3 Nephi 27:18-21

After explaining the consequences of sin, Christ told the multitude He does this to show the Father will fulfill all His words.

He tells them no unclean thing can enter into God’s presence. “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)

Only those who enter into His rest will have had their garments washed in His blood. “But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger 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).

“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” (Revelation 1:5).

“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).

“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” (3 Nephi 4:12).

“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” (Alma 5:21).

Because of their faith and repentance will be forgiven.

“Importantly, in these passages the person’s garments symbolize the person himself or herself, and the Lamb’s blood refers directly to Jesus Christ’s atonement and his power to cleanse those who demonstrate faith in Jesus, repent, and remain faithful (see 1 Nephi 12:11; 3 Nephi 27:19).”[1]

We are commanded to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost. “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).

“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 7:34).

If we do this, we will stand spotless before Him. “Who shall also confirm [GR strengthen] you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:8).

“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).

                       

Christ told the multitude His words were to be His gospel, “And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation” (1 Nephi 13:36). They know what they must do in the church. They have seen His works and they are to do the same.

“Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day” (3 Nephi 27:22).

“To help guide us we have the words of God and of His Son found in our holy scriptures. We have the counsel and teachings of God’s prophets. Of paramount importance, we have been provided with a perfect example to follow—even the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—and we have been instructed to follow that example. Said the Savior Himself: ‘Come, follow me.’ ‘The works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do.’ He posed the question, ‘What manner of men ought ye to be?’ And then He answered, ‘Verily I say unto you, even as I am.’ ‘He marked the path and led the way.’”[2]

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[1] Service and Temple in King Benjamin’s Speech, Donald W. Parry, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 16/2 (2007):47.

[2] Ponder the Path of Thy Feet, President Thomas S. Monson, October 2014 General Conference.

3 Nephi 27:13-17

Christ reminds the multitude He came to be lifted up upon the cross.

“And now it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and said unto them: Behold, ye have heard the things which I taught before I ascended to my Father; therefore, whoso remembereth these sayings of mine and doeth them, him will I raise up at the last day” (3 Nephi 15:1).

“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).

“Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

“But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying” (Luke 9:44-45).

“And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world” (1 Nephi 11:33).

This was done to all men would be drawn to Him. “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).[1]

“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).

“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).

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen” (D&C 27:18).

He goes on to tell them He had been lifted up by men. Then, men will be lifted up to be judged by their works be they good or evil.

“The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me” (Psalms 7:8).

“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

“And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind” (John 9:39).

“To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23).

“Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to righteousness; wherefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be judged of their works; and if their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God must be filthy also” (1 Nephi 15:33).

“Have you ever noticed the difference in our view of the atoning sacrifice and that of the Protestant or Catholic world? Ask a friend of yours who is not a member of our faith where the atonement took place. From their perspective, the answer would be, ‘On the cross.’ Ask most Mormons where the atonement took place, and most Mormons would say, ‘In Gethsemane.’ The fact of the matter is that both the answers are correct. 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.”[2]

Whomever repents and is baptized in His name and endures to the end will be held guiltless before the Father at the day of judgement. “And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be” (1 Nephi 13:37).

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22).

“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).

“But blessed are they who are faithful and endure, whether in life or in death, for they shall inherit eternal life” (D&C 50:5).

What about those who fail to endure to the end? They will be cast into the fire. No return is possible because of the Father’s justice.

“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30).

“For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him” (Hebrews 2:2-3).

“By the power of the Resurrection, all of us will be restored to the presence of God. That reality presents to us the fundamental question of our lives. The fundamental question facing all of us is not whether we will live but with whom we will live after we die. While every one of us will return to the presence of God, not every one of us will remain with Him.”[3]

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[1] “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 6:44).

[2] The Doctrine of the Risen Christ: Part 3, Robert L. Millet, Reprinted from FARMS Book of Mormon Lecture Series

[3] The Sacrament and the Atonement, Elder James J. Hamula, October 2014 General Conference.

3 Nephi 27:9-12

After settling the issue of what to call the church, Christ them they are built on His gospel. Whatever they do, do in His name. If they do things in His name, the Father will hear them. And if the church is built upon His gospel, the Father will show His works through the church.

Should a church not be built upon His gospel, it is the works of men or the devil. They might have some success for a short time, but they will be hewn down cast in 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).

“And everything that is in the world, whether it be ordained of men, by thrones, or principalities, or powers, or things of name, whatsoever they may be, that are not by me or by my word, saith the Lord, shall be thrown down, and shall not remain after men are dead, neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the Lord your God” (D&C 132:13).

Our works will follow us. If we are righteous, we will receive the Lord’s blessings. “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).

“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).

However, those who are wicked will have their works cut down.

3 Nephi 26:16-21

The next morning, the multitude gathered and heard their children utter great and wonderful things.  “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 11:25).

Once again, Mormon tells us he was forbidden to record their words. “Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are forbidden” (3 Nephi 27:23).

The twelve began to serve the people.  “And it came to pass that on the morrow, when the multitude was gathered together, behold, Nephi and his brother whom he had raised from the dead, whose name was Timothy, and also his son, whose name was Jonas, and also Mathoni, and Mathonihah, his brother, and Kumen, and Kumenonhi, and Jeremiah, and Shemnon, and Jonas, and Zedekiah, and Isaiah—now these were the names of the disciples whom Jesus had chosen—and it came to pass that they went forth and stood in the midst of the multitude” (3 Nephi 19:4).

They went forth and baptized the faithful and they were filled with the Holy Ghost. “And … an hundred years had passed away, and the disciples of Jesus, whom he had chosen, had all gone to the paradise of God, save it were the three who should tarry; and there were other disciples ordained in their stead; and also many of that generation had passed away” (4 Nephi 1:14).

“And it came to pass that … the disciples of Jesus had formed a church of Christ in all the lands round about. And as many as did come unto them, and did truly repent of their sins, were baptized in the name of Jesus; and they did also receive the Holy Ghost” (4 Nephi 1:1).

And, once again, great and wonderful things were done, but Mormon was forbidden to write them in his record.

The Nephites came together and began living the law of consecration. “And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift” (4 Nephi 1:3).

“And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another” (Mosiah 4:21).

“The Nephites began living the law of consecration, having all things in common (3 Nephi 26:19; 4 Nephi 1:3). They called themselves the Church of Christ, built up the Church, and did all things in the name of Christ.”[1]

“After the visit of Christ, the disciples in both the Old World and the New World had all things in common (3 Nephi 26:19). The result, of course, of this sharing of resources was that there were neither poor nor rich among the Nephites (4 Nephi 1:3). A similar condition existed among the members of the Church during the time of Alma, the son of Alma. Every man imparted of his substance to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted. And neither did they distinguish themselves by wearing costly apparel, but were neat and comely (Alma 1:27). In all of this they were simply following God's instruction delivered by his prophets…”[2]

The people became a righteous people, following all of Christ’s comandments.

The people became known as the church of Christ. “And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church” (Mosiah 18:17). 

“And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and were joined to the church of God; yea, they were baptized by the hand of Alma, who had been consecrated the high priest over the people of the church, by the hand of his father Alma.

“And it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign of the judges there were about three thousand five hundred souls that united themselves to the church of God and were baptized. And thus ended the seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and there was continual peace in all that time” (Alma 4:4-5).

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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): 52.

[2] Economic Insights from the Book of Mormon, Lindon J. Robison, Maxwell Institute website.

3 Nephi 27:1-8

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.

The Nephite twelve had been out among the people, preaching the words of Christ and testifying to their truthfulness.

Mormon tells us, they met together, united as a group. Unity is essential among those who are serving the Lord. “And, as it is written—Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive” (D&C 29:6).

“A revelation of Jesus Christ unto his servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and six elders, as they united their hearts and lifted their voices on high” (D&C 84:1).

They were also involved in “mighty prayer and fasting.” Leaders in the Church are expected to fast and pray. “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).

“Behold, I say unto him, he exalts himself and does not humble himself sufficiently before me; but if he will bow down before me, and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see” (D&C 5:24).

“Who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer” (D&C 29:2).

“And he caused that the priests should assemble themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray to the Lord their God that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength—that the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of God” (Mosiah 27:22).

“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).

“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).

This weekend was stake conference. One of the Area Seventies, Elder Kyle McKay, was presiding over the conference. At the Saturday night meeting, part of his message was the importance of a proper fast. He emphasized when we fast, we must do so with a purpose. He told us fasting with no purpose is simply going hungry. A true fast requires us to humble ourselves before the Lord as we fast and pray. The purpose of the fast is to become closer to the Lord and be more in tune with the Spirit. Verse 1 gives us an example of what Elder McKay meant.

While they were praying, Christ made His third appearance to the Nephites. He asked, What will ye that I shall give unto you” (3 Nephi 27:2).

They explained there was a dispute among the people as to what they should call their church. Christ asked why the people “murmur and dispute because of this thing” (3 Nephi 27:3).

“Why would there even be a question? Have you thought about this? Before this, they had named the church ‘the Church of God’ or ‘the Church of Christ.’ It had been named ‘the Church of Christ’ before this. Why this question? I don't know the answer, but can I speculate for a second, if that's legal? I have wondered if perhaps the Lord's coming and beginning a new dispensation, as it were, has ended the Mosaic dispensation and has initiated the Messianic dispensation. Remember what has happened up to now? Christ has actually ordained and rebaptized faithful holders of the priesthood. They have already been ordained; he ordains them again. They have been baptized; he baptizes them again. They start anew, you could say. I wonder if, with that as a backdrop, perhaps the people are wondering, ‘Is there something new that this church should be called?’ I suppose you and I, as we move closer to the Millennium, might even ask the same thing: Is there something the Church is going to be called during the thousand years? Will it be ‘the Church of Jesus Christ of Millennial Saints’? I don't know. But maybe we would wonder the same kind of thing. Perhaps that is the backdrop for the query, ‘What do you want us to call the church?’”[1]

Christ told them “ye must take upon you’re the name of Christ…” (3 Nephi 27:5). This is the name they would be called at the last day. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost…” (2 Nephi 31:13).

King Benjamin gave his people a new name.

“And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ.

“And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God.

“And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression; therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of your hearts” (Mosiah 5:9-11).

They who take upon them Christ’s name, and endure to the end, will be saved. Alma taught,

“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).

Whatever is done by the church, is done in His name. So, the church is to be called in His name. They should call on the Father in His name and the church will be blessed. Then, He asked them a very pointed question. “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; 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).

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[1] The Doctrine of the Risen Christ: Part 3, Robert L. Millet, Reprinted from FARMS Book of Mormon Lecture Series, Maxwell Institute website.

3 Nephi 26:12-15

Mormon testifies he was commanded not to record all things, and he complied. Here, he ends his observations and continues with his record.

“‘The Book of Mormon . . . was written for our day,’ President Benson asserted recently. ‘Under the inspiration of God, who sees all things from the beginning,’ he said, Mormon ‘abridged centuries of records, choosing the stories, speeches, and events that would be most helpful to us."1 Hugh Nibley, who might be called the patron saint of FARMS, has similarly said that ‘the matter in the Book of Mormon was selected, as we are often reminded, with scrupulous care and with particular readers in mind. For some reason there has been chosen for our attention a story of how and why two previous civilizations on this continent were utterly destroyed.’ Our own world at the end of the twentieth century, Nibley believes, ‘is the world with which the Book of Mormon is primarily concerned.’

“Looking at this world, Moroni declares, ‘I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing’ (Mormon 8:35). Writers such as Moroni and his father are, however, actually secondary authors of the Book of Mormon; the primary author is Jesus Christ. As Mormon affirms, ‘I . . . do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord’ (3 Nephi 26:12).”[1]

During His three-day ministry, he appeared to them frequently. “This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead” (John 21:14). “And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you” (3 Nephi 27:2).

It is significant Mormon points out that a major part of His ministry often consisted of the Sacrament.  We see how important the taking of the Sacrament is as a part of our worship of Christ.

He continued to teach and minister to the children of the multitude. Their tongues were loose and the spoke many great things. “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Luke 10:21).

“And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned” (Alma 32:23).

“In an initial reading, Christ's involvement with the children on the first day would appear to be a late change of plan, leading eventually to a natural unfolding of his love for the people and their ‘little ones.’ Further examination, however, suggests that his loving, blessing, and teaching the children must have been an integral part of his mission to people in the New World, a sacred element that touches the hearts of those who read of it even today. Attempting to ‘liken all scriptures unto us . . . for our profit and learning’ (1 Nephi 19:23), we now consider the possible purposes of his three-day ministry from the points of view of the children themselves, the parents and other adults, the disciples, and the students of the record…

“Indeed, the Savior’s teaching of the children was so effective that they served as teachers of the adults, those of the first generation. Having their tongues loosened by Jesus, these children “did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things, even greater than he [the Savior] had revealed unto the people” (3 Nephi 26:14). The next day the multitude gathered and were pupils even to babes who taught such marvelous things that the adults were forbidden to write them (see 26:16).”[2]

The second time Christ appeared, he healed the sick and lame, opened the eyes of the blind, the deaf heard, and He raised a man from the dead. This was done to show them His power.

“And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him” (3 Nephi 17:9).

“It is interesting to wonder—even if this cannot be known for sure—if any of the lame, halt, or maimed whom Jesus healed at this time had been injured in the great destructions that had recently occurred at the time of the death of Jesus himself. If so, one may well imagine that his compassion was intensified by his commiseration, knowing that they all had suffered at the same time as he had in consequence of the destructions that accompanied his atoning sacrifice. The healing blessings of the Lord continued on the second day as well, when he ‘healed all their sick, . . . raised a man from the dead, and had shown forth his power unto them’ (3 Nephi 26:15).”[3]

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[1] The Book of Mormon, Designed for Our Day, Annual FARMS Lecture, 27 February 1990, Richard Dilworth Rust, Maxwell Institute website.

[2] The Savior and the Children in 3 Nephi, M. Gawain Well, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Volume 14, number 1, 2005 pgs. 66, 68.

[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): 51. 

3 Nephi 26:9-11

Mormon continues to explain why all the Book of Mormon record was not included in his abridgement.

As was mentioned, things were taught that were so sacred, they were not to be shared with all. During His ministry in Jerusalem, He told His disciples, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” (John 16:12).

Nephi, referring to Isaiah, explains why part off this record will be sealed.

“And behold the book shall be sealed; and in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof.

“Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them.

“But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust, and he shall deliver these words unto another;

“But the words which are sealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof.

“And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be read upon the house tops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the end of the earth…

“Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work” (2 Nephi 27:7-11, 21).

Faith is also an essential part of understanding the scriptures as well as received additional records. Christ told the multitude, when “they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them” (3 Nephi 26:9).

Moroni emphasizes those who have faith will accept the truth, in spite of faults. “And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you” (Mormon 8:12).

Moroni gives us insight as to what is contained in the sealed portion of the plates. This was the vision of the brother of Jared.

“Behold, I have written upon these plates the very things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were greater things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the brother of Jared.

“Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I have written them. And he commanded me that I should seal them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the interpretation thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord.

“For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.

“And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.

“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” (Ether 4:4-10).

Steven Olsen gives us an interesting perspective on why things were left out of the record. “[Mormon’s] purpose for omitting those details from the narrative must have been greater than any value gained by including them. Elsewhere in his abridgment, Mormon specifically references a divine injunction in which the Lord has him omit supremely sacred contents (e.g., 3 Nephi 26:9–11). Yet he is silent as to his reasons for drastically truncating the spiritual high point of his narrative.”[1]

Christ told them, by  excluding the greater things from the record, those who reject the Book of Mormon, they will be condemned by having these records withheld for them.

Mormon tells us he intended to write these things, but he was forbidden.  The Lord told him not to include this part of the record, “saying: I will try the faith of my people” (3 Nephi 26:11).

Camille Williams gives us examples where those keeping the plates were commanded not to record certain things. “For example, Nephi is forbidden to write part of his vision in 1 Nephi 14 (see vv. 19–28) and is told that John, ‘the apostle of the Lamb of God[,] . . . should write them’; Nephi is ‘bidden’ not to write things he viewed that were ‘too great for man’ (2 Nephi 4:25); Mormon was forbidden from writing all of Christ's teachings that were engraved on the plates of Nephi (see 3 Nephi 26:11); the day after Christ healed the multitude and ascended a second time into heaven, the words given to children and babes, heard by the multitude, ‘were forbidden that there should not any man write them. . . . And many of [the disciples] saw and heard unspeakable things, which are not lawful to be written’ (3 Nephi 26:16, 18); Christ instructs the disciples to ‘write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are forbidden’ (3 Nephi 27:23); Mormon was forbidden to record the names of the three Nephites who would remain upon the earth until Christ's second coming (see 3 Nephi 28:25); and Moroni was forbidden to write more of the prophecies of Ether (see Ether 13:13).”[2]

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[1] Prophecy and History: Structuring the Abridgment of the Nephite Records, Steven L. Olsen. Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 15/1 (2006): 24.

[2] Women In the Book of Mormon: Inclusion, Exclusion, and Interpretation, Camille S. Williams, Maxwell Institute website.

3 Nephi 26:6-8

At this point, Mormon pauses his account and writes directly to his readers (us). He makes it clear, Christ taught many things to the Nephites, but it cannot be written in this record. What did Mormon leave out?  Robert Millet asks some questions. “That is kind of a frustrating passage to read, isn't it? What does he mean that he is going to use the Book of Mormon to try the faith of his people? How? That is an odd use of words. How will he try the faith of the Latter-day Saints with the Book of Mormon? If there are greater things yet to come, how will he assess our readiness to receive them?” [1]

What we do know is the Nephites considered His words as scripture. “The use of these materials throughout 3 Nephi corroborates the idea that the sermon was immediately accepted as scripture, no doubt the most sacred scripture these people had ever known. Although it is unknown what else Jesus taught these people as he spoke to them ‘for the space of three days’ and often thereafter (3 Nephi 26:6, 13), it is certainly possible that he recapitulated the whole of the sermon in the course of those instructions, for his quoting from the beginning (in 3 Nephi 15) and the ending of the sermon (in 3 Nephi 27) may be a clue that the rest of his teachings embraced it all.”[2]

We do know, however, the day will come when we will receive the entire contents of the large plates of Nephi. “Mormon further said that the (large) plates of Nephi contained ‘the more part’ of what Jesus had taught and that what he himself had written, ‘a lesser part,’ would come forth from the Gentiles (see 3 Nephi 26:7–8).8 The abridgment of Nephi’s record was to try the faith of the Lamanites and, more broadly, the Lord’s people in the latter days: ‘If it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them. . . . The Lord [said]: I will try the faith of my people’ (vv. 9, 11). This suggests that highly valuable contents of the larger plates of Nephi will come forth when a certain portion of the Lamanites, as they are known today, and other church members accept the fulness of the gospel as found in the Book of Mormon.”

There is another possible reason for Mormon’s silence. There are things that are too sacred to discuss.  Each of us have spiritual experiences, that are so sacred, we don’t talk about them.  I have been reading Dr. Andrew Skinner’s marvelous three volume set of the last week of Christ’s life. In Golgotha (volume II), he addresses this with a quote from President Howard W. Hunter.

“I have watched a great many of my brethren over the years and we have shared some rare and unspeakable spiritual experiences together. Those experiences have all been different, each special in its own way, and such sacred moments may or may not be accompanied by tears. Very often they are, but they are followed by total silence.”

I am convinced this was a time which should be followed by “total silence.”

Mormon makes it clear what we have “are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people” (3 Nephi 26:8). He would later write, “And if ye had all the scriptures which give an account of all the marvelous works of Christ, ye would, according to the words of Christ, know that these things must surely come” (3 Nephi 28:33).

“But now hold your peace; study my word which hath gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereto” (D&C 11:22).

Mormon wrote the records will be brought by forth by the Gentiles.

“Therefore, when these works and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the Gentiles, unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity;

“For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel” (3 Nephi 21:5-6).

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[1] The Doctrine of the Risen Christ: Part 2, Robert L. Millet, Maxwell Institute website.

[2] Worthy of Another Look: Reusages of the Words of Christ, John W. Welch, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 22/1 (2013): 68.

3 Nephi 26:1-5

Chapter 26

Jesus expounds all things from the beginning to the end—Babes and children utter marvelous things that cannot be written—Those in the Church of Christ have all things in common among them. About A.D. 34.

After quoting Malachi 3 & 4, Christ expounded on the scriptures. 

He told them they did not have these scriptures as they were recorded after Lehi’s party left Jerusalem. He told them to give them to their future generations.

He then began to teach them all things from the beginning to the end of time, when He would come in His glory. “And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen” (Psalms 72:19).

When He comes in glory, the elements would melt. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt” (Amos 9:13).

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up…

“Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:10, 12).

“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).

At that day, the Earth will “be wrapt together as a scroll” (3 Nephi 26:3). “Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll” (Mormon 5:23). Then, the heavens and Earth will pass away.

The great and last day will come. “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).

“Therefore, great and marvelous works shall be wrought by them, before the great and coming day when all people must surely stand before the judgment-seat of Christ” (3 Nephi 28:31).

At that time all will stand before God and be judged based on their works, be they good or evil. “And now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken these words he stretched forth his hand and said: The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just.

“And then shall the wicked be cast out, and they shall have cause to howl, and weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth them not…

“Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to their works whether they be good or whether they be evil—

“If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation, being delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation” (Mosiah 16:1-2, 10-11).

5 If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation; being on a parallel, the one on the one hand and the other on the other hand, according to the mercy, and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ, who was before the world began.

After the judgement, the righteous will be raised to everlasting life. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).

They will be judged according to the mercy and justice of Christ, who was before the beginning of the world. “Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given” (3 Nephi 1:14).

“Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters” (Ether 3:14).

3 Nephi 25:1-6

Chapter 25

At the Second Coming, the proud and wicked will be burned as stubble—Elijah will return before that great and dreadful day—Compare Malachi 4. About A.D. 34.

Christ continues to quote Malachi, continuing with Chapter 4.

The day will come when the proud shall burn.  Scriptures tell us, “For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion” (Isaiah 34:8).

“To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn” (Isaiah 61:2).

“For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel;

“And I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard” (3 Nephi 21:20-21).

“Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.

“Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

“Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men” (Psalms 21:8-10).

“I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord” (Amos 4:11).

“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 1:23).

They will burn and become stubble. “Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it” (Isaiah 47:13).

But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall.

However, the righteous will be healed by the Son of Righteousness. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalms 84:11).

“And after he had anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead he lived four years, and he saw peace in the land; yea, and he even saw the Son of Righteousness, and did rejoice and glory in his day; and he died in peace” (Ether 9:22).

They will go forth and grow up as calves in the stall. “And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation” (D&C 45:58).

“And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great glory” (1 Nephi 22:24).

They will tread down the wicked. “And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver” (3 Nephi 21:12).

They will be ashes under the feet of the righteous in the day the Lord burns the wicked.

                                                                                               

Moses was commanded while in Horeb, to get, for all Israel, the statues and judgements. “Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb” (Exodus 3:3).

“And [Elijah] arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat [HEB food] forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God” (1 Kings 19:8).

Before the Lord comes (“the great and dreadful day of the Lord”), Elijah will be sent.  The Lord told Joseph Smith, “Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (D&C 2:1).

During the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, Elijah returned. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey received keys from him.

“After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:

“Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—

“To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—

“Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors” (D&C 110:13-16).

When Elijah comes, he will turn the heart of fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their fathers.

“The literal meaning of heart as an essential body part has remained about the same, but the word also has a metaphorical extension, so that heart in 3 Nephi 25:6 refers to one’s thoughts and feelings, not the physical organ of the human circulatory system … The word heart is also a cognate with the word courage, which comes to us from Latin, so by metaphorical extension the phrase take heart in English means ‘have courage.’”[1]

If this does not occur, the Lord will strike the Earth with a curse.

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[1] What's in a Word? Etymology! Cynthia L. Hallen, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12/1 (2003).

3 Nephi 24:7-18

Christ continues to quote from Malachi 3.

Malachi asks, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings” (3 Nephi 24:8). When tithes and offerings are not paid, we are robbing God. Those who do not are cursed with a curse.

We are commanded to bring our tithes to the storehouse.  Abraham did this. And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed” (Alma 13:15).

The Lord gives us a promise if we pay tithing “Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming” (D&C 64:23).

They Lord challenges us to “prove [Him] there with” (3 Nephi 24:10).  “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts” (Psalms 139:23).

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:13).

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (2 Thessalonians 5:21).

“And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith” (Ether 12:6).

We are promised the windows of heaven will open and blessing will be poured upon us, so many “that there should not be room enough to receive it” (3 Nephi 24:10).

If we give our tithes and offerings, the devil will be rebuked for our sakes. “It is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who receive not their inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law, which he has given, that he may tithe his people, to prepare them against the day of vengeance and burning, should have their names enrolled with the people of God” (D&C 85:3).

“But if [Zion] observe not to do whatsoever I have commanded her, I will visit her according to all her works, with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire” (D&C 97:26).

Nations will consider the faithful to be blessed and they will live in a happy land.

They unrighteous were strong in their opposition to the Lord. Ignoring this, they will ask what was it they said against the Lord?

The wicked have said it is vain to serve God. “Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours [OR inflict travail on others]” (Isaiah 59:3).

“And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled [OR compliant, indifferent] on their lees [sediment, dregs, as in the wine-making process[1]]: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil.

“Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof” (Zephaniah 1:12-13).

“Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled [HEB relaxed his guard] on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed” (Jeremiah 48:11).

How do we benefit from having kept his ordinances? ‘There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 8:14).

Have we not walked mournfully before the Lord?

The proud are called happy. “For after today cometh the burning—this is speaking after the manner of the Lord—for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon” (D&C 64:24).

Yet, they work wickedness. They are set up and have tempted God.

They feared the Lord and His words. “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:10).

A book of remembrance was written for all who feared the Lord.  “Behold, the great day of the Lord is at hand; and who can abide the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation” (D&C 128:4).

“And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration” (Moses 6:5).

“For a book of remembrance we have written among us, according to the pattern given by the finger of God; and it is given in our own language” (Moses 6:46).

“But the records of the fathers, even the patriarchs, concerning the right of Priesthood, the Lord my God preserved in mine own hands; therefore a knowledge of the beginning of the creation, and also of the planets, and of the stars, as they were made known unto the fathers, have I kept even unto this day, and I shall endeavor to write some of these things upon this record, for the benefit of my posterity that shall come after me” (Abraham 1:31).

Those that fear the Lord will be His. “Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels” (D&C 101:3).

In that day, they will make up His jewels. “Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God” (Isaiah 62:3).

“And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land” (Zechariah 9:16).

“For I, the Lord, rule in the heavens above, and among the armies of the earth; and in the day when I shall make up my jewels, all men shall know what it is that bespeaketh the power of God”

(D&C 60:4).

Then He will spare them “as a man spareth his own son that serveth him” (3 Nephi 24:17).

“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him” (Psalms 103:13).

“It is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who receive not their inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law, which he has given, that he may tithe his people, to prepare them against the day of vengeance and burning, should have their names enrolled with the people of God” (D&C 85:3).

They will return and discern between the righteous and the wicked and those who serve God and those that don’t. “That I may proceed to bring to pass my act, my strange act, and perform my work, my strange work, that men may discern between the righteous and the wicked, saith your God” (D&C 101:95).

“The contrast between the words righteous and wicked in 3 Nephi 24:18 (see Malachi 3:18) appears in at least 100 other scripture references. One example is found in Ecclesiastes 3:17, ‘God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. In Strong’s dictionary, the transliterated Hebrew root for righteous is tsdhq, meaning ‘just, lawful, righteous, morally clean.’ The root for wicked is rsh^c, meaning ‘bad, guilty, ungodly, morally wrong.’ The antithetical contrast is obvious” (emphasis in original).[2]

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[1] Bible Dictionary, Lees entry.

[2] What’s in a Word? Pairs and Merisms in 3 Nephi, Cynthia L. Hallen with Josh Sorenson and ELANG 324 students, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 13/1–2 (2004): 155.