What can I do?

3 Nephi 28

The twelve are asked what they would want from Jesus. Nine inherit Christ's kingdom; The Three Nephites desire to never taste death but to minister always among men until the second coming of Christ.

In verse 1, Christ gives an excellent example of how to minister: “What is it that ye desire of me. . .” I need to remember this as I serve. It's simple enough. Then in verse 9, we're given the reason why: “. . . that ye might bring the souls of men unto me. . .” This needs to be our purpose in serving as well.

Verse 20 has a curious phrase: “. . . they did smite the earth with the word of God, insomuch that by his power they were delivered out of the depths of the earth; and therefore they could not dig pits sufficient to hold them.” How do you smite the earth with the word of God? It's not preaching. I would suspect they used Priesthood power to do whatever was required to free them – much the same as the way the earth was created in the beginning. In reading Genesis 1, all of creation was done by the word of God, i.e. “. . . and God said. . .”

Verse 35 – I love this phrase! “. . . do ye suppose that ye can get rid of the justice of an offended God, who hath been trampled under feet of men, . . .” Do you really think that just because you say you don't believe it, that God is not going to take offense, that there will be no consequence? The phrase just before this one says it all and should be enough to make anyone shake in their boots: And it would be better for them if they had not been born.

So exactly how does this all apply to me today? Certainly as I serve in my church calling I need to remember to ask what someone needs of me and my purpose needs to be to bring the souls of men unto our Savior. But it goes one step further. Why? Why is this so important? To prevent any of my brothers or sisters – God's children - from ever wishing that they had not been born. To help them in their quest for truth so that they do not offend God. And therein lies the problem. I have but little power to prevent anyone from doing anything. Nothing makes this more clear than raising children. It is the power of the Holy Ghost that has that power. My duty is to bear testimony at every opportunity so that the Holy Ghost can do his job.