The Nephite race was never extinguished completely. As a people, the Nephites were destroyed but there were many individuals in the days of Mormon who were willing to deny their religion and the Christ in order to save their own necks. In the words of Moroni, ’there are none save it be the Lamanites and [Gadianton] robbers that do exist upon the face of the land. And there are none that do know the true God…they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ (Mormon 8:9-10; Moroni 1:2).’ That the Nephite blood was preserved amongst the Lamanites is significant because of the promises which were given to Nephi, ’the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren’ (1 Nephi 13:30, italics added).