2 Nephi 26

Appearance to the Nephites

Christ — the Anointed One

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 Nephi 26:1

Nephi names Christ and foretells both His Resurrection and His visit to Nephi's descendants. The words He speaks will become their law, which is fulfilled when the risen Lord declares that He is the law.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 11:8-10 — The resurrected Christ descends and shows Himself to the Nephites at Bountiful.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 15:9-10 — Christ declares, "I am the law, and the light."

Messiah

Messiah — the Anointed One

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. 2 Nephi 26:3

Nephi prophesies that the Nephites will receive signs of the Messiah's birth, death, and Resurrection. These signs were later given through Samuel the Lamanite and fulfilled in 3 Nephi.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alluded to by Helaman 14:3-6 — Samuel the Lamanite gives the signs of Christ's birth.
• alluded to by Helaman 14:20-27 — Samuel gives the signs of Christ's death.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 1:15-21 — The night without darkness and the new star appear at His birth.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 8:5-23 — Storms, earthquakes and three days of darkness mark His death.

Lord of Hosts

Lord of Hosts — Jehovah, Lord of the armies of heaven

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. 2 Nephi 26:4–6

The Lord of Hosts is Jehovah, the premortal Christ, speaking of the destructions that would come on the wicked at the time of His death. In 3 Nephi 9 the voice of Jesus Christ Himself names the cities that were burned, sunk and buried.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Malachi 4:1 — The day that burns as an oven and leaves the proud as stubble.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 8:5-18 — Cities burned, sunk, and buried at the Savior's death.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 9:3-12 — Christ's voice declares He caused these destructions.

Faith in Christ

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. 2 Nephi 26:8

The righteous who survive are those who look forward to Christ with steady faith, even while persecuted. Faith in a Christ not yet born is what preserves them.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 10:12 — The more righteous part of the people were spared at His coming.

Son (Sun) of Righteousness

Son of Righteousness — Malachi's Sun of Righteousness, who rises with healing in His wings

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. 2 Nephi 26:9

Nephi uses Malachi's title for the Savior, spelled "Son" here, and prophesies that He will appear to the Nephites and heal them. Peace lasting three generations followed His visit.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Malachi 4:2 — "The Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings."
• alluded to by 3 Nephi 25:2 — The risen Christ gives Malachi's words to the Nephites.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 17:7-9 — Christ heals all the sick and afflicted brought to Him.

Jesus Christ, the Eternal God

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

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; 2 Nephi 26:12

Nephi states the central purpose of his record: to convince Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God. The same phrase appears on the title page of the Book of Mormon.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alluded to by Book of Mormon Title Page — "...the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God."

Christ manifests Himself to believers

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. 2 Nephi 26:13

"He" is Jesus Christ from verse 12. He makes Himself known to everyone who believes, in every nation, through the Holy Ghost, and works miracles according to their faith.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by Moroni 10:7 — By the Holy Ghost ye may know that He is; He works by power according to faith.

Jehovah (the Lord God)

Jehovah — the covenant God of Israel, the premortal Christ

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. 2 Nephi 26:17–18

The Lord God, Jehovah, commands that the record be written and sealed so it can come forth later. That book exists to testify of Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Isaiah 29:4-5 — The voice out of the dust and destruction at an instant, suddenly.

He layeth down His own life

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. 2 Nephi 26:24

"He" is the Lord God of verse 23. Because He lays down His own life, this identifies the Lord God as Jesus Christ. His Atonement is motivated by love and is meant to draw all people to Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by John 10:17-18 — "I lay down my life, that I might take it again."
• alluded to by John 12:32 — "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
• alluded to by 3 Nephi 27:14 — Lifted up upon the cross that He might draw all men unto Him.
• alluded to by John 3:16 — God so loved the world.

Salvation freely offered

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. 2 Nephi 26:25–28

The same Lord who lays down His life invites everyone to come to Him and receive salvation for free. He never tells anyone to depart from Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Isaiah 55:1 — "Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."
• alluded to by Matthew 11:28 — "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden."
• alluded to by Alma 5:34 — Come unto me and partake of the fruit of the tree of life freely.

Charity

Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish. 2 Nephi 26:30

Charity is later defined as the pure love of Christ. Nephi's command to have charity echoes that love.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by Moroni 7:47 — "Charity is the pure love of Christ."
• alluded to by 1 Corinthians 13:2 — Without charity "I am nothing."

He denieth none that come unto Him

For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile. 2 Nephi 26:33

The Lord invites every person to come to Him and turns no one away, whatever their race, status, or sex. All are alike to God.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by Galatians 3:28 — Neither bond nor free, male nor female; all one in Christ Jesus.
• alluded to by Acts 10:34-35 — God is no respecter of persons.