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Book of Mormon Commentary
3 Nephi Chapter 3
Lachoneus II succeeded his father in the judgment seat. "Men inspired from heaven" preached and
testified “boldly of the sins and iniquities of the people," and of "the resurrection of Christ; and
they did testify boldly of his death and sufferings" (22, 23). This made the people "exceeding
angry," especially the chief judges, high priests, and lawyers (24, 25).
3 Ne 3:28 Now there were many of those who testified of the things pertaining to Christ, who testified
boldly, who were taken and put to death secretly by the judges, and the knowledge of their death came
not unto the governor of the land, until after their death.
Their law required that the governor sign the death warrant before a condemned man was executed;
hence the secrecy (27, 29). A complaint of this was carried to Lachoneus in the capital city, Zatahemla.
COMBINATIONS FORMED TO ROB JUS11CE, VER. 31-70
3 Ne 3:34 Therefore they did combine against the people of the Lord, and enter into a covenant to
destroy them, and to deliver those who were guilty of murder from the grasp of justice, which was about
to be administered according to the law.
Judges, friends, and relatives of the condemned, and also high priests and lawyers made covenants
–to “set at defiance the law and the rights of their country" (32, 35). They covenanted to destroy
the governor and establish a king. They succeeded in the first part but not in making the change to
a monarchy.
The people were divided on this and became separated into tribes or clans. “Every tribe did
appoint a chief, or a leader over them" (37, 38). “There were no wars as yet among them," but “the
regulations of the government were destroyed, because of the secret combination of the friends
and kindreds of those who murdered the prophets" (40, 41).
3 Ne 3:42 And they did cause a great contention in the land, insomuch that the more righteous part of
the people, although they had nearly all become wicked; yea, there were but few righteous men among
them.
The secret combination gathered together and selected Jacob for their king. He had been a leader
in condemning "the prophets who testified of Jesus." However, those who supported Jacob were in
a minority (46). While his opposition did not come from those people who were righteous, they
were united in a hatred of those who would destroy the government. Therefore, Jacob gathered his
followers “into the northernmost part of the land," where they built up a kingdom, and were joined
by dissenters (47-49).
3 Ne 3:53 Nevertheless they had come to an agreement that they would not go to war one with another;
but they were not united as to their laws, and their manner of government, for they were established
according to the minds of those who were their chiefs and their leaders.
Because of their strict tribal laws not to "trespass against another," they had some degree of "peace
in the land" (54). "Nevertheless, their hearts were turned from the Lord their God, and they did
stone the prophets, and did cast them out from among them" (55).