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

Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 3
1 Ne 3:123 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the people of my seed gathered together in
multitudes against the seed of my brethren; and they were gathered together to battle.
3:123 The succeeding verses reveal the approximate time of this notorious battle. "Three
generations pass away in righteousness" (II N. 11:73-77; III N. 13:9; Mn. 3:1-23). The time is
A.D. 380-385. The period covers nearly two hundred years of the most remarkable social harmony
in human history .Then the pendulum swung to the other extreme.
1 Ne 3:130 And it came to pass that I beheld and saw the people of the seed of my brethren, that they
had overcome my seed; and they went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land.
3: 130 This revelation shows the darks and shadows as well as the highlights and colors.
Eventually the Nephites were destroyed by the Lamanites. The reason for this sad ending is also
shown.
1 Ne 3:134 And it came to pass that I beheld after they had dwindled in unbelief, they became a dark
and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.
3:134 While the record closes about A.D. 421, history gives some evidence that the Lamanites of
succeeding generations are quite well described by this statement of the angel to Nephi. Mormon
tells that as "wickedness prevailed upon the face of the whole land," God took away the twelve
disciples, and that miracles and healing ceased (Mn. 1:14, 15). Mormon also predicted they should
become "a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome" people (Mn. 2:44).
THE CHURCH OF THE DEVIL, VER. 135-145
1 Ne 3:137 And I said, I behold many nations and kingdoms.
1 Ne 3:138 And he said unto me, These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles.
3:137,138 The vision is extended to include the coming of many people from the eastern
continent. Lehi's posterity had tried and failed. But God's purposes cannot be frustrated (D. and C.
2:1). He does not count time in years nor centuries, but is "long-suffering toward us, not willing
that any should perish" (II Pet. 3:3-9). Mormon and Moroni also were shown God's favor to the
Gentile's (Mn. 2:48; 4:45, 46).
1 Ne 3:141 And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that
he was the foundation of it.
3: 141 One thing which is certainly clear in this vision is that the opposing force, which was to
war against the saints and bring them into captivity, was Satan. There may be grounds for
confusion in the use of the word "church." It is hardly possible to think of it as "a body of
Christian believers" as used by Matthew (16:19), "Upon this rock I will build my church". The
foundation of this body was the devil. Pride, materialism, and sex ruled their minds (3:142-144).