Windows of Heaven

3 Nephi 24

This entire chapter is one I relate very personally to. Christ is still teaching the multitude and quotes from Malachi 3. The Lord's messenger shall prepare the way for the Second Coming. Christ shall sit in judgment. Israel commanded to pay tithes and offerings.

The first thought I had as I started reading was "Who is the Lord's messenger?"  It wasn't a "who".  It was a "what".  

I lived without the gospel in my life for a little over nine years. It was a miserable existence with much oppression from an emotionally abusive spouse. I, like Alma, remembered to reach out. It took a while to work, but finally I understood that I needed the help of friends, family and leaders to get me out of this oppression. They were my messengers. They prepared me to receive the Savior in my life.

It struck me this morning as I read that the first thing Christ said after telling them of the second messenger was they should pay tithing. The very first righteous decision I had to make after I had finally made my break (divorce) was when I received my first paycheck. I looked at it and the thought came to me “Nobody will stop you from paying your tithing. It is your decision now.” I quickly pulled out my checkbook and wrote a check so as not to be tempted.

Prior to my divorce, but after I had decided I had to make this break if I was ever to be happy, I asked my Dad for a Priesthood blessing. In that blessing he promised me that if I continued on the path I was currently on that the “windows of heaven would be opened to me and there would not be room enough to receive it”. This was prophecy fulfilled in my life. I marvel every day at the blessings in my life. Are there troubles? You bet! But do I see them as troubles or opportunities to grow? I see them as opportunities to grow – especially as I overcome them one by one. Yes, the windows of heaven have definitely opened up to me, to which I am grateful beyond measure.

So who is the messenger that prepares the way for His Second Coming?  It is the experiences we have that draw us closer to Him.  That is my own personal interpretation and I'm glad to receive correction on this.

Journals - A Commandment

3 Nephi 23  - Jesus is still speaking to the people. He calls out Nephi on his journal keeping. This is a very interesting chapter to me and one I take very seriously. Helaman 13 was written after Jesus talked directly to Nephi and asked him why it had not been recorded that Samuel the Lamanite had come and prophesied of the events that would happen at the time the Savior would be crucified. An apostle of the Lord was basically reprimanded for not keeping better records.

Maybe I overdo this a little, but I have journals all over the house. I journal my scripture thoughts in the morning. I journal my thankful thoughts in the evening. I journal the events of the week each week and sometimes daily if there is a lot to remember that might be of interest to future generations. Why do I do this? Because I have childhood amnesia. I remember very little of my growing up years. If one of my siblings mentions an event, I will remember it; but it isn't there for my own recollection. This is very sad, because I really don't know who I was as I grew up. I think I was obedience and compliant to my parents' wishes. But what were my thoughts? Oh how I would love to know. The scriptures expand our memories. Well, so too do our journals.

Hold on!

3 Nephi 22 – Jesus is speaking to the multitude about the last days. He talks of Zion and her stakes being established, mercy, tenderness and triumph.

Verse 2 talks about enlarging the tent; strengthening the stakes. I went to an institute class that talked about this at length. In its literal sense, it is the stakes of zion that need enlarging and strengthening. As we sit in counsel with our leaders, it is strengthening the stake that needs to be considered – especially in these latter days.

Verse 4 says “Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; . . . forget the shame of thy youth. . .” I'm not certain if this is to be taken literally, but don't we all do stupid things in our youth that we wish we hadn't done? I have seen people not be able to get past those stupid mistakes. The Lord has given us His Son, even Jesus Christ, who suffered for our mistakes – our shames, so to speak. He is our “maker” (v5) and Redeemer. In other words, He made us; He can fix us. Things might get tough for us, but [his] “kindness shall not depart” (v10).

V11 - “O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted! Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.” What makes us afflicted, tossed and not comforted? It is the mistakes we make and the direction those mistakes take us. We can choose to continue walking this afflicted path or we can lay it with the foundation of sapphires. In the margin of this verse, I noted that “sapphires” are covenants. The covenants we make and keep will change the path we take.

I love V17 - “. . .This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord” What would be the heritage of the servants of the Lord? “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.” What a promise! Certainly there are lies told about us (tongues) – especially those who were once with us in the gospel and have apostatized. These lies hurt, but the Lord will be with us. Our righteousness is only because of the Atonement and our Savior's love because we couldn't do it otherwise.

So how does this apply to me today? Don't look back and let my mistakes be a stumbling block. Continue serving the Lord and realize that it is only because of His love for me that I am given this amazing blessing in my life – the blessing to serve. Were it not for the Atonement and being cleansed by reaching out to my Savior, I could not experience the amazing blessings that are afforded to me.

Carry on!

3 Nephi 21 – Jesus tells the Nephites of the last days and the things that can be expected. This entire chapter is in the process of being fulfilled. The “lions” spoken of – the young lions – are our missionaries declaring the gospel to the many nations in the world. Gates have fallen so that they can teach freely in other nations.

It is amazing to me that some people don't see this as a sign of the times. Do they read the Bible? It is verified there as well. Isiaah 5:29 talks about the roaring of the young lion that lays hold on its prey and carries it away captive and carries it away safe. Why safe? That seems odd. Well, because if they have the gospel and live it, they will be safe. The Lord established a free people here in the this land – the United States, which allows our young men and women the freedom to teach here as well as in other countries.

This entire chapter is about the preaching of the gospel throughout the world to the nations who have not heard it. How does this apply to me? I hope to be among those young lions some day preaching the gospel in other lands – be it in this country or outside, makes no difference to me. What can I do today? Whatever it is the Lord calls me to do. “All these things shall be for thy good and thy experience” - paraphrasing from Joseph Smith (D&S 122:7). Everything that is happening to me now is preparing me for the day that I will help take the gospel to others. Carry on!

Tender Mercie, Blessings from the Nephites and seeking God's will

3 Nephi 20 Jesus miraculously administers the sacrament. Nobody brought bread or wine. It was a miracle. He tells of the gathering of Israel and how the nations will be blessed through them – the Nephites.

Verse 1 is teaching us a valuable tool in staying close to our Heavenly Father. How does one cease not to pray in their heart? I believe this is by conversing through the Lord as we go about our daily business. As we see mini miracles or as Elder Bednar so beautifully described it in his epic talk - “tender mercies”. Others have referred to it as a kiss on the cheek by angels. If we will have eyes to see, we will see the Lord's hand in our lives at every turn. At such times, it is not inappropriate to give thanks in our heart and mind for this evidence of God's love.

In verse 27 Jesus tells them that the nations of the world will be blessed through them. How have the nations of the world been blessed? This one is easy. The Book of Mormon is an accounting of the happenings of the Nephites for over 1000 years. In that time, we are able to witness the effects of righteous living in their lives as well as the promises of destruction fulfilled for not living the gospel. We can apply this teaching in our own lives and bypass the heartache the Nephites experienced. It is a choice we make. Is this not a blessing? I would certainly think so. I'm sure there are many more.

So how does this apply to me today? As I go about the business of serving in the Lord's kingdom, I know He is very involved and wants me to make the right choices. Consequently, I must put myself in a place where the Holy Ghost can influence me so to do. How? Through fasting and praying, scripture study and sincere prayer. My heart is full as I feel serious weight to seek the Lord's will in my life today. I'm grateful for the temple and that it is near and easily accessible. My intent this day is to spend serious time in the temple seeking the Lord's will in my life for some serious business.

His countenance did smile upon them.

3 Nephi 19 – The twelve disciples minister and pray for the Holy Ghost. Jesus is talking to the twelve and teaches them to minister. He prays words that can't even be written. He attests to the faith of the Nephites.

I like verse 20 where Jesus is thanking Heavenly Father in prayer that he has given the Holy Ghost to those whom he has chosen. Why had he chosen them? Because of their belief in him. I would like to think that it is because of our faith in Jesus that we are chosen to help build his kingdom here on earth as well.

Verse 25 has a phrase that I really like: “his countenance did smile upon them. . .” I want to live worthy of my Savior's countenance to smile upon me. What would that look like? Maybe we see it all the time in the faces of those who have the spirit with them.

This reminds me of my earliest days as a converted member of the church. I know. I was born and raised in the church. I maintain that anyone with a testimony is a convert though. I worked at Hill Air Force Base. A friend of my ex-husband's wanted to know what my ex's wife looked like. (That would be me.) Her husband worked at HAFB and sought me out (unbeknownst to me, of course). The description he gave of me was “nondescript”, meaning “lacking distinctive or interesting qualities: dull, drab”. Of course, this got back to me or I wouldn't be writing this story. It was a little offensive to me at the time. A very short time later, after I had started studying the gospel and getting excited about it again, I had more than a few people come up to me and ask me questions like, “Did you cut your hair? Lose weight? Change makeup?” They saw a difference and did not know what it was. I didn't know then either, but I have since figured it out. It was the Spirit. Maybe even “his countenance did shine upon me”. I would like to think so.

In verse 27 it talks about purifying those whom the Savior has chosen. Why did he choose them? He chose them because of their faith in him. We too are purified through our faith in our Savior, and as we are purified, we too are “chosen” to do His work.

So how does this apply to me? We change. We change as we exercise faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we exercise that faith, we will be given opportunities to serve and to grow in His gospel. As we continue to grow in His gospel and in service and exercise our faith, we are becoming purified. It is a process. It doesn't happen overnight. It is an ongoing process.  

Faith in Understanding

3 Nephi 15 – Other Sheep

As Jesus continues to teach the people, he tells them they are the other sheep mentioned to the people of Jerusalem when he was with them. At no time did he really tell them of the Nephites and that others had left Jerusalem to inhabit a land elsewhere. Don't you wonder what they were thinking? Exactly who would these people be? Were they not curious?

Another curious thing is this: What would they have been thinking when Jesus said there would be one fold and one shepherd?

If these questions aren't curious enough, add to it a quote from Mormon Doctrine that I have pasted in my scriptures:

“Our Lord's jurisidiction and power extend far beyond the limits of this one earth on which we dwell. He is under the Father, the Creator of worlds without number (Moses 1:33). And thus the power of his Atonement reached the inhabited of these worlds, the revelation says, “are begotten sons and daughters unto God (D&C 25:24), which means that the atonement of Christ, being literally and truly infinite, applies to an infinite number of earths.” (Bruce R. McKonkie, Mormon Doctrine) Okay, this one really blows the mind. The power of the atonement is HUGE!

How does this affect me personally? It certainly leaves me in awe of the scope of our Eternal Father. Will we really ever be able to attain all the knowledge that there is to attain? When I start asking myself questions of this nature, there is only one place to go. That is in the faith that the Lord has a plan and that I am part of that plan. He knows me. I have seen that manifest enough times that I do not doubt it. He knows my children and my childrens' children, and he has a plan for them as well. My assignment, if I choose to accept it, is to follow that plan. I must keep myself worthy of the Holy Ghost to guide me back to my Heavenly Father's presence and not get caught up in the things I do not and can not understand. I realize there are those who have greater understanding, such as our prophets and apostles and some very choice teachers. I can learn what I'm able to learn from them. In the interim, faith is my best friend and I will lean on it to see me through.