3 Nephi 30

3 Nephi 30

Gentiles Called to Repentance

3 Nephi 30:1–2

1 Hearken, O ye Gentiles, and hear the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, which he hath commanded me that I should speak concerning you, for, behold he commandeth me that I should write, saying:

2 Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel.

Comments

These two verses are not only their own chapter in our current edition of the Book of Mormon, but they were also their own chapter in the original 1830 edition. They serve as the conclusion to the book of 3 Nephi, and more importantly, to the highlight of Mormon’s text: the appearance and teaching of the Savior in Bountiful after his resurrection.

Mormon was a disciple, which our modern terminology would call an apostle. At the end of this book, he adds an apostolic conclusion. He speaks to those who will read what he is writing and tells them that they are to “hear the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.” Even though the words that Jesus commanded were those that Mormon was to write, Mormon made sure to declare that they came through the authority of the Christ.

Mormon knew that the Book of Mormon would come first to the Gentiles, and so he addresses them here (he will address the Lamanites at the end of his eponymous book). The Gentiles are called to repentance, and to ”be numbered with [the] people who are of the house of Israel.”