He Did Expound All Things Unto Them

“He Did Expound All Things Unto Them”
3 Nephi 22-26

As members of the Lord’s true church on earth today, we believe that we lived as spirit children of our Father in Heaven with him before we were born into our earthly tabernacle.
It was there, in this pre-existence that “the most marvelous system ever devised for administering salvation to all men in all nations in all ages “ ( Millennial Messiah p. 182) was planned.

Israel, the Lord’s chosen people, were a congregation set apart. These were the Father’s spirit children who acquired a talent for spirituality, who chose to heed the divine word then given, and who sought, above their fellows, to do good and work righteousness. These were all foreordained to be born in the house of Israel. They earned the right to be born as the Lord’s people and have the privilege, on a preferential basis, of believing and obeying the word of truth. Believing blood, the blood of Abraham, flows in their veins. They are the ones of whom Jesus Said, “ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.( John 10:27)
(Millennial Messiah p.182-3)

Moses said, “ When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” (Duet. 32:8-9) Jehovah said to Israel anciently, “ If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation (Ex. 19:5-6) For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord they God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth (Duet. 7:6; 14:2). Peter said to Israel in his day: “ Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) (Millennial Messiah p. 183)

Adam was sent by the Father first, to be the father of all living; Noah also was sent , and became the father of all living from his day onward; and Abraham came to be the father of the faithful, the father of all who believe and obey the gospel from his day onward as long as the earth shall stand. The seed of Abraham, then the seed of Isaac, and then the seed of Jacob comprise the chosen people, a people who will first save themselves and who then offer salvation to all men.

From Jacob were formed the 12 tribes of Israel, who were scattered because they apostatized; they broke the Ten Commandments; they rejected the prophets and seers; they forsook their covenants; because they became as the world. Because of their iniquities, the Lord let Israel suffer and live and be as the world. They were carried into captivity by other nations and spread far and wide with ten of the tribes becoming lost.

Ephraim is the presiding tribe in Israel. He plays the chief role in both the scattering and the gathering of the Chosen seed. It is his privilege to lay the foundation for the Second coming, a part that has already commenced.

Speaking of the day of gathering and of the people who should bring it to pass, Moses said: “Joseph..shall push the people together to the ends of the earth.” The tribe of Joseph shall do it! And who is Joseph? Moses continues: “ And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.”
Thus, if Israel is to be scattered in all nations upon all the face of the earth; if she is to be gathered by the tribe of Joseph; if Ephraim has the birthright and is the presiding tribe; if the other tribes are to receive their blessings from Ephraim-then Ephraim must also be in all nations upon all the face of the earth, and Ephraim must be the first tribe to gather in the last days. And so it is. (Millennial Messiah 190-191)


We learned last week of the preceding events of this gathering:

There would be a free nation raised up in America where the Gospel would be restored among the Gentiles.

The Lord would perform a marvelous work and wonder in bringing forth the Book of Mormon

The Lord would raise up a servant, a prophet to accomplish his work that would be marred because of them, but the Lord would heal him.

In October 2008 General Conference , Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the quorum of the twelve apostles quoted Joseph Smith as saying, “ The building up of Zion is a cause that has interested the people of God in every age; it is a theme upon which prophets, priests and kings have dwelt with peculiar delight; they have looked forward with joyful anticipation to the day in which we live; and fired with heavenly and joyful anticipations they have sung and written and prophesied of this our day; but they died without the sight; we are the favored people that God has made choice of to bring about the Latter-day glory.” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society course of study, 2007], 186).

This great task of gathering Israel in the latter days to build Zion is ours. This is what the Savior speaks about as he quotes Isaiah chapter 54 in 3 Nephi Chapter 22.

The Savior begins this beautiful poem by describing his relationship with his covenant people as that of a husband and wife.

3 Nephi 22: 1-2
1 And then shall that which is written come to pass: Sing, O abarren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into bsinging, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; for more are the children of the cdesolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy astakes;

Here scattered Israel is referred to as the children of the desolate. while the members of the church ate the children of the married wife. The numbers to be gathered are great-Israel’s conversion, gathering, and return to the lands of her inheritance will require strong, enlarged stakes in Zion. Scattered Israel will gather in such numbers as to be so huge as to cause any prior miracles to pale in comparison.

With this in mind, what is our responsibility as members of the church, of gathered Ephraim, in enlarging the place of thy tent and strengthening thy stakes?



President Ezra Taft Benson said:
The prophets likened latter-day Zion to a great tent encompassing the earth. That tent was supported by cords fastened to stakes. Those stakes, of course, are various geographical organizations spread out over the earth. Presently, Israel is being gathered to the various stakes of Zion..

“.. Stakes are a defense for the Saints from enemies both seen and unseen. The defense is direction provided through priesthood channels that strengthens testimony and promotes family solidarity and individual righteousness” (“Strengthen Thy Stakes,” Ensign, Jan. 1991, 2, 4).

What can we do individually and as families to ensure that our stakes are a refuge and a defense against evil?

4 Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to ashame; for thou shalt forget the bshame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the creproach of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
5 For thy maker, thy ahusband, the Lord of Hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel—the God of the whole earth shall he be called

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught: “The imagery of Jehovah as bridegroom and Israel as bride is among the most commonly used metaphors in scripture, being used by the Lord and his prophets to describe the relationship between Deity and the children of the covenant.

What does this metaphor tell you about how the Lord feels about his covenant people?

7 For a small moment have I aforsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.

Christ has, on occasion, been rightfully angry with backsliding Israel, but that has always been brief and temporary—’a small moment.’ Compassion and mercy always return and prevail in a most reassuring way. The mountains and the hills may disappear. The water of the great seas may dry up. … But the Lord’s kindness and peace will never be taken from his covenant people. He has sworn with a heavenly oath that he will not be wroth with them forever” (Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 290).

11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted! Behold, I will lay thy astones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
13 And aall thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the bpeace of thy children.

Even in the midst and aftermath of great affliction, the Lord will shower material and spiritual blessings on Israel, including those jewels and precious metals that will be used to build the New Jerusalem ( Christ and the New Covenant, 291)

“Zion shall begin to be built before the time of Christ’s second coming in glory. The Saints who are gathered in all nations shall live for a season in love and peace ( despite the degenerative condition of the world) prior to the Millennium. Because of the goodness of those who have given themselves fully to the Lord and his cause, their meetings shall be Pentecostal outpourings; the Spirit of God shall truly burn like a fire in their hearts. Prophecy and revelation and healings and angelic ministrations shall abound, for the faith of the Saints shall have rent the damning veil of unbelief and opened the heavens to the gifts and wonders enjoyed by the former-day Saints. And these spiritual experiences shall be multiplied immeasurably after the glorious return of the Master. When wickedness and enmity shall have been removed from this earth, there will be no end to the truths to be taught, the miracles to be performed, the outpourings to be enjoyed. DCBM 4:156)

17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the aservants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “ No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent, till it has penetrated every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” ( History of the Church, 4:540)

After Jesus quoted these great prophecies, He said to the people, “Ye ought to search these things” ( 3 Nephi 23:1).

3 Nephi 23
1 And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to asearch these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of bIsaiah.
2 For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; atherefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles.
3 And all things that he spake have been and ashall be, even according to the words which he spake.

We have heard much lately of studying and reading the scriptures, in stake conference as well as general conference. Those of you who have taken on this challenge know the benefits from doing so. Your life changes immeasurably.

Here, the Savior is very specific in commanding the Nephites, and those who read their record to search the words of Isaiah diligently. Why is it so important for us to do this?

Bruce R. McConkie:
If our eternal salvation depends upon our ability to understand the writings of Isaiah as fully
and truly as Nephi understood them – and who shall say that such is not the case! – how shall we fare in that great day when with Nephi we shall stand before the pleasing bar of Him who said: Great are the words of Isaiah? It just may be that my salvation (and yours also!) does in fact depend upon our ability to understand the writings of Isaiah as fully and truly as Nephi understood them. For that matter, why should either Nephi or Isaiah know anything that is withheld from us? Does not that God who is no respecter of persons treat all his children alike? Has he not given us his promise and recited to us the terms and conditions of his law pursuant to which he will reveal to us what he has revealed to them? Bruce R. McConkie, Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah, Ensign, Oct 1973, p. 78.

Victor L. Ludlow:
Isaiah, when facing a difficult teaching situation, did not use the parable as a tool; instead, he veiled his message in clouds of symbolism, poetry, and complex terminology. In other words, instead of speaking at a simple level and letting his listeners build upon that foundation, Isaiah
spoke at a high intellectual and spiritual level, thus challenging or even forcing his listeners to attain that level before they could begin to understand his words. Isaiah was not only difficult, he was deliberately difficult. We must study his words, wrestle with them, and ponder them at great length before his powerful, sublime teachings begin to emerge and inspire us. Because of this, it is easy to become discouraged and give up before we begin to understand his message. However, through serious and prayerful study, when we finally grasp the language and ideas of a particular chapter until they not only make sense, but enlighten and inspire as well, we realize that we have arrived at a profound level of understanding. Isaiah: Prophet, Seer, and Poet, 134-135)

The Savior also commanded the people to “ Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things” . The prophets all testify of Jesus Christ. By studying their words, our testimonies are strengthened of Him.

6 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he said unto them again, after he had expounded all the scriptures unto them which they had received, he said unto them: Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have not.
7 And it came to pass that he said unto aNephi: Bring forth the record which ye have kept.
8 And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said:
9 Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant aSamuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were bmany csaints who should darise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so?
10 And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to thy words, and they were all fulfilled.
11 And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not awritten this thing, that many bsaints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?
12 And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written.
13 And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be awritten; therefore it was written according as he commanded.
14 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had aexpounded all the scriptures in one, which they had written, he commanded them that they should bteach the things which he had expounded unto them.

Why was it so important for the people to include the prophecies of Samuel the Lamanite concerning the resurrection?

(Neal A. Maxwell:
“The resurrected Jesus made a special point of ensuring that this glorious event—witnessed alike on two hemispheres, and in which all mortals have an inexpressibly important and personal stake—was likewise carefully recorded. In fact, Jesus, noting the neglect of Samuel's prophecy, commanded that it be written. (See 3 Nephi 23:9-11.) No wonder, for He anticipated the subsequent reactions to the reality of the resurrection, such as those of the Athenians to Paul's preaching: ‘And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.’ (Acts 17:32.) Jesus, the Jehovah of the Old Testament (who had been so careful to see that much lesser facts were carefully established in the mouths of two or three witnesses), insisted that the two central facts of human history, the atonement and the resurrection, be carefully established in the pages of the two great written witnesses of Him and the resurrection. Such careful correlation and amplified attesting would surely not surprise previous prophets—nor should it us. The above is not recited just to note how reassuringly tidy the restored gospel is, nor how impressively exacting about facts the Lord is. Instead, one should ask, ‘What knowledge does the world need to have more than the sure testimony and evidence that Jesus is the Christ and that His atonement actually accomplished God's great plan of redemption, whereby mankind will be blessed with immortality?’ In a world filled increasingly with drift, disbelief, and despair, what more welcome ‘good news’ could be given?” (Plain and Precious Things, p. 30))

Jesus also commanded the people to write some of the words of the prophet Malachi. Why were these words absent from the Nephite’s record?

Malachi was an Old Testament Prophet who lived nearly 200 years after Lehi left Jerusalem.

Why are these chapters particularly important to us?

They deal with the second coming of the Lord

3 Nephi 24
1 And it came to pass that he commanded them that they should write the words which the Father had given unto Malachi, which he should tell unto them. And it came to pass that after they were written he expounded them. And these are the words which he did tell unto them, saying: Thus said the Father unto Malachi—Behold, I will asend my bmessenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly ccome to his temple, even the dmessenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts

Who is the messenger that the Father is referring to?

One may fairly ask, “If John was the Elias of Christ’s First Coming, then who was the
Elias of Christ’s Second Coming? Was it John the Baptist? Was it Joseph Smith?” The answer is
found in the D&C, I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the
world…and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me (DC 45:9). This is
according to the restorative functions of the doctrine of Elias, for there were many angels who
brought their keys back to the earth to establish the everlasting covenant in preparation for the Lord’s Second Coming. Bruce R. McConkie said, “Who is the promised Elias who was to come and restore all things?…Was it one man? Certainly not. Many angelic ministrants have been sent from the courts of glory to confer keys and powers, to commit their dispensations and glories again to men on earth…it is apparent that no one messenger has carried the whole burden of the restoration.” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 221)

Joseph Smith:
“The spirit of Elias is first, Elijah second, and Messiah last. Elias is a forerunner to prepare the way, and the spirit and power of Elijah is to come after, and 4 in the Old Testament. These chapters contain significant doctrinal material that reveals much concerning the Lord's coming. Perhaps that is why the Lord directed that they be written in the Nephite record, and perhaps it is why Mormon was inspired to include them in his Book of Mormon abridgment for us. Because of the fragmented nature of the material in Malachi 3 and 4, in which a diverse variety of topics is discussed in short (sometimes unconnected) segments, this section appears to be a collection of utterances—a quote book—and not a continuous prophecy. Perhaps some of the brief quotations may not even be those of Malachi himself. Elder Bruce R. McConkie suggested that Malachi was quoting (specifically in Mal. 4:1-2) from the words of the ancient
prophet Zenos, whose writings were contained on the plates of brass but are not found in the Bible as it stands today. (Bruce R. McConkie, The Doctrinal Restoration, Studies in Scriptures, 8:197-198, 206.) holding the keys of power, building the Temple to the capstone, placing the seals of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon the house of Israel and making all things ready; then Messiah comes to His Temple, which is last of all.” (Teachings, p. 340)

7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine aordinances, and have not kept them. bReturn unto me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts. But ye say: Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In atithes and bofferings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the atithes into the storehouse, that there may be bmeat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the cwindows of heaven, and pour you out a dblessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the adevourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts.

Why does the Lord require us to pay tithes and offerings?

(LeGrand Richards:
“In a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith at Kirtland, Ohio, September 11, 1831, the Lord made very plain the importance of observing the law of tithing: ‘Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.’ (D&C 64:23.) How could one's conscience not burn within him upon the coming of the Son of Man, if he realized that he had made no contribution to the expense of establishing God's kingdom in the earth. Especially would this be so when one realizes that all that he has, he obtained from the Lord, who created the earth and the fulness thereof, and who gave us our lives and our being upon this earth, with a promise that we might inherit the earth eternally, if we are faithful.
Should we, then, not be willing to pay something for such an inheritance? It is not uncommon for a man in this life to pay money for ten to twenty-five years to purchase a small plot of ground for his use while he lives upon the earth. Should he be less interested in acquiring an eternal inheritance?” ( A Marvelous Work And A Wonder, p. 368-9)

3 Nephi 25
5 Behold, I will send you aElijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful bday of the Lord;
6 And he shall aturn the heart of the bfathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and csmite the earth with a curse.

What is the purpose of Elijah’s mission?
Elijah will reveal unto men the priesthood. He will bring again the sealing power and authorize mortals to use the priesthood to bind on earth and seal everlastingly in the heavens.
Elijah shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers. He shall reveal the covenants of the fathers ( Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) in relation to the children. What were the promises? The continuation of the family unit in eternity- of posterity in numbers as the dust of the earth and the stars of the firmament- of eternal increase and of the consequent glory, and honor and exaltation.
Elijah shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. His coming will unite families in this life and in eternity. Because he comes, all the ordinances of salvation and exaltation shall be binding on earth and in heaven, both for the living and the dead. The tremendous amount of family history work being done in the church and out is a testament to the spirit of Elijah at work.
Elijah’s coming will keep the earth from being smitten with a curse and from being utterly wasted at our Lord’s return. If the sealing power was not given to men, there would be no harvest of saved souls when the Lord reaps in his fields. Thus the vineyard would be cursed, it would be wasted, it would have failed to serve the useful purpose for which it was created.

“ Keep in mind this: that when the full measure of Elijah’s mission is understood, that the hearts of the children will be turned to the fathers, and the fathers to the children. It applies just as much on this side of the veil as it does on the other side of the veil. If we neglect our families here in having family home night and we fail in our responsibilities here, how could we feel that we are doing our full duty in turning the hearts of our children to their fathers..so, the hearts of you fathers and mothers must be turned to your children right now if you have the true spirit of Elijah, and not think that it applies merely to those who are beyond the veil. Let your hearts be turned to your children, and teach your children but you must do it when they are young enough to be properly schooled. If you are neglecting your family home evening, you are neglecting your genealogy research work. ( Priesthood Genealogy Seminar, 1973, quoted in Leaun G. Otten and C. Max Caldwell, Sacred Truths of the D&C, 2 vols. [ Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1982], 1:16.)


3 Nephi 26
1 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had told these things he expounded them unto the multitude; and he did expound all things unto them, both great and small.
2 And he saith: aThese scriptures, which ye had not with you, the Father commanded that I should give unto you; for it was wisdom in him that they should be given unto future generations.
3 And he did expound all things, even from the beginning until the atime that he should come in his bglory—yea, even all things which should come upon the face of the earth, even until the celements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth should be dwrapt together as a scroll, and the heavens and the earth should pass away;
4 And even unto the agreat and last day, when all people, and all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall bstand before God, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

The Lord expounds all things unto the Nephites- from the creation until the second coming. This information is available to us as well, through the holy scriptures. By prayer and personal revelation, we too, can have all things expounded unto us.

In his record, Mormon included only the lesser part of what Jesus taught the people. This was done to try our faith- that we put forth the personal effort to receive the fullness.

President Spencer W. Kimball
I have had many people ask me through the years, ‘When do you think we will get the balance of the Book of Mormon records?’ And I have said, ‘How many in the congregation would like to read the sealed portion of the plates?’ And almost always there is a 100-percent response. And then I ask the same congregation, ‘How many of you have read the part that has been opened to us?’ And there are many who have not read the Book of Mormon, the unsealed portion. We are quite often looking for the spectacular, the unobtainable. I have found many people who want to live the higher laws when they do not live the lower laws” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 531–32).

The Savior showed us the importance of the scriptures by quoting them, commanding the people to search them, and adding to them. As we search, ponder and pray about the scriptures, we will understand them more deeply and be able to teach them to others more effectively.