Acts of the Three Nephites

Chapter 1

This story will seem like a fable unless God lets you know its mysteries (verse 1). Those who accept these records will be able to understand the scripture that’s already been revealed. Those who don’t, will forgot what they learned from previous scriptures (verse 5). This record won’t be easy to understand. Past, present, and future will be entangled so only those will faith will understand it (verse 6). (You can say that again.)

Chapter 2

Jesus touched the twelve Nephite disciples with “the finger” and gave them what they desired. Nine of them wanted to go to heaven after they died (verse 1).

“Then, Jesus rose and girded his loins with a drying cloth.” (Wait. Were his loins not girded before?). Jesus washed the feet of the twelve and gave them the greater priesthood. (According to Twelve Apostles of Moses 21 this wasn’t supposed to happen until the end of all.) They’re supposed to organize the Church so that it covers the whole earth (verse 2). (Since the Nephites go extinct soon after this, Jesus is setting them up for failure.)

Three of the twelve want to remain on earth like John from the New Testament until Jesus returns. These three will continue to convert people as long as the world exists (verses 3-5). (Why is there no evidence for the existence of these missionaries who’ve been actively preaching for centuries?)

The three see heaven but aren’t allowed to say what they saw (verses 7-8). The three will be among the Jews and Gentiles, but the Jews and Gentiles will not know them. (How do they do their missionary work then?) At some point, the Lord will tell them to bring the scattered tribes of Israel to Jesus (verse 9).

Chapter 3

200 years after Jesus visited the Nephites, they divided into classes, and organized their own churches for the purpose of obtaining riches and glory (verse 1). Ten years later, there were many churches calling themselves the Church of Christ, but they tolerated iniquities and promiscuities and set aside the principles of equality. They should have all things in common with all profit going to the united order for the collective good (verse 2).

They threw the Three Nephites into prison, but they got out using the power of God. They tried to kill them with fire and wild animals, but they escaped without a scratch (verse 3).

230 years after Jesus, there arose a people called the Nephites, the true believers in Christ. (Weren’t Nephites around before Christ?) The Nephites had three tribes: Jacobites, Josephites, and Zoramites named after the three disciples of Christ. Jonah (our narrator) descended from the tribe of Joseph, one of the sons of Nephi who was the chief disciple of the Lord (verse 5). (Wasn’t Jonah one of the twelve disciples himself?)

The Church of Christ prevailed for 260 years until the people became proud because of their riches and wouldn’t share with the poor. (According to verse one, this happened after 200 years.) The three begin to suffer for the sins of the world (verse 7).

It was reported that they were brought to death more than once, but they were left unharmed (verse 8). It was claimed they would never taste death, but actually, the Lord said “if you die in me, you will not taste the death” (verse 9). The Three Nephites are killed at all times, but do not suffer the pains of death, except for the sins of the world (verse 10). 100 years after Jesus, the Three Nephites were regarded as slain for the first time (verse 11).

Jonah’s father was a disciple of Jesus and resurrected his brother Timothy. He was still alive after everyone had died except the three (verse 12).

The Three don’t know if they die or not, but they don’t suffer the pains of death (forgetfulness when passing through the veil). They remember earth and heaven. “We are being delivered to death at all times, to immortality” (verse 13).

They remain in a transitory state of being and not being in the world, in a partial and continuous transformation, so Satan won’t have power over them and they won’t be held back by the rulers of earth. At the day of judgment, they’ll finally go through a complete transformation and no longer leave the presence of God (verse 14).

The Three were shown the mysteries John wrote about (verse 16). 210 years after Jesus, the Three were considered dead but the Lord brought them back on more than one occasion (verse 17).

Chapter 4

He wasn’t kidding when he said this would be hard to understand: “We ministered among them until the days when Ammoron, the brother of Amos, which were the sons of Amos my brother; yea, the one who replaced my father, Nephi, among the twelve disciples, when he took the leadership of the church among the Nephites.” (verse 1) So… they ministered until the days when Ammoron… did what? A couple lines down “he” took leadership of the church. Does the “he” refer to Ammoron? He’s the brother of Amos… but then we’re suddenly talking about sons of Amos… It seems to be saying that Amos is the “sons of Amos”… Amos is also our narrator’s brother… Does this mean Ammoron is our narrator’s brother as well? Or is the narrator’s brother a different Amos? Maybe he means Ammoron is the brother of Amos who is the son of Amos (who is the narrator’s brother), making Ammoron the narrator’s nephew? The narrator’s father Nephi was replaced among the twelve disciples by… who? Ammoron? Amos maybe? If there’s more than one Amos, it could have been either of them. Whoever wrote this needs a copy editor.

The Three remain among their people until Ammoron hid the records 320 years after the coming of Christ. (Interesting that the year is always a multiple of ten. Are they rounding up or do interesting things only happen once every ten years?) The Lord then sent them to minister among the Jews and Gentiles. (If John is also remaining on earth, wouldn’t he have the mission to the Jews covered?) Five years later, the Lord appeared to Mormon when he was 15 (verse 2).

After some time (not giving us how many years?) ministering among the Jews and Gentiles in Jerusalem and “in all parts of Asia” (bet you didn’t know there were Mormon missionaries in Asia in late antiquity did you?), they were reassigned back to the Nephites (verse 3).

Our narrator Jonah, makes sure we know his name, but doesn’t tell us the names of the other two Nephites. They minister to Mormon and his son Moroni (have you noticed that if you remove a single letter, both their names are Moron?). Jonah wrote “Acts of the Three Nephites” and “Revelations of John”(?). His father Nephi wrote “Prophecies of Samuel the Lamanite” (verse 4).

Chapter 5

Jesus gave the twelve experiences that can’t be described. If not for these evidences of his love, the three wouldn’t have wanted to remain in a world so full of hate and suffering (verse 1). When sent to distant lands where people speak different languages, they use the gift of tongues to understand (verse 2).

14 years after being caught up, Jesus privately took Jonah without the other two to Jerusalem to take part in a debate regarding the circumcision of the Gentiles. Jonah explained that Gentiles don’t need to be circumcised and it was an angel of Satan creating this strange feeling of disagreement (verse 4).

Jonah returns to the Nephites. His father Nephi, chief of the twelve, says Christ will be born in Jerusalem, but some don’t believe him (verse 6). The prophecies come true one by one until Jesus Christ comes down from the sky in a beam of light (verse 7).

Chapter 6

Jesus promises the Nephites they’ll become a holy nation if they keep his commandments (verse 1). Our first person narrator switches to Nephi. Jesus gives Nephi the presidency of the high priesthood and also to his descendants to parallel the Church of Christ in Jerusalem (verse 2). Like Melchizedek, Nephi is both king and priest (verse 5).

All good feelings come from God. (So if it feels good, it’s good? Religions generally teach the opposite.) Don’t allow bad feelings into your heart (verse 10).

“Yea, verily, verily, I say unto you; that every feeling that persuades men to do good among their brethren, and impels them to love, it proceeds from the hand of God.”

Acts of the Three Nephites 6:12

The devil tricks us with sentiments similar to divine feelings, so watch out (verse 14). Jesus Christ sent us the Holy Spirit to be able to distinguish good from evil (verse 15). (Does this mean people who haven’t been baptized and had laying on of hands don’t know the different between good and evil? How can we judge them for doing evil if they don’t know they’re being evil?)

This is the secret God sealed to be revealed in the fullness of time (verse 17). (What is? Based on context, he’s saying the secret is how to distinguish good from evil. Why would this be a secret? Also, wasn’t it revealed already? You’re not even telling us anything new.)

The fall of Adam and Eve causes men to be enslaved by bad feelings. Unless we submit to God’s laws, we’ll never be free (verse 18). The first person narrator switches back to Jonah (verse 20).

Chapter 7

Zion “shall not come until the words of this book fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah” (verse 1). The next couple verses then quote Isaiah 43:5-9. The Lord will call someone to write who won’t be able to speak to this people because of his dialect, but the Lord will provide a spokesman (verse 4). (Berger seems to be referring to himself again.)

In these days, there will be a pure tongue. The Lord’s people will feel love for each other (verse 5). The physical Zion can’t be built until the citizens of Zion live harmoniously (verse 7). Then the spiritual temple will build the physical temple and the Lord will be among his own (verse 8). However, these won’t be the days when the city of Enoch comes from heaven (verse 9).

Keep the commandments and when the Lord comes, he’ll reveal new commandments (verse 10). (It’s like the saying that the reward for doing good work is just more work.) The people of the last days must have no poor among them (verse 12).

Chapter 8

The Nephite people banished from their midst resentment, sorrow, rancor, anguish, fear, anger, covetousness, and lasciviousness. Whenever an adverse feeling was identified, a record was made of it for the purpose of working it out at church meetings. There were no more quarrels among the Nephite people (verse 1).

The number of believers increased. Baptism is a symbolic burial and rebirth (verse 2). Nephi takes upon himself the leadership of the church with Laconeus as his right arm and Giggidoni as his left arm. Jonah’s younger brother Amos replaces Nephi in the twelve. They intend to establish the Order of Enoch (verse 3).

Moses taught this same law in the desert, but the covenant people loved riches more than God (verse 4). Moses asked the Lord to forgive the people, but the Lord struck them down because they worshiped gold in the form of the golden calf (verse 5).

In the year 36, all the people in the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, were converted and had no rich or poor among them sharing all things in common (verse 6). Not everyone was willing to live this way, so the law of consecration was not a commandment, but only a principle. There was no coercion or resentment towards those who wanted to keep their possessions (verse 10).

Chapter 9

Starting with the wealthy, each gave to the Lord as much as they wanted to (verse 2). Many started by only giving a tithe, but increased their consecration until they gave all (verse 3).

The church helped the less well off with its stockpiles (verse 4). However, the church assessed the abilities of the individual or family and had them trade something in return (verse 5). The family would receive resources for a limited time, after which, if they still weren’t able to support themselves, their case would be reevaluated (verse 6).

Some said this state of affairs didn’t really have all things in common among the people (verse 7). The high council decided it was okay to not give everything as long as one’s riches are available to the Lord. The wealthy don’t have to actually give up everything, as long as they’re willing to give up everything (verse 8).

It’s not possible to have a society without some people in need (verse 10). If there is a poor man among us, a rich man is required to give a portion of his wealth to help his brother (verse 11). However, if the rich man refuses to help, he will be expelled from this covenant, but not from the people of the Church (verse 12). Without the church, people would never distribute their surplus to those in need (verse 14). (He’s obviously never heard of charitable organizations, welfare programs, or philanthropy.)

Chapter 10

We should all watch over each other so there is no needy, sick, or afflicted amongst us (verse 1). Don’t complain because there’s nothing more destructive than complaining. Don’t look for your brother or sister’s mistakes (verse 2). Don’t be idle (verse 3). Only love your husband or wife exclusively. If you covet your neighbor’s wife, the Holy Ghost will stay away from your house. If you don’t repent, you’ll be taken out of the people of Christ (verse 4). Zion begins with the family. If the family falls apart, so does the earthly Kingdom of God (verse 5).

Chapter 11

Christ died so we can become adopted sons of God and share in the glory (verse 1). There are many Churches of Christ scattered throughout all nations. Together, they make up the CHURCH OF CHRIST. Different in customs and tongues, formed by Gentiles and Jews who abandoned their own religious opinions, customs, and traditions (verse 3).

Let us abandon this division between Nephites, Lamanties, Josephties, Jacobites, and Zoramites and just all be Nephites (verse 5). Only the high council or the general assembly of stewards have the authority to take wealth from someone to aid the needy (verse 6). The portion obtained by the needy must be in accordance with their faith and capacity (verse 7).

“That man whose soul is conformed to be a slave” will never be truly free. “He will never behave proudly in spite of his freedom.” He who is free in his soul will never be a slave, even if he is kept in captivity (verse 8). There isn’t supposed to be free or slave among us, but some slaves don’t want to be free. They wouldn’t know what to do with freedom (verse 9). However, disciples of Christ should not keep a person who is free in their heart as a slave (verse 10). (How do you tell who can be kept as a slave and who can’t?)

Everyone should be assigned a portion commensurate with the values and yearning they carry in their hearts. The soul of some men conforms to being a slave. Likewise, a farmer won’t know how to be a builder unless there is this longing in his heart (verse 11).

Chapter 12

Jesus commanded Jonah’s father Nephi to summarize all the Nephite records in one single record. These prophetic expressions of Jesus will be revealed in the last days (verse 2). The poor and ignorant will become wise in the last days. The rich and the intellectuals will support those who come to the Church of Christ in the last days because of these records. These records will be preached among all nations (verse 4).

These sealed records contain the commandments necessary to build Zion in the last days (verse 7). If not for these records, people in the future would be unbelievers (verse 8). In the last days, you must spread good feelings among your brothers who are in apostasy (verse 10).

Alma baptized people so they’d live the principles of the United Order (verse 11). This is the only way the true church will be recognized (verse 12).

There are many Churches of Christ, but woe to him who changes the name that will be revealed. It might be changed by adding or subtracting from God’s word (verse 14). “If the true Name for Me revealed is altered” the doctrine has been altered in their hearts (verse 15).

They won’t be entirely abandoned. After Jesus recovers what’s his, he’ll restore their inheritance and his name (verse 16). Those who altered the doctrine, even just part of a letter, will be in Jesus’s left hand until God deems it expedient to bring them back into the fold. God will lead them into his right hand by observing Jesus’s commandments (verse 17).

Alma ordained priests and commanded they should only teach what he taught, which was what prophets of the past taught. He didn’t change what was written earlier (verse 18). He told them to preach nothing but repentance and faith in the Lord to avoid increasing the confusion of his day. In the end of times, Jesus’s gospel will be confusing because of many interpretations foisted upon it (verse 19).

He also commanded them to have one faith and one baptism done under the proper priesthood authority and have hearts intertwined in unity and love (verse 20). Alma also commanded them to observe the Sabbath. In the last days, the people of the Lord will be manipulated into not obeying this commandment (verse 21). In the last days, the learned scholars of the law will look at the Sabbath with contempt (verse 22).

The seventh day (by calling the Sabbath the seventh day, does he mean Saturday?) is “at the core of the whole truth of my gospel from before the foundation of the world until its end” (verse 24).

The first moon of every month is a special day of adoration. On this day, Jesus’s people will hold a special banquet, no matter which day of the week it falls on, so newly baptized members of the church can share Christ’s body and blood for the first time (verse 25). (I don’t think I’ve heard of this before, but Ezekiel 46:1-3 indicates new moons should be treated like the sabbath. 1 Samuel 20 mentions a new moon feast as well.)

“These, therefore, are two indivisible signs of my priesthood, which in all ages Satan has annulled for the purpose of inhibiting the full force of my power among my people, for it is in the observance of the Sabbath law and the correct practice of the sacramental ordinance that manifests the power of divinity among the sons of men in the flesh, and if these are not observed exactly as stipulated by Me and my Father, even before the foundation of the World, to be the same from everlasting to everlasting, without that there be change in any letter or point of My doctrine, just as the eternal priesthood, which is without beginning or end of days, can not be altered, so it is with the my words which I have commanded you.”

Acts of the Three Nephites 12:28

Whoever hearkens unto these words and repents and gets baptized shall be saved. Jesus quotes Isaiah regarding keeping the Sabbath (verse 31). (Weird. Jesus is acting like Isaiah outranks him.) Do not profane the Sabbath by doing your own will or speaking empty words (verse 35).

Chapter 13

Alma commanded that priests should work with their own hands for sustenance, except the evangelists (verse 1). According to Jesus, the Book of Mosiah makes it clear that Alma began the Order of Enoch among the people in his day so the people would share their goods with needy priests and every other needy soul (verse 2).

Alma was driven into the wilderness just like the people in the fulness of times will be driven into the wilderness to prepare them (verse 4). After eight days they came to a pleasant land and began cultivating it because they’re a hard-working people (verse 5). Since they were a free people, Alma made himself leader so they wouldn’t have a godless leader (verse 6). (Do you hear yourself? When someone simply declares themselves leader over you, you’re not a free people.)

Alma sets up a church hierarchy so only those authorized by God can teach. All members, men and women, were appointed to speak in congregational meetings so the priests could prepare them to preach the gospel (verse 7).

They all get real good at preaching. Words and songs of praise are more pleasing to Jesus than animal sacrifice (verse 8, see also Psalms 30-31). The people began to prosper, so the Lord decided to test them (verse 10).

They become captives to the Lamanties and Amulon. The Lord doesn’t rescue them until they stop crying out with their voices and instead invoke God in their feelings and admit that only God can save them (verse 11.) (Great way to encourage learned helplessness.)

God freed them and returned them to Zarahemla. In the last days, God will return his people to the land of their inheritance after they pass through the wilderness and take possession of a far country prepared for them. If not for the sake of God’s chosen ones, none of them will be saved from sudden destruction (verse 12).

God wants to save us from being enslaved by Satan. The Gift of the Holy Spirit is given by the laying on of hands. When you have this Gift, God will actually listen to and answer your prayers (verse 13).

“The feelings derived from a broken heart before my Father are the greatest power that is in the world; for only a sincere heart, moved by a contrite feeling, is able to move the hand of Him who rules the whole universe.”

Acts of the Three Nephites 13:14

All wisdom from the heavens is hidden in the pure sentiments proceeding from the gifts of God. They can sensitize the feelings of God and move heaven and earth (verse 15). However, God won’t help you if you can do something for yourself. (Didn’t verse 11 teach us that God likes us to be helpless?)

Observe the birds in the sky. They don’t farm, but God provides for them (verse 16). However, the birds do have to leave their nests every day to look for food. So God will only help you if you work for it first, showing that you believe in yourself (verse 17). (So I guess Matthew 6:26 is wrong?)

This is an act of faith, because faith precedes action. Faith is “dead in itself if it does not produce some attitude.” (?) Believe God will help you once there is nothing else you can do for yourself (verse 18). (Isn’t there always something else you can do, though?)

The essence of God’s gifts are the feelings in your heart (verse 19). Guard your heart from evil feelings like lasciviousness and anger (verse 20).

Chapter 14

In reference to the Book of Jacob, Jesus says ancient prophets speak in illustrations so no one will pay attention to his message so it can remain secret. It has to remain secret to keep the message from being distorted before the last days (verse 1).

Speaking directly to those of the last days (I guess that’s us), Jesus says he’ll explain the parable of the good olive tree found in Zenos (verse 4). The olive tree represents the people of God. It grows with little water and regenerates if cut. Olive trees can survive floods as illustrated by the story of a dove bringing an olive leaf to Noah (verse 5).

They can be grafted (verse 6). The water currents next to the olive tree represent the good feelings you get from God (verse 8). Per Lehi’s dream, these waters come from a spring near the tree of life (verse 9). The roots of the olive tree are the house of Israel, which stretched under the river mingled with impurity which represents Satan’s sentiments. So the good olive tree became corrupted (verse 10).

The Lord cut down all the wild branches, i.e., the people contaminated by the filth of Satan (verse 12). God dug about so good water will make the fruits pure, hoping to sprout new branches, i.e., the next generation (verse 13). Small new branches sprouted. These are the lesser prophets (verse 14). The canopy (the leaders) was dying (none of the priests was pure enough) (verse 15).

The Babylonians came, like wild branches grafted among the nation of Israel. The main branches dried up and burned by fire. The King of Babylon took captives (branches were grafted to other trees) (verse 16). Daniel became master of the magicians-astrologers and taught princes, nobles, and vassals, so the knowledge of astrology spread from generation to generation. (The Lord hid natural branches in different parts of the vineyard) (verse 17).

The words of Isaiah were fulfilled by Belteshazzar’s teaching regarding the “future descendant” (verse 18). The knowledge of astrology allowed them to identify the star which foreshadowed the birth of the “promised descendant” (verse 19). After a long time, a child is born in Bethlehem. Those that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death (the east) saw a great light proclaiming the coming of the Prince of Peace (verse 21).

Astrologers of the orient followed this light to Israel (verse 22). The Jews born in the East were similar to the Jews of Israel (verse 23). The Lord planted three branches in the orient and brought forth good fruit (verse 27).

The first was Rabbi Bunai over the synagogues of Greece. He was accepted by the Pharisees in Jerusalem and “mixed with the name of Nicodemus.” The second was Joseph of Arimathea who was born in Rome, a member of the Sanhedrin. The third was Lazarus, a merchant of Antioch (verse 29). These three were great friends to Christ while he was on earth from when he was born until he was resurrected (verse 30).

After his resurrection, Jesus visited the Americas. Many shall come to the Americas from other lands, both Jews and Gentiles whose fruit will not be good (verse 32). Darkness will come. The most abominable church founded by the devil will destroy the saints of God (verse 33).

The Lord plants another tree in place of the first one, a Gentile counted as if he’s part of the natural olive tree, a descendant of Joseph (not the Messiah) who will come when the original chosen people have degenerated. The gospel will come to the Gentiles (verse 38).

In the last days, this tree will be corrupted and bring forth bad fruit too (verse 40). The Lord did all he could to nurture the trees, but now there’s nothing to do but burn it (verse 41). The Lord’s servant tells us to not burn it just yet (verse 42). They try to fix the tree by grafting on branches (verse 43). The vineyard is fixed and produces good fruit again. The Lord praises his servants for working with him in the vineyard for the last time (verse 55). When the end comes, the Lord will burn the vineyard with fire (verse 56).