3 Nephi 26
People in this chapter
Chapter 26 is where the Book of Mormon tells you plainly that it is holding back. Jesus did expound all things unto them, both great and small: the history of the earth from its beginning to the day it will pass away, and the Judgment (vv. 1-5). Then Mormon interrupts in his own voice: there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people (v. 6).
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
3 Nephi 26:1-5He Did Expound All Things
1And now it came to pass that when Jesus had told these things he expounded them unto the multitude; and he did expound all things unto them, both great and small. 2And he saith: These scriptures, which ye had not with you, the Father commanded that I should give unto you; for it was wisdom in him that they should be given unto future generations.
After quoting Malachi, Jesus explains it and then explains everything else, the small things as well as the great ones.
Jesus says the Father commanded Him to give them Malachi's words because future generations would need them.
3And he did expound all things, even from the beginning until the time that he should come in his glory—yea, even all things which should come upon the face of the earth, even until the elements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth should be wrapt together as a scroll, and the heavens and the earth should pass away; 4And even unto the great and last day, when all people, and all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall stand before God, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil— 5If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation; being on a parallel, the one on the one hand and the other on the other hand, according to the mercy, and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ, who was before the world began.
Jesus taught them the whole story of the earth, from its beginning to His coming in glory and the final Judgment.
3 Nephi 26:6-12I Will Try the Faith of My People
6And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people; 7But behold the plates of Nephi do contain the more part of the things which he taught the people. 8And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken.
Mormon says he could not write even a hundredth part of what Jesus taught. He wrote this smaller part so it would come to the descendants of these people through the Gentiles.
9And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them. 10And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation. 11Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people. 12Therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord. And now I, Mormon, make an end of my sayings, and proceed to write the things which have been commanded me.
Mormon wanted to write everything, but the Lord stopped him. The Book of Mormon is a test of faith: those who believe it will receive greater things.
3 Nephi 26:13-16Even Babes Did Open Their Mouths
13Therefore, I would that ye should behold that the Lord truly did teach the people, for the space of three days; and after that he did show himself unto them oft, and did break bread oft, and bless it, and give it unto them.
14And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he did loose their tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto the people; and he loosed their tongues that they could utter. 15And it came to pass that after he had ascended into heaven—the second time that he showed himself unto them, and had gone unto the Father, after having healed all their sick, and their lame, and opened the eyes of their blind and unstopped the ears of the deaf, and even had done all manner of cures among them, and raised a man from the dead, and had shown forth his power unto them, and had ascended unto the Father— 16Behold, it came to pass on the morrow that the multitude gathered themselves together, and they both saw and heard these children; yea, even babes did open their mouths and utter marvelous things; and the things which they did utter were forbidden that there should not any man write them.
Jesus taught the children and loosed their tongues. The children, even babies, taught their parents things greater than Jesus had taught the adults. What they said was not allowed to be written.
3 Nephi 26:17-21They Taught and Did Minister One to Another
17And it came to pass that the disciples whom Jesus had chosen began from that time forth to baptize and to teach as many as did come unto them; and as many as were baptized in the name of Jesus were filled with the Holy Ghost. 18And many of them saw and heard unspeakable things, which are not lawful to be written.
The twelve disciples began to baptize. Everyone baptized in Jesus' name received the Holy Ghost, and many saw and heard sacred things.
19And they taught, and did minister one to another; and they had all things common among them, every man dealing justly, one with another. 20And it came to pass that they did do all things even as Jesus had commanded them. 21And they who were baptized in the name of Jesus were called the church of Christ.
The new disciples taught and served each other, shared what they had, and treated each other fairly. They did everything Jesus had commanded.
Those who were baptized in Jesus' name were called the church of Christ. The next chapter tells how the Savior Himself confirmed that name.
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.
- PlatesExplains the large plates of Nephi, which Mormon says contain the more part of what Jesus taught (v. 7).
- Judgment, the LastScriptures on the day when all people stand before God, to be judged of their works (v. 4).
- SacramentBackground for verse 13, where the Lord did break bread oft, and bless it, and give it unto them.
- Consecrate, Law of ConsecrationScriptures on a people having all things common (v. 19), in Acts, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
Where this echoes in Scripture
He Did Expound All Things
- Luke 24:27He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
- John 5:22, 28-29They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
- 2 Peter 3:10The elements shall melt with fervent heat.
- Alma 42:15The plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made.
- Ether 3:14Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people.
I Will Try the Faith of My People
- John 21:25Even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.
- Alma 12:9-10He that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word.
- Ether 4:7In that day that they shall exercise faith in me... then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw.
- Words of Mormon 1:5I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people.
- 2 Nephi 28:30I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.
Even Babes Did Open Their Mouths
- Luke 24:30-31He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him.
- 3 Nephi 17:21-24He took their little children, one by one, and blessed them... and the angels did minister unto them.
- Matthew 21:16Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.
- Alma 32:23He imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times.
They Taught and Did Minister One to Another
- Acts 2:44And all that believed were together, and had all things common.
- 4 Nephi 1:3They had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor.
- 2 Corinthians 12:4And heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
- Mosiah 18:21Having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.
- D&C 42:30Thou wilt remember the poor, and consecrate of thy properties for their support.