2 Nephi 8:19-20

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Reference Search: 2 Nephi 8:19-20

19 These two sons are come unto thee, who shall be sorry for thee—thy desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword—and by whom shall I comfort thee?

20 Thy sons have fainted, save these two; they lie at the head of all the streets; as a wild bull in a net, they are full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God.

Quotes for Discussion

The Book of Mormon identifies the two “things” in verse 19 (italicized in the KJV) as “sons.” Because the people of Judah have no sons with the priesthood among them, two other sons (who have the priesthood) are to be sent to them. Because these “sons” are to bear the priesthood, they have to come from among the Latter-day Saints. They will be the “two witnesses” spoken of in Revelation.

3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

(Revelation 11:3-11)

Monte S. Nyman, I, Nephi, Wrote This Record, p. 471

Elder LeGrand Richards has written: “No doubt these prophets will be called and ordained and sent by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” Elder Bruce R. McConkie has further stated, “No doubt they will be members of the Council of the Twelve or of the First Presidency of the Church.” These two prophets will use the power of God [the priesthood] to rebuke those gathered against Judah (v. 20). As Enoch of old, they may speak “the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even at his command; and the rivers were turned out of their course” (Moses 7:13). As a wild bull in a net cannot be fully contained (v. 20), the enemy will not control the two sons until they are killed, and then they will be resurrected according to the record of John the Beloved quoted above.

Monte S. Nyman, I, Nephi, Wrote This Record, p. 472