Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men. 2 Nephi 2:3
The Book of Mormon says we are saved by the righteouness of our Redeemer. He alone will come to bring salvation to men.
...for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free. 2 Nephi 2:4
This truth is the same always - during the time of Nephi and EVEN TODAY! Salvation is free!!!! Which means God extends salvation to us at no cost to us.
Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. 2 Nephi 2:6
We are redeemed (purchased out of slavery) only through the coming Messiah, because of his grace and truth.
Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. 2 Nephi 2:7
Jesus' sacrifice for our sin is the sufficient answer to all our sins and it's available to the repentant person.
...save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. 2 Nephi 2:8
Only the coming Messiah, who sacrificed his life for us, can allow us resurrection from the dead. Only his merits, mercy and grace.
Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved. 2 Nephi 2:9
Belief in Jesus saves. Only belief. Nothing else.
And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him...2 Nephi 2:10
We will all stand before God and be judged based on the truth and holiness in him - not based on our holiness.
For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.
Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more.
O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! 2 Nephi 9:6-8
Later in 2 Nephi 9, it says:
- Men fell because of sin and were cut off from the presence of the Lord.
- There needed to be an "infinite atonement," an eternal plan to pay for the sins of mankind or mankind will die and rot away.
- By mercy and grace God offered a way for flesh to become. No mention of works saving us, only the atonement plan offered through Jesus Christ.
What these passages say: Only through our belief in Jesus Christ can we be saved. His holiness, mercy and grace extend salvation to those who believe.
What these passages DON'T say: Anything about our works saving us. The Mormon church stresses a work based theology through obedience to the church, mandatory giving, forced serving (mission trips) and a coming judgment where God will determine through an individual's works whether they will advance to the celestial kingdom and become a god.
2 Nephi says no works are necessary to believe. It's all about what Jesus Christ did for us.