President Ezra Taft Benson said, “In the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the Second Coming. A major portion of the book centers on the few decades just prior to Christ’s coming to America. By careful study of that time period, we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that preceded His coming and what brought others to stand at the temple in the land of Bountiful and thrust their hands into the wounds of His hands and feet. … Can anyone doubt that this book was meant for us and that in it we find great power, great comfort, and great protection?” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 5–6; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 6–7).
This week's lesson dealt with the decades leading up to Christ's visit to America (1 AD - 33 AD), and there are a few things I think are quite relevant to our day that, if applied, will help us stay in good shape.
1. Signs & Wonders
Samuel the Lamanite prophesied the coming of a "day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night" (Hel 14:4). Five years later the sign came, indicating the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. When the sign came, people could not dispute it. They knew the sun went down, but there was no darkness. However, "there began to be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent they might not believe in those signs and wonders which they had seen..." (3 Nephi 1: 22)
So many people say, "I'll believe it when I see it" but what a frail support upon which to base our faith (don't even get me started on how unreliable eye-witness testimony is). Many people observed the sign, but were lead afterwards not to believe, even to the point where they "began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven..." (3 Nephi 2:1). The Savior taught that in the last days there would be "famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places" (Matt 24:7, see also Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11), but in our day we say "it's just another earthquake".
2. "...unite with [the] brethren..." (3 Nephi 2:12)
As the Gadianton Robbers became more prevalent, the righteous Lamanites united with their Nephite brethren "for the safety of their lives and their women and their children... and also to maintain their rights, and the privileges of their church and of their worship, and their freedom and their liberty" (3 Nephi 2:12). Only when they were united together did they gain any advantage over the Gadiantons. In 3 Nephi 3, the Nephites went so far as to gather together in one place, which eventually led to the defeat of the Gadianton Robbers. They hearkened to Lachoneus, a righteous leader, repented, and were spared.
Wilford Woodruff once taught, "the very moment that men in this kingdom attempt to run ahead or cross the path of their leaders, no matter in what respect, the moment they do this they are in danger of being injured by the wolves. … I have never in my life known it to fail." (Journal of Discourses 5:83)
3. Beware of Pride
The Nephites went from a state where "there was not a living soul among [them] who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled." (3 Nephi 5:1). They knew Christ had come and they "did serve God with all diligence day and night". (3 Nephi 5:3). Fast-forward a couple of years and we see "some were lifted up unto pride and boastings" (3 Nephi 6:10). A year later they are "in a state of aweful wickedness.
"Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them... therefore they did wilfully rebel against God." (3 Nephi 6:17-18)
I like to think that my faith and testimony are strong enough that I'll be able to withstand the trials that are ahead. But then I read this and I can't help but wonder how many of the Nephites felt the same way in 3 Nephi 5:1. If you would've walked up to anyone on the street and told them in 6-7 years, they'd be "wilfully rebel[ing] against God", they would've shared a strong and fervent testimony of their faith and devotion to God and how they'd never give that up. But the truth is that most of them did fall away. The trick is learning from their experience to prevent the same mistakes in our own lives. As President Benson taught, Beware of Pride.
4. Great Faith
A few years later, things had digressed to the point where the people killed the prophets who came to warn them and call them to repentance. Nephi went out undeterred, and "began to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ." (3 Nephi 7:16)
The people became angry with him for a few reasons. First, "because he had greater power than they" (3 Nephi 7:18). They recognized in him a real power, not the fleeting mist of political power to which they aspired, but eternal and binding power. And, rather than bring their lives back in accordance with eternal principles (remember, a few years ago these had all been faithful and righteous people), they resented Nephi and wanted to destroy him, "for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words" (3 Nephi 7:18).
Second, he had the nerve to raise his brother Timothy from the dead "after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people" (3 Nephi 7:19). As a side note, this tells me that Timothy was actively preaching to the people as well. Just because we're faithful and obedient, doesn't mean we don't get a few rocks thrown in our direction.
Anyhow, back at the ranch... Nephi's faith sustained him and gave him the strength to be obedient even though he was vastly in the minority. Sometimes we think being the only LDS at work or at school is tough... Nephi had such great faith "on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily." (3 Nephi 7:18)
That's how strong our faith will need to be. Whether or not we get angels is up to God, but we'd better make sure our faith is strong enough if the time ever comes when we really need angelic assistance.
This week's lesson dealt with the decades leading up to Christ's visit to America (1 AD - 33 AD), and there are a few things I think are quite relevant to our day that, if applied, will help us stay in good shape.
1. Signs & Wonders
Samuel the Lamanite prophesied the coming of a "day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night" (Hel 14:4). Five years later the sign came, indicating the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. When the sign came, people could not dispute it. They knew the sun went down, but there was no darkness. However, "there began to be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent they might not believe in those signs and wonders which they had seen..." (3 Nephi 1: 22)
So many people say, "I'll believe it when I see it" but what a frail support upon which to base our faith (don't even get me started on how unreliable eye-witness testimony is). Many people observed the sign, but were lead afterwards not to believe, even to the point where they "began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven..." (3 Nephi 2:1). The Savior taught that in the last days there would be "famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places" (Matt 24:7, see also Mark 13:8, Luke 21:11), but in our day we say "it's just another earthquake".
2. "...unite with [the] brethren..." (3 Nephi 2:12)
As the Gadianton Robbers became more prevalent, the righteous Lamanites united with their Nephite brethren "for the safety of their lives and their women and their children... and also to maintain their rights, and the privileges of their church and of their worship, and their freedom and their liberty" (3 Nephi 2:12). Only when they were united together did they gain any advantage over the Gadiantons. In 3 Nephi 3, the Nephites went so far as to gather together in one place, which eventually led to the defeat of the Gadianton Robbers. They hearkened to Lachoneus, a righteous leader, repented, and were spared.
Wilford Woodruff once taught, "the very moment that men in this kingdom attempt to run ahead or cross the path of their leaders, no matter in what respect, the moment they do this they are in danger of being injured by the wolves. … I have never in my life known it to fail." (Journal of Discourses 5:83)
3. Beware of Pride
The Nephites went from a state where "there was not a living soul among [them] who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled." (3 Nephi 5:1). They knew Christ had come and they "did serve God with all diligence day and night". (3 Nephi 5:3). Fast-forward a couple of years and we see "some were lifted up unto pride and boastings" (3 Nephi 6:10). A year later they are "in a state of aweful wickedness.
"Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them... therefore they did wilfully rebel against God." (3 Nephi 6:17-18)
I like to think that my faith and testimony are strong enough that I'll be able to withstand the trials that are ahead. But then I read this and I can't help but wonder how many of the Nephites felt the same way in 3 Nephi 5:1. If you would've walked up to anyone on the street and told them in 6-7 years, they'd be "wilfully rebel[ing] against God", they would've shared a strong and fervent testimony of their faith and devotion to God and how they'd never give that up. But the truth is that most of them did fall away. The trick is learning from their experience to prevent the same mistakes in our own lives. As President Benson taught, Beware of Pride.
4. Great Faith
A few years later, things had digressed to the point where the people killed the prophets who came to warn them and call them to repentance. Nephi went out undeterred, and "began to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ." (3 Nephi 7:16)
The people became angry with him for a few reasons. First, "because he had greater power than they" (3 Nephi 7:18). They recognized in him a real power, not the fleeting mist of political power to which they aspired, but eternal and binding power. And, rather than bring their lives back in accordance with eternal principles (remember, a few years ago these had all been faithful and righteous people), they resented Nephi and wanted to destroy him, "for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words" (3 Nephi 7:18).
Second, he had the nerve to raise his brother Timothy from the dead "after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people" (3 Nephi 7:19). As a side note, this tells me that Timothy was actively preaching to the people as well. Just because we're faithful and obedient, doesn't mean we don't get a few rocks thrown in our direction.
Anyhow, back at the ranch... Nephi's faith sustained him and gave him the strength to be obedient even though he was vastly in the minority. Sometimes we think being the only LDS at work or at school is tough... Nephi had such great faith "on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily." (3 Nephi 7:18)
That's how strong our faith will need to be. Whether or not we get angels is up to God, but we'd better make sure our faith is strong enough if the time ever comes when we really need angelic assistance.
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