3 Nephi 24:10-11 - Blessings Abound!

Let’s see if I can capture the thoughts I had when I read this earlier this morning.  Sometimes my scripture study time is not without interruption.  Such was the case this morning.  However, when I read 3 Nephi 24: 10-11, I stopped in my tracks.  We’re supposed to liken the scriptures unto ourselves.  Right?  Well, this time it hit me in a totally different way. 

The first time I remember hearing the phrase, “ . . . and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it”, was from my Dad when he gave me a father’s priesthood blessing for the first time.  I had been encouraged by my missionary friends to ask for a blessing.  This was totally foreign in our family.  I had always thought priesthood blessings were for the sick and dying – not healthy, confused and needy children.  What a novel idea!  I pulled myself together and decided to go to my parents’ home one night and tell them of my journey.  I was turning my life around and I needed courage to do what lay ahead.  I was in a miserable marriage and I wanted out.  I gave it a good try – nine years of my life, and I wanted the life I saw my parents and siblings having.  I was studying the scriptures, going to church as best I could, and I hungered for more – a lot more.  Well, my dad gave me a beautiful blessing.  My parents were happy for the changes I was making and the direction I wanted to go.  In that blessing, he said something to the effect that if I continued on the path I was charting that the Lord would pour out blessings that there would not be room enough to receive them.  I will say that this phrase was prophetic.  I have been abundantly blessed beyond measure.  I am so very grateful!  I’m also grateful for this memory.

As I continued reading this morning, I stopped again to ponder verse 11.  Why have I never noticed this before?  “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes (I’ve noticed this one), and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground . . .”  I have read it and noticed it, but always equated it to the fruits of my labors – like a farmer would his fields.  What are the fruits of my labor?  What are the fruits of my ground?  My children!  I have always had the faith that eventually they will yearn for the warmth of the gospel in their lives again.  I don’t know what beckoned me to return.  It just felt like it was time.  The people in my life were encouraging and it was just the right thing to do.  I have total faith that my children and grandchildren who have wandered off the covenant path will have a similar experience.  I always add this caveat, “If not in this life, then in the next”.   I know we have our agency, and that this is a very important part of Heavenly Father’s plan.  But I also believe what we’ve been told about covenant children.  Somehow, this is all going to work out.  President Hinckley said that numerous times.  They may have to suffer, even as Christ did (D&C 19:16-17), but they will somehow return. 

2 Nephi 2 – A Lot of Logic and Doctrine!

Lehi is speaking to his son, Jacob.  Lehi knows his time on earth is limited and he wants Jacob to understand the things he has been taught as a prophet of God.  Consequently, there is a lot of meat in this chapter and a lot of it is in the things we learn in the temple. 

• The Spirit is the same yesterday, today and forever.   Does this even need to be expounded upon?  God doesn’t change; man does!
• The way was prepared from the fall of Adam that salvation is free.  This is through our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
• Men are instructed sufficiently to know good from evil (v5).  The Spirit spoken of in this verse is the Holy Ghost and the world knows it as a conscience.  “For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man that he may know good from evil. . .” (Moroni 7: 16)
• Redemption comes from Christ (v6), because he is full of grace and truth.  He loves us!  He wants us to return to our Heavenly Father. 
• In order to tap into that redeeming grace and love, we must have a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  What is a contrite spirit?  It is feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt (Dictionary definition).  What is penitence?  The action of feeling or showing remorse and the evil that we’ve done (Dictionary definition).
• It is important that those of us who have been taught these things make them known to the inhabitants of the earth.  Missionary work is what that boils down to.  Once we’ve been taught, we just teach our brothers and sisters.  Why?  So they can dwell in the presence of God as well (v8). 
• “He (Savior) is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved. (v9)  In the dictionary is the first agricultural product.  So Christ is the first product of a finished life on earth?  So what does finished mean?  I’m going to say to have lived on earth, completed our mission on earth, die, and to rise again as the Savior did. 
• We will be judged of Christ (v10).  This judgment will answer the ends of the atonement.  We will be judged according to our works and the desires of our hearts. (The Living Christ)
• The is opposition in all things (v11).  Gospel truth.
• Adam fell that men might be (v25).  Gospel truth as well.

 There are blessings because of the Fall of Man (Adam and Eve).  

• We can act for ourselves, aka make our own choices and suffer the consequences. (16)
• We are as God, knowing good from evil (18)
• We are allowed to work – to enjoy the fruits of our labors (v19).
• Our days are prolonged so that we can repent when we do things wrong (21)
• We can repent (v21).
• We can have children, aka families (v23).

I could probably dig more logic and doctrine out of this chapter, but these are the main ones.  We are so blessed for the Fall of Adam.  As it says in verse 23, without the Fall we would have not been born and we would not have been allowed to have families.