3 Nephi 8:5, 3 Nephi 10:18-19 -- How Long Between the Crucifixion and Christ's Appearance in the Americas

How much time passed between when Christ was crucified and when he appeared in his resurrected form to the Nephites?

3 Nephi 8:5 - And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.

Here we have an account of when the weather phenomenon that marked the death of Jesus started in the new world. According to the way that the Nephites marked the passing of time, it was on the 4th day of the first month of the 34th year, or in other words, (1/4/34).

3 Nephi 10:18 - And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them -


19 - Showing his body unto them, and ministering unto them; and an account of his ministry shall be given hereafter. Therefore for this time I make an end of my sayings

This verse was inserted by Mormon and he says that at the "ending of the thirty and fourth year" Christ came and ministered to them in the flesh. How many months did the Nephite calendar have? Was it probable that the calendar was based on the land where Lehi brought his family from? The year from the land of Israel is roughly the same length of time as the civil year that we currently measure is. It is based on lunar cycles and can have 12 or 13 months. If we assume for the basis of this discussion, what month would qualify as being in the "ending of the thirty and fourth year"? The 6th? The 8th? The 10th? The 11th or 12th?

Why was their such a gap between the Crucifixion and Christ's appearance in the Americas? Is there a type being shown in the sequence and timing of the events?

...Great things 2 ponder upon.

Alma 12:9-11 -- Lesser and Greater Portions of the Word

9 - And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.

How many know the mysteries of God? Of those that do know these things, are only great prophets included? Is God a respecter of persons? What does this imply about who can possibly be a part of this group that is privileged to know the mysteries of God? Of those that have knowledge of the mysteries of God, why are they given strict commandments not to share? How do we ( children of men ), get more of a portion of his word? What does the word 'heed' mean? Does it imply action in response to information given? In this same context, does the word 'diligence' mean that once you have received and acted upon information received that we should actively seek more information? How do you go about actively seeking for more information from God?

10 - And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.

Just like in 3 Nephi 26:6-11 there are two categorizations given of the word, the lesser and the greater. What does it mean to receive the word of God? Is that the same as hearing it? Is it the same as acting upon the principle taught in the word of God? Is it more than hearing and acting? Is the heart somehow involved? How do you go about making your heart hard? How do you go about making your heart soft? Having a hard or soft heart appears to be of great eternal importance. Do you want to know the mysteries of God? Do you want to know them in full? Have a soft heart and it is possible.


11 - And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.

Here for the second time, it is mentioned that those who harden their hearts will receive the lesser portion of the word. Why is this warning given twice in the span of two verses? What effect does having a hard heart have on our knowledge of the mysteries of God? Where does having the lesser portion of the word and not softening your heart lead to? Whose will is leading you at that point?

One of the names of the Savior is The Word. Are you content to have a lesser portion of His truth, or do you want to have the greater portion of His truth? On one hand you have stagnation and status quo which leads to one being bound by the chains of hell. On the other hand, you have eternal progression which leads to knowing the mysteries of God in full. We are place here in our mortal lives to choose between those two paths.

...Great things 2 ponder upon.

3 Nephi 26:6-11 -- Trial of Faith

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;

What exactly is taught by Jesus in 3 Nephi? Do some of the events seem cryptic? If so, why are they included in the record by Mormon? He had to expend great effort to engrave each and every thing on the plates. Each and every thing he wrote had a purpose. Based on what we have of the Savior's teachings to the Nephites after His resurrection, what would it be like to have at least 100x more of those teachings?

7 - But behold the plates of Nephi do contain the more part of the things which he taught the people.

So even more of the things that Jesus taught to the Nephites were recorded on other plates, just not those compiled by Mormon. Why?

8 - And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken.

Here we start to have a categorization of some of the things that Jesus taught the Nephites into a "lesser part". Who are "this people"? If the Gentiles are going to bring the teachings of Jesus to the Nephites to a different group of people, what does this imply about who the Gentiles are?

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.

Who is "they" referred to in this verse? Is it just the remnant of the seed of Lehi, or does it include the Gentiles as well? What about other groups of people who may receive the words in the latter days? Now, this next thing is amazing, these things ( teachings of Jesus that are in 3 Nephi ) are given to us to try our faith. Why? Isn't enough to just read the Book of Mormon? Doesn't the word 'faith' imply that some sort of action is needed? What actions, related to faith, could possibly be required? Doesn't the word 'try' used in this context imply that adversity is involved? Is adversity necessary? Why?

The promise at the end of this verse is that if our faith is tried and we pass the trial, then the greater things will be manifested to us. Between verses 8 and 9 there is a classification of the things that Jesus taught to the Nephites into "lesser part" and "greater things" categories. Do you want the teachings of Christ that are in the "greater things" category made manifest to you? Are you willing to go through a trial to get to that point?
 
10 - And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation.


The implication in verse 10 is that if you do not pass the trial of faith concerning the "lesser part" of the teachings of Jesus to the Nephites, then you will be condemned.


11 - Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people.


Mormon wanted to put all the teachings of Christ to the Nephites that were in both the "lesser part" and "greater things" categories into the record he was compiling. He knew the importance of them to those who would receive that record in the latter days. The Lord wouldn't let him do and an once again told him that the only way have access to the "greater things" was to pass through a trial of faith.

These verses highlight the fact that the content of what Jesus taught the Nephites is of eternal importance. It is serious enough that condemnation comes to those who are unwilling to go through the trial of faith required to have the "greater things" manifested to them.

...Great things 2 ponder upon.