Sometimes, you most fully appreciate the light after experiencing darkness. When the Savior died in Jerusalem, the cataclysms prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite occurred in the Americas. Cities were destroyed, and many people died. Then, there was darkness for three days.
In the darkness, the people heard the voice of the Savior inviting them to come unto Him and be healed. Then, after the light had returned, a group of people gathered at the temple in Bountiful had the glorious opportunity to see the resurrected Savior and to touch His wounds in order to know that it was Him.
As I pass through periods of darkness in my life, I will remember the Nephites and Lamanites, who endured thick darkness before coming into contact with the source of all light, the Savior of the world.
Here are some other lessons I’ve learned from these chapters:
Outline
Key Themes
- Jesus is the Son of God, He is the light and the life of the world, and He is Alpha and Omega.
- Extended periods of silence can help us be more receptive to the Holy Ghost.
- God shares His power with his children so that we can bless one another.
- The spirit of contention is not of God, and we grow closer to Him as we live in peace and in harmony with one another.
Connections
- King David recognized that God wanted something more than ritual offerings. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,” he wrote, “a broken and a contrite heart” (Psalm 51:16). The Savior told the survivors of the storms which coincided with His death, “I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings. And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (3 Nephi 9:19-20).
- During His mortal ministry, the Savior lamented, “How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34). After His death, some people in the Americas heard Him say the same words, but then repeat it using future tense: “How oft will I gather you…” (3 Nephi 10:4-6).
Applications
- Consider the potential consequences of your actions and correct them before it’s too late.
- Even if you’re doing pretty well, we all need to repent, so that we can be healed.
- Make a record of the fulfillment of prophecies that you see. It will strengthen your faith.
- Make the effort to listen well. It doesn’t come naturally.
Recommended Posts
- How Is Jesus Christ “the Light and the Life of the World?”
- Why Is Jesus Called “Alpha and Omega?”
- Why Is It Important to Record the Fulfillment of Prophecies?
Blog Posts: September 24-29
What Does Darkness Feel Like?
The ninth plague was darkness so thick it could be felt. The Nephites experienced a similar darkness after the death of Jesus. But they heard Him declare that He is the light of the world, and their mourning was replaced by joy when the light returned.
Look and Listen
The people in Bountiful only understood the voice of God when they opened their ears and looked toward the sound. His message to them was to “behold” and “hear” His Son. It takes effort to understand messages from God. We need to look and listen.
Feel the Prints of the Nails
At the temple in Bountiful, the people who had already been invited to see and hear the Savior were now invited to approach Him and touch His wounds. When we wholeheartedly worship Him, we can experience a similar feeling of closeness and of wonder.
There Was Silence
After the natural disasters which coincided with the death of Jesus Christ, and after hearing His voice, the survivors sat in silence for many hours. What would we experience if we took the time to reduce the noise in our lives and sit in silence?
Promised Light
After three days of darkness, when the light returned, the mourning of the Nephites and the Lamanites was turned into joy. Some of our “nights” may last weeks or months, but the promise remains: Morning will come; there will be joy.
“I Am Jesus Christ”
When the Savior visited the people at the temple in Bountiful, He introduced Himself concisely and powerfully. He provided context for His arrival, identified what He does for us, and explained the atoning sacrifice He had offered on our behalf.
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