3 Nephi 11:1-7

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 through 26.

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.

Slowly, life among the Nephites returned to normal. There came a day when a large group of people had gathered around the temple in the land Bountiful.

“Worshipping at temples. While the specific mention of temples in Mormon’s abridgment is not frequent, their general significance in Nephite society is considerable. Two of the spiritual high points of Mormon’s abridgment—King Benjamin’s sermon and Christ’s ministry—take place initially or completely at temples (Mosiah 2:1–7; 3 Nephi 11:1). In a millennial vein, Christ prophesies, quoting Malachi, that in the last days and as the ‘messenger of the covenant’ he will ‘suddenly come to his temple’ (3 Nephi 24:1). Temples also seem to distinguish the central cities of the Nephites, are an object of the building activity in times of prosperity (e.g., Helaman 3:9–14), and, along with synagogues and sanctuaries, are the centers of Nephite worship (e.g., Alma 16:13).

They were “marveling and wondering” about the “great and marvelous change which had taken place” (3 Nephi 11:1).

“If ‘the great and marvelous change’ mentioned in 3 Nephi 11:1 is the change wrought by the Atonement, the use of the words marveling and wondering reveals a harmony with all similarly worded passages. Each describes a meditative setting that leads to revelation from God. This pattern, of course, is not evident in the more traditional reading.

“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 the people were discussing Jesus, they heard a voice out of heaven. They looked around for the source of the voice. They could not find it, nor could they understand it.

The voice was not loud nor harsh. It pierced their soul and caused them to shake. It caused their hearts to burn.

“Meek King Benjamin could have wallowed in public esteem. He could have worried over how to preserve and keep his image intact. Instead, he was concerned with having Christ's image in his countenance (see Alma 5:14). Being meek, he quickly deflected praise, as we all should, giving glory to God and deferring to our heavenly King (see Mosiah 2:19).

“Benjamin's impressive meekness actually mirrors the majestic and mutual meekness of the Father and the Son, upon which I have reflected lately. So I share these brief thoughts with you. Consider these illustrations of the majestic mutual meekness of the Father and the Son.

 “Deferential Jesus said:

·        “‘There is none good but one, that is, God’ (Matthew 19:17).

·        “‘My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me’ (John 7:16).

·        “‘The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.’ (John 5:19)

“The Father said:

·        “‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’ (Matthew 3:17). (Jesus would have known intellectually how well he had done, but to have his Father say it is something else again.)

·        “‘And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful" (2 Nephi 31:15). (The Father meekly testified to the truthfulness of his Son.)

·        “The Father's very voice, as we all know, was ‘small’ but penetrating, not ‘harsh’ or ‘loud’ (3 Nephi 11:3).

“There is a majestic mutual meekness about the Father and the Son, and we should learn from it. We certainly see meekness in the fife and sermon of King Benjamin.”[2]

Scriptures record other times people heard the voice of God. “And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

“And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-12).

“Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest…” (D&C 85:6).

They heard the voice a second time, but still could not understand it. When they heard it the third time, they had opened their ears and eyes. “Pray ye, therefore, that their ears may be opened unto your cries, that I may be merciful unto them, that these things may not come upon them” (D&C 101:92).

When they understood the voice, they heard the voice of God.  He was bearing testimony of His Son, our Savior. “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him” (3 Nephi 8:7). 

This is how the Father introduced the Son.  “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

“While he yet spake, 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).

“It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me 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!” (Joseph Smith–History 1:17).

“As they were talking, wondering at the changes that had occurred or would yet occur physically and spiritually with the death of Christ, a voice came out of heaven. Three times it spoke, and the third time they understood the words, ‘Behold, my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him’ (3 Nephi 11:7). These words of divine acknowledgment are similar to special words used in the Temple of Jerusalem to mark the installation of a new king or to raise a new high priest to become sons of God, ‘I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion [the temple]; I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son’ (Psalm 2:6–7).”[3]

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[1] Seeing Third Nephi as the Holy of Holies of the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 19/1 (2010): 56.

[2] King Benjamin’s Sermon: A Manual for Discipleship, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Maxwell Institute website.

[3] Seeing Third Nephi as the Holy of Holies of the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 19/1 (2010): 42.