3 Nephi 25 (See also Malachi 4)
Verse 1 starts with the statement that I am very familiar with:
For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
The sobering realization that I came to yesterday is that I have found comfort in my false judgements of many people, or in other words, my pride. I am (if unchanged) among the proud that would be destroyed.
What is petrifying to me, absolutely unfathomably terrifying is for how long I have carried on in this fashion. Never suspecting it within myself. How do I go about changing who I am?
On the other hand, I feel that I may be acting too harsh on myself. (Maybe.) Verse 2 talks of those that fear the Lord, and of the healing that comes through the Son of Righteousness, and of their protection as cattle in the stall. I very much feel that this has been my lot. Often I have claimed such healing, renewing strength through the Son of Righteousness.
This chapter goes on to not create a pleasant picture for “the wicked,” stating that these shall be as ash under the feet of those that fear God.
A reminder to follow the law given Moses is found in verse 4.
And then we get the most profound promise found in all of the Old Testament:
I will send you Elijah the prophet… And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers…
One more morning, on these last verses. The profoundness of this promise seems to highlight one of the chief events of the last days. It underscores many of the events of the last days and gives an explanation for many things, like the rise and advances in technology, the globalization of the world economies, and many things that are unique to the last days.
Of course, as is the case in most days now, I think I am more questions. For example, there is a family I know, who’s father was of the most deplorable character before he took his own life. I wonder how this promise will be realized in this family’s behalf.
The hearts of the children are turned to their fathers. What healing will have to take place? What damage control will need to be performed? Does God really intend to stitch the human family back together? And how does that happen when children are born out of wedlock? To whom do children belong in the eternities?
These are questions that I know God intends to answer, and that much of this healing happens in the temple in ways that cannot be fully comprehended with mortal reasoning.