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Scripture Block
3 Nephi 27 – 4 Nephi
October 19–October 25. “There Could Not Be a Happier People”
Recommended Resources
Learn about the Book of Mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned Book of Mormon scholars like John W. Welch and Brant A. Gardner in the ScripturePlus app. Read this week's KnoWhy connected with the Come Follow Me curriculum, and watch a video elucidating an insight in this week's scripture reading.
KnoWhys
Reading Plan
Structure your personal scripture study by following a multimedia, day by day plan. Each day's assignment includes the required scripture passages from the Come Follow Me curriculum, as well as suggestions for additional resources to bring context and understanding to your study.
Monday
- Scripture: 3 Nephi 27:1-12
- KnoWhy 482: Why Must Christ’s True Church Be Called after His Name?
Tuesday
- Scripture: 3 Nephi 27:13-22
- KnoWhy 338: How Does the Gospel Bring Us unto Christ?
- KnoWhy 276: Where Does the Book of Mormon Declare the First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel?
Explore Further
Wednesday
- Scripture: 3 Nephi 27:23-33
- KnoWhy 222: Why Is 3 Nephi Sometimes Called the “Fifth Gospel”?
- KnoWhy 221: Why Must We Do What Jesus Did?
Thursday
- Scripture: 3 Nephi 28:1-17
- KnoWhy 223: Why Was the 3 Nephites' Wish Helpful for Mormon and Moroni?
- KnoWhy 509: How Was the Transfiguration of Jesus and the Three Nephites a Temple-Like Experience?
- Scripture: 3 Nephi 28:18-40
Friday
- Scripture: 3 Nephi 29:1-9
- KnoWhy 318: What Did the Early Saints Learn about the Second Coming from the Book of Mormon?
- KnoWhy 224: Why Did Mormon End Third Nephi with Such Serious Woes?
Saturday
- Scripture: 3 Nephi 30:1-2
- Scripture: 4 Nephi 1:1-18
- KnoWhy 225: Why Did the Peace Last So Long in 4 Nephi?
Sunday
- Scripture: 4 Nephi 1:19-49
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Quote: “Unity is not achieved by ignoring and isolating members who seem to be different or weaker and only associating with people who are like us. On the contrary, unity is gained by welcoming and serving those who are new and who have particular needs. These members are a blessing for the Church and provide us with opportunities to serve our neighbors and thus purify our own hearts. So, my brothers, it is your duty to reach out to anyone who appears at the doors of your Church buildings. Welcome them with gratitude and without prejudice. If people you do not know walk into one of your meetings, greet them warmly and invite them to sit with you. Please make the first move to help them feel welcome and loved, rather than waiting for them to come to you.”
Caussé, Gérald. “Ye Are No More Strangers,” General Conference October 2013. -
Quote: “Three times in the Book of Mormon these seven [tribes] are mentioned, each time in … rigid order…. Significantly, these references come from the earliest as well as the latest periods of Nephite history, indicating the importance and persistence of kinship as a basic element in society.”
Welch, John W. “Seven Tribes: An Aspect of Lehi’s Legacy.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, 93. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1992. - Chart: Nephite Books Compared by Length and Years Covered
Explore Further
Additional Resources (Bibliography)
3 Nephi 27
Christ in America Timeline. Springville, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 2016.
What Would Jesus Do? (3 Nephi 11-28). Springville, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 2016.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “The Gospel in the Book of Mormon.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 56.
Welch, John W. “Worthy of Another Look: Reusages of the Words of Christ.” Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 22, no. 1 (2013): 62–72.
3 Nephi 27:2
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “People to Whom Jesus Christ or the Angel of the Lord Appeared.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 41.
3 Nephi 27:5–8
Rasband, Ester. “The Third Commandment.” Ensign 29, no. 4 (1999).
3 Nephi 27:8–10
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Must Christ’s True Church Be Called after His Name? (3 Nephi 27:8).” KnoWhy 482 (November 6, 2018).
Bowen, Matthew L. “Founded Upon a Rock: Doctrinal and Temple Implications of Peter’s Surnaming.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 9 (2014): 1–28.
3 Nephi 27:13–22
Millet, Robert L. “’This is My Gospel.’” In The Book of Mormon: 3 Nephi 9-30, This is My Gospel, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 1–24. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1993.
Mitton, George L. “The Crucifixion as a Mockery, Witness, and Warning of the Judgment.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 32 (2019): 39–52.
Reynolds, Noel B. “’Come unto Me’ as a Technical Gospel Term.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 31 (2019): 1–24.
Reynolds, Noel B. “The Gospel According to Mormon.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 29 (2018): 85–104.
Reynolds, Noel B. “The Gospel of Jesus Christ as Taught by the Nephite Prophets.” BYU Studies Quarterly 31, no. 3 (1991): 31–50.
Reynolds, Noel B. “The Gospel as Taught by Nephite Prophets.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 257–259. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
Skinner, Andrew C. “’This is My Gospel’: Jesus’ Discourse in 3 Nephi.” Religious Educator 11, no. 3 (2010): 122–143.
3 Nephi 27:22
Bowen, Matthew L. “’See That Ye Are Not Lifted Up’: The Name Zoram and Its Paronomastic Pejoration.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 19 (2016): 109–143.
3 Nephi 27:20
Book of Mormon Central. “Where Does the Book of Mormon Declare the First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel? (3 Nephi 27:20).” KnoWhy 276 (February 17, 2017).
Book of Mormon Central. “How Does the Gospel Bring Us unto Christ? (3 Nephi 27:20).” KnoWhy 338 (July 12, 2017).
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Christ's Invitation.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 174.
3 Nephi 27:21–22
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Is 3 Nephi Sometimes Called the “Fifth Gospel”? (3 Nephi 27:21).” KnoWhy 222 (November 2, 2016).
Book of Mormon Central. “Was the Book of Mormon Used as the First Church Administrative Handbook? (3 Nephi 27:21–22).” KnoWhy 72 (April 6, 2016).
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Must We Do What Jesus Did? (3 Nephi 27:22).” KnoWhy 221 (November 1, 2016).
3 Nephi 27:27
Faust, James E. “That We Might Know Thee.” Ensign 29, no. 1 (1999).
Lund, Gerald N. “I Have a Question: Are We Expected to Achieve Perfection in This Life?” Ensign (August 1986).
Welch, John W. “Toward an Understanding of the Sermon as an Ancient Temple Text.” In Illuminating the Sermon at the Temple & the Sermon on the Mount, 47–114. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
Welch, John W. “Word Studies from the New Testament.” Ensign (January 1995).
3 Nephi 28
Christ in America Timeline. Springville, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 2016.
What Would Jesus Do? (3 Nephi 11-28). Springville, UT: Book of Mormon Central, 2016.
Green, Spencer L. “Review of Postponing Heaven: The Three Nephites, the Bodhisattva, and the Mahdi.” BYU Studies Quarterly 56, no. 4 (2017): 189–192.
3 Nephi 28:7
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Was the 3 Nephites' Wish Helpful for Mormon and Moroni? (3 Nephi 28:7).” KnoWhy 223 (November 3, 2016).
3 Nephi 28:13–18
Tolley, Kevin L. “To ‘See and Hear.’” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 18 (2016): 139–158.
Book of Mormon Central. “Did the Book of Mormon Witnesses Really See What They Claimed? (3 Nephi 28:15).” KnoWhy 521 (June 20, 2019).
Book of Mormon Central. “How Was the Transfiguration of Jesus and the Three Nephites a Temple-Like Experience? (3 Nephi 28:15).” KnoWhy 509 (April 4, 2019).
3 Nephi 28:25
Anonymous, “Out of the Dust: Names of the Three Nephites.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9, no. 1 (2000): 68–69, 80.
3 Nephi 28:30–31
Nyman, Monte S. “The Judgment Seat of Christ.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 199–213. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1995.
Williams, Clyde J. “The Three Nephites and the Doctrine of Translation.” In The Book of Mormon: 3 Nephi 9-30, This is My Gospel, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 237–251. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1993.
Wilson, William A. “Three Nephites.” In Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. Vol. 4. New York: Macmillan, 1992.
3 Nephi 29
3 Nephi 29:2
Book of Mormon Central. “What Did the Early Saints Learn about the Second Coming from the Book of Mormon? (3 Nephi 29:2).” KnoWhy 318 (May 26, 2017).
3 Nephi 29:5
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Mormon End Third Nephi with Such Serious Woes? (3 Nephi 29:5).” KnoWhy 224 (November 4, 2016).
3 Nephi 30
3 Nephi 30:1–2
Hilton, John III, Ryan Sharp, Brad Wilcox, and Jaron Hansen. “Gentiles in the Book of Mormon.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 33 (2019): 267–288.
4 Nephi
4 Nephi 1
Skinner, Andrew C. “Zion Gained and Lost: Fourth Nephi as the Quintessential Model.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 289–302. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1995.
Sperry, Sidney B. “What the Book of Mormon Is (Concluded).” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 4, no. 1 (1995): 28–40.
Van Dyke, Blair G. “Light or Dark, Freedom or Bondage: Enhancing Book of Mormon Themes through Contrasts.” Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 6, no. 3 (2005): 99–116.
Woodsworth, Warner P. “The Socio-Economics of Zion.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 337–352. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1995.
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Nephite Cycle of Righteousness: Mormon's Warning for Us Today.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 144.
4 Nephi 1:2–3
Merrill, Byron R. “There Was No Contention.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 167–183. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1995.
Middleton, Michael W. “Gathering in the Last Days: Saved in Sheaves, Burned in Bundles.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 185–197. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1995.
Rencher, Alvin C. “Unity Through the Power of Charity.” In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 263–275. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1995.
4 Nephi 1:14
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Who Kept the Records in the Book of Mormon? (By Lineages).” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 17.
4 Nephi 1:16
Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did the Peace Last So Long in 4 Nephi? (3 Nephi 1:16).” KnoWhy 225 (November 7, 2016).
4 Nephi 1:19
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Who Kept the Records in the Book of Mormon? (By Lineages).” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 17.
4 Nephi 1:21
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Who Kept the Records in the Book of Mormon? (By Lineages).” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 17.
4 Nephi 1:27
Sorenson, John L. “The Decline of the God Quetzalcoatl.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 234–236. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.
4 Nephi 1:34
Sorenson, John L. “Prophecy Among the Maya.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 263–265. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.
4 Nephi 1:36–38
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Did Lehi Organize His Posterity into Seven Tribes?.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 116.
4 Nephi 1:47–48
Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Who Kept the Records in the Book of Mormon? (By Lineages).” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 17.