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Book of Mormon Commentary
2 Nephi Chapter 12
Nephi's words convey the understanding that the inspired writings of other nations should also "be
gathered in one." God's covenant with Abraham would never be forgotten (74).
REMNANTS OF THE LEHITES SHALL BE BLESSED, VER. 75-100
2 Ne 12:75 And 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.
12:75 "God is no respecter of persons," declared Peter. "But in every nation he that feareth him,
and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34, 35). Jews and Gentiles are on a
level of equality with God. On condition that the Gentiles repent, they likewise "are the covenant
people of the Lord" (II N. 12:77). Nephi goes on to declare that ''as many of the Jews as will not
repent, shall be cast off."
This is a consoling thought. Race and color are not important to our heavenly Father. "Man
looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (I Sam. 16:7).
2 Ne 12:80 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.
12:80 The preface to the Book of Mormon tells us it was "written to the Lamanites ...and also to
Jew and Gentile”. It was "to come forth in due time by the way of Gentile”. Few books have
received as much adverse publicity, yet its sale has increased year by year. Yes, many have
believed the words of this book, but its message has reached only a comparative few.
CIRCULATION OF THE BOOK OF MORMON
Nephi declared that the Book of Mormon should be carried forth by the Gentiles "unto the
remnant of our seed" (11 N, 12:80),
Efforts have been made to determine the number of copies of the Book of Mormon which have
been printed since it was first released to the world in 1830. The best estimate we can obtain
places the figure at 4,200,000 copies through 1960. This seems like a conservative figure.
According to Alice Payne Hackett's Sixty Years of Best Sellers, this book now appears to be at the
top of its class of nonfictional full-sized books in the field of religion, Of course the Bible far
exceeds this but is not listed in the same class. Fulton Oursler's Greatest Story Ever Told is put in
second place (1955) at 3,580,000, while In His Steps, by Charles M. Sheldon, runs over 8,000,000.
However, these two are both fictional books.
Since the Book of Mormon is selling at the rate of about half a million a year, it should in a short
time exceed even the latter book, (See also I Pet. 1:24,25.)
2 Ne 12:84 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 white and a delightsome people.
12:84 This promise made concerning the Lamanites was to be fulfilled when they should accept
the gospel of Christ and the "scales of darkness" should fall from their eyes. Likewise a promise is