3 Nephi 14

As I continue to read about the be-attitudes, I reflect on my life, and I how I can be better now. IN verse 20 it states, "Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them." I feel I have met with several people who are struggling with their testimonies, because of things they have read concerning Joseph Smith. As I read The Book of Mormon, I feel power in each page, my life is changed for the better, and I am have felt the spirit guiding me to make right choices. Joseph Smith translated The Book of Mormon. I am sure he made mistakes in his life as he was only a man--not a God; however, I can't deny that he was a prophet of God, because of the fruits he was able to bring forth during his life. I can't deny what I feel when I read from The Book of Mormon. I know it to be true. I have no doubt that it is another testament of Jesus Christ. I have no doubt that the Lord himself guided the publication of this book. This whole thought goes along with several more scriptures in this chapter as well.

Verse 3: "And why beholdest thou the bean in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye."

I don't desire to know all of Joseph Smith's transgressions. Nor do I think, we can possible know them accurately. Without Joseph being able to testify against them on his behalf, I think we will never know the whole story. Although I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, I also believe that he was a man, and being a man--he was prone to make a few mistakes. In saying this, I am not excusing him of evil; however, because of his "fruits", I believe that some of the "evil" that is being said, is fabricated by the devil. I truly believe that someone who was "evil" could not have translated The Book of Mormon; therefore, Joseph Smith was a prophet, and the evil that has been and will continue to be spoken of him is a misrepresentation of a prophet of God.

Verse 14: "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

I think we have to willing to seek and pray for answers in our day. As I study the scriptures, and as I pray, I know the Lord will guide me. There are many things that can pull me away from my testimony if I allow them to do so; however, I have no doubt that if I am doing my part--God will lead me through that narrow gate.

In our day, I see many who have fallen away, and who continue to fall away. I pray for the strength to continue on the path for I know Satan is aware and very real. I am at war with him, and I am determined to win.

Finally, on another thought, the Lord admonishes us to do his will and build our "testimonies" on his foundation. Those of us who "heareth" His sayings and "doeth" them, will be built on a firm foundation (verse 24-27). Sometimes it is difficult to follow the Lord's will, or to even accept His will in our lives. Some of these moments, can cause us great distress, and could be a reason or someone to fall away.

I will never profess to understand all that is God's will, but I will bear testimony that I know that He is overall, and if I trust in Him all will be right in my life. I may not like His will, but I know that all things will work out for my good. I know that I will become better as I trust in Him. Just recently, my little brother passed away. I wish it wasn't God's will to take him. I wish there was a different plan. However, I know that as I rely on my Father in heaven, all things will work together. This is called faith. I may not understand all things, but I know that with God--all things will be right. Right now my heart hurts, and I find myself battling depression--He never said these trials would be easy, but He did say He would help us through them. So, I trust. I pray. I ask for help. And I know someday--I will be on the other side of this pain, and because I trust in God and His will, I also know that I will see my brother again.

3 Nephi 13

The next couple of chapters is often referred to as the be-attitudes--basically an instruction manual for life. Living by their precepts will guide us and direct us. One concept that caused me contemplation today was the concept of not doing righteous things to be seen of others. In the New Testament this instruction is offered quite often, and then related back to the Pharisees. I think too often we point our fingers at the Pharisees, but we too--have some of those tendencies.

The Pharisees wanted to appear righteous. I think some of them even wanted to be righteous, but they missed the point. Righteousness is not found by merely doing a checklist of "good deeds". Righteousness is found in the heart. Sure, we have to do the good to become good, but our righteousness also requires our heart turned to God. For the Pharisees it was easy to get caught up in "looking" good rather than actually "being" good.

In our day, I feel we can easily fall into the same problem. With social media at our fingertips, we can post "brags" on Facebook and Instagram or even Twitter. Sometimes those things posted are for righteous purposes--perhaps, to share the gospel, or to reach someone in need; however, when we post to be seen of men for our good works, we are not much different than the Pharisees. All too often "selfies" are taken for the mere purpose of the praise we can receive. Too many people are finding their self-worth through social media. Are we posting to be seen of men? If we are, we may need to rethink our motives.

In 3 Nephi 13 it counsels against doing deeds of righteousness to be seen of men. It talks about alms and fasting. I believe this is a matter of the heart. When we turn our hearts to God, we will be doing those good deeds for righteous purposes--whether it be posting about righteousness or simply acting by faith. Our motives for the good we do will make all the difference.

3 Nephi 12: Part 2

Last night we were having a family discussion on how to treat others that are unkind to you. My daughter had a soccer game, and there were several players on the other team who would purposefully push and shove our team, but then turn around and offer a hand of help to get up, or even a handshake. My daughter felt as if the hand offered was simply a tool to look better than what was actually happening--perhaps, a tool to look innocent in the eyes of the referee. The offered hand seemed quite insincere when the girls from our team were repeatedly shoved or pushed. At one point in time a player on our team was hit in the face, by the ball. The hit left our player dazed and unable to walk without support. My daughter heard a member from the other team laughing. This laughter caused my daughter to feel extreme anger and frustration towards this team. After a while of this behavior, the girls from our team no longer wanted to accept the offered hand of help. Instead, they simply wanted to ignore the attempt at kindness. Therefore, our family discussion revolved around whether or not it was appropriate to ignore the gesture? What did it mean to walk the high road? What would the Savior do?

In my scripture study today, I read: "But behold, I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you" (3 Nephi 12: 44). The point: whether it was the purpose of the other team to seem sincere with other motives on their agenda or not--it's not ours to judge. Frustrations are going to happen on a daily basis, but in order for us to follow the Lord's admonitions, we must be the better person. We must be kind to those who are unkind. I don't think this means that we allow others to hurt us, or to ridicule us. I think we can stand up for ourselves as well; however, I do believe that we must choose to be better than replicating their behavior with our frustrations. I believe we must rise above it, and be the "better person" by our actions.

When I was in middle school, I remember asking my dad on numerous occasions how to work through different social circumstances. Quite often he would respond, "Walk the high road". I heard this sentiment so many times as a youth that now as an adult, I quite often think about "walking the high road". He taught me to be better than succumbing to the ill will around me. He taught me to look beyond the here and now, and to become something more. He taught me to rise above my circumstances.

Quite often when my daughter is playing soccer, I often feel her team plays to the level of the opposing team. Some teams are extremely difficult. When we play these teams, we are solid and a definite force. Some teams are not as difficult; however, quite often when we play these less difficult teams, we are sloppy and imprecise.  And so it is with life, do we allow ourselves to succumb to the level of other people who may or may not have our standards, or do we rise above the negative attitudes of others and "walk the high road".

3 Nephi 12; Part 1

SALT OF THE EARTH A LIGHT ON A HILL

13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.

 14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

 15 Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house;

 16 Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

We are instructed to be the salt of the Earth, and a light to all nations. These verses speak to me about being courageous and strong in the face of difficulty. They say to me that I must choose to be different from the mainstream of society. These verses are a message from God encouraging His people to "BECOME". 

We have been given the Gospel. We have truth and light at our fingertips, and it is our blessing to be able to share it. More than anything I want to BECOME all that God wants me to become. I want to be His light. I want to be a candle for Him. I want to do all things well, so that someday when I meet Him--He can say "well done". 

I just read a talk about what it means to be the "salt of the earth". I was touched but Elder Asay. He said:

“When the Lord used the expression “savor of men,” he was speaking of those who represent him. He was referring to those who have repented, who have been washed clean in the waters of baptism, and who have covenanted to take upon them his name and his cause. Moreover, he was speaking of those who would share by covenant his priesthood power. He was speaking of you and me…

A world-renowned chemist told me that salt will not lose its savor with age. Savor is lost through mixture and contamination. Similarly, priesthood power does not dissipate with age; it, too, is lost through mixture and contamination…

Flavor and quality flee a man when he contaminates his mind with unclean thoughts, desecrates his mouth by speaking less than the truth, and misapplies his strength in performing evil acts. King Benjamin cautioned, ‘Watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God’ (Mosiah 4:30).

I would offer these simple guidelines, especially to the young men, as the means to preserve one’s savor: If it is not clean, do not think it; if it is not true, do not speak it; if it is not good, do not do it” (Carlos E. Asay, "Salt of the Earth: Savor of Men and Saviors of Men", April 1980 General Conference). 

In order for each of us to maintain our "savor", we must not let worldly influences contaminate us. We must keep the commandments, and by so doing, we will be the salt of the earth--a light on the hill.

3 Nephi 11

When the people heard the voice of Heavenly Father, they did not understand it at first. In fact, they didn't understand until they had heard the voice 3 times.  In verse 5 it states, "And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came" (3 Nephi 11:5). I like how this verse says that they opened their ears to hear, and their eyes towards the sound. I think this is much like us with personal revelation. Sometimes the Lord is speaking to us, but we are the ones not listening. Perhaps, we are not preparing ourselves spiritually to be able to hear what it is He is saying, or perhaps we are not asking the right questions, or perhaps we are not truly listening... There are many reasons for "not hearing" spiritual promptings. This scripture gives me the desire to "open my ears and my eyes" to what the Lord is telling me. 

I think in order to truly hear, we must be looking to God and seeking His will. In verse 8 it states, "And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes again towards heaven; and behold they saw a Man descending out of heaven..." (3 Nephi 11:8). I like how it says that they were "looking towards heaven". I think we have to be facing the right direction to receive and understand personal revelation. We have to be doing what it takes to face the Lord. WE have to be seeking Him. He is ready to offer all that He can to us, but He cannot do anything until we choose Him, until we choose to read our scriptures, to say our prayers, to live the Gospel. WE can't expect His hand in our lives without our choosing to place Him in our lives.

The Savior gives instruction about this principle in verse 37 when he says, "And again, I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things" (3 Nephi 11:37). The Gospel of Jesus Christ takes work on our part. We must take action in order to receive the blessings awaiting us, but when we do "choose"--it will be glorious.

"Belief and testimony and faith are not passive principles. They do not just happen to us. Belief is something we choose—we hope for it, we work for it, and we sacrifice for it. We will not accidentally come to believe in the Savior and His gospel any more than we will accidentally pray or pay tithing. We actively choose to believe, just like we choose to keep other commandments" (L. Whitney Clayton, "Choose to Believe", April 2015 General Conference).