Day 65: 3 Nephi 16-19

Welcome to Day 65...

Jesus taught the Nephites all day, then lovingly noted, "I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you..." He had just come from his mortal ministry and knew all about being weak and worn out!

He sweetly suggested, "Go ye into your homes and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow..." (3 Nephi 17:3)

                   

When Jesus informed the people that he needed to go,"they were in tears and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them." What happened next reminds us that when we LOOK to the Savior (serpent on staff), miraculous healing occurs! The Savior said his "bowels were filled with compassion" and a wondrous healing session began. Everyone in the crowd, "afflicted in any manner," came forth and is healed!                                         

Then he gathered the children around Him, blessed them one by one and declares,"Behold your little ones." BEHOLD. Angels descend and the children are encircled with fire! Do we get a CLUE about how we should feel about children from this? We need to "behold" our little ones.

 Next, Jesus implemented the sacrament, explaining that "this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you" and "if you do always remember me, ye shall have my Spirit to be with you." 

When Jesus returned the next day, He gave more power to the Twelve to confer the Holy Ghost, there is another angel party, and a very sweet and beautiful moment transpires...the Savior smiled! (3 Nephi 19:25) He had just suffered the atonement the previous week, so to be with a group of brothers and sisters that loved and accepted him as their Savior simply filled him with joy. "He did smile upon them again; and behold they were white, even as Jesus." (3 Nephi 19:30) "So great faith have I never seen among all the Jews..." (3 Nephi 19:35)
                      
That tells me that through my prayers and acceptance of His atonement, I can actually make HIM smile! :) And "when Jesus shows his smiling face, there is sunshine in MY soul!" Enjoy the most joyous read today, and don't forget to "Pray on" throughout your day! (3 Nephi 19:26)

• Opening Song: "There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today" 

(3 Nephi 19:25)

• Begin study session with prayer
• Scripture Study: 3 Nephi 16-19 (listen)
• Study Guide: (here)

• Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 15-17

• Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 18-19

• Video: "Jesus Christ Blesses the Children"

• Video: "Jesus Christ Teaches about the Sacrament and Prayer"

• Video: "Jesus Christ Teaches and Prays with the Nephites"

3 Nephi 15:1–10: 

Earlier Book of Mormon prophets taught that the law of Moses would eventually be fulfilled. Nephi, Jacob, and Abinadi all prepared their people to eventually accept the ending of the law of Moses. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles identified the reasons the Nephites were able to give up the old law and embrace the new:

“Clearly the Nephite congregation understood this more readily than did the Jewish world, partly because the Nephite prophets had been so careful to teach the transitional nature of the law. Abinadi had said, ‘It is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of Moses.’ In that same spirit Nephi emphasized, ‘We speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away.’ (2 Nephi 25:27)

“That kind of teaching—a caution against hardening one’s heart against Christ in ignorant defense of the law of Moses—could have served (and saved) so many living in the Old World then and living throughout the world now.” (Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 156–57).

Jesus Blessed the Children “One by One”--Elder Jeffrey R. Holland talks about how Jesus blessed the children and prayed for them (3 Nephi 17:14–25):

                       
"And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof. And when Jesus had spoken these words he came again unto his disciples; and behold they did pray steadfastly, without ceasing, unto him; and he did smile upon them again; and behold they were white, even as Jesus." 3 Nephi 19:25, 30

              
                      
"Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up-that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed." 3 Nephi 18:24

“This entire people have become as a city upon the hill which cannot be hid. Sometimes we take offense when one who is a member of the Church is involved in a crime and the public press is quick to say that he is a Mormon. We comment among ourselves that if he had been a member any other church, no mention would have been made of it. Yet, is not this very practice an indirect compliment to our people? The world expects something better of us, and when one of our number falters, the press is quick to note it. We have, indeed, become as a city upon a hill for the world to see. If we are to be that which the Lord would have us be, we must indeed become 'a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that [we] should shew for the praises of him who hath called [us] out of darkness into his marvelous light.' (1Peter 2:9).” --Gordon B. Hinkley

• Record thoughts and impressions in your journal. 
• Close study session with prayer and have a beautiful day!