Mormon immediately begins preparing his people for the next battle. They prepare physically, and he tries to get them to prepare spiritually by repenting, but they harden their hearts. The Lamanites attack them twice at Desolation, and the Nephites win both times. Mormon’s army boasts in their strength and swears to avenge themselves. As a result, Mormon resigns as their commander.
He then addresses his future readers, with the same message which his own people rejected: Repent, and prepare for the day when we will be judged by God.
Chapter Outline
- Mormon prepares his people for battle and urges them to repent (v. 1-3)
- The Nephites win two battles at Desolation (v. 4-8)
- They boast, and Mormon resigns (v. 9-16)
- Message to us: Repent and prepare to be judged (v. 17-22)
My Takeaways
- We should recognize and take advantage of opportunities to grow and progress.
- We must love and serve others regardless of how they respond.
- When we experience success, we should express gratitude to God and recognize His hand in our lives.
- Gratitude may be a prerequisite for receiving revelation.
- Remembering that we will be judged can help us maintain an eternal perspective.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Preparing for Battle – Mormon 3:1-3
They Did Not Realize That It Was the Lord That Had Spared Them – Mormon 3:2-3
2 And it came to pass that the Lord did say unto me: Cry unto this people—Repent ye, and come unto me, and be ye baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be spared. 3 And I did cry unto this people, but it was in vain; and they did not realize…
“A Chance for Repentance” – Mormon 3:3
For ten years, from AD 350 to AD 360, the Nephites fought no battles. Their leader, Mormon, spent that decade preparing for the conflicts to come. Like Captain Moroni, he led his people “in preparing their lands and their arms against the time of battle” (Mormon 3:1). (See Alma 50:1-6.) But unlike Captain Moroni, Mormon…
❖ Boasting, and a resignation – Mormon 3:9-16
I…Had Loved Them – Mormon 3:12
12 Behold, I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it…
The Sorrowing of the Damned / They Began to Boast in Their Own Strength – Mormon 2:12-13, 3:9-11
12 And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation and their mourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my heart did begin to rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and the long-suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful unto them that they would again become a righteous…
“Vengeance Is Mine”
People who speak in terms of vengeance and retribution are not in harmony with the Spirit of God. We need to expect more from ourselves, from the people around us, and from our political leaders.
❖ Mormon calls us to repentance – Mormon 3:17-22
What Are the Roles of Persuasion and Punishment in Motivating Good Behavior?
This is the third of three posts in response to a question I received last week. The first post discussed God’s love for us. The second discussed why God would “inflict” things on us. Today’s post discusses the roles of persuasion and of punishment from God’s perspective. The questioner wants to understand why a loving…
Will We Be Judged by the Apostles?
During His mortal ministry, Jesus told His twelve apostles that they would one day “sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28). An angel explained to the prophet Nephi that the apostles would judge the tribes of Israel and that the twelve disciples chosen on the American continent would in turn…
The Judgment-Seat of Christ – Mormon 3:20-22
20 And these things doth the Spirit manifest unto me; therefore I write unto you all. And for this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to…
Prepare to Be Judged
Nobody likes to be judged, but Book of Mormon prophets clearly emphasize the Final Judgment. Mormon pleads with us to “repent and prepare to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.” We prepare by changing for the better, with God’s help, every day.
Old Testament Foundations
What Is the Meaning of the Phrase “Vengeance Is Mine?”
Near the end of his life, Moses recited a song to the Israelite people. The song affirms God’s steady support for the children of Israel and prophesies that they will be unfaithful to Him in spite of everything He has done for them. It says that they will worship other gods and provoke Him to…
New Testament Parallels
“The Judgment-Seat of Christ” – Mormon 3:20, 22
20 And these things doth the Spirit manifest unto me; therefore I write unto you all. And for this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to…
All Posts Referencing Mormon 3
- Being Holy (5/2/2026)
- Abraham the Intercessor (2/27/2026)
- Persuasion (10/23/2025)
- How to Pray for Your Enemies (10/2/2025)
- Principles of Peacemaking in Doctrine and Covenants 98 (9/10/2025)
- The Stone Cut Out Without Hands (6/21/2025)
- Moroni’s Collaborative Conclusion (12/18/2024)
- “I Judge Better Things of You” (12/12/2024)
- “Vengeance Is Mine” (11/2/2024)
- Prepare to Be Judged (10/31/2024)
- “I…Did Repent of the Oath” (10/29/2024)
- Justice (10/5/2022)
- Poured Out (10/3/2021)
- How to “Come unto Christ” (12/22/2020)
- Awareness (10/29/2020)
- “A Chance for Repentance” – Mormon 3:3 (10/28/2020)
- What Are the Roles of Persuasion and Punishment in Motivating Good Behavior? (12/4/2019)
- Will We Be Judged by the Apostles? (10/9/2019)
- How Can I Teach My Children to Be Resilient? (9/19/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Pour Out Your Soul to God? (9/17/2019)
- Is It Wrong to Boast? (9/5/2019)
- What Is the Meaning of the Phrase “Vengeance Is Mine?” (8/8/2019)
- How Do Book of Mormon Prophets Use the Title “Savior?” (3/11/2019)
- How Does the Savior Invite Us to Come Unto Him? (2/12/2019)
- “The Judgment-Seat of Christ” – Mormon 3:20, 22 (9/16/2018)
- I…Had Loved Them – Mormon 3:12 (4/26/2018)
- The Sorrowing of the Damned / They Began to Boast in Their Own Strength – Mormon 2:12-13, 3:9-11 (4/24/2018)
- They Did Not Realize That It Was the Lord That Had Spared Them – Mormon 3:2-3 (1/29/2018)
- The Judgment-Seat of Christ – Mormon 3:20-22 (5/13/2017)
- Vengeance Is Mine – Mormon 3:14-15 (11/19/2015)
- I Did Cry Unto This People, But It Was in Vain – Mormon 3:3 (11/17/2015)
- Mormon 3:12 Nevertheless It Was Without Faith (12/14/2014)