Tag: 3 Nephi

It always makes me wonder that the Nephites went from years of peace and prosperity to massive wickedness in just over 5 years prior to the death of Christ. Their peace had devolved into the dissolution of their government I’m that short span of time. Could we see the same reversal? I have to ask…

It makes sense that the rivers would think to lay siege after the Nephites had been gathered for four years. They expected that after so long the monies would have to venture out to till their land in order to subsist. The robbers couldn’t grasp the idea that they had barely used half their supplies…

Giddianhi tried using both flattery and far to convince the Nephites to give him what he had been unable to take by force but Lachoneus and Gidgiddoni choose to exercise faith, repentance, and preparation rather than giving in to fear.

Even as the people were united with the church and united against the Gadiantons there was so much wickedness among them that they were seriously threatened with utter destruction. I suspect that means that while they maintained their connection with the church they also chased and/or promoted erroneous doctrines and failed to live up to…

The sign of the birth of Christ was so compelling that nearly everyone in the mainstream of society was converted for at least a few years afterward.

We remember the command to “judge not lest ye be judged” but it makes more sense when we consider the context. Jesus had just finished teaching the people to pay more attention to their motivations for good works and to the root causes for the temptations to sin. In that context, the command to judge…

Like the higher law governing sin, the higher law regarding righteousness was also focused on turning it over, making sure that our missions for righteous action aren’t about imposing or does men, but about showing love and devotion to our benevolent Father in Heaven.

We speak of Christ giving a higher law and generally understand “higher” to be “harder” but I think more than increasing the degree of difficulty it was an inward law. The old law focused on what could be seen (e.g. killing, committing adultery) while the new law focuses on the invisible precursors (e.g. hatred, lust)…

The beatitudes begin with a list of spiritual characteristics for which people will be blessed. If someone wants to know what our Father in heaven wants for/from us, that is a good list.

I find it interesting that as Jesus enchanted the people to heed the words of the disciples He also plainly tells the people that the disciples are given to be servants to the people. Too often the leaders of the church are portrayed as bosses, monarchs, or even tyrants when the Lord sees them as…