3 Nephi 7. A Reflection Upon Human Unrighteousness

Keywords

unrighteousness, Nephite societal decline, symbolic animal imagery

Abstract

Just three years before the coming of Christ to the American continent, secret combinations that opposed faithful prophets proclaiming repentance destroyed the stable Nephite government.  Social chaos quickly followed as the society divided into numerous clans and tribes (3 Nephi 7).  Only six years earlier the people had enjoyed great peace and prosperity on account of their repentance and righteousness.  But now only darkness and the most dismal of times awaited them.  Why would a blessed and prosperous people choose this destructive path?

Mormon, the great prophet-historian, insightfully explained the whole situation using symbolic terminology: “And thus six years had not passed away since the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her wallowing in the mire” (3 Nephi 7:8).  This is not a pleasant scene to paint upon the mind.  Yet Mormon wastes no time describing the people’s iniquity, nor does he make apologies for so doing.  Mormon’s use of this symbolism may derive from ancient Israelite society.  For example, in Israel a sow (hog) was an unclean animal.  Therefore, anyone who ate a sow became defiled, according to the Mosaic Law (Deut. 14:3-8).  Sows were not typically well regarded.  Similarly, as is the case today in many societies, in ancient Israel calling someone a dog was an insult of the basest sort (1 Sam. 17:43; 2 Sam 16:9).  By comparison to unclean or base animals, Mormon is labeling the Nephite society as intrinsically unclean and base.

Original Publication Citation

“3 Nephi 7. A Reflection Upon Human Unrighteousness.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. 2016.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2016

Publisher

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Marketing

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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