3 Nephi 27
3 Nephi 27
I love this picture depicting the disciples baptizing. (Another Mark Mabry picture)
What an amazing chapter. The first thing I noticed was the pattern to receive answers to collective prayers. The disciples:
I love this picture depicting the disciples baptizing. (Another Mark Mabry picture)
What an amazing chapter. The first thing I noticed was the pattern to receive answers to collective prayers. The disciples:
- They united in mighty prayer
- They fasted
- They prayed with a very specific purpose (to know the name of the church.)
The Savior appeared to them in answer to their collective prayer. I wish my prayers were answered that way!
Notice how they did not hesitate when He asked what they wanted. They knew- they had a purpose in their prayer. It was a specific and dedicated prayer: Now that we are baptizing all these people and starting a church, what shall it be called? The received a very specific answer: The Church of Christ, for it's My church.
There's a lot of great talks out there regarding prayer: Elder Bednar, Elder Cornish, and Elder Scott to name just a few. One interesting quote from Elder Bednar's talk said it wasn't enough to SAY your prayers, you must LIVE your prayers. Meaning, once you pray for something specific, get off your knees and get to work for that thing. Don't wait for the Lord to do all the work. I love that.
The Savior, here, in verses 11 and 12 also speaks to that, saying that people's works will follow them. Salvation is a active sport. (Great idea for a book, wouldn't you say?)
The Savior also lays out the gospel in verses 13-22, which is: Faith, repentance, baptism, reception of the Holy Ghost and endure to the end. That is His Gospel. That is why He came into the world and a was crucified and atoned for our sins (verse 14).
He teaches us the gospel that we may know what we should do. We will be judged on how closely our actions follow our understanding of His gospel/expectations.
There is so much more I want to write about this morning! But, I've run out of time. :(
What did you think/learn today?
Short thought this morning... Vs 25 - We will all be judged based on the scriptures we have. I found that interesting to me because it implies there is so much more that we don't know and that we may be held accountable for later when it is revealed. It's the theory of milk before meat.... Makes me wonder what else is in store for us.
ReplyDeleteFirstly verse 10 stuck out to me - "And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it." If I understand this right, evidence of the truthfulness of this church is that God shows forth his miracles etc in it.
ReplyDeleteAlso in verses 30-32 when he talks about his joy that no one in their generation will be lost to him, but the 4th generation will be led away captive by the devil. That must have been really hard for the people to hear, that their future families would not be saved in the gospel as they were. The same thing happens today. When an individual chooses to either stay in the gospel, or leave, it affects generations. We must think very wisely before making decisions like that. Remember: Choose the right - there is safety for the soul.