Second Nephi

The Second Book of Nephi (/ˈniːfaɪ/), usually referred to as Second Nephi or 2 Nephi, is the second book of the Book of Mormon in the Latter-day Saint Movement. According to the book, it was written by the ancient prophet Nephi, son of Lehi, who lived around 600 BC. Unlike First Nephi, this book contains little history of the Nephite people and instead discusses visions and prophecies of Nephi himself and other ancient prophets, particularly Isaiah.

The book begins with Lehi's blessings and final teachings to his family before his death in the Promised Land. Lehi explores themes of opposition, the Fall of man, resurrection, and atonement. After Lehi's death, family tensions lead Nephi to take his family and those who accept his leadership into the wilderness. The Lamanites are cut off from God and cursed with a "skin of blackness" until they choose to repent. The Nephites build a temple and follow God's commandments. Nephi and his brother Jacob preach, quoting many prophecies of Isaiah, mainly regarding Israel and its restoration in the latter days. Nephi emphasizes salvation through Christ.

Theories suggest the break between First and Second Nephi is to set apart the knowledge that Jerusalem has been destroyed, and many of the following teachings seem to highlight God's promises and that Israel is not lost forever. The Lamanite Curse has been connected to racism while others call for a nonracist interpretation suggesting that Nephite and Lamanite differences are more cultural than racial. Jacob's sermon contains themes such as judgement and the Law of Moses and may be patterned after the teaching style of the Brass Plates. Similarly, one section of Nephi's writings has been compared to traditional Old Testament psalms.

Teachings of Isaiah make up many chapters of Second Nephi, often closely or exactly worded as they appear in the book of Isaiah. These chapters go against a commonly accepted idea that Isaiah was written by multiple authors of different times as they are all said to come from the Brass Plates, which were taken from Jerusalem around 600 BC. The chapters are also typological in that their prophecies have been supposedly connected to ancient events and the latter days. One circumstance of a potentially fulfilled prophecy involves Martin Harris visiting professor Charles Anthon, who, when presented with characters from the Book of Mormon responded, "I cannot read a sealed book."