Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 3
JESUS MINISTERS TO NEEDY AND IS CRUCIFIED FOR SINNERS, VER. 80-95
1 Ne 3:83 And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of
diseases, and with devils, and unclean spirits;
1 Ne 3:84 And the angel spake and shewed all these things unto me.
1 Ne 3:85 And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God, and the devils and the unclean
spirits were cast out.
3:83-85 The Gospels contain many instances of Jesus' acting as the Great Physician. Matthew
records that "Jesus went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel
of the kingdom; and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of diseases among the people
which believed on his name" (4:22).
1 Ne 3:86 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying, Look! And I looked and
beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was
judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.
1 Ne 3:87 And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross, and slain for the sins of the world.
3:86, 87 These are literal and accurate prophecies. The scriptures say that "Judas came with a great
multitude" (Matt. 26:44; Mark 14:48; Luke 22:47). It was a mob who took him before the high
priest. When he was on trial before Pilate nothing worthy of death was found .in him. Pilate
wanted to release him, but put the decision to the mob. He was literally "judged of the world."
They said, "Crucify him. Release unto us Barabbas." Jesus explained to the Nephites why he was
crucified (II N. 7:5-9; III N. 12:26-28).
1 Ne 3:88 And after he was slain, I saw the multitudes of the earth, that they were gathered together to
fight against the apostles of the Lamb; for thus were the twelve called by the angel of the Lord.
3:88 It was not the church as a body nor the saints as individuals who were being persecuted in
this vision. The twelve apostles were the objects of these attacks. History and tradition affirms that
Jesus had appointed the twelve apostles as heirs of the kingdom (Luke 22:29) before his departure
(see also Luke 12:34, 35). Each of them suffered martyrdom except John, who was banished to the
Isle of Patmos.
1 Ne 3:91 And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying, Behold the world and the wisdom
thereof;
1 Ne 3:92 Yea, behold, the house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of
the Lamb.
1 Ne 3:93 And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the
pride of the world;
3:91-93 The angel linked these two concepts together. The world is very proud of its wisdom and
never more so than today. The achievements of science are marvelous. In communication,
transportation, space control, electronics, and atomic power the progress is phenomenal. However,