3 Nephi 10- The Lord Speaks; Take Heed

After silence in the land for many hours, the people hear the voice of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  I can only imagine what that must have felt like.  It was still dark with absolutely no light.  You would have to feel chastised and yet spared somewhat, as the people surely did.  When they heard the Lord’s voice, their mourning turned into joy (v10). 

As I was reading, it occurred to me that the Lord really speaks to us in many ways:  1) by the mouth of his servants, 2) ministering of angels, 3) His voice, [the still small voice], 4) voice of thunderings, lightnings and tempests, earthquakes, hailstorms and famines and pestilences of every kind [natural disasters], 5) great sound of a trump [missionaries spreading the Gospel], 6) voice of judgment [natural consequences of ignoring the words of the prophets, 7) voice of mercy [the sweet balm of forgiveness when we have done wrong], 8) voice of glory [sealing powers of the priesthood.  Think Moses 1:39], 9) voice of honor [respect, privilege], 10) riches of eternal life [families can be together forever!] (D&C 43:24-25).

These many ways can be broken into two categories, however.  1) Scolding and consequences of unrighteousness, and 2) blessings from keeping the commandments and living in righteousness. 

I’m not certain why I feel the Lord’s displeasure whenever I hear thundering and lightning.  I must say that since I’ve embraced the Gospel with full purpose of heart, I do enjoy a summer storm a little more than I did in my twenty-something years.  But I definitely feel the Lord is speaking to the world today with the calamities and trials in the world.  The earthquakes and hurricanes and tornadoes for sure make me feel of his wrath.  On the other hand, I feel the Lord’s love and tender mercy in the blessings we receive daily and in the miracles we hear about in war-torn countries and in areas where natural disasters take their toll.  I feel of His love all around me and know He cares about his children.  We bring on much of our own trials and tribulations.  We have been assured by our prophets that when our tribulations are at the hands of evil men, that we will be given the strength through the power of the Holy Ghost to endure them.  This two is evident in the stories of those who have experienced such things.

So where am I going with this?  I’m not so certain except I definitely hear the Lord’s voice and it is a foolish person indeed who chooses to ignore His warnings. 

3 Nephi 7 – Similarities Cannot be Ignored

It is 31-32 years since the birth of Christ in the Nephite's history, and the state of the Nephites is worth examining since we’ve been told this period of time in history parallels our own as far as the righteousness of the people is concerned.  We also have been told we can expect similar things to happen in our day before the coming of the Lord.

The first thing that impressed me was the mention of tribes, their covenants within their tribes and their respect of each other as tribes to live and let live.  Is this not a perfect description of the gangs we deal with in our cities today?  Does this not also describe the mafia, the terrorists, and those who would cause us harm throughout the world?  They were united in their hatred toward the believers.  The terrorists of the world seem to be united in their hatred toward the United States.  Where did their power come from?  Satan!  The same can be said of the gangs, tribes and terrorists of today.  After all, Satan is the father of lies.

I’ve written in my margin that goodly portions of the Nephites at this time are dissenters.  This is one very good reason to guard our families that we do not have children who break off from the truth and associate with the dissenters of our time.  Why is that?   The reason is twofold.  For one, it is very hard to break away from evil once it has been embraced.  This knowledge is from personal experience and observation.  The second reason comes directly from the Book of Mormon.  The dissenters, aka apostates, were more diligent in their hatred toward the people of God, thus causing tremendous havoc among the believers.  Their hatred became so intense that they stoned the prophets and cast them out from among them (v14).  We’ve been told to liken “stoning” and “killing” the prophets to discounting, disbelieving and going against the teachings of our prophets today. 

Angels visited Nephi daily (v18).  I just read Pres. Packer’s last conference talk (April 2014) this morning and he doesn’t mince words that he bears the same testimony as Joseph Smith, “. . . for we saw Him, standing on the right hand of God” (D&C 76:23).  Does that not tell me that he (Pres. Packer) is being taught by not only the Savior but by angels?  Because angels had visited Nephi, he began to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Certainly Pres. Packer’s talk was filled with this same boldness. 

“And the people saw it, and did witness of it, and were angry with him because of his powers;. . .(v20).  I’m sad to say those who fall away from the church have seen, witnessed (served missions) and now are angry. 

Miracles were not uncommon (v22), yet the falling away was increasing.  Because of the miracles, many people were coming unto Christ as well.  There was a great growth in the Church.  We can say the same of the Church today. 

So what does all this mean?  Well, if we parallel this period of time in history with our own (as we’ve been told we can do), it cannot be long before our Savior returns to the earth in His Glory and majesty and “. . .and all men shall see it together. . .(Isaiah 40:5).  Every knee shall bend and tongue shall speak in worship before Him.  What a glorious day that will be!  My goal is to endure to this day whether it is on this side of the veil or that I pass onto the other.  It really matters not.  How I pray for the courage, strength, health and voice to be able to be left standing when He returns. 

3 Nephi 6 – The Inequality of Man

This chapter in the Book of Mormon is always a little disturbing to me.  The world today is far from a place of equity.  When I read about the Nephites and Lamanites, I can’t help but wonder if the Lord is asking us to look beyond the borders of our own “world”, i.e. towns, states, even country, and liken what we are reading to the world instead.  The Nephites and Lamanites world was small.  Ours encompasses the entire world.  Surely and brothers and sisters in third-world countries today are far from equal to those living in the United States who have “more chances for learning” (v12).  Many in the world are “ignorant” because of their poverty.  They do not have access to education. 

I’m grateful the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a program for educating the poor.  It is called the PEF (Perpetual Education Fund), and is available to those return missionaries who have served faithfully and pulled themselves out of poverty spiritually.  Then they must return to their poor country and poor lifestyle.  The Church helps them get an education so they can provide for themselves and their families and thus help the church to grow.  What a beautiful thing!  I realize this is a drop in the bucket to what needs to be done.  The Church has an amazing Humanitarian effort around the world.  Oh how I would love to serve a mission in that area. 

I guess what I’m trying to say this morning is that there is no shortage of ways to short-circuit the tendency of the “Natural Man” (Mosiah 3:19).   Our prophets and apostles have told us there is a way to avoid the “Pride Circle”, i.e. poverty, blessings, prosperity, pride, and downfall.  It is in being humble (teachable), charitable, kind, and seeking for ways to help others that we can short-circuit this circle.  In doing so, we will not be boasters in our own strength and prowess, proud, vain, and self absorbed. 

3 Nephi 2 - Remember

It’s disturbing to me how fast the people have forgotten the miracle of one day, one night and a day of light that signified the coming of Christ.  Why is that so hard for them to wrap their brains around?  What happened that caused them to forget?  How can I avoid such a fate?  I know I’ve seen miracles and felt the Lord’s presence in my life.  Could I possibly explain it away as my own frenzied mind?  Never!

They “forgot the signs and wonders. . . and began to less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven. . .”  Their hearts became hard and they were blind in their minds and began to disbelieve the things they had heard and seen (v1).  They somehow imagined in their minds that men of the devil had created these things to deceive them.  Really?  That man could keep the sun from giving its light - even in the night?  The key word here is “forget”.  The signs and wonders they experienced became commonplace to them – somehow.  Is this one reason the brethren remind us over and over again that “remember” is the most important word in the scriptures?  Is this one reason we have been given the commandment to renew our baptismal covenants weekly by partaking of the sacrament? 

It grieves me to see people I love take casually their Sabbath worship.  Church seems to be optional, or they have stopped going completely.  That is definitely the beginning of a fast spiral down into the depths of despair and disbelief.  Why do I put those two words together in this context?  I put these words together because for myself, when I got to the point of no activity at all, my life was in a state of hopelessness – aka despair.  There really wasn’t much that brought joy into my life.  It is the participation I have each Sabbath day in partaking the sacrament, remembering my Savior and the price He paid for the blessings I enjoy, that help me remember that it isn’t a hoax.  The miracles I’ve experienced are real.  The Lord is mindful of me and rescued me from a state of unhappiness for which I will ever be grateful.  I will never forget the joy I felt as I came out of that darkness and into the light. 

Is it my Sunday worship that helps me remember?  It is the promises I make weekly that help me remember.  I want to always be worthy of those blessings and protections that come from serving the Lord.  In so doing, I remember to serve and help others, read my scriptures and pray, thus joy is brought into my life.  It is a perfect plan.  It is the Lord’s plan to keep us safe so we can return to Him.  Oh, how I love my Sundays!!!

3 Nephi 1 - Daily Seven

Never in my life (and the prophets and apostles tell us in history), has there been such an obvious distance between good and evil.  In 3 Nephi 1: 30, it says “And thus were the Lamanites afflicted also, and began to decrease as to their faith and righteousness, because of the wickedness of the rising generation.”  Their children!  They were decreasing in their faith because of the poor choices of their children?  This is so contrary to what I’m experiencing.  As my children are making poor choices, it makes me want to dig my heels in even deeper.  So I don’t know that I really understand this behavior in the Lamanites, who are the people we’re talking about in this particular chapter.

The Gadianton Robbers were still quite prevalent in the land but were hiding in the hills and coming down to create havoc.  Is this not similar to what the gangs are doing?  Their numbers were growing, as are the gangs.  Why?  What do they have to offer?  What makes so many of our youth vulnerable to their evil ways?

It amazes me that the Lamanites, in just a few short years,  had slippery testimonies after having witnessed a miracle like the sky staying light for a day, a night and a day.  Had this not been a direct fulfillment of prophecy, maybe they could argue it away.  But the prophets told them this was going to happen. How can faith be so unstable?  

Our prophets and leaders today have told us repeatedly how to avoid this lack of faith, i.e. personal and family scripture and prayers, FHE, dinners as a family, regular temple attendance and service to others.  I’m putting a whole lot of faith in this counsel.  We will have trials and troubles.  That is why we’re on this earth.

Alma 36:27 says "And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me."  I believe we can expect this same kind of support from our Heavenly Father as we encounter life’s buffetings provided we heed the counsel of the prophets.  Our faith and actions to strengthen that faith will protect us.

That makes me think of this cute young woman, age 15, Cassidy Stay, whose entire family was executed in front of her this week.  Not only does she have the appearance of being supported under her trials, but also she seems to be strengthened because of them.  I would love to know what her home life was like, though I think I can guess.  She is solid in her belief that her family will be together again.  She is using this as an opportunity to share her faith with the world, and the eyes of the world are definitely upon her.  There is little doubt in my mind that her family prayed together, studied the scriptures together and had Family Home Evening.  She has been taught Gospel Principles and she is definitely drawing strength from the teachings of the Gospel.

Isaiah 41:10 says: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”  We will feel of that same support as we face our trials and troubles.  Of this I have no doubt.  Cassidy says there were angels surrounding her preventing her from even making a noise as she pretended to have been fatally wounded while the murderer of her family finished up in their home and then left with the intent to murder others in her family.  She was given the strength to call 911 and not only report her own situation, but tell them the murderer was on his way to destroy her grandparents and other family members.  What an amazing feat!  Again, there is little doubt in my mind that she was being supported by angels – perhaps even her recently executed parents and siblings. 

We must be strong in our daily efforts to follow the counsel of our prophets – The Daily Seven:  Personal and private prayer and scriptures, FHE, family meals, and temple attendance.  In so doing, it is my testimony we will provide a shield of protection not only for ourselves, but also for our families.