Lesson 36 - On the
Morrow Come I into the World
Scriptures
Read, ponder, and pray about the
following scriptures:
&
3 Nephi 1:1 –22. Despite signs and miracles in
the land, unbelievers claim that the time for the Savior’s coming has passed.
The wicked plan to slay the believers. The signs of the Savior’s birth appear
and vindicate those who have endured in faith.
&
3 Nephi 2–4. Wickedness increases in the land.
The Gadianton robbers become more powerful and come to battle against the
Nephites. The Nephites repent of their wickedness, and the Lord helps them
defeat the Gadianton robbers.
&
3 Nephi 5–7. The Nephites forsake their sins and
live righteously. As they prosper, pride and dissensions arise in the Church.
The people are soon living “in a state of awful wickedness.” Nephi preaches
repentance and faith in Christ, and a few of the people are converted.
Third Nephi
The Book of Nephi
The Son of Nephi, Who Was the Son of Helaman
And Helaman was the
son of Helaman, who was the son of Alma, who was the son of Alma, being a
descendant of Nephi who was the son of Lehi, who came out of Jerusalem in the
first year of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah.
Chapter
1
Nephi2 Gives Nephi3
the Records and Departs (vs. 1-3)
·
We have reached the point where we are 600
hundred years from the time the Lehi party left Jerusalem.
·
Lachoneus becomes the chief judge and governor.
·
Nephi2 gives the plates, plates of
brass and all the other sacred relics to his son, Nephi3.
o
Like Alma2, Nephi2 leaves
and is not heard from again.
Signs and Miracles Occur (v. 4)
·
Great signs and miracles are being “wrought among the people” (v. 4).
Nonbelievers Say Time For Signs Has
Passed (vs. 5-8)
·
Some said the signs spoken of by Samuel should
have occurred.
o
They persecuted the believers, telling them, “Behold the time is past, and the words of
Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this
thing hath been vain” (v. 6).
·
Those who believed “began to be very sorrowful” (v. 7) that Samuel’s signs may not
occur.
o
Still, they watched for the day without night.
Date Set For Believers to Be Killed if
Signs Do Not Occur (v. 9)
·
A day was set that, if the day without night did
occur, the believers would be put to death.
·
See Quote #1
Nephi3 Prays for Believers
and Signs Given (vs. 10-21)
·
Nephi3 prayed on behalf of the
believers.
·
The Lord answered his prayer.
o
The time is at hand.
§
“[O]n this
night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world” (v.
13).
§
He is coming to “fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men
from the foundation of the world” (v. 14).
§
The sign was fulfilled according to Samuel’s
words.
·
And behold, this will I give unto you for a
sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in
heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness,
insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.
Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were
one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye
shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they
shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless
the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.
(Helaman 14:3 - 4)
·
Many who did not believe fell to the earth
because “the great plan of destruction
which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had
been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand” (v.
16).
·
They began to fear because of their unbelief.
·
All signs occurred “according to the words of
the prophets” (v. 20).
o
A new star appeared in the sky.
§
And behold, there shall a new star
arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto
you.
(Helaman 14:15)
Satan Hardens Some People’s Hearts and
They Refuse to Believe (vs. 22-23)
·
We see that even with signs, many refuse to
believe.
o
Satan hardened many hearts and they refused to
believe the signs.
o
Nephi3 went forth and preached to the
people.
§
Many were “baptized
unto repentance, in the which there was a great remission of sin” (v. 23).
·
Peace spreads through the land.
People are Still Required to Obey the
Law of Moses (vs. 24-26)
·
A controversy arose.
o
There were those who claimed they should no
longer follow the law of Moses.
·
Nephi3 was able to clarify that the
law of Moses had not been fulfilled.
o
This settled the controversy.
o
See Quote #2
Gadianton Robbers Return (vs. 27-30)
·
A year after the signs were given, the Gadianton
Robbers appear again.
o
The lived in the mountains and became quite
strong.
o
They committed many murders and slaughter.
·
See Quote #3
·
The Robbers also afflicted the Lamanites.
·
The Lamanites decreased in faith because of the
wickedness of the younger generation.
Chapter
2
Nephites Disbelieve the Signs of
Christ’s Birth and Become a Wicked People (vs. 1-10)
·
Four years have passed since the Nephites
received the signs of Christ’s birth.
·
They began to harden their hearts and “disbelieve all which they had heard and
seen” (v. 1).
o
They began to explain them away.
§
They claimed, “that it was wrought by men and the power of the devil” (v. 2).
§
Like Laman and Lemuel:
·
And
Laman said unto Lemuel and also unto the sons of Ishmael: Behold, let us slay
our father, and also our brother Nephi, who has taken it upon him to be our
ruler and our teacher, who are his elder brethren.
Now,
he says that the Lord has talked with him, and also that angels have ministered
unto him. But behold, we know that he
lies unto us; and he tells us these things, and he worketh many things by his
cunning arts, that he may deceive our eyes, thinking, perhaps, that he may lead
us away into some strange wilderness; and after he has led us away, he has
thought to make himself a king and a ruler over us, that he may do with us
according to his will and pleasure. And after this manner did my brother Laman
stir up their hearts to anger.
(1 Nephi 16:37-38)
§
They began to believe the “doctrine of Christ was a foolish and vain thing” (v. 23).
§
They began to “wax strong in wickedness and abominations” (v. 3).
·
The Nephites began to count years from the time
the sign of Christ’s birth was given.
o
We are now in the ninth year, 100 years since
Mosiah and 609 years since Lehi left Jerusalem.
·
The people remained wicked in spite of all the preaching
and prophesying among the Nephites.
War (vs. 11-19)
The War of Giddianhi and Zemnarihah
•
Source: 3 Nephi 2:11-4:28.
•
Dates: A.D. 13-22.
•
Location: From the land of Zarahemla
to the land of Bountiful.
•
Causes: Some twenty-five years
earlier, Gadianton robbers had established strongholds in the mountains and had
grown steadily in strength and antagonism. They alleged that the Nephites had
illegally taken the rights of government away from them. The depletion of their
food supplies brought them out into open conflict.
•
Tactics: Widespread raiding and
pillaging that escalated into open warfare when the robbers' demands were
rejected. Lamanites and Nephites joined into one body near the narrow neck of
land and prepared for a seven-year siege.
•
Results: An important side effect of
this war was the unification of Lamanites and Nephites against the threat of
robbers. The robbers were destroyed once again, and the victors were all
reconverted.
·
The Gadianton Robbers have become very
numerous.
o
They killed many, laid waste to cities, spread
death and carnage to the point both Nephites and Lamanites had to fight them.
·
The converted Lamanites fought with the Nephites “for the safety of their lives and their
women and their children” (v. 12)
·
The war turned bad for the Nephites.
o
They “were
threatened with utter destruction” (v. 14).
·
The Lamanites united with the Nephites and “were numbered among the Nephites” (v.
15).
·
The curse was taken from the Lamanites and their
skin became white like the Nephites.
·
What was the curse?
o
“Thus they
were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship idols, and the curse of
God had fallen upon them because of the traditions of their fathers;
notwithstanding the promises of the Lord were extended unto them on the
conditions of repentance” (Alma 17:15).
·
The skin of the Lamanites became “white” like
the Nephites.
o
What does this mean?
§
The original version of 2 Nephi 30:6 read: “[T]heir [the Lamanites] scales of darkness
shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away
among them, save they shall be a white
and a delightsome people.”
·
Joseph Smith’s 1840 edit of the verse changed it
to read, “they shall be a pure and a delightsome people.”
§
Jacob, preaching to the Nephites, compared the
Lamanite righteousness to the Nephite wickedness.
·
”O my
brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins that [the Lamanite’s]
skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the
throne of God” (Jacob 3:8)
§
In the scriptures white is used as a “color” and
as a synonym for pure or purity.
§
It is possible that, when the curse was lifted,
they became “pure” like the Nephites.
·
The armies were able to drive the Robbers back
into the mountains.
·
The next year, the Robbers regained the
advantage.
o
This was because of the “wickedness of the people of Nephi” (v. 18).
·
The sword of destruction is now hanging over the
Nephites as we end Chapter 2.
Chapter
3
Giddianhi’s Epistle (vs. 1-10)
·
The Nephites receive an epistle, addressed to
the chief judge, Lachoneus, from the leader of the Robbers, Giddianhi.
·
He begins by praising (somewhat mockingly) the
Nephites for defending “that which ye
suppose to be your right and liberty” (v. 2).
·
He continues the mocking tone; they reject the Nephite
claim to be supported by God (“as if ye were supported by the hand of a
god” [v. 2].)
·
It seems “a pity” they are foolish enough to
believe they can defeat the Robbers.
·
Because he has so many “brave men who are at [his] command” (v. 3), all he has to do is
command them to destroy the Nephites and they will.
o
They hate the Nephites “because of the many wrongs which ye have done unto them”
(v. 4).
·
He is concerned for the welfare of the Nephites.
·
He tells them to surrender to the Robbers (“yield up unto this my people, your cities,
your land, and your possessions” [v. 6]).
o
In short, he wants them to “be like unto us … our brethren and partners” (v. 7).
o
Learn our secrets and become one with us.
§
If the Nephites do this, they will not be
destroyed.
§
If they don’t, next month, they “shall become extinct” (v. 8).
·
Giddianhi tells them “the secret society of Gadianton; which society and the works thereof I
know to be good; and they are of ancient date and they have been handed down
unto us” (v. 9).
o
He really believes
this!
·
He wants to “recover” the Robbers rights to
government.
·
The robbers are made up of Nephite dissenters.
o
They dissented “because of your wickedness in
retaining from them their rights of government” (v. 10).
§
What he means is the people rejected their
claims, so the only way they can take power is through surrender or violent
rebellion.
·
He closes his epistle promising to destroy the
Nephites if they don’t surrender.
Chief Judge Lachoneus Rejects
Giddianhi’s Epistle War and Prepares for War (vs. 11-16)
·
Lachoneus was “exceedingly astonished” by the
epistle.
o
To say the least!
·
Lachoneus was a just man and wasn’t frightened
by the epistle.
o
He strengthened his people.
o
He called on them to pray to the Lord for
strength against the robbers.
·
Lachoneus sent a proclamation among the people.
·
They should gather the women, children, flocks,
herds, and their substance into one place.
·
He also had the people fortify their location.
o
Armies made up of Nephites and Lamanites were
placed as guards.
·
Lachoneus told the people, “As the Lord liveth, except ye repent of all your iniquities, and cry
unto the Lord, ye will in no wise be delivered out of the hands of those
Gadianton robbers” (v. 15).
o
We again see a way out for the people – return
to the Lord.
·
The people accepted his words and did all they
could.
Chief Captains and Others Are Appointed
(vs. 17-19)
·
Chief captains were appointed over the armies to
command them during the war.
o
See Quote #4
·
Gidgiddoni was appointed the chief captain.
o
See Quote #5
Gidgiddoni Refuses to Fight Preemptive
War (vs. 20-21)
·
The people called upon Gidgiddoni to pray and
ask the Lord how they might find and defeat the Robbers.
·
Gidgiddoni refused.
o
If they attacked, he told them, “the Lord would deliver us into their hands”
(v. 21).
o
The Lord’s law of war did not allow preemptive attacks.
o
Only defensive wars, after an attack, were
acceptable.
o
See Quote #6
Nephites Gather in a Safe Location (vs. 21-26)
·
The people had taken their horses, chariots,
cattle, flocks, herds, and grains to the “safe place” the Nephites established.
o
What is mean by horses?
§
In a long article, Robert Bennett discusses this
question. A summary of his observations
are:
- The horses may have
lived in a narrow geographical area.
- It is not unusual for
there to be a lack of archaeological evidence for animal within a
narrow geographical area.
- There is almost no
archaeological evidence of horses in the Central Asian area occupied by
the Huns.
- What is referred to as
a horse could be another animal, such as a tapir.
·
Thousands of people gathered together in the
land southward.
·
The people repented and prayed to the Lord to
deliver them if their enemies should attack.
·
Gidgiddoni had weapons of war made after his
instructions.
Chapter
4
Robbers Being War (vs. 1-14)
·
Finally, the Robbers attack and take the
deserted lands.
o
There was no game in those lands.
o
The Robbers began to starve as there was little
to no food.
·
Lachoneus’s strategy for starving the Robbers
succeeded.
·
Their only choice was to attack the Nephites in
their stronghold.
·
They attempted to strike fear in the hearts of
the Nephites.
o
They were wearing lamb-skin, their skin was dyed
in blood, their heads were shorn, and they wore head plates.
·
Seeing the Robbers attack begin, the Nephite
army fell to the earth and cried out to the Lord to spare them from their
enemies.
o
The Nephites are being attacked, so they are
justified in defending themselves.
·
Giddianhi mistook the Nephite reaction as fear
of his army.
o
But the Nephites did not fear them.
·
The Lord strengthened the Nephites and they were
prepared to meet the Robbers.
·
It was a terrible battle.
o
There was great slaughter.
§
“[T]here
never was known so great a slaughter among all the people of Lehi since he left
Jerusalem” (v. 11).
·
Giddianhi’s “invincible” army was forced to
retreat because of the Nephite success.
·
Gidgiddoni commanded his armies to pursue them
to the borders.
o
He ordered them to execute any Robber found.
o
Usually the Nephites took prisoners.
§
This war is different because this is a civil
war.
§
The Robbers are trying to overthrow the duly
elected government.
·
The all powerful Giddianhi was worn out by the
fighting.
o
He was overtaken and slain.
o
“And thus
was the end of Giddianhi the robber” (v. 14).
Robbers Continue War Two Years Later (vs.
15-27)
·
The Nephites remained in their secure location.
·
Two years later the Robbers laid siege at the
secure location.
·
Zemnarihah became the new leader.
·
The siege failed.
o
The Nephites had prepared for a long stay at
their secure location.
·
The Robbers still had little provisions.
o
They were able to obtain a little meat.
§
But, wild animals were scarce.
o
The Robbers continue to starve.
·
The Nephites were occasionally going out and
hitting the Robbers.
·
The Robbers wanted to withdraw because of the
losses.
o
The Robbers finally withdrew to the northern
most parts of the land northward.
·
Gidgiddoni cut off the Robbers as they
retreated.
·
The Nephites surrounded the Robbers.
o
A battle ensued and those who refused to
surrender were slain.
Robbers Defeated (vs. 28-33)
·
Zemnarihah was captured and hanged on a tree.
o
After he was dead, they cut down the tree.
§
This was a common Jewish practice, carried to
the New World.
·
The people praised the Lord, saying:
o
“May the
Lord preserve his people in righteousness and in holiness of heart, that they
may cause to be felled to the earth all who shall seek to slay them because of
power and secret combinations, even as this man hath been felled to the earth”
(v. 29).
·
They continued to praise God for preserving them
from their enemy.
·
They praised God because they had been delivered
from destruction.
Chapter
5
Peace and The End of the Secret
Combinations (for now!) (vs. 1-7)
·
The Nephites believed the words spoken by the
prophets.
·
Christ had come because of the signs that have
been given.
·
The Nephites became a righteous people.
·
The Robbers in prison had the gospel preached to
them.
o
If they covenanted to no longer murder, they
were set free.
·
If they didn’t, they were punished according to
the law.
·
The Nephites were successful exterminating the
secret combinations.
·
For four years, there was peace.
We Meet Mormon For the First Time (vs.
8-16)
·
Many things happened but cannot be written.
o
“[T]his
book cannot contain even a hundredth part of what was done among so many people
in the space of twenty and five years” (v. 8).
·
Mormon tells us he is using a record that was
called the plates of Nephi.
·
He makes the plates with his own hands.
·
Mormon finally introduces himself to us.
§
His comments in the Words of Mormon were tacked
on to the end of the small plates of Nephi.
o
He was named after the land of Mormon where Alma1
established the church.
o
He is a disciple of Jesus Christ.
o
He made this record according to the will of God
and the prayers of those in the past that these records be preserved.
o
He gives us a small account of what has happened
over the last 1,000 years.
Mormon Explains His Records (vs. 17-20)
·
He makes this record based on “the things which I have seen with mine own
eyes” (v. 17).
o
He tells us he knows this is a true record.
o
Then he adds – “there are many things which, according to our language, we are not
able to write” (v. 18).
o
Mormon ends his sayings by identifying himself
again and tells us he is a pure descendant of Lehi1.
·
The Lord has blessed the house of Jacob and been
merciful to the descendants of Joseph.
·
When the Nephites had kept the commandments of
the Lord, they have been blessed.
o
This promise shows up throughout the Book of
Mormon.
§
Lehi:
·
And he
hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in
the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off
from my presence. (2 Nephi 1:20)
§
Jarom:
·
And thus being prepared to meet the
Lamanites, they did not prosper against us.
But the word of the Lord was verified, which he spake unto our fathers,
saying that: Inasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the
land. (Jarom 1:9)
§
Amaron:
·
For the Lord would not suffer, after he had
led them out of the land of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling
into the hands of their enemies, yea, he would not suffer that the words should
not be verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye
will not keep my commandments ye shall not prosper in the land. (Omni 1:6)
§
King Benjamin:
·
And now,
my sons, I would that ye should remember to search [the records] diligently,
that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of
God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord
made unto our fathers. (Mosiah 1:7)
§
Alma2:
·
Behold, do
ye not remember the words which he spake unto Lehi, saying that: Inasmuch as ye
shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye
will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the
Lord.
Now I would that ye should remember,
that inasmuch as the Lamanites have not kept the commandments of God, they have
been cut off from the presence of the Lord.
Now we see that the word of the Lord has been verified in this thing,
and the Lamanites have been cut off from his presence, from the beginning of
their transgressions in the land. (Alma 9:13 - 14)
§
Alma2:
·
O
remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict are the commandments of
God. And he said: If ye will keep my
commandments ye shall prosper in the land—but if ye keep not his commandments
ye shall be cut off from his presence. (Alma 37:13)
·
The remnant of Joseph will be brought to a
knowledge of God.
o
The seed of Jacob will be gathered from the four
quarters of the earth.
o
The covenant the Lord made with the house of
Jacob will be fulfilled.
o
They will be restored to their knowledge of the
covenant made by the Lord with them.
o
They shall
know that Jesus Christ, the Son of God is their Redeemer.
Chapter
6
Nephites Return to Their Land and
Prosper (vs. 1-9)
·
After seven years, there Nephites returned to
their lands with their possessions.
·
Any robber who covenanted to keep peace were
freed to become a part of society.
·
Peace and prosperity spread throughout the land.
·
The only thing that could stop the prosperity
was the Nephites falling into transgression.
·
Gidgiddoni and Lachoneus were appointed leaders.
·
Many new cities were built.
o
Old cities were repaired.
o
Highways and roads were made between cities.
The Nephites Become an Iniquitous People
(vs. 10-18)
·
About four years pass and there began to be some
disputes, some were lifted up in the Nephite Disease, pride, they boasted about
the riches.
·
Persecutions began.
o
“[T]he the
people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their
chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and
others did receive great learning because of their riches” (v. 12).
·
There is always a group who avoid the pride and
remain humble.
·
When persecuted some would return persecution
with persecution.
o
Most would endure the persecution and remain
humble before God.
·
Because of “great
inequality,” the church “began to be
broken up” (v. 14).
o
A few Lamanites remained faithful and true to
their faith.
·
Satan gained great power throughout the land.
o
He led the people to do all manner of iniquity.
·
Mormon sums up the Nephites situation by telling
us “they were in a state of awful
wickedness” (v. 17).
·
The people gave Satan full control of their
lives.
·
When the Lord rejected Cain’s offering, he
became upset. He was told,
o
“If thou doest
well, thou shalt be accepted. And if
thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan desireth to have thee;
and except thou shalt hearken unto my commandments, I will deliver thee up, and
it shall be unto thee according to his desire” (Moses 5:23).
·
See Quote #7
·
The reason their sin was so “awful,” is because “they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew
the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore
they did wilfully rebel against God” (v. 18).
o
King Benjamin explained how the Lord treats
those that sinned ignorantly.
§
“For
behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the
transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning
them, or who have ignorantly sinned” (Mosiah 3:11).
·
During this time, Lachoneus died.
o
His son, Lachoneus became the chief judge.
Inspired Men Preach to the Nephites,
Angering the Many of the People (vs. 20-30)
·
“And there
began to be men inspired from heaven and sent forth” to preach and testify
to the people about their iniquities (v. 20).
o
They also testified about how Christ would be
resurrected and redeem his people.
·
The judges, former high priests, and lawyers
were angry with those who testified against them.
o
There were those who wanted them executed.
o
Only the governor could sign an execution order.
§
That didn’t stop the wicked.
§
Those who testified were put to death secretly
by the judges.
·
A complaint was filed with the governor about the
executions.
·
Those involved were taken before judges.
o
The accused judges and lawyers had many friends
in key places.
o
They entered into a covenant to protect them.
§
“[Y]ea, [they
entered] into that covenant which was given by them of old, which covenant was
given and administered by the devil, to combine against all righteousness”
(v. 28).
·
They covenanted to prevent those guilty of the
murders from being found guilty.
·
They also covenanted to kill the governor and
establish a king.
·
This would
take away the liberty of the people.
Chapter
7
Chief Judge Murdered, Government
Collapses, People Form Tribes (vs. 1-14)
·
The judges and lawyers were not able to
establish a king.
·
The chief judge was murdered.
·
The people, being divided, separated into
tribes.
o
Every tribe appointed a leader.
·
At this time, there was no war.
·
The inequity came about “because they did yield themselves unto the power of Satan” (v. 5).
·
The laws and regulations were destroyed by the
secret combinations.
o
These are those who murdered the prophets.
·
There was contention in the land.
·
The more righteous had become wicked.
o
There were few righteous among the people.
·
Over a period of six years, the people turned
away from righteousness and became wicked.
·
The secret combination tribe appointed a man
named Jacob their king.
o
He was one of the strongest opponents of the
prophets.
·
Jacob, seeing they were outnumbered by their
enemies, took off to the northernmost part of the land.
·
The tribes were made up of families, kindred,
and friends.
·
The tribes agreed not to go to war against each
other.
·
Each tribe had their own laws.
·
“[T]heir
their hearts were turned from the Lord their God, and they did stone the
prophets and did cast them out from among them” (v. 14).
The Return of Nephi3 (vs. 15-26)
·
Nephi3 had been visited by angels and
heard the Lord’s voice.
o
He was an “eye–witness
to their quick return from righteousness unto their wickedness and
abominations” (v. 15).
·
He began to minister to the people, boldly
calling on the people to repent and gain remission of their sins through faith
in Christ.
·
Nephi3 ministered many things to them
with power and authority.
o
Mormon tells us “all of them cannot be written, and a part of them would not suffice,
therefore they are not written in this book” (v. 17).
·
The people were angry with him.
o
He had greater power then they did.
o
They also couldn’t disbelieve his words.
·
In Christ’s name, he cast out devils and unclean
spirits.
o
His brother, Timothy, had been stoned to death
because of his preaching.
§
Nephi3 raised him from the dead.
·
A few had been converted.
o
Those that were converted “did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited
by the power and Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they
believed” (v. 21).
·
Many had devils cast out and were healed.
·
All who repented were also baptized with water.
·
So ends the 32nd year after Christ’s
birth.
Samuel the
Lamanite’s Prophecies
(Chart 48, Charting
the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch and J. Gregory Welch)
As the time neared for Samuel the Lamanite’s prophecies to
be fulfilled, Nephi3 witnessed the growing skepticism of the people
concerning the predicted earthly advent of Jesus Christ. This skepticism led to the persecution of
those who believed in Christ’s coming by those who felt the time of his birth
had already passed. These skeptics
threatened to kill the believers unless the sign of Christ’s birth appeared
before a certain date. Possibly because
the very lives of the believers depended on the fulfillment of those
prophecies. Nephi3 paid
careful attention to documenting their exact fulfillment…
Concerning Christ’s Birth
|
Reference
|
Fulfillment
|
Christ will be born in 5 years
|
Helaman 14:2
|
3 Nephi 1:13
|
No darkness for 2 days, 1 night
|
Helaman 14:3-4
|
3 Nephi 1:15
|
A new star will arise
|
Helaman 14:5
|
3 Nephi 1:21
|
There will be signs and wonders
|
Helaman 14:6
|
3 Nephi 2:1
|
People will fall to the earth
|
Helaman 14:7
|
3 Nephi 1:16-17
|
Quote #1
Hugh Nibley writes:
It was the overwhelming majority of unbelievers who actually
set a date for a general massacre of those who expected the coming of Christ (3
Nephi 1:9, 16). Fantastic as this may seem, it has many parallels in history:
the slaughter of the Magi in Lehi's day, the Sicilian Vespers, the liquidation
of the Mamlukes, St. Bartholomew's, the slaughter of the Donatists, the
Bloodbath of Stralsund, etc., most of them attempts at the complete wiping out
of large unorthodox minorities, and most of them engineered by devout
intellectuals.
Quote #2
John Welch explains:
While righteous Nephites knew that the sacrifices and
performances under the law of Moses pointed exclusively to the coming atonement
of Jesus Christ, they still kept the law of Moses with strictness—in whatever
ways they understood that law. Indeed, as soon as the sign of the birth of
Christ was given, people began to argue with Nephi, claiming that it was no
longer necessary for them to observe the law of Moses (3 Nephi 1:24). It
fell upon Nephi, as the new High Priest, to convince the people that all of the
law "was not yet fulfilled, and that it must be fulfilled in every
whit" (1:25).
Quote #3
Hugh Nibley writes:
Then came more prosperity, and gradually small groups of the
revived Gadianton order began to make raids on the country from hiding-places
in the mountains, assisted by tip-offs from Nephite dissenters (Helaman
11:24—25). This sort of thing had a romantic and adventurous appeal to the
younger generation of Nephites who went off and joined up with the bands in
large numbers (3 Nephi 1:27—29).
Quote #4
A. Brent Merrill describes the Nephite law of war.
Even in situations where the Nephites may have faced an
enemy of more equal numbers, they were counseled not to strike first. An
opportunity of this type arose in about A.D. 17 when the Nephites considered
initiating a preventive war against the Gadianton robbers, but the chief
captain and "great commander of all the armies of the Nephites"
directed his people not to attack (3 Nephi 3:17-21). When the Nephites violated
this principle, they usually suffered defeat (see Mormon 4:4).
Quote #5
A. Brent Merrill describes Gidgiddoni.
The next Nephite chief captain mentioned in the Book of
Mormon is Gidgiddoni, ca. A.D. 17. As with his predecessors, Gidgiddoni was
appointed to command the Nephite armies because he possessed "the spirit
of revelation and also prophecy" and was therefore recognized as "a
great prophet" (3 Nephi 3:18-19).
Quote #6
Daniel C. Peterson reminds us about the Lord’s rules for
war.
In rejecting the calls of his people for a preemptive strike
against the guerrillas' mountain bases, Gidgiddoni was in harmony with the
rules of war revealed by the Lord to his prophets in both ancient and modern
times (see D&C 98:23-48, especially verses 32-33). God, he declared, would
not uphold the Nephites if they violated those rules.
Quote #7
Hugh Nibley explains the dangers of economic inequality.
Economic inequality is a deadly danger to the Church in
every age. Again the usual explanation is given for the increasing iniquity of
the society. It is nothing but the desire "for power, and authority, and
riches, and the vain things of the world" (3 Nephi 6:15). In a word, it is
what we all want! This led in a very short time to what Nephi calls "a
state of awful wickedness" (3 Nephi 6:17). When inspired men began to
oppose the trend, they were met with fierce indignation, especially on the part
of the governing classes, the "judges, and they who had been high priests and
lawyers; yea, all those who were lawyers were angry with those who
testified" (3 Nephi 6:21).
