3 Nephi 10:1-7

Chapter 10

There is silence in the land for many hours—The voice of Christ promises to gather His people as a hen gathers her chickens—The more righteous part of the people have been preserved. About A.D. 34–35.

After hearing the Savior’s words, there was silence for many hours.  “For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up” (1 Nephi 19:11).

The people were astonished by the words they heard.

“‘Great’ and ‘marvelous’ describe the Atonement. Because the phrase the great and marvelous change refers to a change that ‘had taken place,’ one would suppose that an earlier passage has already introduced the reader to the accomplishment of this ‘change.’ Therefore, we should be able to identify it by searching earlier passages for a completed change that was ‘great and marvelous.’ The changes caused by the destruction are mentioned three chapters earlier in the Book of Mormon (see 3 Nephi 8:11–14), but never are the words great and marvelous used to describe the destruction. However, another change that had ‘taken place,’ one that the people at the temple clearly considered to be marvelous, is mentioned in an even closer proximity. Just one chapter before Mormon mentions ‘the great and marvelous change,’ he tells us that the Lord’s announcement of the Atonement (see 3 Nephi 9:15–22) aroused so much ‘astonishment’ among the people that ‘there was silence in all the land for the space of many hours’ (3 Nephi 10:2).

“The word marvelous means ‘such as to excite wonder or astonishment.’ Marvelous and astonishing are, at times, used in the Book of Mormon synonymously. For instance, when King Lamoni is described as being ‘astonished exceedingly,’ Ammon does not ask him what caused his ‘astonishment.’ Rather, Ammon asks the king what caused his ‘marvelings’ (Alma 18:2, 10, 16). After King Lamoni’s conversion, a multitude was ‘astonished’ to find him and others lying ‘as though they were dead.’ This same group, when they also learned that Ammon could not be killed, began to marvel—not for the first time—but to ‘marvel again’ (Alma 19:18–24). In other words, their marveling was a resumption of their astonishment.”[1]

After a few hours, the voice of Christ came to them again.

The Savior reminded them he had tried to “[gather] you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and have nourished you” (3 Nephi 10:4).  “And behold, instead of gathering you, except ye will repent, behold, he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meat for dogs and wild beasts” (Helaman 7:19).

“Abraham saith unto [the rich man], They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

“And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:29-31).

He reiterates He had tried to gather the people together and protect them.  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered [GR have I desired] thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37).

“O, ye nations of the earth, how often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!

“How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes, and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind, and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of judgment, and by the voice of mercy all the day long, and by the voice of glory and honor and the riches of eternal life, and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would not!” (D&C 43:24-25).

“He pronounced: “Yea, verily …, 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.” His promise invites us not only to reach towards Him but also to take the all-important next step: to come unto Him.

“This is such a motivating, cheering doctrine. The Messiah extends His arm of mercy to us, always eager to receive us—if we choose to come to Him. When we do come to the Savior with “full purpose of heart,”⁴ we will feel His loving touch in the most personal ways” (emphasis in original).[2]

He told them, the house of Israel, had been spared.  “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 9:13).

He called uon them to repent and return to Him.  “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, if ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth [IE the images of the fertility goddess] from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 7:3).

“But if ye will repent and return unto the Lord your God I will turn away mine anger, saith the Lord; yea, thus saith the Lord, blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me, but wo unto him that repenteth not” (Helaman 13:11).

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

If they don’t come back to Him, there lands will become desolate.  It will stay that way until the covenant made with their fathers is fulfill. “And I had faith, and I did cry unto God that he would preserve the records; and he covenanted with me that he would bring them forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time” (Enos 1:16).

“You gain a feel, from those verses [3 Nephi 10:5-7], of God's eagerness to gather his people to him, and as we have said, the gathering is much less a geographical phenomenon than it is a spiritual one. We gather to Christ, to the true points of his doctrine. We gather to his gospel. We gather to his church. We gather secondarily to places. The gathering is not to a place; it is to a person.”[3]

The Savior ended His words here and silence fell throughout the land.

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[1] The Great and Marvelous Change: An Alternate Interpretation, Clifford P. Jones, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 19/2 (2010): 53.

[2] To Look, Reach, and Come unto Christ, Anne C. Pingree, October 2006 General Conference.

[3] The Doctrine of the Risen Christ: Part 3, Robert L. Millet, Maxwell Institute Website.

3 Nephi 9

Chapter 9

In the darkness, the voice of Christ proclaims the destruction of many people and cities for their wickedness—He also proclaims His divinity, announces that the law of Moses is fulfilled, and invites men to come unto Him and be saved. About A.D. 34.

There was weeping and wailing throughout the land. There has been three days of darkness where they could see virtually nothing. Suddenly, a voice came out of heaven. The Savior spoke to the survivors.

He warned them that the whole earth must repent. Satan and his angels laugh and rejoice at the number of dead and the suffering of the people. This happened, “because of their iniquity and abomination…” (3 Nephi 9:2). “And [Enoch] beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced” (Moses 7:26) (The Devil Rejoices When We Sin).

“In spite of all the good that Nephi did, in 3 Nephi 8–9 the darkness reached its uttermost abyss, when all the elements—earth, air, fire, and water—rose up in grief and revulsion at the suffering and death of the God of nature. At least 16 cities were destroyed: they were covered with earth, swept away in the whirlwind, burned with fire, or swallowed up in the depths of the sea as the waters of the deep came up upon them. All this happened, as Jesus explained when he spoke out of the darkness of that cataclysmic destruction, in order that the iniquities, wickedness, sins, and abominations of these people could be hid ‘from before my face’ (3 Nephi 9:5, 7, 9, 11). The holy presence of the Lord could not and cannot countenance sin (3 Nephi 27:19), not even with the ‘least degree of allowance’ (Alma 45:16; D&C 1:31).”[1]

The Savior informed them of what had happened. This table gives you a quick summary of the devastation.

Summary of Destruction Given to the Nephites by the Voice of Christ (3 Nephi 9)

Event

Reference

The City of Zarahemla and its inhabitants were burned with fire. The City of Moroni was sunk into the depths of the sea and its inhabitants drowned. The City of Moronihah was destroyed by an avalanche and its inhabitants destroyed. The City of Gilgal was buried in the depths of the earth. The city of Onihah was destroyed by flood. The City of Mocum was destroyed by flood. The City of Gadiandi was buried in the depths of the earth. The City of Gadiomnah was buried in the depths of the earth. The City of Gimgimno was buried in the depths of the earth. The City of Jacobugath (inhabited by the Gadianton robbers) and its inhabitants were burned. The City of Laman and its inhabitants were burned. The City of Gad and its inhabitants were burned. The City of Kishkumen and its inhabitants were burned.

3 Nephi 9:3 3 Nephi 9:4 3 Nephi 9:5 3 Nephi 9:6 3 Nephi 9:7 3 Nephi 9:7 3 Nephi 9:8 3 Nephi 9:8 3 Nephi 9:8 3 Nephi 9:9 3 Nephi 9:10-11 3 Nephi 9:10-11 3 Nephi 9:10-11

“The idea that these events occurred at the beginning of the year (3 Nephi 8:5), that the rocks were broken up (3 Nephi 9:18), and that these events occured in the New World at approximately the same time as Christ's death (Helaman 14:20-28) can be found in the work of Ixtlilxochitl, which was unavailable to Joseph Smith before the publication of the Book of Mormon. ‘The sun and moon eclipsed, and the earth quaked, and the rocks broke, and many other things and signs occurred, although there was no calamity whatever toward men; this was in the year Ce Calli, which, adjusting this count with our own, comes to be at the same time when Christ our Lord suffered, and they say it happened during the first days of the year.’ Alfredo Chavero, Obras Historicus de Don Fernando de Alva Ixtlilxochitl, 2 vols. (Mexico: Editora Nacional, 1959), 1: 14. One legend in the Quetzalcoatl myth claimed ‘that when he died dawn did not appear for four days, because he had gone to dwell among the dead.’ Séjourné, Burning Water, 58.”[2]

The destructions have happened because of their wickedness. Those who survived were the more righteous of the people. Even so, the Savior told them to turn to him and repent so they can be healed.

The Savior reminded them if they came to Him, they would have eternal life. “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 is extended to all. Whosoever comes to Him will be received and blessed. “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).

“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 2:26-28).

“Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.

“Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;

“Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire—

“For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn” (Alma 5:33-36).

The Voice identifies himself Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He came to the Jews and they refused to accept Him. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11).

“Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto mine own, and mine own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not” (D&C 6:21).

All who have received the Savior becomes sons of God. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).

                                                          

“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalms 107:2).

Those who accept Christ receive redemption. Through His atonement, the law of Moses had been fulfilled. “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away” (Hebrews 8:13).

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).

Since the Savior had fulfilled the law of Moses, there would be no more sacrifices, shedding of blood, and burnt offerings. “And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses. I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of Moses.” (Mosiah 13:27).

“Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away” (Alma 34:13).

We have been commanded to offer a sacrifice unto the Savior – a broken heart and contrite spirit. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalms 51:17).

“And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved” (Omni 1:26).

“Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days” (D&C 64:24).

In return, He will baptize us with fire and Holy Ghost. 

The Savior informs the Nephites “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 9:20).

“Dana M. Pike, professor of ancient scripture, BYU, explained that the requirement in 3 Nephi 9:19–20 for Jesus’s disciples to offer a broken heart and contrite spirit—given in conjunction with the instruction to cease animal sacrifices—is often misinterpreted as something new at that time. Pike’s address, entitled ‘Third Nephi 9:19–20: The Offering of a Broken Heart,’ discussed Psalm 51:16–17 and 2 Nephi 4:32—passages that chronologically precede 3 Nephi 9 by hundreds of years—indicating that the need for disciples to offer a broken heart existed from the beginning. He emphasized that 3 Nephi 9:19–20 refers not to a new sacrifice of a broken heart, but to a renewed emphasis on the need for disciples to break or smash their sin-hardened hearts. This allows the Lord to replace our now broken, irretrievable heart with a new, soft heart so the Holy Ghost can transform and sanctify us.”[3]

                                                                                     

The Savior died “to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin” (3 Nephi 9:21).

All who repent and come to Him “as a little child,” will be received, “for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved” (3 Nephi 9:22).

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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): 40.

[2] Review of Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? (1987), by Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Matthew Roper, Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 4/1 (1992): 188.

[3] Insights, Scholars Focus Conference on Third Nephi, Volume 28 Number 6 2008: 2.

3 Nephi 8

Chapter 8

Tempests, earthquakes, fires, whirlwinds, and physical upheavals attest the crucifixion of Christ—Many people are destroyed—Darkness covers the land for three days—Those who remain bemoan their fate. About A.D. 33–34.

We are in the thirty-fourth year after the birth of Christ. Nephite civilization was in bad shape. Society has become groups of tribes. Each tribe places their interests before the interests of the others. The devil reigns. Prophets and those who called the people to repentance have been killed.

Mormon begins this portion of his record testifying to its truth. He tells us Nephi was a just man. “[H]e truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus…”

He also testifies “we know our record to be true…” Who is the “we”? At the time Mormon is abridging the record, there are few righteous people. Are they the “we” to whom Mormon refers? As the Book of Mormon was written for us today, the “we” could very well be those of us who are reading the Book of Mormon, we who have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book.

Samuel the Lamanite had prophesied of the events that would occur when the Savior was crucified. People began to look for those signs.

“But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead…

“And he said unto me that while the thunder and the lightning lasted, and the tempest, that these things should be, and that darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days” (Helaman 14: 20, 27).

The Nephites being the Nephites, doubts and disputes among them developed. They disagreed about whether or not the signs had been given.

The Savior was crucified on the fourth day of the first month in the thirty-fourth year. We know this because disaster struck the Nephites.

Occurrences in North America at Christ’s Death (3 Nephi 8)

Event

Reference

Great storm. Great and terrible winds and thunder. Sharp lightnings. City of Zarahemla took fire. City of Moroni sunk into the sea. Earth carried upon the city of Moroni and a great mountain raised up in its place. Great and terrible destruction land southward. More destruction occurred in the land northward. Notable cities were sunk, buried, and destroyed by earthquakes Some cities remained but suffered great damage and death. People carried away by whirlwinds The entire face of the earth was deformed. Rocks broken up; cracks and seams appeared across the face of the land. There was darkness so thick fires couldn’t be lit and not light seen. Darkness lasted three days.

3 Nephi 8:5 And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land. 3 Nephi 8:6 And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder. 3 Nephi 8:7 And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land. 3 Nephi 8:8 3 Nephi 8:9 3 Nephi 8:10 3 Nephi 8:11 3 Nephi 8:12-13 But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, the whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth; 3 Nephi 8:14 3 Nephi 8:15 3 Nephi 8:16 3 Nephi 8:17 And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth. 3 Nephi 8:18 3 Nephi 8:21 3 Nephi 8:23

“Archaeological work done in the last 15 years has yielded considerable insight into what happened in or about the Tuxtla Mountains of southern Veracruz state, Mexico, an area often considered a key part of the lands where the Book of Mormon story was played out. In John L. Sorenson’s correlation of the internal and external geographies, this area would have seen three notable events: (1) settlement of the general area by people mentioned in the Jaredite account (Ether 9:3) and their eventual climactic destruction (Ether 14:26–15:32), (2) major effects of the great natural disasters at the time of the Savior’s crucifixion (3 Nephi 8),2 and (3) the ultimate destruction of the Nephite people (Mormon 6:5–15).

“Three scientific studies present the most important findings by recent researchers. Twenty years ago James E. Chase published an intriguing paper titled ‘The Sky Is Falling: The San Martin Tuxtla Volcanic Eruption and Its Effects on the Olmec at Tres Zapotes, Veracruz.’ The second is a paper with the intriguing title ‘When Day Turned to Night: Volcanism and the Archaeological Record from the Tuxtla Mountains, Southern Veracruz, Mexico.’ The third source comprises several papers in a compilation on the archaeology of the Mexican Gulf Coast. Between the three it is possible to see similarities between the historical patterns visible in the Nephite record on the one hand and in the archaeological record (as reconstructed so far) on the other.”[1]

Benjamin Jordan writes an excellent article looking at archeological and geological evidence for the events occurring at the death of the Savior. He concludes, “The benefit from this study remains: there is evidence for volcanic eruptions during the time period described in 3 Nephi 8. In the end, it is up to the reader to decide how much this evidence strengthens the argument for a volcanic origin of the great destruction.”[2]

It comes as no surprise the people were shocked and dazed at the destruction.  In part of the land, people cried, “O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla” (3 Nephi 8:24).

“And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah. And thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible” (3 Nephi 8:25).

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[1] Out of the Dust: When Day Turned to Night, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 10/2 (2001): 66.

[2] Volcanic Destruction in the Book of Mormon: Possible Evidence from Ice Cores, Benjamin R. Jordan, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12/1 (2003): 87.

3 Nephi 7:18-26

Nephi went among the people, teaching the gospel and calling them to repentance. This angered the people. Laman and Lemuel made this point clear when they told Nephi, “Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear.” (1 Nephi 16:1).

His words were spoken with great power. His faith was so strong “angels did minister unto him daily” (3 Nephi 7:18). “And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them” (Alma 4:19)

“Many years ago a certain group of worthy priesthood holders taught with great power and authority. One of them was so powerful that it was impossible not to believe his words. These priesthood holders helped the people learn about the Savior and His doctrine and helped them find happiness. Their teachings and examples provided a means whereby the people experienced a mighty change of heart. We learn that thousands were led by them to be baptized and make covenants to endure to the end. I am speaking about the great Book of Mormon missionaries who were powerful priesthood holders”[1]

“In this momentous season of the earth’s history, you and I as bearers of the priesthood need to be righteous men and effective instruments in the hands of God. We need to rise up as men of God. You and I would do well to learn from and heed the example of Nephi, the grandson of Helaman and the first of the twelve disciples called by the Savior at the beginning of His ministry among the Nephites. “And [Nephi] did minister many things unto them. … And Nephi did minister with power and with great authority.”[2]

In the name of Jesus, he cast out devils. “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick” (Matthew 8:16).

“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease” (Matthew 10:1).

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17).

“And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye” (Acts 19:15).

In passing, Mormon tells us Nephi also raised the dead. He refers to Nephi’s brother, Lehi, having been stoned and killed by the people. He then uses Lehi as an example of someone whom Nephi raised from dead.

People witnessed Nephi’s works. Nephi’s power continued to anger the people, nevertheless, he continued performing miracle in the name of Jesus.[3]

Thirty-one years had passed away since the Savior’s birth. While most of the people were wicked, there were some who were converted. They testified, through the power of the Spirit and their faith, about the Savior.

Those who had accepted Nephi’s teaching also went forth, exercising their power and also did miracles among the people.  The people’s response was similar to the response when the Savior forgave a man with palsy of his sins. “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion” (Mark 2:10-12).

“For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame [GR paralytic and lame], were healed” (Acts 8:7).

Nephi continued preaching through the thirty-third year after the Savior’s birth. 

Mormon emphasizes the requirement of baptism by writing, “24 Now I would have you to remember also, that there were none who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water” (3 Nephi 7:24).

Nephi ordained men to assist him in the ministry.  They were given the authority to baptize the righteous.  They continued preaching to the people through the end of the thirty-third year.

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[1] Becoming More Powerful Priesthood Holders, Elder Walter F. González, October 2009 General Conference.

[2] The Powers of Heaven, Elder David A. Bednar, April 2012 General Conference.

[3] Mormon would later testify, “And now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know our record to be true, for behold, it was a just man [Nephi₃] who did keep the record—for he truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity” (3 Nephi 8:1).

3 Nephi 7:9-17

The secret combinations became powerful among the Nephites. A man, called Jacob, became the head of the people. He was one of the sinners who had persecuted the prophets.

“[T]he monarchy continued to fascinate and attract factions, at least within the Nephite society, long after its abolition, as is shown by repeated efforts through the years to effect its restoration. Alma 51, 60, 62, for instance, records the struggles Moroni had with the so-called ‘king-men,’ who sought to alter the laws in order to reestablish kingship. Third Nephi 6:30 alludes to yet another attempt to put a king on a Nephite throne, and 3 Nephi 7:9–10 describes an effort that was partially and temporarily successful in doing just that. Obviously, kingship had its appeal—and not only to the one who would, if successful, gain the throne.”[1]

The robbers, while strong, were not as numerous as the tribes. Each tribe set their own laws. Each tribe considered the other tribes enemies. They were also a wicked lot. They were united in their hatred for the robbers as they desired to destroy the government.

“Needless to say, everything was thrown into confusion and was a free-for-all game of grabbing, since ‘the more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked’ (3 Nephi 7:7). And this, Nephi marvels, had all taken place in six short years. If we think these switches are too sudden, we have only to consider the changes that take place in our own society with a change of administrations, or compare the state of the world in one decade with that of the next. The people immediately missed the advantages of the central government and were united only in their hatred of the people who had led in its destruction (3 Nephi 7:11).”[2]

Jacob, the self-appointed “king,” saw they were opposed by virtually all the people. He had the robbers flee into the northern part of the land. There, the robbers established a kingdom. Dissenters joined with them. The finally became strong enough to fight the tribes, which they did. “And they did set at defiance the law and the rights of their country; and they did covenant one with another to destroy the governor, and to establish a king over the land, that the land should no more be at liberty but should be subject unto kings” (3 Nephi 6:30).

This attacked was unexpected. The other tribes were unable to stop the robbers march towards the other tribes.

Thirty-one years after the birth of Christ, the divided tribes came together and agreed they would not fight one another. They established strict laws prohibiting one tribe trespassing against another. This led to a shaky peace.

Even so, they still rejected the Lord. They continued to stone the prophets and reject their messages.

“Now there were many of those who testified of the things pertaining to Christ who testified boldly, who were taken and put to death secretly by the judges, that the knowledge of their death came not unto the governor of the land until after their death.

“Now behold, this was contrary to the laws of the land, that any man should be put to death except they had power from the governor of the land—

“Therefore a complaint came up unto the land of Zarahemla, to the governor of the land, against these judges who had condemned the prophets of the Lord unto death, not according to the law” (3 Nephi 6:23-25).

While this was going on, Nephi, leader of the church, had been visited by angels and heard the voice of the Lord.

“And Nephi, the son of Helaman, had departed out of the land of Zarahemla, giving charge unto his son Nephi, who was his eldest son, concerning the plates of brass, and all the records which had been kept, and all those things which had been kept sacred from the departure of Lehi out of Jerusalem.

“Then he departed out of the land, and whither he went, no man knoweth; and his son Nephi did keep the records in his stead, yea, the record of this people…

“Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful” (3 Nephi 1:2-3, 10).

He saw how quickly the people had gone from a righteous people to a wicked people committing sins and abominations.

Like Alma₂, he was saddened by the wickedness of the people. “Now when Alma saw this his heart was grieved; for he saw that they were a wicked and a perverse people; yea, he saw that their hearts were set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon all manner of fine goods” (Alma 31:24).

He began to go among the people, “to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ” (3 Nephi 7:16).

Mormon explains he could not write all Nephi did. If he only shared some of what he did, it “would not suffice” (3 Nephi 7:17). All Mormon would say was “Nephi did minister with power and with great authority” (3 Nephi 7:17).

Power and authority, given by the Lord, is an essential for those who preach His word. The scriptures tell us Stephen, “full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:8). Paul explained, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing [GR persuasive] words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).

Lehi spoke with authority. “And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them” (1 Nephi 2:14), as did Abinadi. “And he spake with power and authority from God…” (Mosiah 13:6).

We have the same promised made to us. “I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not; but unto as many as received me gave I power to do many miracles, and to become the sons of God; and even unto them that believed on my name gave I power to obtain eternal” (D&C 45:8).

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[1] Authority in the Book of Mosiah, Daniel C. Peterson, FARMS Review 18/1 (2006): 184.

[2] Book of Mormon: Forty Years After, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute Website.

3 Nephi 7:1-8

Chapter 7

The chief judge is murdered, the government is destroyed, and the people divide into tribes—Jacob, an anti-Christ, becomes king of a secret combination—Nephi preaches repentance and faith in Christ—Angels minister to him daily, and he raises his brother from the dead—Many repent and are baptized. About A.D. 30–33.

Mosiah had warned against a king. Instead, he proposed a Chief Judge. The change was made.

As Mormon begins this chapter, he points out, in the 30^th year after Christ’s birth, the judgement seat was destroyed.

The people became divided. Groups came together and organized into tribes based on family relationships and friendships. This destroyed Nephite government. Each group appointed their own leader.

“When pride and hostility entered into the hearts of the Nephites and Lamanites, they could no longer be governed by laws established by the voice of the people. Then people became ‘divided one against another; and they did separate one from another into tribes, every man according to his family and his kindred and friends, and thus they did destroy the government of the land’ (3 Nephi 7:2). A modern parallel to the division described in the Book of Mormon has been the division among nations. When the United Nations was founded in 1945, the world was organized into 51 countries. This number increased to 100 in 1960 and to 192 in 1994. Since 1994, the number of national divisions among countries has continued to increase. If increasing the number of countries results in trade restrictions between those who were formerly members of the same country, then we can expect less specialization, reduced trading opportunities, limited opportunities to choose, and reduced income for all, especially for those in newly fragmented countries.”[1]

While this was done peacefully, it was done because of sin. Among the tribes, secret combinations reared their ugly heads. Contentions spread throughout the lands.  There were few righteous people among them.  These tools of Satan go back to the begging.  “And Satan put it into the heart of the serpent, (for he had drawn away many after him,) and he sought also to beguile Eve, for he knew not the mind of God, wherefore he sought to destroy the world” (Moses 4:6).

Paul warned the Romans (and us as well)…

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid [GR may it not be].

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from [GR unrestricted by] righteousness (Romans 6:13-20).

“The term regulation is found six times in the Book of Mormon and refers to new institutional principles. While it may refer to both ecclesiastical and political changes, most of them are political. Captain Moroni is described as ‘making regulations to prepare for war against the Lamanites’ (Alma 51:22). Possibly these regulations were meant to be short term, for following the conclusion of the war led by Captain Moroni, ‘regulations were made concerning the law. And their judges, and their chief judges were chosen’ (Alma 62:47). Later, 3 Nephi 7:6 reports that ‘the regulations of the government were destroyed, because of the secret combination of the friends and kindreds of those who murdered the prophets.’”[2]

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[1] "No Poor Among Them", Lindon J. Robison, Maxwell Institute Website.

[2] “And it came to pass . . .”: The Sociopolitical Events in the Book of Mormon Leading to the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of the Judges, Dan Belnap, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 2014, Volume 23: 114.

3 Nephi 6:19-30

Lachoneus died and his son, Lachoneus, filled the judgement seat.

Men were inspired by the Lord to preach to the people. They went forth and called the people to repentance. They testified of the Savior’s resurrection as well as His death and sufferings.

“Latter-day Saints would have to add that Christ’s atonement involves not only his resurrection but also his ascension. Christ suffered both spiritually (in Gethsemane) and physically (in Gethsemane and on the cross). He overcame physical death by being resurrected and overcame spiritual death by ascending to heaven to sit on the right hand of the Father. Thus we read that the redemption of mankind ‘was to be brought to pass through the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven’ (Mosiah 18:2).”[1]

It’s no surprise there were those who were upset with the preaching and call to repentance. The angry people were chief judges (former high priests). Once again, we see lawyers are angry with these words. Who did these messengers think they were? The lawyers were smarter and better than they were. They had not right to call them to repentance.

The Lord told Joseph Smith, “That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man” (D&C 121:37).

The Nephites had a law. A person could not be condemned to death by a lawyer, high priest, or judge. Only the governor of the land could order the death of a criminal. There were those who had been preaching the gospel and upsetting those who were in power. They were put to death secretly, without the governor’s knowledge. Only after the fact would he know.

Nephite society faced this problem about five decades earlier. “For behold, the Lord had blessed them so long with the riches of the world that they had not been stirred up to anger, to wars, nor to bloodshed; therefore they began to set their hearts upon their riches; yea, they began to seek to get gain that they might be lifted up one above another; therefore they began to commit secret murders, and to rob and to plunder, that they might get gain” (Helaman 6:17).

Finally, a complaint was filed with the governor of the land.  It identified the judges who had had prisoners executed in secret.  Punishment for their sins would come in the destruction when the Savior was executed.  For example, “And behold, that great city Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of king Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations; for it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the government of the land; therefore I did cause them to be burned, to destroy them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them” (3 Nephi 9:9).

The wicked judges and lawyers were brought before other judges.  This process was established by King Mosiah.  “Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by the hand of the Lord” (Mosiah 29:25).

“And thou [Nehor] hast shed the blood of a righteous man [Gideon], yea, a man who has done much good among this people; and were we to spare thee his blood would come upon us for vengeance. Therefore thou art condemned to die, according to the law which has been given us by Mosiah, our last king; and it has been acknowledged by this people; therefore this people must abide by the law” (Alma 1:13-14).

Those judges had friends in high places.  These friends gathered together and united. Following the pattern of the Gadianton robbers, they entered into a covenant.  This was one they received through the efforts of the devil to fight against righteousness.[2]

“Part of the problem may have been specific patronage, as happened 121 years later. According to 3 Nephi 6, there were secret collusions among the judges, lawyers, and priests who conspired, using their kinship relationships, to destroy “the people of the Lord” (3 Nephi 6:27–28), setting at ‘defiance the law and the rights of their country’ (3 Nephi 6:29–30). This led to the collapse of Nephite government: ‘Now it came to pass that those judges had many friends and kindreds; and the remainder, yea, even almost all the lawyers and the high priests, did gather themselves together, and unite with the kindreds of those judges who were to be tried according to the law’ (3 Nephi 6:27). Following the collapse, society degenerated into large tribal groups that probably furthered the role of patronage in social interaction (see 3 Nephi 7:1–14).”[3]

“There was a law that every warrant of execution had to be signed by the governor of the land, so that ‘no lawyer nor judge nor high priest’ could get rid of inconvenient witnesses or critics …

[T]hey sometimes found it necessary to go beyond the law. Since that was grossly unconstitutional ‘a complaint came to the governor of the land against these judges’ (3 Nephi 6:25) … When the time came for the judges to be brought to trial, their supporters closed ranks, determined to get them off … This inbred and influential establishment was determined to block any conviction of those upright judges. They agreed on a coup to get the release of the guilty parties … They wanted a leader who would not be hampered by legislative checks and restraints of any kind. The standard solution lay ready at hand: They murdered the chief executive.”[4]

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[1] The Quick and the Dead, John A. Tvedtnes, FARMS Review 19/2 (2007): 236-7.

[2] “Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not come forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered unto Helaman; but behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton by that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit—Yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the world.  And he did plot with Cain and his followers from that time forth” (Helaman 6:26-27).

[3] “And it came to pass . . .” – The Sociopolitical Events in the Book of Mormon Leading to the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of the Judges, Dan Belnap, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 23 (2014): 113-14.

[4] The Book of Mormon: Forty Years After, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute Website.

3 Nephi 6:13-18

The Nephites have become a prideful people. There were many, however, who remained faithful and kept their faith. Some who were persecuted fought back.  Others remained humble and repentant before God. During the Savior’s ministry to the Nephites, he taught them, “But I say unto you, that ye shall not resist evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (3 Nephi 12:39).

“Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts, for they were led by many priests and false prophets to build up many churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. And they did smite upon the people of Jesus; but the people of Jesus did not smite again. And thus they did dwindle in unbelief and wickedness, from year to year, even until two hundred and thirty years had passed away” (4 Nephi 1:34).

Inequality spread throughout the land.  It led to the break of the church.  Mormon explains some Lamanites remained faithful and continued to live the gospel.  “And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away” (Alma 23:6).

“And they were among the people of Nephi, and also numbered among the people who were of the church of God.  And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end” (Alma 27:27).

“While ethnic differences must have been apparent to the Nephite record keepers, we are never told that skin color was a prerequisite for blessings from God or salvation. In fact, many times the righteousness and faithfulness of the Lamanites far exceeded the righteousness of the Nephites (Helaman 6:1-2, 34-38; 15:5-10; 3 Nephi 6:14).”[1]

“Thus nearly six centuries later, it is acknowledged that Lehi's desire for his Iwo oldest so ns is fulfilled: that Laman might be righteous and that Lemuel might be ‘like un to this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord’ (1 Nephi 2:10).”[2]

Iniquity spread throughout the land because Satan had great power.  “And the children of men were numerous upon all the face of the land.  And in those days Satan had great dominion among men, and raged in their hearts; and from thenceforth came wars and bloodshed; and a man's hand was against his own brother, in administering death, because of secret works, seeking for power” (Moses 6:15).

“We do not have time here to review Satan's brilliant career in business and law: how he taught Cain the ‘great secret’ of how to ‘murder and get gain’ while claiming the noblest motive, ‘saying: I am free’ (Moses 5:31, 33); how he inspired the Jaredites and then the Nephites ‘to seek for power, and authority, and riches’ (3 Nephi 6:15); how he tried to buy off Abraham (in the Apocalypse of Abraham) and Moses and Jesus by promising them anything in the world if they would only worship him; how he coached Judas in the art of handling money; how he corrupts the Saints by covetousness and the things of the world; how his disciple, Simon Magus, offered Peter cash on the line for the Priesthood. To be beyond politics does not place one, in President John Taylor's words, ‘above the [rule] of Mammon.’ Only a celestial order can do that.”^[3]

“Thus Satan enticeth and inviteth men to go his way by ‘puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world’ (3 Nephi 6:15), having taken which course men invariably justify it by depicting it as the very path of virtue.”^[4]

He caused the people to sin, to become a proud people, tempting them with riches, power, and all other things of the world. Satan’s power can be limited. “And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth” (1 Nephi 22:26).

“Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men” (Alma 48:17).

Peace had lasted only a few years. The thirtieth year (about 30 A.D.), the people had delivered themselves up to Satan. Like Cain, the Nephites willing followed the devil. “If thou [Cain] doest well, thou shalt be accepted.  And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan desireth to have thee; and except thou shalt hearken unto my commandments, I will deliver thee up, and it shall be unto thee according to his desire.  And thou shalt rule over him” (Moses 5:23).

They did not sin in ignorance.[5]  They knew God’s will.  They had been taught His commandments; therefore, the willing rebelled against God.

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[1] The Charge of "Racism" in the Book of Mormon, John A. Tvedtnes, Maxwell Institute website.

[2] Ancient Literary Forms in the Book of Mormon, Richard Dilworth Rust. FARMS Review of Books 14/1–2 (2002): 89.

[3] Beyond Politics, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute Website.

[4] The Prophetic Book of Mormon, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute Website. 

[5] “For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned” (Mosiah 3:11).