24 And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered him: 25 Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men—13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:26 Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid. [2 Nephi 27:24–26]14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent menshall be hid. [Isaiah 29:13–14]
The “marvellous work and a wonder” (v. 26; Isaiah 29:14) is associated with the Lord’s setting “his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people” (2 Nephi 21:11; Isaiah 11:11, see 2 Nephi 25:17 and 29:1). This marvelous work would be accomplished through the bringing forth of the Lord’s words, specified as the words of Nephi’s seed (the Book of Mormon) in 2 Nephi 29:2. This is also confirmed by the Savior’s words to the Nephites after his resurrection (see 3 Nephi 21:1–9).
Joseph Smith recorded that in the spring of 1820 two divine Personages appeared to him and told him that he should join no church because “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof” (JS—H 1:17–19). Thus Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled.
The Savior called the scribes and Pharisees “hypocrites,” saying that Isaiah had prophesied of them and then quoted Isaiah 29:13 (see Matthew 15:7–9; Mark 7:6–7). This might lead some to believe that the prophecy was limited to the time of the Savior, and that it was fulfilled. But the fact that he quoted only verse 13, and not verse 14 with it, indicates that the Savior was saying that the Pharisees were the kind of people Isaiah prophesied of—not that they were the fulfillment of his prophecy.
Before the Book of Mormon was translated, the Lord repeatedly revealed through the Prophet Joseph that “a marvelous work and a wonder is about to come forth among the children of men” (D&C 4:1; 6:1; 11:1; 12:1; 14:1). This work was to correct the situation described in the previous verse in Isaiah (Isaiah 29:13; 2 Nephi 27:25).