37. “Whosoever Will Come, Him Will I Receive”
“In the Thirty and Fourth Year: A Geologist’s View of the Great Destruction in 3 Nephi,” Bart J. Kowallis, BYU Studies, Vol. 37, no. 3
Geological studies and eyewitness accounts of volcanic activity show the likelihood that the massive destruction reported in 3 Nephi was caused by an explosive volcanic eruption.
“‘Many Great and Notable Cities Were Sunk’: Liquefaction in the Book of Mormon,” Benjamin R. Jordan, BYU Studies, Vol. 38, no. 3
In this article, the author suggests an alternate cause for the “many great and notable cities [being] sunk” in 3 Nephi.
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ as Taught by the Nephite Prophets,” Noel B. Reynolds, in BYU Studies, Vol. 31, no. 3
This article details the tenets of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as found in the Book of Mormon. The article draws much from what Christ laid out for the Nephites in 3 Nephi.
“Understanding Christian Baptism through the Book of Mormon,” Noel B. Reynolds, in BYU Studies, Vol. 51, no. 2
Early Christianity saw a wide proliferation of theories and practices concerning baptism, and now many Christians, including Mormons, commonly understand it as a means to repent and wash away one’s sins. But the Book of Mormon prophets taught that baptism is a covenant and a witnessing to God that one has already repented and commits to follow Jesus Christ, and that sins are remitted by the Holy Ghost.
Chart 56: “The Gospel in the Book of Mormon,” from Charting the Book of Mormon
The gospel of Christ, centered in the atonement, includes belief, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end, and ultimately entering the kingdom of God.
Chart 52: “Does Christ Have a Body?” from Charting the Book of Mormon
Some Christian doctrine teaches that God does not have a body and by extension Jesus Christ no longer has a body, even though he was once human. The Book of Mormon, hoever, sheds light on this subject by referring to the premortal, mortal, or resurrected body of Jesus Christ more than two hundred times. This chart lists the parts of Christ’s body referred to in the Book of Mormon, along with applicable scriptural references.
“Christ in the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon,” David E. Bokovoy and John A. Tvedtnes, Testaments: Links between the Book of Mormon and the Hebrew Bible
All of the key events, doctrines, and people of the Hebrew Bible point directly to Jesus’ role as the Anointed One of Israel. This is the inspired message proclaimed so passionately by the ancient
Atonement of Jesus Christ, Jeffrey R. Holland, Encyclopedia of Mormonism
An encyclopedic entry on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, as explained by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. The Atonement is the core tenet of Christianity, and is the central focus of the Book of Mormon.
“Jesus the Savior in 3 Nephi,” Robert J. Matthews, The Book of Mormon: 3 Nephi 9-30, This is My Gospel
This article discusses Jesus Christ’s role in 3 Nephi. Third Nephi offers
“Jesus the Christ – Our Master and More,” Russell M. Nelson, A Book of Mormon Treasury: Gospel Insights from General Authorities and Religious Educators
In a thoughtful overview, Elder Russell M. Nelson discusses how Jesus Christ fulfills each of Biblical and Book of Mormon titles attributed to him.
“Seeing Third Nephi as the Holy of Holies of the Book of Mormon,” John W. Welch, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Restoration Scripture 19, no. 1
Third Nephi and its account of the ministry of the resurrected Jesus to the Nephites has long been seen as the pinnacle of the Book of Mormon. This text can also be viewed as the Holy of Holies of the Book of Mormon. Everything in 3 Nephi, especially the ministry of the Savior, echoes themes related to the temple and the presence of the Lord in the Holy of Holies. Themes such as silence, timelessness, unity, awe, and consecration confirm this interpretation.
3 Nephi 8
“An Hypothesis concerning the Three Days of Darkness among the Nephites,” Russell H. Ball, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 2, no. 1
Aspects of the three days of darkness following the three-hour period of intense destruction described principally in 3 Nephi are discussed, including: (1) the strange absence of rain among the destructive mechanisms described; (2) the source of the intense lightning, which seems to be unaccompanied by rain; (3) a mechanism to account for the inundation of the cities of Onihah, Mocum, and Jerusalem, which were not among the cities which “sunk in the depths of the sea”; and (4) the absence in the histories of contemporary European and Asiatic civilizations of corresponding events, which are repeatedly characterized in 3 Nephi as affecting “the face of the whole earth.”
“Dating the Death of Jesus Christ,” Jeffrey R. Chadwick, in BYU Studies, Vol. 54, no. 4
This article proposes that Jesus died at Passover in the early spring of AD 30. While this dating is widely accepted, a minority of scholars disagree. A great deal of historical and scriptural evidence suggests otherwise, however, and this study demonstrates ,with some degree of certainty, that Jesus did in fact die in AD 30, on the eve of Passover, the 14th day of the Jewish month Nisan, which in that year fell on April 6 in the old Julian calendar. This study also presents evidence that the day on which Jesus died was not a Friday, but the fifth day of the Jewish week, the day we call Thursday.
“Three Days and Three Nights: Reassessing Jesus’s Entombment,” David B. Cummings, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 16, no. 1
The Bible does not explicitly state on which day of the week the Savior was crucified, and the passages describing the length of time he spent in the tomb can be interpreted in multiple ways. Depending on how days were measured and on what Sabbath the day of preparation preceded—whether the weekly Sabbath or the Passover Sabbath—the crucifixion could plausibly have occurred on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. The Bible and history have not been able to determine on which day of the week the crucifixion occurred, but the Book of Mormon gives additional information to establish the day. Based on a comparison of the passages in the two texts and an examination of time differences between the two hemispheres, Thursday appears to be the most plausible solution.
“Volcanic Destruction in the Book of Mormon: Possible Evidence from Ice Cores,” Benjamin R. Jordan, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12, no. 1
Third Nephi 8 preserves a written account of a natural disaster at the time of Christ’s death that many assume to have been caused by volcanic activity. In a modern-day science quest, the author examines research done on glacial ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica. Ice-core records can reveal volcanic gases and ashes that are carried throughout the world—the gases are detected by measuring the acidity of the ice at various layers. Many factors influence the findings and the proposed datings of the volcanic events. The ice-core records offer some evidence, though not conclusive, of a volcanic eruption around the time of Christ’s death.
“Historic Parallels to the Destruction at the Time of the Crucifixion,” John A. Tvedtnes, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 3, no. 1
To the nonbeliever, the wide variety of destructive forces unleashed in the New World at the time of Christ’s crucifixion seems preposterous or, at the very least, unscientific. The account in 3 Nephi 8–9 mentions the simultaneous occurrence of earthquake, fire, strong winds, extensive flooding, the complete burial of cities, and thick darkness. An examination of known great natural disasters in historical times reveals that the Book of Mormon in no way exaggerates. All of the destructive forces mentioned in 3 Nephi 8–9 can be readily explained in terms of the tectonic forces that result from the encounter of the plates on which the continents and the oceans lie. The complex variety of destructive forces that we normally consider to be separate phenomena of nature is, in reality, strong evidence for the historicity of the Book of Mormon account.
“Out of the Dust: When the Day Turned to Night,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 10, no. 2
The timing of volcanic eruptions in the Veracruz area, where many scholars suggest the Book of Mormon may have taken place, is contemporary with events recorded in the Book of Mormon, thus providing further evidence of the authenticity of that book.
“‘The Great and Terrible Judgments of the Lord’: Destruction and Disaster in 3 Nephi and the Geology of Mesoamerica,” Neal Rappleye, Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 15
Over recent decades, several Latter-day Saint scholars and scientists have offered analysis and comparison to geologic events and the destruction recorded in 3 Nephi 8-9. Jerry Grover makes an important contribution to this literature as he provides background on geologic processes and phenomena, details the geologic features of the Tehuantepec region (Mesoamerica), and applies this information to not only the description of 3 Nephi 8-9, but other incidents in the Book of Mormon likely connected to geologic events. In doing so, Grover yields new insights into the narratives he examines, and adds clarity to geographic details that have been subject to varying interpretations.
3 Nephi 9
“The Submergence of the City of Jerusalem in the Land of Nephi,” John L. Sorenson, Insights 22, no. 4
Based off the account of destruction in 3 Nephi 9, Sorenson proposes that the Book of Mormon city of Jerusalem is located at the south of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
“The Designations Jesus Gives Himself in 3 Nephi,” Monte S. Nyman, The Book of Mormon: 3 Nephi 9-30, This is My Gospel
After the destruction in 3 Nephi, the voice of Christ is heard. Christ cries repentance to his people and declares who he is, using various names and titles. This article discusses the significance of each of those names.
3 Nephi 10
“The Name Jesus Christ Revealed to the Nephites,” Edward J. Brandt, The Book of Mormon: Second Nephi, The Doctrinal Structure
This article discusses the importance of the name of Jesus Christ throughout the Book of Mormon. This importance is emphasized in 3 Nephi when Christ names his church after himself.
“When Did Jesus Visit the Americas?” S. Kent Brown, From Jerusalem to Zarahemla: Literary and Historical Studies of the Book of Mormon
Conflicting views exist about when Jesus appeared to his New World disciples. Observations from the text suggest that he mercifully waited for the people to recover from the destruction that attended his crucifixion.
3 Nephi 11
“The Great and Marvelous Change: An Alternate Interpretation,” Clifford P. Jones, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Restoration Scripture 19, no. 2\
The customary interpretation of 3 Nephi 11:1 has been that those around the temple in Bountiful were showing one another the “great and marvelous change” that had taken place in the land as a result of the physical destruction attending the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. However, Jones argues that the phrase “the great and marvelous change” used here refers to the infinite Atonement itself—the singular (then-recent) event that fulfilled the law of Moses and changed once and for all the eternal prospects for all of God’s children. By examining the context in which this scripture appears and by interpreting related verses—especially those which emphasize the way in which most revelation is received—Jones argues that the atonement of Jesus Christ and the individuals’ subsequent change of heart would have been the main topic of their discussion and would therefore be an appropriate understanding of the scripture.
“The True Points of My Doctrine,” Noel B. Reynolds, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 5, no. 2
In a 1991 BYU Studies article, Reynolds identified and analyzed three core Book of Mormon passages in which the gospel or doctrine of Jesus Christ is defined. Each of these passages presents the gospel as a six-point formula or message about what men must do if they will be saved. In the present article he goes on to examine all other Book of Mormon references to the six elements in this formula. Faith is choosing the trust in Jesus Christ in all that one does. Repentance is turning away from the life of sin by making a covenant to obey the Lord and remember him always. Baptism in water is the public witnessing to the Father of that covenant. The baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost is a gift sent from the Father in fulfillment of his promise to all his children that if they will repent and be baptized, they will be filled with the Holy Ghost. It brings the remission of sins with its cleansing fires. The recipient of these great blessing must yet endure to the end in faith, hope, and charity.
“The Sermon at the Temple,” John W. Welch, Reexploring the Book of Mormon
This article shows how the sermon that Christ gave to the Nephites, and the sermon that Christ gave to Israel in his mortal ministry, is connected to the temple and sacred covenants.
- Isaiah 13–14; 24–30; 35 – “A Marvellous Work and a Wonder”
- Isaiah 1–12 – “God Is My Salvation”
- Proverbs 1–4; 15–16; 22; 31; Ecclesiastes 1–3; 11–12 – “The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom”
- Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150 – “Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord
- Psalms 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; 85–86 – “I Will Declare What He Hath Done for My Soul”
- Psalms 1–2; 8; 19–33; 40; 46 – “The Lord Is My Shepherd”
- Job 1–3; 12–14; 19; 21–24; 38–40; 42 – “Yet I Will Trust in Him”
- Esther – “Thou Art Come … for Such a Time as This”
- Ezra 1; 3-7; Nehemiah 2; 4-6; 8 – “I Am Doing a Great Work”
- 2 Kings 17–25 – “He Trusted in the Lord God of Israel”
- 2 Kings 2–7 – “There Is a Prophet in Israel”
- 1 Kings 17–19 – “If the Lord Be God, Follow Him”
- 2 Samuel 5–7; 11–12; 1 Kings 3; 8; 11 – “Thy Kingdom Shall Be Established for Ever”
- 1 Samuel 8–10; 13; 15–18 – “The Battle Is the Lord’s”
- Ruth; 1 Samuel 1–3 – “My Heart Rejoiceth in the Lord”
- Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16 – “The Lord Raised Up a Deliverer”
- Joshua 1–8; 23–24 – “Be Strong and of a Good Courage”
- Deuteronomy 6–8; 15; 18; 29–30; 34 – “Beware Lest Thou Forget the Lord”
- Numbers 11–14; 20–24 – “Rebel Not Ye against the Lord, Neither Fear”
- Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 16; 19 – “Holiness to the Lord”
- Exodus 24; 31-34 – “My Presence Shall Go with Thee”
- Exodus 18-20 – “All That the Lord Hath Spoken We Will Do”
- Easter – “He Will Swallow Up Death in Victory”
- Exodus 14-17 – “Stand Still, and See the Salvation of the Lord”
- Exodus 7-13 – “Remember This Day, in Which Ye Came Out from Egypt”
- Exodus 1-6 – “I Have Remembered My Covenant”
- Genesis 42-50 – “God Meant It unto Good”
- Genesis 37-41 – “The Lord Was with Joseph”
- Genesis 28-33 – “Surely the Lord Is in This Place”
- Genesis 24-27 – “The Covenant Is Renewed”
- Genesis 18-23 – “Is Any Thing Too Hard for the Lord?”
- Genesis 12-17; Abraham 1-2 – “To Be a Greater Follower of Righteousness”
- Genesis 6-11; Moses 8 – “Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord”
- Moses 7 – “The Lord Called His People Zion”
- Genesis 5; Moses 6 – “Teach These Things Freely unto Your Children”
- Genesis 3-4; Moses 4-5 – “The Fall of Adam and Eve”
- Genesis 1-2; Moses 2-3; Abraham 4-5 – “In the Beginning God Created the Heaven and the Earth”
- Moses 1; Abraham 3 – “This Is My Work and My Glory”
