Nephi describes the functioning and conditions of all the churches, or “the Apostasy” as known in Church literature. Although the Apostasy began shortly after Christ organized the Church in the meridian of time, Nephi describes the churches in the day when the Book of Mormon came forth. All of the churches had become corrupt, but various churches had different teachings and practices, as noted by Nephi’s periodic “there shall be many which say” (vv. 7, 9). He mentioned several of the false doctrines, but “after this manner” (v. 9) tells us that there are other doctrines that he did not mention. Isaiah 29:15 (2 Nephi 27:27) says that the churches of this time sought to hide their counsels from the Lord (v. 9). This suggests that the leadership of the churches knew they were doing something wrong, and formed a bureaucracy that worked in darkness rather than in the light of Christ.
The blood of the Saints (v. 10) is a declaration of many members of the true church that were killed because of the apostasy that took place when other churches began to form. The blood crying from the ground is a demand that justice take its course. Mercy cannot rob justice (see Alma 42:24–25), and because those who brought about the apostasy knew what they were doing, they will be accountable for those murders. The Lord declared unto Cain “thy brothers blood [Abel’s] crieth unto me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10). Jehu, the newly anointed king over Israel was told: “Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel. And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel” (2 Kings 9:6–7). Thus, Nephi is saying that all of the Saints that were killed following the time of Christ would also require justice to take its course. It would require justice to come upon those wicked people who opposed the restoration of the gospel when the Book of Mormon came forth. The martyrs would include Joseph and Hyrum Smith and others of whom the Lord said:
34 Thy brethren have rejected you and your testimony, even the nation that has driven you out;
35 And now cometh the day of their calamity, even the days of sorrow, like a woman that is taken in travail; and their sorrow shall be great unless they speedily repent, yea, very speedily.
36 For they killed the prophets, and them that were sent unto them; and they have shed innocent blood, which crieth from the ground against them. [D&C 136:34–36]
Nephi pronounces the complete apostasy that would occur. All of the churches were included and a chief factor, along with the false teachers and false doctrines, was that of pride (vv. 11–12). Fine sanctuaries, fine clothing, persecution, wickedness, abominations, and whoredoms all came about because of pride (v. 13).
Although there has been a complete apostasy, Nephi recognizes the few humble followers of Christ who are nevertheless led astray by the precepts or teachings of men. The prophet Joseph Smith gave this description of these people: “For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (D&C 123:12).