All things bear record · 3 Nephi

3 Nephi 1

7 witnesses of Christ here.

Premortal Christ speaks

And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying: 3 Nephi 1:12–13

The very Lord who is about to be born speaks to Nephi the night before and says 'tomorrow I come into the world.' This shows the voice of the Lord in the Book of Mormon is the premortal Jesus Christ.

AttestedExplicitHe speaks in the first person

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

  • fulfils Helaman 14:2-4 — Samuel's five-year prophecy and the sign of the night without darkness.
  • the same title in John 16:33 — Christ again says 'be of good cheer' to His disciples.

Father and Son

Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given. 3 Nephi 1:14

Christ says He comes to His own people to fulfil everything the prophets foretold, and to do the will of the Father and of the Son: He is the Son because of His mortal flesh, and called Father because of His divine role.

AttestedExplicitHe speaks in the first person

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

  • interpreted by Mosiah 15:2-3 — Abinadi explains Christ is called the Father and the Son: Son because of the flesh.
  • the same event in John 1:11 — 'He came unto his own.'

Sign of His birth fulfilled

And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came. 3 Nephi 1:15

The sign of Christ's birth arrives: the sun sets but no darkness comes, exactly as Samuel prophesied.

AttestedProphecy or typeA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

  • fulfils Helaman 14:3-4 — Samuel: the night before He is born shall not be darkened.

Son of God

And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth. 3 Nephi 1:17

The sign convinces people everywhere that the Son of God is about to appear.

AttestedExplicitA title of Christ

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

Birth of the Lord

And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given. 3 Nephi 1:19–20

After a night as bright as noon, the sun rises and the people know this is the day the Lord is born, every whit as the prophets said.

AttestedExplicitA title of Christ

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

  • fulfils Helaman 14:4 — Two days and a night with the night not darkened.
  • the same event in Luke 2:11 — 'unto you is born this day... a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord'.

New star at His birth

And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word. 3 Nephi 1:21

The new star Samuel foretold appears, marking the Savior's birth.

AttestedProphecy or typeA prophecy of Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

  • fulfils Helaman 14:5 — Samuel's prophecy of a new star.
  • the same event in Matthew 2:2 — The wise men saw His star in the east.

Law of Moses fulfilled in Christ

And there were no contentions, save it were a few that began to preach, endeavoring to prove by the scriptures that it was no more expedient to observe the law of Moses. Now in this thing they did err, having not understood the scriptures. 3 Nephi 1:24–25

Christ's birth did not end the law of Moses; the law pointed to His atoning sacrifice and would only be fulfilled when His mission was complete.

AttestedProphecy or typeTeaching about Him

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

  • alludes to Alma 34:13 — The law of Moses fulfilled every jot and tittle by the great and last sacrifice.
  • fulfilled by 3 Nephi 15:4-5 — The risen Christ: the law is fulfilled in me; I gave the law.
  • the same title in Matthew 5:17-18 — Jesus: not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law till all be fulfilled.