3 Nephi 11:1-8

Jesus Christ did show himself unto the people of Nephi, as the multitude were gathered together in the land Bountiful, and did minister unto them; and on this wise did he show himself unto them.

Comprising chapters 11 to 26 inclusive.

Chapter 11

The Father testifies of his Beloved Son—Christ appears and proclaims his atonement—The people feel the wound marks in his hands and feet and side—They cry Hosanna—He sets forth the mode and manner of baptism—The spirit of contention is of the devil—Christ's doctrine is that men should believe and be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. About A.D. 34

The length of time between Christ’s death and resurrection and his appearance to the Nephites is not clear.  We do know, however, that His appearance happened no later than the end of the thirty-forth year.

There was a multitude at the temple.  They had come from throughout the land.  It was, most likely, a time of regular meeting.  It may have been a feast day, a day or mourning, or a day of celebration.  Nevertheless, it probably was a time you would have expected a gathering at the temple.

The people were conversing about the “great and marvelous” change that had occurred.  They were also talking about Christ and the signs that had been given them that He had died and been resurrected.  Clifford Jones observes:

All the words in 3 Nephi 11:1 could be construed to mean the Atonement or the destruction. However, some of these words, particularly the word marvelous, the singular word change, and the words marveling and wondering appear to be better suited to a multitude focused on the Atonement than to a multitude focused on the destruction. The topic of the Atonement also fits hand in glove with the other topic being discussed at the time: "And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death" (3 Nephi 11:2).[1]

While conversing, they head a voice from Heaven.  It was described as “was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn” (3 Nephi 11:3).  They did not understand the voice. 

The voice came a second time and they still could not understand it.  The third time they heard the voice, they “did open their ears to hear it … and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came” (3 Nephi 11:5).  Richard Rust likens the three times the voice spoke to the fact there are “three that bear record in heaven” (1 John 5:7-8), the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  He also reminds us by the words of three, God would establish His word (see 2 Nephi 11:3).[2]

The voice proclaimed, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him” (3 Nephi 11:7).  The Father also testified of His Son at His baptism, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17) as well as at the Mount of Transfiguration, “behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matthew 17:5).

When the Father and Son appeared to Joseph Smith, he recorded, “I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air.  One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son.  Hear Him!” (JS-History 1:17).

The Book of Mormon reinforces the Father’s role in dealing with us.  John Welch explains:

What we have here is the presentation of a pattern, showing that God the Father does not personally minister to human beings. He does things by sending representatives. He sends his Son down to carry out assignments. Jesus very clearly understands and expresses his representative role in all that he does with the Nephites; at the end (3 Nephi 18:35) he says, "And now I go unto the Father, because it is expedient that I should go unto the Father for your sakes."[3]

Richard Dilworth Rust writes:

Here at the meeting point between the mortal and divine we feel the intense power both of the word and of divine communication beyond speech. The people do hear Jesus, and later in responding to his prayers, they have an experience that transcends mortal language: "And their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed. Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words which he prayed that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man" (3 Nephi 19:33–34).[4]

Understanding the voice, the people turn their eyes towards heaven.  They saw a Man descending out of heaven, dressed in a white robe.  He stood among the people and all eyes were upon Him.  There was total silence.  They believed that an angel had appeared to them.

Nephi₁ had foretold this event.  “And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them” (1 Nephi 12:6); AND after Christ shall have risen from the dead he shall show himself unto you, my children, and my beloved brethren; and the words which he shall speak unto you shall be the law which ye shall do” (2 Nephi 26:1).  Alma₂ and Amulek taught, “And many of the people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did hear with great joy and gladness” (Alma 16:20).

The prophesies have been fulfilled.  Christ has appeared to the Nephites.

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[1] The Great and Marvelous Change: An Alternate Interpretation, Clifford P. Jones, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 29, 2012.

[2] Recurrence in Book of Mormon Narratives, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 29, 2012.

[3] Lecture 98: 3 Nephi 11, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 29, 2012.

[4][4] "To Come Forth in Due Time" – Introduction, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 29, 2012.