A group of people gathered around the temple in Bountiful hear the voice of God three times. The first two times, they don’t understand, but the third time, they look up and hear the declaration, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.”
Jesus descends from heaven, introduces Himself, and allows the people to feel His wounds. He then calls Nephi and eleven others to serve as His disciples and gives them authority to baptize. He teaches them how to baptize, and instructs them to avoid contention and be unified, just as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are unified.
Chapter Outline
- The multitude hears the voice of God, announcing the arrival of His Son (v. 1-7)
- Jesus descends from heaven, introduces Himself, and invites the people to feel His wounds (v. 8-17)
- He calls Nephi and eleven others, giving them authority to baptize (v. 18-22)
- He teaches them about baptism and urges them to avoid contention (v. 23-41)
My Takeaways
- It takes effort to listen well. It doesn’t come naturally.
- Jesus introduced Himself as our light and life and as a Son who glorifies His Father.
- God shares His power with his children so that we can bless one another.
- The spirit of contention is not of God, and we grow closer to Him as we live in peace and in harmony with one another.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ “Hear Him” – 3 Nephi 11:1-7
Gathered Together…Round About the Temple – 3 Nephi 11:1
1 And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place. (3…
Look and Listen
The people in Bountiful only understood the voice of God when they opened their ears and looked toward the sound. His message to them was to “behold” and “hear” His Son. It takes effort to understand messages from God. We need to look and listen.
“Hear Him” – 3 Nephi 11:7
It takes effort to listen well. Listening is not a passive activity; it’s not something that just happens to us. Some time after the destruction which coincided with the death of Jesus Christ, a large number of people were gathered at the temple in the land of Bountiful on the American continent. I can imagine…
The Third Time They Did Understand the Voice – 3 Nephi 11:3-6
3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice;…
❖ “Behold, I am Jesus Christ” – 3 Nephi 11:8-17
I Give Unto You Power – 3 Nephi 11:18-22
18 And it came to pass that he spake unto Nephi (for Nephi was among the multitude) and he commanded him that he should come forth. 19 And Nephi arose and went forth, and bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet. 20 And the Lord commanded him that he should arise. And…
“I Am Jesus Christ”
When the Savior visited the people at the temple in Bountiful, He introduced Himself concisely and powerfully. He provided context for His arrival, identified what He does for us, and explained the atoning sacrifice He had offered on our behalf.
Whom the Prophets Testified Shall Come – 3 Nephi 11:10-11
10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. 11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of…
I Am the Light and the Life of the World – 3 Nephi 9:18, 3 Nephi 11:11
18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. (3 Nephi 9:18) 11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified…
Feel the Prints of the Nails
At the temple in Bountiful, the people who had already been invited to see and hear the Savior were now invited to approach Him and touch His wounds. When we wholeheartedly worship Him, we can experience a similar feeling of closeness and of wonder.
❖ The twelve disciples – 3 Nephi 11:18-22
❖ Baptism and unity – 3 Nephi 11:23-41
What Can We Learn from the Words of the Baptismal Ordinance?
When the Savior visited the American continent following His death and resurrection, one of His first actions was to clarify how baptisms ought to be performed. He did this so that there would be no more disputations among the people about how baptisms should be performed. As part of that clarification, the Savior specified the…
No Contentions, No Disputations – 3 Nephi 11
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9, 3 Nephi 12:9), and He demonstrated His commitment to peace: When two of His apostles requested privileged status in the next life, the other ten apostles were angry. Jesus called them all together and taught them that their bad feelings were based on inaccurate understanding of their…
The Spirit of Contention – 3 Nephi 11:29-30
29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. 30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up…
Old Testament Foundations
The Zeal of Thine House
Jesus felt strongly about treating the temple with reverence. When He drove out the moneychangers, His apostles remembered the words of David, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” Our reverence for the temple reflects our reverence for God.
These Wounds
Zechariah prophesied that someone would ask a prophet, “What are these wounds in thine hands?” He will answer, “Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends” (Zechariah 13:6). In an 1831 revelation, the Lord expanded on this prophecy. When Jesus Christ returns to the earth, people will ask Him, “What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet?” He…
Quiet, but Piercing
As Elijah sat in a cave on Mount Horeb (also known as Mount Sinai), he learned an important lesson about hearing God. Through the mouth of the cave, he witnessed three powerful and destructive natural forces: a “great and strong wind,” an earthquake, and a fire. Elijah’s observation was that the Lord was not in…
The Bitter Cup
King David described the agony of having no one to comfort you in your adversity: I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Psalm 69:20-21 Jesus repeatedly spoke of a cup filled with…
To Dwell Together in Unity
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.…
“Be Still”
Near the end of the 46th psalm, there is a curious sentence. The rest of the psalm is narrated by a person who reassures us that God is has all power. Even though terrible things might happen—”the earth be removed,” “mountains be carried into the midst of the sea,” “the heathen [rage],” and “kingdoms [be]…
Hosanna
Psalm 118 contains the following poignant expression of adoration and pleading: Please, LORD, please save us. Please, LORD, please give us success. (Psalm 118:25, New Living Translation) This pleading is followed by an expression of confidence in the one who can provide this salvation: “Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord”…
New Testament Parallels
Having Great Wrath
John said that, after the War in Heaven, Satan came to earth, “having great wrath.” As a result, he would like us to become angry as well and to act on that anger. With God’s help, we can overcome anger and choose reconciliation instead of contention.
Prologue of Hebrews
God speaks to us in many ways, but none of those channels is so direct and so impactful as the words of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is greater than angels, prophets and priests, and all of them point us toward Him.
With One Accord
The phrase “with one accord” appears 11 times in the book of Acts. It means to be united by a common purpose. As we strive to follow the Savior and to prepare for His return, we can find unity in our shared goals and desires.
Flesh and Bones
Resurrected bodies are tangible, just like our mortal bodies. But they are also different in some ways. After His resurrection, Jesus was not constrained by walls, was not always recognizable, and was able to ascend to heaven.
“The Will of My Father”
A defining characteristic of the Savior’s life was His commitment to fulfill His Father’s will. Both during and after His ministry, He affirmed this commitment. We can follow His example by prioritizing God’s will even when it’s difficult.
“My Beloved Son”
When our Father in Heaven has introduced Jesus Christ, He has consistently called Him, “my Beloved Son.” We can follow this example by expressing love for our family members regularly.
All the Prophets
On the afternoon of the first Easter, two believers walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus, about 7.5 miles. A stranger joined them who seemed to know nothing about the events of the weekend in Jerusalem. When they shared their disillusionment at the death of Jesus and their bewilderment about reports that He was alive, the stranger…
“There Shall Be No Disputations Among You” – 3 Nephi 11:22
Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Titus 3:9 The sad reality is that most of the things we argue about aren’t that important. They certainly aren’t as important as the relationships we damage in the process. When we argue, we can easily lose perspective. A minor…
Immersion
The word “baptism” comes from the Greek word baptisma (βάπτισμα), which refers to dipping or submerging something. Jesus instructed His disciples on the American continent how to perform baptisms. They should stand in the water with the person being baptized, call the person by name, pronounce some specific words, and then “immerse them in the water,…
Church History Connections
How to Worship
In an 1833 revelation to Joseph Smith, the Lord said: I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness. Doctrine and Covenants 93:19, italics added Worship is an…
“With One Voice”
When King Benjamin called his people together at the end of his life, he had a receptive audience. They loved and respected him because of the way he had served them for many years. That collective love and respect led to unity. After he reminded them of their need to have their sins forgiven, “they…
“Hear Him”
On at least three occasions, God the Father introduced His Son and invited a group of people to “hear Him.” Various church leaders have made short videos in which they share how they hear the voice of the Savior. Here is a list of those messages.
“All Men [and Women] Everywhere”
God’s universal love is manifest in many ways. One of those ways is via a universal commandment to repent. This commandment is really an invitation to change and experience His healing and transformative power.
“Contend Against No Church”
The Savior counseled Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to “contend against no church.” We can and should find common cause with fellow believers, even when their beliefs differ from our own.
“Behold, I Am Jesus Christ”
On ten occasions in scripture, the Savior introduces Himself with “Behold, I am Jesus Christ.” His self-descriptions emphasize (1) His identity as the Son of God, (2) His role as Creator and source of life, (3) His rejection by His own, (4) His power to save all who receive Him, and (5) His promised return.
All Posts Referencing 3 Nephi 11
- The Vast Assembly (12/7/2025)
- “I Will Be in the Midst of You” (11/20/2025)
- The Holy Spirit of Promise (11/16/2025)
- No Immaterial Matter (11/11/2025)
- The Enmity of All Flesh Shall Cease (9/12/2025)
- Accepted of the Lord (9/6/2025)
- Infusing the Light of Christ into My Life (8/28/2025)
- Soul: Spirit and Body (4/16/2025)
- “Behold, I Am Jesus Christ” (4/15/2025)
- Grace and Agency in Doctrine and Covenants 20 (3/15/2025)
- Book of Mormon Elements in Doctrine and Covenants 20 (3/14/2025)
- Suffering the Will of the Father (3/4/2025)
- “All Men [and Women] Everywhere” (3/1/2025)
- “Contend Against No Church” (2/28/2025)
- How to Recognize the Holy Ghost (2/5/2025)
- Old Testament Prophecies of the Second Coming (1/24/2025)
- “Hear Him” (1/19/2025)
- No Contention, No Disputations (10/26/2024)
- “Built Upon My Gospel” (10/22/2024)
- “I Am Jesus Christ” (9/29/2024)
- There Was Silence (9/27/2024)
- Feel the Prints of the Nails (9/26/2024)
- Look and Listen (9/25/2024)
- Helaman 5 and 3 Nephi (8/30/2024)
- Bountifully (7/28/2024)
- Being the Father and the Son (5/19/2024)
- Jesus Quoting Abinadi (5/15/2024)
- Christmas, Easter, and the Book of Mormon (3/27/2024)
- Jesus Is the Christ (1/7/2024)
- Unto You / Unto Us (12/19/2023)
- Having Great Wrath (12/15/2023)
- Prologue of Hebrews (11/3/2023)
- “The Middle Wall of Partition” (10/6/2023)
- Paul Rebukes Elymas (7/20/2023)
- With One Accord (7/11/2023)
- Flesh and Bones (7/2/2023)
- “That He May Sift You” (6/13/2023)
- Women in the Gospels (5/14/2023)
- A Great Division (4/25/2023)
- “That They May Also Be One” (4/6/2023)
- The Zeal of Thine House (4/4/2023)
- “The Will of My Father” (4/1/2023)
- A House Divided (3/15/2023)
- Baptized with Fire (1/29/2023)
- “My Beloved Son” (1/27/2023)
- These Wounds (12/11/2022)
- Your Brother (11/20/2022)
- The Lord Is My Light (8/9/2022)
- Quiet, but Piercing (6/28/2022)
- “If They Pray Toward This Place…” (6/26/2022)
- “The Lord Looketh on the Heart” (6/16/2022)
- Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu (4/27/2022)
- All the Prophets (4/17/2022)
- The Bitter Cup (4/14/2022)
- Beth-El (3/2/2022)
- To Dwell Together in Unity (1/25/2022)
- The Living Christ and the Book of Mormon (12/26/2021)
- “Be Still” (9/7/2021)
- How to Worship (8/29/2021)
- “They Separated Themselves” – Alma 17:13, 17 (5/19/2021)
- Holy Places (4/27/2021)
- A House of Prayer (3/29/2021)
- “With One Voice” (3/14/2021)
- “There Shall Be No Disputations Among You” – 3 Nephi 11:22 (2/25/2021)
- Immersion (2/14/2021)
- “Beware Lest There Shall Arise Contentions Among You” – Mosiah 2:32 (1/5/2021)
- “That He May Prophesy” – Moroni 10:13 (12/16/2020)
- “I Inquired of the Lord” – Moroni 8:7 (12/13/2020)
- “He Called Them by Name” – Moroni 2:2 (12/2/2020)
- One God (11/4/2020)
- “Hear Him” – 3 Nephi 11:7 (9/20/2020)
- No Contentions, No Disputations – 3 Nephi 11 (9/19/2020)
- “Behold, I Am Jesus Christ” – 3 Nephi 9:15-18, 11:10-11 (9/18/2020)
- Hosanna (4/6/2020)
- “Come Unto Me” – 2 Nephi 26:25 (2/28/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Clarify? (12/31/2019)
- How Does the Savior Bring Us Peace? (12/25/2019)
- Why Are Ordinances Important? (11/9/2019)
- What Is Authority? (10/15/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? (10/12/2019)
- What Is the Relationship Between the Family and the Church? (9/18/2019)
- How Can I Recognize the Temptations of the Devil? (8/18/2019)
- Why Is It Important for Us to Gather with Other Believers? (8/10/2019)
- What Can I Learn from Jesus Christ’s Ministry on the American Continent? (8/5/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Seek the Kingdom of God? (7/30/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Inclusiveness? (7/21/2019)
- Why Is It Important to Record the Fulfillment of Prophecies? (5/21/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Anger? (5/9/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Racism? (4/29/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Be Steadfast? (4/23/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Holy Ghost? (4/17/2019)
- Why Do We Need Prophets? (4/15/2019)
- Why Is It Good to Be Submissive? (4/13/2019)
- How Is Jesus Christ “the Light and the Life of the World?” (3/17/2019)
- What Is the Significance of the Names and Titles of Jesus in the Book of Mormon? (3/3/2019)
- What Can We Learn from the Words of the Baptismal Ordinance? (2/24/2019)
- Why Does the Book of Mormon Quote from the Bible? (1/20/2019)
- The Spirit of Contention – 3 Nephi 11:29-30 (12/6/2018)
- I Am the Light and the Life of the World – 3 Nephi 9:18, 3 Nephi 11:11 (12/5/2018)
- I Give Unto You Power – 3 Nephi 11:18-22 (11/24/2018)
- The Third Time They Did Understand the Voice – 3 Nephi 11:3-6 (3/28/2018)
- He That Hath the Spirit of Contention Is Not of Me – 3 Nephi 11:29-30 (12/15/2017)
- Whom the Prophets Testified Shall Come – 3 Nephi 11:10-11 (12/14/2017)
- I Have Suffered the Will of the Father in All Things – 3 Nephi 11:10-11 (12/2/2016)
- Gathered Together…Round About the Temple – 3 Nephi 11:1 (11/1/2016)
- They…Did Open Their Ears to Hear It – 3 Nephi 11:5-6 (9/29/2016)
- “I Give unto You Power” – 3 Nephi 11:21-22 (7/1/2016)
- “I Have Suffered the Will of the Father” – 3 Nephi 11:10-11 (5/19/2016)
- I Have Suffered the Will of the Father – 3 Nephi 11:10-11 (1/16/2016)
- I…Have Glorified the Father – 3 Nephi 11:10-11 (10/11/2015)
- 3 Nephi 11:29-30 He That Hath the Spirit of Contention Is Not of Me (12/4/2014)