2 Nephi 30
People in this chapter
Nephi has just spent several chapters describing what the Gentiles will do wrong in the last days: proud churches, false teachers, people who say they need no more scripture. Now he turns to his own people with a warning. Do not think that ye are more righteous than the Gentiles shall be (v. 1).
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2 Nephi 30:1-2The Covenant People of the Lord
1And now behold, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you; for I, Nephi, would not suffer that ye should suppose that ye are more righteous than the Gentiles shall be. For behold, except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall all likewise perish; and because of the words which have been spoken ye need not suppose that the Gentiles are utterly destroyed. 2For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as 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, who is the Holy One of Israel.
Nephi has just described the Gentiles' sins. Now he warns his own people: don't think you are better than they are. Except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall all likewise perish.
Who are God's covenant people? Gentiles who repent are. Jews who will not repent are cast off. Belonging to the Lord depends on repentance and faith in His Son, not on family line.
2 Nephi 30:3-8Restored to the Knowledge of Jesus Christ
3And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed. 4And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews. 5And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers. 6And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people.
After the Book of Mormon comes forth among the Gentiles, believers will carry it to Lehi's descendants. They will learn who their fathers were and where they came from.
The greatest gift the book brings is the knowledge of Jesus Christ. When people receive it, they rejoice, and scales of darkness begin to fall from their eyes.
7And 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. 8And 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.
Nephi sees the scattered Jews also coming to believe in Christ and gathering. The Lord's work will spread to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.
2 Nephi 30:9-15The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb
9And with righteousness shall the Lord God judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 10For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people, and the wicked will he destroy; and he will spare his people, yea, even if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by fire. 11And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Before peace comes, the Lord will make a great division between the wicked and His people. He will spare His people, even if the wicked must be destroyed by fire.
12And then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb; and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling, together; and a little child shall lead them. 13And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 14And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. 15They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah describes a world at peace: wolves and lambs together, lions eating straw, children playing safely near snakes. This is the Millennium, when Christ reigns on the earth.
Why will there be such peace? Because the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord. Peace comes from knowing Him.
2 Nephi 30:16-18All Things Shall Be Made Known
16Wherefore, the things of all nations shall be made known; yea, all things shall be made known unto the children of men. 17There is nothing which is secret save it shall be revealed; there is no work of darkness save it shall be made manifest in the light; and there is nothing which is sealed upon the earth save it shall be loosed. 18Wherefore, all things which have been revealed unto the children of men shall at that day be revealed; and Satan shall have power over the hearts of the children of men no more, for a long time. And now, my beloved brethren, I make an end of my sayings.
In that day all things shall be made known. Nothing hidden will stay hidden, and nothing sealed will stay sealed.
During the Millennium, Satan will have no power over people's hearts for a long time. Nephi taught earlier that this is because of the righteousness of the Lord's people.
Nephi says he is finished. But he will come back and write three more chapters on the doctrine of Christ.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- Abrahamic CovenantThe covenant God made with Abraham and how all who accept the gospel become his seed and heirs of its blessings.
- GentilesHow the scriptures use the word Gentiles, including the Book of Mormon's sense of the nations that would carry the restored gospel.
- MillenniumThe thousand years of peace when Christ will reign personally on the earth, and what scripture teaches about life during that time.
- Second Coming of Jesus ChristThe Church's summary of the events surrounding the Savior's return, including the division of the righteous and the wicked described in verse 10.
Where this echoes in Scripture
The Covenant People of the Lord
- Luke 13:3Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.The Savior's version of Nephi's warning in verse 1.
- Matthew 3:9God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
- Galatians 3:29If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
- 3 Nephi 21:6That they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.The risen Lord on Gentiles who repent and are baptized.
- Abraham 2:10As many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed.
Restored to the Knowledge of Jesus Christ
- 1 Nephi 13:38-39I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them.Nephi's earlier vision of the same event.
- Alma 10:3Lehi, who was a descendant of Manasseh.
- Acts 9:18There fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith.
- Revelation 14:6To every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
- D&C 133:37This gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb
- Isaiah 11:1-9There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse… the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb.The prophecy Nephi quotes in verses 9 and 11-15.
- 1 Nephi 22:17The righteous need not fear… they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.
- Revelation 19:15Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations.
- D&C 101:26The enmity of beasts, yea, the enmity of all flesh, shall cease from before my face.
- Habakkuk 2:14The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
All Things Shall Be Made Known
- 1 Nephi 22:26Because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power.How Satan is bound.
- Revelation 20:2-3He laid hold on… Satan, and bound him a thousand years.
- 2 Nephi 27:10-11All things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been.The sealed portion of the plates.
- D&C 101:32-34In that day when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things.