I hope you enjoy some insights from my Come Follow Me 3 Nephi 8–11 (If you missed last week’s insights for Come Follow Me 3 Nephi 1–7 click here). Save this pin to read later.
Being Earnest.
“And the people began to look with great earnestness for the sign which had been given by the prophet Samuel, the Lamanite, yea, for the time that there should be darkness for the space of three days over the face of the land.” 3 Nephi 8:3
As I read this verse something stood out to me, the people were earnestly looking forward to the sign of Christ’s death. Why? Because it was a sign that the atonement had been taken place. What does earnest mean? According to the dictionary .com
“1. serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous:
2.showing depth and sincerity of feeling:
3.seriously important; demanding or receiving serious attention.”
They were not half-heartedly looking forward to the sign of the atoning sacrifice, they were zealous looking forward to it. They had heard the prophets speak and they had been earnestly following them as they looked forward with hope that it was true.
The same applies to us, as we hear the messages delivered by the Prophets and earnestly follow we will start to have faith and not fear of the future; we will earnestly look forward to the sign of His coming, even if it will be accompanied by trials and tribulations.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The Master Healer.
“O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?”
3 Nephi 9:13
I love this verse as Christ offers to heal the penitent Nephites. Of all the titles of Christ “Healer” is my favorite, He is the Master Healer. When we repent of our sins He heals and makes us whole again this is the very premise of Christianity the healing power of His Grace.
Be it a wounded soul, or a physical ailment, Christ can and does heal each of us as we come unto him. Some healing takes place in this life, some in the next. But the Master Healer does not leave anyone without hope and promise of healing.
Russell M. Nelson
Praising the Lord.
And the earth did cleave together again, that it stood; and the mourning, and the weeping, and the wailing of the people who were spared alive did cease; and their mourning was turned into joy, and their lamentations into the praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their Redeemer.
3 Nephi 10:10
When our lives fall apart when everything feels like there is nothing solid, let us follow the example of the spared Nephites and learn how to cease our weeping and mourning, and remember the Lord our God. Praise and give thanks unto Him for our Redemption and Salvation!
Neal A. Maxwell
Christ’s visit to the Americas.
“And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them” 3rd Nephi 10:18
An erroneous belief is that Jesus Christ visited the Nephites right at the end of the three days of darkness. But both Chapters 10, and 11 say multiple times it was after His “ascension” into heaven.
But the important thing is that Jesus Christ did manifest Himself unto them. God’s timing is not ours, just like Christ did not immediately visit the Nephites it may feel like He is delaying His promised blessings to us, but just like the Nephites if we hold on and keep our covenants He will fulfill His promises, all of them.
Arise!
“Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.” 3rd Nephi 11:14
When Christ visited the Nephites one of the first things He did was to command the people to arise!
There are over 350 times in the scriptures it talks about arising. Why? Because that is always the first thing Christ commands us to do when we enter His presence, He wants us to get off our knees and get to work. Jesus Christ is the Captain of Salvation! He is not looking for masses who will kneel and do nothing, He is looking for Soldiers who will volunteer to arise and join in Him in the fight for the souls of men! The main question for you is simple: Will you come join the ranks?
If you struggle with porn ARISE!
If you struggle with the word of wisdom ARISE!
If you struggle with Tithing ARISE!
If you struggle with language ARISE!
If you struggle with complacency ARISE!
If you struggle with forgiving others ARISE!
To paraphrase Lehi. AWAKE and ARISE! Come unto Christ the Rock and Captain of our Salvation! Put on the armor of Righteousness, come forth out of obscurity and become Men and Women of God, join with Christ in the work of Salvation!
