Messianic Ministry

Cataclysms and Calamity

3 Nephi 8:1–4
Some people begin to anticipate the signs prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite, while others begin doubting.
3 Nephi 8:5–7
The following year, a tremendous storm of unprecedented magnitude strikes the land.
3 Nephi 8:8–11
Zarahemla catches fire, the city of Moroni sinks into the sea, and the city of Moronihah is smashed by a colossal mound of earth.
3 Nephi 8:12–13
The land northward is ravaged and severely defaced.
3 Nephi 8:14–15
Many cities burn or are shaken to the point of destruction—the death toll is very large.
3 Nephi 8:16
Some people get caught in whirlwinds, and are carried away, never to be heard from again.
3 Nephi 8:17–18
Rocks split and scatter, and the entire face of the land changes dramatically.
3 Nephi 8:19
The massive storm lasts about three hours; when it settles, there is nothing but darkness.
3 Nephi 8:20
The darkness tangibly engulfs the survivors.
3 Nephi 8:21–22
All attempts to light any kinds of fires in the mists of darkness fail.
3 Nephi 8:23–25
The darkness lasts for three days as the surviving people lament their cause, and wish they had repented.

The Voice of Christ

3 Nephi 9:1–22
A voice is heard throughout the land; the voice identifies itself as Jesus Christ, announces that the land’s destruction is a result of their wickedness, explains that the Mosaic law is fulfilled, and invites all to come unto Him.
3 Nephi 10:1–2
After the voice is heard, many hours pass in silence.
3 Nephi 10:3–7
Christ’s voice is again heard, and he sorrows in the fact that Israel would not be gathered unto him.
3 Nephi 10:8
People cry and mourn for their losses.
3 Nephi 10:9
After the three days of darkness, light is again seen, and the terrible destruction stops.
3 Nephi 10:10
People’s sorrows turn into joy as they begin to worship Jesus.
3 Nephi 10:11–13
Those who are spared are the more righteous part of the people.

Jesus’ Arrival

3 Nephi 11:1–2
A large group of Nephites gather near the Bountiful temple, speaking of Jesus Christ and marveling at the changed landscape.
3 Nephi 11:3
All of a sudden, they hear another voice from heaven, and although it touches their hearts and souls, they are unable to understand it.
3 Nephi 11:4
They hear the voice again a second time, but again are unable to understand it.
3 Nephi 11:5–7
They hear the voice again a third time, and this time they recognize it as the voice of God the Father, announcing his son Jesus Christ.
3 Nephi 11:8
As they listen to the voice of God, they see a man in a white robe descending out of heaven who comes down and stands among them.
3 Nephi 11:9–11
He introduces himself as the prophesied Jesus Christ, who has offered himself up as a sacrifice for humanity.
3 Nephi 11:12
The crowd falls to the ground as they remember the prophesies of the coming of Christ to the Promised Land.
3 Nephi 11:13–14
Jesus invites the crowd to stand up, and asks them to feel the nail prints in his hands and feet.
3 Nephi 11:15
The crowd rises, meets and feels Jesus, and know for themselves of his divinity.
3 Nephi 11:16–17
They praise God and worship Jesus.

The Power to Baptize

3 Nephi 11:18
Jesus calls for Nephi and asks him to come forward.
3 Nephi 11:19–20
Nephi comes forward, kisses Jesus’ feet, and stands up.
3 Nephi 11:21–22, 12:1, 19:4
Jesus selects twelve disciples, including Nephi, and gives them authority to baptize.
3 Nephi 11:22–41
Jesus gives detailed instructions on how to baptize, then outlines his fundamental doctrines of faith, repentance, and the unity of God.

Jesus’ Teachings

3 Nephi 12:1 – 13:24
Having commissioned the twelve, Jesus turns to the crowd, and delivers to them an adapted version of the Sermon on the Mount.
3 Nephi 13:25–34
Jesus then turns to the twelve, and reminds them to trust in God’s care.
3 Nephi 14:1–27
Jesus turns back to the crowd, and continues his sermon.
3 Nephi 15:1
Jesus explains that he is teaching them the same things he taught the people in Israel before his death and resurrection.
3 Nephi 15:2–15:10
Reacting to some people’s confusion regarding the law of Moses, Jesus explains that he is the new law, that the law of Moses is obsolete, and all should look unto him for salvation.
3 Nephi 15:11–16:20
Jesus again turns to his disciples and teaches them about the house the Israel, “other sheep,” latter-day apostasy, and the fulness of the gospel.

Jesus’ Blessings, Healings and Prayers

3 Nephi 17:1–4
Jesus turns back to the crowd and tells them to go home and ponder his words—in the meantime he will go back to heaven and visit other lost tribes of Israel, but will be back the following day.
3 Nephi 17:5–8
Seeing that the crowd’s disappointment overing hearing Jesus’ announcement of departure, Jesus mercifully offers to heal their sick and afflicted.
3 Nephi 17:9–10
The sick, lame, blind, and all otherwise afflicted come forth, and Jesus heals them as they worship him.
3 Nephi 17:11–12
Jesus calls for all the children to come forward.
3 Nephi 17:13
After all the children gather near, Jesus asks everyone to kneel down.
3 Nephi 17:14
Jesus begins to pray, and expresses concern for the wickedness of the people.
3 Nephi 17:15–17
Jesus prays such spectacularly marvelous things that they cannot be written.
3 Nephi 17:18–20
Jesus finishes his prayer, stands up, and seeing that the crowd is completely overwhelmed, asks them to arise, telling them that his joy is full.
3 Nephi 17:20–23
Jesus weeps, then takes the children one by one and blesses them, telling the people to behold their little ones.
3 Nephi 17:24–25
The people look up, the heavens open, and angels come down and encircle the children.

Introduction of the Holy Communion

3 Nephi 18:1–4
Jesus tells his disciples to go get bread and wine for the crowd; when they return with the bread and wine, he breaks the bread, blesses it, and has them eat it, then tells them to feed it to the crowd.
3 Nephi 18:5–7
Jesus explains that bread and wine are to be distributed to the people of his church in remembrance of his body.
3 Nephi 18:8–9
Jesus tells his disciples to take the wine and drink it, then let the people drink also.
3 Nephi 18:10–16
Jesus explains to his disciples that the wine is in remembrance of his blood, and should be taken in to show a penitent heart willing to follow him.
3 Nephi 18:17–25
Jesus addresses the crowd, and teaches them to avoid temptation by praying, worshipping together, and coming unto him.
3 Nephi 18:26–35
Jesus turns back to the disciples, and instructs them on how to properly administer the bread and wine.

Jesus’ Departure

3 Nephi 18:36–37
Jesus touches each one of his twelve disciples and gives them the power to give the Holy Ghost.
3 Nephi 18:38–39
A cloud engulfs Jesus and the disciples, and Jesus is carried into heaven.
3 Nephi 19:1–2
After Jesus’ departure, the crowd disperses, and tells everyone about Jesus, and that he will back back the next day.
3 Nephi 19:3
A large number of people make the journey to Bountiful to see Jesus come again.

Ecclesiastical Administration of the Disciples

3 Nephi 19:4
The next day, the crowd gathers together, and the twelve disciples stand among them.
3 Nephi 19:5–6
The crowd is so big it is divided into 12 groups; each disciple teaches their group how to pray in the name of Jesus.
3 Nephi 19:7–9
After praying, the disciples give a verbatim account of Jesus’ teachings, then they pray for what they want most: the Holy Ghost.
3 Nephi 19:10–11
After praying, the crowd migrates down to the water’s edge, where Nephi is baptized.
3 Nephi 19:12
Nephi then begins to baptize those that Jesus had chosen.
3 Nephi 19:13
After their baptism, the Holy Ghost comes upon them, and fills them.
3 Nephi 19:14
The crowd sees the Holy Ghost descending out of heaven like fire, then angels come down from heaven.

Jesus’ Return and Prayers

3 Nephi 19:15
Jesus comes back, and stands among the angels and the people.
3 Nephi 19:16
Jesus tells everyone to kneel down.
3 Nephi 19:17–18
Jesus commands his disciples to pray; they begin to pray to him.
3 Nephi 19:19–23
Jesus steps away, and begins to pray himself, thanking his Father for the bestowal of the Holy Ghost upon the people and asking for increased faith among them.
3 Nephi 19:24
Jesus goes back to his disciples, who are still praying to him.
3 Nephi 19:25
Jesus blesses his disciples and smiles upon them.
3 Nephi 19:26
Jesus tells his disciples to keep praying.
3 Nephi 19:27–29
Jesus again steps away to pray a second time; he asks that his followers may be purified, and be one with him.
3 Nephi 19:30–32
Jesus goes back to his disciples, smiles to see they are still praying, and again steps away to pray to his Father for the third time.
3 Nephi 19:33–34
Jesus’ prayer is so great and marvelous that they cannot be repeated or recorded.
3 Nephi 19:35–36
Jesus finishes praying, and commends his followers for their great faith.

Administrations of the Sacrament

3 Nephi 20:1
Jesus signals for an end to the praying, but encourages them to pray in their hearts.
3 Nephi 20:2
Jesus commands the people to stand up.
3 Nephi 20:3
Jesus breaks and blesses bread, and gives it to his disciples.
3 Nephi 20:4
He then commands them to administer the bread to the people.
3 Nephi 20:5
After the bread, the same process is followed with wine.
3 Nephi 20:6–7
There had not been any bread or wine previously, Jesus had miraculously provided it.
3 Nephi 20:8
Jesus explains the symbolism of the bread and wine and promises nourishment of the soul.

Jesus’ Teachings About Scriptures

3 Nephi 20:9
Having partaken of the bread and wine, the people glorify Jesus.
3 Nephi 23:6
Jesus then explains some scriptures, and expresses his wish that they have more scriptures.
3 Nephi 23:7
Jesus asks Nephi to bring forward the records they have kept.
3 Nephi 23:8–9
Jesus looks through the records, and recalls some things he had told Samuel about the dead appearing to many.
3 Nephi 23:10
The disciples concede that Samuel did indeed prophesy that, and it did indeed come to pass.
3 Nephi 23:11
Jesus asks why such a significant prophecy and its fulfillment was not recorded.
3 Nephi 23:12
Nephi remembers that the records did contain anything about that.
3 Nephi 23:13
Jesus instructs them to make a record of that.
3 Nephi 23:14
Jesus goes on to teach from the scriptures.
3 Nephi 24:1
Jesus tells the record keepers what he told to the prophet Malachi, and they make note of it.
3 Nephi 24:1 – 25:6
Jesus expounds the words he originally gave Malachi about the preparations for the Messiah, tithes and offerings, and the mission of Elijah.
3 Nephi 26:1
Jesus teaches even more from the scriptures.
3 Nephi 26:2
Jesus explains that God wants the people to have these scriptural words, which previously were had only by those in Israel.
3 Nephi 26:3–5
Jesus tells the people of the signs of the times, the Second Coming, and the final judgment.
3 Nephi 26:6–8
Unfortunately, only a fraction of Jesus’ ministry can be recorded in this volume.
3 Nephi 26:9–12
If people faithfully receive what is given, more will be added later.
3 Nephi 26:13–14
Jesus is with the people for a total of three days, during which he breaks and blesses bread often, and many miracles occur.
3 Nephi 26:15
After performing more miracles, Jesus again ascends into heaven.

Establishment and Growth of the Church

3 Nephi 26:16
The next day, children speak marvelous things, so great that no one can record them.
3 Nephi 26:17
Jesus’ disciples continue to baptize the believers.
3 Nephi 26:18–21
The church grows, and amazing miracles are witnessed by many.

Jesus’ Private Appearance to his Disciples

3 Nephi 27:1
One day, the disciples gather together to pray and fast.
3 Nephi 27:2
Jesus appears to them, and asks them what they want of him.
3 Nephi 27:3
The disciples ask what the church’s name should be.
3 Nephi 27:4–32
Jesus explains that his church should bear his name, should be built upon his gospel, be as him, and he warns of the eventual spiritual demise of the civilization.
3 Nephi 27:33
Jesus adds that his people should enter into the narrow gate that leads to life.
3 Nephi 28:1
Jesus then asks his disciples what they would like after Jesus leaves.
3 Nephi 28:2
Nine of the twelve express their desire to live good lives, and then quickly enter the kingdom of God when they die.
3 Nephi 28:3
Jesus commends them for their desire, and declares that their wishes will be granted.
3 Nephi 28:4
He then turns to the remaining three disciples, and asks them what they want.
3 Nephi 28:5
The three disciples are too embarrassed to answer.
3 Nephi 28:6–11
Jesus reads their thoughts, and knows that they want to stay alive until the Second Coming; Jesus grants their wishes, and says that they will minister in the world until he comes again, feeling no pain except for sorrow for the world’s evils.
3 Nephi 28:12
Jesus touches the nine other disciples one by one, then ascends into heaven.

Ministry of the Disciples

3 Nephi 28:13
The disciples are briefly taken to heaven, where they see and hear marvelous things.
3 Nephi 28:14
The disciples are forbidden from writing down their experiences.
3 Nephi 28:15
The disciples are unable to determine whether their visit to heaven was literal and physical, or whether it was a spiritual vision, or an out-of-body experience.
3 Nephi 28:16
The disciples minister among the people.
3 Nephi 28:17–18
The disciples preach, baptize, and confer the Holy Ghost among the people, but the physical status of the three immortal disciples is undetermined.
3 Nephi 28:19–20
Non–believers futilely attempt to imprison and exile the disciples, but the disciples are unstoppable: they destroy the prisons, and defy all traps.
3 Nephi 28:21–22
They survive being cast in burning furnaces and dens of wild beasts.
3 Nephi 28:23
The disciples do all they can to teach the gospel to the people, and bring the Jesus’ followers into unison.