3 Nephi - Chapter 9

I have always taken comfort in this verse:

13 O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?

I am certainly not as wicked as those of Jacobugath, for instance, so it may be that if the Second Coming should arrive before I've fully repented, maybe I'll yet be spared.  Today as I read, I didn't get such comfort.  I didn't find this verse nearly so full of loop holes.  Rather I found it condemning in light of the whole chapter.

Chapter 9 makes it plain that many of the truly righteous were not spared.  These are they who'd be persecuted for their faith, who'd been stoned and slain for their courage to call the people to repentance.  These are they, who for their faith, forfeited the blessed opportunity to feel His hands and bathe His feet with their tears.  Of course my first reaction was a supposition that these were somehow cheated.  In my heart I know that they were not.  They had already come unto Christ and they had already been healed.  They, I believe, were like Elder Bruce R. McConkie, in that they already knew and had walked with Him.  Any loss they may have experienced was most certainly "swallowed up in the joy of Christ" (Alma 31:38)

Once again, the natural man in me had jumped to incorrect conclusions.  Yet as I consult with my heart I know that life is not a merit badge system.  Privileges and blessings out there are not prizes to be earned.  Rewards are not handed out at illustrious ceremonies to those who excel above the others.  Righteous living is it's own reward as we walk, healed, in the presence of He whose merits are the only ones that count.

3 Nephi - Chapter 8

"1....there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity—"

I have on occasion experienced this.  While giving a priesthood blessing, having sought forgiveness before hand, I felt the cleansing spoken of.  I have come to believe this verse to be accurate and true.  To me, it doesn't indicate that those performing miracles in the Lord's name are always clean.  It means, as I have learned from personal experience, that I must obtain forgiveness for my sins before standing in the Savior's place to minister to His children.  Of course serious transgressions must be cleared up with priesthood authorities before exercising the priesthood.  But I suppose that everyone must take a moment to consider his life and behavior and to seek forgiveness pretty much every time he makes use of his priesthood privileges.

I don't think this is grievous at all.  The Lord knew we'd be weak and mortal and imperfect.  That is why He instituted the Sacrament to be available on a weekly basis.  He knew we'd need it at least that often.  My point is that when we are called upon to represent the Lord in any capacity; be it giving a blessing, teaching the gospel, visiting teaching, standing proxy in the temple or extracting records ought we not to pause a moment and seek the cleansing that will open the way for the miracles we seek?

3 Nephi - Chapter 7

God institutes governments for the benefit of man.  He most certainly instituted the government established by King Mosiah.  Now, after about 100 years, that government meets its demise.  How sad.  For selfishness we destroy what we might enjoy.  Isn't that the definition of insanity?  Repeatedly we see such insanity in the history of the Nephites.  As the Savior so carefully tried to teach us; if we seek our lives we'll lose them, yet if we lose them in the service of others we gain them.  Looking at their stories through Mormon's lens we can see that so very plainly.  Why is it that we can't see it in ourselves?

May I suggest that we each put on Mormon's lens and take a look at ourselves.  What are our collective motives?  Do they have to do with what's best for ourselves or what is best for others?  Are our rallying cries motivated by selfish concerns or are they motivated by the benefit of the whole?  Is greed a stronger incentive than kindness?  Is power and distinction a greater concern than unity and general prosperity?  Have we given up on God and concluded that to have what we want we must go out and obtain it for ourselves?  These are questions we can ask collectively.  More importantly though, they are questions we must ask ourselves individually.  If all we want is to take care of me and mine our system is doomed to the same demise the Nephites suffered.

3 Nephi - Chapter 6

The pursuit of wealth sure seems to have its casualties.  It is important to remember that it need not be so.  Still, it must not be ignored that is most commonly is so.  I have a dear friend who, while acknowledging the that the love of money is the root of all evil, is quick to point out that he doesn't love money, "we just have a meaningful relationship."

Wealth seems to offer comfort and security.  Somehow, it then makes us feel better about ourselves - safe, special.  That can easily set us up for looking down on those not so fortunate.  We get proud of our blessings viewing them as accomplishments rather than gifts from God.  Pretty soon we're offending everyone and the cycle begins again.

Could we be wealthy and grateful and humble at the same time?  Of course, that is if we appreciate wealth instead of worshiping it.  I believe that if we pursue God's will and pleasure, rather than our own, He would see to it that we had all the resources necessary to accomplish His will.  I also believe that even if we have some great ideas about philanthropically sharing our hoped for wealth; that those ideas may still be our own will and not God's.  Should that be the case we still may not obtain what we seek, or if we do, we obtain it at our own peril.  It is likely that the folks in this chapter may not have had bad motives for their acquisitions, but bad or not, the wealth the acquired brought about their pride and destruction all the same.

3 Nephi - Chapter 5

 24 And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth.

  25 And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them.

Notice that I emphasized the word all in the two verses cited above.  It seems to me that all is a mighty certain word.  It appears that we are in for an amazing period as the work and word go out to all of Israel who are scattered in all the earth.  What I've seen in my own lifetime is astonishing, but it only scratches the surface of what is to come.  Oh, that I might be alive to see it!  It will be miraculous beyond description.  It also appears that it will transpire on both sides of the veil.  What a glorious promise!  What a glorious time to be alive!

According to this scripture, the house of Jacob in scatter in all the earth.  This means that the blood of Jacob may be found in every country on the planet.  While is seem inconceivable that missionaries will ever teach in some countries, the Lord is able to fulfill all His promises and we will, in His own due time, see the gospel literally sounded in every ear.

3 Nephi - Chapter 5

 24 And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth.

  25 And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them.

Notice that I emphasized the word all in the two verses cited above.  It seems to me that all is a mighty certain word.  It appears that we are in for an amazing period as the work and word go out to all of Israel who are scattered in all the earth.  What I've seen in my own lifetime is astonishing, but it only scratches the surface of what is to come.  Oh, that I might be alive to see it!  It will be miraculous beyond description.  It also appears that it will transpire on both sides of the veil.  What a glorious promise!  What a glorious time to be alive!

According to this scripture, the house of Jacob in scatter in all the earth.  This means that the blood of Jacob may be found in every country on the planet.  While is seem inconceivable that missionaries will ever teach in some countries, the Lord is able to fulfill all His promises and we will, in His own due time, see the gospel literally sounded in every ear.