2 Nephi 20:22

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22 For though thy people Israe be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return; the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

Quote for Discussion

Sand of the Sea

The Old Testament formula for an apostate people’s return to God is found in 2 Chronicles 30:6-9. These verses speak of Israel’s return to the promised land, to God through repentance, and to true temple worship. The expression “as the sands of the sea” recalls the Abrahamic covenant that speaks of Abraham’s posterity becoming as numerous as the sands of the sea (Gen. 22:17; Abr. 3:14). Although the number of children of Israel will be exceedingly high, only a remnant will return….The great stretch of sandy seashore next to the Mediterranean Sea together with the immense deserts of sand throughout the Near East have made sand the subject of many similes in the scriptures.

Donald W. Parry, Visualizing Isaiah [Provo, Utah: The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 2001], 101