A subtle detail in 3 Nephi stood out to me during my recent studies. Notice the description of the noises made by the people:
23 And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and howling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them. (3 Nephi 8)
Compare this to the description of the noises made by the earth at the same time:
9 And it came to pass that thus did the three days pass away. And it was in the morning, and the darkness dispersed from off the face of the land, and the earth did cease to tremble, and the rocks did cease to rend, and the dreadful groanings did cease, and all the tumultuous noises did pass away. (3 Nephi 10)
The people and the earth make the same sound!
Readers of this blog know that I frequently bring up what I call the "creation-covenant connection." In short, the earth was created to bring about the everlasting covenant. As a result, there is a resonance between the righteousness of a covenant people and the creation around them. The negative manifestation of this pattern is displayed in these verses. Other symbols of covenant rebellion include barrenness, desert, wastelands, dark caves, etc.
By contrast, covenant faithfulness can be represented as abundance, plenty, rejoicing, unity, a jar of meal and a cruse of oil that shall never fail, the bread of life, a fountain of living water, rain upon the mountains, a garden, etc. Jeremiah 31 puts it this way:
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord.
After Christ's departure, having established a covenant people, we find many examples of the material manifestations of the people's covenant faithfulness:
3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.
4 And it came to pass that the thirty and seventh year passed away also, and there still continued to be peace in the land.
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7 And the Lord did prosper them exceedingly in the land; yea, insomuch that they did build cities again where there had been cities burned.
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10 And now, behold, it came to pass that the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people.
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15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.
18 And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no contention in all the land. (4 Nephi 1)
This also helps underscore the symbolic importance of the setting of Mosiah 18 (a secluded thicket with "a fountain of pure water"), discussed in this post.
To summarize this beautiful doctrine, let's turn to Doctrine & Covenants 104:
14 I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.
15 And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.
16 But it must needs be done in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.
17 For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.
Covenant faithfulness brings about Zion, the natural result of which is abundance, peace, and joy. Covenant rebellion brings about darkness, destruction, and "dreadful groanings."