3 Nephi 5

Birth of Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

And now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled. 3 Nephi 5:1–2

Every Nephite now believes the prophets, because the signs of Christ's birth had come to pass exactly as promised. Fulfilled prophecy about Jesus led them to forsake their sins.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• fulfils Helaman 14:3-5 — Samuel's signs of His birth: a night with no darkness and a new star.
• the same event in 3 Nephi 1:19-21 — The sign of His birth given: no darkness and a new star.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One; Son of God — the Only Begotten of the Father

Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. 3 Nephi 5:13

Mormon states who he is before anything else: a disciple of Jesus Christ, called by Him to declare His word so people can gain eternal life. His whole record is framed as a witness of Christ.

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

• the same title in 3 Nephi 5:26 — Jesus Christ, the Son of God, named again as Redeemer.

Savior Jesus Christ

Savior — the one who delivers from sin and death

I am Mormon, and a pure descendant of Lehi. I have reason to bless my God and my Savior Jesus Christ, that he brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem, (and no one knew it save it were himself and those whom he brought out of that land) and that he hath given me and my people so much knowledge unto the salvation of our souls. 3 Nephi 5:20

Mormon calls Jesus Christ his God and Savior and thanks Him for the knowledge that saves souls.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

Premortal Christ led Lehi

I am Mormon, and a pure descendant of Lehi. I have reason to bless my God and my Savior Jesus Christ, that he brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem, (and no one knew it save it were himself and those whom he brought out of that land) and that he hath given me and my people so much knowledge unto the salvation of our souls. 3 Nephi 5:20

Mormon says it was Jesus Christ who led Lehi's family out of Jerusalem, centuries before His birth. That makes the Lord who spoke to Lehi and Nephi the premortal Jesus Christ, Jehovah.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• interprets 1 Nephi 2:1-2 — The Lord commanded Lehi in a dream to depart into the wilderness; Mormon identifies that Lord as Jesus Christ.
• the same title in 3 Nephi 15:5 — Christ declares, I am he that gave the law, the God of Israel.

Covenant God of Israel

Surely he hath blessed the house of Jacob, and hath been merciful unto the seed of Joseph. 3 Nephi 5:21–22

The 'he' is still 'my Savior Jesus Christ' from verse 20. Christ is the covenant God who blessed Israel, showed mercy to Joseph's descendants, and gave Lehi's children the promise of prosperity for obedience.

• alludes to 2 Nephi 1:20 — Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land.

Covenant God of Israel

Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God. 3 Nephi 5:23–25

Mormon prophesies that Christ will keep His covenant: Joseph's remnant will come to know the Lord their God, and scattered Israel will be gathered from all the earth. The gathering of Israel is gathering to Christ.

• alludes to 2 Nephi 30:5 — The Lamanites restored to the knowledge of their fathers and to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 20:29-31 — Christ promises the Father will gather Israel and they shall believe that He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Redeemer

Redeemer — one who buys back and frees the captive

And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be. Amen. 3 Nephi 5:26

Mormon names the Redeemer Israel will come to know: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Gathering happens as people come to know Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to 1 Nephi 10:14 — Scattered Israel will come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 20:31 — They shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God.