Some time after His ministry in the Americas, Jesus visited His disciples as they fasted and prayed in unity. He clarified that the church should be named after Him and that it must be built upon His gospel. He reminded them that His gospel (“good news”) is that because of His atonement, we can become spotless through repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost. Using three quotations from the Sermon on the Mount as a framework, He expressed His joy in the reception of His teachings and sorrow for future generations who would reject it.
Chapter Outline
- The name of the church (v. 1-12)
- “This is my gospel” (v. 13-22)
- “Out of the books…shall the world be judged” (v. 23-27)
- Repetition of three admonitions from the Sermon on the Mount (v. 28-33)
My Takeaways
- We should be intentional in our efforts to emulate the Savior.
- The heart of discipleship is our efforts to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ.
- Faithfulness over time enables us to receive the saving power of Jesus Christ.
- By using the correct name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we testify that it is a divine organization.
- The Savior’s good news is that, because of His atonement, we can become spotless.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Name of the church – 3 Nephi 27:1-12
How Be It My Church Save It Be Called in My Name? – 3 Nephi 27:3-8
3 And they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church; for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter.4 And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because…
“Ye Must Take Upon You the Name of Christ” – 3 Nephi 27:5-6
5 Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day; 6 And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last…
“Built Upon My Gospel”
Jesus said that we are prepared to face the storms of life when we are built upon His gospel. That means that we must be willing to repent and to participate in ordinances, following the Lord’s instructions instead of our own preferences.
❖ The gospel – 3 Nephi 27:13-22
I Have Given Unto You My Gospel – 3 Nephi 27:13-16
13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you–that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me. 14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that…
❖ Out of the books – 3 Nephi 27:23-27
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…
“Even as I Am” – 3 Nephi 27:27
After specifying the name of the church and summarizing the core principles of the gospel for His twelve disciples, the Savior explained what He expected from them as leaders. “Ye know the things that ye must do in my church,” He said; “for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also…
❖ Admonitions from the Sermon on the Mount – 3 Nephi 27:28-33
Quoting from the Sermon on the Mount
At the end of His ministry in the Americas, Jesus visited His twelve disciples. Paraphrasing three passages from His Sermon on the Mount, He urged them to pray, to prioritize relationships over possessions, and to follow Him with precision.
Old Testament Foundations
Thy Name, My Name
I spent the day yesterday serving with some people I haven’t seen in a long time. I was gratified when some of them who I don’t know very well remembered my name (and when I remembered some of their names). Names are important. We like it when other people remember our names and when they…
“Sanctify Yourselves”
To ancient Israel, the Lord issued a challenge. “I am the Lord your God,” He said. “Ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44, see also Leviticus 20:7). In 1831, shortly after revealing “the law of the Church,” the Lord reissued this challenge. By following this law, He said, “Ye shall…be sanctified by that which ye have…
The Red Sea and Real Intent
There were chariots behind them, sand dunes on every side, and just a lot of water immediately ahead. He needed information all right—what to do—but it wasn’t a casual thing he was asking. In this case it was literally a matter of life and death. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Case Not Away Therefore Your Confidence,”…
Water, Spirit, and Blood
What does it take to be born again? When Jesus warned Nicodemus that we can’t enter the kingdom of God without being reborn, He specified that we must be “born of water and of the Spirit” (John 3:3-5). We usually associate this instruction with the ordinances of baptism and confirmation, but is that sufficient? According…
Call Upon His Name
In Genesis 4 there is a potentially confusing passage. After reporting that Seth had a son named Enos, the author writes, “then began men to call upon the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26). Joseph Smith’s revision of this passage adds a critical word: “Then began these men to call upon the name of the Lord,” his version…
The Books
In Babylon, Daniel experienced a dream full of symbolism. He saw the Final Judgment. Ten thousand times ten thousand people stood before a throne. “The judgment was set,” he wrote, “and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9-10). Many years later, the apostle John received a revelation on the Isle of Patmos. Here’s how he described…
Anointed
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; Isaiah 61:1 To anoint is to “smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony,” and is often associated with a person taking on a…
Ye Must Take upon You the Name of Christ – 3 Nephi 27:5-6
5 Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day; 6 And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last…
New Testament Parallels
“In My Name”
When the Savior’s disciples on the American continent asked Him what they should call His church, He responded by reminding them that they had taken His name upon themselves: Whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day. Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do…
Lifted Up
Jesus was lifted up—violently and painfully—so that we might also be lifted up—joyfully and gloriously. He spoke of His agony on the cross in terms of its purpose and effect. The fact that His execution was so public helped Him to accomplish its purpose.
“None of Them Is Lost”
Jesus’s mission is to save everyone who is willing to be saved.He told the men who arrested Him to let the apostles go, thus fulfilling His promise to the Father to lose none. We can follow His example by helping everyone belong and flourish.
Developing Christlike Attributes
Peter listed a number of attributes that we should strive to develop with God’s help: faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. The Book of Mormon provides insight into each of these Christlike attributes.
Another Gospel
The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that God himself came to earth, suffered and died for us, and rose again three days later. Each of us needs to develop our own conviction of those truths, independent of anyone else.
Patient Continuance
Enduring to the end is an active process: continuing to do good with an ongoing commitment to eternal goals. It involves learning and growing. It is an uplifting process that can also be called “enjoying to the end.”
“Have Ye Received the Holy Ghost?”
Baptism prepares us to receive the Holy Ghost. The ordinance of confirmation by the laying on of hands is an important part of the process. Ultimately, we must act to receive the gift and invite the Holy Ghost into our lives.
“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.
Disciples Act
When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he didn’t see it as a sign to be acknowledged. He saw it as an invitation to act. Discipleship is not just about learning. It’s about emulating and becoming. “What manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am.”
What Manner of Man/Men/Persons?
When Jesus calmed the storm, His disciples exclaimed, “What manner of man is this?” On the American continent, He asked, “What manner of men ought ye to be?” Then He answered, “Even as I am.” Peter also asked, “What manner of persons ought ye to be?”
That Which Ye Have Seen Me Do – 3 Nephi 27:21
21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do; (3 Nephi 27:21) Effective teachers…
Christ’s New Testament Church
During His mortal ministry, Jesus selected twelve disciples, whom He called apostles, to lead His church. They ensured that His doctrine was taught accurately, and they administered ordinances like baptism. The Savior has reestablished that church today.
Church History Connections
“This Is the Gospel”
The good news of the gospel is that Jesus came to us and willingly suffered so that we can be freed from sin and made holy.
Angels Rejoice
There is power in knowing that others are aware of you and are cheering for you. As a group of church leaders crossed Missouri in 1831, they received that kind of assurance from the Lord: The testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven…
“United in Mighty Prayer and Fasting” – 3 Nephi 27:1
After the Savior ministered to a group of people on the American continent for three days, Mormon tell us that He continued to visit them. “He did show himself unto them oft, and did break bread oft, and bless it, and give it unto them” (3 Nephi 26:13). One of those visits occurred as His…
“The Foundation of My Church”
The church of Christ is built on a simple set of doctrines which are listed in 3 Nephi 27 and Doctrine and Covenants 18. We can follow the Savior’s example by sharing these doctrines concisely, without unnecessary elaboration.
All Posts Referencing 3 Nephi 27
- The Brass Serpent (5/5/2026)
- “God Meant It Unto Good” (3/16/2026)
- Their Love Can Sanctify (2/1/2026)
- “I Will Be in the Midst of You” (11/20/2025)
- “Thus Shall My Church Be Called” (10/14/2025)
- That Through Him All Might Be Saved (7/11/2025)
- Staying the Course (5/29/2025)
- “The Harvest Is Past” (5/7/2025)
- Book of Mormon Elements in Doctrine and Covenants 20 (3/14/2025)
- “The Foundation of My Church” (2/25/2025)
- Preface to Four Revelations, April-May 1829 (2/19/2025)
- Christ’s New Testament Church (1/4/2025)
- No Contention, No Disputations (10/26/2024)
- Quoting from the Sermon on the Mount (10/23/2024)
- “Built Upon My Gospel” (10/22/2024)
- Chronicling My Life (10/15/2024)
- Endure (3/24/2024)
- Letters to the Seven Churches (12/7/2023)
- Developing Christlike Attributes (11/25/2023)
- Ask Not Amiss (11/14/2023)
- Vain Jangling – Part 2 (10/28/2023)
- Another Gospel (9/30/2023)
- Patient Continuance (8/9/2023)
- “Have Ye Received the Holy Ghost?” (7/30/2023)
- None Other Name (7/7/2023)
- “None of Them Is Lost” (6/17/2023)
- Lifted Up (5/18/2023)
- A Great Division (4/25/2023)
- “The Will of My Father” (4/1/2023)
- Disciples Act (3/29/2023)
- What Manner of Man/Men/Persons? (3/4/2023)
- How Did Jesus Use Questions? (12/30/2022)
- The Fast That I Have Chosen (10/6/2022)
- Thy Name, My Name (9/25/2022)
- Sanctified (4/23/2022)
- The Red Sea and Real Intent (4/5/2022)
- Hagar and the Hidden Well (2/17/2022)
- Water, Spirit, and Blood (1/21/2022)
- Call Upon His Name (1/16/2022)
- The Living Christ and the Book of Mormon (12/26/2021)
- The Teacher (12/23/2021)
- The Books (11/6/2021)
- Anointed (10/31/2021)
- “In My Name” (7/9/2021)
- “This Is the Gospel” (7/8/2021)
- Endure in Faith (6/8/2021)
- Angels Rejoice (6/6/2021)
- “There Shall Be No Disputations Among You” – 3 Nephi 11:22 (2/25/2021)
- The Work, the Sword, the Sickle, and the Prayer (1/28/2021)
- How to “Come unto Christ” (12/22/2020)
- Book of Mormon References in Moroni 6 (12/5/2020)
- “United in Mighty Prayer and Fasting” – 3 Nephi 27:1 (10/22/2020)
- “Even as I Am” – 3 Nephi 27:27 (10/20/2020)
- “He Hath Lied Unto Us” – Alma 10:28, Alma 12:3 (6/12/2020)
- What Should I Do When I Feel Guilty? (6/24/2019)
- How Does the Savior Invite Us to Come Unto Him? (2/12/2019)
- What Does It Mean for Our Garments to Be “Washed White Through the Blood of the Lamb?” (2/1/2019)
- “Ye Must Take Upon You the Name of Christ” – 3 Nephi 27:5-6 (12/29/2018)
- If He Endureth to the End – 3 Nephi 27:13-16 (12/28/2018)
- That Which Ye Have Seen Me Do – 3 Nephi 27:21 (12/27/2018)
- How Be It My Church Save It Be Called in My Name? – 3 Nephi 27:3-8 (11/25/2018)
- Ye Must Take upon You the Name of Christ – 3 Nephi 27:5-6 (12/30/2017)
- Verily, I Say Unto You, Even as I Am – 3 Nephi 27:27 (12/26/2016)
- “What Manner of Men” – 3 Nephi 27:27 (7/2/2016)
- By the Reception of the Holy Ghost – 3 Nephi 27:20 (6/24/2016)
- I Have Given Unto You My Gospel – 3 Nephi 27:13-16 (11/6/2015)
- Even As I Am – 3 Nephi 27:27 (11/4/2015)