3 Nephi 9:10-14

The cities of Laman, Josh, Gad, and Kishkumen were destroyed by fire because of their wickedness in casting out and stoning the prophets.  There were no righteous in those cities when they were destroyed.  Samuel the Lamanite had warned the Nephites of the consequences of killing or casting out all the righteous.  “But blessed are they who will repent, for them will I spare.  But behold, if it were not for the righteous who are in this great city, behold, I would cause that fire should come down out of heaven and destroy it” (Helaman 13:13).

There is a common explanation why these cities were destroyed.  Christ told them the cities were destroyed so “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” (3 Nephi 9:11).  Virtually every city listed by the Lord was destroyed because they murdered His servants.  This was the price they paid for their sins.

Christ then told them that they had been spared “because ye were more righteous than they” who had perished (3 Nephi 9:13).  Richard Rust writes:

The principle involved here is essentially this: those who were bound to their material goods and ignored or disobeyed God's commandments remained in Jerusalem, Jacobugath, or Zarahemla and were burned. Those who understood tithing and considered themselves simply stewards over what God had given them were ready to leave their homes and material goods and follow their prophets to safety. The primary gathering place for such people was the temple.[1]

Even though the survivors were the more righteous part, Christ called on them to “return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you” (3 Nephi 9:13).  Robert Millet clarifies this part of Christ’s message to the survivors.

When I teach this sermon, I often tell students to consider that this sermon represents a call to a higher righteousness. For example, let's notice in the Book of Mormon the things that the Lord wants us to know. Look back in 3 Nephi 9:13. Part of the call to a higher righteousness, even before we come to the sermon, is this one. Notice what the Savior says, beginning in verse 13: "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?" Isn't that interesting? In other words, these people are not all glowingly righteous; they are just better than some of the bad guys. Verse 14: "Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."[2]

If they come unto Him, Christ tells them they will have eternal life.  Lehi₁ had seen this in his vision at the beginning of the Book of Mormon.

And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty!  Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!

1 Nephi 1:14

Nephi₁ wrote:

He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw ^call men unto him.  Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.

Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay.

Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation?  Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.

Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness?  Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.

2 Nephi 26:24 - 28

And Christ proclaimed: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

His arm of mercy is extended toward them.  All who come will be received and blessed by Him. “And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name” (Alma 19:36).

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[1] "That Jesus Is the Christ" – Typology, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 21, 2012.

[2] The Doctrine of the Risen Christ, Part 1, Robert L. Millet, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 21, 2012.