Day 63: 3 Nephi 8-11

Welcome to Day 63...

 The Nephites looked "with great earnestness" for the three days of darkness that was prophesied to be the sign of the Savior's death. Many other signs were manifest, but then the big ones came!
                                
Storms, thunder, lightening, fires, earthquakes, devastation, cities sinking into the ocean and cities rising and being covered by mountains, "great and terrible was the destruction" and "the whole face of the land was changed." (3 Nephi 8:11-12)  
                                
Darkness then covered the land for three days. This was no ordinary darkness.  "There was a thick darkness...insomuch that they could feel the vapor of darkness...neither could they light candles, neither torches or fires be kindled..."  Imagine the sense of doom and  despair.

"There was great mourning and howling and weeping among all the people continually...great were the groanings of the people because of the darkness which had come upon them....they were heard to cry 'O that we had repented!'....and thus the howlings of the people were terrible." (3 Nephi 8:23-25) 

In the dreadful darkness, a voice was heard."Wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they repent; for the devil laugheth and his angels rejoice because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen (3 Nephi 9:2)...Will ye not now RETURN unto me and REPENT of your sins and BE CONVERTED that I may HEAL you? If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life...whosoever will come I will receive." (3 Nephi 9:13-14) 

What the Lord has to do to get our attention! He only wishes to bless us with his deepest desire: eternal life! When we are finally humble enough to turn to Him, listen to Him and accept Him with a "broken heart and contrite spirit"  we are "visited" by Him and "baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost." 

"I have come to bring redemption  unto the world and to save the world from sin. Therefore whoso repenteth and cometh as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore, repent and come unto me ye ends of the earth and be SAVED."  (3 Nephi 9:20-22)

After hearing this, the people were silent for "the space of many hours," processing this hopeful and beautiful message in the darkness. "And the darkness dispersed...and the earth did cease to tremble...and did cleave together again, that it stood...and their mourning was turned to joy! And their lamentations into praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their Redeemer."

The next day the people gathered at the temple when the sweetest, most glorious experience of their lives occured! Enjoy the rest of the story in today's reading!
                                               
                     

• Opening Song: "I Know That My Redeemer Lives"

              

• Begin study session with prayer
• Scripture Study: 3 Nephi 8-11 (listen)

• Study Guide: (here)
• Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 10-11                                                 

• Video: Signs of Christ’s Crucifixion                                          

• Video: Jesus Christ Appears to the Nephites  

                   

                   

"O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." 3 Nephi 9:13-14

“The greatest miracles I see today are not necessarily the healing of sick bodies, but the greatest miracles I see are the healing of sick souls”--President Harold B. Lee  

                      
"And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came. Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name- hear ye him." 3 Nephi 11:5, 7

• Video: "A Change in the Commandment to Sacrifice" Elder D. Todd Christofferson (3 Nephi 9:20) 

• Video: "Christ Brings Light Where There Is Darkness" Elder Robert D. Hales (3 Nephi 10:9–13)

                       
“Christ in our lives is not meant to grieve us or weigh us down unto death because we have been imperfect. Through Him we may be LIFTED UP by ACCEPTING His gifts and His mercy and long-suffering. These blessings we must seek to keep in our minds always.” --Marion D. Hanks

“You can offer the Lord the gift of your broken, or repentant, heart and your contrite, or obedient, spirit. In reality, it is the gift of yourself—what you are and what you are becoming. Is there something in you or in your life that is impure or unworthy? When you get rid of it, that is a gift to the Savior. Is there a good habit or quality that is lacking in your life? When you adopt it and make it part of your character, you are giving a gift to the Lord”.-- Elder D. Todd Christofferson

• "The Testaments" Beautiful, entertaining and powerful...

Day 62:3 Nephi 4-7

Welcome to Day 62...

  

                         
 The Nephites turned to the Lord to "supplicate for their protection" against the Gadiaton robbers. Gidgiddoni (good guy) out-strategized Giaddianhi (bad guy) and the faithful Nephites were delivered! They were so thankful,"their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies." 3 Nephi 4:33

Following their miraculous deliverance from the Gadianton robbers, the Nephites enjoyed peace for about three years.

3 Nephi 5 is a welcome relief from from the drama and trauma of the battle with the bandits! Mormon reports, "there was not one living soul among all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken."  After dreadful bouts with evil thieves, the people were ready to whole heartedly embrace truth and light! "Therefore they did forsake ALL theirs sins...and did serve God with diligence day and night." 3 Nephi 5:3
                                 
Mormon paused his narrative to tell a little about himself as the compiler of the ancient records. "I have reason to bless my God and my Savior Jesus Christ." The Lord will "gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the seed of Jacob...and then shall they know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God." (3 Nephi 5:26)

Sadly, the Pride Cycle churned on - class distinction and persecutions arose among the people again! Some remained faithful to the Lord, but many entered into secret combinations. 

Hmm...things are really ripening for a visit from the Savior! 

Opening Song: "Tonight A King Is Born" (in light of yesterday's reading)

• Begin With Prayer

• Scripture Study: 3 Nephi 4-7 (listen)

• Study Guide: (here)
• Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 3-9

• Video: "Pride Is Enmity" (3 Nephi 6:10–18)

Video: Elder Richard G. Scott tells what conversion is and how it can lead to aligning our views to the Lord’s. He teaches how to become truly converted. (3 Nephi 7:21–26)

                     

"And insomuch as the children of Lehi have kept his commandments he hath blessed them and prospered them according to this word." 3 Nephi 5:22

                   

"Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world. And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity; therefore they had enjoyed peace but a few years." 3 Nephi 6:15-16

“So, the great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God's commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage. And the tragedy of life is to fail in that test and so fail to qualify to return in glory to our heavenly home.” --Henry B. Eyring. “Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady,” Ensign, Nov. 2005, 37-38.

• Record impressions and favorite verses in your journal.

• Close study session with prayer.

Day 61: Helaman 16; 3 Nephi 1-3

Welcome to Day 61...

Don't you just LOVE this picture? It looks like he's saying "BRING IT!"  :)
                            
Today Samuel finished prophesying on the wall, dodging stones and arrows, then slipped away unharmed and was "never heard of more among the Nephites."  Mission accomplished and gone.
             
And now on to Third Nephi, also referred to as "the fifth gospel." When the signs didn't appear for the Savior's birth, the unbelievers threatened to kill the believers if Samuel's prophecy wasn't fulfilled.  Nephi (the son of Nephi and grandson of Helaman) pleaded with the Lord for help.  

                        
These comforting words were spoken to Nephi, that night: "Lift up your hearts and be of good cheer...on the morrow come I into the world." (3 Nephi 1:13)

Joy to the world, the Lord is come (and shall again)! Looking forward to celebrating our Savior's birth soon. Great job consuming scriptures to fatten you up spiritually for the holidays! Enjoy your feast today! :)

Opening Song: "Silent Night"

• Begin Study Session With Prayer
• Scripture Study: Helaman 16, 3 Nephi 1-3 (listen)
• Study Guide: (here) 
• Video: "The Signs of Christ's Birth"

• Video: Elder Robert D. Hales talks about a "living sacrifice" (3 Nephi 2:1–3)

• Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon--3 Nephi 1-4

3 Nephi 2:1-3--How to block Satan's efforts to get you to forget spiritual things: “I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: ‘Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?’ As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of [our family members] that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.

“More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened” (“O Remember, Remember,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 67).

                             

"Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold,the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets." 3 Nephi 1:13 

                                                                                 

• “We don't always know the details of our future. We do not know what lies ahead. We live in a time of uncertainty. We are surrounded by challenges on all sides. Occasionally discouragement may sneak in to our day; frustration may invite itself into our thinking; doubt might enter about the value of our work. In these dark moments Satan whispers in our ears that we will never be able to succeed, that the price isn't work the effort, and that our small part will never make a difference. He, the father of all lies, will try to prevent us from seeing the end from the beginning.” --Dieter F. Uchtdorf

                               

"And they did fortify themselves against their enemies; and they did dwell in one land, and in one body, and they did fear the words which had been spoken by Lachoneus, insomuch that they did repent of all their sins; and they did put up their prayers unto the Lord their God, that he would deliver them in the time that their enemies should come down against them to battle." 3 Nephi 3:25

To keep straight which Nephi we're talking about now:

Introduction to 3 Nephi:

Why study this book?
In their study of 3 Nephi, students will learn about the Savior’s words and actions during His three-day ministry among the Nephites. President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “3 Nephi contains some of the most moving and powerful passages in all scripture. It testifies of Jesus Christ, His prophets, and the doctrines of salvation” (“The Savior’s Visit to America,”Ensign, May 1987, 6). As students see how Jesus Christ demonstrated compassion for the people “one by one,” they can better appreciate His concern for them as individuals (see 3 Nephi 11:15; 17:21). They can learn important lessons from the righteous examples of those who prepared to meet the Savior. They can also learn from the unrighteous examples of those who did not prepare to meet the Savior.

Who wrote this book?
Mormon abridged records from the large plates of Nephi to create the book of 3 Nephi. The book is named for Nephi (the son of Nephi), whose labors spanned the periods before, during, and after the Savior’s appearances to the people. During the time of great wickedness that preceded Jesus Christ’s visits, Nephi ministered “with power and with great authority” (3 Nephi 7:17). His efforts were a prelude to the ministry of Jesus Christ, whose words and deeds constitute the focus of 3 Nephi. While abridging Nephi’s record, Mormon also included his own commentary and testimony (see 3 Nephi 5:8–26; 26:6–12; 29–30).

To whom was this book written and why?
Mormon intended the writings in 3 Nephi for two groups. First, he explained that he had written them for the descendants of Lehi (see3 Nephi 26:8). Second, Mormon addressed Gentiles in the latter days and recorded the Lord’s admonition that they come unto Him and become part of His covenant people (see 3 Nephi 30). The book of 3 Nephi underscores this invitation with its powerful witness of Jesus Christ and its emphasis on the importance of covenants.

When and where was it written?
The original records used as sources for the book of 3 Nephi were likely written between 1 B.C. and A.D. 35. Mormon abridged those records sometime between A.D. 345 and A.D. 385. Mormon did not record where he was when he compiled this book.

What are some distinctive features of this book?
3 Nephi documents the fulfillment of prophecies regarding Jesus Christ’s birth, death, and Resurrection (see 3 Nephi 1; 8; 11). Its record of the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites represents what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has called “the focal point, the supreme moment, in the entire history of the Book of Mormon” (Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 250). Twenty of the thirty chapters in 3 Nephi contain teachings the Savior delivered directly to the people (see 3 Nephi 9–28).

• Record impressions and favorite verses in your journal.

• Close study session with prayer and have a beautiful day!

Day 60 **Make-Up Day**

Welcome to Day 60!!

Another Make-Up Day!!  :)

Catch up on reading or visit past blog days to enhance your experience with videos and the study guide.  Another good idea is to review all chapter headings up to this point.

Have an enjoyable Make-up Day!! 20 days and counting...