There is a corollary between the three days of darkness surrounding the death of Jesus and a prior significant experience in Israelite history. Under the Law of Moses, the Israelites celebrated the Passover as a reminder of God’s hand in saving them from death, redeeming them from slavery, and bringing them safely out of Egypt. Moses had cursed the land of Egypt and prophesied that the firstborn of the Egyptians would die by the hand of the destroying angel. However, the destroying angel would pass over those Israelites who followed his specific instructions to paint their doorposts with the blood of a male lamb without blemish. Three days of darkness and death prevailed in Egypt. This was a foreshadowing of the three nights and days of darkness when Jesus would be crucified, would die, and would lie in the tomb. Significantly, the destruction among the inhabitants of the New World particularly afflicted the wicked, while those who were "more righteous" were "spared" (3 Nephi 9:13).
Moreover, in 2 Nephi 25:16, Nephi quotes Psalm 24:4 in order to worship God "with clean hands and a pure heart." This was the basic temple entrance requirement in the Temple of Jerusalem and, apparently, also in the Temple of Nephi.
Book of Mormon Central, "Were Nephite Prophets Familiar with the Passover Tradition? (Mosiah 13:30)," KnoWhy 420 (March 29, 2018).
Book of Mormon Central, "Why Did Nephi Connect Isaiah’s Prophecies with Joseph Who Was Sold into Egypt? (2 Nephi 25:17)," KnoWhy 375 (October 24, 2017).
Book of Mormon Central, "Why Did Lehi ‘Suppose’ the Existence of Satan? (2 Nephi 24:12)," KnoWhy 43 (February 29, 2016.