3 Nephi 22

3 Ne 22:1 then shall that which is written come to pass

The events at the end of the last chapter are Millenial. So, then, are the events described in this chapter. Isaiah is a Millenialist. If he is not speaking of the Messiah or the destruction of the wicked, the glory of the Millenium is his next most likely topic.

Accordingly, the theme of Isaiah 54 is that the House of Israel, or the people of the Lord, will be redeemed from every pain, problem, fear, terror, disgrace, oppression, hardship, or reproach. In the Millenium, the Lord will more than make up for any previous suffering.

Jeffrey R. Holland

"By chapter's end, the relationship between the Lord and his children of covenant is seen fully and poetically. Consider this summary of God's promises and Israel's millennial hope: 

Verses	Husband Provides Wife	Jehovah Provides Israel
1-3	Children	Gathering and Great Growth
4-8	Love	Mercy and Redemption
9-10	Commitment	Unbreakable Covenant
11-12	Material Comfort	Splendor in a New Jerusalem
13-17	Protection for the Family	Peace, Freedom from Fear and Oppression for Zion

(Adapted from Christ And The New Covenant, p. 291)

3 Ne 22:1 More are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife

"Scattered Israel, those who for generations have lived without the light of the gospel who have not been fruitful in the faith of their fathers.  These are also identified in this passage as 'the children of the desolate.'

"The children of the married wife [are] the members of the Church." (McConkie, Millet, and Top, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 4, p. 155)

Jeffrey R. Holland

"Sometimes by choice and sometimes by circumstance, Israel has been a barren, childless woman who had not borne fruit or lived up to her promises, potential, and covenants. Nevertheless, desolate Israel can-and will-be fruitful, even in the times and places of her scattering and dispersion." (Christ And The New Covenant, p. 289 - 290)

3 Ne 22:2 Enlarge the place of thy tent...strengthen thy stakes

Jeffrey R. Holland

"The large movement of Israel's conversion, gathering, and return to the lands of her inheritance will require strong, enlarged stakes in Zion. Growth will be 'on the right hand and on the left,' with Gentile cities (probably left desolate by the wrath 'poured out without mixture upon the whole earth' DC 115:6) inhabited by the children of the covenant. It is from this imagery of Israel's wilderness tent/tabernacle with its cords, curtains, borders, and stakes that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints draws its use of the word stake for the name of its basic ecclesiastical unit." (Christ And The New Covenant, p. 289 - 290)

Ezra Taft Benson

"To members, the term stake is a symbolic expression. Picture in your mind a great tent held up by cords extended to many stakes that are firmly secured in the ground. The prophet Isaiah likened latter-day Zion to a great tent encompassing the earth. That tent was supported by cords fastened to stakes. (See 3 Nephi 22:2; Isaiah 54:2.) Those stakes, of course, are various geographical organizations spread out over the earth. Presently Israel is being gathered to the various stakes of Zion. (Come unto Christ, p. 101.)

"In revelation the Lord states: 'For Zion must increase in beauty and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments' (D&C 82:14). Here the Lord declares a great purpose of a stake: to be a beautiful emblem for all the world to see. The phrase 'put on her beautiful garments' refers, of course, to the inner sanctity that must be attained by every member who calls himself or herself a Saint. Zion is 'the pure in heart' (D&C 97:21). (El Paso Texas Regional Conference, 25 January 1986.)" (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.149-150)

3 Ne 22:4 thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth

Early in her history, Israel had played the harlot with the idolatrous gods of the heathen. Certainly, this is part of the shame of her youth. At the time the Lord said, under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God (Jer 2:20-22). Nevertheless, in spite of her marked iniquity, the Lord has promised both individually and as a nation that he will forget the shame of her youth, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isa 1:18).

"Scriptures are written in general to give guidance and information regarding our relationship to Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. Scriptures also offer specific guidance and information when we pray for personal comfort and support.

"I recall a particular time when 3 Nephi 22:4 brought me to my knees in tears over an answer to a prayer that I had previously been diligently seeking.

"I had only recently become baptized, when I was beset by distress over thinking about my sinful past. Truly I had been rejoicing over the promise of forgiveness following repentance and baptism, yet, now I agonized for nearly two weeks over past sins.

"I found that my despair had taken hold of me, so I decided to spend a day fasting and reading the Book of Mormon.

"I was enjoying reading the attendant lamentations and explanations that were so offered by the verses. When I came to verse 4 of 3 Nephi, chapter 22, the general quality of the reading became very personal regarding my obsession over past sins.

"As I continued reading to the end of the chapter, my sobbing increased, and for a few brief moments my mind comprehended the Savior's personal forgiveness of me. A great peace came over me and the descriptions of the Savior's relationship to the past, present and future of Zion took on their literal and prophetic value." (Catherine Cinelli, Church News, 01/20/96)

3 Ne 22:5 For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name

In the language of the scriptures, the Lord of Hosts is the bridegroom and his bride is the House of Israel. In spite of one of the rockiest engagements imaginable, the bridegroom never gave up on his unworthy bride. It is a marriage which could have been realized long ago but will only be consummated in the Millenium when the bride will finally be ready. Then will the bridegroom be the husband who will show her everlasting kindness, wiping away all tears from her eyes (See Rev 21:2-4).

Jeffrey R. Holland

"Even though there has been barrenness and sometimes unfaithfulness, yet will the husband (Christ) reclaim and redeem his bride (Israel). 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." (Christ And The New Covenant, p. 290)

3 Ne 22:7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee

Jeffrey R. Holland

"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. The least likely things in the world may happen, 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, p. 290)

3 Ne 22:11 I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires

"In the midst of a troubling world, the foundations I rely on come by my covenants with the Lord. They are indeed like sapphires and are treasures beyond price....They are the restored principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ which are available to righteous women and men alike through the power of the holy priesthood of God. They include baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the sacrament, and temple covenants." (Aileen H. Clyde, Ensign, May 1995, p. 28 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 448)

3 Ne 22:13 all thy children shall be taught of the Lord

Gordon B. Hinckley

"'All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children' (Isaiah 54:13). You mothers, read to your children. Read the scriptures to your children. You may not think they understand. They won't understand everything you read. But they will develop within themselves a feeling, an attitude, a spirit that will be wonderful. And I don't hesitate to promise you that the day will come, if you nurture your children and love and teach in righteousness, you will get on your knees with tears in your eyes and thank the Lord for His blessing to you." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, "Motherhood")

Anne G. Wirthlin

"[Sister Wirthlin quoted 3 Ne. 22:7,10,13 and then said] These words of the Savior are the theme for Primary...to teach children the gospel of Jesus Christ and help them learn to live it. As we witness the unfolding events of the last days, we cannot doubt that in this scripture the Lord is speaking directly to us. We are Israel of the latter days...Peace that endures is not dependent upon outside forces that are beyond our control...The Lord's words...give comfort to righteous parents who teach their children of Him. They speak to us at a time when peace in the hearts of children can seem but an elusive dream. But the Savior has assured us that it can be a reality if we teach our children. Primary supports parents in this important responsibility." (Ensign, May 1998, p. 9 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 447-8)

3 Ne 22:15 they shall surely gather together against thee

See commentary for 3 Ne 20:18.

3 Ne 22:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper

Joseph Smith

"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 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 449)

Ezra Taft Benson

"We live in a time when the devil is on the loose and is working among the Saints to thwart and tear down the work of God. But he will not succeed. Individuals may fall and there may be those who betray sacred covenants, but the kingdom of God will roll forward until it reaches its decreed destiny to fill the entire earth.

"I carry in my calendar book a passage of scripture that I sometimes use to remind myself and others about the eventual outcome of efforts to destroy the Church: '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 servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.' (3 Nephi 22:17.)

"The Lord has prospered this work and will continue to do so. He is close to His servants, even within whispering distance of heaven." (Come Unto Christ, p. 22-3)

Boyd K. Packer

"On one occasion when I, along with President Benson, was the subject of a great deal of criticism by the local and national media, he sent me a card which read:  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 servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. (3 Nephi 22:17.)

"I was greatly strengthened by the message." (That All May Be Edified, p. 250)