … until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth’ (2 Nephi 27:10). This book, he noted, ‘shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord’ (2 Nephi 30:3) … Referring to Isaiah 29:4, Nephi wrote that ‘those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit’ (2 Nephi 26:16). He noted in the farewell at the end of his record, ‘I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust' (2 Nephi 33:13).”[2]

“First of all, there is something almost alarmingly literal about these ‘voices from the dust.’ For these documents [Dead Sea Scrolls] were deliberately buried in the deep dust of the cave floors and came forth in choking clouds of dust—the finders had to wear masks: ‘For those who shall be destroyed shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust’ (2 Nephi 26:16). They have not survived accidentally, as most other ancient writings have, but were hidden away on purpose; nor were they simply left behind or misplaced or forgotten by people who moved on and lived out their lives elsewhere—the people who left these records died soon after they buried them and died on the spot, the victims of a savage religious war. ‘For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground’ (2 Nephi 26:16).”[3]

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[1] Book of Mormon Imagery, Richard Dilworth Rust, Maxwell Institute.

[2] The Records Come Forth, John Tvedtnes, Maxwell Institute.

[3] The Prophetic Book of Mormon, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute.

2 Nephi 26:9-11

9 But the Son of Righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away, and many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.

10 And when these things have passed away a speedy destruction cometh unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and they sell themselves for naught; for, for the reward of their pride and their foolishness they shall reap destruction; for because they yield unto the devil and choose works of darkness rather than light, therefore they must go down to hell.

11 For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul.

Nephi continues to write about Christ’s ministry to the Nephites.  After the destruction of the wicked, the Savior will appear to them and heal them of their injuries.  This will be a time of peace. 

Many inquired of Alma₂ about the appearance of Christ.  “And many of the people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did hear with great joy and gladness” (Alma 16:20).

Three generations will live in peace and most of the fourth generation as well.  Nephi was writing what he had earlier seen in vision.

“And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God.  And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him.

“And I, Nephi, also saw many of the fourth generation who passed away in righteousness” (1 Nephi 12:11-12).

The Savior informed the Nephites of their future.

“And now, behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you, and also this generation; yea, and even the Father rejoiceth, and also all the holy angels, because of you and this generation; for none of them are lost.

“Behold, I would that ye should understand; for I mean them who are now alive of this generation; and none of them are lost; and in them I have fulness of joy.

“But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by him even as was the son of perdition; for they will sell me for silver and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt and which thieves can break through and steal.  And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads” (3 Nephi 27:30-32).

After the fourth generation, Nephites people will fact destructions because of their wickedness.  Abinadi, as well as Samuel the Lamanite would also prophesy concerning the destruction of the Nephites.

“And it shall come to pass that except they repent I will utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth; yet they shall leave a record behind them, and I will preserve them for other nations which shall possess the land; yea, even this will I do that I may discover the abominations of this people to other nations.  And many things did Abinadi prophesy against this people” (Mosiah 12:8).

“And he said unto them: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart; and behold he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that the sword of justice hangeth over this people; and four hundred years pass not away save the sword of justice falleth upon this people.

“Yea, heavy destruction awaiteth this people, and it surely cometh unto this people, and nothing can save this people save it be repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, who surely shall come into the world, and shall suffer many things and shall be slain for his people” (Helaman 13:5-6).

The Nephites will choose darkness and follow the devil.  The Savior would condemn those who chose darkness.

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God which before was preached by the mouth of the holy prophets; for they testified of me.

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:18-19).

Richard Draper discusses the curse that will face the Nephites.

“A ‘curse’ denotes something delivered up to divine wrath and dedicated to destruction. As we will see below, God's curse does not consist of divine action but rather of divine inaction. When a people sin to the point that judgment must come, destruction results; but it comes because of the removal of God's Spirit, prophets, and restraining hand. Thus it is by the wicked, unrestrained in their wickedness, that the wicked are destroyed (Mormon 4:5).

“The Book of Mormon testifies clearly of this point. Nephi affirmed that he has seen the destruction of his people and, therefore, knew why they would be destroyed: ‘for the reward of their pride [hubris] and their foolishness [atē] they shall reap destruction … For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction’ (2 Nephi 26:10—11). Such destruction is ultimately spiritual, though it often expresses itself first in the physical reality of temporal ruin.”[1]

---

[1] Hubris and Atē: A Latter-day Warning from the Book of Mormon, Richard D. Draper, Maxwell Institute.

9 But the Son of Righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away, and many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.

10 And when these things have passed away a speedy destruction cometh unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and they sell themselves for naught; for, for the reward of their pride and their foolishness they shall reap destruction; for because they yield unto the devil and choose works of darkness rather than light, therefore they must go down to hell.

11 For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul.

Nephi continues to write about Christ’s ministry to the Nephites.  After the destruction of the wicked, the Savior will appear to them and heal them of their injuries.  This will be a time of peace. 

Many inquired of Alma₂ about the appearance of Christ.  “And many of the people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did hear with great joy and gladness” (Alma 16:20).

Three generations will live in peace and most of the fourth generation as well.  Nephi was writing what he had earlier seen in vision.

“And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God.  And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him.

“And I, Nephi, also saw many of the fourth generation who passed away in righteousness” (1 Nephi 12:11-12).

The Savior informed the Nephites of their future.

“And now, behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you, and also this generation; yea, and even the Father rejoiceth, and also all the holy angels, because of you and this generation; for none of them are lost.

“Behold, I would that ye should understand; for I mean them who are now alive of this generation; and none of them are lost; and in them I have fulness of joy.

“But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by him even as was the son of perdition; for they will sell me for silver and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt and which thieves can break through and steal.  And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads” (3 Nephi 27:30-32).

After the fourth generation, Nephites people will fact destructions because of their wickedness.  Abinadi, as well as Samuel the Lamanite would also prophesy concerning the destruction of the Nephites.

“And it shall come to pass that except they repent I will utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth; yet they shall leave a record behind them, and I will preserve them for other nations which shall possess the land; yea, even this will I do that I may discover the abominations of this people to other nations.  And many things did Abinadi prophesy against this people” (Mosiah 12:8).

“And he said unto them: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart; and behold he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that the sword of justice hangeth over this people; and four hundred years pass not away save the sword of justice falleth upon this people.

“Yea, heavy destruction awaiteth this people, and it surely cometh unto this people, and nothing can save this people save it be repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, who surely shall come into the world, and shall suffer many things and shall be slain for his people” (Helaman 13:5-6).

The Nephites will choose darkness and follow the devil.  The Savior would condemn those who chose darkness.

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God which before was preached by the mouth of the holy prophets; for they testified of me.

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:18-19).

Richard Draper discusses the curse that will face the Nephites.

“A ‘curse’ denotes something delivered up to divine wrath and dedicated to destruction. As we will see below, God's curse does not consist of divine action but rather of divine inaction. When a people sin to the point that judgment must come, destruction results; but it comes because of the removal of God's Spirit, prophets, and restraining hand. Thus it is by the wicked, unrestrained in their wickedness, that the wicked are destroyed (Mormon 4:5).

“The Book of Mormon testifies clearly of this point. Nephi affirmed that he has seen the destruction of his people and, therefore, knew why they would be destroyed: ‘for the reward of their pride [hubris] and their foolishness [atē] they shall reap destruction … For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction’ (2 Nephi 26:10—11). Such destruction is ultimately spiritual, though it often expresses itself first in the physical reality of temporal ruin.”[1]

---

[1] Hubris and Atē: A Latter-day Warning from the Book of Mormon, Richard D. Draper, Maxwell Institute.

2 Nephi 26:1-8

Chapter 26

Christ shall minister to the Nephites—Nephi foresees the destruction of his people—They shall speak from the dust—The gentiles shall build up false churches and secret combinations—The Lord forbids men to practice priestcrafts. About 559–545 B.C.

1 And after Christ shall have risen from the dead he shall show himself unto you, my children, and my beloved brethren; and the words which he shall speak unto you shall be the law which ye shall do.

2 For behold, I say unto you that I have beheld that many generations shall pass away, and there shall be great wars and contentions among my people.

3 And after the Messiah shall come there shall be signs given unto my people of his birth, and also of his death and resurrection; and great and terrible shall that day be unto the wicked, for they shall perish; and they perish because they cast out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay them; wherefore the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them.

4 Wherefore, all those who are proud, and that do wickedly, the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, for they shall be as stubble.

5 And they that kill the prophets, and the saints, the depths of the earth shall swallow them up, saith the Lord of Hosts; and mountains shall cover them, and whirlwinds shall carry them away, and buildings shall fall upon them and crush them to pieces and grind them to powder.

6 And they shall be visited with thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquakes, and all manner of destructions, for the fire of the anger of the Lord shall be kindled against them, and they shall be as stubble, and the day that cometh shall consume them, saith the Lord of Hosts.

7 O the pain, and the anguish of my soul for the loss of the slain of my people! For I, Nephi, have seen it, and it well nigh consumeth me before the presence of the Lord; but I must cry unto my God: Thy ways are just.

8 But behold, the righteous that hearken unto the words of the prophets, and destroy them not, but look forward unto Christ with steadfastness for the signs which are given, notwithstanding all persecution—behold, they are they which shall not perish.

Nephi had taught his people that Christ would be crucified by the Jews.   After His death, he would be resurrected and fulfill the plan of salvation.

Nephi writes that, after his resurrection, he will appear to his people and teach them law.  He had seen this earlier in vision.  “And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto [my people]”

 (1 Nephi 12:6). 

When Christ ministered to the Nephites, He taught them He had fulfilled the Law of Moses.

“And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the law of Moses; for they understood not the saying that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.

“And he said unto them: Marvel not that I said unto you that old things had passed away, and that all things had become ^anew.

“Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.

“Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end.

“Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.

“And because I said unto you that old things have passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come.

“For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me.

“Behold, I am the law, and the light.  Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.

“Behold, I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments.  And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me” (3 Nephi 15:2-10).

After Christ’s ministry, they lived in peace and harmony for almost 200 years.  At the end of that period, the people would fall away.  There will then arise wars and contentions among the people.

In Nephi’s great vision, he saw what would happen before Christ ministered to his people.

“And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces; and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up; and I saw many cities that they were sunk; and I saw many that they were burned with fire; and I saw many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof.

“And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth; and behold, I saw multitudes who had not fallen because of the great and terrible judgments of the Lord.

“And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them” (1 Nephi 12:4-6).

Why would this occur?  “[T] hey shall perish; and they perish because they cast out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay them; wherefore the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them” (2 Nephi 26:3).

After telling his people the Savior will visit them, he begins to describe what will happen at the time of Christ’s crucifixion.  What about the proud and those “that do wickedly”?  “[T]he day that cometh shall burn them up … for they shall be as stubble” (2 Nephi 26:4). 

Those that kill the Lord’s prophets and the saints will be swallowed up by the depths of the Earth; mountains shall fall on them; they will be carried away by whirlwinds and buildings will collapse and fall of them.  But, the people have been warned.  David wrote, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (Psalms 105:15). 

Nephi quoted Zenos earlier in his record.  “The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up” (1 Nephi 19:11). 

Mormon, after recording the destruction wrote, “And now, whoso readeth, let him understand; he that hath the scriptures, let him search them, and see and behold if all these deaths and destructions by fire, and by smoke, and by tempests, and by whirlwinds, and by the opening of the earth to receive them, and all these things are not unto the fulfilling of the prophecies of many of the holy prophets” (3 Nephi 10:14).

The Nephites will experience “thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquakes, and all manner of destruction” (2 Nephi 26:6).  This is because the anger of the Lord will be kindled against them.

Knowing that those who die at the time of Christ’s crucifixion because of their wickedness leads Nephi to cry, “O the pain and anguish of my soul for the loss of the slain of my people” (2 Nephi 26:7).  In spite of the pain, Nephi responds, “I must cry unto my God:  Thy ways are just” (2 Nephi 26:7).

The righteous will not suffer the death of the wicked.  Those that “look forward unto Christ with steadfastness for the signs which are given … shall not perish” (2 Nephi 26:8).  Mormon would write about the fulfillment of this promise.

“And it was the more righteous part of the people who were saved, and it was they who received the prophets and stoned them not; and it was they who had not shed the blood of the saints, who were spared—

“And they were spared and were not sunk and buried up in the earth; and they were not drowned in the depths of the sea; and they were not burned by fire, neither were they fallen upon and crushed to death; and they were not carried away in the whirlwind; neither were they overpowered by the vapor of smoke and of darkness” (3 Nephi 10:12-13).

Nephi’s powerful testimony of Christ will influence the Book of Mormon.  Stephen Ricks writes:

“The Book of Mormon, too, reveals an intense expectation of the coming of their Messiah (usually referred to in the Book of Mormon as Christ). The Nephites ‘look forward unto Christ [i.e., the Messiah] with steadfastness for the signs which are given’(2 Nephi 26:8). Indeed, the prophets of the Book of Mormon even prophesy the year of Christ's birth: Nephi prophesies that Christ will be born ‘six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem’ (1 Nephi 10:4), while the mysterious Samuel the Lamanite tells the Nephites that he would be born in five years (Helaman 14:2).”[1]

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[1] The Book of Mormon and the Dead Sea Scrolls, Stephen D. Ricks, Maxwell Institute.

2 Nephi 25:28-30

28 And now behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people; wherefore, I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law.

29 And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out.

30 And, inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye must keep the performances and ordinances of God until the law shall be fulfilled which was given unto Moses.

Why does Nephi speak plainly to his people?  “[B]ehold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people” (2 Nephi 25:28).  His people have become like the Jews.  King Benjamin told us “the Lord God saw that his people were a stiffnecked people, and he appointed unto them a law, even the law of Moses” (Mosiah 3:14). 

Listening to our leaders today, these men and women speak plainly to us.  They follow in the tradition of Nephi.  They are making sure their words and message cannot be misunderstood.  They make certain the Lord’s words are understood. 

Teaching the people of Ammonihah, Alma₂ told them:

“And now, my beloved brethren, for ye are my brethren, and ye ought to be beloved, and ye ought to bring forth works which are meet for repentance, seeing that your hearts have been grossly hardened against the word of God, and seeing that ye are a lost and a fallen people.

“Now it came to pass that when I, Alma, had spoken these words, behold, the people were wroth with me because I said unto them that they were a hard–hearted and a stiffnecked people” (Alma 9:30-31),

Nephi’s words will stand as a testimony against all who read them.  He teaches the word of the Lord and “the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not” (2 Nephi 25:28).

Nephi makes it clear “that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not” (2 Nephi 25:29).  We must “bow down for him and worship him” (2 Nephi 25:29). 

Mathew L. Bown explains:

“By casting the commandment to ‘bow down . . . and worship’ the Lord in the language of the Shema [a Jewish prayer], Nephi reveals the proper mode of proskynesis [Greek name of the ritual greeting at the eastern courts^[1]]  before God: it must be done with all one's might, mind, strength, and one's whole soul, like the offering of ‘whole souls as an offering unto [the Holy One of Israel]’ (Omni 1:26). Acceptable proskynesis is inseparable from faith in Christ (‘the right way is to believe in Christ . . . ; wherefore ye must ’ 2 Nephi 25:29) and is a supernal manifestation of it.

“The promise to those who so worship is a promise of eternal life: ‘ye shall in no wise be cast out’ (2 Nephi 25:29). Through faith in Christ, the ‘children of men’ (1 Nephi 11:22, 24) can again have access to the tree of life. They must therefore come forth, fall down, and partake of the fruit of that tree.”[2]

When we worship him, we must worship him with “all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul” (2 Nephi 25:29).  Here, Nephi could be reminding the Nephites about the words of Moses when he commanded the people, “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Speaking to a scribe, the Savior taught:

“And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).

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[1] Proskynesis, LIVIUS - Articles on Ancient History.

[2] “They Came Forth and Fell Down and Partook of the Fruit of the Tree,” Matthew L. Bowen.

2 Nephi 25:26-27

26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

27 Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away.

If I were to pick one scripture that sums up our beliefs, 2 Nephi 25:26 would be very high on the list.  “[W]e talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies.”  Some examples.

“And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come” (Jacob 4:12).

“Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was.  And after this manner did they teach them” (Jarom 1:11).

“And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them” (Mosiah 3:13).

“And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption” (Mosiah 16:6).

Alan Ashton relates a great story about this scripture.

“While we were serving on our mission in Canada, two of our elders who were serving in a town near Niagara Falls reported the following incident: Elder Taggart was talking to a woman in the street when a belligerent man came up and yelled that the Book of Mormon was not true. The missionary bore testimony that the Book of Mormon is true and that it testifies of Christ. The man claimed emphatically that it did not. Elder Taggart’s companion, Elder Medina, came over because of the raised voice of the man and asked what the problem was. The man forcefully claimed that the Book of Mormon did not testify of Christ. Elder Medina bore his witness that it indeed does, but the man continued to disrupt the conversations of the missionaries. Finally Elder Medina handed the loud man a copy of the Book of Mormon and said, ‘Sir, open up this Book of Mormon and put your finger on the page and read out loud what it says. If it doesn’t speak of Christ, we will go on our way.’ The man snatched the book, opened it up, plunged his finger on the verse that happened to be 2 Nephi 25:26, and began reading aloud, ‘And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.’ The man quietly apologized and went on his way.”[1]

Nephi gives us an insight to how the Nephites viewed the gospel.  We know from the record the Nephites faithfully kept the Law of Moses.  When Abinadi called upon King Noah and his priests to repent, he taught them about the Law of Moses.

Yet, Nephi tells us “we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law” (2 Nephi 25:27).  Salvation cannot be obtained through the words of the Law.  There is only one way we will be saved.  That is through the atonement of Christ.  However, until the Law is fulfilled, they must still follow it.  It will not be fulfilled until Christ completes His mission.

Hugh Nibley wrote:

“The Nephites lived by the law of Moses, as implemented, for example, by the laws of King Benjamin and Mosiah. Yet they are constantly being notified that salvation does not come by the law of Moses: ‘Notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled. For, for this end was the law given’ (2 Nephi 25:24-25). ‘Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; . . . that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away’ (2 Nephi 26:27). For the law is tailored to our weakness, beginning with the Word of Wisdom, ‘adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints’ (D&C 89:3).”[2]

And John Welch explains:

“I see no reason, however, why such an ancient person should have been relieved of the duty to obey the law of Moses simply by realizing the ends of the law or by knowing the final goal of eternal life. It is not inconsistent for one who holds the higher priesthood to live concurrently the higher and the lower laws. Today, in the Church, the Aaronic Priesthood is bestowed on young men and on recent converts so that they may learn the principles of the gospel pertaining to the lower order of the priesthood, and Church leaders holding the highest keys of the holy priesthood teach and supervise the work of those holding the lower priesthood. Similarly, Nephite prophets holding the rights and powers of the higher priesthood would not act inconsistently or in a manner unbecoming to their higher spiritual standing if they were to fulfill both the higher and the lower orders of the priesthood that were in effect in their time. Nephi speaks clearly of the deadness of the law, but at the same time reaffirms the necessity of living and teaching the law (see 2 Nephi 25:25–27), and there is no evidence that this presented any awkwardness for the Nephites. They respected God's laws and obeyed them.”[3]

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[1] Oh How Surely Christ Sanctifies His Own, Alan C. Ashton, Maxwell Institute.

[2] The Meaning of the Atonement, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute.

[3]The Temple in the Book of Mormon: The Temples at the Cities of Nephi, Zarahemla, and Bountiful, John W. Welch.