3 Nephi 1

3 Nephi 1

3 Nephi: Title and Header

Third Nephi, The Book of Nephi, the Son of Nephi, who was the son of Helaman. And Helaman was the son of Helaman, who was the son of Alma, who was the son of Alma, being a descendant of Nephi who was the son of Lehi, who came out of Jerusalem in the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah.

Comments

Third Nephi, the book of Nephi₃, the son of Nephi₂, is the most important book in the Book of Mormon, and perhaps the most distant from the large plates. Other book name changes can be traced to the new person established as the king or chief judge (Mosiah through Helaman). Nephi₃ does not become a ruler in this book. Thus, it is a named book that doesn’t fit the standard naming conventions found in the Book of Mormon. Although some of the content will show the markers of having been taken from the large plates, most of the record that Mormon uses is a “shorter but true account . . . given by Nephi” (3 Nephi 5:9).

The header for the book is also unusual in that it changes the purpose for which book headers have been used in the Book of Mormon up to this point. The traditional use of a header is to discuss the content of the book. This header reveals nothing about the content. It is a genealogy. The book will provide testimony of the risen Christ, but it begins by establishing the connection of this Nephi₃ to the first Nephi.

Sign of Christ’s Birth Appears

3 Nephi 1:1–3

1 Now it came to pass that the ninety and first year had passed away and it was six hundred years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; and it was in the year that Lachoneus was the chief judge and the governor over the land.

2 And Nephi, the son of Helaman, had departed out of the land of Zarahemla, giving charge unto his son Nephi, who was his eldest son, concerning the plates of brass, and all the records which had been kept, and all those things which had been kept sacred from the departure of Lehi out of Jerusalem.

3 Then he departed out of the land, and whither he went, no man knoweth; and his son Nephi did keep the records in his stead, yea, the record of this people.

Comments

At the end of the book of Alma, we saw that Mormon may have manipulated the division between the books to make that division line up on the culturally significant forty years of the reign of the judges. The beginning of the book of 3 Nephi may also have been slightly manipulated. In this case, the year of the reign of the judges is not necessarily significant, but the fact that “it was six hundred years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem” was monumentally significant. In the very first verse, Mormon expects that his readers understand that there is a major prophecy to be fulfilled. The Messiah was to come six hundred years from the time Lehi₁ left Jerusalem, and this book begins with that very year of that fulfillment.

When the book of Helaman ended, Nephi₂, was the prophet. In verses 2 and 3 we say goodbye to him, even though we do not know in exactly which year the transition took place. What we learn is that Nephi₂ left. His death is not recorded, only his departure, “and whither he went, no man knoweth.” That is very much the way Alma₂’s death was recorded in Alma 45:18–19, where Alma₂ simply went away and was not heard from or about again.

3 Nephi 1:4–7

4 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninety and second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people.

5 But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite.

6 And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath been vain.

7 And it came to pass that they did make a great uproar throughout the land; and the people who believed began to be very sorrowful, lest by any means those things which had been spoken might not come to pass.

Comments

Mormon records that the ninety-first year coincided with six hundred years from the time Lehi₁ left Jerusalem. The signs begin appearing early in the ninety-second year. This suggests that there is a full six hundred years counted before the year of the prophecies, and not that the prophecies came in the six-hundredth year. That highlights the problem of counting prophetic years. Even when they are precise to a number of years, it isn’t always clear how the timing relates to those years.

This becomes an issue with the five-year prophecy of Samuel, which was more easily counted and understood, as most who were alive at the time of the prophecy also lived to the time of the signs of its fulfillment. Still, there was sufficient ambivalence that the division between believers and non-believers could widen when one assumption about what the five-years meant came to a deadline and passed. Non-believers see it as proof that the prophecy was incorrect. With the passing of Samuels’s prophetic time, those who disbelieved became stronger and more vocal. They were already likely to have been in the majority, and perhaps even leaders in the government.

3 Nephi 1:8–11

8 But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain.

9 Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.

10 Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.

11 And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.

Comments

The vocal disbelievers were sufficiently powerful that they could not only set a deadline, but also presume to be able to enforce it. This confirms that they were in political power. They set a day when they would officially declare the prophecy unfulfilled. They would also use that occasion to purge the Nephites of those believers who contradicted them.

With that terrible prospect, Nephi₃, the son of Nephi₂ (the Nephi who had been promised that he could seal on earth as well as in the heavens (see Helaman 10:7)), that son of Nephi₂, who had not received the promise that his father received, but who believed along with his father, knelt to pray to God on “behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.”

3 Nephi 1:12–14

12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.

Comments

The timing of this assurance was important and reassuring, but known only to God. It was not something that could be caused by Nephi₃’s prayer, because the events leading to this date had been set in motion nine months before, and a world away. The coming of the assurance also gave comfort to Nephi₃, but it was a comfort that he could not have shared fast enough to comfort so many fears before the ultimate sign was given. We do not know when in the day Nephi₃ prayed, but it was that very day that there was no night.

Nevertheless, this announcement to Nephi₃ places Nephi₃ in a particular position as a witness to Yahweh coming to earth. He will become one of the special witnesses to the actual appearance of his people’s God to those gathered near the temple in Bountiful thirty-four years later (3 Nephi 8:5).

3 Nephi 1:15–18

15 And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.

16 And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.

17 And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.

18 For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand; and they began to fear because of their iniquity and their unbelief.

Comments

We continue to see the sign of overwhelming emotion, or perhaps fear of God, in the act of falling to the earth. In verse 16, many “who had not believed the words of the prophets . . . fell to the earth and became as if they were dead.” Then in verse 17, people in all directions “were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.”

Verse 17 also tells us that there was some confusion in the nature of the prophecy, for “they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear.” That was true in the Old World, but its literal fulfillment for the Nephite believers waited for thirty-four more years.

3 Nephi 1:19–21

19 And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

20 And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

21 And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

Comments

Mormon records the fulfillment of the six-hundred-year prophecy, as well as Samuel’s five-year prophecy. There was a day without a night. The signs in the heavens had been given, including the new star. These heavenly signs were important because all humankind knew that they could not accomplish such a feat. That they dealt with the sun and the stars made the signs particularly potent, as cultures in all the world have looked to the sun and the stars for understanding of their god, with some even holding the sun to be a god. Only the God of nature could control them. It was in 1 Nephi 19:12 where Nephi₁ used that title for the God who could cause the destructions that will come at the end of the Savior’s life.

3 Nephi 1:22–23

22 And it came to pass that from this time forth there began to be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent that they might not believe in those signs and wonders which they had seen; but notwithstanding these lyings and deceivings the more part of the people did believe, and were converted unto the Lord.

23 And it came to pass that Nephi went forth among the people, and also many others, baptizing unto repentance, in the which there was a great remission of sins. And thus the people began again to have peace in the land.

Comments

Even with such spectacular and extra-human signs, there were still those who did not believe and who tried to maintain the positions that they had prior to the signs. However, the majority shifted to becoming believers, where nonbelievers had been in the majority just a day or two before. Thus, Nephi₃ and others are successful in baptizing many, and that majority of Nephites living the commandments naturally lead to peace in the land, according to the promise of the land.

3 Nephi 1:24

24 And there were no contentions, save it were a few that began to preach, endeavoring to prove by the scriptures that it was no more expedient to observe the law of Moses. Now in this thing they did err, having not understood the scriptures.

Comments

Even with the substantial witness to the Nephite religion that came in such dramatic form, it was not a time where there was a complete acceptance of the Nephite gospel. In this case, there was still some dissention, and in this case, a dissention that was based on the Nephite religion, but one in which “they did err, having not understood the scriptures.”

The mistake that was made is understandable, for the Nephites understood that the arrival would change things:

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away. (2 Nephi 25:26–27)

It was part of the Nephite teachings that the coming of Christ would lead to a time when “the law ought to be done away.” Thus, these people taught a correct doctrine, but at the wrong time. Although Christ had been born, the fulfilling of the law was to come with his death, not his birth. Only after the atonement had been made was the complete change possible.

Gadianton Robbers Rise to Power Again

3 Nephi 1:25–27

25 But it came to pass that they soon became converted, and were convinced of the error which they were in, for it was made known unto them that the law was not yet fulfilled, and that it must be fulfilled in every whit; yea, the word came unto them that it must be fulfilled; yea, that one jot or tittle should not pass away till it should all be fulfilled; therefore in this same year were they brought to a knowledge of their error and did confess their faults.

26 And thus the ninety and second year did pass away, bringing glad tidings unto the people because of the signs which did come to pass, according to the words of the prophecy of all the holy prophets.

27 And it came to pass that the ninety and third year did also pass away in peace, save it were for the Gadianton robbers, who dwelt upon the mountains, who did infest the land; for so strong were their holds and their secret places that the people could not overpower them; therefore they did commit many murders, and did do much slaughter among the people.

Comments

Even those who had preached incorrectly, “soon became converted, and were convinced of the error they were in.” That leads to peace. Sadly, as with most Nephite times of peace, it doesn’t last for long. The sign had been given in the ninety-second year. By the end of the next year, the Gadiantons were reasserting themselves. By mentioning the Gadiantons, Mormon signals that worse times are coming.

Less than two years passed, and Nephite apostasy was beginning again.

3 Nephi 1:28–30

28 And it came to pass that in the ninety and fourth year they began to increase in a great degree, because there were many dissenters of the Nephites who did flee unto them, which did cause much sorrow unto those Nephites who did remain in the land.

29 And there was also a cause of much sorrow among the Lamanites; for behold, they had many children who did grow up and began to wax strong in years, that they became for themselves, and were led away by some who were Zoramites, by their lyings and their flattering words, to join those Gadianton robbers.

30 And thus were the Lamanites afflicted also, and began to decrease as to their faith and righteousness, because of the wickedness of the rising generation.

Comments

An ending of some kind is building, because the Nephites are again apostatizing. To make matters worse, they are becoming Gadiantons. Even among the righteous Lamanites, there was an apostasy from the true religion, and an increase in the influence of the Gadiantons. The destruction of the Nephites at the hands of the Gadiantons is coming. Mormon will see that scene repeat itself four hundred years later.

This is not the end of a chapter in the 1830 Book of Mormon.