3 Nephi 27

Taking His Name

And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting. 3 Nephi 27:1

The disciples preach what they saw and heard from Jesus and baptize in His name. They are witnesses of the risen Lord.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 3 Nephi 26:17 — The disciples began to baptize in the name of Jesus.

Appearance to the Nephites

And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you? 3 Nephi 27:2–3

While the disciples fast and pray to the Father in Jesus' name, Jesus comes and stands among them. He answers prayers offered in His name, sometimes in person.

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

• alludes to 3 Nephi 11:8 — His first descent into the midst of the Nephites.
• alludes to Luke 24:36 — Jesus himself stood in the midst of them.

Taking His Name

Christ — the Anointed One (Greek for Messiah)

Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day; 3 Nephi 27:5–6

Jesus declares that 'Christ' is His name and that we must take it upon us. Those who take His name and endure to the end will be called by it and saved at the last day.

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

• alludes to Mosiah 5:8 — King Benjamin: take upon you the name of Christ.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 31:13 — Witnessing to the Father a willingness to take upon you the name of Christ by baptism.
• alluded to by D&C 18:24-25 — Jesus Christ is the name given of the Father; men must take upon them His name.

Taking His Name

Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake. 3 Nephi 27:7–8

Jesus gives two tests of His true Church: it is called by His name, and it is built on His gospel. That is why the restored Church is named The Church of Jesus Christ.

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

• alluded to by D&C 115:4 — Thus shall my church be called... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• the same title in Mosiah 18:17 — The church of Christ.

Doctrine of Christ

Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel; therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church, if it be in my name the Father will hear you; 3 Nephi 27:9–12

Prayers in Christ's name reach the Father, and a church built on His gospel will show the Father's works. Anything built on the works of men or the devil has joy only for a season.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 3 Nephi 11:39-40 — Whoso buildeth upon my doctrine buildeth upon my rock.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 14:19 — Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

Doctrine of Christ (His gospel defined)

Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me. 3 Nephi 27:13

Jesus defines His gospel beginning with Himself: the Father sent Him into the world to do the Father's will. The gospel is not first a set of rules but a Person and His mission.

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

• alludes to John 6:38 — I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 11:11 — I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

Crucifixion

And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil— 3 Nephi 27:14–15

The Father sent Jesus to be lifted up on the cross so He could draw all people to Him. Because men lifted Him up, the Father will lift all people up in the Resurrection to stand before Christ and be judged.

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

• alludes to John 12:32 — And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
• alludes to John 3:14 — As Moses lifted up the serpent, so must the Son of man be lifted up.
• fulfils 1 Nephi 11:33 — Nephi saw the Lamb of God lifted up upon the cross.
• alludes to Helaman 8:14-15 — The brazen serpent lifted up as a type of the Son of God.

Judgment (Christ as Judge and Advocate)

And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. 3 Nephi 27:16–17

Christ will be the Judge of the world, and He promises to hold guiltless before the Father everyone who repents, is baptized, and endures. He is both our Judge and our Advocate.

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

• alludes to 3 Nephi 11:33-34 — Whoso believeth and is baptized shall be saved.
• alluded to by D&C 45:3-5 — Christ pleads before the Father for those who believe on His name.

Atonement

And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end. 3 Nephi 27:19

No unclean thing can enter God's kingdom, so the only way in is to have our garments washed clean in Christ's blood through faith, repentance, and faithfulness. His blood makes the stained clean.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Revelation 7:14 — Washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
• alludes to Alma 5:27 — Garments cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ.
• alludes to 1 Nephi 12:10-11 — The Twelve's garments are made white in the blood of the Lamb.
• alludes to Alma 11:37 — No unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Doctrine of Christ

Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. 3 Nephi 27:20

This is the Savior's commandment to the whole world: repent, come to Him, be baptized, and be sanctified by the Holy Ghost. The goal is to stand spotless before Him at the last day.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by 3 Nephi 30:2 — Mormon repeats Christ's invitation to the Gentiles to repent, come unto Him, and be baptized in His name.
• alluded to by Moroni 10:32-33 — Come unto Christ... sanctified in Christ... that ye become holy, without spot.

Doctrine of Christ

Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do; 3 Nephi 27:21–22

Jesus' disciples are to do the very works they have seen Him do. Following His example leads to being lifted up at the last day.

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

• alludes to John 14:12 — The works that I do shall he do also.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 31:10 — Can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments?

Judgment

Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are forbidden. 3 Nephi 27:23–26

Jesus commands His disciples to write what they have seen and heard of Him, because people will be judged out of the books. The Book of Mormon is part of that record of His witnesses.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Revelation 20:12 — The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books.

Jesus Christ (the example)

And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am. 3 Nephi 27:27

Jesus makes Himself the standard for His disciples, who will be judges of their people. The purpose of discipleship is to become like Him.

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

• alludes to 3 Nephi 12:48 — I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
• alluded to by Mormon 3:19 — The Nephite people shall be judged by the twelve whom Jesus chose in this land.
• alluded to by Moroni 7:48 — When he shall appear we shall be like him.

Mediator (prayer in His name)

And now I go unto the Father. And verily I say unto you, whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name shall be given unto you. 3 Nephi 27:28–29

Jesus is going to the Father and promises that whatever we ask the Father in His name will be given. We pray through Christ because He is our Mediator with the Father.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to John 16:23 — Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
• quotes 3 Nephi 14:7-8 — Ask, and it shall be given you... knock, and it shall be opened.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 18:20 — Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.

Good Shepherd (none lost)

And now, behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you, and also this generation; yea, and even the Father rejoiceth, and also all the holy angels, because of you and this generation; for none of them are lost. 3 Nephi 27:30–31

Jesus feels a fulness of joy because not one of this righteous generation is lost. Like a shepherd who has kept every sheep, His joy is in the people He saves.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to John 17:12 — Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition.
• alludes to Luke 15:7 — Joy in heaven over repenting sinners.

Jesus (prophecy of the Nephite apostasy)

But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by him even as was the son of perdition; for they will sell me for silver and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt and which thieves can break through and steal. And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads. 3 Nephi 27:32

Jesus sorrows as He foretells that the fourth generation will 'sell me for silver and for gold,' as Judas sold Him. Choosing riches over Christ is a kind of betrayal of Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Matthew 26:15 — Judas covenants to sell Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 13:19-21 — Treasures where moth doth corrupt and thieves break through and steal.
• fulfilled by 4 Nephi 1:24-26 — The people begin to be lifted up in pride and to deny the true church.

The Way (strait gate)

And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he said unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work. 3 Nephi 27:33

Jesus' final charge is to enter the strait gate and walk the narrow way to life. Latter-day Saint scripture teaches that the gate is baptism and Christ Himself is the Keeper of the gate and the Way.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes 3 Nephi 14:13-14 — His earlier sermon: enter ye in at the strait gate.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 31:17-18 — The gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism... the strait and narrow path.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 9:41 — The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel.
• alludes to John 9:4 — The night cometh, when no man can work.