Comments on 3 Nephi 26

     This chapter wraps up Jesus' second day of his teaching the
Lehites (v. 1-5).  Mormon makes some comments on the material he
rather selectively edited (v. 6-13), and then wraps up the events
of the second day (v. 14-15).  He briefly mentions some events of
the third day of Jesus' visit (v. 16).  He then informs us
concerning the start of the church among the Lehites (v. 17-21).

v1-5  After Jesus quotes the writings of Malachi he explains the
meaning of them (v. 1), and then restates the necessity of them
receiving these things so the will go to future generations (v.
2, cp. 23:4).
     Mormon then briefly summarizes all of the things Jesus
taught them.  This included everything from the Creation to the
Day of the Lord (v. 3), and the resurrection and Final Judgement
(v. 4-5).

v6-13  Mormon parenthetically explains it would not be possible
to write down everything Jesus taught them (v. 6), but there is a
more detailed account on the large plates of Nephi (v. 7).  What
he has written himself is not as detailed as what is on the large
plates of Nephi.  
     His intent is to write those things which must go forth to
the remnants of the Lehites through the Gentiles in the future
(v. 8).  When the remnants of the Lehites receive this record, if
they believe it then they will have greater things revealed to
them (v. 9).  But, if they do not accept this record, then the
greater things will not be revealed to them (v. 10).
     Mormon then explains he was intending to write a more
detailed account of the things Jesus taught, but he was forbidden
to do so because the people's faith may be tested beforehand (v.
11).  So, Mormon writes what he is told to (v. 12), and then
makes it clear Jesus appeared to them three days to teach them,
and thereafter appeared to them to administer the sacrament to
them (v. 13).

v9 "greater things shall be made manifest unto them", the
footnotes on the 1981 edition BofM contain references to passages
dealing with the sealed portion of the plates.  This passage
might be referring to the revelation of the sealed portion of the
plates, but it may not.  The phrase "greater things" is defined
in Ether 4:13 as "knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief",
which is really quite ambiguous.  Moroni says of the vision of
the brother of Jared "there never were greater things made
manifest", cf. Ether 4:4.  Samuel said the angel told him there
would be many people who saw "great things", speaking in
reference to the signs of Christ's birth and death, cf. Hela.
14:28.  So, the phrase "greater things" doesn't necessarily refer
to the revelation of the sealed plates, but it might.

v14-15  After teaching the people, Jesus looses the tongues of
little children and babies among the multitude (v. 14) and heals
various sick and afflicted people, even raising one from the dead
(v. 15).

v16  On the third day, the entire multitude witnesses firsthand
the babies and little children speaking astounding things.  What
they say is even more than Jesus told them the day before, and
the result is people are forbidden from writing it down.

     While v. 14 and 16 appear to be talking about the same
thing, careful reading shows the audiences for the talking
children has changed.  In v. 14 it says "they did speak unto
their fathers great and marvelous things", but in v. 16 it says
"the multitude...saw and heard these children".  Verse 14 being
at the end of day two and v. 16 being on day three.

v17-21  After the initial three days of Jesus' teaching among the
Lehites, the twelve disciples teach and baptize the people. 
Those who are baptized are filled with the Spirit (v. 17) and see
and hear things which are not to be written down (v. 18).
     Those in the church practice the Law of Consecration to the
fullest extent and have a Zion community (v. 19) doing all the
things Jesus taught them (v. 20).  
     All of those who are baptized are referred to as "those
called of Christ" or "the church of Christ" (v. 21).

v19  This Zion community eventually spreads to encompass all the
Lehites, cf. 4 Ne. 1:1-3.



Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller <kurtn@cybcon.com>.  All rights 
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