Jesus urges the people to study the words of Isaiah diligently, as well as the words of other prophets.
Then, He turns His attention to a more recent prophet. Reviewing the spiritual record kept by Nephi, He asks why the fulfillment of one of Samuel the Lamanite’s prophecies is missing. Nephi acknowledges the omission and promises to add it.
Chapter Outline
- “Great are the words of Isaiah” (v. 1-5)
- Jesus instructs Nephi to add a prophecy of Samuel the Lamanite to the record (v. 6-14)
My Takeaways
- We should look for connections, patterns, and themes as we read the word of God.
- We show God that we value spiritual experiences by writing them down.
- The principles of the gospel are interrelated, and we apply them best when we understand them holistically.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Commandment: search Isaiah – 3 Nephi 23:1-5
What Does It Mean to Search the Scriptures?
After leaving the city of Jerusalem with his family, Lehi sent his sons back to obtain the words of the prophets and a genealogy of their ancestors which were recorded on a set of brass plates. When his sons returned with this sacred record, Lehi “gave thanks unto the God of Israel.” Then, he “took…
Searching
We normally “search” for something in particular. But the Savior’s instruction to “search the prophets,” may have a more general meaning. We may benefit from simply asking what the prophets were trying to say and what their messages mean for us.
❖ Missing record: fulfillment of Samuel’s prophecy – 3 Nephi 23:6-14
Bring Forth the Record Which Ye Have Kept – 3 Nephi 23:7-9
7 And it came to pass that he said unto Nephi: Bring forth the record which ye have kept. 8 And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said: 9 Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that…
Chronicling My Life
When I was in high school, I discovered something about note-taking. When I write something down, I remember it. I retain new information better when I carefully record it, even if I never look at my notes again. We write for many reasons, including to connect with other people, to share important information, and to…
Jesus Had Expounded All the Scriptures in One – 3 Nephi 23:14
14 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had expounded all the scriptures in one, which they had written, he commanded them that they should teach the things which he had expounded unto them. (3 Nephi 23:14) What does it mean to “[expound] all the scriptures in one,” as Mormon tells us Jesus…
New Testament Parallels
Gathering All Things in One
Paul said that God would not only reveal truths to us but that He would ultimately “gather together in one all things in Christ” (Ephesians 1:10). Recognizing connections between gospel truths gives us perspective and helps us simplify our discipleship.
“Search the Prophets”
The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob declared that all prophets have testified of Jesus Christ. Peter taught the same after the ascension of Jesus Christ. Studying the words of prophets helps us develop faith in Jesus Christ.
Church History Connections
Record-keeping
The first sentence in the Book of Mormon is about the importance of keeping records. Nephi tells us that, because the Lord had blessed him with “goodly parents,” who taught him, and because he had been “highly favored of the Lord” in spite of enduring many afflictions, “therefore I make a record of my proceedings…
Expound and Exhort
I’ve been thinking today about two verbs that appear repeatedly in section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants: “expound” and “exhort.” Elders, priests, teachers, and deacons are all instructed to do both. (See Doctrine and Covenants 20:42, 46, 50, 59.) Several sections later, the Lord directs Emma Smith to “expound scriptures, and to exhort the…
“Give Heed to My Words” – 3 Nephi 23:4
After quoting a chapter from the book of Isaiah, Jesus emphasized the importance of studying the scriptures: I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah…. Therefore give heed to my words; write the things…
How Be It That Ye Have Not Written This Thing? – 3 Nephi 23:7-13
7 And it came to pass that he said unto Nephi: Bring forth the record which ye have kept.8 And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said:9 Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should…
All Posts Referencing 3 Nephi 23
- “Teach These Things Freely Unto Your Children” (1/26/2026)
- Four Foundational Strategies (1/4/2026)
- Biblical Allusions in Doctrine and Covenants 133 (11/19/2025)
- Biblical References in Doctrine and Covenants 76 (7/8/2025)
- Preface to Four Revelations, April-May 1829 (2/19/2025)
- Hearken and Search (1/9/2025)
- Biblical Bookends in the Book of Ether (11/12/2024)
- Searching (10/16/2024)
- Chronicling My Life (10/15/2024)
- Every Valley (9/12/2024)
- All Scripture Is Profitable (10/25/2023)
- Gathering All Things in One (10/4/2023)
- “Search the Prophets” (7/8/2023)
- Record-keeping (3/7/2021)
- Expound and Exhort (3/4/2021)
- “Give Heed to My Words” – 3 Nephi 23:4 (2/7/2021)
- “He Expounded Them” – 3 Nephi 23:6, 14; 24:1; 26:1, 3 (10/18/2020)
- “When These Things…Shall Come Forth…” – 3 Nephi 21:1-7 (10/14/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Diligence? (9/22/2019)
- Why Is Isaiah Quoted So Much in the Book of Mormon? (5/27/2019)
- Why Is It Important to Record the Fulfillment of Prophecies? (5/21/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Search the Scriptures? (1/5/2019)
- Jesus Had Expounded All the Scriptures in One – 3 Nephi 23:14 (12/21/2018)
- Bring Forth the Record Which Ye Have Kept – 3 Nephi 23:7-9 (12/29/2017)
- When Jesus Had Expounded All the Scriptures in One – 3 Nephi 23:14 (12/29/2017)
- Search These Things – 3 Nephi 23:1-3 (12/5/2016)
- How Be It That Ye Have Not Written This Thing – 3 Nephi 23:11-13 (10/22/2016)
- How Be It That Ye Have Not Written This Thing? – 3 Nephi 23:7-13 (10/31/2015)