3 Nephi 27
People in this chapter
The twelve disciples have been out preaching and baptizing, and the people are arguing about something that might seem small: what to call the church. The disciples gather in mighty prayer and fasting, and Jesus comes and stands among them and asks, What will ye that I shall give unto you? (vv. 1-2).
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3 Nephi 27:1-9Ye Shall Call the Church in My Name
1And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting. 2And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you? 3And they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church; for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter.
The people were arguing about the church's name. The twelve prayed and fasted together, and Jesus came and asked what they wanted.
4And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing? 5Have 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; 6And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.
7Therefore, 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. 8And 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. 9Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel; therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church, if it be in my name the Father will hear you;
Jesus says His church must be called by His name. A church named after Moses or any man would belong to that man. In this dispensation He named it The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
3 Nephi 27:10-12Built upon My Gospel
10And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it. 11But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return. 12For their works do follow them, for it is because of their works that they are hewn down; therefore remember the things that I have told you.
A church needs both: the Lord's name and the Lord's gospel. A church built on the works of men may succeed for a while, but it will not last.
3 Nephi 27:13-22This Is My Gospel
13Behold 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. 14And 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— 15And 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.
16And 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. 17And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father. 18And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words.
Whoever repents, is baptized in Jesus' name, and endures to the end, He will hold guiltless before the Father. Enduring is part of the gospel.
19And 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. 20Now 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. 21Verily, 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; 22Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
No unclean thing can enter God's kingdom. Jesus makes people clean through His blood when they have faith, repent, and stay faithful. His commandment is to repent, come to Him, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost.
3 Nephi 27:23-27Even As I Am
23Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are forbidden. 24Write the works of this people, which shall be, even as hath been written, of that which hath been. 25For behold, out of the books which have been written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works be known unto men. 26And behold, all things are written by the Father; therefore out of the books which shall be written shall the world be judged.
Jesus commands the twelve to keep a record. People will be judged out of the books that are written, and the Father keeps a record too.
27And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.
The twelve will judge their people, so they must be like Jesus. He asks, what manner of men ought ye to be? and answers, even as I am.
3 Nephi 27:28-33My Joy Is Great, Even unto Fulness
28And now I go unto the Father. And verily I say unto you, whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name shall be given unto you. 29Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
Before going to the Father, Jesus promises that whatever they ask the Father in His name will be given.
30And now, behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you, and also this generation; yea, and even the Father rejoiceth, and also all the holy angels, because of you and this generation; for none of them are lost. 31Behold, I would that ye should understand; for I mean them who are now alive of this generation; and none of them are lost; and in them I have fulness of joy. 32But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by him even as was the son of perdition; for they will sell me for silver and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt and which thieves can break through and steal. And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads.
Jesus says His joy is full because of the twelve and the people of this generation. None of them are lost, and the Father and the angels rejoice too.
Jesus is sad about the fourth generation after them, who will be led away by Satan and sell Him for money and things that don't last.
33And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he said unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work.
His last words to them in this chapter: enter the narrow gate. Few find the way to life, and many take the broad way to death.
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 115The revelation in which the Lord names His Church in this dispensation: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (v. 4).
- GospelScriptures on the gospel of Jesus Christ, the subject of verses 13-21.
- Church, Name ofGathers the scriptures on why the Savior's Church bears His name.
- EndureScriptures on enduring to the end, which the Lord names twice in verses 16-17.
Where this echoes in Scripture
Ye Shall Call the Church in My Name
- D&C 115:4For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Mosiah 5:8There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ.
- Acts 4:12For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
- Mosiah 18:17And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward.
- Acts 11:26And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Built upon My Gospel
- 3 Nephi 14:24-27I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock.
- Helaman 5:12It is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation.
- 4 Nephi 1:27Many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they did deny the more parts of his gospel.
- Psalm 127:1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.
This Is My Gospel
- John 12:32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
- John 3:14-15As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.
- Revelation 7:14These are they which... have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
- 2 Nephi 31:20-21This is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved.
- D&C 39:6And this is my gospel—repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.
Even As I Am
- Revelation 20:12The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
- 1 Nephi 12:10And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed.
- 3 Nephi 12:48I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
- Moroni 7:48That when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
- 1 John 3:2When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
My Joy Is Great, Even unto Fulness
- John 16:23-24Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
- John 17:12Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition.
- 2 Nephi 26:9Until three generations shall have passed away, and many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.
- Matthew 26:15And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
- John 9:4The night cometh, when no man can work.