After many hours, the Savior speaks again, expressing His sorrow in the same terms He used in Jerusalem: “How oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,… and ye would not.” Subsequently, the light returns, the aftershocks end, and the people’s mourning is turned into joy.
Mormon adds an editorial note, inviting the reader to search the scriptures and discover for themselves how these catastrophic events fulfilled prophecy. He then introduces the upcoming chapters, which will describe the ministry of Jesus Christ in the Americas to the Nephites and the Lamanites.
Chapter Outline
- Jesus speaks of His ongoing desire to gather His people (v. 1-8)
- The darkness disperses (v. 9-10)
- These events fulfilled prophecy (v. 11-17)
- Mormon introduces the subsequent chapters (v. 18-19)
My Takeaways
- Extended periods of silence can help us be more receptive to the Holy Ghost.
- The Savior never gives up on us.
- He brings light to those who walk in darkness.
- Carefully recording the fulfillment of a prophecy can strengthen our faith.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ How oft… – 3 Nephi 10:1-8
There Was Silence
After the natural disasters which coincided with the death of Jesus Christ, and after hearing His voice, the survivors sat in silence for many hours. What would we experience if we took the time to reduce the noise in our lives and sit in silence?
How Oft Would I Have Gathered You – 3 Nephi 10:5
5 And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I…
The Places of Your Dwellings Shall Become Desolate – 3 Nephi 10:6-7
6 O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart. 7 But if not, O house of Israel, the places of your dwellings shall become desolate until…
❖ Dispersion of the darkness – 3 Nephi 10:9-10
Promised Light
After three days of darkness, when the light returned, the mourning of the Nephites and the Lamanites was turned into joy. Some of our “nights” may last weeks or months, but the promise remains: Morning will come; there will be joy.
“From Darkness to Light”
Jesus came to bring light to those who walk in darkness. No wonder He told Paul that his mission was “to turn [people] from darkness to light.” We all pass through periods of darkness, but we will receive the Savior’s perfect light as we follow Him.
❖ Prophecies fulfilled – 3 NEphi 10:11-17
Why Is It Important to Record the Fulfillment of Prophecies?
When the Savior visited the American continent, He introduced Himself twice–once audibly and once in person after descending from the sky. Both times, He introduced Himself as the fulfillment of prophecies with which the people were familiar (3 Nephi 9:15-16, 3 Nephi 11:10). After describing the destruction which preceded this event, the prophet Mormon challenged…
❖ Introduction to the Savior’s ministry – 3 NEphi 10:18-19
Ministering Unto Them – 3 Nephi 10:18-19
18 And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon…
Old Testament Foundations
“From Darkness to Light”
Jesus came to bring light to those who walk in darkness. No wonder He told Paul that his mission was “to turn [people] from darkness to light.” We all pass through periods of darkness, but we will receive the Savior’s perfect light as we follow Him.
New Testament Parallels
How Oft
Shortly after the Savior’s death, a group of people in the Americas heard Him affirm that even though they had rejected His invitations many times before, He would continue to invite them to be gathered home: “How oft will I gather you,” He assured them.
Church History Connections
“Hold Your Peace”
The phrase “hold your peace” means to remain silent and calm. The Lord instructed Joseph and Hyrum Smith to hold their peace in 1829. A number of people in the Book of Mormon remained silent for long periods of time. We can often communicate more effectively and feel less anxious by slowing down and not…
All Posts Referencing 3 Nephi 10
- A Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving (11/27/2025)
- Zarahemla, Nashville, or Nauvoo (11/8/2025)
- Reading to Understand (8/24/2025)
- “Hold Your Peace” (2/15/2025)
- “All Flesh Shall See It Together” (10/24/2024)
- Searching (10/16/2024)
- Promised Light (9/28/2024)
- There Was Silence (9/27/2024)
- What Does Darkness Feel Like? (9/24/2024)
- How Oft (3/29/2024)
- “From Darkness to Light” (8/5/2023)
- What Is the “Abomination of Desolation?” (5/25/2023)
- Women in the Gospels (5/14/2023)
- How to Love a Samaritan (4/23/2023)
- The Ordinances of the Sun, Moon, and Stars (10/20/2022)
- “I Shall Be Healed” (10/15/2022)
- “A Sign Between Me and You” (4/28/2022)
- Nurture (12/17/2021)
- “Any of Them” (9/29/2021)
- Hidden Treasures (8/21/2021)
- Promises to Covenant Israel (3/18/2021)
- “The People That Walked in Darkness” – 2 Nephi 19:2 (2/5/2021)
- “That He May Prophesy” – Moroni 10:13 (12/16/2020)
- “Save It Be for the Sins of the World” – 3 Nephi 28:9 (10/25/2020)
- Who Were Zenos and Zenock? (7/17/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Reveal? (1/1/2020)
- What Are the Roles of Persuasion and Punishment in Motivating Good Behavior? (12/4/2019)
- What Should I Be Thankful For? (11/28/2019)
- How Can I Follow the Savior with “Full Purpose of Heart?” (9/29/2019)
- Who Is the House of Israel? (8/14/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Jacob (Israel)? (8/9/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Minister? (8/3/2019)
- Why Is It Important to Record the Fulfillment of Prophecies? (5/21/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Sadness? (5/7/2019)
- Ministering Unto Them – 3 Nephi 10:18-19 (12/24/2018)
- The Places of Your Dwellings Shall Become Desolate – 3 Nephi 10:6-7 (12/4/2018)
- How Oft Would I Have Gathered You – 3 Nephi 10:5 (12/12/2017)
- Their Mourning Was Turned to Joy – 3 Nephi 10:10 (4/30/2017)
- There Was Silence – 3 Nephi 10:1-3 (9/30/2016)
- How Oft Will I Gather You – 3 Nephi 10:4-6 (10/11/2015)