3 Nephi 10
3 Nephi 10:1–2
1 And now behold, it came to pass that all the people of the land did hear these sayings, and did witness of it. And after these sayings there was silence in the land for the space of many hours;
2 For so great was the astonishment of the people that they did cease lamenting and howling for the loss of their kindred which had been slain; therefore there was silence in all the land for the space of many hours.
Comments
There was a thick darkness over the land. Yahweh’s voice had come. So many overwhelming events had just occurred that when they ceased, and everything appeared to stop, the people also seem to stop in order to contemplate. Where there had been loud lamenting for the destruction, there was now profound silence. That silence lasted for “the space of many hours.” When it was finally interrupted, it was again by the voice of God.
3 Nephi 10:3–7
3 And it came to pass that there came a voice again unto the people, and all the people did hear, and did witness of it, saying:
4 O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.
5 And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.
6 O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart.
7 But if not, O house of Israel, the places of your dwellings shall become desolate until the time of the fulfilling of the covenant to your fathers.
Comments
The first time the voice was heard, it was easy to hear an angry God, declaring destruction at his judging hand. The declaration that it was the God who was also the Messiah whom they had awaited must have ameliorated the terror somewhat. Still, it was a solemn people who waited in quiet to see what might come next.
The next voice is perhaps no longer an angry God, but a sorrowful one. There is lamentation for the fact that Yahweh would have preferred to protect rather than destroy. This is a lamentation not only for the Nephites, but for the whole house of Israel. After all, when the voice was first heard, Yahweh had declared that “my own received me not” (3 Nephi 9:16).
The Darkness Dissipates
3 Nephi 10:8–10
8 And now it came to pass that after the people had heard these words, behold, they began to weep and howl again because of the loss of their kindred and friends.
9 And it came to pass that thus did the three days pass away. And it was in the morning, and the darkness dispersed from off the face of the land, and the earth did cease to tremble, and the rocks did cease to rend, and the dreadful groanings did cease, and all the tumultuous noises did pass away.
10 And the earth did cleave together again, that it stood; and the mourning, and the weeping, and the wailing of the people who were spared alive did cease; and their mourning was turned into joy, and their lamentations into the praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their Redeemer.
Comments
The important difference between the weeping and howling in verse 8 and the praise and thanksgiving of verse 10 is the intervening information that “the three days [did] pass away . . . and the earth did cease to tremble, and the rocks did cease to rend.” The terror of nature faded, and with the light of morning came the promise that life would return. While the people were still in darkness and amidst the destruction, their hearts were overcome with sadness.
The new day gave new hope. That the day came would have been seen as Yahweh’s promise to allow them to repent.
3 Nephi 10:11–13
11 And thus far were the scriptures fulfilled which had been spoken by the prophets.
12 And it was the more righteous part of the people who were saved, and it was they who received the prophets and stoned them not; and it was they who had not shed the blood of the saints, who were spared—
13 And they were spared and were not sunk and buried up in the earth; and they were not drowned in the depths of the sea; and they were not burned by fire, neither were they fallen upon and crushed to death; and they were not carried away in the whirlwind; neither were they overpowered by the vapor of smoke and of darkness.
Comments
From verse 11 though the end of the chapter is Mormon’s conclusion to this event. Even though he was using Nephi3’s record, Mormon could not help but make certain that the important lessons would be underscored. He begins his discussion of the moral of these events in verse 11. This is the reason that there is a repetition of the idea that the more righteous people were saved and their cities were not destroyed. That is the moral of the story.
It was also part of history, but as a historical event, it suggests that the more righteous people had remained in the more northern part of Nephite lands, and those lands were spared the destruction on both the south and the north. Geologist Dr. Jerry Gover examined the fault plates in the proposed region of Mesoamerica and suggests that the nature of the underlying geology explains both the destruction on the south, and the reason that Bountiful was not affected by that destruction, being on more a solid underlying geology.
3 Nephi 10:14–17
14 And now, whoso readeth, let him understand; he that hath the scriptures, let him search them, and see and behold if all these deaths and destructions by fire, and by smoke, and by tempests, and by whirlwinds, and by the opening of the earth to receive them, and all these things are not unto the fulfilling of the prophecies of many of the holy prophets.
15 Behold, I say unto you, Yea, many have testified of these things at the coming of Christ, and were slain because they testified of these things.
16 Yea, the prophet Zenos did testify of these things, and also Zenock spake concerning these things, because they testified particularly concerning us, who are the remnant of their seed.
17 Behold, our father Jacob also testified concerning a remnant of the seed of Joseph. And behold, are not we a remnant of the seed of Joseph? And these things which testify of us, are they not written upon the plates of brass which our father Lehi brought out of Jerusalem?
Comments
Mormon has made sure to enter the descriptions of the destructions because they were prophesied events, and Mormon wants to be sure that his readers understand that true prophecy is fulfilled. More important than the destructive events was the event that presaged them: the birth and death of Jesus in mortality. That was the message that the Nephite prophets had taught. Mormon makes certain that we understand that the prophecies are even older, tying them to the sacred records of the Old World through the prophets Zenos and Zenock, who he has previously cited in connection to these prophecies.
The destruction witnessed that all the prophecies were true. However, one would remain, and that was that Yahweh would come to this people.
3 Nephi 10:18–19
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 also 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.
Comments
The one remaining, and crucial, prophecy was that Yahweh himself would manifest himself to the Nephites. Mormon is now ready to tell that story. He ends his own words and returns to Nephi3’s account in the next chapter.
This is the end of a chapter in the 1830 edition. It is fitting that Mormon would make certain to have a division at this point so that the ministry of the Savior might have a structural importance as well as its doctrinal importance.
