Third Nephi 15 Transition Chiasm

In proceeding from element c to d in APPENDIX L, Christ moves from speaking about his gospel to speaking of the latter-day temporal salvation. To further augment the fact that he is switching intentionally from the individual/religious to the national/political, Jesus provides us with a well-defined transition in 3 Nephi 15:1-13 which takes us from the religious realm to the political. The internal structure of Jesus' words in this segment is arranged in chiastic form:

A Mentions the things He taught pertaining to the gospel before He ascended to his father (15:1)

B Says the Law of Moses is fulfilled (15:2-10)

B Says the Abrahamic covenant is not yet fulfilled (15:5-10)

A Mentions the remnant of Jacob and the land of inheritance (15:12,13)

The flow here is: gospel, gospel, government, government; i.e. gospel -- government. (To understand the correlation between the term "government" and the Abrahamic covenant, consult Table 2 in Chapter 3). The chiastic arrangement emphasizes the interrelation between the gospel-related and the government-related aspects of God's work.

The Law and the Prophets Chiasm

Previous to this 3 Nephi 15 Transition, Jesus had just recited what later became three chapters of Matthew: the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount. These were doctrines he taught among the Jews at his first coming. Pointing to this, Jesus said, "Ye have heard the things which I taught before I ascended to my Father...," thus commencing the Third Nephi 15 Transition chiasm. (15:1.) Continuing further with this theme of the religious realm of God's kingdom, Jesus spoke of the Law of Moses, announcing that it was now fulfilled. (15:1-10.) Concurrently, he picked up the theme of the covenant made to Abraham, and all the prophecies concerning it, as not yet being fulfilled and that they "shall all be fulfilled." (15:5-9.)

This middle section of the Third Nephi 15 Transition chiamus is common ground, in which six consecutive verses (5-10) speak of points both pertaining to the religious realm (L-law of Moses) as well as to the political realm (C-Abrahamic covenant) of God's kingdom. This is illustrated below. (The numbers refer to verses in 3 Nephi 15.)

15: Direct Quote

A v5. L-I am he that gave the law
                   C-I am he who covenanted with my people Israel

B v6. L-As many as have not been fulfilled in me
                   C-shall all be fulfilled

B v7. L-I said that old things have passed away
                   C-I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come

A v8. L-The law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me
                   C-The covenant which I have made...is not all fulfilled

v9. L-I am the law,
                   C-and the light

10. L-This is the law
                   C-and the prophets

Note the chiastic structure here as well. Also, in all but one verse (15:8), the reference to the Law of Moses is mentioned L-first, and the reference to the Abrahamic covenant is mentioned C-second. The first was fulfilled at Christ's first coming; the latter will be fulfilled at his second.

The Covenant

The correlation between "light" in verse 9(C) and "the covenant" in verse 5(C) is verified by the Lord in the book of Isaiah: "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and I will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." (Isa. 42:6,7; D&C 45:9.) In this context, "light" and "covenant" are synonymous. Considering the parallels between the spiritual and the temporal levels, we know that chains of captivity are just as real in both realms, and that the Lord is the only one who can deliver us from them. The context of this Isaiah verse ties soundly into the Law and the Prophets chiasm: "Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare." (Isa. 42:9.)

The conclusion of the Law and the Prophets chiasm is beautiful: "...For they [the law and the prophets] truly testified of me." (15:11.) This verifies what we said about both the religious and the political realms having their focus and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the law, and the prophets, the Holy and only Messiah. (15:11; 2 Ne. 25:18.)

Though the Law of Moses has been fulfilled, we should not erase it from our minds. Ten chapters after stating that the Law was done away, Jesus commanded: "Remember ye the law of Moses...." (3 Ne. 25:4 = Malachi 4:4.) Though the law is fulfilled, it is still a source of tremendous insight regarding the atonement, which is the foundation of the religious realm.

After the Law and the Prophets chiasm, which is the middle element of the Third Nephi 15 Transition chiasm, Christ then concluded the transition by speaking specifically of elements of the covenant. These last two verses of the Third Nephi 15 Transition chiasm link directly to where he picked up the political theme again in 3 Nephi 20. Note the similarity of wordings between three complete phrases in these two references:

20:10 "This people...who are a remnant of the house of Israel"
15:12 "This people...who are a remnant of the house of Joseph"

20:14 "The Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you..."
15:13 "And the Father hath given it unto you"

20:14 "This land, for your inheritance"
15:13 "This is the land of your inheritance"

"Would God that ALL the Lord's People Were PROPHETS"

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