3 Ne 30:2 Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent

What is the most important book in the Book of Mormon? Many would argue that it is 3 Nephi which includes the Savior’s visit to the Nephites. Well, if you were Mormon, and you were going to make a concluding statement about this all-important book, what would you say? Mormon tells us to repent, but they are not his words, for he was commanded to write the words contained in this verse. The message is that the Gentiles need to repent. The context is the final days before the coming of the Son of Man. The alternative is the painful sword if his justice (3 Ne 29:4).

“And Moroni reminded the Gentiles,

‘And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God--that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.’ (Ether 2:11)

“Prophets and modern scripture warn the latter-day people of similar dangers. Though predicted calamities are conditioned upon repentance, it appears that, in general, the Gentiles are little interested in repentance. They appear to be treading the path of the former inhabitants but have not entered the final stages yet.” (Douglas Brinley, Book of Mormon Symposium Series, Helaman—3 Nephi 8, edited by PR Cheesman, MS Nyman, and CD Tate, Jr., 1988, p. 62)

Lest we be found sitting in our condemning, self-righteous judgment seats, ruminating over the imminent destruction of the Gentiles, we should remember the warning of Nephi to his people. The warning applies equally well to us, And now behold, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you; for I, Nephi, would not suffer that ye should suppose that ye are more righteous than the Gentiles shall be. For behold, except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall all likewise perish (2 Ne 30:1).