3 Nephi 13

〔Chapter 13 in the Third Book of Nephi embodies mostly the same text as found in Chapter 6 of Matthew from the New Testament. Of the text in Chapter 13, 92% is identical, word for word, with the corresponding chapter of Matthew. The differences are mostly minor word substitutions, slight rephrasings, and added introductory phrases.

Because the Sermon on the Mount is such a pivotal part of both the New Testament and The Book of Mormon, text found in The Book of Mormon that is not present in the New Testament is italicized.〕

“You should give to the poor,” Jesus Christ says, in his sermon to the Nephites, “but you should be careful to avoid being seen by others in doing so. If you give publicly to impress others, you will find no reward from your Father in heaven. When you do give alms, do so privately and without fanfare. Only hypocrites do this so that they will be admired by other men. This is all the reward that they will receive. When alms are given secretly so that only your Father in heaven can see, he will reward you openly.

“When you pray, don’t make vain repetitions as the heathens do when they imagine that their public speaking is being heard. Be private in your prayer because your Father knows what you need before you even ask him.

“I prescribe this prayer: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.’

“If you forgive men for their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. If you fail to forgive men for their trespasses, your Father will not forgive you for your trespasses.

“When you fast, don’t show off about it, the way hypocrites do. The only reward that they will receive is the appearance of fasting that they present. When you fast, anoint your head and clean your face. Fast secretly so that only your Father in heaven will know, so that he can reward you openly.

“Don’t horde earthly treasures where moths and rust can ruin them, or where thieves can steal them. Store up treasures for yourself in heaven where moths, rust, and thieves cannot touch them. Wherever your treasures are is also where your heart will be.

“Your eyes are the light of your body. If your eyes are pure, your body will be filled with light. If your eyes are evil, your body will be filled with darkness. Without light, the darkness is overpowering.

“No man can serve two masters. Either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and idols.”

When Jesus Christ spoke these words he looked upon the twelve that he’d chosen and said to them, “You must remember the words that I have spoken because you are the ones that I have chosen to minister to my people.

“Quit worrying so much about your life, your food, your drink, and your clothing. There is more to life than food, and more to your body than its appearance. Think about the birds that fly. They don’t plant seeds, harvest crops, or gather in buildings, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you any better off than they are? Do your worries add anything to your stature?

“Why do you worry so about your clothing? Think about the lilies in the field and how they grow. They don’t work and they don’t spin thread. And yet even King Solomon in all his glory was not as good looking as one of these lilies. If God clothes the fields in grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he also clothe you if you have faith?

“Quit worrying about what you’re going to eat, what you’re going to drink, and how you will be clothed. Your heavenly Father knows you need these things, but look first to the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Don’t think about tomorrow because tomorrow will take care of itself. Take care and do good today.”