The Nephite Beatitudes, Part II

Just a quick commercial for the Scriptures: CD-ROM Edition 1.1. The price is right, the word-search is really good, 12 different languages, and I really like the notes feature...

Anyhow, back at the ranch...

3. "Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (3 Nephi 12:3)

The Greek renders it better (in my opinion) as "spiritual beggars" rather than "poor in spirit".

"For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have…?" (Mosiah 4:19)

So, we need to recognize our own spiritual dependence on the Lord, but that is only the first part. The second, and most vital, part is the phrase that was left out of the Matthew account, "...who come unto me...". What good is it to recognize your spiritual dependence if you do nothing about it?

The Savior's invitation "come unto me" is repeated more often in the Book of Mormon than any other book of scripture. Christ bids us to "come unto me" so we can:
-find rest (Matt 11:28)
-drink of the Living Water (John 7:37)
-receive of His mercy (2 Nephi 28:32)
-receive the place prepared for us in the mansions of the Father (Enos 1:27)
-receive eternal life (3 Nephi 9:14, Ether 4:18, Moroni 7:34, D&C 45:5)
-be healed (3 Nephi 18:32)
-be numbered among His people (3 Nephi 21:6)
-be sanctified by the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 27:20)
-receive a remission of your sins (3 Nephi 30:2)
-receive hidden knowledge (Ether 4:13)
-be shown our weaknesses in order to be made strong (Ether 12:27)

The Lord does not expect us to do something without first showing us how to do it. So how do we come unto Christ?

"Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day." (3 Nephi 27:20)

Notice in the scriptures the Lord never invites us to "come unto me" to be chastised or punished.

4. "And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." (3 Nephi 12:4)

This one may not make sense either. What's so great about being depressed? Are we supposed to be sad all the time? Isn't the Gospel the 'good news'? The "plan of happiness" (Alma 42:8)? So why are the mourners so blessed?

Let's look at the scriptural examples of those who mourn:
-Nephi mourned because of the unbelief and wickedness of others (2 Nephi 32:7)
-The people of Limhi mourned because of their own afflictions (Mosiah 7:23)
-Alma the Elder taugh we should mourn with those that mourn (Mosiah 18:9)
-Alma the Younger taught we would mourn over our unrighteous works (Alma 5:36)
-He also taught his son to let his sins trouble him "with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance" (Alma 42:29). Elder Richard G. Scott referred to this as "healing sorrow" (Gen Conf, April 1995).
-The Nephites mourned several times over the loss of family members due to wars, famine, or natural disasters (see Alma 28:12, 3 Nephi 8:23-25)

So why should any of those examples make us feel blessed? There is no inherent blessing in just mourning. I believe the key is found in Doctrine & Covenants 136:29, "...if thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful."

Just as being poor in spirit profers us nothing without coming unto Christ, so mourning brings us no blessing without also turning to the Lord. As an example, when Alma and his followers were subjected to harsh burdens from the Lamanites, they turned to God, who "did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." (Mosiah 24:15)

Therein lies the blessing. If our mourning leads us to the Savior, then we too can be strengthened to bear whatever burden we are called to carry. Christ suffered "pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind... that his bowels may be filled with mercy... that he may know ... how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:11-12)

Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, "We can confidently cast our cares upon the Lord because, through the agonizing events of Gethsemane and Calvary, atoning Jesus is already familiar with our sins, sicknesses, and sorrows. He can carry them now because He has successfully carried them before." (General Conference, Oct 1987).

How comforting it is to know that there is nothing we can experience in mortality that Christ has not already experienced on our behalf. And because of His experience, he knows perfectly how to comfort and strengthen us as we go through our own experience.

The Nephite Beatitudes, Part I

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)

"Come Unto Me"

This week's lesson focused on 3 Nephi chapters 8-11. The Savior's visit to the Americas is one of my favorite passages in all of scripture. The Nephites experienced three days of darkness and destruction that corresponded with the time between Christ's death and resurrection. During this time, at least 16 Nephite cities were completely destroyed by fire, flood, or being buried in the earth "to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face" (3 Nephi 9:8).

During the three days of darkness, Christ spoke to the people who had been "spared because [they] were more righteous" than the wicked who had been destroyed (3 Nephi 9:13). If you think about it, that's not really a glowing endorsement to say someone is more righteous than those who had "[cast] out the prophets, and stone[ed] those whom [God] did send" (3 Nephi 9:10).

Imagine a voice calling out of the darkness, "...will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?

"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." (3 Nephi 9:13-14)

I love the imagery in those verses. I picture the Savior standing with his arms outstretched, wanting so much to heal us if we will only come to him. It ties in wonderfully with Chapter 10 when He uses the imagery of the mother hen. "...how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you." (3 Nephi 10:4) Then again, "...how oft would I have gathered you..." (3 Nephi 10:5, notice the change in verb tense between these three passages). And again "...how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart." (3 Nephi 10:6).

The other part from this week's lesson that touched me was 3 Nephi 9:20:

"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..."

Before I get into that one, I want to lead in with another scripture. This one is from Isaiah 53:5, where he speaks of Christ, "...he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (See also Mosiah 14:5)

The Hebrew word for 'bruised' is actually dakka, which means 'to be crushed'. Christ was not merely bruised for our sins, he was crushed under their weight. Remind me later and I'll talk about the significance of this with respect to Gethsemane...

Why do I bring this up? Because the Hebrew word for 'contrite' is dakka. This, for me anyway, ties together the sacrifice offered by Christ with the sacrifice He asks of us. Fortunately, this is a qualitative comparison and not a quantitative one. There is no way we can ever carry the burden He bore for us, but it seems that we are expected to be crushed, or brought down, with the weight and recognition of our sins as we come unto Christ. If we don't realize how much of a 'tab' we have accumulated, we will never really appreciate what Christ has done in settling our account.

In contrast to the Law of Moses where one could sacrifice an animal on their behalf, Christ now asks us to sacrifice of ourselves. He lovingly invites us to give Him our broken hearts so that he make us whole again.

Patterns For Our Day

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.

"... hide up [your] treasures unto me..."

There was a lot of ground to cover for last week's lesson (Helaman 13-16). Samuel the Lamanite came onto the scene and then left just as quickly. I think most are familiar with his prophecies concerning the birth and death of the Savior and the accompanying signs for those in the Americas.

One thing jumped out at me that I had never picked up before. Helaman 13:19 reads,

"For I will, saith the Lord, that they shall hide up their treasures unto me... for none hideth up their treasures unto me save it be the righteous..."

This really got me thinking, and three questions worked their way to the surface.

1. What is our treasure?
2. How do we hide it up unto the Lord?
3. Why are we hiding it?

First, what is our treasure? Once I figured this out, the other two seemed to fall into place. Like many good insights, this one came to me as I was in sacrament meeting. Desperation? Maybe... Anyhow, I thought of the Sermon on the Mount when Christ taught,

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (3 Nephi 13:21, also in Matt 6)

It seems to me that the Lord is saying He wants us to hide up our hearts unto Him, as our hearts and treasures seem to be nearly synonymous. If our hearts aren't in the right place, we'll need to go through the "mighty change of heart" so we can hide it up to Him.

Second, how do we hide it unto the Lord? I think this means keeping our hearts safe from influences that would pull our desires away from the Lord.

Elder David A. Bednar taught in the April 2006 General Conference:

"The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing."

We need to protect our hearts as we would a precious valuable. We go to great lengths to protect our temporal treasures, there are industries devoted to safety and security. But how much protection do we place around our hearts?

Third, why do we need to hide our hearts? Something from this weeks lesson stuck out as I was driving around. 3 Nephi 6:15-16 tells of how "Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity...

"And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people..." (emphasis added).

The Nephites seem to have been "lull[ed]... away into carnal security" (2 Nephi 28:21) and let down their guard to the point where "they did willfully rebel against God." (3 Nephi 6:18).

If we hide our hearts unto the Lord, then they will be safe from the "fiery darts of the adversary" (Eph 6:16, 1 Nephi 15:24). We often have a tendency to neglect the areas of our lives which we feel are strong and impervious. Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught:

"Satan can ... attack us where we think we are strong -- in the very areas where we are proud of our strengths. He will approach us through the greatest talents and spiritual gifts we possess. If we are not wary, Satan can cause our spiritual downfall by corrupting us through our strengths as well as by exploiting our weaknesses." (Ensign, Oct. 1994, p. 12)

So, what is the Lord trying to tell us when he asks us to hide up our treasures unto him? I think it is an invitation to turn our hearts completely to him where they will be kept safe. And like anything else we willingly give to the Lord, he returns to us with increase.

“Why will ye die?”

There were so many things to cover from this week’s lesson, I had to decide between posting 5 pages of material and focusing on one thought. There was one theme that came up a few times during the lesson material (Helaman 6-12), and that was how quickly we tend to forget the Lord.

“For behold, the Lord had blessed them so long with the riches of the world that they had not been stirred up to … wars… therefore they began to set their hearts upon their riches… that they might be lifted up one above another…” (Hel 6:17)

It sounds like they’ve enjoyed the blessings for a long time, doesn’t it. How long was “so long”? Well, verse 1 says the 62nd year of the judges had ended, and things really fell apart in the commencement of the 67th year. For the Nephites, “so long” ended up being three years. For years, I’d read that and think, “those silly Nephites, why can’t they just keep things together?!” I don’t know when it changed for me, but I’ve been trying to think lately when was the last time I’ve been able to keep my act together for three years in a row. I’m pretty sure that my personal record for consecutive individual scripture study stands unbroken at 25 days. That doesn’t leave me with a lot of ground from which to judge the Nephites.

Why is it so hard to do the “small and simple things”? I can sit down and read a novel or even a motivational book for hours at a time, but somehow can’t seem to be consistent with scripture reading.

In Helaman 7, Nephi reproves the people who have gathered around him as he mourns over their wickedness.

“…ye are given away that the devil has got so great hold upon your hearts.” (vs. 15)

Is that why I have such a hard time with consistent daily scripture study? Is my heart not truly in it?

“Yea, how could you have given way to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurl away your souls down to everlasting misery and endless wo?” (vs. 16)

Well, when you put it that way it sounds all warm and fuzzy, doesn’t it?

“O repent ye, repent ye! Why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God…” (vs. 17)

Whatever that is in my heart instead of the desire to study the scriptures, is it worth dieing for?

“O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very day that he has delivered you?” (vs. 20)

How many times in my life have I turned away after receiving blessings from the Lord’s hand? How many days have gone by without seeing me on my knees in gratitude for all I’ve received?

So here’s the plan. I’m going to make a real effort to see how long I can maintain my daily scripture study and personal prayers, starting today. President Ezra Taft Benson said in conference, “God will have a humble people. Either we can choose to be humble or we can be compelled to be humble.” (“Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 4)

Personally, I’d rather choose to be humble…

The Power of the Word

I'm getting ready for the lesson on Sunday (and it's not even Saturday yet). We're doing Helaman chapters 1-5 this week, and what jumped out at me was the emphasis on the power of the word of God to really change people's lives.

Lemme e'splain... No. There is too much. Lemme sum up...

Chapters 1-4 deal with the on-going military struggles between the Nephites (captained by Moroni's son, Moronihah) and the Lamanites. It's a good read, I would highly recommend you take the time to go through it on your own. As a result of the Nephites' disobedience and pride "...and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper... until they had lost possession of almost all their lands." (Helaman 4:13)

I love that phrase, because of "their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength". These guys were probably doing fairly well in the muscle department. I did 20 pushups this morning and thought I was going to lose the use of my arms for the rest of the day (in my defense, my feet were on one of those big inflatable exercise balls at the time, and I was using the fancy push-up bars for an added degree of difficulty). But I digress...

Moronihah and Nephi and Lehi (sons of Helaman 'the 2nd') preach repentance to the Nephites and they are able to regain half of their lands before they give up on trying to take back any more territory (Helaman 4:16-18). Even if the story stopped there, it would be impressive. Simply teaching the gospel humbled the people to where they were obedient again. But the story doesn't stop there...

Nephi and Lehi decide to preach to the Lamanites starting in Zarahemla,

"...they did preach with great power, insomuch that they did confound many of those dissenters who had gone over from the Nephites, insomuch that they came forth and did confess their sins and were baptized unto repentance, and immediately returned to the Nephites to endeavor to repair unto them the wrongs which they had done." (Helaman 5:17)

Not bad, huh. I'll have to look into it further, but I think this is the first recorded incident when a Nephite dissenter was converted back. But wait, it gets better. Eight thousand Lamanites were also baptized. That's a lot, in case you were wondering... But it gets even better.

They head towards the land of Nephi and are met by an army of the Lamanites who cast them into prison (okay, so that part's not better, but it ends on a positive note). I used to be good at math, but I can still figure out that it doesn't take an army to arrest two men. If that wasn't enough, they leave them in prison for "many days without food" before going in "that they might slay them" (Helaman 5:22).

Long story short, Nephi and Lehi are surrounded as if by a pillar of fire, the Lamanites are a little stunned when they see the two men aren't burned or harmed. A voice from above tells them to repent, and the 300 who came to kill Nephi & Lehi are converted and run around converting others, "insomuch that the more part of the Lamanites were convinced of them" and "did lay down their weapons of war, and also their hatred" (Helaman 5:50-51).

I think Mormon chose this account very carefully to contrast the results achieved through the Nephite military efforts with the results of the changing power of the gospel. There's no doubt Moronihah was a very righteous man, and had the Nephites as a whole been more humble and faithful, I think he could've been more successful with his armies.

On the other hand, two men armed only with the power and authority from God were able to set at defiance the Lamanite army. To me, the climax of the story is the last verse in chapter 5:

"And it came to pass that they did yield up unto the Nephites the lands of their possessions." (Helaman 5:52)

Moronihah's army was only able to regain half of their lands through battle and bloodshed. The preaching of the word caused the Lamanites to voluntarily return to the Nephites the all the lands which had been taken without any loss of life.

"And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them..." (Alma 31:5, emphasis added)