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Book of Mormon Commentary
3 Nephi Chapter 7
"This is the land of your inheritance" (14). A relationship of father and son is pointed out by the
word "inheritance." Others may bestow a gift; but only a son or daughter shares in his father's
property. "The wonderful land of America had been willed to "the house of Joseph”. Jacob gave
his sons their blessings, and to Joseph he said, "Joseph is a fruitful bough, ...by a well whose
branches run over the wall" (Gen. 49:22). "The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the
blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the ever- lasting hills; they shall be on the
head of Joseph" (Gen. 49:26). (See also Deut. 8:18; 26:17, 18)
This twelve were to be a light unto this people, while the apostles were to “teach all nations"
(Matt. 28:18).
THE OTHER SHEEP, VER. 15-45
3 Ne 7:16 This much did the Father command me, that I should tell unto them, that other sheep I have,
which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one
fold, and one shepherd.
"Ye are they of whom I said, Other sheep I have" (20). But "because of stiff-neckedness and
unbelief," Jesus was not to explain any further "concerning the other tribes of the house of Israel,
whom the Father hath led away out of the land" (15). He said that the Jews "supposed it had been
the Gentiles" (21). Jesus went on record saying, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house
of Israel" (Matt.15:23).
The Gentiles were to receive the gospel through the preaching of his disciples (Acts 9:15) and "by
the Holy Ghost" (III N. 7:22; Acts 10:45).
3 Ne 7:24 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that I have other sheep, which are not of this land; neither
of the land of Jerusalem; neither in any parts of that land round about, whither I have been to minister.
These have not yet "heard my voice," but the Father has commanded "that I shall go unto them,
and that they shall hear my voice, and shall be numbered among my sheep" (26). Since Jesus has
never been more specific as to the location of this fold, it seems presumptuous for anyone to
speculate on the place of its existence.
"I command you that ye shall write these sayings, after I am gone" that they may be shown unto
the Gentiles and they "may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer" (28). The purpose
indicated would surely mean that Jesus was talking about all the counsel he had given his twelve
disciples and not just about the scattered sheep. It also says something significant about the "lost
tribes." They undoubtedly went north from Canaan, but are not likely to be found in some out-ofthe-way
place living as a nation. They were to "be scattered forth upon the face of the earth" (28;
D. and C. 108:6 a-e). But Jesus promised he would "gather them in from the four quarters of the
earth; and then will I fulfill the covenant which the Father hath made unto all the people of the
house of Israel" (III N. 7:29).
3 Ne 7:30 And blessed are the Gentiles, because of their belief in me, in and of the Holy Ghost, which
witness unto them of me and of the Father.