3 Nephi 15

Jesus Explains the Law of Moses

When Jesus finished teaching, he looked around at the crowd. He said to them: You have heard the things I taught you before I went back to my Father. If you remember what I said and do it, I will raise you up on the last day.

After Jesus said this, he saw that some people were confused. They wondered what he meant about the law of Moses. They didn’t understand when he said old things had passed away and all things had become new. He said to them: Don’t be surprised that I said old things have passed away and all things have become new. I tell you that the law given to Moses is now finished. I am the one who gave the law. I am the one who made promises to my people Israel. So the law is finished in me. I came to complete the law. That’s why it has ended. I do not destroy what the prophets said. I tell you the truth: everything they said that hasn’t come true yet will all come true. Just because I said old things have passed away doesn’t mean I’m destroying what was said about things still to come. The promises I made to my people are not all completed yet. But the law given to Moses has ended in me. I am the law and the light. Look to me and keep going until the end. Then you will live. I will give eternal life to anyone who keeps going until the end. I have given you commandments. So keep my commandments. This is what the law and the prophets mean. They told the truth about me.

Jesus Talks to His Disciples

When Jesus finished saying this, he spoke to the twelve men he had chosen. You are my disciples. You are a light to these people who are part of Joseph’s family. This is the land that belongs to you. The Father has given it to you.

The Father never told me to tell your relatives in Jerusalem about you. And the Father never told me to tell them about the other tribes of Israel that the Father led away from that land.

The Other Sheep

The Father only told me to tell them this: I have other sheep that are not part of this flock. I must bring them too. They will hear my voice. There will be one flock and one shepherd. Because they were stubborn and didn’t believe, they didn’t understand what I meant. So I was told not to tell them anything more about this.

But I tell you the truth: the Father told me to tell you this. You were separated from them because of their sin. That’s why they don’t know about you. And I tell you the truth: the Father separated the other tribes from them too. They don’t know about those tribes because of their sin. I tell you the truth: you are the ones I was talking about when I said: I have other sheep that are not part of this flock. I must bring them too. They will hear my voice. There will be one flock and one shepherd. The people in Jerusalem didn’t understand me. They thought I meant the Gentiles. They didn’t understand that the Gentiles would be converted through their teaching. They didn’t understand when I said those sheep will hear my voice. They didn’t understand that the Gentiles would never hear my voice. They didn’t understand that I would not show myself to the Gentiles except through the Holy Spirit. But you have both heard my voice and seen me. You are my sheep. You are counted among those the Father has given me.