The chapters of 3 Nephi 27–4 Nephi in the Book of Mormon hold some of the most profound teachings about discipleship, unity, and the building of Zion. These chapters record the Savior’s teachings to His people in the Americas after His resurrection and the unparalleled peace and harmony that followed His visit.
Defining the Church of Christ: 3 Nephi 27
In 3 Nephi 27, we witness the resurrected Jesus Christ teaching His disciples about the essential nature of His Church. He declares:
“And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel” (3 Nephi 27:8).
The Lord makes it clear that His church must bear His name and be built upon the foundation of His gospel. President Russell M. Nelson, in his landmark address on the name of the Church, said:
“The name of the Church is not negotiable. When the Savior clearly states what the name of His Church should be, that is the name we all must unite behind” (October 2018, The Correct Name of the Church).
The name “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” signifies that it is not the church of any man but of Jesus Christ Himself. It reaffirms that we, as members, are His people, committed to living His gospel.
The Gospel of Christ: The Path to Eternal Life
Christ’s message in 3 Nephi 27:13-16 provides a powerful summary of His gospel, which leads to eternal life through faith in Him, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. He says:
“This is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me” (3 Nephi 27:13).
President Dallin H. Oaks expanded on the significance of the Savior’s gospel:
“The purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to transform common creatures into celestial citizens and to prepare us for the day when we will stand before God and be judged according to our works” (The Challenge to Become, October 2000).
The simplicity of Christ’s gospel, as taught in 3 Nephi, reminds us that the true path to exaltation comes through submitting to the will of God, taking upon ourselves the name of Christ, and becoming His disciples.
Unity and the Building of Zion: 4 Nephi
After the Savior’s ministry among the Nephites, the people entered a period of peace and righteousness described in 4 Nephi, where “there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people” (4 Nephi 1:15).
This period is often referred to as the Zion society, where the people were “one” in heart and mind, having “all things common among them” (4 Nephi 1:3). Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke of this ideal:
“Zion is not where we live; it is how we live. Zion is both a principle and a pattern, always to be found in the hearts of righteous men and women who look to God and are purified in their desires and faithful in their promises” (A Promised Land, Ensign, December 1996).
The Zion described in 4 Nephi is the standard we aspire to today in our homes, wards, and communities. It’s a society based on Christlike love, devoid of pride, divisions, and inequality.
Avoiding the Cycle of Pride
Unfortunately, as the generations passed, the people eventually fell into pride and division, as noted in 4 Nephi 1:24-26:
“And it came to pass that the people of Nephi began to be proud in their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, and became divided into classes.”
This pattern mirrors the pride cycle seen throughout the Book of Mormon, where prosperity often led to pride, contention, and eventual downfall. President Ezra Taft Benson famously taught:
“The two groups [Zion and Babylon] are mutually exclusive. If you belong to one, you cannot belong to the other. When pride has a hold on our hearts, we lose the Spirit and follow the ways of the world” (Beware of Pride, April 1989).
The fall of the Nephite Zion society in 4 Nephi reminds us of the dangers of allowing wealth, pride, or social divisions to take precedence over Christlike love and unity.
Applying the Lessons of 3 Nephi 27–4 Nephi Today
The teachings and events in 3 Nephi 27–4 Nephi call us to evaluate our own lives and communities. Are we building Zion by living the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are we striving to become united in heart and mind, setting aside pride, and cultivating Christlike love?
Elder D. Todd Christofferson offered this challenge:
“We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen—Zion will come only as they happen” (Come to Zion, October 2008).
As we study these chapters, we must commit to living more fully as disciples of Christ, seeking to build Zion in our homes, our wards, and our communities. Through small and simple acts of faith, love, and service, we can be instruments in the Lord’s hands in bringing about the kind of peace and unity seen in the days of 4 Nephi.
Let us remember that Zion is not just an ancient concept but a divine reality we are called to build in our time.
