Nephi and the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible expand upon and conceptually reappropriate prophecy found in Isaiah 29 (see #26 A VOICE ‘FROM OUT OF THE GROUND’). 2 Nephi 27:29 tells us that “in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the [Book of Mormon], and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.” These seem to refer to spiritual rather than physical conditions.

If that is true, then it is remarkable to see how the Book of Mormon has performed since its initial publication in 1830. As of 2023, the Church had distributed 200 million copies of the Book of Mormon. As of 2022, the Book of Mormon has been published in 115 languages.⁷⁶ “Most of the 115 languages have full translations of the Book of Mormon; some have only selected portions translated, in most cases one-third to one-half of the full volume of scripture.”⁷⁷ As of the end of 2023, the Church had 17,255,394 members on record.⁷⁸

The Book of Mormon has been a powerful tool in helping the Church go forth “out of the wilderness–clear as the moon, and fair as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners” (Doctrine & Covenants 5:14).