Jesus’s ministry on the American continent was over, but He returned one last time to meet with His disciples. He taught them about His church and His gospel (3 Nephi 27:1-27), prophesied three generations of peace (3 Nephi 27:30-32), and provided each of them with extraordinary certainty about their longevity, consistent with their desires (3 Nephi 28:1-12).
Then, they got to work. As they traveled and preached, they were miraculously preserved from danger and persecution. Within a couple of years, everyone in the land had been converted. (See 3 Nephi 28:23, 4 Nephi 1:1-2.) They eliminated labels like Nephite or Lamanite, had all things in common, and lived in happiness for several generations. (See 4 Nephi 1:3, 17.)
Jesus Christ can help us achieve that kind of unity and joy. Mormon emphasizes that point by providing two brief editorial notes.
- A warning to his future readers not to reject God’s words or His miracles (3 Nephi 29)
- An invitation to the Gentiles to repent and be baptized, so that they can become part of the house of Israel (3 Nephi 30)
Jesus is inviting us all to turn to Him, so that we can enjoy the same happiness experienced by these people whom He visited.
Here are some additional lessons I’ve learned from these chapters:
Outline
- 3 Nephi 27 – Jesus Teaches His Disciples, Part 1: The Church and the Gospel
- 3 Nephi 28 – Jesus Teaches His Disciples, Part 2: The Three Disciples
- 3 Nephi 29 – Mormon’s Message to Us: God Will Fulfill His Covenant
- 3 Nephi 30 – The Savior’s Message to the Gentiles: Turn from Your Wicked Ways
- 4 Nephi – Two Hundred Years of Peace
Key Themes
- The heart of discipleship is our efforts to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ.
- The Savior’s good news is that, because of His atonement, we can become spotless.
- God loves us, and He cares about our individual desires.
- The publication of the Book of Mormon is a sign that the Savior will soon return.
- Jesus invites sinners to come unto Him. He can help us overcome those sins.
Connections
- To Nicodemus, Jesus explained that, just as the brass serpent was “lifted up,” He must also be lifted up in order to heal His people. (See John 3:14-15.) After His resurrection, He explained to His disciples in the Americas that He was “lifted up” on the cross so that God could lift all of us. (See 3 Nephi 27:14-15.)
- During His mortal ministry, Jesus emphasized that He had come for everyone. It was His Father’s desire that He not lose anyone. (See John 6:38-39.) In the Americas, He rejoiced that for three subsequent generations, none of these people would be lost. (See 3 Nephi 27:30.)
Applications
- Be intentional in your efforts to emulate the Savior.
- Sorrow for the sins of the world is an essential part of a Christlike life.
- Respect and honor sacred things.
- Do your part to reduce the amount of contention in the world.
- Avoid dividing into groups and labeling yourself.
Recommended Posts
- Developing Christlike Attributes
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
- How Be It My Church Save It Be Called in My Name? – 3 Nephi 27:3-8
- What Manner of Man/Men/Persons?
Blog Posts: October 22-27
“Built Upon My Gospel”
Jesus said that we are prepared to face the storms of life when we are built upon His gospel. That means that we must be willing to repent and to participate in ordinances, following the Lord’s instructions instead of our own preferences.
Quoting from the Sermon on the Mount
At the end of His ministry in the Americas, Jesus visited His twelve disciples. Paraphrasing three passages from His Sermon on the Mount, He urged them to pray, to prioritize relationships over possessions, and to follow Him with precision.
“All Flesh Shall See It Together”
After Jesus’s ministry in ancient America, it took some time for people to be converted and united. But when He returns in our day, there will be no ambiguity. We will all be witnesses. We need to prepare now for that event, by testifying and unifying.
Lists of Sins
Three times in 3 and 4 Nephi, we find lists of sins, which represent the many sins we abandon as we approach Jesus. When we do so, He will purify us, fill us with power, and include us in a community of believers.
No Contention, No Disputations
Jesus clearly taught the people in ancient America that He disapproves of “disputations.” After His visit, the people were happy because they avoided contention. President Dallin H. Oaks encouraged us to follow Jesus by being peacemakers.
“Divided into Classes”
The people who interacted with Jesus “had all things common among them.” However, a few generations later, “they began to be divided into classes.” We each need to overcome attitudes and behaviors which create or perpetuate divisions among people.
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