"End of the Nephites" panel sculpted

“End of the Nephites,” by Steven L. Neal depicts the end of the Nephite Civilization as told in the nine chapters of Mormon within the Book of Mormon. The book by his own name, describes the annihilation of the Nephite people. In somber reading that primarily describes warfare, wickedness, debauchery, cruelty of every kind, and almost every sin imaginable, Mormon, and then his son Moroni, tell of the final wars that led to the demise of the Nephite people.

Mormon sorrows that “the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the wickedness of the people. And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness.” In his youth the people “had willfully rebelled against their God . .. [and] because of the hardness of their hearts the land was cursed for their sake.”

Neal chose to sculpt these specific chapters to highlight the tragedy of a chosen people who, despite promises of prosperity on a covenant land, were ultimately destroyed after turning away from God. To ensure historical accuracy according to the text, Neal meticulously depicted the weapons, clothing, and hairstyles described in the Book of Mormon. Various pairs of figures engaged in combat balance the composition, reflecting their final wars.