“More Nations Than One”

Brant Gardner

From here to the end of the chapter, the Lord shows why the Gentiles should need not only another Bible, but very specifically another revelation coming from the hands of the Jews. In this case, the Lord is speaking of the Book of Mormon, and is couching the Book of Mormon as a Jewish text just as the received text of the Bible has been termed.

Very specifically, we have the phrase in this verse “upon the isles of the sea.” As has been previously noted, this phraseology found in Isaiah has been adopted into Nephi’s theological understanding as a direct reference to his people, whom he sees as resident upon one of those “isles of the sea.” The Lord is proclaiming that he will speak to his people. In this case, however, the Lord is speaking of his relations with the Jews. First there is the Old World text that will come from the Jews, and now God will speak to those of his covenant people who are on the “isles of the sea.” These New World Jews will also write, an that word will also come forth among men.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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