Look at me, getting the lesson material up before Sunday's lesson (3 Nephi 12-15)...
Here, Christ gives the Nephites the equivalent to the Sermon on the Mount with a few subtle differences that give more light and meaning to the original version (like to which audience He was speaking and when, the chosen 12 or the multitude in general). I don't have room to go through all of it, so I'll just focus on the beatitudes.
I don't think many people recognize the first two as actually being part of the beatitudes, but they fit the pattern.
1. "...Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am." (3 Nephi 12:1)
God has again called and authorized servants in our day. We are led by a living prophet and 12 apostles. The promise applies as much to us in our day that if we will heed their words, "I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost."
Wilford Woodruff once taught that, "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)
There is safety and security in following the counsel and direction from the Lord's prophet, for "whether by [God's] voice or the voice of [His] servants, it is the same." (D&C 1:38)
2. "And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins." (3 Nephi 12:2)
This one confused me a bit, but I think I'm starting to catch on. Initially, it almost sounds like Christ is saying it's better to have 2nd-hand knowledge than 1st-hand experience, but I don't think that's where He's going with this.
There are several examples in the scriptures of those who fell away after seeing miracles, angels, or other manifestations. Laman and Lemuel heard the voice of God and saw an angel, but still couldn't soften their hearts. On the other hand, the wife of King Lamoni believed her husband would rise again simply because Ammon said so. "...I have had no witness save thy word... nevertheless I believe that it shall be according as thou hast said.
"And Ammon said unto her: Blessed art thou because of thy exceeding faith; I say unto thee, woman, there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites." (Alma 19:9-10)
Orson Pratt said: "If I had seen angels, I might doubt, without having the Holy Ghost. I might doubt if I had seen great miracles, without the Holy Ghost accompanying them; and I might doubt if I saw the heavens opened, if I heard the thunders roll; and I might go and build a golden calf and worship it: but when the Holy Ghost speaks to me and gives me a knowledge that this is the kingdom of God, so that I know it just as well as I know anything else, then that knowledge is past controversy." (Journal of Discourses 8:313)
So, as I understand this, we're being taught that the witness that comes from the Holy Ghost is more powerful than seeing signs or angels. "What greater witness can you have than from God?" (D&C 6:23)
Also enshrined in this beatitude is the charge to share our faith and testimony with others, "because that ye shall testify that .... ye know that I am."
"Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah..." (2 Nephi 2:8)
Here, Christ gives the Nephites the equivalent to the Sermon on the Mount with a few subtle differences that give more light and meaning to the original version (like to which audience He was speaking and when, the chosen 12 or the multitude in general). I don't have room to go through all of it, so I'll just focus on the beatitudes.
I don't think many people recognize the first two as actually being part of the beatitudes, but they fit the pattern.
1. "...Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am." (3 Nephi 12:1)
God has again called and authorized servants in our day. We are led by a living prophet and 12 apostles. The promise applies as much to us in our day that if we will heed their words, "I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost."
Wilford Woodruff once taught that, "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)
There is safety and security in following the counsel and direction from the Lord's prophet, for "whether by [God's] voice or the voice of [His] servants, it is the same." (D&C 1:38)
2. "And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins." (3 Nephi 12:2)
This one confused me a bit, but I think I'm starting to catch on. Initially, it almost sounds like Christ is saying it's better to have 2nd-hand knowledge than 1st-hand experience, but I don't think that's where He's going with this.
There are several examples in the scriptures of those who fell away after seeing miracles, angels, or other manifestations. Laman and Lemuel heard the voice of God and saw an angel, but still couldn't soften their hearts. On the other hand, the wife of King Lamoni believed her husband would rise again simply because Ammon said so. "...I have had no witness save thy word... nevertheless I believe that it shall be according as thou hast said.
"And Ammon said unto her: Blessed art thou because of thy exceeding faith; I say unto thee, woman, there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites." (Alma 19:9-10)
Orson Pratt said: "If I had seen angels, I might doubt, without having the Holy Ghost. I might doubt if I had seen great miracles, without the Holy Ghost accompanying them; and I might doubt if I saw the heavens opened, if I heard the thunders roll; and I might go and build a golden calf and worship it: but when the Holy Ghost speaks to me and gives me a knowledge that this is the kingdom of God, so that I know it just as well as I know anything else, then that knowledge is past controversy." (Journal of Discourses 8:313)
So, as I understand this, we're being taught that the witness that comes from the Holy Ghost is more powerful than seeing signs or angels. "What greater witness can you have than from God?" (D&C 6:23)
Also enshrined in this beatitude is the charge to share our faith and testimony with others, "because that ye shall testify that .... ye know that I am."
"Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah..." (2 Nephi 2:8)
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