Day 72; 3 Nephi 7-9

 

In 3 Nephi 7, the Government was destroyed, the Chief Judge murdered, and each family and extended family and friends broke off into their own tribes.  They became independent, and their tribes rather large.  

They became wicked and murdered the Prophets.  There were very few righteous men among them.  The Secret Combinations created a leader, and his name was Jacob.  He was an "Anti-Christ".  They called him their king.  He spoke out mightily against the Prophets.

Jacob created a "Kingdom" of wicked people.  The Tribes were enemies but made a treaty not to war so there was peace in the land.  They all turned their hearts away from the Lord, stoned the Prophets and threw them out.

Nephi went about preaching repentance and remission of sins to the tribes.  He ministered with "Power and Great Authority".  The evil tribes hated Nephi because he was so worthy and righteous that they could not deny what he taught and he also had angels that ministered to him every single day!  He was able to cast out devils and unclean spirits, he raised his brother from the dead because he had been stoned by the wicked people and died.

The people were angry with Nephi because he was powerful and performed many miracles.  He did this in the name of Jesus Christ in front of people who witnessed it.  There were a few who converted unto Christ at that time, and "they testified that they felt the power of the Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ".

The Spirit was with the people of God, and they were able to cast out demons and perform mighty miracles.  Nephi continued to preach repentance unto the people and baptized them.  Nephi also ordained men.

3 Nephi Chapter 8 talks about the 3 days of darkness that was prophesied would come upon the face of the earth as a sign of the death of Christ.  There was thunder, earthquakes, great storms with terrible lightning, and Zarahemla caught on fire.  The city Moroni sank into the sea and the people all drowned.  Mountains formed in the midst of cities like Moronihah.   The whole face of some areas changed in geography because of the storms and earthquakes.

Many cities sank or burned.  Some places remained but were utterly destroyed; many people died.  After about 3 hours of all of these earthly changes, the darkness began.  The darkness was so black that no light would illuminate the darkness, not candles or torches, or fireplace fires, no sun, moon, or starts either.  There was crying heard constantly and people groaned in the darkness because of the destruction and death that occurred.  

3 Nephi 8:24-25 says, "24 And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla.

25 And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah. And thus were the howling of the people great and terrible."

In 3 Nephi Chapter 9, The Lord's voice was heard in Zarahemla saying that all of the destruction of their cities far and wide on their side of the world was due to their wickedness.  Christ declared that those who have witnessed the destruction must come unto him and repent, be converted, and let Christ heal them.    The words "Come unto me and ye will have eternal life" were heard.  

In 3 Nephi 9:13 it says, "15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.

16 I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.

17 And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.

18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."

Christ shared that the Law of Moses had been fulfilled and there was no need any longer for the shedding of blood sacrifices but to come to him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  Those who do this will be given the Holy Ghost with the baptism of fire.  Christ said he came to the world to redeem them and save them from their sin.  Christ said to repent and become as a little child, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Likening Chapters 7, 8 and 9 Unto Myself

As I read these chapters, I could envision the events and how the people must have felt, both the wicked and those few righteous who knew what the signs meant.  I asked myself a few questions:

#1 Would I be ready if such events happened in my life?  To endure the earth changes, the signs, and the destruction or would I have been terrified and hid?

#2 Would I be ready to repent and ask Heavenly Father forgiveness, being ready to come with a broken heart and contrite spirit, ready to be as a little child?

#3 Would I believe what I was seeing and understood?

#4 How can I take these questions in to my life today?  Will I prepare to meet God?  Will I humble myself and repent daily?  Will I be brave and true, watching and understanding the signs when they come and rejoice no matter the outcome knowing that soon I would be with the Savior?

These were all thoughts I had and will answer privately with in my own heart.  My answer here however is, "I hope so".