3 Nephi 7
People in this chapter
Chapter 6 ended with a plan: kill the governor and make a king. Chapter 7 opens with Mormon telling us how it turned out. The conspirators did murder the chief judge of the land upon the judgment-seat, but they did not establish a king over the land (v. 1). Instead the whole nation breaks apart. Every family gathers its kindred and friends into a tribe, every tribe picks a chief, and thus they did destroy the government of the land (v. 2).
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3 Nephi 7:1-8They Did Destroy the Government
1Now behold, I will show unto you that they did not establish a king over the land; but in this same year, yea, the thirtieth year, they did destroy upon the judgment-seat, yea, did murder the chief judge of the land. 2And the people were divided one against another; and they did separate one from another into tribes, every man according to his family and his kindred and friends; and thus they did destroy the government of the land. 3And every tribe did appoint a chief or a leader over them; and thus they became tribes and leaders of tribes. 4Now behold, there was no man among them save he had much family and many kindreds and friends; therefore their tribes became exceedingly great.
The conspirators murder the chief judge, but they fail to make a king. The nation splits into tribes based on family and friends, and the government falls apart.
Everyone sorts themselves by family and friends. Each group picks its own leader. A nation becomes a collection of tribes.
5Now all this was done, and there were no wars as yet among them; and all this iniquity had come upon the people because they did yield themselves unto the power of Satan. 6And the regulations of the government were destroyed, because of the secret combination of the friends and kindreds of those who murdered the prophets. 7And they did cause a great contention in the land, insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked; yea, there were but few righteous men among them. 8And thus six years had not passed away since the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her wallowing in the mire.
Mormon says all this happened because they did yield themselves unto the power of Satan. Satan only had the power they gave him.
In less than six years, most of the people went back to their old sins. Mormon uses a harsh proverb: like a dog returning to its vomit.
3 Nephi 7:9-14A King over This Wicked Band
9Now this secret combination, which had brought so great iniquity upon the people, did gather themselves together, and did place at their head a man whom they did call Jacob; 10And they did call him their king; therefore he became a king over this wicked band; and he was one of the chiefest who had given his voice against the prophets who testified of Jesus.
The secret combination makes a man named Jacob its king. He had been one of the loudest voices against the prophets who testified of Jesus.
11And it came to pass that they were not so strong in number as the tribes of the people, who were united together save it were their leaders did establish their laws, every one according to his tribe; nevertheless they were enemies; notwithstanding they were not a righteous people, yet they were united in the hatred of those who had entered into a covenant to destroy the government. 12Therefore, Jacob seeing that their enemies were more numerous than they, he being the king of the band, therefore he commanded his people that they should take their flight into the northernmost part of the land, and there build up unto themselves a kingdom, until they were joined by dissenters, (for he flattered them that there would be many dissenters) and they become sufficiently strong to contend with the tribes of the people; and they did so. 13And so speedy was their march that it could not be impeded until they had gone forth out of the reach of the people. And thus ended the thirtieth year; and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi.
The tribes are not righteous, but they all hate the conspirators who destroyed the government. Jacob sees he is outnumbered and leads his followers away to build their own kingdom.
Jacob keeps his people with him by flattering them with promises that many others would join them.
14And it came to pass in the thirty and first year that they were divided into tribes, every man according to his family, kindred and friends; nevertheless they had come to an agreement that they would not go to war one with another; but they were not united as to their laws, and their manner of government, for they were established according to the minds of those who were their chiefs and their leaders. But they did establish very strict laws that one tribe should not trespass against another, insomuch that in some degree they had peace in the land; nevertheless, their hearts were turned from the Lord their God, and they did stone the prophets and did cast them out from among them.
The tribes make strict rules so they won't fight each other, and they get some peace. But they still turn from God and stone the prophets.
3 Nephi 7:15-22Nephi Did Minister with Power
15And it came to pass that Nephi—having been visited by angels and also the voice of the Lord, therefore having seen angels, and being eye-witness, and having had power given unto him that he might know concerning the ministry of Christ, and also being eye-witness to their quick return from righteousness unto their wickedness and abominations; 16Therefore, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds—went forth among them in that same year, and began to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Nephi, the record keeper, has been visited by angels and heard the voice of the Lord. He has also watched his people go back to wickedness. Grieved, he goes out to preach.
Nephi is grieved for the people. That grief sends him out to preach repentance through faith in Jesus Christ.
17And he did minister many things unto them; and all of them cannot be written, and a part of them would not suffice, therefore they are not written in this book. And Nephi did minister with power and with great authority. 18And it came to pass that they were angry with him, even because he had greater power than they, for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words, for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily.
Nephi preaches with power and with great authority. His faith is so strong that angels minister to him every day. The people can't disbelieve him, so they get angry.
19And in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits; and even his brother did he raise from the dead, after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people. 20And the people saw it, and did witness of it, and were angry with him because of his power; and he did also do many more miracles, in the sight of the people, in the name of Jesus.
21And it came to pass that the thirty and first year did pass away, and there were but few who were converted unto the Lord; but as many as were converted did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed. 22And as many as had devils cast out from them, and were healed of their sicknesses and their infirmities, did truly manifest unto the people that they had been wrought upon by the Spirit of God, and had been healed; and they did show forth signs also and did do some miracles among the people.
Even with all these miracles, few people are converted. But those who are converted testify that they felt the power of God through Jesus Christ, and some of them do miracles too.
3 Nephi 7:23-26Baptized unto Repentance
23Thus passed away the thirty and second year also. And Nephi did cry unto the people in the commencement of the thirty and third year; and he did preach unto them repentance and remission of sins.
Another year passes, and Nephi keeps preaching the same message: repentance and remission of sins.
24Now I would have you to remember also, that there were none who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water. 25Therefore, there were ordained of Nephi, men unto this ministry, that all such as should come unto them should be baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before God, and unto the people, that they had repented and received a remission of their sins. 26And there were many in the commencement of this year that were baptized unto repentance; and thus the more part of the year did pass away.
Mormon wants us to remember that everyone who repented was baptized. Nephi ordained men to baptize, and baptism was a witness to God and to others that they had repented.
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.
- Nephi, Son of Nephi, Son of HelamanA short list of the scriptures about this Nephi, from his ministry in this chapter to his call as the first of the Savior's twelve Nephite disciples.
- The Nephi We Tend to ForgetAn article on the life and ministry of Nephi, son of Nephi, a prophet whose miracles in verses 15-22 are often passed over.
- Secret CombinationsScriptures on the kind of conspiracy that murders the chief judge and crowns Jacob (vv. 1-13).
- Remission of SinsThe doctrine at the center of Nephi's preaching in verses 16, 23, and 25.
- Baptism, BaptizeBackground for verses 24-26, where baptism is the witness that a person has repented.
Where this echoes in Scripture
They Did Destroy the Government
- Proverbs 26:11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
- 2 Peter 2:20-22The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.Peter uses both of Mormon's images.
- Mosiah 29:17How much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!Why the Nephites had given up kings.
- Helaman 6:39They did obtain the sole management of the government.The robbers had seized the government once before.
A King over This Wicked Band
- 3 Nephi 9:9That great city Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of king Jacob.What became of Jacob's kingdom.
- Helaman 2:4-5Gadianton, who was exceedingly expert in many words... did flatter them.The founder of the secret combination worked the same way.
- Alma 46:10Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people.Flattery as a tool of those who seek power.
- Matthew 23:37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee.The Savior's lament over a city that did what the tribes did.
Nephi Did Minister with Power
- 3 Nephi 19:4Nephi and his brother whom he had raised from the dead, whose name was Timothy.The brother of verse 19, later one of the twelve.
- Acts 3:6In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.The apostles in Jerusalem worked in the same name.
- John 11:25I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
- D&C 121:36The powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.Where Nephi's power came from.
- Moroni 7:37It is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men.Mormon's own teaching about verse 18.
Baptized unto Repentance
- Mosiah 18:10What have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him?Alma's baptisms were also a witness of a covenant.
- 3 Nephi 11:21-22I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.The Savior soon gives Nephi this power Himself.
- Acts 2:38Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
- D&C 20:37All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits...The requirements for baptism in this dispensation.