“Wo, Wo, Wo Unto This People”

Brant Gardner

The Savior’s first words are a summons to repent, which Nephi has already documented; the Nephites are ready to heed this message (3 Ne. 8:24–25). The Savior attributes the deaths to the Nephites’ iniquity, a theme stressed in the lamentation. As I read this close correlation, it seems probable that Nephi recorded the lamentation with these words as the impetus, even though he recorded the lament as preceding the Savior’s message.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 5

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