3 Nephi 7
7:1-7 - We left off with secret combinations being reintroduced back into the Nephite society by people who wanted to destroy the government and have a king. In chapter 7, "they did destroy upon the judgment-seat, yea, did murder the chief judge of the land." We've seen this before, the chief judge being murdered, but this time it's different, I'm assuming that it's because the vast majority of the people are wicked so there is no one to hold up the standard of liberty and say "come fight with me for freedom." It's interesting because when I was thinking about why this time was different whereas the other times the chief judge was simply replaced, it occurred to me that what it would have taken for the government to remain intact is someone to rally the people together to get rid of those who were corrupting the government, or the king-men as it was in CM's day, and I guess really, it's king-men this time too. But there was no one like that, no one wanted to remain as a free government, and one of the biggest motivating factors in the time of CM was so that they could maintain their freedom of religion. When the people split up into tribes here, they were each small enough units to where they could negotiate peace with each other, so to keep their families safe and relatively free, but because they didn't care about religion anymore, keeping the government free and democratic wasn't important enough to have a rallying figurehead this time around and so the government just collapsed into the tribal system, which HN suggests had been there the whole time making the transition from central government to tribal government so streamlined. No one wanted to fight for freedom of religion because "they did yield themselves unto the power of Satan." HN makes an interesting point here teaching "They just gave up and stopped trying. They started out being a righteous people, but you have to make an effort. You have to keep at it. Being righteous isn't just the absence (of wickedness) -what you don't do; but what you do do. That's what makes you righteous. As I said, there's no such thing as being an idle righteous person- an idle person isn't righteous. You're not necessarily wicked or anything like that, but if you're going to be righteous, it's something you have to work at. That's what we're here for- being tested, being tried and tempted- and it doesn't just stop when we've make one hurdle. There are more to follow. So they yield themselves unto the power of Satan. They had given up trying. Notice the word is yield. They gave up. It wasn't that they were pushed into it or anything like that. They yielded to it." We are either growing or dying spiritually, and it takes effort, and it's interesting because when the people split up into tribes, there were tribal leaders, heads of the family who ran things now, and they weren't raging in wickedness, necessarily, like HN said, but because they didn't value freedom of religion anymore, they gave up the freedom that they had in a democratic central government. HN continues "Notice, they were the united tribes, but the leaders of each tribe established their own tribal laws, and they were the laws by which they lived, 'every one according to his tribe, nevertheless they were enemies.' There was no love between them, but they were united in one thing, you see. Once the federal government had disappeared, they all regretted it. They missed it. They wished it was back, and they united only in hatred of the people that abolished it. One thing they had in common- they wanted to get it back again... They thought that was what they wanted, but they didn't. The plan backfired, in other words, and this is what happened here. Too late they regretted the loss of the central government, which has its virtue and its necessity too." This whole anarchic existence is not what they imagined and they hated the people who had caused it's demise, I wonder if they realized just how complicit they were in it as well, with all their hatred and wickedness. HN also notes the word "regulations" here and compares it to our day, these secret combinations were desperate to rid themselves of the government regulations, like "you can't murder" and "you can't steal" and stuff like that. Similarly today, big corporations want to rid themselves of government regulations on food and medicine and all types of stuff, interesting similarity there.
7:8-20 - Mormon reels here noting that it's only been 6 years "since the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her walling in the mire." It's only been 6 years, I'm trying to think what I was doing 6 years ago. We meet Jacob who became "king over this wicked band; and he was one of the chiefest who had given his voice against the prophets who testified of Jesus." A very wicked man made king over a very wicked people, makes sense, but as we've learned already, the people were really angry with this group because they were the ones responsible for the collapse of the government, and Jacob's group was outnumbered, so they "take their flight into the northernmost part of the land, and there build up unto themselves a kingdom, until they were joined by dissenters, (for he flattered them that there would be many dissenters)" and there they waited and gathered strength as the other people in the tribes left to join them, and then they came back with a vengeance. This whole societal shift begs the questions "where did the believers end up?" It turns out that Nephi had "been visited by angels and also the voice of the Lord, therefore having seen angels, and being eye-witness, and having had power given unto him that he might know concerning the ministry of Christ, and also being eye-witness to their quick return from righteousness unto the wickedness and abominations." Nephi's been preparing, growing spiritually, becoming stronger, and "being grieved for the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds- went forth among them in that same year, and began to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ." He went out and tried to make a difference, the IM teaches "One bright spot in the otherwise sad account of the Nephite's turn from their righteousness is the steadfast faithfulness of Nephi and his people. Their example provides a pattern to help us maintain our righteousness during times of wickedness. We read of Nephi's firm testimony, born of personal experience, that he boldly taught 'repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ,' and those who responded to his testimony were themselves visited 'by the power and Spirit of God.' Those who believed were healed, repented, were baptized, and 'received a remission of their sins.'" Because Nephi went out with such "power and great authority," the people were angry with him, "for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words, for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily." So the people were angry because they couldn't deny what he was saying any longer? Does that make sense? Well maybe in the context that HN puts it by asking "What was the mortal offense of Jesus? When the elders of the Jews, the high priests, and the Levites came together, they decided there was only one solution to the problem, and that was to put Jesus to death, get him out of the way. That was when he raised Lazarus. That was the thing that decided it. You go back and look there. They put up with everything, but when he raised Lazarus from the dead, that was too much. They decided that he would have to be put to death. The doctors came together then. And it's the same thing here. When the people saw it there 'were angry with him because of his power.'" When the miracles get to be too much, when the evidence becomes so overwhelmingly obvious that only the truly wicked will continue to deny it, then it's time to end it. And the miracles that Nephi performed were many, "and in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits, and even his brother did he raise from the dead, after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people. And the people saw it, and did witness of it, and were angry with him because of his power; and he did also do many more miracles, in the sight of the people, in the name of Jesus." But we also have to remember that we are not converted by miracles, it's to strengthen faith, not being it. Interestingly, I just happened to hear something today that related specifically to miracles in the Articles of Faith, in which James E. Talmage says "To be valid as a testimony of truth, miracles must be wrought in the name of Christ, and to His honor, in furtherance of the plan of salvation. As stated, they are not given to satisfy the curious and the lustful, not as a means of gaining notoriety for him through whom they are accomplished. These gifts of the true Spirit are manifested in support of the message from heaven, and in corroboration of the words spoken by authority." It would seem that in Nephi's case, the opposite was true, he didn't get notoriety, he became hated, but the miracles were done in the name of Jesus and were for His glory.
7:21-26 - Nephi's efforts were miraculous, but not super successful "and there were but hew who were converted unto the Lord." So by the numbers not great, but that's not how missionary success is measured. But let's look at those who were converted, the few who did believe "did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God what was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed." And they were healed "and they did show forth signs also and did do some miracles among the people." They might have been few but their conversions were whole, total. The IM quotes Elder Richard G. Scott as teaching "each of us has observed how some individuals go through life consistently doing the right things... When difficult choices are to be made, they seem to invariably make the right ones, even though there were enticing alternatives available to them. We know that they are subject to temptation, but they seem oblivious to it. Likewise, we have observed how others are not so valiant in the decisions they make. In a powerfully spiritual environment, they resolve to do better... Yet they are soon back doing the same things they resolved to abandon... Sometimes the word converted is used to describe when a sincere individual decides to be baptized. However... conversion means far more than that... President Marion G. Romney explained conversion: 'Converted means to turn from one belief or course of action to another. Conversion is a spiritual and moral change. Converted implies not merely mental acceptance of Jesus and his teachings but also a motivating faith in him and his gospel. A faith which works a transformation, an actual change in one's understanding of life's meaning and in his allegiance to God in interest, in thought, and in conduct. In one who is really wholly converted, desire for things contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ has actually died. And substituted therefore is a love of God, with a fixed and controlling determination to keep his commandments... Stated simply, true conversion is the fruit of faith, repentance, and consistent obedience. Faith comes by hearing the words of God and responding to it. You will receive from the Holy Ghost a confirming witness of things you accept on faith by willingly doing them. You will be led to repent of errors resulting from wrong things done or right things not done. As a consequence, your capacity to consistently obey will be strengthened. This cycle of faith, repentance, and consistent obedience will lead you to greater conversion with its attendant blessings.'" This is a concept that hadn't occurred to me until recently, well within the last several months. Before I filed for divorce, I thought that I was converted, I truly believed that the gospel was true, and I did my best to keep the commandments, but when I filed and was at a loss of what to do, I turned back to my old ways so fast, it was ridiculous. That's when I realized that while yes, I believed the church was true, it wasn't enough for me to change my most desperate of natures, to give up what I had turned to before. So even though I had been going to church for years, praying and reading my scriptures for year, it wasn't enough because I hadn't made that commitment to do things His way, always. And I can see that with so many people, life long faithful members of the church, returned missionaries, leaving the church when the going gets tough, and I did the same thing. Now I feel like it's different, and it's awesome, there's extra responsibility there now, but I feel prepared to handle it, and the blessings are amazing.
7:8-20 - Mormon reels here noting that it's only been 6 years "since the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her walling in the mire." It's only been 6 years, I'm trying to think what I was doing 6 years ago. We meet Jacob who became "king over this wicked band; and he was one of the chiefest who had given his voice against the prophets who testified of Jesus." A very wicked man made king over a very wicked people, makes sense, but as we've learned already, the people were really angry with this group because they were the ones responsible for the collapse of the government, and Jacob's group was outnumbered, so they "take their flight into the northernmost part of the land, and there build up unto themselves a kingdom, until they were joined by dissenters, (for he flattered them that there would be many dissenters)" and there they waited and gathered strength as the other people in the tribes left to join them, and then they came back with a vengeance. This whole societal shift begs the questions "where did the believers end up?" It turns out that Nephi had "been visited by angels and also the voice of the Lord, therefore having seen angels, and being eye-witness, and having had power given unto him that he might know concerning the ministry of Christ, and also being eye-witness to their quick return from righteousness unto the wickedness and abominations." Nephi's been preparing, growing spiritually, becoming stronger, and "being grieved for the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds- went forth among them in that same year, and began to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ." He went out and tried to make a difference, the IM teaches "One bright spot in the otherwise sad account of the Nephite's turn from their righteousness is the steadfast faithfulness of Nephi and his people. Their example provides a pattern to help us maintain our righteousness during times of wickedness. We read of Nephi's firm testimony, born of personal experience, that he boldly taught 'repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ,' and those who responded to his testimony were themselves visited 'by the power and Spirit of God.' Those who believed were healed, repented, were baptized, and 'received a remission of their sins.'" Because Nephi went out with such "power and great authority," the people were angry with him, "for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words, for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily." So the people were angry because they couldn't deny what he was saying any longer? Does that make sense? Well maybe in the context that HN puts it by asking "What was the mortal offense of Jesus? When the elders of the Jews, the high priests, and the Levites came together, they decided there was only one solution to the problem, and that was to put Jesus to death, get him out of the way. That was when he raised Lazarus. That was the thing that decided it. You go back and look there. They put up with everything, but when he raised Lazarus from the dead, that was too much. They decided that he would have to be put to death. The doctors came together then. And it's the same thing here. When the people saw it there 'were angry with him because of his power.'" When the miracles get to be too much, when the evidence becomes so overwhelmingly obvious that only the truly wicked will continue to deny it, then it's time to end it. And the miracles that Nephi performed were many, "and in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits, and even his brother did he raise from the dead, after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people. And the people saw it, and did witness of it, and were angry with him because of his power; and he did also do many more miracles, in the sight of the people, in the name of Jesus." But we also have to remember that we are not converted by miracles, it's to strengthen faith, not being it. Interestingly, I just happened to hear something today that related specifically to miracles in the Articles of Faith, in which James E. Talmage says "To be valid as a testimony of truth, miracles must be wrought in the name of Christ, and to His honor, in furtherance of the plan of salvation. As stated, they are not given to satisfy the curious and the lustful, not as a means of gaining notoriety for him through whom they are accomplished. These gifts of the true Spirit are manifested in support of the message from heaven, and in corroboration of the words spoken by authority." It would seem that in Nephi's case, the opposite was true, he didn't get notoriety, he became hated, but the miracles were done in the name of Jesus and were for His glory.
7:21-26 - Nephi's efforts were miraculous, but not super successful "and there were but hew who were converted unto the Lord." So by the numbers not great, but that's not how missionary success is measured. But let's look at those who were converted, the few who did believe "did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God what was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed." And they were healed "and they did show forth signs also and did do some miracles among the people." They might have been few but their conversions were whole, total. The IM quotes Elder Richard G. Scott as teaching "each of us has observed how some individuals go through life consistently doing the right things... When difficult choices are to be made, they seem to invariably make the right ones, even though there were enticing alternatives available to them. We know that they are subject to temptation, but they seem oblivious to it. Likewise, we have observed how others are not so valiant in the decisions they make. In a powerfully spiritual environment, they resolve to do better... Yet they are soon back doing the same things they resolved to abandon... Sometimes the word converted is used to describe when a sincere individual decides to be baptized. However... conversion means far more than that... President Marion G. Romney explained conversion: 'Converted means to turn from one belief or course of action to another. Conversion is a spiritual and moral change. Converted implies not merely mental acceptance of Jesus and his teachings but also a motivating faith in him and his gospel. A faith which works a transformation, an actual change in one's understanding of life's meaning and in his allegiance to God in interest, in thought, and in conduct. In one who is really wholly converted, desire for things contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ has actually died. And substituted therefore is a love of God, with a fixed and controlling determination to keep his commandments... Stated simply, true conversion is the fruit of faith, repentance, and consistent obedience. Faith comes by hearing the words of God and responding to it. You will receive from the Holy Ghost a confirming witness of things you accept on faith by willingly doing them. You will be led to repent of errors resulting from wrong things done or right things not done. As a consequence, your capacity to consistently obey will be strengthened. This cycle of faith, repentance, and consistent obedience will lead you to greater conversion with its attendant blessings.'" This is a concept that hadn't occurred to me until recently, well within the last several months. Before I filed for divorce, I thought that I was converted, I truly believed that the gospel was true, and I did my best to keep the commandments, but when I filed and was at a loss of what to do, I turned back to my old ways so fast, it was ridiculous. That's when I realized that while yes, I believed the church was true, it wasn't enough for me to change my most desperate of natures, to give up what I had turned to before. So even though I had been going to church for years, praying and reading my scriptures for year, it wasn't enough because I hadn't made that commitment to do things His way, always. And I can see that with so many people, life long faithful members of the church, returned missionaries, leaving the church when the going gets tough, and I did the same thing. Now I feel like it's different, and it's awesome, there's extra responsibility there now, but I feel prepared to handle it, and the blessings are amazing.
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