Setting

Following His death and resurrection in Israel, Jesus Christ visited a group of people on the American continent. He healed their sick, organized His church, and taught them the gospel. Over a two-day period, He preached a sermon which included the Sermon on the Mount and a discussion of several Old Testament prophecies regarding the gathering of Israel in the latter days.

Purpose

The Savior’s purpose in delivering this sermon was to broaden the perspective of His listeners in two ways:

1. He wanted them to deepen their own discipleship, seeing past the mechanics of the gospel and applying the underlying principles.
2. He wanted them to understand that they were part of a global and multigenerational effort: He and His Father are actively involved in saving people all over the world.

Outline

1. The Sermon on the Mount
   1. How disciples of Christ should behave (3 Nephi 12, Matthew 5)
      1. The Beatitudes: acquire the attributes of Christ (3 Nephi 12:1-12).
      2. Let your light shine (3 Nephi 12:13-16).
      3. The principles behind the commandments (3 Nephi 12:17-48).
   2. Focus on heavenly rewards, not earthly ones (3 Nephi 13, Matthew 6)
      1. Serve others, pray, and fast for the right reasons (3 Nephi 13:1-18).
      2. Focus on heavenly treasures and keep your eye single to God (3 Nephi 13:19-24).
      3. Seek God’s kingdom first: He can provide earthly necessities (3 Nephi 13:25-34).
   3. Learn to discern between good and evil. (3 Nephi 14, Matthew 7)
      1. You will be judged as you judge others (3 Nephi 14:1-5).
      2. Don’t give sacred things to people who won’t respect them (3 Nephi 14:6).
      3. Ask, seek, knock. God will answer you (3 Nephi 14:7-11).
      4. The Golden Rule (3 Nephi 14:12).
      5. Don’t be fooled by false prophets who preach the gospel but don’t live it (3 Nephi 14:13-23).
      6. Build your life on a solid foundation by following these principles (3 Nephi 14:24-27).
2. What it means for the law to be fulfilled (3 Nephi 15:1-10)
3. You are some of my “other sheep.” I also have others. There will ultimately be one fold and one shepherd (3 Nephi 15:11-24, 16:1-3).
4. Explanation of prophecies regarding the gathering of Israel
   1. The Gentiles will play a key role in both the scattering and the gathering of Israel, as prophesied in Isaiah 52:8-10 (3 Nephi 16:4-20).
   2. [Day 2] If the Gentiles don’t repent, then Israel will overpower them, as prophesied in Micah 5:8-9 and Micah 4:12-13 (3 Nephi 20:10-22).
   3. The scattering fulfills an important prophecy of Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-19) and helps to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:3) (3 Nephi 20:23-28).
   4. The gathering fulfills the prophecies contained in Isaiah 52:8-10, 1-3, 7, 11-15 (3 Nephi 20:29-46 21:1-10).
   5. Those who reject the gospel will be separated from the people of the covenant, as prophesied in Micah 5:8-15. But all those who accept the gospel will become part of the covenant (3 Nephi 21:11-25).
   6. The work of the Father will commence among all nations. The people who participate need not be hurried nor anxious, because this is God’s work, and He will be with them, as prophesied in Isaiah 52:12 (3 Nephi 21:26-29).
   7. Isaiah 54: After much affliction, Israel will have peace and prosperity (3 Nephi 22).

My Takeaways

God’s work is expansive. In each of our lives, it extends far beyond religious activities to the development of Christlike attributes and, ultimately, the pursuit of perfection. Additionally, it reaches throughout the world, blessing people in every nation.

But in our daily lives, that perspective can be lost. We can become too fixated on the duties of the day and lose sight of the spiritual growth we are experiencing in the process. We can also be too provincial, thinking only of the people in our immediate surroundings, and failing to recognize God’s love for all of His children in every part of the world.

Jesus’s sermon at the temple in Bountiful reminds us that we are part of something extraordinary. The gospel will eventually touch all of God’s children and has the power to transform them. As Jeffrey R. Holland urged us in the most recent general conference, we need to “[rise] above any mechanical, function-without-feeling routine to the heartfelt discipleship articulated by the Savior” (“Be With and Strengthen Them,” General Conference, April 2018).

I will respond to Jesus’s sermon at the temple in Bountiful by lifting my sights higher. I will strive to live the gospel more fully—applying gospel principles and not merely completing tasks. I will also think more broadly about whom I can serve and how, remembering that God loves all of His children throughout the world and is working to bless them.

Blog Posts about Jesus Christ’s Sermon at the Temple in Bountiful

• Great Shall Be the Peace of Thy Children – 3 Nephi 22:13 (6/29/2018)
• I Will Be Their Rearward – 3 Nephi 21:28-29 (6/27/2018)
• So Shall He Sprinkle Many Nations – 3 Nephi 20:43-45 (6/27/2018)
• The Lord Hath Made Bare His Holy Arm – 3 Nephi 16:18-20 (6/26/2018)
• The Law in Me is Fulfilled – 3 Nephi 15:2-8 (6/25/2018)
• A Wise Man, Who Built His House upon a Rock – 3 Nephi 14:24-27 (6/24/2018)
• The Lord’s Prayer- 3 Nephi 13:9-13 (6/23/2018)
• I Would That Ye Should Be Perfect – 3 Nephi 12:48 (6/22/2018)
• The Work of the Father Hath Already Commenced – 3 Nephi 21:7 (12/28/2017)
• I Am He of Whom Moses Spake – 3 Nephi 20:23-24 (12/27/2017)
• They Shall See Eye to Eye – 3 Nephi 16:18-20 (12/23/2017)
• Other Sheep I Have – 3 Nephi 15:21, 24 (12/22/2017)
• I Am the Law – 3 Nephi 15:3-5, 9 (12/21/2017)
• Ask…Seek…Knock – 3 Nephi 14:7-8 (12/20/2017)
• If Ye Forgive – 3 Nephi 13:14-15 (12/19/2017)
• When Thou Doest Alms – 3 Nephi 13:1-4 (12/18/2017)
• Let Your Light So Shine – 3 Nephi 12:14-16 (12/17/2017)
• Blessed Are the Merciful – 3 Nephi 12:7 (12/16/2017)
• Lengthen Thy Cords and Strengthen Thy Stakes – 3 Nephi 22:2-3 (9/28/2017)
• O Thou Afflicted – 3 Nephi 22:11-12 (9/27/2017)
• Blessed Are the Peacemakers – 3 Nephi 12:9 (12/23/2016)
• His Soul Shall Never Hunger Nor Thirst – 3 Nephi 20:8 (10/30/2016)
• Sufficient Is the Day – 3 Nephi 13:31-34 (9/3/2016)
• That Thine Alms May Be in Secret – 3 Nephi 13:1-4 (8/19/2016)
• Great Shall Be The Peace of Thy Children – 3 Nephi 22:13 (7/23/2016)
• I Will Establish My Church Among Them – 3 Nephi 21:20-22 (7/5/2016)
• Ye Are the Children of the Covenant – 3 Nephi 20:25-26 (6/2/2016)
• Blessed Are the Meek – 3 Nephi 12:5 (3/22/2016)
• Lengthen Thy Cords and Strengthen Thy Stakes – 3 Nephi 22:2-3 (10/31/2015)
• They Shall Not Go Out in Haste, Nor Go By Flight – 3 Nephi 21:26-29 (10/29/2015)
• Then Is the Fulfilling of the Covenant – 3 Nephi 20:12-13 (10/28/2015)
• I Will Remember – 3 Nephi 16:10-12 (10/23/2015)
• That There May Be One Fold – 3 Nephi 16:1-3 (10/22/2015)
• I Am the Law, and the Light – 3 Nephi 15:9 (10/20/2015)
• Enter Ye in at the Strait Gate – 3 Nephi 14:13-14 (10/19/2015)
• Judge Not – 3 Nephi 14:1-5 (10/19/2015)
• Your Father Knoweth What Things Ye Have Need Of – 3 Nephi 13:7-8 (10/17/2015)
• Take Therefore No Thought for the Morrow – 3 Nephi 13:34 (10/17/2015)
• Ask, and It Shall Be Given unto You – 3 Nephi 14:7-11 (10/15/2015)
• They Have Their Reward – 3 Nephi 13:1-4 (10/14/2015)
• The Beatitudes – 3 Nephi 12:3-12 (10/13/2015)
• Blessed Are All the Peacemakers – 3 Nephi 12:9 (10/12/2015)
• 3 Nephi 22:7-8 I Hid My Face From Thee for a Moment (12/9/2014)
• 3 Nephi 20:38 Redeemed Without Money (12/8/2014)
• 3 Nephi 14:24-27 It Fell Not, For It Was Founded Upon a Rock (12/6/2014)
• 3 Nephi 13:19-21 Lay Not Up For Yourselves Treasures Upon Earth (12/5/2014)