3 Nephi 26-27

3 Nephi 26

The last two chapters were scriptures directly from the Old Testament (Malachi), and before that Jesus quoted a lot of scriptures from Isaiah. Jesus tells the Nephites that the Father had commanded Him to give these scriptures to the Nephites. If you think about it, the Nephites didn’t have these scriptures, and Jesus says specifically that the Father wants future generations to have them. There must be something uniquely important about these books in the Old Testament!

In the time Jesus spends with the Nephites, he teaches them everything from the beginning to the end of the world (there are multiple times in the scriptures where that happens, and I always marvel over how that is possible??). It also says, “And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people.” (vs. 6)

Jesus taught the people for 3 days total, and after that He still showed himself to them often. But when the Savior wasn’t there, the disciples whom Jesus had chosen began to teach the people and to baptize everyone who wanted to follow Jesus. Verse 19 is short and sweet, but powerful: “And they taught, and did minister one to another; and they had all things common among them, every man dealing justly, one with another.” Thus begins the greatest period of peace in the Book of Mormon.

3 Nephi 27

In the beginning of this chapter, the disciples are gathered together and Jesus appears to them and asks them what they need. They ask Him what the name of the church should be, because the people in the church are arguing about it. Jesus tells them:

5 Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;

7 Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake.

8 And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.

There are so many Christian churches today called by all sorts of names. This makes sense to me – if a church is genuinely Jesus Christ’s church, it should be called The Church of Jesus Christ. 

But just having the name isn’t enough, of course. Jesus said the church must be built upon His gospel. He also gives this test:

10 And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it.

You’ve probably gathered by now that I really love my church. :) That’s because I have felt, seen, and experienced the works of God and the love of God within it over and over again – for myself, for my friends, in the scriptures, and in the miraculous stories of the founding of the church.. I believe with all my heart that this is the true and complete church of Jesus Christ, and it is led by Him today through the direction of living, modern-day prophets, and that it will continue to grow and do more good until the 2^nd Coming of Jesus Christ.

Jesus also teaches that His true church will be “built upon his gospel”. What is the gospel? Well, this is how I would summarize it, and then you can read what Jesus says directly (see vs. 13-21 below) to see how you would interpret it.

Megan’s Summary of "The Gospel":

Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His perfect obedience to The Father, all men will live again after they die and will stand before Christ to be judged. A person can be clean and worthy at that day of judgment by developing faith in Christ, repenting of his/her sins, being baptized and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism, and then staying faithful.

Jesus's Own Words:

13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.

19 And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.

20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.

21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;

These are the things taught in my church, because they are the things Jesus taught, and this is His church.

There are 13 Articles of Faith that state the beliefs of my church.