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

Book of Mormon Commentary
3 Nephi Chapter 4
fulfilled" (III N.4:47). "And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your
sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away (49). And whoso cometh unto me with a
broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the
Lamanites, because of their faith in me, at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and
with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not" (50; H. 2:111).
After these things were said, "there was silence in the land for the space of many hours." The
people were astonished and quit crying and howling. Then the voice was heard again.
3 Ne 4:55 And it came to pass that there came a voice again unto the people, and all the people did hear,
and did witness of it saying, O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of
Jacob; yea, who are of the house of Israel, O, ye people of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered
you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.
But like the Jews in Palestine of some it could be said, "Ye would not" (57). "The places of your
dwelling shall become desolate" (59). Then the people began their lamentations again "because of
the loss of their kindred and friends. ...Thus did the three days pass away" (60, 61).
The next morning the darkness dispersed, the earth ceased to tremble, and "the tumultuous noises
did pass away" (62) .., And their mourning was turned into joy, and their lamentations into the
praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their Redeemer" (64).
3 Ne 4:70 Behold, I say unto you, Yea, many have testified of these things at the coming of Christ, and
were slain because they testified of these things;
Nephi mentions particularly the prophets Zenos and Zenock and also "o ur father Jacob" as
testifying that these things would occur. Their testimonies were probably written on the plates of
brass.
Near the close of. A.D. 34 great favors were shown the Nephites and Lamanites whose lives had
been spared. One of the greatest of these favors was the visit and ministry of Christ "soon after the
ascension of Christ into heaven" (74). That this event may not have occurred immediately after his
ascension is evident by the time here given. The Crucifixion, indicated by the great storm and
darkness, began on the fourth day of the first month 0£ A.D. 34. He did not show "his body unto
them" until in the ending of that year (74).