3 Nephi 9:1-12 -- The First Words of Christ to the Nephites after the Crucifixion, Part 1

This chapter takes place after the natural destruction had finished on the American continent after the death of Christ. This is on or about the third day after the Crucifixion ( 3 Nephi 8:23 ). So this was not near the end of the 34th year, that Mormon told us that Christ manifested himself in the flesh ( 3 Nephi 10:18-19 ). The events of 3 Nephi 9 take place almost a year before Christ appeared unto them.

1 - And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land, crying:

Interesting to note who heard this voice. It wasn't just a group of people in a particular place.


2 - Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen!

What is meant by "wo"? Why does Christ pronounce three wo's upon the people of this land? Why is just one wo pronounced upon the inhabitants of the whole earth? Is there a difference? What must you do to make sure that the wo's don't apply to you? Is iniquity and abomination the opposite of repentance? Are there other choices? What is the definition of iniquity? What is the definition of abomination?


5 - And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them.

This is is the first city mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and the saints. Why would prophets and saints be mentioned separately? Is there a difference? The idea of what a prophet does is fairly common. However, what makes someone be called a saint?

7 - Yea, and the city of Onihah and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Mocum and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof; and waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, and the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against them.

These are the second, third, and fourth cities mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints.

8 - And behold, the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up any more unto me against them.

These are the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth cities mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints.

9 - And behold, that great city Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of king Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations; for it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the government of the land; therefore I did cause them to be burned, to destroy them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them.

This is the ninth city mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints. The previous cities that have been mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets were buried in one form or another. Here the list is started of those cities that are burned with fire. Why? How wicked were the inhabitants of the city of Jacobugath? Does "whole earth" just mean the Americas, or does it literally mean all of the world?


10 - And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations.

These are the tenth, eleventh, twelveth, and thirteenth cities mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints. The prophets were cast out. There was another group that was stoned. Was this other group what is meant in previous versus by saints? Who designates one a as being a saint? Is it possible to cast the prophets out and stone those sent to declare by the Lord without physically doing these things? If so, is it possible to experience spiritual destruction as a result? Could this be related to the greater things and lesser portions mentioned in earlier posts? ( 3 Nephi 26; Alma 12 )

11 - And because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them, I did send down fire and destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, and the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against them.

Is this a universal law that happens when there is not a single righteous person in a city? Is there some other qualification that must happen as well before destruction? Could this also be applied to an individual person?

12 - And many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their abominations.

Was the land destroyed because it was wicked, or because the people were wicked? If it was because the people wicked, why did God allow it to happen? Could it be a testimony to future generations?


...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.