Quote #1: Here we witness a phenomenon which is repeated ad nauseam in the Book of Mormon: the wicked who refuse to believe dare not allow others to believe. There is no room in their tightly controlled epistemological system for faith or spirit or revelation or hope. They do not know so they conclude that no one else knows. They cannot feel, so they dare not allow others to feel. In this case they shun the light of evidence that comes from God and refuse others the right to wait patiently on the Lord for the signs to be given” (McConkie et al., Doctrinal Commentary, 4:5).
Quote #2: Although there is only little difference between a thief and a robber in most modern minds, there were considerable differences between the two under ancient Near Eastern law. A thief was usually a local person who stole from his neighbor. He was dealt with judicially. He was tried and punished civilly, most often by a court composed of his fellow townspeople. A robber, on the other hand, was treated as an outsider, as a brigand or highwayman. He was dealt with militarily, and he could be executed summarily. (Welch and Ward, “Thieves and Robbers,”248).
Quote #3: The descendants of Lehi’s party consistently divided themselves into seven tribes. Significantly, these references come from the earliest as well as the latest periods of Nephite history, indicating the importance and persistence of kinship as a basic element in this society….
Though different forms of government might come and go in Nephite history, the underlying family fabric of this society remained permanent. Even in the darkest days or political collapse, all the people still had ‘much family,’ and the tribal structure was present to supplant the collapsed government. This tribal government had always been in place. What we see in 3 Nephi 7 is a default government, not centralized like that formerly headed by kings or chief judged, yet sufficiently capable to enact and administer their laws, every one according to his tribe. A version of that dispersed political structure surely continued following the appearance of Jesus Christ, because nothing is said of any central government from then until possibly the time of Mormon. (Sorenson et al., “Seven Tribes,” 93-94).
Quote #4: The word heart is used five times in these three verses to discuss the influence of Satan over the Nephites who had wandered into apostasy. They became “hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds.” They now discounted and disbelieved the wonders and miracles they had seen. They imagined it had been “some vain thing in their hearts” – something that had been conjured up by men with the aid of the devil to “deceive the hearts of the people.” Thus, Satan had led away their hearts into disbelief. As the people began to resist the gospel of Jesus Christ and ceased to keep some of the commandments, Satan further led away their hearts, “tempting them and causing them that they should do great wickedness.” Thus, apostasy is largely a condition of the heart. Once the people forgot, took for granted, and rationalized their blessings, they stopped believing and were easily led into sinful behaviors. (John W. Welch. Inspirations and Insights from the Book of Mormon. Pg. 240.)
Quote #5: Jesus taught that signs are not a cure for disbelief. The unbelievers in 3 Nephi were not changed by the signs they had seen, including the night with no darkness – they rationalized them away or scribed them to the devil. Mormon stated, despondently, “And thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again:. Signs that follow faith tend to strengthen faith, but signs alone do not function well in generation faith and may even lead to rationalization. Well might we say instead of “seeing is believing,” that “believing is seeing.” (John W. Welch. Inspirations and Insights from the Book of Mormon. Pg. 240)
Things that weaken conversion….
Things that strengthen conversion….
What is the lesson for me here?
3 Nephi 1:5-11
3 Nephi 1: 29-30
3 Nephi 2:1-3
3 Nephi 3:12-16
3 Nephi 4:8-10;30-33
3 Nephi 6:13-18
3 Nephi 7:15-22
Agnostic: I don’t know if there’s a God
Atheist: I don’t believe that there’s a God
Apathyist: I don’t care if there’s a God
Why should I walk a covenant path?
Do I need to enter a house for making covenants?
Why do I wear the holy garments?
Should I invest in a covenant relationship with the Lord?
Quote #6: President Nelson told a group of young adults: “I believe that if the Lord were speaking to you directly tonight, the first thing He would make sure you understand is your true identity. My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God. Designations, labels and identifiers can be important and positive, but can be of unequal value and also change with the passage of time, but if any label replaces the most important identifiers, the results can be spiritually suffocating. First, I am a child of God, I am a son of god; then a son of the covenant; then a disciple of Jesus Christ and a devoted member of His restored Church. Next would come my honored titles as a husband and father, then Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Other labels – such as a medical doctor, surgeon, researcher, professor, lieutenant, captain, Caucasian, Ph.D., American and so forth – would fall somewhere down the list. With that in mind, first and foremost, each of you is a child of God. Second, as a member of the Church, you are a child of the covenant, and third, you are a disciple of Jesus Christ. Tonight I plead with you not to replace these three paramount and unchanging identifiers with any others, because doing so could stymie your progress or pigeonhole you in a stereotype that could potentially thwart your eternal progression….Please do not misunderstand me, I am not saying that other designations and identifiers are not significant. I am simply saying that no identifier should displace, replace or take priority over these three enduring designations: ‘child of God’, ‘child of the covenant’ and ‘disciple of Jesus Christ’.”
Quote #7: President Nelson “My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives….When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation, and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. We feel it at Christmastime when we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” And we can feel it all year round. For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is joy!....How, then, can we claim that joy? We can start by “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” “in every thought.” We can give thanks for Him in our prayers and by keeping covenants we’ve made with Him and our Heavenly Father. As our Savior becomes more and more real to us and as we plead for His joy to be given to us, our joy will increase…..Joy is powerful, and focusing on joy brings God’s power into our lives. As in all things, Jesus Christ is our ultimate exemplar, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” Think of that! In order for Him to endure the most excruciating experience ever endured on earth, our Savior focused on joy!
And what was the joy that was set before Him? Surely it included the joy of cleansing, healing, and strengthening us; the joy of paying for the sins of all who would repent; the joy of making it possible for you and me to return home—clean and worthy—to live with our Heavenly Parents and families.
If we focus on the joy that will come to us, or to those we love, what can we endure that presently seems overwhelming, painful, scary, unfair, or simply impossible?
What will you and I be able to endure as we focus on the joy that is “set before” us? What repenting will then be possible? What weakness will become a strength? What chastening will become a blessing? What disappointments, even tragedies, will turn to our good? And what challenging service to the Lord will we be able to give?
As we diligently focus on the Savior and then follow His pattern of focusing on joy, we need to avoid those things that can interrupt our joy.”
When Faith Endures
I will not doubt, I will not fear;
God’s love and strength are always near.
His promised gift helps me to find
An inner strength and peace of mind.
I give the Father willingly
My trust, my prayers, humility.
His Spirit guides; his love assures
That fear departs when faith endures.
Text: Naomi W. Randall, 1908–2001. © 1985 IRI
Music: Stephen M. Jones, b. 1960. © 1985 IRI
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