Jesus expounds all things to the people, from the beginning to the end. Mormon explains that there is no room to include even a hundredth part of Jesus’s words. He says that Jesus ministered to the people for three days, and even after that, He did “show himself unto them oft.” He administered the sacrament, healed their sick, and loosed the tongues of their children.
After His departure, His disciples organized His church, teaching, baptizing and following all of His instructions.
Chapter Outline
- Jesus expounds all things, from the beginning to the end (v. 1-5)
- Mormon can’t include a hundredth part of the things Jesus taught (v. 6-12)
- Sacrament, healings, and loosing the tongues of children (v. 13-16)
- The disciples organize the church (v. 17-21)
My Takeaways
- The Savior expounded the scriptures—explained them in detail—and He wants us to pay attention to details as we study.
- Our ability to receive additional knowledge from God is dependent on how we treat the knowledge we have already received.
- Help your students become fully engaged in the process of acquiring spiritual knowledge.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Jesus expounds all things – 3 Nephi 26:1-5
“He Expounded Them” – 3 Nephi 23:6, 14; 24:1; 26:1, 3
To expound something is to explain it in detail (Oxford English Dictionary). During His ministry on the American continent, the Savior expounded the scriptures to the people. He expounded the words of Isaiah and Micah (3 Nephi 20-22; see 3 Nephi 23:6). He expounded the words of Malachi (3 Nephi 24:1). He identified connections and…
❖ A Hundredth part – 3 Nephi 25:6-12
A Hundredth Part: Mormon’s Editorial Decisions
Book of Mormon authors made it clear how much they were leaving out as they wrote this “abridgment” of their history. Here’s a diagram showing how many words are dedicated to each of the 103 decades in the book.
To Try Their Faith – 3 Nephi 26:6-11
6 And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people; 7 But behold the plates of Nephi do contain the more part of the things which he taught the people. 8 And these things have I written, which are a…
Then Shall the Greater Things Be Made Manifest unto Them – 3 Nephi 26:9-10
9 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.10 And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then…
❖ Children’s tongues loosed – 3 Nephi 25:13-16
He Did Teach and Minister – 3 Nephi 26:13-14
13 Therefore, I would that ye should behold that the Lord truly did teach the people, for the space of three days; and after that he did show himself unto them oft, and did break bread oft, and bless it, and give it unto them.14 And it came to pass that he did teach and…
“He Did Loose Their Tongues”
During the Savior’s ministry in the Americas, one of His miracles was to “loose [the] tongues” of children, so that they spoke “marvelous things.” Sometimes we’re hesitant to speak up. The Savior can loose our tongues and help us share uplifting messages.
Old Testament Foundations
The Mouths of Babes
Children can be more receptive to spiritual learning than adults for at least three reasons: 1. They are less self-conscious. 2. They are more aware of their vulnerability. 3. They have a natural curiosity. We can emulate children as we seek revelation.
An Heritage of the Lord
In a psalm apparently written by David for his son Solomon, we read that we need God’s help to achieve meaningful goals: Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalm 127:1 David goes on to say that this perspective can help us avoid burning ourselves out,…
New Testament Parallels
How Did Jesus Use the Scriptures?
Jesus knew the scriptures. As a twelve-year-old boy, he impressed the experienced teachers in the temple at Jerusalem with his insight and understanding. (See Luke 2:46-47.) He publicly announced that He was the Messiah by quoting Isaiah 61:1-2 in the synagogue at Nazareth. (See Luke 4:18-19.) And at the end of His life, as He…
What Is the “Resurrection of Damnation?”
Early in His mortal ministry, Jesus taught a group of people about the authority the Father had given to Him, including the responsibility to judge us after we die: For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to…
Church History Connections
Hidden Treasures
On February 27, 1833, the Lord promised that those who obey His commandments will “find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:19). A week and a half later, He instructed Joseph Smith not to produce a translation of the Apocrypha. Joseph had been studying the King James Version of…
All Posts Referencing 3 Nephi 26
- The Trial of Your Faith (2/24/2026)
- Biblical Allusions in Doctrine and Covenants 133 (11/19/2025)
- Bringing Up Our Children in Light and Truth (8/31/2025)
- Old Testament Prophecies of the Second Coming (1/24/2025)
- Laying On of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost (12/4/2024)
- “Divided into Classes” (10/27/2024)
- “All Flesh Shall See It Together” (10/24/2024)
- Quoting from the Sermon on the Mount (10/23/2024)
- “He Did Loose Their Tongues” (10/20/2024)
- Helaman 5 and 3 Nephi (8/30/2024)
- Mercy (3/26/2024)
- “A Little Child Shall Lead Them” (3/6/2024)
- A Hundredth Part: Mormon’s Editorial Decisions (1/3/2024)
- The Mouths of Babes (4/19/2023)
- How Did Jesus Use the Scriptures? (12/31/2022)
- He Will Teach Us of His Ways (11/27/2022)
- Shewbread (5/6/2022)
- Glory (12/28/2021)
- The Living Christ and the Book of Mormon (12/26/2021)
- The Healer (12/22/2021)
- An Heritage of the Lord (12/16/2021)
- Hidden Treasures (8/21/2021)
- John Whitmer, Record-keeper (6/25/2021)
- The Perfect Day (5/11/2021)
- Record-keeping (3/7/2021)
- Expound and Exhort (3/4/2021)
- “Hid up unto the Lord” – Mormon 1:2, 4:23, 5:12 (10/31/2020)
- “United in Mighty Prayer and Fasting” – 3 Nephi 27:1 (10/22/2020)
- “He Expounded Them” – 3 Nephi 23:6, 14; 24:1; 26:1, 3 (10/18/2020)
- Just and Merciful (7/31/2020)
- The “Hundredth Part” – Mormon’s Prioritization of Events in the Book of Alma (6/7/2020)
- Justice and Mercy (4/4/2020)
- What Can We Learn about Children from the Savior? (12/17/2019)
- What Is Wisdom? (12/13/2019)
- What Is the “Resurrection of Damnation?” (10/23/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? (10/12/2019)
- What Can I Learn from Jesus Christ’s Ministry on the American Continent? (8/5/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Minister? (8/3/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Resurrection? (4/21/2019)
- What Is the Relationship Between Baptism and Membership in the Church? (2/21/2019)
- He Did Loose Their Tongues – 3 Nephi 26:14-16 (12/26/2018)
- To Try Their Faith – 3 Nephi 26:6-11 (9/13/2018)
- Then Shall the Greater Things Be Made Manifest unto Them – 3 Nephi 26:9-10 (5/4/2017)
- He Did Teach and Minister – 3 Nephi 26:13-14 (12/11/2016)
- Then Shall the Greater Things Be Made Manifest Unto Them – 3 Nephi 26:9-11 (11/3/2015)