5 And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.
(3 Nephi 10:5)
The Savior has set the perfect example of love and patience for us to follow. In the passage above, He laments that the people were unwilling to accept the protection and guidance which He had freely offered to them.
As President Henry B. Eyring has pointed out, this verse gives us not only an awareness of the Savior’s love but also an example which we can follow as we love and serve others:
The Lord has given us all the source of hope as we struggle to help those we love accept their eternal inheritance. He has made promises to us as we keep trying to gather people to Him, even when they resist His invitation to do so. Their resistance saddens Him, but He does not quit, nor should we. He sets the perfect example for us with His persistent love: “And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings….”
Heavenly Father and the Savior are our perfect examples of what we can and must do. They never force righteousness because righteousness must be chosen. They make righteousness discernible to us, and They let us see that its fruits are delicious.
(“A Priceless Heritage of Hope,” General Conference, April 2014).
Today, I will follow the Savior’s perfect example of persistent love. I will offer assistance and support to people who need my help. If they aren’t ready to accept that help right now, I will respect their desires, but I will continue to be ready to serve them when they are ready to receive my assistance.