Lesson 42: This Is
My Gospel
Purpose
To help class members understand the fundamental doctrines
of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to teach them that living the gospel is the
only way to true and eternal happiness.
Read, ponder, and pray about the following
scriptures:
·
3 Nephi 27. The Savior commands
His twelve Nephite disciples to call the Church after His name. He expounds His
gospel.
·
3 Nephi 28. One by one, the
Savior grants His twelve Nephite disciples the desires of their hearts. Three
of the disciples desire and are given power to remain on earth to preach the
gospel until the Savior returns in His glory.
·
4 Nephi 1. All the people are
converted, and they establish a society of perfect peace. Many years later, the
majority of the people dwindle in unbelief and reject the gospel.
Chapter
27
Jesus commands them to
call the Church in his name—His mission and atoning sacrifice constitute his
gospel—Men are commanded to repent and be baptized that they may be sanctified
by the Holy Ghost—They are to be even as Jesus is. About A.D. 34–35
·
While the disciples were preaching the gospel,
relating the things they had seen and heard, and baptizing people, they
gathered together and began to fast and pray.
o
And, as it
is written—Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according
to my command, ye shall receive.
Section 29:6
o
Nevertheless
Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he
would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also
grant that he might baptize them unto repentance.
Alma 8:10
o
Behold, I
say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days
that I might know these things of myself.
And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath
made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of
revelation which is in me.
Alma 5:46
o
Nevertheless
the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together
oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the
souls of those who knew not God.
Alma 6:6
·
Jesus appeared to them.
o
He asked, “What
will ye that I shall give unto you?”
·
They asked what they should name their church.
o
There were disputations as to what to name the
church.
·
He asked, why are their disputations?
o
“Have they
not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ,
which is my name? For by this name shall
ye be called at the last day; And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth
to the end” (vs. 5-6).
§
And now,
because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if
he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever
repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end
the same shall be saved.
And now, as I said unto you, that
because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that
they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?
Yea, he that truly humbleth
himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be
blessed—yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because
of their exceeding poverty.
Alma 32:13 – 15
§
And now,
my son [Shiblon], I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your
steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your
youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in
keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end.
Alma 38:2
§
Behold, I
am the law, and the light. Look unto me,
and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end
will I give eternal life.
3 Nephi 15:9
·
He told them that all they do, they shall do it
in His name.
·
They shall call the church in His name.
o
They shall call upon the Father in His name.
o
The Father will bless the church for His sake.
·
See Quote #1
·
Christ asks how it can be His church if it is
not called by His name.
o
For it
hath been declared unto me of [GR about, concerning] you, my brethren, by them
which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
Now this I say, that every one of
you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 1:11 - 13
o
For thus
shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
D&C 115:4
·
If it is Moses’ church, it should be called in
his name.
o
See Quote #2
·
All that they do is built upon His gospel.
o
Whatever they do, call it in His name.
o
If they call on the Father in His name, they
Father will hear them.
§
The father will show forth His works.
·
If it is not built upon His gospel, it is built
upon the works of men or the devil.
o
They will enjoy their fruits for a short time, but
will eventually be hewn down and cast into the fire of no return.
§
And now,
behold, notwithstanding all the care which we have taken of my vineyard, the
trees thereof have become corrupted, that they bring forth no good fruit; and
these I had hoped to preserve, to have laid up fruit thereof against the
season, unto mine own self. But, behold,
they have become like unto the wild olive-tree, and they are of no worth but to
be hewn down and cast into the fire; and it grieveth me that I should lose
them.
Jacob
5:46
§
For
behold, after ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long,
will ye bring forth evil fruit, that ye must be hewn down and cast into the
fire?
Jacob
6:7
§
And again
I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the
tree; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn
down and cast into the fire, yea, a fire which cannot be consumed, even an
unquenchable fire. Behold, and remember,
the Holy One hath spoken it.
Alma
5:52
o
Their works follow them, and they are why they
are hewn down.
§
For those
that live shall inherit the earth, and those that die shall rest from all their
labors, and their works shall follow them; and they shall receive a crown in
the mansions of my Father, which I have prepared for them.
D&C 59:2
·
Verses 13-22 are very important verses. In these verses, we read:
o
The fullness of the Gospel. When it is said the Book of Mormon contains
the fullness of the Gospel, these nine verses outline the fullness of the
Gospel.
o
These verses contain what Noel Reynolds
describes as the six basic elements of the Gospel.
§
Noel B. Reynolds, in "
True
Points of My Doctrine" identifies three crucial Book of Mormon
passages that define the true gospel of Jesus Christ. He comments on other
passages that further clarify six basic elements of the gospel
:
faith, repentance, baptism by water, baptism by fire, enduring to the end, and
the acquisition of eternal life.
·
(Note:
I used Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon by Robert L. Millett and Joseph Fielding McConkie as a
resource for verses 13-22.)
·
13 Behold
I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto
you—
o
“The principles of the gospel – those things
which allow us to partake of the powers of the atoning sacrifice – perhaps
elucidated here in 3 Nephi 27 more than in any other passage of scripture, including
faith, repentance, baptism, the reception of the Holy Ghost, enduring to the
end, resurrection, and eternal judgment.”
o
The word
which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ:
(he is Lord of all:)
That word, I say, ye know, which
was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism
which John preached;
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all
that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
And we are witnesses of all things
which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and
hanged on a tree:
Him God raised up the third day,
and shewed him openly;
Acts
10:36 - 40
o
And this
is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record
unto us—
That he came into the world, even
Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to
sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;
That through him all might be saved
whom the Father had put into his power and made by him;
Section
76:40 - 42
that
I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
o
And this
is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given And
the Lord said unto Enoch: Look, and he looked and beheld the Son of Man lifted
up on the cross, after the manner of men;
Moses
7:55
o
And this
is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I
should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
And this is the will of him that
sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have
everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day [JST John 6:40 ... in the resurrection of the
just at the last day.]
John
6:39 - 40
14 And
my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross;
o
And I,
Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the
world.
1
Nephi 11:33
and
after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto
me,
o
“Because
He has fulfilled the Father’s will, Christ has the power to draw us – to entice
or invite us to return to the
Father. Eternal life is not imposed upon
us against our will but is held out to us as a spiritual enticement and
blessing. We accept the Atonement and
obtain the blessing of eternal life only through our own agency. We are drawn to Christ, not dragged.”
o
No man can
come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him
up at the last day.
John
6:44
§
JST, JOHN
6:44
·
No man can
come unto me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me. And this
is the will of him who hath sent me, that ye receive the Son; for the Father
beareth record of him; and he who receiveth the testimony, and doeth the will
of him who sent me, I will raise up in the resurrection of the just.
JST
| John 6:Entry - 44
o
Yea, I
know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem,
from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it
behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto
man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto
him.
2
Nephi 9:5
o
And if you
do these last commandments of mine, which I have given you, the gates of hell
shall not prevail against you; for my grace is sufficient for you, and you
shall be lifted up at the last day.
D&C
17:8
that
as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father,
to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or
whether they be evil—
o
“Because Jesus was “lifted up” upon the cross
and resurrected by the power of God, all mankind will be “lifted up” – resurrected
and brought back into the presence of God to be judged of their words.”
o
See Quote
#3
15 And
for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the
Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their
works.
16 And
it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be
filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before
my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.
17 And
he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and
cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice
of the Father.
o
“[T]hose who do not endure to the end are those
who do not continually exercise faith in the name of Christ, who refuse to obey
His commandments, and who will not demonstrate their love for their fellowmen
through service, compassion and forgiveness.
The eternal life-producing endurance requires an enduring change of
heart and life that comes only through the Atonement. Without such, a person can neither endure to
the end nor attain exaltation in our Father’s kingdom.”
18 And
this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words
which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words.
19 And
no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into
his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood,
o
“It is interesting to note that symbols used
here by the Savior to teach the sanctifying cleansing power of the infinite and
eternal sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
How do sin-stained garments become pure white when immersed in the blood
of Christ? Mortal blood is a staining
agent itself, but somehow, spiritually speaking, the blood spilled by a God in
our behalf becomes the only true cleansing agent. We cannot cleanse our sin-stained clothes by
mere washing in the strong detergent of self-discipline. It requires a celestial cleanser, one which
we cannot purchase for ourselves, but is purchased for us by the grace of God –
the blood of Christ.”
o
And I say
unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his
word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven;
therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.
Alma
11:37
o
But they
hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in
his wrath, for his danger was kindled against them, swore that they
should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the
fulness of his glory.
D&C
84:24
o
JOHN to
the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him
which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which
are before his throne;
And from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the
kings of the earth. Unto him that loved
us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests
unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion [GR might, power] for
ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation
1:4 - 6
o
And I said
unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said
to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation
7:14
o
And these
twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for
because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his
blood.
1
Nephi 12:10
·
I say unto you, ye will know at that day that
ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are
washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from
all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers,
who should come to redeem his people from their sins.
And now I ask of you, my brethren,
how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your
garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify
against you?
Behold will they not testify that
ye are murderers, yea, and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness?
Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose
that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with
Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose
garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?
I say unto you, Nay; except ye make
our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning,
ye cannot suppose that such can have place in the kingdom of heaven; but they
shall be cast out for they are the children of the kingdom of the devil.
And now behold, I say unto you, my
brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing
the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
Have ye walked, keeping yourselves
blameless before God? Could ye say, if
ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been
sufficiently humble? That your garments
have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to
redeem his people from their sins?
Alma
5:21 - 27
Therefore they were called after
this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through
the blood of the Lamb.
Now they, after being sanctified by
the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless
before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there
were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest
of the Lord their God.
And now, my brethren, I would that
ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for
repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest.
Alma
13:11 - 13
because
of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness
unto the end.
20 Now
this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and
be baptized in my name,
o
18 Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth,
and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall
be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name.
Ether
4:18
o
And Christ
hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever
thing is expedient in me.
And he hath said: Repent all ye
ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith
in me, that ye may be saved.
Moroni
7:33 - 34
that
ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand
spotless before me at the last day.
o
Who shall
also confirm [GR secure, establish, strengthen]
you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
1
Corinthians 1:8
o
Therefore,
O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your
heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the
last day.
D&C
4:2
21 Verily,
verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must
do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do;
for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;
o
“Being one with Christ through faith and
righteousness inevitably leads to oneness in action – thinking His thoughts,
speaking His words, performing His works.
Submission to God and “yielding our hearts” to Him will bring this kind
of obedience. Doing the works of Christ
does not necessarily mean that we will perform those miracles or utter those
prophecies that are so great that they cannot be recorded, but it means we can
live our lives so that we can enjoy the companionship of the Spirit, participate
in miracles as appropriate, and teach with power and authority in His service.”
22 Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are
ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
3 Nephi 27:13 - 21
·
How will we be judged?
·
By the things that are written in the records.
·
Everything is to be written in the records, “save it be those which are forbidden”. (v.
23).
o
And now,
my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto
these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe
in Christ. And if ye shall believe in
Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he
hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.
And if they are not the words of
Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory,
that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to
face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to
write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.
And I pray the Father in the name
of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that
great and last day.
And now, my beloved brethren, all
those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak
unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great
day shall come.
And you that will not partake of
the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and
the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God,
behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at
the last day.
For what I seal on earth, shall be
brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me,
and I must obey. Amen.
2
Nephi 33:10 - 15
And they were handed down from king
Benjamin, from generation to generation until they have fallen into my
hands. And I, Mormon, pray to God that
they may be preserved from this time henceforth. And I know that they will be preserved; for
there are great things written upon them, out of which my people and their
brethren shall be judged at the great and last day, according to the word of
God which is written.
Words
of Mormon 1:11
o
The LORD
looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
From the place of his habitation he
looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
He fashioneth their hearts alike; he
considereth all their works.
Psalms
33:13 – 15
·
All things are written by the Father and it is
out of these scriptures we will be judged.
o
Then they
that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and
heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared
the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
3
Nephi 24:16
·
The twelve will be the judges of the Nephites.
o
And he
said unto me: Thou rememberest the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb? Behold they are they who shall judge the
twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be
judged of them; for ye are of the house of Israel.
And these twelve ministers whom
thou beholdest shall judge thy seed.
And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in
the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood.
1
Nephi 12:9 - 10
o
And I
write also unto the remnant of this people, who shall also be judged by the
twelve whom Jesus chose in this land; and they shall be judged by the other
twelve whom Jesus chose in the land of Jerusalem.
Mormon
3:19
·
He asks them, “what manner of men ought ye to be?”
o
“[E]ven as
I am.”
§
Be ye
therefore [JST Matt. 5:50 Ye are therefore commanded to be...] perfect [GR complete, finished, fully
developed] , even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew
5:48
§
Therefore
I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is
perfect.
3
Nephi 12:48
·
Christ announces the He will now be going unto
the Father.
o
Jesus
saith unto her, touch me not;[ JST John 20:17 ... Hold me not...] for I am not yet
ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto
my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
John
20:17
·
Whatever they ask the Father, in His name, will
be given to them.
·
Ask and they will receive, seek and they will
find, knock, it will be open to them.
o
Ask, and
it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you:
Matthew
7:7
o
Say unto them, Ask of God; ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and
ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh,
receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall
be opened.
And then said his disciples unto him, they will say unto us, We
ourselves are righteous, and need not that any man should teach us. God, we
know, heard Moses and some of the prophets; but us he will not hear.
And they will say, We have the law for our salvation, and that is
sufficient for us.
Then Jesus answered, and said unto his disciples, thus shall ye say
unto them,
What man among you, having a son, and he shall be standing out, and
shall say, Father, open thy house that I may come in and sup with thee, will
not say, Come in, my son; for mine is thine, and thine is mine?
JST
(bold) | Matthew 7:12 - 17
·
Christ’s joy is great because of this people.
o
The Father rejoices, as well as the angels,
because none are lost.
·
While I
was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me
I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the
scripture might be fulfilled.
John
17:12
·
Christ explains that when He says “this generation,” He means those who
are alive today.
o
And
because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them,
I did send down afire and destroy them, that their wickedness and
abominations might be hid from before my face, that the blood of the prophets
and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground
against them.
And many great destructions have I
caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their
wickedness and their abominations.
O, all ye that are spared because
ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of
your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
3
Nephi 9:11 - 13
o
And it was
the more righteous part of the people who were saved, and it was they who
received the prophets and stoned them not; and it was they who had not shed the
blood of the saints, who were spared—
3
Nephi 10:12
·
By the four the generation, the people will be
led captive by the devil.
o
And the
angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away
in righteousness; and their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of
God. And the angel said unto me: These
are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him.
And I, Nephi, also saw many of the
fourth generation who passed away in righteousness.
1
Nephi 12:11 - 12
o
But the
Son of righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they
shall have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away, and
many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.
And when these things have passed
away a speedy destruction cometh unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains
of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and
they sell themselves for naught; for, for the reward of their pride and their
foolishness they shall reap destruction; for because they yield unto the devil
and choose works of darkness rather than light, therefore they must go down to
hell.
2
Nephi 26:9 - 10
o
And these
are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites,
according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years
from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle
in unbelief…
Yea, and this because they shall
dwindle in unbelief and fall into the works of darkness, and lasciviousness,
and all manner of iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin
against so great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day,
even the fourth generation shall not all pass away before this great iniquity
shall come.
Alma
45:10, 12
·
They will sell Christ for silver and gold
o
Lay not up
for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves break [GR dig through (as an earthen wall)] through and steal:
Matthew
6:19
o
Lay not up
for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and
thieves break through and steal;
But lay up for yourselves treasures
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal.
For where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also.
3
Nephi 13:19 - 21
·
In that day, He will visit them and turn their
works on their own heads.
·
Enter the strait gate and narrow way.
o
Enter ye
in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth
to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait [GR narrow] is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew
7:13 - 14
o
Enter ye
in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which
leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat;
3
Nephi 14:13
·
Broad is the way the leads to death and many
travel that path.
Chapter
28
Nine of the Twelve
desire and are promised an inheritance in Christ's kingdom when they die—The
Three Nephites desire and are given power over death so as to remain on the
earth until Jesus comes again—They are translated and see things not lawful to
utter, and they are now ministering among men. About A.D. 34–35
·
Christ next asked the twelve disciples what they
desired of Him after He went to the Father.
·
Nine said they wanted to live a full life and
then enter into His kingdom.
o
Christ told them they would live until they are
72 and then they will enter His kingdom.
·
He turned to the other three and asked their
desire.
o
They were very reluctant to tell Christ what
they desired.
·
Christ responded, “I know your thoughts.”
o
(Speaking to King Lamoni) And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men;
and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were
they all created from the beginning.
Alma 18:32
·
He told them they had the same desire as John,
the beloved.
o
AND the
Lord said unto me: John, my beloved, what desirest thou? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall
be granted unto you.
And I said unto him: Lord, give
unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto thee.
And the Lord said unto me: Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I
come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and
people.
D&C 7:1 – 3
·
He promised the three they “shall never taste of death.”
o
And there
are none that do know the true God save it be the disciples of Jesus, who did
tarry in the land until the wickedness of the people was so great that the Lord
would not suffer them to remain with the people; and whether they be upon the
face of the land no man knoweth.
But behold, my father and I have
seen them, and they have ministered unto us.
Mormon 8:10 – 11
o
And it was
by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste
of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith.
Ether 12:17
·
They will “behold
all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things
shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my
glory with the powers of heaven” (v. 9).
·
They will never die.
·
When Christ returns, they will be changed from
mortality to immortality in a twinkling of an eye.
·
They will have no pain in this life.
o
The only sorrow they will experience will be
because of the sins of the world.
·
They will have a fulness of joy.
o
They will enter into the kingdom of the Father.
·
The Holy Ghost bears record of the Father and
Christ.
o
And in the
mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established; and the testimony
of three, and this work, in the which shall be shown forth the power of God and
also his word, of which the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear
record—and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last
day.
Ether 5:4
·
The Father gives us the Holy Ghost because of
Christ.
·
Christ touched the nine with His finger.
o
The heavens were opened and the three were
caught up into heaven.
o
They saw and heard unspeakable things.
o
It was forbidden they should discuss what
happened.
§
Not only was it forbidden, they were not given
the power to discuss what they saw and heard.
·
It was a transfiguration for them; they were
changed into an immortal state.
·
They continued to minister on the face of the
earth.
·
Mormon observes that he does not know if they
were mortal or immortal since their transfiguration.
·
He tells us he knows they went forth and
ministered to all the people.
o
They preached and baptize as many as who would
accept.
§
Those who were baptized received the Holy Ghost.
·
Mormon explains what happened to them.
o
They were cast into prisons by those who did not
believe but the prison could not hold them.
§
And at
midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners
heard them.
And suddenly there was a great
earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately
all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Acts
16:25 – 26
§
And Alma
cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our
faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance. And they broke the cords with which they were
bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of
destruction had come upon them.
And it came to pass that so great
was their fear that they fell to the earth, and did not obtain the outer door
of the prison; and the earth shook mightily, and the walls of the prison were
rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the chief judge, and the
lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek, were slain
by the fall thereof.
And Alma and Amulek came forth out
of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them
power, according to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway came forth out of the
prison; and they were loosed from their bands; and the prison had fallen to the
earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek,
was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city.
Alma
14:26 - 28
o
They were cast down into pits but they could not
contain them.
§
But it
came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith
which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even
give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.
§
And it
came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed
from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto
them again.
1
Nephi 7:17 - 18
o
They were cast into furnaces but weren’t harmed.
o
They were cast into a den of wild beasts and
they played with the beasts.
o
They preached the gospel to all the people on
the face of the land.
·
Mormon was about to write the names of three,
but he was forbidden by the Lord.
·
He testifies he has seen them and they
ministered unto them.
·
They will be among the Gentiles and they won’t
know them.
·
If the Lord sees fit, they will minister to the
scattered tribes of Israel.
·
They will bring many souls to Christ.
·
They are as the angels.
·
If they pray to the Father, in the name of
Christ, they may show themselves to whomever they desire.
·
They will do great and marvelous works before
the day comes we must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.
o
And I
would that all men might be saved. But
we read that in the great and last day there are some who shall be cast out,
yea, who shall be cast off from the presence of the Lord;
Helaman
12:25
o
And even
unto the great and last day, when all people, and all kindreds, and all nations
and tongues shall stand before God, to be judged of their works, whether they
be good or whether they be evil—
3
Nephi 26:4
o
Behold,
will ye believe in the day of your visitation—behold, when the Lord shall come,
yea, even that great day when the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, yea, in that great day when ye
shall be brought to stand before the Lamb of God—then will ye say that there is
no God?
Mormon
9:2
·
The three will work a great and marvelous work
among the Gentiles before the judgment day.
o
And the
Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their
lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he
will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.
2
Nephi 25:17
·
If we had all the scriptures which give an
account of all the works of Christ, we would know these things will surely
come.
·
Wo unto them who do not hearken unto the words
of Christ.
o
And he
that will contend against the word of the Lord, let him be accursed; and he
that shall deny these things, let him be accursed; for unto them will I show no
greater things, saith Jesus Christ; for I am he who speaketh.
And at my command the heavens are
opened and are shut; and at my word the earth shall shake; and at my command
the inhabitants thereof shall pass away, even so as by fire.
And he that believeth not my words
believeth not my disciples; and if it so be that I do not speak, judge ye; for
ye shall know that it is I that speaketh, at the last day.
But he that believeth these things
which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and
he shall know and bear record. For
because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it
persuadeth men to do good.
And whatsoever thing persuadeth men
to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good;
he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that
will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light,
and the life, and the truth of the world.
Ether
4:8 - 12
·
Wo unto them who reject His servants and refuse
to accept the words of Jesus.
·
For those who reject Him, it would have been
better for them to have not been born.
·
They cannot get rid of an offended God who has
been trampled under their feet.
o
Yea, and
we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the
increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in
silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing
their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening
the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them;
yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people;
yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord
their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because
of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.
Helaman
12:2
·
Mormon writes, reminding us he did not know
whether the three were mortal or immortal.
o
He inquired of the Lord.
§
The Lord responded “there must needs be a change wrought upon their bodies, or else it
needs be that they must taste of death.”
o
The change was not the same as death.
o
The change was that Satan could have no power
over them.
o
They are holy and the powers of earth cannot
hold them.
·
At the judgment day, they will receive a greater
change and be received into the kingdom of God.
Fourth Nephi
The Book of Nephi
Who is the Son of Nephi – One of the
Disciples of Jesus Christ
An
account of the people of Nephi, according to his record.
The Nephites and the
Lamanites are all converted to the Church of Christ—They have all things in
common, work miracles, and prosper in the land—After two centuries divisions,
evils, false churches, and persecutions arise—After three hundred years both
the Nephites and the Lamanites are wicked—Ammaron hides up the sacred records.
About A.D. 35–321
Overview
[W]e turn the corner into 4 Nephi and enter into the golden
years, where for four generations the Nephites lived in great peace and unity
and righteousness. In a way this is certainly the culmination of all that the
Book of Mormon has been striving for. As the book speaks to our day, it is also
the goal which we are still striving to attain. Let's just look at some of the
attributes that these people took on and try to measure in a way how we're
doing as we are striving toward a Zion community.
(Available as Quote #4)
The most striking example of summary—when the discourse time
is less than the story time—can be found in 4 Nephi when approximately four
hundred years of events are telescoped into one chapter.
(Available as Quote #5)
The best place to see how Mormon used his whole text to
convince us that Jesus is the Messiah is in 4 Nephi, one of my favorite books
because it is so absolutely unique in Mormon’s work. I call it the “Seinfeld
book” because it is a book about nothing. Every other book we have received
from Mormon’s hand was filled with important events and long speeches
clarifying important gospel principles. 4 Nephi has none of this. Where
Mormon’s typical editorial method was to string together large quotations from
his source material with a minimalist linking text, 4 Nephi has no identifiable
quotations from his source plates. 4 Nephi is Mormon’s intentional book about
nothing. In the very absence of content, it reveals that Mormon expected the
entire structure of his opus to convince us that Jesus is the Messiah.
Mormon divides his entire 4 Nephi “history” into four blocks
of approximately one hundred years. Although events constrain that pattern, he
molds that history into his pattern. Four hundred years is a very significant
number in the Mesoamerican calendar. Just as we accumulate years into decades
and centuries, the Mesoamericans accumulated their years into larger groupings.
One of the most important was a grouping of four hundred years, known as
a baktun. Because Mesoamerica based its mathematics and calendar on
twenty as the basic unit (rather than our system of ten), the salient division
of the baktun that Mormon would be using was the culturally
significant four hundred, not the modern preference for one hundred. He would
not have had a collective unit of years that equaled one hundred but would have
spoken of the fourth part of a baktun.
Mormon summarizes the first one hundred years in verses 1–13
and the second in verses 14–21. Verse 22 begins precisely with the two
hundredth year. Mormon does not deal with specific history in these first two
hundred years, so the correspondences are close. Nothing datable happens in the
first two hundred years. Each of the hundred-year sections is treated as a
block, and the “events” are generic. In fact, the “events” of the second
hundred years nearly repeat the “events” of the idyllic first hundred years. It
is important to Mormon that the effects of the Messiah’s visit last for a
complete two hundred years. No degeneration occurs until the 201st year (v.
22).
The anomalous character of this book about nothing tells us
that Mormon had an important purpose for it—to highlight his overall purpose in
abridging the sacred records entrusted to him: to “[convince] . . . the Jew and
Gentile that Jesus is the [Messiah], the Eternal God” (Book of Mormon title
page).
(Available as Quote #6)
·
After Christ returned to the Father, the
disciples formed a church of Christ.
o
All that repented were baptized in Christ’s name
and received the Holy Ghost.
·
By 37 A.D., all the people in the land were
converted, both Nephite and Lamanite.
·
The people had all things in common.
o
Think of
your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your
substance, that they may be rich like unto you.
But before ye seek for riches, seek
ye for the kingdom of God.
And after ye have obtained a hope
in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for
the intent to ado good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry,
and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
Jacob
2:17 – 19
o
And now,
for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake
of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk
guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the
poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry,
clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both
spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.
Mosiah
4:26
o
And there
was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face
of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their
hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his
coming—
Alma
16:16
·
There were no rich or poor, bond or free.
o
All were partakers of the heavenly gift.
·
Peace prevailed in the land.
·
Great and marvelous works were done by the
twelve disciples.
o
They healed the sick, raised the dead, caused
the lame to walk and did all manner of miracles.
§
Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;
and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my
name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my
name, I will do it.
John
14:12 - 14
- All miracles were done
in the name of Christ.
- As the years passed,
there continued to be peace and prosperity.
- They began to rebuild
the cities that had burned, including Zarahemla.
- Cities that sunk into
the waters or had been flooded could not be rebuilt.
- The people waxed strong
and became a fair and delightsome people.
- They no longer performed
the ordinances of the law of Moses.
- And, inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye must keep the performances
and ordinances of God until the law shall be fulfilled which was given
unto Moses.
2 Nephi 25:30
- And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea,
your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will
accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a
contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto
me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and
with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the
time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and
they knew it not.
3 Nephi 9:19 - 20
- They kept the commandments
and continued their fasting and prayer.
- And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to
speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.
Moroni 6:5
- Also, I give unto you a
commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time
forth.
D&C 88:76
·
They also meet often to pray and hear the word
of the Lord.
·
There was no contention among the people.
·
The disciples did mighty miracles.
·
After 100 years had passed away [101 A.D.], the
nine disciples died and went to the paradise of God.
o
The three remained.
·
Many of that generation had died.
o
And the
angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away
in righteousness; and their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of
God. And the angel said unto me: These
are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him.
12
And I, Nephi, also saw many of the fourth generation who passed away in
righteousness.
1
Nephi 12:11 - 12
o
And
moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state
of those that keep the commandments of God.
For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual;
and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that
thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never–ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are
true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
Mosiah
2:41
·
There was no contention in the land.
·
The love of God dwelled in the hearts of the
people.
·
There was no envyings, strifes, chaos, whoredoms,
lyings, murders, or any manner of lasciviousness.
·
There was never a happier people.
o
And
moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state
of those that keep the commandments of God.
For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual;
and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that
thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never–ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are
true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
Mosiah
2:41
o
But behold
there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of
Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and
first year of the reign of the judges.
Alma
50:23
·
The people were one.
o
There were no manner of –ites.
§
That they
all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may
be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
And the glory which thou gavest me
I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
I in them, and thou in me, that
they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast
sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
John 17:21 – 23
·
Through 111 A.D., peace and prosperity
continued.
·
Nephi3 dies and passes the records to
his son, Amos1.
·
Amos1 keeps the records for 84 years
and passes the records to his son, Amos2.
·
During this time, there was relative peace.
o
A small group dissented from the church and
called themselves Lamanites.
·
After 84 years, Amos1 dies.
·
After 200 years, most of the second generation
had passed away.
·
The people multiplied and spread over the face
of the land.
o
They were rich and prosperous in Christ.
·
By 201 A.D., the Nephite Syndrome had entered
society.
o
Pride, wearing of costly apparel, fine pearls,
and all the fine things of the world began to be important.
§
They no longer had their goods in common.
·
By 210 A.D., a new church was formed.
·
They claimed to be followers of Christ.
o
They denied parts of His gospel.
·
After being commanded by Christ not to give the
Sacrament to those unworthy, they ignored this command.
o
And now
behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall not suffer
any one knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily, when ye shall
minister it;
For whoso eateth and drinketh my
flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore
if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye
shall forbid him.
3
Nephi 18:28 - 29
·
Because of the iniquity and the hold Satan had
on the hearts of the people, the false church grew.
·
There was another church which denied Christ.
·
They persecuted the church of Christ because of
their humility, their faith in Christ, and the many miracles done among them.
·
This church exercised power and authority over
the three disciples.
o
They cast them into prison.
§
Through the power of God, they rent the prison
and continued their work.
·
The people hardened their hearts and tried to
kill them.
o
They cast them into furnaces of fire, but
received no harm.
o
They were cast into dens of wild animals and
they played with them.
·
People hardened their hearts, being led away by
false prophets.
o
They persecuted the church of Christ.
§
They did not return the persecution.
·
By 230 A.D., they people were wicked and dwindled
in unbelief.
·
Within two years, there were great divisions
among the people.
·
The true believers in Christ were called
Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, and Zoramites.
·
Those who rejected the gospel were called
Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.
·
They willfully rebelled against the gospel of
Christ.
o
But that
ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day
against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation
of Israel.
Joshua
22:18
o
And I did
endeavor to preach unto this people, but my mouth was shut, and I was forbidden
that I should preach unto them; for behold they had wilfully rebelled against
their God; and the beloved disciples were taken away out of the land, because
of their iniquity.
Mormon
1:16
o
17 And thus they have taught their children that
they should hate them, and that they should murder them, and that they should
rob and plunder them, and do all they could to destroy them; therefore they
have an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi.
Mosiah
10:17
·
They taught their children not to believe.
o
They were taught to hate the children of God.
§
This was similar to what the Lamanites taught
their children about the Nephites.
·
By 245 A.D., the wicked outnumbered the followers
of Christ.
o
For as
their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people,
and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore
they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.
Helaman
5:2
·
They wicked continued to build their false
churches.
·
By 260 A.D., the Gadianton Robbers appeared
again.
·
The people who were called the people of Nephi
became afflicted with pride because of their riches.
o
They became vain like the Lamanites.
§
And many
more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and
vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity
continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the
face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the people against that
which was good and against that which should come.
Helaman
16:22
·
The three disciples began to sorrow because of
the sins of the people.
·
By 300 A.D., Nephites and Lamanites were both a
wicked people.
·
The disciples of Jesus were the only righteous
people.
·
The Gadianton Robbers spread across the land.
o
They trafficked in gold and silver .
§
And thus
the Lamanites began to increase in riches, and began to trade one with another
and wax great, and began to be a cunning and a wise people, as to the wisdom of
the world, yea, a very cunning people, delighting in all manner of wickedness
and plunder, except it were among their own brethren.
Mosiah 24:7
·
In 306 A.D., the people remained wicked.
·
Before his death, Amos2 passed the
records to his brother Ammoron.
·
By 321 A.D., Ammaron, under the guidance of the
Holy Ghost, hid the records.
o
And about
the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I
being about ten years of age, and I began to be learned somewhat after the
manner of the learning of my people) and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that
thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe;
Mormon
1:2
·
He hid them up that they might again be given to
the remnant of the house of Jacob.
o
And now
behold, this was the desire which I desired of him—that if it should so be,
that my people, the Nephites, should fall into transgression, and by any means
be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God
would preserve a record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so be by the
power of his holy arm, that it might be brought forth at some future day unto
the Lamanites, that, perhaps, they might be brought unto salvation—
Enos 1:13
·
“And thus
is the end of the record of Ammaron” (v 49).
Quote #1
Robert Millet writes:
There is something terribly significant about the name of
Christ. I wish I knew all that was going on here. But do you notice the number
of times in scripture it says, "Do this in the name ..."? Consider that
among the earliest things communicated from heaven to earth was a message from
an angel to Adam. What did he say? "Thou shalt do all that thou doest in
the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the
Son forevermore" (Moses 5:8). So, there is this emphasis on the name. You
see the Savior trying to answer the question and saying, "What is it you
are to do? You are to do things in my name. So, if you are going to name this
church, what are you going to name it?"
Quote #2
Robert Millet explains:
[Verse 8] tells us: "And how be it my church save it be
called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses' name then it be Moses'
church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man
..." (3 Nephi 27:8). At this point we could stop and interrupt ourselves
and say that all a church needs to be Christ's church is to have his name. But
you and I know there is more to it than that, and he's not going to let us get
off with just calling it after him. There is something else it must have. He
says, "But if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be
that they are built upon my gospel" (3 Nephi 27:8). It must be built upon
his gospel. Notice how we are leading into a definition of the gospel. We first
ask, What's the name of the church? And then we say that it must be named after
Christ, and it must be built upon his gospel.
Quote #3
Robert Millet writes:
What began in Gethsemane was consummated on the cross. The
atoning sacrifice by our Savior might have begun to take place in the Garden,
but it was consummated on Golgatha. He didn't say that he came into the world
just to go into the Garden. He says, interestingly, that he came into the world
to be lifted upon the cross. He specifically says, "My Father sent me that
I might be lifted upon the cross" (3 Nephi 27:14). When our Lord and
Savior went into Gethsemane to pray, he began to feel the weight and burden of
the sins of mankind. He began to have the Father's Spirit withdrawn from him.
He began to know the awful agony of an atoning sacrifice. How long he
experienced that, I don't think we know. But we do know this: The next day on
the cross, after ministering for sometime, the Father's Spirit began to be
withdrawn again, and as Elder Talmage suggests, all the agonies of the night
before returned.
Quote #4
John Welch writes:
[W]e turn the corner into 4 Nephi
and enter into the golden years, where for four generations the Nephites lived
in great peace and unity and righteousness. In a way this is certainly the
culmination of all that the Book of Mormon has been striving for. As the book
speaks to our day, it is also the goal which we are still striving to attain.
Let's just look at some of the attributes that these people took on and try to
measure in a way how we're doing as we are striving toward a Zion community.
Quote #5
Edgar Snow explains:
The most striking example of
summary—when the discourse time is less than the story time—can be found in 4
Nephi when approximately four hundred years of events are telescoped into one
chapter.
Quote #6
Brant Gardner writes:
The best place to see how Mormon
used his whole text to convince us that Jesus is the Messiah is in 4 Nephi, one
of my favorite books because it is so absolutely unique in Mormon’s work. I
call it the “Seinfeld book” because it is a book about nothing. Every other
book we have received from Mormon’s hand was filled with important events and
long speeches clarifying important gospel principles. 4 Nephi has none of this.
Where Mormon’s typical editorial method was to string together large quotations
from his source material with a minimalist linking text, 4 Nephi has no
identifiable quotations from his source plates. 4 Nephi is Mormon’s intentional
book about nothing. In the very absence of content, it reveals that Mormon
expected the entire structure of his opus to convince us that Jesus is the
Messiah.
Mormon divides his entire 4 Nephi
“history” into four blocks of approximately one hundred years. Although events
constrain that pattern, he molds that history into his pattern. Four hundred
years is a very significant number in the Mesoamerican calendar. Just as we
accumulate years into decades and centuries, the Mesoamericans accumulated
their years into larger groupings. One of the most important was a grouping of
four hundred years, known as a baktun. Because Mesoamerica based
its mathematics and calendar on twenty as the basic unit (rather than our
system of ten), the salient division of the baktun that Mormon
would be using was the culturally significant four hundred, not the modern
preference for one hundred. He would not have had a collective unit of years
that equaled one hundred but would have spoken of the fourth part of a baktun.
Mormon summarizes the first one
hundred years in verses 1–13 and the second in verses 14–21. Verse 22 begins
precisely with the two hundredth year. Mormon does not deal with specific
history in these first two hundred years, so the correspondences are close.
Nothing datable happens in the first two hundred years. Each of the
hundred-year sections is treated as a block, and the “events” are generic. In
fact, the “events” of the second hundred years nearly repeat the “events” of
the idyllic first hundred years. It is important to Mormon that the effects of
the Messiah’s visit last for a complete two hundred years. No degeneration
occurs until the 201st year (v. 22).
The anomalous character of this
book about nothing tells us that Mormon had an important purpose for it—to
highlight his overall purpose in abridging the sacred records entrusted to him:
to “[convince] . . . the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the [Messiah], the
Eternal God” (Book of Mormon title page).
Quotes from the Doctrinal
Commentary on the Book of Mormon by Robert L.
Millett and Joseph Fielding McConkie.
Verse 13
“The principles of the gospel –
those things which allow us to partake of the powers of the atoning sacrifice –
perhaps elucidated here in 3 Nephi 27 more than in any other passage of
scripture, including faith, repentance, baptism, the reception of the Holy
Ghost, enduring to the end, resurrection, and eternal judgment.”
Verse 14 (1st quote)
“Because He has fulfilled the
Father’s will, Christ has the power to draw us – to entice or invite us to return to the Father. Eternal life is not imposed upon us against
our will but is held out to us as a spiritual enticement and blessing. We accept the Atonement and obtain the
blessing of eternal life only through our own agency. We are drawn to Christ, not dragged.
Verse 14 ( 2nd Quote)
“Because Jesus was “lifted up” upon the cross and
resurrected by the power of God, all mankind will be “lifted up” – resurrected
and brought back into the presence of God to be judged of their words.“
Verse 17
“[T]hose who do not endure to the end are those who do not
continually exercise faith in the name of Christ, who refuse to obey His
commandments, and who will not demonstrate their love for their fellowmen
through service, compassion and forgiveness.
The eternal life-producing endurance requires an enduring change of
heart and life that comes only through the Atonement. Without such, a person can neither endure to
the end nor attain exaltation in our Father’s kingdom.”
Verse 19
“It is interesting to note that symbols used here by the
Savior to teach the sanctifying cleansing power of the infinite and eternal
sacrifice of the Lamb of God. How do
sin-stained garments become pure white when immersed in the blood of Christ? Mortal blood is a staining agent itself, but
somehow, spiritually speaking, the blood spilled by a God in our behalf becomes
the only true cleansing agent. We cannot
cleanse our sin-stained clothes by mere washing in the strong detergent of
self-discipline. It requires a celestial
cleanser, one which we cannot purchase for ourselves, but is purchased for us
by the grace of God – the blood of Christ.”
Verse 20
“Sanctification is the process by which the Saints of God
are cleansed from the effects of sin, spiritually renewed, and prepared to
enter into the presence of God. The
Atonement makes this process possible, and the Holy Ghost in the vehicle or
means by which it is fulfilled.”
Verse 21
“Being one with Christ through faith and righteousness
inevitably leads to oneness in action – thinking His thoughts, speaking His
words, performing His works. Submission
to God and “yielding our hearts” to Him will bring this kind of obedience. Doing the works of Christ does not
necessarily mean that we will perform those miracles or utter those prophecies
that are so great that they cannot be recorded, but it means we can live our
lives so that we can enjoy the companionship of the Spirit, participate in
miracles as appropriate, and teach with power and authority in His service.”
