I am the Light (Come, Follow Me)

I love this week's Come, Follow Me reading in 3 Nephi.  What perfect timing to learn from the Lord himself how we can get the most out of this weekend's General Conference.  In chapter 17, verses 2 and 3, He says:

 2 I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.

 3 Therefore, 

  - go ye unto your homes, and 

  - ponder upon the things which I have said, and 

  - ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and 

  - prepare your minds for the morrow, and 

  - I come unto you again.

He is our Light.

3 Nephi 18:24

Love Your Enemies (Come, Follow Me)

The world needs more love, forgiveness, and goodness toward others, and less contention and judging.  I love the following words of Christ from this week's Come, Follow Me (#ComeFollowMe) reading, and as a follower of Christ, I commit to remember and do these things.

3 Nephi 15:1

Whoso remembereth these sayings of mine and doeth them, him will I raise up at the last day.

3 Nephi 11:28-30

And there shall be no disputations among you…. For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, … but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.

3 Nephi 12:7, 9

And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.  And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.

3 Nephi 12:44

But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you.

3 Nephi 13:14

If ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you….

3 Nephi 14:1-2

Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged….

3 Nephi 14:12

Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

Hear Ye Him (Come, Follow Me)

Our Come, Follow Me readings this week have been so moving.  3 Nephi 11:1-7 teaches a pattern for receiving revelation, and I have found in my life that these acts of faith do enable me to #HearHim:  Gathering at the temple, conversing about Jesus Christ, and then opening my ears to hear and steadfastly looking toward heaven in a figurative sense.

Excerpts from 3 Nephi 11:1-7:

- there were a great multitude gathered together

- round about the temple

- marveling and wondering one with another

- showing one to another the great and marvelous change

- conversing about this Jesus Christ

they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven … and they understood it not

- they did … open their ears to hear it;

- their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and

- they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

they did understand the voice which they heard

Behold my Beloved Son,

in whom I am well pleased,

in whom I have glorified my name—

hear ye him

Arm of Mercy (Come, Follow Me)

Our Come, Follow Me reading this week (3 Nephi 8-11) reminds me how grateful I am to have a merciful Savior who always holds out his hand in love to lift me.  It also reminds me how much I need to do the same for others.

 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. (3 Nephi 9)

Here are a few links for those interested in reading this and learning more:

• Book of Mormon:  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/8
• Come, Follow Me manual:  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/come-follow-me-for-individuals-and-families-book-of-mormon-2020/37

 

Lachoneus and Giddianhi: Types of the Savior and Satan (Come, Follow Me)

3 Nephi 3 provides us with a powerful allegory that illustrates the contrasting natures of Jesus Christ and Satan and the plans they promoted in the pre-Earth life and still carry out today.

The types and symbols in the Book of Mormon point me to the Savior and also demonstrate this book's literary richness, both of which strengthen my testimony that this book is of divine origin.

Be of Good Cheer (Come, Follow Me)

The fulfillment of Samuel's prophecy (Helaman 14:3; 3 Nephi 1:15), signifying the birth of Jesus Christ, came just in time to avert the killing (3 Nephi 1:9) of those faithful few who awaited His promised arrival.  Some of our earthly struggles are real tests of faith, but we can count on the Lord to fulfill His promises (3 Nephi 1:13-14) of deliverance, on His own time. 

3 Nephi 1

  13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

  14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.

The Light of the World (Come, Follow Me)

Our reading this week fills me with so much hope. In these chapters of Helaman, we read about the faithful few who listened to a prophet, turned to Christ, and looked forward to His coming. They faced a spiritually darkened world, and in so doing, they taught us what enduring to the end means -- remaining faithful despite persecution and threats. And they showed us that Christ, the Light of the World, will not abandon us.

Helaman 14:3-5
  And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.
  Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

  And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.

The Lord Doth Bless and Prosper (Come, Follow Me)

It can be hard to have an eternal perspective from our mortal vantage, but the Lord will bless and prosper us if we can but trust Him.  I have always found that to be true in my life.

"the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him" (Helaman 12:1)

The Rock of Our Redeemer (Come, Follow Me)

I have found this past week's Come, Follow Me reading to be so rich with uplifting and hopeful truths about the peace, prosperity, and protection that the Savior offers us.  I also love the imagery that Jesus Christ is our rock and sure foundation.

I'm a visual learner.  I'm not much of a graphic artist, but I like to use images to learn and anchor messages into my mind.  I've often thought about lighthouses and the protective beacons that warn us of danger and show us the safe path.  But Helaman 5:12 showed me something new--that these lights are anchored in rock so that they can endure the storms and warn others.  If we build our foundations on the rock of Jesus Christ, we can let our "light so shine" to aid others even as we experience the storms of life.

A Sure Foundation (Come, Follow Me)

Jesus Christ provides "a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12).  We are certainly surrounded today by mighty winds, shafts in the whirlwind, hail, and mighty storms, but I take great comfort in knowing that Jesus Christ, our sure foundation will never fail us.  "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever" (Moroni 7:47).