It is interesting to me, that during the focal chapters of the Book of Mormon when Christ appears to the Nephites, the teacher manual’s teaching emphasis is on prophets. Why do you think that is? Why would they direct our study in this way?
The chapters for this week are in my opinion, some of the best in all of the revealed scripture we have. We get to experience Christ’s appearance to an ancient people in a way startlingly similar to how it will happen in our day at Christ’s Second Coming. We come to know Christ better in his greetings of individuals one by one, and we get to see his doctrine become purified through his corrections and teachings to the multitude.
In 3 Nephi 8 it goes through the intense physical upheavals of the land. This is a sign for us in our day of his Second Coming. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said,
“Signs of the Second Coming are all around us and seem to be increasing in frequency and intensity. For example, the list of major earthquakes in The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 2004 shows twice as many earthquakes in the decades of the 1980s and 1990s as in the two preceding decades (see pages 189–90). It also shows further sharp increases in the first several years of this century. The list of notable floods and tidal waves and the list of hurricanes, typhoons, and blizzards worldwide show similar increases in recent years (see pages 188–89). Increases by comparison with 50 years ago can be dismissed as changes in reporting criteria, but the accelerating pattern of natural disasters in the last few decades is ominous” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2004, 5–6; or Ensign, May 2004, 7–8).
If you are struggling with current prophets and their counsel, I would invite you to read through the scriptures listed in the chart below. It has helped me gain a stronger testimony in the role of a prophet and the fulfillment of their words. Even Christ bore testimony several times that their words are fulfilled.
Samuel’s Prophecies
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Fulfillment
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When the voice comes out of heaven, Christ is introducing himself to the people. When you introduce yourself, what do you usually choose to include? What did Christ choose to include and why?
14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. 15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name. 16 I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled. 17 And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled. 18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
After his introduction, he immediately begins to teach how this interaction with the Messiah and what he has just done for us will immediately bless and change the way people have done things:
19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings. 20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
President J. Reuben Clark Jr., who was a member of the First Presidency, said:
“Under the new covenant that came in with Christ, the sinner must offer the sacrifice out of his own life, not by offering the blood of some other creature; he must give up his sins, he must repent, he himself must make the sacrifice” (Behold the Lamb of God [1962], 107).
Omni 1:26
26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel,and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that today the Lord requires sacrifices of a different nature:
“The Savior said He would no longer accept burnt offerings of animals. The gift or sacrifice He will accept now is ‘a broken heart and a contrite spirit’ [3 Nephi 9:20]. … You can offer the Lord the gift of your broken, or repentant, heart and your contrite, or obedient, spirit. In reality, it is the gift of yourself—what you are and what you are becoming.“Is there something in you or in your life that is impure or unworthy? When you get rid of it, that is a gift to the Savior. Is there a good habit or quality that is lacking in your life? When you adopt it and make it part of your character, you are giving a gift to the Lord” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2004, 10; or Ensign,May 2004, 12).
A few weeks ago we talked about revelation in class. A lot of us expressed our frustrations with not being able to recognize revelation. What do we learn in 3 Nephi 11:3-5 about revelation?
3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about,for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice;nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn. 4 And it came to pass that again they heard the voice,and they understood it not. 5 And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.
In 3 Nephi 11:11, Christ teaches about His Atonement:
11 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.
President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency taught that following the Savior’s example during hardships helps us endure our personal “bitter cups”:
“Many members, in drinking of the bitter cup that has come to them, wrongfully think that this cup passes by others. In His first words to the people of the Western continent, Jesus of Nazareth poignantly spoke of the bitter cup the Father had given Him (see 3 Ne. 11:11). Every soul has some bitterness to swallow. Parents having a child who loses his way come to know a sorrow that defies description. A woman whose husband is cruel or insensitive can have her heart broken every day. Members who do not marry may suffer sorrow and disappointment. Having drunk the bitter cup, however, there comes a time when one must accept the situation as it is and reach upward and outward. President Harold B. Lee said, ‘Do not let self-pity or despair beckon you from the course you know is right.’ The Savior set the compass: we must be born again in spirit and heart” (“A Second Birth,” Ensign,June 1998, 2).
I feel as though there is SO much I want to say and read and learn about in these few chapters in the Book of Mormon. There have been so many speeches given (like this amazing one by Elder Holland https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jeffrey-r-holland_will-father/) and articles written, about these chapters that I feel quite overwhelmed to know how to narrow things down and pick the things that you most need to study and to hear. As you read the chapters for this week, please come with any revelations that you have received about this touching and revolutionary scene. I am excited to see you on Sunday!
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