Mormon and his Son Moroni were Faithful to the End - Mormon 7-9

This week's scripture study centered around Mormon 7-9. You can also read about it the Come Follow Me Study manual for Individuals and Families.

Two Hundred Years of Peace were Followed by Two Hundred Year of Pride and Destruction
For two hundred years after Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecies and visited the Nephite people, there was peace throughout the land. The people remembered the joy of being with the Savior and they remembered the lessons he had taught. In addition, the Savior had called 12 disciples that continued to teach after the Savior was gone. They remembered to pray always (3 Nephi 20:1), that that spirit of contention was not of the Lord (3 Nephi 11:29). They were taught the beatitudes. It says in 3 Nephi 17:16, "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 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.)

It was devastating to see then, that the next 200 years proceeded in such a devastating fashion after those first 200 years. By the time 400 years had passed since the Savior visited the Nephites, they were all dead. 

Mormon Bids Farewell to a Once Great Nation, by Arnold Friberg

In one of the most heart-wrenching scriptures in the Book of Mormon, Moroni write in Mormon 8:5, "... I am alone, My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not." 

Despite being a man of God, and living faithfully, as his father had before him, the wickedness around them was so great that the Lord allowed them to destroy each other until there was nothing. Of the disciples, Moroni wrote, "the wickedness of the people was so great that the Lord would not suffer them to remain with the people ..." (Mormon 8:10). 

Mormon knew this was coming. His entire life, he was in despair over the unwillingness of their people to repent of their pride. I've created the chart below to show the course of his life among unrepentent Nephites:

(Click to zoom in:)

Timeline of the 400 years since Christ came to visit the Nephites as it relates to Mormon's age.

The Great Love of Our Father in Heaven
Yet, despite the terrible darkness and sadness of these scriptures, despite being frustrated that these people were willing to fight until they were wiped off the face of the earth, I find solace in the great love of God I see here.

First, the Lord ministered to Mormon when he was just fifteen. It says in Mormon 1:15, "And I , being fifteen years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus."

Then, in Mormon 8:11, Moroni, his son, writes that despite the disciples having been removed by the Lord because the people were too wicked, "... my father and I have seen them, and they have ministered unto us."

Second, the Lord instructed Mormon and Moroni to write in and protect the record for today, the latter-days, so they knew they had a purpose for being there in those awful times. It says in Mormon 8:22, "For the eternal purpose of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled." 

Third, we are assured that the Lord protected the records because of his great love for us, "... it shall be brought out of the earth, and it shall shine forth out of the darkness, and come unto the knowledge of the people; and it shall be done by the power of God."

Imperfections
I want to briefly also talk about imperfections. I had a conversation with a friend of mine on the East Coast who said that when she went to college as a Catholic woman, she tried to keep attending church. But, she was so stunned by hypocrites that did one thing right before church, then pretended to be devout while they were in church, that she stopped attending. This is not a criticism of Catholics as this can happen with any religion or group. My friend still believes in God but she had a difficult time seeing people not live the values they believed in. I told her that that although we have different faiths, no human on earth is perfect, and we are taught by our leaders to remember that Christ is perfect, that the gospel is perfect, and that the imperfections are from fellow humans. That doesn't excuse us in the sense that we should always be trying to improve but it does help us to not let the decisions of others impact how we choose to live our lives. 

In that same way, our leaders that we admire and respect and turn to for guidance are still human, and also imperfect. We still have much to learn from them. Moroni, son of Mormon, wrote, "And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you." (Mormon 8:12)

He writes in Mormon 9:31, "Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been."

My Testimony
The Book of Mormon was recorded for us, in our day (Mormon 8:34). Humans are imperfect and mistakes can be made but we have a God that is unchanging, that "doth not vary" (Mormon 9:10). Our God is a "God of miracles" (Mormon 9:10) and if we remember him always he will bless and protect us. That doesn't mean the trials will fade but we will be able to endure them until the day we can return and live with him again.

Mormon Cries for Repentance - the Nephites are Destroyed Because They Won't Repent (Mormon 1-6)

This week's scripture study was Mormon 1-6.

Mormon Abridging the Plates, by Tom Lovell

Mormon is one of the few prophets in the Book of Mormon where we learn a little about what he was like in his youth and hear from his perspective the world he grew up in starting as a child. We learn that he moved to Zarahemla at age 11, and immediately there was a war around him. We also learn that except for one period of 4 years and one period of 10 years, the world he was living in was at war his entire life, the likes of which were so awful that Mormon refrains from describing many of these scenes. We also learn that Mormon was a man of God his whole life, and never wavered in his faith and trust in the Lord.

In the October 2020 General Conference talk "God Will Do Something Unimaginable," Dieter F. Uchtdorf said "Every dispensation has faced its times fo trial and hardship." He also said, "We must walk through difficult times, for it is in these times of adversity that we learn principles that fortify our characters and cause us to draw closer to God. our Heavenly Father knows that we suffer, and because we are His children, He will not abandon us." 

However, if we choose not to fortify our characters and draw closer to God, then these hardships are for naught. There is a sharp contrast between how Mormon lived his life, starting at age 10 when we are first introduced to him as a "sober child" and "quick to observe" versus almost all of the rest of the Nephites who allowed wickedness to "prevail upon the face of the whole land insomuch that he Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease of their iniquity of the people." (Mormon 1:13). 

In Mormon 2:10-12, when the Nephites began to repent of their iniquity, Mormon's heart rejoiced because he knew the Lord "would be merciful unto them that they would again become a righteous people." However, his joy turned to sorrow "for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin." (Mormon 2:13). Unfortunately, for this generation of Nephites, this never changed. By the end of Mormon 6, a total of 23 armies of 10,000 per army have been destroyed by the Lamanites. Only about 24 people remain. Not 24,000. TWENTY-FOUR. 

Mormon reminds us that he writes this record for the descendants, for us to learn from. He calls this record, "my record concerning the destruction of my people, the Nephites." (Mormon 6:1). He reminds us in Mormon 3:20-22 that he writes: "for this cause ... that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgement-seat of Christ. ... that ye may believe the gospel of Jesus Christ ... that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth to repent and prepare to stand before the judgement-seat of Christ."

Interestingly, despite basically living in a war zone his entire life, Mormon mentions a son (Mormon 6:6, 12). From this, we can assume that most likely as an adult, he at some point married. I draw this distinction because Mormon is not a fictional character in a fictional war zone where war is the only story. He was a man trying to live a full life and follow Jesus Christ during a time of great conflict, just as we have over the years during different times of conflict. Mormon's son Moroni takes up the records after him so we will hear his words soon after but I wanted to call out that distinction that though he spent nearly his entire life leading armies into battle, he (and his wife I assume) also raised a righteous son.

You can click on this image to see an outline I put together showing a timeline of the years since Christ came, and what happened to the Nephite people, alongside Mormon's age at the time. I've also summarized it below the chart.

At age 10, when Ammaron approached him:

1. He was a sober child (Mormon 1:2)

2. He was quick to observe (Mormon 1:2)

3. Ammaron approached him and told him that Mormon would need to observe his whole life and record his observations by somewhere around age 24.

At age 11: 

3. He moved to Zarahemla and saw a land in ward, followed by 4 years of peace, before pretty much the rest of Mormon's life was lived in war. (He experienced 10 years of relative peace from battle from age 40-50 as described in Mormon 2:28.) (Mormon 1:6-12)


At age 15:

4. He was visited by the Lord "and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus." (Mormon 1:15)

At age 16:

5. He was large in stature (Mormon 2:2)

6. He was appointed the leader of the Nephite armies (Mormon 2:2)

At age 20:

7. He was leading armies as large as 42,000 against the Lamanites 44,000 (Mormon 2:9)

8. He continued to feel great sorrow for his people that they would not repent and turn to the Lord

At approximately age 33: 

9. As their battles and fleeing from the Lamanites led them to Jashon, which was near the land where Ammaron had deposited the records, Mormon took the plates of Nephi and did make a record as he was guided to by Ammaron at age 10.

At age 52:

10. Mormon refused to continue to lead a wicked, ungrateful people to war. 

"And it came to pass that I utterly refused to go up against mine enemies; and I did even as the Lord had commanded me; and I did stand as an idle witness to manifest unto the world the things which I saw and heard, according to the manifestations of the Spirit which had testified of things to come." (Mormon 3:16).

11. Mormon continued to be guided by the Lord and by his desire to help his people and their descendants to be a repentant, God-loving people. He wrote:

"... And for this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgement-seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works, whether they be good or evil." (Mormon 3:20).

At age ~65:

12. Mormon once again led the Nephite army but "without hope ... for they repented not of their iniquities." (Mormon 5:2). I think this shows a great love for his people despite their wickedness.

At age ~74):

13. 23 Nephites armies of 10,000 men are wiped out. Only 24 people remain.

Mormon says in despair, "O that ye had repented before this great destruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone, and the Father, yea, the Eternal Father of heaven, knoweth your state; and he doeth with you according to his justice and mercy." (Mormon 6:22).

One final thought. Mormon was described by Ammaron as being "sober" and "quick to observe." David A. Bednar gave a talk about this in a May 10, 2005 devotional, "Quick to Observe." He said, 

Please consider the significance of this important spiritual gift. As used in the scriptures, the word observe has two primary uses. One use denotes “to look” or “to see” or “to notice”—as we learn in Isaiah 42:20: “Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not” (emphasis added).

The second use of the word observe suggests “to obey” or “to keep”—as is evident in the Doctrine and Covenants: “But blessed are they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment, for they shall obtain mercy” (D&C 54:6; emphasis added).

Thus when we are quick to observe, we promptly look or notice and obey. Both of these fundamental elements—looking and obeying—are essential to being quick to observe. And the prophet Mormon is an impressive example of this gift in action.

Mormon is one of my greatest heroes. I think there's a reason we get to hear about his from such a young age, as we do with the likes of the Savior, Moses, and Joseph Smith. The Savior was the ultimate example but there were men on earth that experienced a type of what the Savior experienced, and we can learn through them. Our trials may feel big and deep and burdensome but we all face trials and it's how we handle them that determines our path in life.

As President Russell M. Nelson said, "We are here on earth to be tested, to see if we will choose to follow Jesus Christ, to repent regularly, to learn, and to progress. Our spirts long to press. And we do that best by staying firmly on the covenant path." (October 2020 General Conference, "Moving Forward")

"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."

Guidance from the Savior: Come Follow Me Study for 3 Nephi 12-16

3 Nephi 12-16 covers the time when the Savior returned to earth and ministered and taught among the people. It's valuable to see what he taught during this short visit versus what he taught in the Gospels in the Bible, when he lived on the earth and had a little more time to get his message across. In 3 Nephi, when the Savior is visiting the Nephites, we see many recognizable verses that are a repeat, word per word, in some cases, of guidance he gave before he was crucified. 

Jesus Teaching in the Western Hemisphere

For example, the Beatitudes in 3 Nephi 12:1-12 are the same ones he shared in Matthew 5:1-12. In both cases, he follows the Beatitudes with the analogy about how we are like a light that should not be placed under a bushel, in both 3 Nephi 12:14-16, and Matthew 5:14-16. 

As you read these scriptures, which of the Savior's teachings spoke to you today?

How do these scriptures lift you up and give you comfort?

I love all of the familiar guidance I see in these chapters, from the reminder to serve from our heart and not for show, to the reassurance that if we seek the Lord in righteous prayer, he will answer.

In 3 Nephi 13:19-21 we are reminded not to lay up for ourselves treasures upon earth "where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal" but to to lay up our treasures in heaven "For where your treasure is, there will your heart also be." 

My sister lives in Oregon, the state that has suffered from one of the most destructive fires on record in the state of Oregon, burning somewhere around 1 million acres of land (twice the state's yearly average in just one month). She personally knows many people that have lost their home, and at one point, had to evacuate her own home with her children. She has shared with me so many stories of neighbors helping neighbors, and the gratitude so many feel for their lives, even while suffering the devastating loss of their homes. Their treasures are their families, their memories, and how they are serving one another through this tragedy. 

3 Nephi 8-11 "Arise and Come Forth Unto Me" Come Follow Me Study

A detail from Jesus Christ Visits the Americas, by John Scott
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/jesus-nephites-8ddd1aa?lang=eng

3 Nephi 8-11 covers an incredible moment in the history of the scriptures, when over 600 years of prophecies are fulfilled, regarding the coming of the Savior. When he finally appears, in 3 Nephi 11:8, the people "durst not open their mouths, even one to another ... for they thought it was an angel that appeared unto them."

Then the Savior speaks in 3 Nephi 11:10-11, saying,

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world." 

"And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning." 

When we have no exact timeline on prophecies, imagine how it felt for those that had been specifically warned by Samuel the Lamanite, when the Savior came only 34 years after his warnings.

At first, with some of the early signs, some of the people made excuses, and chose to ignore them, but by 3 Nephi 8, when the great city of Zarahemla caught fire, the city of Moroni sank into the sea, and so forth, there could be no more denying these signs. It says in 3 Nephi 8:24-25, 

"And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren been spared ... And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and hand not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah. And thus were the howling of the people great and terrible."

While these great tragedies could have been avoided if the people had only listened to the repeated warnings of the very prophets they killed and ran off, the Lord was always merciful. He repeatedly sent new prophets and gave people the opportunity to repent. I have talked about this in my last few posts so I won't keep repeating the same scriptures again but one of the truths that the scriptures teach me is that it is because our Father in Heaven loves us so much that he kept sending and keeps sending prophets to warn and guide us. The guidance is not unusual or difficult to follow. I think some people depict or think of religious as oppressive or controlling but when you look at the commandments, e.g. love others, don't covet what others have, don't murder, don't be prideful, it's not about oppression about but using our free agency for good.

In 3 Nephi 11:29, the Savior says,

"For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to content with anger, one with another."

How are we responding to the great issues in the world today? Do we respond with love and compassion? Or do we respond with contention and anger, and an unwillingness to try to understand another perspective? Do we put labels on our righteousness and condemn another in anger? Do we say, "I'm a Nephite therefore I am more [righteous/fill in the blank] than you?" Or do we say go forth with "a broken heart and a contrite spirit" (3 Nephi 9:20) and look to be more like the Savior in what we say and do? 

I love the analogy of the hen gathering her chickens under her wings repeatedly (3 Nephi 10:4-6). He did that for us, and does that for us, repeatedly and protectively. We have such a loving Father in Heaven, we just have to listen and follow. It's easy to forget but we have a Perfect Example we never did, and we experienced our trials tenfold, thus he has personal empathy and compassion for us. 

We can Come unto Christ as we remember that we have the opportunity and the wish from our Father to be a light unto the world, and to follow in the Savior's footsteps.