Click to Listen: Episode 67: 3 Nephi 16-19
So, Jesus says a bunch of random stuff about Jews and Gentiles, then he heals a bunch of people (isn’t that nice of him?), and then he pulls a magic trick and poofs back to heaven. But just when you thought we’d have to miss him forever, Jesus pops back in the next day. Who knows how long he’s going to stay this time?
“Drink” Count – 46 (this includes the 13 Verily’s)
Almost 8 beers (finally a good drinking episode!)
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My Book of Mormon 
February 16, 2015 at 4:08 am
For once, I’m going to give my hyping up of Arnold Friberg a rest, because I realize I’ve neglected another painter who also gave us some great works of Mormon art. I hope to ameliorate my error at once, by showcasing this painting of Minerva Teichert:
But I think the church itself kind of neglects to hype up Minerva Teichert, because she’s not exactly a household name.
If you were to ask a lot of our moms, “What’s your favorite part of the Book of Mormon?”, they’d probably say, “Oh, I like 3 Nephi best, because Jesus blesses the children.” Yeah, that part is cute and all, moms, but is it worth slogging through the surrounding chapters of 3 Nephi to get there?
And I don’t really understand what’s the point of Jesus blessing the children. Healing the sick, that’s miraculous and obviously beneficial. Just what do the kids get from their blessing? If it were a sort of fairy godmother’s blessing, like in Sleeping Beauty, that could be pretty awesome. “Please Jesus, bless this child to have washboard abs.” Or if it were a tangible gift, like a Phial of Galadriel, I’d be all over that. No, it’s just Jesus conveying a message of “I am your well-wisher, in that I don’t wish you any particular harm.”
Finally, I should point out two places where David Michael didn’t remember something he’d read before. Nephi raising his brother Timothy from the dead was indeed noteworthy enough to have been mentioned, back in 3 Nephi 7:19, where we learn how cool Nephi was: “And in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits; and even his brother did he raise from the dead, after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people.” Also, Jesus did tell the people to expect him to come back the next day. In 3 Nephi 17:3 he said, “Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.” I nit-pick because I care.
October 2, 2016 at 1:59 am
February 17, 2015 at 8:34 pm
This is the Tenacious D episode, Tribute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lK4cX5xGiQ
February 18, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Why was I so excited for Jesus to show up? 3 Nephi has been rough. But, I will say, next time I’m overcome with emotion, I will be referencing my bowels.
February 18, 2015 at 8:17 pm
Duke, can you give any insight into why Nephi got re-baptized? And why did Jesus make a point of saying he gave him the power to baptize? I’ve heard several LDS members (the kind who really like to get wonkish over scriptures) hypothesize how this all makes sense and why Jesus did what he did. Still, none of the explanations ever made a lick of sense to me.
Do you know any of the usual explanations off the top of your head?
February 19, 2015 at 2:33 am
I didn’t know the answer off the top of my head, but I dug a bit, and found Joseph Fielding Smith had tackled that question like so: “The Church among the Nephites before the coming of Christ was not in its fullness and was under the law of Moses. The Savior restored the fullness and gave to them all the ordinances and blessings of the gospel. Therefore, it actually became a new organization, and through baptism they came into it.”
I suppose that’s to say that Jesus wanted the church to get a fresh start after all that Law of Moses nonsense, and figured having everyone get baptized again was a great way to rebrand?
Of course, baptism wasn’t really a practice under the Law of Moses, despite the all-but-irrefutable evidence of 19th-century Mormon sources. Like you said, it doesn’t make a lick of sense.
Incidentally, I don’t recall that any of the former Stonecutters had to get reinitiated after they became “The Ancient Mystic Society of No Homers”. (“Sorry, no Homers!” “D’oh!”)
February 23, 2015 at 3:21 pm
As always, your research never fails to enlighten. Thanks!