The discourse connective saying was here omitted in the 1837 edition, probably accidentally since its deletion was not marked by Joseph Smith in 𝓟, nor were other instances of saying in the same context ever deleted in that edition. Elsewhere in the original text, there were 56 instances of “spake ... saying”. In one instance, saying was permanently lost (in 1 Nephi 2:10, by Oliver Cowdery as he copied from 𝓞 into 𝓟); in another instance, saying was incorrectly added (in 1 Nephi 7:1, again by Oliver Cowdery as he copied from 𝓞 into 𝓟). Otherwise, each instance of “spake … saying” has been maintained, not only in the manuscripts but in every printed edition—except here in 3 Nephi 28:2. In this case, the 1908 RLDS edition restored the saying to the RLDS text (apparently by reference to 𝓟); the 1920 LDS edition restored it to the LDS text (apparently by reference to the 1830 edition). The critical text will, to be sure, maintain the original saying here in 3 Nephi 28:2.
Summary: Maintain in 3 Nephi 28:2 the connective saying since it is found in the earliest textual sources (𝓟 and the 1830 edition).