3 Nephi 25
People in this chapter
This short chapter is the last chapter of the Old Testament. Malachi lived long after Lehi left Jerusalem, so the Nephites had never read it. The risen Lord gives it to them Himself, finishing what He began in chapter 24 with the words which the Father had given unto Malachi (3 Nephi 24:1).
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
3 Nephi 25:1-3The Son of Righteousness Shall Arise
1For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Malachi describes a day that burns like an oven. The proud and the wicked will be like dry stubble in a fire, with nothing left, root or branch.
2But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall.
Those who fear the Lord will be like young calves let out of the stall, healthy and free.
3And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts.
In that day the wicked will be like ashes under the feet of the righteous. The Lord is the One who does it.
3 Nephi 25:4Remember Ye the Law of Moses
4Remember ye the law of Moses, my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
The Lord tells His people to remember the law He gave Moses at Horeb, the mountain of God. Moses and Elijah both met God at that mountain.
3 Nephi 25:5-6I Will Send You Elijah the Prophet
5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; 6And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
The Lord promises to send Elijah before His Second Coming. Elijah came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple in 1836.
Elijah's work turns the hearts of children and parents toward each other, across the generations. Temple sealings and family history are part of that work.
Without the sealing of families, the purpose of the earth would be lost. That is the curse the Lord's work prevents.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- Doctrine and Covenants 110The Lord appears in the Kirtland Temple, followed by Moses, Elias, and Elijah. Verses 13-16 record Elijah's coming in fulfillment of Malachi.
- Doctrine and Covenants 2Moroni's wording of verses 5-6 to Joseph Smith: Elijah will reveal the priesthood and plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers.
- ElijahElijah's ministry in the Old Testament, his appearance at the Transfiguration, and his return in this dispensation.
- Seal, SealingScriptures on the sealing power Elijah restored, which binds on earth and in heaven.
- Second Coming of Jesus ChristBackground for the great and dreadful day of the Lord (v. 5) and the burning of verse 1.
Where this echoes in Scripture
The Son of Righteousness Shall Arise
- Malachi 4:1-3Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.The Old Testament text the Savior quotes.
- 2 Nephi 26:9But the Son of Righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them.Nephi's prophecy of this very visit.
- 2 Nephi 26:4All those who are proud, and that do wickedly, the day that cometh shall burn them up.
- 3 Nephi 17:7-9Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither... and he did heal them every one.
- D&C 64:23-24All the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble.
Remember Ye the Law of Moses
- Exodus 3:1And came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
- 1 Kings 19:8And went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.Elijah at the same mountain.
- 3 Nephi 15:4-5Behold, I am he that gave the law... the law in me is fulfilled.
- Alma 34:14Behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice.
I Will Send You Elijah the Prophet
- D&C 110:13-16Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi.
- D&C 2:1-3He shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers.
- D&C 128:18For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect.
- Luke 1:17In the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children.The angel uses Malachi's words of John the Baptist.
- Matthew 17:3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.Elijah with the Savior at the Transfiguration.