Read: 3 Nephi 20-21
Mark: 3 Nephi 21:6-7
"Every person who embraces the gospel becomes of the house of Israel...The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs." --President Joseph Fielding Smith
To ponder:
What blessings are promised to you because you are of the house of Israel?
Today's reading has left me quite lost! These two chapters are from Isaiah and I'm afraid I do not understand them at all. I kind of feel like I understand 3 Nephi 21:27-29, where it seems to say that all of the people from all over the world will be gathered together unto our Savior. This is good!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear your thoughts!
Oh good--glad I'm not the only one! LOL. As I read I feel like most of it went right over my head.
DeleteSo, as I mentioned already, most of this just went in as words to my eyes and then stopped short of my brain. But here are some of the things that stood out to me. Mostly because they were already marked, LOL! Aren't I glad for past Jenny being so studious!
ReplyDelete3 Nephi 20:11--What does it really mean to search the scriptures? What do we search FOR? Christ basically says, "You have the means--use them."
3 Nephi 20:39-42--I've wondered what these verses are really all about. Tonight as I read them I'm still lost, but get this image in my head of a clean earth. Of a purer people who rejoice in Christ and carry him in their hearts. Is this what is meant when it says "be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord"? I feel like verse 42 makes the most sense. I think it means that all things come in their due time--GOD'S time. God will prepare your way and watch your back, and we need to be patient and take time to do the things we're meant to do. We're all God's vessels, aren't we?
As for the verses we were asked to mark with today's reading, I'm never quite sure how I feel about the whole, "Well, the Jews messed everything up. Guess we have to use the GENTILES now." attitude that seems to be there with scriptures like this! LOL. It makes me feel like the Gentiles are the monkeys that learned sign language. In all seriousness now, I'm really grateful for being able to become part of the house of Israel, and have all the blessings offered to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Oh man, I used to know more about what those blessings were! I had them written out on my patriarchal blessing, but lost that copy of my blessing a few years back (I'm still sad about that). I highlighted and wrote all over that thing for years! But I know there are four P's, and I'll do my best to remember what they are. Prosperity, Posterity, Priesthood, and Property... I think. These are blessings offered to us as our "birthrights" when we're adopted into the family. It's cool sometimes to go back and study in the Old Testament where God promises these things to Abraham and the rest. All these promises are also OURS. As the quote for today's reading says!
Oh, and I almost forgot. I put a little star next to verse 4 (in chapter 21) because I thought it was really cool that he mentioned the need for a free land. Really, really awesome.
Thanks so much, Jenny! Your thoughts and ideas are so helpful! I had much of this marked in my scriptures as well, but several years ago, I left my scriptures in a hotel room--and they were never turned in or found. I'm hoping someone has them and loves them as much as I do! :)
ReplyDeleteChapter 20: I know Jesus is the Christ. There is no turning from this knowledge unless I want to make myself miserable forever.
ReplyDeleteKnowing he is the Christ and growing in the Spirit will only bless me, my children and theirs and so on.
There is no hiding from this truth but there are consequences for both trying to hide from it and for embracing that truth. Choose wisely.
Chapter 21: All things we place before God and Christ will be destroyed in the day that Christ comes again. Do not waste your time attaching yourself and spending what you have on such things. Keep an eternal perspective, listen to the prompting of the Spirit - attach yourself to those things that magnify happiness for all time!