2 Nephi 29

Jehovah recovers Israel

Jehovah — the covenant God of Israel, the premortal Christ

But behold, there shall be many—at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel; 2 Nephi 29:1–2

Jehovah speaks as the covenant-keeping God who sets His hand a second time to gather Israel through the Book of Mormon. In Isaiah 11 this recovery belongs to the time of the root of Jesse.

• alludes to Isaiah 11:11 — The Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover His people.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 25:17 — Nephi's earlier use of the second-time gathering.
• alludes to Isaiah 5:26 — He will hiss unto them from the end of the earth.

Salvation through the Jews

But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? 2 Nephi 29:4

The Bible, with its witness of the Savior, came to the Gentiles through the Jews. That record carried the fulness of the gospel of the Lord.

• alludes to John 4:22 — "Salvation is of the Jews."
• alludes to 1 Nephi 13:24 — The book from the mouth of a Jew contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord.

The Lord, Creator of all men

Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? 2 Nephi 29:7

The Lord speaks as the Creator of all people who remembers every nation. Restoration scripture teaches that Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth under the Father.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• interpreted by Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Creator of all things from the beginning.
• interpreted by 3 Nephi 9:15 — Christ: "I created the heavens and the earth."
• interpreted by John 1:3 — All things were made by Him.

The same yesterday, today, and forever

Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. 2 Nephi 29:8–9

The Lord gives two records, the Bible and the Book of Mormon, as two witnesses that He is God and never changes. The New Testament uses the same words for Jesus Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him

• the same title in Hebrews 13:8 — "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
• alludes to 2 Nephi 27:23 — The Lord declares He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Judgment out of the books

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. 2 Nephi 29:11

The Lord declares that He will judge the world out of the scriptural records. The resurrected Christ repeats this to the Nephites, and the Father has given all judgment to the Son.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alluded to by 3 Nephi 27:25-26 — Christ: out of the books shall the world be judged.
• interpreted by John 5:22 — The Father has committed all judgment unto the Son.
• alluded to by Revelation 20:12 — The dead judged out of the things written in the books.