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Book of Mormon Commentary
3 Nephi Chapter 5
CHRIST DESCENDS FROM HEAVEN; CALLS TWELVE, VER. 1-27
3 Ne 5:4 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice,
as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which
they heard;
The people of Nephi had gathered at the temple in the land Bountiful. They were discussing the
great changes which had taken place in their physical surroundings as signs of Christ's death (1-3).
Then they heard again a voice similar to that which they had heard in warning (4:26) and later in
pleading and promise (4:42-59) during the three days of dense darkness. The voice was neither
harsh nor loud but a small piercing voice, which caused "their hearts to burn" (5).
The voice came the second time, but still they did not understand it. The third time the voice
spoke, introducing a man who was coming down from above: “Behold, my beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name, hear ye him" (7-9). He was clothed in a
white robe, and they supposed him to be an angel (10).
In 1831 a revelation said that when he comes again “the Lord shall be red in his apparel" (D. and
C. 108:9 c).
3 Ne 5:11 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand, and spake unto the people, saying,
Behold I am Jesus Christ, of whom the prophets testified should come into the world:
"I have drunk out 0£ that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father
in taking upon me the sins of the world" (12; Matt. 26:39; John 18:11).
“The whole multitude fell to the earth" in adoration. Christ bade them, “Arise and come forth unto
me" (III N. 5:14). He invited them to examine his wounds from “the nails in my hands, and in my
feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been
slain for the sins of the world" (14). The voice which introduced Christ said, "Behold, my beloved
Son" (8) .It is easy to oversimplify the Godhead, about which we have not yet a final knowledge.
The best explanation of the “still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12) is that the Father was speaking.
When Christ was telling his Nephite disciples the manner of baptizing, he said, "Baptize in my
name, for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one;
and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one" (III N. 5:27). Some
want to interpret this to mean, "The Father and I are the same." This does not seem justified nor
logical. There can be unity without making the components identical. Jesus explained this in these
words: "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we
are one" John 17:22). The unity of the disciples did not destroy their identity. Since the unity of
the Godhead is comparable, according to this statement of Jesus, they are one in spirit and
purpose, but retain their identity as Father and Son. (See comment on A. 16:174, 203.)
The multitude accepted Jesus' invitation to examine his crucifixion wounds, and then of one
accord cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God" (17). "Hosanna" is
Hebrew, meaning "Save we pray" (Cruden's Concordance, p. 313).
3 Ne 5:18 And it came to pass that he spake unto Nephi, (for Nephi was among the multitude,) and he
commanded him that he should come forth.