3 Nephi 21

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 orange 7/21 Brown 10/22-23)

Chapter 21

Israel will be gathered when the Book of Mormon comes forth—The Gentiles will be established as a free people in America—They will be saved if they believe and obey; otherwise, they will be cut off and destroyed—Israel will build the New Jerusalem, and the lost tribes will return. About A.D. 34.

  1 And verily I say unto you, I give unto you a ^asign, that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take place—“about” means the sign will be right before it takes place, which makes it sound like this gathering is not something that takes place over generations, but is more of an event that has a definite start and end... that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion; We should be looking for this "sign". Notice the language - the Lord establishes Zion...we don't. He does it among us. How exciting is that! He could still be talking about establishing Zion among the Jews...
  2 And behold, this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign—for verily I say unto you that ^awhen these things which I declare unto you, and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, what does this mean? That is recorded in 3 Nephi? and by the power of the Holy Ghost which shall be given unto you of the Father, shall be made known unto the Gentiles that they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them; the Lamanites?
  3 Verily, verily, I say unto you, when these things shall be made ^aknown unto them of the Father, and shall come forth of the Father, ^bfrom them unto you; this is the coming forth of the Book of Mormon...but has it really come forth from us to them? 
  4 For it is wisdom in the Father that they the Gentiles should be established in this land, and be set up as a ^afree people by the power of the Father, all the America haters do not understand that this nation was established by God and not by evil slave owners...Why did the Book of Mormon come forth? that these things this record might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the ^bcovenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people O house of Israel; and what is the covenant? That they would be gathered and restored to the true knowledge of Christ. Their record would go to the Jews
  5 Therefore, when these works and the works which shall be wrought among you hereafter the record we call the Book of Mormon shall come forth ^afrom the Gentiles, unto your ^bseed has this really happened? which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity; this happened
  6 For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be ^bnumbered among my people, O house of Israel; We, the Gentiles, were given the Book of Mormon by the power of the Father, so that we could come unto Christ, repent, be baptized and know the true points of doctrine SO we could be numbered among His people and become a part of the house of Israel. This has happened...
  7 And when these things come to pass that thy ^aseed shall begin to know these things—it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel. the Jews? The Lamanites are of the House of Israel too... So the coming forth of the Book of Mormon signaled the beginning of the gathering of Israel. But has the seed of the Nephites and Lamanites begun to know these things? Is this American Lamanites or South American or Mexican or Tongan, etc. 
  8 And when that day shall come, it shall come to pass that kings shall shut their mouths; for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they ^aconsider. What do you suppose this phrase means? I believe it is from Isaiah in reference to how the end-time servant is received. Jesus just taught this in chapter 20: So "that day" that is to come is when we see the end-time servant go before the world in power.
43 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently; he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.
44 As many were astonished at thee—his visage was so marred, more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men—
45 So shall he ^asprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him, for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they ^bconsider.
46 Verily, verily, I say unto you, all these things shall surely come, even as the Father hath commanded me. Then shall this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people be fulfilled; and then shall ^aJerusalem be inhabited again with my people, and it shall be the land of their inheritance. This has not happened yet. Another more current reference to this end time servant is in Doctrine and Covenants 85:
7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in ^aorder the house of God, and to arrange by ^blot the ^cinheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God; 8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to ^asteady the ^bark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning. Not sure what this is saying...any man who is called of God and appointed (church leaders) or a particular man (the prophet?) will try to “steady the ark of God” (meaning reject this servant and try to stop him?) will die? If this happens then you’ll know that is what this prophecy means. Whatever it means, if it is a prophecy it will come to pass. Or it could just be a warning to those “called and appointed.” 
  9 For in that day, for my sake shall the Father ^awork a work, which shall be a great and a ^bmarvelous ^cwork among them; and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them. The standard interpretation of this verse is that the marvelous work was the Book of Mormon and that there will be those who don’t believe it thought a missionary has declared it to them. But Isaiah seems to make clear that the marvelous work is this great gathering by this end time servant. If that is correct then there will be some “among them” (the church?) that do not believe him and what he says... which seems right since he goes on to talk more about this end time servant (not Joseph Smith)...
 10 But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be ^amarred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that ^bmy wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.  This has not happened to anyone yet. Joseph Smith’s being tarred and feathered was not this...
 11 Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father shall cause ^ahim  still talking about his “servant”  to bring forth unto the ^bGentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be ^ccut off from among my people who are of the covenant. This may be the coming separation that Pres. Nelson referenced in April of 2020. “The time is coming when those who do not obey the Lord will be separated from those who do (see Doctrine and Covenants 86:1–7)”
 12 And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a ^alion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. Are these the Mexicans coming in through the southern border illegally? 
 13 Their hand shall be lifted up upon their ^aadversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off.
 14 Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles except they ^arepent; Is this the church Gentiles? the American Gentiles? for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy ^bchariots;
 15 And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy ^astrongholds;
 16 And I will cut off ^awitchcrafts out of thy land, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers;
 17 Thy ^agraven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee, and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands;
 18 And I will pluck up thy ^agroves out of the midst of thee; so will I destroy thy cities.
 19 And it shall come to pass that all ^alyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, shall be done away.
 20 For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that ^aday whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son, them will I ^bcut off from among my people, O house of Israel;
 21 And I will execute ^avengeance and ^bfury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.
 22 But if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and ^aharden not their hearts, I will ^bestablish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be ^cnumbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their ^dinheritance;
 23 And they shall assist my ^apeople, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the ^bNew Jerusalem. So everything preceding this verse is BEFORE the New Jerusalem is built and probably not in Joseph Smith’s day, but our day...
 24 And then shall ^athey assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.
 25 And then shall the ^apower of heaven come down among them; and ^bI also will be in the midst. See..Christ will be with us in the New Jerusalem! Does this cross reference with the verse in 1 Nephi 14:14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory. 
 26 And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, His work is only then "commencing"? even ^awhen this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of ^bthis people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been ^clost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem. The Lost Tribes will need the gospel preached to them?
 27 Yea, the work shall commence among all the ^adispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may ^bcome unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name.
 28 Yea, and then shall the work commence, He has said three times now “then shall the work commence”...supporting the idea that his “marvelous work and wonder” is this work He’s talking about here that will “commence” when the Ten Tribes return...with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be ^agathered home to the land of their inheritance. Is the greatest part of the gathering of Israel after the New Jerusalem is built? I think Pres. Nelson is right when he says the gathering of Israel is the greatest work...but I don't think it is our own missionary work right now that is part of this "greatest gathering", but that is yet to take place.
29 And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall ^anot go out in ^bhaste, nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward. I'm not able to comment on this chapter more than the chapter heading, but I will say that since most of this was a repeat of chapter 20, that the prophesies are important and significant. Found a few more things to comment on.  And still a few more...

3 Nephi 20

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 orange 7/21 Brown 10/22-23) 

Chapter 20

Jesus provides bread and wine miraculously and again administers the sacrament unto the people—The remnant of Jacob will come to the knowledge of the Lord their God and will inherit the Americas—Jesus is the prophet like unto Moses, and the Nephites are children of the prophets—Others of the Lord’s people will be gathered to Jerusalem. About A.D. 34.

  1 And it came to pass that he commanded the multitude that they should cease to ^bpray, and also his disciples. And he commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts. This suggests that you can be doing other things- listening, talking -while still keeping a prayer in your heart. Not hard to comprehend since our brains never really turn off. This is one way of expressing the idea of controlling and directing your thoughts through your agency. This is also a reflection of the hearts of the people as they wouldn't stop praying until he commanded them to.
  2 And he commanded them that they should arise and stand up upon their feet. And they arose up and stood upon their feet.
  3 And it came to pass that he ^abrake ^bbread again and blessed it, and gave to the disciples to eat. How long ago was the last sacrament? Yesterday?
  4 And when they had eaten he commanded them that they should break bread, and give unto the multitude.
  5 And when they had given unto the multitude he also gave them wine to drink, and commanded them that they should give unto the multitude.
  6 Now, there had been no ^abread, neither wine, brought by the disciples, neither by the multitude;
  7 But he truly ^agave unto them bread to eat, and also wine to drink. This time the Savior provided the bread and wine. Is there a lesson here?
  8 And he said unto them: He that eateth this bread eateth of ^amy body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled. What does this really mean? ...to eat and drink "to your soul" and that after you do,  your "soul" shall never hunger of thirst? How does a soul hunger and thirst? How does it stop? One possibility...the soul is the body and the spirit, so when you partake of physical bread, it goes into your body. But since the bread and water represent the body and blood of Christ and His sacrifice for you, when you partake you are witnessing with your body and spirit that you accept His sacrifice and believe in Him and will do His will and accept Him into your life such that it will affect both your body and your spirit.  Once you are directed by Him and have sufficient faith in Him to do as you are directed through His spirit, then you never have to worry about being hungry or thirsty physically or spiritually. He will take care of all your needs. 
  9 Now, when the multitude had all eaten and drunk, behold, they were filled with the Spirit; one example of what it means to partake and “be filled” and they did cry out with one voice, and gave glory to Jesus, whom they both saw and heard. Perhaps this is saying that the Holy Spirit is the thing that fills the soul and you receive it after witnessing to Father you have repented and/or kept your covenant. Then your soul is filled and feels no lack. If you have experienced intense hunger, the one thing you would wish for is to never be hungry again. If you have felt the Holy Spirit or have been without it...perhaps you hunger for it's constant presence in the same way... Should/could this be happening to us each week as we partake of the Sacrament? Are we missing out on this great "filling"? What needs to change for us?
 10 And it came to pass that when they had all given glory unto Jesus, Partaking of the Sacrament should fill us with the Spirit. We, in turn, should give glory to Jesus. he said unto them: Behold now I finish the commandment which the Father hath commanded me concerning this people, who are a remnant of the house of Israel. I just had a thought...perhaps the reason Jesus came and gave them the Sacrament again, is that He had received new instruction from the Father to do it and provide the bread and water Himself, showing them that even in temporal things, He can provide anytime, even when they have nothing and don’t know where their sustenance will come from. 
 11 Ye remember that I spake unto you, and said that when the words of Isaiah  should be fulfilled—behold they are written, ye have them before you, therefore search them—Another reminder of the commandment to study Isaiah. This is so important to study as his words are being fulfilled right now in our day! Why did they need to search them if they weren't fulfilled in their day, but ours? It must be important that they know of the covenant made to their people and pass that down through the generations.
 12 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that when they shall be fulfilled then is the fulfilling of the ^acovenant which the Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel. Was the covenant to bring again Zion? So Isaiah’s prophecies are about the fulfilling of the covenant to the house of Israel. The footnote on “covenant” says they are to be circumcised, but that was just a token “in their body” (which is replaced by the sacrament?) of the promise made to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and be given lands for an inheritance and that Abraham’s people would worship God. The covenant was established with Abraham and his wife by the Lord giving them both “a new name”. We know we receive a new name at birth, baptism, and in the endowment. New names represent new levels of progression and covenants. 
 13 And then shall the ^aremnants, which shall be ^bscattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be ^cgathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the ^dknowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them. If this is referring to Christ visiting them then their gathering is not literal but spiritual. I think He’s talking about our day...
 14 And the Father hath ^acommanded me that I should give unto you this ^bland, for your inheritance.
 15 And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not ^arepent after the blessing the ^bblessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people- the footnote on "blessing" says it was the pouring out of the Holy Ghost on the Gentiles to make them a mighty nation. We are definitely divided as a nation. I think many are repenting, but there are many that are quickly descending into more and more wickedness. 
 16 Then shall ye, who are a ^aremnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among
the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both ^ctreadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. This sounds like the Lamanites will rise up in this nation like a lion among sheep. How does this happen? Is it all the illegal aliens that are coming up from the Mexican border? It seems there is a lot of evil coming across the border - drugs, sex trafficking, terrorists, etc. It truly would be a marvelous work and a wonder if God brought them a mighty conversion. Almost like the conversion of the Book of Mormon Lamanites who were a blood-thirsty and base people until their conversion.
17 Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
18 And I will ^agather my people together as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor. This is "call out" language! Footnote on "gather" Micah 4:12 But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. Is there something about the gathering that defies logic or comes without warning that he would precede the gathering with "They know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel"? Will we say, "I didn't think he'd do it this way" or "I didn't know his counsel was for this"... But in context, he's talking about Babylon and the enemies of the saints not understanding His thought.
 19 For I will make my ^apeople with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy ^bhorn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt ^cbeat in pieces many people; and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. And behold, I am he who doeth it. This is also from Micah. I didn't know the Savior quoted Micah...
 20 And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the ^asword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the nations of the Gentiles.
 21 And it shall come to pass that I will establish my ^apeople, O house of Israel.
 22 And behold, this ^apeople will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the ^bcovenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a ^cNew Jerusalem. And the ^dpowers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even ^eI will be in the midst of you. This sounds like the city of Enoch, where Jesus walked with them. It sounds like he's saying that he will walk with the saints (particularly the Lamanites) in the New Jerusalem prior to His Second Coming to the world. Is Christ the "righteousness that will come down from heaven"? Is this fact (the presence of Jesus in the NJ) the truth that will sweep the earth as with a flood?
 23 Behold, I am he of whom Moses spake, saying: ^aA prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people. This all sounds like the Indians will "blossom" and come into great knowledge and power. Is it the Lamanites from S. America and Mexico that will come in great numbers? The Ten Tribes returning to them? Is this saying that Jesus will return and any who will not "hear Him" will be cut off? Will that be before His final Second Coming? Or he is talking about his end time servant? Does he really refer to himself as “that prophet”? Why wouldn’t he say “me”? He's quoting Moses.
 24 Verily I say unto you, yea, and ^aall the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have testified of me.
 25 And behold, ye are the ^achildren of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the ^bcovenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And ^cin thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. I thought it was the Seed of Joseph (Ephriam) that all the world would be blessed? Well, the seed of Joseph are the seed of Abraham and that is who Jesus is saying the covenant is with. So he’s not saying through Lehi's seed, all the world will be blessed. Alma 10:3 says Lehi was a descendant of Manasseh and Deut 33 says Manasseh will assist Ephriam in the gathering of scattered Israel which would fulfill this promise. 
 26 The Father having raised me up unto you first, and sent me to ^abless you in ^bturning away every one of you from his iniquities; and this because ye are the children of the covenant—notice He didn’t come to them after they were purified and sanctified. He came to them and they still needed to be turned away from their iniquities, but He came to them because of the covenant He has with their fathers. (And if we think of the iniquities they are to turn from as the inherited sins of their father, you can see a little into why it was so important to the ‘fathers’ that Christ come to them and help them overcome their ‘inherited’ sins.) Will Christ come to Zion in the same way? 
 27 And after that ye were blessed then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying: ^aIn thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed—unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which ^bblessing upon the ^cGentiles shall make them mighty above all, unto the ^dscattering of my people, O house of Israel.
 28 And they shall be a ^ascourge unto the people of this land. Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fulness of my gospel, then if they shall harden their hearts against me I will return their ^biniquities upon their own heads, saith the Father. Do we have the "fullness" yet? Who is "they" in this verse? The residents of America? The members of the church in America? Members only make up 2% of the US population. When do you determine that 98% have rejected the gospel? Or does the judgment come upon the US when the 2% reject what they have received? If it didn't qualify it with the "fulness" of the gospel you could make the case that when the US as a "Christian" nation rejects God, they will be ripe for destruction...but it doesn't. Still makes me believe we are in for some Divine Intervention where "Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory." - Pres. Nelson
 29 And I will ^aremember the covenant which I have made with my people; and I have covenanted with them that I would ^bgather them together in mine own due time, that I would give unto them again the ^cland of their fathers for their inheritance, which is the land of Jerusalem, which is the promised land unto them forever, saith the Father. Now He's talking about the Jews? When did that switch? When He says, "My people" is He always talking about the Jews?
 30 And it shall come to pass that the time cometh, when the fulness of my gospel shall be preached unto them; the Jews
 31 And they shall ^abelieve in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name. Is this before He appears at the Mt. of Olives?
 32 Then shall their ^awatchmen lift up their voice, and with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye. Who are "their" watchmen?
 33 Then will the Father gather them together again, and give unto the Jerusalem for the ^bland of their inheritance.
 34 Then shall they break forth into joy—^aSing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Father hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
 35 The Father hath made bare his holy arm the end time servant? in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of the Father; and the Father and I are one.
 36 And then shall be brought to pass that which is written: ^aAwake, awake again, and put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. no emphasis on “inclusiveness” now...your are unclean, you don’t enter! 
 37 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
 38 For thus saith the Lord: Ye have sold yourselves for naught, and ye shall be redeemed without money.
 39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that my people shall know my name; yea, in that day they shall know that I am he that doth speak.
 40 And then shall they say: ^aHow beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them, that ^bpublisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings unto them of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
 41 And then shall a cry go forth: ^aDepart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch not that which is ^bunclean; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye ^cclean that bear the vessels of the Lord.
 42 For ye shall ^anot go out with ^bhaste nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rearward. This is one of the great "gathering" scriptures. The Lord always gathers the righteous before He destroys the wicked. 
 43 Behold, my servant this is the end time davidic servant!  shall deal prudently; he shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.
 44 As many were astonished at thee—his visage was so marred, more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men—
 45 So shall he ^asprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him, for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they ^bconsider.
 46 Verily, verily, I say unto you, all these things shall surely come, even as the Father hath commanded me. Then shall this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people be fulfilled; and then shall ^aJerusalem be inhabited again with my people, and it shall be the land of their inheritance. This is all going to happen in our day. We need to pray to understand these words!