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Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 3
tongues and interpretation]." Yet when asked about the message he may have only a faint
recollection of a few phrases.
1 Ne 3:52 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities.
1 Ne 3:53 And I beheld the city of Nazareth: and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was
exceedingly fair and white.
3:52, 53 The first personage disappeared. The vision changed, and Nephi was shown cities and a
beautiful woman, "exceedingly fair and white."
SHOWN THE VIRGIN WITH HER CHILD JESUS, VER, 54-62
1 Ne 3:58 And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God,
after the manner of the flesh.
3:58 This statement is remarkable for its significance and clarity. He even was made aware of the
name of the city in which Mary lived, Nazareth.
The historicity of the virgin giving birth to a son has aroused much controversy. Often this centers
around Isaiah's prophecies (7:14; 9:6, 7); whether the prophet saw the virgin Mary or one nearer
his own day, and whether Jesus is the one bearing on his shoulders the government which should
increase and know no end, has caused much controversy. It is not often that the testimonies of
Matthew (2:1-7; see also 1:18-25, A.V.) and Luke (1:26-35) are the subject of controversy.
Nephi's prophecy abundantly confirms these accounts. Luke says Mary asked, "How can this be?"
and he ends his record by declaring, "The angel answered and said unto her, Of the Holy Ghost,
and the power of the Highest. Therefore also, that holy child that shall be born of thee shall be
ca1led the Son of God,"
1 Ne 3:61 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
1 Ne 3:62 And the angel said unto me, Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal
Father!
1 Ne 3:63 Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
1 Ne 3:64 And I answered him, saying, Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the
hearts of the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable above all things.
1 Ne 3:65 And he spake unto me, saying, Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.
3:61-65 The New Testament Apocrypha tells that Mary was the daughter of Joachim and his wife
Anna. They were childless for many years and, like Hannah, vowed that "if their prayer for a child
were answered, they would consecrate the child to a life of service in the temple.
Jesus was called the Lamb of God because he was to be offered for the sins of man as the final
Passover offering (I Cor. 5:7).
JESUS IS BAPTIZED AND SELECTS THE TWELVE, VER. 66-79
1 Ne 3:66 And after he had said these words, he said unto me, Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son
of God going forth among the children of men: