3 Nephi 28

Jesus

And it came to pass when Jesus had said these words, he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father? 3 Nephi 28:1–3

Jesus asks each disciple what he desires and promises the nine that they will come to Him in His kingdom and find rest with Him. His kingdom and His rest are the reward of faithful service.

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

• fulfilled by 4 Nephi 1:14 — The disciples of Jesus had gone to the paradise of God, save it be the three.
• alludes to Matthew 11:28-29 — Come unto me... and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Crucifixion

And he said unto them: Behold, I know your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me. 3 Nephi 28:6

Jesus knows the three disciples' unspoken desire and compares it to John the Beloved's. He speaks of His own Crucifixion — being 'lifted up by the Jews' — as a fact of His ministry.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to John 21:20-23 — If I will that he tarry till I come.
• the same event in D&C 7:1-3 — John's desire to tarry and bring souls to Christ.

Second Coming

Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven. 3 Nephi 28:7–9

Jesus foretells His coming in glory and promises the Three they will be changed to immortality in an instant at that day. Their desire, like His, is to bring souls to Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 — We shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.
• alludes to Matthew 16:27 — The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father.

Son of God (one with the Father)

And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one; 3 Nephi 28:10

Jesus teaches that He is like the Father and one with Him in purpose, and that faithful disciples can become like Him. The Father gave Him a fulness of joy, and He shares it.

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

• alludes to John 10:30 — I and my Father are one.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 11:27 — The Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.
• alludes to John 17:21-22 — That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee.

Son of God (witnessed by the Holy Ghost)

And the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and the Father giveth the Holy Ghost unto the children of men, because of me. 3 Nephi 28:11

The Holy Ghost testifies of both the Father and the Son, and the gift of the Holy Ghost comes to us because of Christ. His Atonement is what opens the way for the Spirit to be with us.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes 3 Nephi 11:32 — Jesus earlier said: the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me.
• alludes to John 15:26 — The Comforter... shall testify of me.

Jesus

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he touched every one of them with his finger save it were the three who were to tarry, and then he departed. 3 Nephi 28:12

The resurrected Jesus physically touches each of the nine disciples before departing. His ministry is personal and tangible.

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

• alludes to 3 Nephi 18:36-37 — Jesus touched the disciples one by one, giving power to confer the Holy Ghost.

Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

And it came to pass that thus they did go forth among all the people of Nephi, and did preach the gospel of Christ unto all people upon the face of the land; and they were converted unto the Lord, and were united unto the church of Christ, and thus the people of that generation were blessed, according to the word of Jesus. 3 Nephi 28:23

The Three Nephites preach the gospel of Christ, convert people to the Lord, and unite them to His Church, fulfilling Jesus' word that the generation would be blessed.

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

• fulfils 3 Nephi 27:30-31 — None of this generation are lost.

Jesus

And it shall come to pass, when the Lord seeth fit in his wisdom that they shall minister unto all the scattered tribes of Israel, and unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, and shall bring out of them unto Jesus many souls, that their desire may be fulfilled, and also because of the convincing power of God which is in them. 3 Nephi 28:29–30

The Three Nephites' lasting mission is to bring many souls to Jesus among Israel and all nations. Their power works through prayer to the Father in Jesus' name.

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

• fulfils 3 Nephi 28:9 — They desired to bring the souls of men unto Christ while the world stands.

Judgment

Christ — the Anointed One

Therefore, great and marvelous works shall be wrought by them, before the great and coming day when all people must surely stand before the judgment-seat of Christ; 3 Nephi 28:31–33

Mormon testifies that all people will stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. Christ's marvelous works and words guarantee that these promises will be fulfilled.

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

• the same title in Romans 14:10 — We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
• alluded to by Mormon 3:20 — Ye must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.

Jesus

And wo be unto him that will not hearken unto the words of Jesus, and also to them whom he hath chosen and sent among them; for whoso receiveth not the words of Jesus and the words of those whom he hath sent receiveth not him; and therefore he will not receive them at the last day; 3 Nephi 28:34

Rejecting the servants Jesus sends is rejecting Jesus Himself. Those who will not receive Him will not be received by Him at the last day.

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

• alludes to John 13:20 — He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me.
• alluded to by D&C 84:36-37 — He that receiveth my servants receiveth me.

Atonement (God trampled under feet)

And it would be better for them if they had not been born. For do ye suppose that ye can get rid of the justice of an offended God, who hath been trampled under feet of men, that thereby salvation might come? 3 Nephi 28:35

The God 'trampled under feet of men, that thereby salvation might come' is Jesus Christ, who let men abuse and kill Him to save us. Those who reject Him cannot escape the justice of the very God they despised.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 1 Nephi 19:7 — The very God of Israel do men trample under their feet.
• alludes to 1 Nephi 19:9 — They shall scourge him, and he shall suffer it... they shall smite him, and he suffereth it.
• alludes to Hebrews 10:29 — Who hath trodden under foot the Son of God.

The Lord (who chose the Three)

And now behold, as I spake concerning those whom the Lord hath chosen, yea, even three who were caught up into the heavens, that I knew not whether they were cleansed from mortality to immortality— 3 Nephi 28:36–37

'The Lord' who chose the three disciples is Jesus, and Mormon inquires of that same Lord to learn what happened to their bodies. The risen Christ continues to reveal truth to His prophets.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in 3 Nephi 28:4-7 — Jesus grants the three their desire.

Judgment

And in this state they were to remain until the judgment day of Christ; and at that day they were to receive a greater change, and to be received into the kingdom of the Father to go no more out, but to dwell with God eternally in the heavens. 3 Nephi 28:40

The Three Nephites remain in their changed state until the judgment day of Christ, when they will be fully resurrected and dwell with God. Christ's day of judgment is the fixed point of history.

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

• alludes to 3 Nephi 28:8 — Changed from mortality to immortality when He comes in glory.