3 Nephi 16-21 The Lord's Covenant with Israel

3 Nephi 16:1-20 The Promises of the Lord

In the context of 3 Nephi 16 the word “Gentiles” means those who are not descendants of Lehi or descendants of the Jews from Jerusalem. The expression “House of Israel” means those who are descendants of Lehi or descendants of the Jews from Jerusalem. Divide students into two groups and have one list the promises made to the Gentiles and the other list the promises made to the house of Israel.

3 Nephi 17:1-10 Faith to Be Healed

Verse 6 declares that Jesus was “filled with compassion”, verse 10 says that the Nephites “did bathe [the Lord’s] feet with their tears.” Have students explain why Jesus and the Nephites were so filled with emotion. Ask students what it is that fills them with similar emotion. What are the things they are grateful for that only the Lord could do for them?

3 Nephi 17:11-25 Jesus wept

Find the phrases “Jesus groaned within himself”, “he wept”, “he wept again”. What is it that is causing the Lord to have such an emotional reaction? How do we feel about our children? What causes us to weep for joy when we think of our children?

3 Nephi 18:1-16 This Shall Ye Do in Remembrance

Jesus demonstrated how he should be remembered. He broke bread and poured wine and distributed it to the disciples. They gave it to the multitude. Have students find the statements of the Lord that explain why we should do these things today and what is meant by this ordinance.

3 Nephi 18:17-39 How We Should Worship

After speaking to the disciples about the sacrament, Jesus turned his attention to the multitude and gave them instructions concerning their meetings. He explained what they should do and what they should not do when they met together. Have students read these verses and list the things that Jesus said concerning their behavior during meetings. What can we do to make our meetings more in harmony with the Lord’s instructions?

3 Nephi 19:1-15 Jesus Came to Them

The Lord had departed from the Nephites for a time. As they waited, the disciples did certain things. List the things they did. Have students explain why they think Jesus waited until all these things were done before he appeared to the Nephites again. When should we expect that the Lord will manifest himself to us?

3 Nephi 19:16-36 Jesus Prayed to the Father

Sometimes people can become distressed because the Nephites are praying to Jesus and not to the Father. There is no explanation as to why they prayed to Jesus. The only concern the Nephites appear to have is that they do what Jesus asked them to do. And in so doing they were blessed with spiritual manifestations beyond anything any other group had ever seen. Ask students to find the words that Jesus used when he prayed to the Father. What do these words teach us about his relationship with the Father? What can we do to make our prayers more like those of the Son of God?

3 Nephi 20:1-13 Now I Finish the Commandment

Jesus produces bread and wine to distribute to the Nephites. After having done this he explains that he will fulfill the covenant God made to the house of Israel that he would gather them again to the knowledge of the Lord their God. How is the sacrament service symbolic of the gathering of Israel? What are the deacons taking to the congregation? Where do they go when they take the emblems? What do the priests do before the emblems are brought back? What do the deacons bring back to the table? What happens to it when they bring it back? Cross-reference: D&C 115:5-6.

3 Nephi 20:14-22 I Will Be in the Midst of You

What are the promises that the Lord makes to the House of Israel concerning the land of America? What must we do to take advantage of the promises the Lord has made concerning the people who live in this land?

3 Nephi 20:23-46 I Will Remember the Covenant

Find the word “covenant” in verses 25, 26, 27, 29, 46. What is the covenant that the Lord has made to the faithful people who are of the house of Israel?

3 Nephi 21:1-11 A Sign from the Lord (Scripture Analysis)

Take the students through the following scripture analysis so that they might understand the importance of the Book of Mormon.

1 And verily I [Jesus Christ] say unto you [the house of Israel], I give unto you a sign, that ye may know the time when these things [the fulfilling of the covenant God made with Israel to gather them] shall be about to take place—that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion;
2 And behold [pay attention], this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign—for verily I say unto you that when these things which I declare unto you, and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, and by the power of the Holy Ghost which shall be given unto you of the Father [the words Jesus Christ has spoken that will be recorded and come forth in the Book of Mormon], shall be made known unto the Gentiles that they [the Gentiles] may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob [the Lamanites], and concerning this my people [the Lamanites] who shall be scattered by them [the Gentiles];
3 Verily, verily, I say unto you, when these things shall be made known unto them of the Father [the words that Jesus spoke to the Nephites as found in the Book of Mormon], and shall come forth of the Father [in the form of the Book of Mormon], from them [Gentiles] unto you [the Lamanites, the children of Israel];
4 For it is wisdom in the Father that they [the Gentiles] should be established in this land [America], and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things [the Book of Mormon] might come forth from them [the Gentiles] unto a remnant of your seed [the Lamanites], that the covenant of the Father [to gather the house of Israel] may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel;
5 Therefore [since the Father will fulfill his covenant to gather Israel and this message will come from the Gentiles to the house of Israel through the Book of Mormon], when these works and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the Gentiles, unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity;
6 For thus it behooveth the Father that it [the Book of Mormon] should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel;
7 And when these things [the coming forth of the Book of Mormon from the Gentiles to the house of Israel] come to pass that thy seed [the Lamanites] shall begin to know these things—it shall be a sign unto them [the Lamanites], that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel.
8 And when that day shall come [that the Lamanites hear the message of the Book of Mormon from the Gentiles], it shall come to pass that kings shall shut their mouths; for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
9 For in that day [when the Book of Mormon shall come forth], for my sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them; and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them.
10 But behold [pay attention], the life of my servant [Joseph Smith] shall be in my hand; therefore [because the life of Joseph Smith is being protected by the Lord] they [the unbelievers and the hard of heart] shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.
11 Therefore [because the wicked will not be able to destroy the work that Joseph Smith shall bring forth, though they may mar him] it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles [the Book of Mormon], and shall give unto him [the Lord’s servant, Joseph Smith] power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said) they [the unbelieving among the Gentiles] shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant [the house of Israel].

After doing this scripture analysis, invite students to express what they have learned concerning the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and the restoration of the house of Israel.

3 Nephi 21:12-29 Then Shall the Work of the Father Commence among All . . . My People – Scripture Analysis

Take the students through the following scripture analysis and ask them what questions are being answered concerning the gathering of Israel.

12 And my people who are a remnant of Jacob [the Lamanites] shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them [the Gentiles] as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
13 Their [the Lamanites’] hand shall be lifted up upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off.
14 Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles except theyrepent; for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy [the Gentiles’] horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots;
15 And I will cut off the cities of thy [the Gentiles’] land, and throw down all thy strongholds;
16 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy [the Gentiles’] land, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers;
17 Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy [the Gentiles’] standing images out of the midst of thee, and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands;
18 And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee; so will I destroy thy [the Gentiles’] cities.
19 And it shall come to pass that all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, shall be done away.
20 For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day [the day that the Lamanites overthrow the power of the Gentiles] whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel;
21 And I will execute vengeance and fury upon them [the unrepentant among the Gentiles], even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.
22 But if they [the Gentiles] will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them [the Gentiles], and they [the Gentiles] shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob [the Lamanites], unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance;
23 And they [the Gentiles who come into the covenant] shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem.
24 And then [when the Lamanites, the repentant Gentiles, and others of the house of Israel shall assemble to build the New Jerusalem] shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.
25 And then [when the New Jerusalem has been built] shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst.
26 And then [when the New Jerusalem is built and the Lord has sent power from heaven to assist] shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people [the Lamanites]. Verily I say unto you, at that day [when the New Jerusalem is built and the gospel is preached among the Lamanites and the power of the Lord is with them] shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem.
27 Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they [all the dispersed of the tribes of Israel] may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name.
28 Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance.
29 And they [all the dispersed tribes of Israel] shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward.