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Book of Mormon Commentary
2 Nephi Chapter 11
2 Ne 11:40 Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I
write, shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that
the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should
stand.
11:40 "These things" could not refer to any other thing than Nephi's writings in the Book of
Mormon. A promise of their preservation is made, and that the seed of Joseph, who was sold into
Egypt, "should never perish as long as the earth should stand" (40). Nephi also prophesied that
these things shall go from generation to generation as long as the earth shall stand, “according to
the will and pleasure of God” (41). Many efforts have been made to discredit and destroy the Book
of Mormon; however, it has a much wider circulation today than ever, before.
Another prophecy given by Nephi was that "the nations which shall possess them (writings in the
Book of Mormon), shall be judged of them" (42). Men shall be held responsible not only for what
they know and believe but also for the opportunity they have had to know and accept the truth.
Ignorance of the laws of our land cannot be used as an excuse for crimes or torts. Otherwise, a
premium would be put on ignorance rather than on light and truth. There will be a national day of
judgment (Matt. 25:32-35), as well as an individual day of judgment (Rev. 20:12).
2 Ne 11:45 And 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;
11:45 Several references are made in the Book of Mormon to keeping the law of Moses. One of
the prime motives for risking 'their lives to get the plates of brass was that they had to know the
law to keep it. (See I N. 1:115, 117, 118; 5:99; II N. 4:14.) Because of the righteousness of some
of the Nephites, they received much knowledge of Christ and his mission to earth. It seems that at
times in their worship the law of Moses took a secondary place only to Christ.
It is interesting to seek data on just how far they did keep the law as they neared the time of
Christ's coming. Jarom wrote that they kept "the Sabbath day holy unto the Lord"(1:11).
About 148 B.C. Mosiah wrote that they took "the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer
sacrifice and burnt offerings" (Mos. 1:30). Mosiah was careful to point out that "only in and
through Christ ye can be saved. Therefore, if ye teach the law of Moses, also teach that it is a
shadow of those things which are to come" (Mos. 8:89,90). Alma declared, "It was expedient that
they should keep the law of Moses as yet, £or it was not all fulfilled. ...They did look forward to
the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing
that they must keep those outward ordinances, until the time that he should be revealed unto them.
Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses; but the law of Moses did serve
to strengthen their faith in Christ" (A. 14:74-76).
This was about 90 B.C. Sixteen years later Alma said, "There began to be continual peace
throughout all the land, “and they were strict in observing the ordinances of God, according to the
law of Moses; for they were taught to keep the law 0£ Moses, until it should be fulfilled" (A.
16:3,4).
Nephi sums it up by saying, "Wherefore, the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive
in Christ, because of our faith" (II N. 11:46). They kept the commandments but talked, rejoiced,