Jesus now quotes two chapters from the book of Malachi, which the Nephites and Lamanites do not have.
In this first chapter, Malachi 3, the prophet describes Jesus as “a refiners fire” who will purify His people when He comes. He then chastises the people for failing to pay tithing and promises them overflowing blessings if they obey this law. Finally, he responds to complaints that the wicked seem to prosper while the righteous suffer. He invites them to keep a book of remembrance, saying that everything will be right in the end.
Chapter Outline
- Jesus will purify His people when He returns (v. 1-6)
- “Ye have robbed me…in tithes and offerings” (v. 7-12)
- A book of remembrance (v. 13-18)
My Takeaways
- Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus communicated to us the depth of God’s love.
- Ordinances make our faith more tangible and durable and connect us with other believers.
- Keeping a journal can help us see the hand of the Lord in our lives more clearly.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ He shall purify – 3 Nephi 24:1-6
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Some messages are written, some are spoken, and some are delivered by actions. The atonement of Jesus Christ communicates God’s love for us and His commitment to our eternal happiness.
How Is Christ Like a “Refiner’s Fire” and “Fuller’s Soap?”
The Savior paid the price for us to overcome our impurities and return to the presence of the Father. But that doesn’t mean that the process of accepting His gift will be easy or painless.
What Offering Will the Sons of Levi Make in Righteousness?
The last prophet of the Old Testament, Malachi, prophesied that “the messenger of the covenant” would “suddenly come to his temple.” This sounds like a reference to the Savior’s Second Coming, especially when Malachi asks, “Who may abide the day of his coming?” He tells us that this messenger will refine and purify the sons…
“Ye Sons of Jacob”
Elder Dale G. Renlund taught, “When God directs us to do one thing, He often has many purposes in mind. Family history and temple work is not only for the dead but blesses the living as well” (“Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing,” General Conference, April 2018). The prophet Malachi understood this principle.…
❖ Tithes and offerings – 3 Nephi 24:7-12
Why Are Ordinances Important?
Yesterday, I wrote that to be ordained is to be set in order. An ordinance is the mechanism used to create order. It is an action that is formally prescribed by God which we perform to show our devotion to Him and draw closer to Him. The prophet Nephi urged his people to “keep the…
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Tithing?
The Book of Mormon only mentions tithing twice, both times in conjunction with Old Testament scriptures. Alma mentions tithing in passing in his sermon about the priesthood. He introduces Melchizedek as the priest to whom Abraham paid tithes. Although he didn’t elaborate on this incident, Alma did clarify that these “tithes” meant “one tenth part…
Why Does God Command Us to Pay Tithing?
The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is trust, and it is manifest in our decisions. We make choices based on trust, and the tangible evidence that we have done the right thing follows later. The prophet Moroni taught, “Ye receive no witness until after the trial of…
There Shall Not Be Room Enough – 3 Nephi 24:10-12
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And…
❖ A book of remembrance – 3 Nephi 24:13-18
What Is the “Book of Remembrance” Mentioned by Malachi?
Human beings have such a limited perspective. We have a hard time seeing the big picture. We have a hard time remembering things. Our brains seem oriented toward the here and now, with only a vague and incomplete recollection of past events and with only a hazy awareness of the future implications of our decisions.…
Old Testament Foundations
One Father, One God
The prophet Malachi asks a rhetorical question: “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?” Most people would agree that we are all children of God. But Malachi’s follow-up question is much more challenging: “Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother?” (Malachi 2:10). In the next chapter, Malachi declares that when…
He Shall Purify
Malachi’s people were guilty of negligence and carelessness in their religious observances. After calling the people to repentance, the prophet had some specific words of correction for the priests: “I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the Lord Almighty.“ My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and…
Tithed
After Abraham and his servants rescued his nephew Lot, they returned home, rejoicing in a successful mission. They were met by Melchizedek, King of Salem, who brought bread and wine and blessed Abraham. Grateful for his success, “Abraham paid [Melchizedek] tithes of all” (Genesis 14:20). A tithe is a tenth. (See Alma 13:15, Hebrews 11:1-10.)…
Widows and Orphans
In April 1832, the Lord provided specific instructions to the church on caring for those “who have lost their husbands or fathers.” If they lack the resources to support themselves, the combined resources of the church—the Lord’s storehouse—is available to them. “The storehouse shall be kept by the consecrations of the church,” He said; “and widows and…
“When I Make up My Jewels” – 3 Nephi 24:17
As the children of Israel stood at the base of Mount Sinai shortly after escaping from slavery, the Lord reaffirmed their importance to Him: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall…
“Mine Ordinances”
There is power in choosing to do things the Lord’s way. After the children of Israel were rescued from slavery in Egypt, the Lord emphasized that He wanted them to worship Him according to His instructions, not according to the religious traditions of their former taskmasters nor of their future neighbors: After the doings of the land…
The Storehouse
When Hezekiah became king of Judah at the age of 25, he implemented a number of reforms to turn his people’s hearts back to God. He repaired the temple. He organized the priests and Levites and reminded them of their duties. He reinstituted religious practices which had been neglected. And he gathered the people for…
New Testament Parallels
John the Baptist
The prophet Isaiah spoke of a prophet who would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus Christ: The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3 After studying the brass plates, which contained the writings of Isaiah, and while living in the wilderness himself,…
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
Forty days after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, He met one last time with his apostles at the Mount of Olives. They asked him if the time had come for the gathering of Israel, to which He responded, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father…
Church History Connections
A Book of Remembrance
Nephi opens the Book of Mormon by expressing gratitude to his parents for, among other things, the gift of literacy. He writes his record in his parents’ language, which consists of “the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians” (1 Nephi 1:2). Nephi’s nephew, Enos, also expresses gratitude that his father taught…
Old Testament Prophecies of the Second Coming
Four Old Testament prophecies quoted by Moroni to Joseph Smith teach us how to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ: 1. Strengthen families with priesthood power 2. Gather Israel and preach the gospel 3. Hear Him 4. Receive personal revelation
All Posts Referencing 3 Nephi 24
- A Book of Remembrance (1/28/2026)
- “Teach These Things Freely Unto Your Children” (1/26/2026)
- Speak Often One with Another (11/21/2025)
- Biblical Allusions in Doctrine and Covenants 133 (11/19/2025)
- Why Does Tithing Promote Unity? (10/19/2025)
- Tithing and the Day of Burning (6/19/2025)
- Old Testament Prophecies of the Second Coming (1/24/2025)
- “The Lord Is Nigh” (1/7/2025)
- What Do You Delight In? (11/3/2024)
- Chronicling My Life (10/15/2024)
- The Zeal of Thine House (4/4/2023)
- How Did Jesus Use the Scriptures? (12/31/2022)
- “Ye Sons of Jacob” (12/15/2022)
- One Father, One God (12/14/2022)
- He Shall Purify (12/13/2022)
- The Sons of Jacob (3/5/2022)
- Machpelah: Paying Full Price (2/18/2022)
- A Book of Remembrance (1/18/2022)
- The Living Christ and the Book of Mormon (12/26/2021)
- Tithed (10/17/2021)
- Widows and Orphans (7/25/2021)
- “When I Make up My Jewels” – 3 Nephi 24:17 (6/1/2021)
- “Mine Ordinances” (5/21/2021)
- The Storehouse (5/18/2021)
- Elias (3/20/2021)
- Expound and Exhort (3/4/2021)
- John the Baptist (2/12/2021)
- Old Testament Scriptures Quoted by Moroni to Joseph Smith (1/13/2021)
- “He Expounded Them” – 3 Nephi 23:6, 14; 24:1; 26:1, 3 (10/18/2020)
- “Offer unto the Lord an Offering in Righteousness” – 3 Nephi 24:3 (10/1/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Tithing? (11/19/2019)
- Why Are Ordinances Important? (11/9/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? (10/12/2019)
- Why Does God Command Us to Pay Tithing? (6/7/2019)
- What Is the “Book of Remembrance” Mentioned by Malachi? (6/6/2019)
- How Is Christ Like a “Refiner’s Fire” and “Fuller’s Soap?” (6/5/2019)
- How Is Christ the “Messenger of the Covenant?” (6/4/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Happiness? (5/6/2019)
- Why Do We Need Prophets? (4/15/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Finances? (4/2/2019)
- What Offering Will the Sons of Levi Make in Righteousness? (2/26/2019)
- There Shall Not Be Room Enough – 3 Nephi 24:10-12 (12/22/2018)
- He Is Like a Refiner’s Fire – 3 Nephi 24:2-5 (12/31/2017)
- Return Unto Me – 3 Nephi 24:7 (6/10/2016)
- What Doth It Profit That We Have Kept His Ordinances? – 3 Nephi 24:13-18 (6/8/2016)
- And He Shall Purify – 3 Nephi 24:2-3 (11/2/2015)
- 3 Nephi 24:14-16 A Book of Remembrance Was Written Before Him (12/10/2014)