3 Nephi 12-14

3 Nephi 12

Jesus Christ’s teachings in 3 Nephi 12–14 are sometimes referred to as the “sermon at the temple” because they resemble the Savior’s well-known “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5–7 in the Bible. 

Sermon on the Mount

Christ begins His sermon by teaching the blessings that come to those who develop “Beatitudes” –a phrase coined for these “attributes of the faithful” when Jesus taught them in Matthew 5. I like to look at each Beatitude along with its promised blessing. - Who wouldn’t want these blessings? And then of course I have to ask myself the hard question – how am I doing with developing these Beatitudes? 

BLESSED ARE…	FOR…
The poor in spirit who come unto me	Theirs is the kingdom of heaven (3 Nephi 12:3)
They that mourn	They shall be comforted (12:4)
The meek	They shall inherit the earth (12:5)
They who do hunger and thirst after righteousness	They shall be filled with the Holy Ghost (12:6)
The merciful	They shall obtain mercy (12:7)
The pure in heart	They shall see God (12:8)
The peacemakers	They shall be called the children of God (12:9)
They who are persecuted for my name’s sake	Theirs is the kingdom of heaven (12:10)
You when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake	Ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven (12:11-12)

It might be helpful to know that poor in spirit (3 Nephi 12:3) means to be humble and dependent on the Lord, to mourn (3 Nephi 12:4) refers to feeling a sorrow for our sins that leads to repentance, and to be meek (3 Nephi 12:5) can mean to be humble and gentle, to be submissive to God’s will, or to be patient in enduring injury without resentment.

In the remainder of 3 Nephi 12, Jesus referred to parts of the law of Moses and then taught a higher law. For example, He said that in the law of Moses it was commanded “thou shalt not kill” and “thou shalt not commit adultery.” But Jesus taught them to be a level better—that they shouldn’t be angry or entertain lustful thoughts in the first place. God gives us commandments to help us be happy. Think of all the heartache that would be spared if people didn’t kill or cheat on their spouses? Now take that to the next level, and how much MORE heartache would be spared if people didn’t get angry, or if they weren’t driven by lustful desires.

But I think the highest law is this one – one I’ve read over and over in my life, and yet I still seem to need it each time I read it (perhaps it’s a life-long journey for me):

38 And behold, it is written, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;

39 But I say unto you, that… whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also;

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also;

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away.

43 And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy;

44 But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;

3 Nephi 13-14

I love these chapters – probably because I love the Sermon on the Mount!  There are so many powerful teachings/principles/truths in this sermon from the Lord. I can’t say anything better than He did, so I’ll just let you read His words. Here are my favorite excerpts, and I’ve added headings to organize/introduce the topics.

Doing good for praise or attention

13:1 Verily, verily, I say that I would that ye should do alms unto the poor; but take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father who is in heaven.

2 Therefore, when ye shall do your alms do not sound a trumpet before you, as will hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth;

4 That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.

Forgiving others

13:14 For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you;

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Priorities

13:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

You can’t please God and man

13:24 No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.

Judging others

14:1 …Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye—and behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

*Note: a mote is a tiny sliver, and a beam is…well, a 2x4 or bigger! 

Seek God and you will find Him; Trust that God will give you good things

14:7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

8 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

The Golden Rule

14:12 Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

Don’t assume the majority of people have it right 

14:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat;

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

How to identify if a prophet is false or true 

14:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits…

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Faith without obedience is not sufficient

14:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.