"Freely ye have received, freely give." -Matthew 10:8
3 Nephi 6 How quickly the people had turned from their righteousness! In the brief span of five years, they go from being freed from robbers and having experienced that miraculous deliverance, to being organized according to class. And these are not the same people who were once robbers. Didn’t those merchants and lawyers experience …
Continue reading “Carried About by the Temptations of the Devil”
3 Nephi 5 This book was given for the gathering of Israel, or the house of Jacob, and chapter 5 clearly demonstrates that its author, Mormon, was fully aware of the covenant and that purpose for its creation. How important is it to understand that God keeps his promises, and so much of what is …
Continue reading “Then Shall They Know Their Redeemer… and Then Shall They Be Gathered In”
3 Nephi 4 Looking for meaning in these verses, it strikes me as profoundly symbolic of the individual, internal struggle that is made against sin. Sometimes, in our lives, especially when we are fighting against internal demons, habits, and vices– sometimes it becomes necessary to sequester ourselves from influences or individuals to literally save our …
Continue reading “Delivered from an Everlasting Destruction”
3 Nephi 3 Contemplations on the Boldness of a Robber Giddianhi, the governor of the robbers of Gadianton, makes a very interesting proposition. At one point he sounds as if he is proposing a united order, or a communal society. However this proposal is mixed with demands of compliance and union to their secret society. …
Continue reading “Delivered Out of the Hands of Those… Robbers”
3 Nephi 2 Verse 1 states that the people “began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven,” which makes sense, especially if signs or wonders were increasing or become more common place. Is not the sun and moon and all things that are set at motion in this …
3 Nephi 1 An important theme of Christ’s personal misistry is taught here in these verses: I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets. Verse 13 This brings to memory Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 (what I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken… whether …
Helaman 16 The first thing that stands out to me in this chapter is that the same preaching caused some people to repent and others to become angry. Helaman 16 (in Spanish) ¿Cuales son los propósitos de los señales? No pueden violar el albedrío del hombre. En este capítulo también tenemos otra racionalidad de los …
Continue reading “Notwithstanding the Signs and the Wonders”
Helaman 15 I would not have understood this chapter had I not experienced a day like yesterday. So my context today is different. At the beginning of chapter 15, Samuel warns the Nephites of desolate houses unless they repent. And then as a follow up to that he warns of their women being left behind …
Helaman 14 Samuel the Lamanite starts this chapter with a prophecy or sign of the Savior’s coming: …For behold, there shall be great lights in heaven…And behold, there shall a new star arise…And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven. vs. 3,5,6 I have only focused on the …
Helaman 13 The voice of the Lord comes to Samuel telling him to return to Zarhelma, and to “prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.” Notice the mode of communication! That which should come into his heart, that he should prophesy unto the people. A prophet standing on a city wall …