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Book of Mormon Commentary
3 Nephi Chapter 1
This wickedness so disturbed Nephi that "he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth,
and cried mightily to his God, in behalf of his people.... all that day; and behold, the voice of the
Lord came unto him, saying, Lift up your head and be of good cheer, ...this night shall the sign be
given, and on the morrow come I into the world" (11-13).
It was revealed to the first Nephi that "he cometh according to the words of the angel, in six
hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem" (1 N. 5:236). While it was the "ninety and
first year" of the reign of the Judges (Mos. 13:63-65), it now was six hundred years from the time
that Lehi left Jerusalem (1:1).
3 Ne 1:17 For behold at the going down of the sun, there was no darkness; and the people began to be
astonished, because there was no darkness when the night came.
Among the unbelievers there was consternation; and the people "fell to the earth, and became as if
they were dead." They knew that "the Son of God must shortly appear," but they also knew that
the plan to destroy the believers in this prophecy "had been frustrated" (18, 19). "There was no
darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was midday" (21). When the sun came up
the next morning "according to its proper order" they knew that "it was the day that the Lord
should be born" (22).
3 Ne 1:24 And it came to pass also, that a new star did appear, according to the word.
While "signs shall follow them that: believe" (Mark 16:16) "confirming the word" (Mark 16:21).
God does not convince a man against his will, for he would be of the same opinion still. Soon after
the sign of a night without darkness and a new star appearing, Satan sent "lyings ...forth among the
people. ..to harden their hearts" (25) .But the majority of the people believed and were baptized
unto repentance (25-27).
THE SIGN Is GIVEN, MANY BELIEVE; NEPHI DISAPPEARS, VER. 28-46
3 Ne 1:28 And thus the people began again to have peace in the land; and there were no contentions,
save it were a few that began to preach, endeavoring to prove by the scriptures, that it was no more
expedient to observe the Law of Moses.
Some had misunderstood the scriptures and preached that the law of Moses had been fulfilled, but
these were easily "convinced of the error" (30). This peace lasted only two years, and then the
Gadiantons came from their mountain strongholds and hiding places "and did do much slaughter
among the people" (34). The next year some of the Nephites became dissenters. Some of the
younger Lamanites "became for themselves" (reached selfhood or maturity) "and were led away
by some who were Zoramites, ... to join those Gadianton robbers" (36).
3 Ne 1:38 And it came to pass that thus passed away the ninety and fifth year also, and the people began
to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a
sign or a wonder from heaven,