3 Nephi 9

Judgment

And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land, crying: 3 Nephi 9:1–12

The voice speaking out of the darkness is Jesus Christ, who names Himself in verse 15. As Jehovah, the God who sends prophets, He declares that the destroyed cities fell because they rejected and killed the prophets He sent.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in 3 Nephi 8:5-19 — the storms, earthquakes, and burning cities the voice now explains
• fulfils Helaman 14:20-27 — Samuel the Lamanite foretold these destructions as the sign of Christ's death
• fulfils 1 Nephi 12:4-5 — Nephi saw cities sunk and burned before the Lamb appeared

Savior

O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? 3 Nephi 9:13–14

Right after the judgment, the Savior turns to the survivors with an invitation to come to Him and be healed. His arm of mercy is stretched out to anyone who will come.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Alma 5:33 — Alma taught that the arms of mercy are extended toward all who repent
• alludes to Mosiah 16:12 — Abinadi: the arms of mercy were extended towards them

Jesus Christ

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name. 3 Nephi 9:15

The voice identifies Himself by name: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This is the first time the people hear who has been speaking to them.

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

• the same title in 3 Nephi 11:10 — He introduces Himself by the same name when He descends
• the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — King Benjamin's angel: Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Creation by Christ

Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name. 3 Nephi 9:15

Jesus testifies that He created the heavens and the earth under the Father and that He was with the Father before the world was. The God of creation is the same Jesus who died for us.

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

• alludes to John 1:1-3 — the Word was with God in the beginning and all things were made by him
• the same event in Moses 1:33 — the Father: by the Son I created worlds without number
• the same title in Mosiah 3:8 — Creator of all things from the beginning

Son of God

Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name. 3 Nephi 9:15

Jesus describes His perfect oneness with the Father: through the Son's life and sacrifice the Father's name is glorified.

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

• alludes to John 14:10-11 — I am in the Father, and the Father in me
• the same event in 3 Nephi 11:7 — the Father testifies: in whom I have glorified my name

Mortal ministry

I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled. 3 Nephi 9:16

Jesus summarizes His mortal ministry: He came to His own covenant people at Jerusalem and they rejected Him, just as the prophets had written.

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

• alludes to John 1:11 — He came unto his own, and his own received him not
• fulfils Isaiah 53:3 — despised and rejected of men

Redeemer

Redeemer — one who buys back and sets free

And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled. 3 Nephi 9:17

Those who receive Christ become His sons and daughters, redemption comes only through Him, and the whole law of Moses finds its purpose and end in Him.

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

• alludes to John 1:12 — to them gave he power to become the sons of God
• alludes to Mosiah 5:7 — ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters
• fulfils Alma 34:13-14 — Amulek: the whole meaning of the law points to that great and last sacrifice
• the same title in 3 Nephi 15:5 — the law in me is fulfilled

Light of the World

I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. 3 Nephi 9:18

Spoken while the land is in thick darkness, Jesus declares that He is the light and the life of the world.

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

• the same title in John 8:12 — I am the light of the world
• the same title in John 1:4 — In him was life; and the life was the light of men
• the same title in 3 Nephi 11:11 — He repeats the title when He appears

Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega — the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; the beginning and the end

I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. 3 Nephi 9:18

Christ is the first and the last: He was there at the creation and will be there at the end, and everything in between is in His hands.

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

• the same title in Revelation 1:8 — I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending
• the same title in Revelation 22:13 — Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end
• the same title in D&C 19:1 — I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord

Sacrifice as a similitude of Christ

And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings. 3 Nephi 9:19–20

Animal sacrifices pointed forward to Christ's own sacrifice; now that He has been slain, those offerings end. In their place He asks for a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and He Himself accepts the offering.

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

• fulfils Alma 34:13-14 — Amulek: there shall be a stop to the shedding of blood after the great and last sacrifice
• fulfils Moses 5:7 — sacrifice was a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten
• alludes to Psalm 51:17 — a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise
• alludes to 2 Nephi 2:7 — He offereth himself a sacrifice for sin to all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit

Faith in Christ

And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not. 3 Nephi 9:20

Christ is the one who baptizes with fire and the Holy Ghost. He reveals that the converted Lamanites received that baptism because of their faith in Him, even before they understood what had happened.

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

• the same event in Helaman 5:43-45 — the Lamanites encircled by fire and filled with the Holy Ghost
• the same event in Ether 12:14 — the Lamanites were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost through the faith of Nephi and Lehi
• fulfils Matthew 3:11 — John: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire

Savior

Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin. 3 Nephi 9:21

Jesus states the purpose of His coming in one sentence: to redeem the world and save it from sin.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him

• alludes to John 3:17 — that the world through him might be saved
• fulfils Matthew 1:21 — he shall save his people from their sins

Resurrection

Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved. 3 Nephi 9:22

The resurrected Christ testifies that He laid down His life and took it up again for those who come to Him humbly, like little children, and invites the ends of the earth to be saved.

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

• fulfils John 10:17-18 — I lay down my life, that I might take it again
• alludes to Mosiah 3:19 — become as a child through the atonement of Christ the Lord
• alludes to Matthew 18:3 — except ye become as little children