3 Nephi 11:1–11

“I Am Jesus Christ”

Jesus Christ descending from heaven at the Bountiful temple

While the Nephites gathered around the temple talking about the signs of Jesus Christ’s death, the Savior “came down and stood in the midst of them” (3 Nephi 11:8). He taught them of His mission and all He had done for them. This lesson can help increase your love and gratitude for Jesus Christ because of who He is and what He did for you.

Valuing all students. When students of different backgrounds feel loved and accepted, they will be more likely to share their views and experiences in class. Strive to create a feeling of belonging in each student. Find ways to express sincere Christlike love to all students, especially those who might be struggling.

Student preparation: Invite students to find a scripture or a statement from a Church leader that helps them understand more about what Jesus Christ has done for them.

Possible Learning Activities

This lesson focuses on the events and teachings recorded in 3 Nephi 11:1–11. An additional lesson will focus on the people’s experiences with the Savior as recorded in 3 Nephi 11:12–17. If you do not have time to teach both lessons separately, consider referring to the “3 Nephi 11:12–17” lesson for ideas you could incorporate into this lesson.

Looking forward

Consider sharing an experience from your childhood or teenage years when you greatly anticipated something. Examples could include an important cultural or sporting event or something you were excited to receive. Help students sense how you felt in the time leading up to this moment and what it was like to finally experience it. You could then invite students to briefly share with other students in class about times when they have anticipated something.

In the Book of Mormon, we learn that an event the Nephites looked forward to for many generations was the coming of the Son of God to the earth. From the time when Lehi and Sariah took their children into the wilderness outside of Jerusalem, they knew that in 600 years God would send His Son as “a Savior of the world” (1 Nephi 10:4).

After sharing the next sentence, consider inviting a few students to take turns reading aloud the scriptures listed in parentheses.

They also understood that Jesus Christ would someday come among the Nephites in the promised land (see 1 Nephi 12:6; 2 Nephi 26:1; Alma 45:9–10). In 3 Nephi 11, we can read about this long-awaited appearance.

Not everyone among the Nephites and Lamanites had a correct understanding of Jesus Christ. Likewise, today people have misconceptions about Jesus Christ, and some even deny His existence. Some believe that Jesus was a great leader but do not accept He was the Son of God.

Why do you think it is important for us to have a correct understanding of who Jesus Christ is?
What can help us better understand who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for us?

When Jesus Christ appeared to the Nephites, both He and Heavenly Father made important declarations about who He is. As you study today, pay attention to what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want you to know about who the Savior is and what He has done for you.

In a previous lesson, you may have started to create a list of things you are learning about Jesus Christ in your study of third Nephi. If you have not yet started a list, begin one in your study journal, and add to it throughout the lesson.

More details about the list mentioned in the previous paragraph can be found in the lesson “3 Nephi 8–10.”

Jesus Christ appears to the Nephites

Read 3 Nephi 11:1–11, looking for details about Jesus Christ’s appearance to a group of people gathered at the temple in the land of Bountiful. You could also watch “Jesus Christ Appears in the Ancient Americas” from time code 11:19–13:29. This video is available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. 

What stood out to you from your study of these verses?
If you had been there, what are some words you would use to describe what you would have been thinking or feeling? Why?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described Jesus Christ’s appearance and what He told the people this way:

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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

That appearance and that declaration constituted the focal point, the supreme moment, in the entire history of the Book of Mormon. …

Everyone had talked of him, sung of him, dreamed of him, and prayed for his appearance—but here he actually was. The day of days! The God who turns every dark night into morning light had arrived. (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 250–51)

Jesus Christ’s first words spoken to the Nephites help us understand who He is and what He has done for us.

Read 3 Nephi 11:10–11 again, paying attention to the words and phrases that Jesus Christ used to describe Himself and what He did for us. Be sure to add these truths to the list in your study journal.

3 Nephi 11:10–11 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you can locate them easily. You will have an opportunity in the next lesson to practice applying the doctrine taught in this passage to a question or situation.

What truths did you learn about Jesus Christ?
Which of these truths do you find especially significant? Why?

Jesus Christ did the will of the Father

One of the truths we can learn from these verses is that Jesus Christ did the will of the Father in taking upon Himself the sins of the world.

We can deepen our understanding of this truth by looking more closely at the phrases Jesus Christ used to describe what He did. Copy the following phrases from 3 Nephi 11:11 in your study journal with space next to or below them to write.

Display the following statements and the list of scripture references on the board. You could place students into small groups and assign them to study a few of the scripture references listed. They could record in their study journals and discuss how the verses they studied deepen their understanding of one or more of the phrases from 3 Nephi 11:11.

I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me.
[I] have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world.
I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

Allow students to discuss their insights from this study activity for each phrase.

After this discussion, consider displaying the following questions and inviting students to record their responses to one or more of them in their study journals.

What do you want to tell people about Jesus Christ based on what you have felt today?
What do you want to do in your life because of what you understand or feel about Jesus Christ?
Why would it be worthwhile to follow Jesus Christ throughout your life?

Consider inviting a few willing students to share their responses to these questions. Testify of the truths you have discussed about Jesus Christ today.

Commentary and Background Information

3 Nephi 10:18. Is there any indication about when the Savior came to the Americas in relation to when He was crucified?

We are told that the destructions in America at the time of the Savior’s death took place on the fourth day of the first month of the thirty-fourth year (3 Nephi 8:5), and that the Risen Lord appeared to the Nephites at “the ending of the thirty and fourth year” (3 Nephi 10:18). This means that the Risen Lord’s appearance to the Nephites took place several months after His death and Resurrection (See Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary, 4 vols. [1981], 4:307).

3 Nephi 11:11. How can Jesus Christ’s example of drinking the bitter cup help me?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged:

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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Take the sacrament every week, and hold fast to the perfecting promises of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Like a Broken Vessel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 41)

Why was it Heavenly Father’s will for Jesus Christ to take upon Himself the sins of the world?

Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

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Elder Ulisses Soares

Christ graciously fulfilled the will of the Father through His infinite and merciful sacrifice. He overcame the sting of physical and spiritual death, introduced to the world through the Fall, offering us the glorious possibility of eternal salvation.

Jesus was the only Being capable of realizing this eternal and perfect sacrifice for all of us. He was chosen and foreordained in the Grand Council in Heaven, even before the world was formed. (Ulisses Soares, “Jesus Christ: The Caregiver of Our Soul,” Liahona, Apr. 2021, 82)

Supplemental Learning Activities

3 Nephi 11:3. “They heard a voice”

Students may benefit from a discussion about learning how to listen to the voice of God through the Holy Ghost. Maybe you could start class by speaking very quietly so students need to focus to hear what you are saying. It might also be helpful for students to identify obstacles to hearing God’s voice speaking to them. 3 Nephi 11:1–7 describes what it took for the Nephites to hear God introducing Jesus Christ. Invite students to look for principles that might help them as they try to hear God speak to them. Consider using President Nelson’s talk “Hear Him” (Ensign or Liahona, Apr. 2020) or one or more of the testimonies from other Church leaders from the “Hear Him” video collection, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

3 Nephi 11:11. Object lesson to teach that Jesus Christ drank the bitter cup

Invite students to list ingredients that could be added together to make the most “bitter” drink they can think of. Consider having some ingredients available for students to fill a cup with. Help students compare this cup with the bitter cup Jesus Christ drank, His suffering and death. Invite them to discuss why they think this imagery was used to teach us about Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

3 Nephi 11:11. Object lesson to teach that Jesus Christ did the will of the Father in all things

Consider providing step-by-step instructions to an origami project and discussing the importance of each step to reach the end goal. You could invite students to discuss why it was vital that Jesus Christ was obedient to Heavenly Father’s will “in all things.” You could use the statement from Elder Ulisses Soares in the “Commentary and Background Information” section to help students feel gratitude for Jesus Christ’s perfect obedience.