Nephi quotes Isaiah 48 & 49 and then comments on them in 1 Nephi 22. He specifically talks about a ‘marvelous work’ among the Gentiles. We’ve heard the phrase “A Marvelous Work and a Wonder” before, but what is he specifically talking about?

4 And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the atribes have been bled away; and they are cscattered to and fro upon the disles of the sea; and whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away.

5 And since they have been led away, these things have been prophesied concerning them, and also concerning all those who shall hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they aharden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be bhated of all men.

6 Nevertheless, after they shall be anursed by the bGentiles, and the Lord has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and set them up for a standard, and their cchildren have been carried in their arms, and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders, behold these things of which are spoken are temporal; for thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers; and it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel.

7 And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the aGentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; (American Nation) and by them shall our seed be bscattered. (Scattering of Natives across North, Central, and South America)

8 And after our seed (Seed = Posterity) is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a amarvelous work among the bGentiles, (Gentiles = us) which shall be of great cworth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the dGentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.

9 And it shall also be of aworth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but bunto all the chouse of Israel, unto the making known of the dcovenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy eseed shall all the kindreds of the earth be fblessed. (1 Nephi 22:4–9)

So after the Gentiles come to this land they will scatter the Lamanites (1 Nephi 13:14). After that scattering the Lord ‘will proceed to do a amarvelous work among the bGentiles.’ So the question is, what is this marvelous work? Notice how Nephi gives us a couple of clues…

  • it will be “of Great Worth” unto the Lamanites
  • it is likened unto them being nourished by the Gentiles
  • it shall be “of worth” unto the Gentiles
  • it shall be “of worth” unto all the House of Israel
  • it will ‘make known of the dcovenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham’
  • which are: In thy eseed shall all the kindreds of the earth be fblessed. (Gen 12:3)

A quick search of the words ‘great’ and ‘worth’ will reveal exactly what Nephi is talking about.

And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great aworth unto us, insomuch that we could bpreserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children. (1 Nephi 5:21)

And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The abook that thou beholdest is a brecord of the cJews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the dplates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles. (1 Nephi 13:23)

Nevertheless, I do not awrite anything upon plates save it be that I think it be bsacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the cweakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself. For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at anaught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men btrample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and chearken not to the voice of his counsels. (1 Nephi 19:6–7)

Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice aseer will I braise up (Joseph Smith) out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the cknowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers. (2 Nephi 3:7)

But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my aplainness; in the which I bknow that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass. Wherefore, they are of aworth unto the children of men, and he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly, and confine the words unto mine bown people; for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the clast days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them. (2 Nephi 25:7–8)

And the things which shall be written out of the abook shall be of great bworth unto the children of men, and especially unto our seed, which is a cremnant of the house of Israel. (2 Nephi 28:2)

But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great aworth, and especially unto my people. For I bpray continually for them by day, and mine ceyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry. (2 Nephi 33:3)

And I am the same who ahideth up this record unto the Lord; the plates thereof are of no worth, because of the commandment of the Lord. For he truly saith that no one shall have them bto get gain; but the record thereof is of cgreat worth; and whoso shall bring it to light, him will the Lord bless. (Morm 8:14)

From each of these verses it makes it quite clear what Nephi is talking about. The words of the prophets in the Book of Mormon are of Great Worth unto us all, they are the words of Christ. “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of bhope, and a clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eeternal life.” (2 Nephi 31:20)

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