The message to the Gentiles is the same as the one given on the title page of the Book of Mormon; to convince them that Jesus is the Christ the Eternal God (v. 12). The difference in the two statements is that the title page capitalizes all of the letters, ETERNAL GOD, rather than just the first letter. The capitalization was probably for emphasis, but written either way, the title “Eternal God” is significant. It recognizes Jesus Christ as the God of this world before mortality, during mortality, and after mortality. It also acknowledges his eternal nature as the Son of God. Although not stated in this passage, he was Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament. Nephi wrote: “there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fullness of his own time” (2 Nephi 11:7). He also called him “the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” and quoted prophesies of his earthly ministry (1 Nephi 19:10).
A second message to the Gentiles is the manner by which he manifests himself to those who believe; by the power of the Holy Ghost. Through this power mighty miracles, signs, and wonders are wrought (v. 13). These manifestations are also unique to the true believers in the latter days. As will be noted later, a common belief is that such manifestations ceased with the apostles of Christ’s day (see 2 Nephi 28:5–6).