09 MAR 15
Commandment to search these things diligently. (3 Nephi 23:1)
I am grateful for the time I have to search these scriptures as part of this class. It has given me a reason and format to dig deeper into things than I have had a chance to do in a while.
Christ reminds them to record the words of Samuel the Lamanite. (3 Nephi 23:6-13)
In 3 Nephi 23:6-13 Jesus says, “how be it that ye have not written this thing…?” This is when he brought to their remembrance how Samuel the Lamanite had prophesied concerning the resurrection and how “many saints did arise and appear unto many”. To me this was a powerful rebuke straight from the Savior for remembering some of what might be called the little things of keeping accurate records of events. To me this also falls in with the principle of gratitude, to remember to be thankful for all the knowledge and gifts the Lord has given us. I am grateful for the many records we have today. In my pocket I’m able to have the standard works, years of church publications and other records of the prophets. It’s amazing how many wonderful uses technology can have for expanding our access to records of the Gospel.
10 MAR 15
Tithing (3 Nephi 23:8-10)
One of the things I love about tithing is that it’s one of the commandments that we can say we are perfect in performing it. You either do it or you don’t. With some of the other commandments it’s much more of a qualitative analysis in how we are doing with the principle that we have been commanded. With a commandment like tithing we can easily add up all that we give and know for a surety that we are living the Lords law.
Wicked burn. (3 Nephi 25:1)
In this verse it tells us the wicked will burn but I found it interesting that it includes saying “neither root nor branch” will be left. I think this is connected to families and the sealing power that is often connected to these scriptures concerning Elijah. Those that are wicked will not have the benefit of this.
Elijah the prophet. (3 Nephi 25:5-6)
I am grateful for the sealing power that connects families for eternity. I was not born in the covenant and I grateful that my son will have that opportunity.
11 MAR 15
Resurrection. (3 Nephi 26:5)
The contrast of the two parts of this scripture sticks out to me. Either we receive the resurrection of everlasting life or of damnation. It’s up to us to decide every day which we choose.
Sacrament (3 Nephi 26:13)
This scripture talks about the example the Savior shows by meeting and taking the sacrament often. I’m an introvert. It’s good that this is a commandment and that he has shown his example in doing this. If it weren’t for that I would probably more naturally not attend as often as I should.
Literary devices in the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 27:33)
I like catching some of the examples of literary devices used in the Book of Mormon such as chiasmus or parallelism. In 3 Nephi 27:33 we see the use of contrasting ideas parallelism in one verse that also contains a central point like chiasmus.
- straight is the gate.
- narrow is the way.
- few there be that find it.
- wide is the gate.
- broad the way
After doing some research I found this article which explains the different literary devices better than I do. I noticed this particular verse myself and I probably ended up doing a little more research than I needed on the subject. Finding little pieces in the Book of Mormon adds further to my testimony as I see an accumulation of things no single young man or even committee could have written.
3 Nephites (3 Nephi 28:7)
I wonder why they didn’t spend more time with Mormon and Moroni while they were in their self exile watching their nation crumble and fall? If I remember correctly the Moroni and Mormon where ministered to, maybe by them. I just think they both seemed much too lonely and that the company might have been appreciated.
3 Nephites – trials (3 Nephi 28:20-22)
This almost seems like showing off. Delivered from being buried, cast into a furnace three times, twice in den of wild beasts. They sound like super heroes with their abilities.
3 Nephites – Jews and Gentiles know them not (3 Nephi 28:27-28)
This scripture interests me because I wonder what they are up to now? Do they live among us in regular lives and help perform miracles as needed? Do they live apart and only come as the angels on special missions for the Lord? They are a big mystery and I wish there was more out there about their modern day actions that was not from apocryphal sources.
13 MAR 15
In 3 Nephi 29:5–7 Mormon gave us some specific warnings and consequences that applied to our day:
Specific warnings:
spurneth at the doings of the Lord
him that shall deny the Christ and his works
deny the revelations of the Lord
say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost
say at that day, to get gain, that there can be no miracle wrought by Jesus Christ
Consequence:
he that doeth this shall become like unto the son of perdition, for whom there was no mercy