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Book of Mormon Commentary
Mormon Chapter 2
Mormon let his heart overrule his head and started on a hopeless mission. He wrote, "I knew the
judgments of the Lord which should come upon them; for they repented not of their
iniquities"(27). The Nephites fled to the city of Jordan, and repulsed the first and second attempts
of the Lamanites (28, 29) .All the towns and villages that the Lamanites overran were burned. In
A.D. 380 the Lamanites came again to give battle. "We did stand against them boldy; but it was all
in vain; for. ..great were their numbers" (32). The Nephites took flight again, but only the swift
escaped (33).
A MIGHTY NATION CAME TO DISASTER, VER. 34-54
Mormon 2:35 But I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which
are hid must be revealed upon the house tops, and also that a knowledge of these things must come unto
the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, which the Lord hath said should scatter this
people, and this people should be counted as nought among them.
So Mormon made a small abridgment, but was commanded not to make an extensive account, and
thus cause too great sorrow (36). Then he addressed himself to Lehi's seed and to the Gentiles:
"For I know that such will sorrow for the calamity of the house of Israel ..that this people had not
repented” (36-38). His record is to come forth in the Lord's due time (39). "And behold they shall
go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; ...that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
of the living God" (41). Thus the Father may bring about his eternal purpose of restoring the Jews
or all the house of Israel to the land of their inheritance (42). And also that the seed of this people
may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth to them from the Gentiles (43).
Mormon 2:44 For this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome
people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us; yea, even that which hath been
among the Lamanites; and this because of their unbelief and idolatry.
Already the Spirit of the Lord has ceased to strive with them, "and they are without Christ and
God in the world, and they are driven about as chaff before the wind" (45). Once they were a
delightsome people and had Christ for their shepherd, but now they are led about by Satan, ''as a
vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sailor anchor" or a rudder (46, 47). "The Lord hath
reserved their blessings, which they might have received in the land, for the Gentiles who shall
possess the land" (48).
Mormon 2:49 But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles;
and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the
covenant which he made unto Abraham, and unto all the house of Israel.
He will also remember the prayers of the righteous in their behalf (50).
Mormon then appeals directly to the Gentiles: "0 ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power
of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways!" “At his great command the earth
shall be rolled together as a scroll” (III N. 11:31; lsa. 34:4). "Therefore repent ye, and humble
yourselves before him, ...lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion,
and tear you in pieces" (Mn. 2:53, 54). (See III N. 9:51-55; Ps. 7:2; Mic. 5:8.)