"There Could Not Be a Happier People" - 3 Nephi 27 - 4 Nephi

As I was reading this week's "Come Follow Me" recommended reading, 3 Nephi 27 - 4 Nephi,  the themes of 1) follow Jesus Christ,  2) prayer, and 3) unity quickly came to mind.

The opening verse in this section, 3 Nephi 27:1, states that as the disciples of Jesus were teaching and baptizing in the Savior's name, they "were united in mighty prayer and fasting." This verse encompasses all three of those themes, as the disciples were teaching in the way the Savior taught, praying in the way the Savior taught, and unified together in their purpose. 

In the October 2020 General Conference talk, "Watch Ye Therefore and Pray Always," President M. Russell Ballard powerfully stated, "During the past few months I have had the impression come to me that the best way to help the current world situation is for all people to rely more fully upon God and to turn their hearts to Him through sincere prayer. Humbling ourselves and seeking heaven's inspiration to endure or conquer what is before us will be our safest and surest way to move confidently forward through these troubling times."

In the same talk, President Ballard reminds us, "The Savior taught us not to limit who we pray for." 

We need more faith in the Savior, more prayers, and more striving for unity as we head into particularly troubling times. Yet, the Savior promises us, "And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day." (3 Nephi 27:6). I also love this promise because it is for everyone. Nobody is excluded from this promise, regardless of race, gender, how we were raised, what trials we've had in life, or what mistakes we have made, if we turn to the Lord and trust in the Lord. This is reaffirmed in the same chapter in verse 16, "... whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day ..."

Christ with the Three Nephite Disciples by Gary L. Kapp

In the October 2020 General Conference talk, "By Union of Feeling We Obtain Power with God," Sharon Eubank said, "Each of us is going to have deeply wounding experiences, things that should never happen. Each of us will also, at various times, allow pride and loftiness to corrupt the fruit we bear. But Jesus Christ is our Savior in all things. His power reaches to the very bottom and is reliably there for us when we call on Him. We all beg for mercy for our sins and failures. He freely gives it. And He asks us if we can give that same mercy and understanding to each other.

In the April 2018 General Conference talk, "With One Accord," Reyna I. Aburto referenced when the Savior was on earth as discussed in the Bible, as well as this time in 3 Nephi and 4 Nephi. 

She said, "In order to reach our sublime destiny, we need each other, and we need to be unified. The Lord has commanded us, 'Be one; and if ye are not one year not mine.' Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of unity with His Father. They are one in purpose, in love, and in works, with 'the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.'"

Later she adds. "Miracles happen when the children of God work together guided by the Spirit to reach out to others in need."

The people that saw Jesus Christ and were taught by him and by the twelve disciples were full of joy and wanted to follow his teachings and his example. This is after hundreds of years of warring and contention in the land that eventually ended in 3 Nephi 8 with the city of Zarahemla being burned down, the city of Moroni sunk into the sea and its people drowned, the city of Moronihah destroyed by an earthquake that turned the city into a mountain, and other great destruction for a people and a land that would not repent.

When Jesus visited, the repentant and humbled people came together, followed him, listened to him, and experienced many miracles in the name of Jesus, from healing the sick, to having the deaf become able to hear. The great city Zarahemla, which did "take fire" (3 Nephi 8) among many other cities that were destroyed because of their wickedness, was "built again."

"And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people." (4 Nephi 1:15). 

Unfortunately, in the scriptures, we constantly see the pride cycle at work, where the people forget the source of their blessings and begin to sin and create destruction again. In this case, the peace from having personally been visited by the Lord lasted for about 200 years. On the one hand, this was much longer than other previous times of peace throughout the land, which in some cases, lasted only for one year before they forgot and became prideful. On the other hand, they did eventually forget. We see the importance of record-keeping, and how carefully the Lord instructed his prophets to guard the records that became the Book of Mormon. We also see the importance of teaching our children so they can remember and know how to find peace.

How are you striving to follow Jesus Christ, seek him through prayer, and find unity with those around you? Here are a few things I've been doing recently.

1. One of the ways I am trying to follow Jesus Christ better is to committing to saying a five-minute prayer each day. This not my only prayer of the day but this is my prayer where I try a little harder to remember that I'm "calling home" and to really talk. I make it a point to look at a clock and make sure that by the time my personal prayer is over, five minutes has passed. Yes, prayers shouldn't be timed but neither should they be rote and sometimes saying a prayer with that new parameter can help. This is something that our Stake President challenged us to do a while back (a 5-10 minute prayer each day), and that we were reminded of in our last Stake Conference meeting.

2. My calling is that I am an adult Sunday School teacher. I committed to myself when we stopped having in-person church that I would try to do my calling anyway by blogging some of my thoughts. This made me make sure to read not only the scriptures, but the lesson plans, maybe a little more closely and thoughtfully.

3. I have been trying to pause more in my prayers, and write down the things that come into my mind when I ask, "What should I start doing? What should I stop doing? Who needs my help today?" I don't always remember to ask those questions, and I don't always pause, but I am trying to do these things better and more thoughtfully. Sometimes a thought pops into my mind that I'm not sure if it's just what I was thinking about, or if it's divine inspiration. I feel it helps to write it down and ponder on it as I read scriptures and pray.

4. I have been reading and pondering my patriarchal blessing along with my scriptures as I've sought answers to questions. Here are some additional thoughts about patriarchal blessings here (on the Church of Jesus Christ website). 

We are ALL Children of the Covenant: 3 Nephi 20-26

Today's Come Follow Me Study was called, "Ye are Children of the Covenant" and covers 3 Nephi 20-26. That sounds a little exclusive but we learn in 3 Nephi 20:25-27 that, as the Individuals and Families manual explains, "anyone who is baptized and makes covenants with His is also of the house of Israel," and therefore, can have the same blessings, "no matter who you descend from or where you live. In other words, when Jesus speaks to the house of Israel, He is talking about you."

In the October 2020 talk "Eyes to See," Michelle D. Craig stated, "Jesus Christ sees people deeply. He sees individuals, their needs, and who they can become. Where others saw fishermen, sinners, or publicans, Jesus saw disciples; where others saw a man possessed by devils, Jesus looked past the outward distress, acknowledged the man, and healed him."

In the October 2020 talk "Hearts Knit in Righteousness and Unity," Quentin L. Cook stated, "With our all-inclusive doctrine, we can be an oasis of unity and celebrate diversity. Unity and diversity are not opposites. We can achieve greater unity as we foster an atmosphere of inclusion and respect for diversity. … The Savior’s ministry and message have consistently declared all races and colors are children of God. We are all brothers and sisters."

What scriptures stuck out for you as you studied? Here are a few that really spoke to me this time with a quick comment about each:

3 Nephi 20:1 "... And he commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts."

We are constantly reminded that we can and should pray always, that this pathway is open for all to communicate with our Father in Heaven, that prayers are not reserved only for times of trial. However, I felt it was also very powerful that in the October 2020 talk, "Watch Ye Therefore, and Pray Always," M. Russell Ballard said, "During the past few months I have had the impression come to me that the best way to help the current world situation is for all people to rely more fully upon God and to turn their hearts to Him through sincere prayer. Humbling ourselves and seeking heaven's inspiration to endure or conquer what is before us will be our safest and surest way to move confidently forward through these troubling times."

3 Nephi 21:8 "And when that day shall come, it shall come to pass that kings shall shut their mouths; for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they not heard shall they consider."

There is so much more in the world to come, so much more faith to give, and so many more miracles that will occur, so great that even kings "shall shut their mouths," I believe, in amazement. 

3 Nephi 22:7 "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee."

Our Lord will never forsake us, though it may feel like it sometimes. Later, in 3 Nephi 26:11, he says, "I will try the faith of my people." In General Conference 2020, in the talk, "God Will Do Something Unimaginable," Dieter F. Uchtdorf says, "In a way, we are seeds. And for seeds to reach their potential, they must be buried before they can sprout. It is my witness that though at times we may feel buried by the trials of life or surrounded by emotional darkness, the love of God and the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ will bring something unimaginable to spring forth."

3 Nephi 22:10-11 "For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of any peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted! Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires."

I was especially touched by this scripture as I thought about a world where I am seeing a war between those that are prideful and selfish and teaching this behavior to others in leadership roles, and those that are striving to be kind and Christlike. The footnote for this scripture explains that "kindness" here means "Israel, blessings of." This covenant is available for anyone that wants it, for our Lord is merciful.

3 Nephi 23:1 "And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah."

I think about leaders like Henry B. Eyring, who has read the scriptures every day for many decades, on repeat, and is constantly learning new things from the scriptures. It was the Savior himself who told us to search the scriptures diligently. 

3 Nephi 23:7-14 - "And it came to pass that he said unto Nephi; Bring forth the record which ye have kept ... Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me ... ... And Jesus said unto them; How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many did minister unto them?

I have paid special attention this time through reading the Book of Mormon to see how keeping records is important, and what kind of records are important, not petty lists of grievances but what you want to teach your posterity. In the Book of Mormon, there are frequently spans of 100s of years where nothing in the history is recorded, and times where a prophet writes that they are only touching on a small piece of what has happened. Samuel the Lamanite is a well-known and much beloved story for children that grow up reading the Book of Mormon, and we almost didn't have this story. The Savior himself had to ask, essentially "why has this not been recorded?" It makes me especially grateful for what we have, but also thoughtful about what I want to make sure to record.

3 Nephi 24:5-6 "... and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers ... and against those that oppress ... and fear not me, saith the Lord of Hosts. ... For I am the Lord, I change not."

While I am seeing a lot of good in the world today, I have also been extremely concerned about what I see as a rise of evil powers/practices and people that are believing in them a little too readily. This scripture gives me assurance that the Lord changes not and in the long run, the righteous will be able to overcome.

3 Nephi 25:1 "For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall."

Today feels a bit like a literal and metaphorical burning as I can hear the helicopters and airplanes overhead working to put out a fire in the canyon nearby our home, and I can see the impact of Covid-19 and other stressors in lives around the world. While, as Uchtdorf said, "things might get worse before they get better," I am grateful for the reassurance that "the Son of Righteousness" shall "arise with healing in his wings."

In the same talk I referenced above, Uchtorf says, "Focus on the things you can do and not on the things you cannot do. You muster your faith. And you listen for the guiding word of the Lord and His prophet to lead you to safety."

I'm so grateful for the scriptures, the treasure box full of wisdom and comfort that they give me every time I open and read with an open mind and willingness to learn.

Preparing, Pondering, and Prayer - 3 Nephi 17-19

One of the themes that stood out for me as I studied 3 Nephi 17-19 was how the Savior taught about prayer, both by reiteration and by example. He emphasized this in 3 Nephi 17 and 18, as he spoke to the multitude of 2,500 men, women, and children.

Christ Praying with the Nephites, by Ted Henninger

In 3 Nephi 17:3, the Savior said, "Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again."

The Savior then reiterated asking of the Father by being an example, as he knelt down and prayed before the multitude.

In 3 Nephi 17:16-17, it says "And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father; And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father."

The Savior specifically called out that his prayer was a model for the multitude in 3 Nephi 18:15-16 as he emphasizes that we need to "watch and pray always," and that he is "the light, I have set an example for you."

He talked in 3 Nephi 19:7-10 about praying in the Lord's name, praying as individuals, and praying as families. In 3 Nephi 19, he said the word "pray" over 20 times as he both prayed to the Father and taught about prayer.

He also emphasized that if someone was unworthy to take the sacrament, we shouldn't cast them out but "minister unto him and ... pray for him unto the Father." (3 Nephi 18:30, 32). 

Reflecting upon the current state of the world, and in the October 2020 session of General Conference last weekend, Elder M. Russell Ballard stated, "During the past few months I have had the impression come to me that the best way to help the current world situation is for all people to rely more fully upon God and to turn their hearts to Him through sincere prayer. Humbling ourselves and seeking heaven's inspiration to endure or conquer what is before us will be our safest and surest way to move confidently forward through these troubling times." (Watch Ye Therefore, and Pray Always.)

He continues, "The world's current chaotic situation may seem daunting as we consider the multitude of issues and challenges. But it is my fervent testimony that if we will pray and ask Heavenly Father for needed blessings and guidance, we will come to know how we can bless our families, neighbors, communities, and even the countries in which we live. The Savior prayed and then He 'went about doing good" ... He continues to reach out to us."