3 Nephi 9

3 Nephi 9

Over and over again we read in the Book of Mormon about Lamanites who joined the Church and never fell away.  How did they manage it?  Surely an understanding of the Savior’s forgiveness and acceptance would have gone a long way to help them achieve this record.  Their change of lifestyle would have certainly contributed.  Not only did they change from warriors to farmers, but they also moved, in many cases, from their homes and, one could assume, their former acquaintance to begin new, different lives afresh. 

But I think there is something more particular that happened with the Lamanites that allowed them to be so fully converted, and that thing, I think, is explained by the Lord Himself in verse 20, where He discloses that, at the time of their baptism, the Lamanites had also been baptized with the Holy Ghost, but had not known it.   Interesting it is that the Lamanites received the companionship of the Holy Ghost prior to the death of the Savior.  Christ explained to His Old World disciples that the Holy Ghost would accompany the faithful in the absence of the Savior’s presence (see John 16:7).  Maybe it was because these New World followers were so distant from where Jesus served His ministry that the Holy Ghost accompanied them .  Whatever the reason, it appears the Holy Ghost has inspired people throughout the history of the world.

Having the companionship of the Holy Ghost gives one great advantage in trying to endure to the end.  There is no greater example of this truth than the faithfulness of the Lamanites.

3 Nephi 8

3 Nephi 8

Thirty-eight years before the events of this Chapter, Samuel the Lamanite had predicted in great detail the calamities that would happen in the New World at the crucifixion of the Savior.  3 Nephi 8 describes in great detail how these calamities actually happened, showing that the Lord keeps His word even to the most minute detail.  How faithful is the Lord!  Not only in this example, but in all His words He is completely reliable.

3 Nephi 7

3 Nephi 7

During the time of the ministry of Jesus in the Old World, and during a time of great political upheaval and spiritual darkness among the Nephites in the New World, there arose a prophet we tend to overlook. This Nephi (we've now seen four men of this name) must have been an incredible person!  He began keeping the Nephite record upon receipt of the plates from his father, about the time Jesus was born.  We don’t really hear much about him again until 30 years later, when he begins testifying boldly of Jesus Christ.  In the name of Jesus, Nephi performed miracles similar to those being performed at that time by Jesus and His disciples half a world away.  Nephi even raised his brother from the dead.  The people, in their wickedness, were very angry with Nephi because he was more powerful than they were.  Verse 18 tells us that so great was Nephi’s “faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister to him daily.”   These administrations had given him power “that he might know concerning the ministry of Christ” (v. 15).  With this faith and his testimony Nephi taught in such a way that it was “not possible that [his listeners] could disbelieve his words” (v. 18).  This powerful instrument of the Lord re-established and rebuilt the Church during the three years’ of Jesus’ mortal ministry.

3 Nephi 6

3 Nephi 6

When the people willfully sinned against God, prophets were inspired to go among them and preach.  Of all the religious topics they could have chosen to preach, these prophets preached of the upcoming atonement (death and resurrection) of Jesus Christ.  This preaching must have had pretty good effect, for certain judges secretly – and illegally – had these prophets put to death.  

The doctrine of the atonement is the biggest gun a Christian has!  We should focus on it more as we combat the evils in our lives.

3 Nephi 5

3 Nephi 5

The Nephites had been fully converted.  They all believed that Christ had been born, according to the sign given of His birth, and that all other prophesy would be fulfilled.  They had conquered the Gadianton Robbers, and their faith had caused them to repent and “serve God with all diligence day and night” (v. 3).  The Nephites imprisoned the surviving Robbers and preached the gospel to them.  Those who repented and covenanted were set free.  Those who weren't converted were somehow dealt with, and “thus they did put an end to all those wicked, and secret, and abominable combinations” (v. 6).

How I wish our faith would lead us to serve God diligently and repent in such a fashion that we could “imprison” our sins and shortcomings until we had conquered them or made them strengths, and otherwise dealt with them.  Then we could put an end to the sins and weaknesses that cause us so much suffering.  How do we imprison our sins?  Turning to God goes a long way, for as James wrote, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

3 Nephi 4

3 Nephi 4

When the attacking, and powerful Gadianton Robbers found the Nephites prostrate on the ground instead of on their feet to fight them, the Robbers took heart and attacked with confidence an army they thought feared them.  But these gathered and prepared Nephites weren't cowering in fear, they were praying for protection.  With that prayer they met the attacking army “in the strength of the Lord” (v. 10).  The Nephites prevailed in the battle, and they knew it wasn't their doing that gave them the victory, but the protection of God because of their repentance and humility (v. 33).

We can meet each day in the strength of the Lord if we are similarly repentant (not perfect, notice), humble, gathered and prepared.  Let us follow this excellent example of the Nephites and get our lives in order (prepare), surround ourselves with a worthy support group (gather), be repentant and humble, and begin our day in supplication to the Lord for protection.

3 Nephi 3

3 Nephi 3

To offset Chapter 2’s formula for failure, Chapter 3 gives us a formula for success!  Again, the Gadianton Robbers can be representative of the adversary.  The success formula is this:  1) Call upon the Lord for strength, 2) Gather or join with good friends, 3) Fortify ourselves by living the commandments, and 4) Guard against attack by not getting distracted by things that lead us away from the Lord.  It worked for the faithful Nephites and Lamanites.  It will work for us as well:  Pray, Gather, Fortify and Guard.