Chapter 8
Tempests, earthquakes, fires, whirlwinds, and physical upheavals attest the crucifixion of Christ—Many people are destroyed—Darkness covers the land for three days—Those who remain bemoan their fate. About A.D. 33–34.
(Marci-red; Kathy-green July 2018; Marci Blue 2020)orange 2021 Brown 2022/23)
1 And now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know our record to be atrue, for behold, it was a bjust man who did keep the record—for he truly did cmanydmiracles in the ename of Jesus; the footnotes reference these kinds of miracles: raising the dead, healing a lame man, casting out evil and unclean spirits, and many more miracles "in the sight of the people". One footnote leads to this scripture: Mormon 9: 18 And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles. 19 And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles. This suggests that the reason we do not see our apostles doing these same "mighty miracles" is not because God has decided not to grant them...perhaps it is because of the sentence that follows...
and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity— We seek to become "just men". Learn what that means. Part of it is being cleansed every whit from our iniquity. Learn what that means. Only then can we do "many miracles in the name of Jesus". Nephi is the one making and keeping the records. The footnote here tells us that in chapter 23, verse 7, these will be the records he gives to the resurrected Savior when He visits, so in essence, maybe without him even knowing it, he is ministering to Jesus Christ, as he assists him with this record, which is what the Lord tells the people to learn and teach from. Perhaps the way we are cleansed every whit is not by being perfect but from perfectly repenting each day and "retaining" a remission of our sins through charity. It seems like we are so devoid of people like this in our world and church. If there are miracles, we don't hear too much about them, and unless they are priesthood blessings/healings, how many are done in the name of Jesus? I know casting out of evil and unclean spirits is done in the name of Jesus but we don't hear of that by priesthood leaders at all, unless it is outside of the "mainstream" goings on of the church. Sounds like we are in need of much repenting. Of course, that includes me..
2 And now it came to pass, if there was no mistake made by this man in the reckoning of our time, the athirty and third year had passed away;
3 And the people began to look with great earnestness for the sign which had been given by the prophet prophet because he prophesied, or was "the" prophet ...I think it's the former Samuel, the Lamanite, yea, for the time that there should be adarkness for the space of three days over the face of the land. We don't have the writings of Zenos, but he also prophesied of the 3 days of darkness at Christ's death, as recorded back in 1 Nephi 19:10 We watch for fulfillment of the numerous prophecies to be fulfilled in our day, sometimes almost with eagerness. It does bring us closer to the Savior’s return, but I think we have no idea the intensity of what lays before us, as these people did not know. I always forget that the people knew about the sign of darkness for 3 days. Did they know it would be accompanied by such great destruction? Did they think it would be like the sign of his birth (no darkness at night) that it would just be dark for 3 days and that is all? With this particular sign, when it was upon them, it was too late to do anything about what was causing it. This is a sure sign of the truth that there is a time when it is too late to repent...in this life, at least.
4 And there began to be great adoubtings and bdisputations among the people, notwithstanding so many signs had been given. We must ever be on guard against doubtings and disputations that God's words will be fulfilled, even if they seem delayed and especially when many signs are given. We must "watch and be ready" and not discount signs when they are given. We see that in our church and among family and friends: the people in Joseph Smith’s day thought it would happen then and it didn’t, they think it won’t happen in our lifetimes; there’s too many things yet to happen before Christ comes, etc. This is one of the reasons people do not keep the commandment to store food. They doubt the signs and prophecies will happen in their day.
5 And it came to pass in the athirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, The specific writing of the day and month seems to impress upon my mind that all prophecies actually DO come to pass in time. There will be a year, month, day and hour when each thing happens. there arose a great bstorm, such an one as never had been known in all the land. And then in one verse, it’s begun—the biggest storm their world had ever known.
6 And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did bshake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.
7 And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land.
8 And the acity of Zarahemla did take fire.
9 And the city of aMoroni did bsink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned.
10 And the earth was carried up upon the city of aMoronihah, that in the place of the city there became a great bmountain.
11 And there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward.
12 But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, the awhole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth;
13 And the ahighways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough.
14 And many agreat and notable cities were bsunk, and many were cburned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate.
15 And there were some cities which remained; but the damage thereof was exceedingly great, and there were many in them who were slain. Interesting that there were some places where every soul was destroyed and some cities that just had "many" slain. Were the "more righteous" gathered in some way to spare them?
16 And there were some who were carried away in the awhirlwind; and whither they went no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried away.
17 And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth. I wonder if this changes the Book of Mormon geography we are looking for...
18 And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were afound in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land. The litany of disaster is enumerated. MAYBE, as the storm picks up, people are able to get home to their families, so they can be together Will that be the case for us? The 3-hour catastrophe brings to mind “poured out without measure.” As I read all the events that took place in the Americas, the only destructive thing I don’t see is volcanoes, and that’s probably because I see so much reported of that in our day. I know that there are volcanoes whose activity has been going on since long before Christ, but I am wondering if, when it says in verse 18: “And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land,” the footnote for the word “found” takes us to Helaman 22, where Samuel, the Lamanite is prophesying: (leading into it, verse 21) “and the rocks which are upon the face of this earth, which are both above the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up: 22-Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth, yea, both above the earth and beneath.” Could some of the tectonic plating have been going on at this time, and perhaps the “ring of fire” was developed? It makes me ponder!
19 And it came to pass that when the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakings of the earth did cease—for behold, they did last for about the space of athree bhours; and it was said by some that the time was greater; nevertheless, all these great and terrible things were done in about the space of three hours—How did they keep time? A sun dial would do no good during a three day darkness period...Did someone count? I don't think they had battery clocks. A quick search showed such things as water clocks, and hour glasses, which would have been tricky during such destruction, but could have worked, and I suppose the Liahona may still have been around and could have measured time and then behold, there was cdarkness upon the face of the land. Now comes the moment they were all waiting for—the 3 days of darkness. I wonder if in their wildest dreams all the things leading up to those 3 days, and what happened during those 3 days, was anything they might have imagined. The 3 hours of destruction, which seemed endless, now had rendered much of the population dead or dying.
20 And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the bvapor of darkness;
21 And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all;
22 And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land. Did they know that the darkness also brought with it a thick vapor, where they wouldn’t be able to light anything. Had they ‘prepped’ beforehand, with “exceedingly dry wood,” or torches, or candles, as mentioned in verse 21? What if many of our preps don’t work—no sunlight for sun ovens and solar mechanisms, etc.? All the more reason to make it through with our spiritual prep intact.
23 And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and ahowling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them. The survivors must have had the same feelings that the people on Noah’s ark must have felt, as they listened to the mourning, weeping, and howling of the dying, and afraid, and there was not much they could do about it. I pondered how these people could reckon 3 days’ time. Water to drink, sanitation, all to find in the dark. I think it's important to see the references to no light at all and why that is so significant with the crucifixion of Christ. Even those these people were not the ones to nail Christ to the cross, they participated in his suffering and had rejected him. They now experienced a world without any light AT ALL! What a contrast to the light of Christ that they had once known. It would make a lasting impression that they would never want to be without his light again!
24 And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented abefore this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been bburned in that great city Zarahemla. These were the "more righteous" that had been spared. But they found reason to repent. What were they repenting of that would have spared their brethren? Was it minister to them? Teach them? Try to persuade them to stay true? Were they caring only for their own daily worries and leaving their brethren to themselves? Makes me wonder...
25 And in another place they were heard to and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city aMoronihah. And thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible. Here we see a little more about those that were spared. They were not the ones who had killed and stoned the prophets and cast them out but they saw themselves as part of the collective people who did. "We, as a people, should have repented." They are sad that their people have been destroyed. They did not have a "they got what they deserved" attitude. They loved their brethren, even though they had departed from the ways of God. We must have this kind of love for all our brothers and sisters, no matter their level of righteousness or the depth of their sins. We should "waste and wear out our lives", then, in preaching the gospel of salvation to all who will hear. There is great mourning of the victims of the destruction, and the fallen cities; the survivors bemoan that they had not repented before this great calamity. Throughout all these verses and chapters, there's an inferred ministering going on, because as humans, we interact with each other, and try to help and strengthen those around us whom we love, or who are like-minded, as well as continual ministering from the other side of the veil, whether righteous angels, or evil spirits.
(Marci-red; Kathy-green July 2018; Marci Blue 2020)orange 2021 Brown 2022/23)
1 And now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know our record to be atrue, for behold, it was a bjust man who did keep the record—for he truly did cmanydmiracles in the ename of Jesus; the footnotes reference these kinds of miracles: raising the dead, healing a lame man, casting out evil and unclean spirits, and many more miracles "in the sight of the people". One footnote leads to this scripture: Mormon 9: 18 And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles. 19 And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles. This suggests that the reason we do not see our apostles doing these same "mighty miracles" is not because God has decided not to grant them...perhaps it is because of the sentence that follows...
and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity— We seek to become "just men". Learn what that means. Part of it is being cleansed every whit from our iniquity. Learn what that means. Only then can we do "many miracles in the name of Jesus". Nephi is the one making and keeping the records. The footnote here tells us that in chapter 23, verse 7, these will be the records he gives to the resurrected Savior when He visits, so in essence, maybe without him even knowing it, he is ministering to Jesus Christ, as he assists him with this record, which is what the Lord tells the people to learn and teach from. Perhaps the way we are cleansed every whit is not by being perfect but from perfectly repenting each day and "retaining" a remission of our sins through charity. It seems like we are so devoid of people like this in our world and church. If there are miracles, we don't hear too much about them, and unless they are priesthood blessings/healings, how many are done in the name of Jesus? I know casting out of evil and unclean spirits is done in the name of Jesus but we don't hear of that by priesthood leaders at all, unless it is outside of the "mainstream" goings on of the church. Sounds like we are in need of much repenting. Of course, that includes me..
2 And now it came to pass, if there was no mistake made by this man in the reckoning of our time, the athirty and third year had passed away;
3 And the people began to look with great earnestness for the sign which had been given by the prophet prophet because he prophesied, or was "the" prophet ...I think it's the former Samuel, the Lamanite, yea, for the time that there should be adarkness for the space of three days over the face of the land. We don't have the writings of Zenos, but he also prophesied of the 3 days of darkness at Christ's death, as recorded back in 1 Nephi 19:10 We watch for fulfillment of the numerous prophecies to be fulfilled in our day, sometimes almost with eagerness. It does bring us closer to the Savior’s return, but I think we have no idea the intensity of what lays before us, as these people did not know. I always forget that the people knew about the sign of darkness for 3 days. Did they know it would be accompanied by such great destruction? Did they think it would be like the sign of his birth (no darkness at night) that it would just be dark for 3 days and that is all? With this particular sign, when it was upon them, it was too late to do anything about what was causing it. This is a sure sign of the truth that there is a time when it is too late to repent...in this life, at least.
4 And there began to be great adoubtings and bdisputations among the people, notwithstanding so many signs had been given. We must ever be on guard against doubtings and disputations that God's words will be fulfilled, even if they seem delayed and especially when many signs are given. We must "watch and be ready" and not discount signs when they are given. We see that in our church and among family and friends: the people in Joseph Smith’s day thought it would happen then and it didn’t, they think it won’t happen in our lifetimes; there’s too many things yet to happen before Christ comes, etc. This is one of the reasons people do not keep the commandment to store food. They doubt the signs and prophecies will happen in their day.
5 And it came to pass in the athirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, The specific writing of the day and month seems to impress upon my mind that all prophecies actually DO come to pass in time. There will be a year, month, day and hour when each thing happens. there arose a great bstorm, such an one as never had been known in all the land. And then in one verse, it’s begun—the biggest storm their world had ever known.
6 And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did bshake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.
Jesus Christ Appears in the Ancient Americas | 3 Nephi 8–11 | Book of Mormon Videos
8 And the acity of Zarahemla did take fire.
9 And the city of aMoroni did bsink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned.
10 And the earth was carried up upon the city of aMoronihah, that in the place of the city there became a great bmountain.
11 And there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward.
12 But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, the awhole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth;
13 And the ahighways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough.
14 And many agreat and notable cities were bsunk, and many were cburned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate.
15 And there were some cities which remained; but the damage thereof was exceedingly great, and there were many in them who were slain. Interesting that there were some places where every soul was destroyed and some cities that just had "many" slain. Were the "more righteous" gathered in some way to spare them?
16 And there were some who were carried away in the awhirlwind; and whither they went no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried away.
17 And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth. I wonder if this changes the Book of Mormon geography we are looking for...
18 And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were afound in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land. The litany of disaster is enumerated. MAYBE, as the storm picks up, people are able to get home to their families, so they can be together Will that be the case for us? The 3-hour catastrophe brings to mind “poured out without measure.” As I read all the events that took place in the Americas, the only destructive thing I don’t see is volcanoes, and that’s probably because I see so much reported of that in our day. I know that there are volcanoes whose activity has been going on since long before Christ, but I am wondering if, when it says in verse 18: “And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land,” the footnote for the word “found” takes us to Helaman 22, where Samuel, the Lamanite is prophesying: (leading into it, verse 21) “and the rocks which are upon the face of this earth, which are both above the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up: 22-Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth, yea, both above the earth and beneath.” Could some of the tectonic plating have been going on at this time, and perhaps the “ring of fire” was developed? It makes me ponder!
19 And it came to pass that when the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakings of the earth did cease—for behold, they did last for about the space of athree bhours; and it was said by some that the time was greater; nevertheless, all these great and terrible things were done in about the space of three hours—How did they keep time? A sun dial would do no good during a three day darkness period...Did someone count? I don't think they had battery clocks. A quick search showed such things as water clocks, and hour glasses, which would have been tricky during such destruction, but could have worked, and I suppose the Liahona may still have been around and could have measured time and then behold, there was cdarkness upon the face of the land. Now comes the moment they were all waiting for—the 3 days of darkness. I wonder if in their wildest dreams all the things leading up to those 3 days, and what happened during those 3 days, was anything they might have imagined. The 3 hours of destruction, which seemed endless, now had rendered much of the population dead or dying.
20 And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the bvapor of darkness;
21 And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all;
22 And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land. Did they know that the darkness also brought with it a thick vapor, where they wouldn’t be able to light anything. Had they ‘prepped’ beforehand, with “exceedingly dry wood,” or torches, or candles, as mentioned in verse 21? What if many of our preps don’t work—no sunlight for sun ovens and solar mechanisms, etc.? All the more reason to make it through with our spiritual prep intact.
23 And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and ahowling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them. The survivors must have had the same feelings that the people on Noah’s ark must have felt, as they listened to the mourning, weeping, and howling of the dying, and afraid, and there was not much they could do about it. I pondered how these people could reckon 3 days’ time. Water to drink, sanitation, all to find in the dark. I think it's important to see the references to no light at all and why that is so significant with the crucifixion of Christ. Even those these people were not the ones to nail Christ to the cross, they participated in his suffering and had rejected him. They now experienced a world without any light AT ALL! What a contrast to the light of Christ that they had once known. It would make a lasting impression that they would never want to be without his light again!
24 And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented abefore this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been bburned in that great city Zarahemla. These were the "more righteous" that had been spared. But they found reason to repent. What were they repenting of that would have spared their brethren? Was it minister to them? Teach them? Try to persuade them to stay true? Were they caring only for their own daily worries and leaving their brethren to themselves? Makes me wonder...
25 And in another place they were heard to and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city aMoronihah. And thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible. Here we see a little more about those that were spared. They were not the ones who had killed and stoned the prophets and cast them out but they saw themselves as part of the collective people who did. "We, as a people, should have repented." They are sad that their people have been destroyed. They did not have a "they got what they deserved" attitude. They loved their brethren, even though they had departed from the ways of God. We must have this kind of love for all our brothers and sisters, no matter their level of righteousness or the depth of their sins. We should "waste and wear out our lives", then, in preaching the gospel of salvation to all who will hear. There is great mourning of the victims of the destruction, and the fallen cities; the survivors bemoan that they had not repented before this great calamity. Throughout all these verses and chapters, there's an inferred ministering going on, because as humans, we interact with each other, and try to help and strengthen those around us whom we love, or who are like-minded, as well as continual ministering from the other side of the veil, whether righteous angels, or evil spirits.
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