Read: 3 Nephi 17-19
Mark: 3 Nephi 18:6-7, 11
"We are commanded to repent of our sins and to come to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and partake of the sacrament in compliance with its covenants. When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. In this way we are made clean and can always have His Spirit to be with us. The importance of this is evident in the Lord's commandment that we partake of the sacrament each week." --Elder Dallin H. Oaks
To ponder:
How can taking the sacrament each week help you to be just as clean as when you were baptized?
I love these chapters--such a great feeling of peace comes over me as I read them. I love 3 Nephi 17:3, where we are given such a great pattern: ponder, ask, understand and prepare.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that we are also attending the first Nephite sacrament meeting in verse 25, where some 2500 individuals attend!
3 Nephi 18:15: We are reminded to 'watch and pray always.'
It was so interesting to me to read so clearly about partaking of the sacrament worthily, and also why those who are not worthy should not partake of the sacrament and how each have the responsibility to be worthy and to help those around us to be worthy--to love them and encourage them.
Wasn't it interesting that after that first sacrament meeting the people went back to their homes and their families? Can you imagine all that they had to say? Then the next day they gather again and are taught by the Twelve? And then Jesus appears again! What a testimony meeting they must have had!!!
I like 3 Nephi 17:1-3. How important is it for us to rest? To take time to ponder on what we've learned. To take a step back when we "are weak that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded... to speak unto you." And even though Christ needed to do other things and knew the people needed their rest (much like my Elena Belle who is sitting next to me right now), he had compassion for them (they didn't want him to go!). So he stayed and performed miracles. He set up the priesthood among them and organized his disciples. He blessed EVERY child (I love 21-24). Every little child was ministered to by angels. How AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteHe set up the sacrament. These chapters are full of so much beauty, love, and power. There's so much I could share. But most of all I just want to share my testimony of my love for our Savior. I want to share my testimony of what faith can accomplish. These people were healed because their faith was "sufficient". It was enough! They prayed with Christ. They witnessed and heard things that can't even be written because of their sacredness and power. They could not record all the miracles performed that day. All we really know is that the faith of those 2000+ souls were greater than that of the Jews. So great were the miracles, we can't even know! I want to know! I know that as we have faith, we will also be able to witness these miracles when Christ returns. I'm really looking forward to it.
Chapter 17: We can't dive right into God's words and expect to understand them fully. We may gain a superficial understanding of them - or get them at face value, but we must prepare our hearts & minds for hearing, gaining a deep understanding & accepting the word of God.
ReplyDeleteChapter 18: He loves us all -it doesn't matter whether we know about each other or not. He shared the necessary principles and ordinances with all people - and those who showed by their faith & works that they were ready for more did receive more.
His ordinances are perfect - any one who alters them does so without his permission and does so for selfish and misguided reasons - do no less and no more!
Watch and pray always! Become the Jason Bourne of the Spirit - always vigilant, always aware, always discerning. Though our job is harder because we must train ourselves.
Do not demand promises or covenants from people who are not ready to keep them. Continue to teach them and welcome them to the Spirit, but protect them from jumping lines or to precepts they are not ready for.
Chapter 19: As I believe in Christ, Christ prays to God that we may be One! He will pray for me as I have faith in him. I could use his prayers for me!