Nephi’s final words are a blend of conviction and anxiety: conviction that his words are true, and anxiety that his future readers will fail to take the words seriously. He expresses love for his future readers and his deep desire that we will draw near to Christ and be ready for our reunion with Him. He declares that our reaction to his words will matter at the Final Judgment.
Chapter Outline
- Nephi acknowledges the role of the reader in receiving his message (v. 1-5)
- He expresses love for Jesus and for his readers (v. 6-9)
- He testifies that his words are true and that their truthfulness will be evident at the Final Judgment (v. 10-12)
- He bids us farewell, until that day (v. 13-15)
My Takeaways
- The Holy Ghost can teach us far more than we can teach one another. We should teach in a way that facilitates personal revelation.
- The gifts we receive from Jesus are individualized and personal.
- We need to recognize goodness when we see it and not be distracted by trivial imperfections.
- If we are willing to listen, Book of Mormon prophets can speak to us “from the dust.”
Featured Blog Posts
❖ REsponsibility of the Learner – 2 Nephi 33:1-5
Nephi: Talk or Text
The spoken word can be more impactful than the written word. Nephi knew this and lamented that many people would not take his words seriously. We can apply this principle in two ways: (1) talk about the gospel and (2) put effort into being better readers.
“When a Man Speaketh by the Power of the Holy Ghost” – 2 Nephi 33:1
Nephi opens his final chapter with some misgivings. He wishes that his written words could be as impactful as his spoken words were: Neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts…
Mine Eyes Water My Pillow – 2 Nephi 33:2-3
2 But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught. 3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth,…
❖ “I Glory in My Jesus” – 2 Nephi 33:6-9
“My Jesus” – 2 Nephi 33:6
In the last chapter of his writings, the prophet Nephi refers to the Savior in a striking way which appears no where else in the scriptures. He says: I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell. (2 Nephi 33:6, italics added) I…
❖ “They Are the Words Of Christ” – 2 Nephi 33:10-12
If Ye Believe Not
Nephi said that if we don’t believe his words, we should believe in Christ. He expressed confidence that if we believe in Christ, we will eventually believe in his words. We should be patient with one another as we grow over time in knowledge and faith.
If There Are Faults – Title Page
And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ. (Title Page of the Book of Mormon) It’s easy to criticize. Our brains seem to be wired to focus on things that aren’t quite right…
❖ Farewell – 2 Nephi 33:13-15
“From the Dust” – 2 Nephi 33:13
Nephi tells us that he “did liken all scriptures” to himself and to his family. Here’s an example of a passage from Isaiah which he identified with personally: And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall…
Old Testament Foundations
“Faithful in All My House”
What exactly was Moses’ role? The people saw him performing miracles on their behalf. He gave them laws to govern their behavior, and he prescribed specific patterns of worship. Yet his goal was always to bring them closer to God, not to stand between them and God. “Enviest thou for my sake?” he asked when…
Affection
When Enoch saw God weeping, he asked how it was possible for a perfect Being to feel sorrow. God explained by emphasizing the gap between His hopes for His children and their actual behavior: Unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their…
“Slow of Speech”
Enoch was shocked when God called him to preach the gospel. “Why is it,” he asked, “that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?” (Moses 6:31). Communication effectiveness can’t be measured, and it’s easy to be hypercritical as…
Church History Connections
Pray in Faith
Nephi believed that his prayers were heard and would be answered: For I pray continually for [my people] by day, and mine eyes 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 Jacob counseled his people to “pray unto…
All Posts Referencing 2 Nephi 33
- Abraham the Intercessor (2/27/2026)
- The Stone Cut Out Without Hands (6/21/2025)
- A Regular History (5/17/2025)
- “To Disabuse the Public Mind” (1/14/2025)
- Weak Things (1/11/2025)
- Farewell…Until (12/21/2024)
- Moroni’s Collaborative Conclusion (12/18/2024)
- What Do You Delight In? (11/3/2024)
- If Ye Believe Not (3/23/2024)
- Nephi: Talk or Text (3/22/2024)
- He Will Consecrate (3/19/2024)
- The Title Page and Nephi (1/4/2024)
- Think Celestial! (10/12/2023)
- Learning from General Conference (9/26/2023)
- Charity (9/3/2023)
- Out of the Dust (9/15/2022)
- “Faithful in All My House” (5/11/2022)
- Affection (1/26/2022)
- “Slow of Speech” (1/19/2022)
- Glory (12/28/2021)
- John Whitmer, Record-keeper (6/25/2021)
- Endure in Faith (6/8/2021)
- Pray in Faith (4/15/2021)
- “If There Was No Mistake” – 3 Nephi 8:1-2 (9/15/2020)
- “I Have Spoken Unto You Plainly” – Alma 5:43 (6/3/2020)
- “My Jesus” – 2 Nephi 33:6 (3/8/2020)
- “When a Man Speaketh by the Power of the Holy Ghost” – 2 Nephi 33:1 (3/7/2020)
- “From the Dust” – 2 Nephi 33:13 (3/6/2020)
- What Is the Significance of the Name “Jesus?” (12/26/2019)
- What Are “Plain and Precious” Things? (12/12/2019)
- Why Do Quotes from the King James Version Appear in the Book of Mormon, Even Ones that Joseph Smith Later Altered in his Translation of the Bible ? (12/9/2019)
- Will We Be Judged by the Apostles? (10/9/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Obedience? (6/30/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Consecrate Something? (5/4/2019)
- What Can We Learn About Prayer From Nephi? (3/26/2019)
- I Esteem It as of Great Worth – 2 Nephi 33:2-3 (10/31/2018)
- If There Are Faults – Title Page (9/3/2018)
- Mine Eyes Water My Pillow – 2 Nephi 33:2-3 (8/22/2017)
- The Lord God Will Consecrate My Prayers – 2 Nephi 33:4 (8/21/2017)
- Mine Eyes Water My Pillow by Night – 2 Nephi 33:3-4 (11/26/2016)
- I Pray Continually for Them – 2 Nephi 33:3 (11/10/2016)
- They Cast Many Things Away – 2 Nephi 33:2 (1/23/2016)
- The Words Which I Have Written in Weakness Shall Be Made Strong – 2 Nephi 33:4 (3/26/2015)