3 Nephi 12-16 one fold and one shepherd
Jesus Teaching in the Western Hemisphere (Jesus Christ Visits the Americas), by John Scott
The event that has transpired in these chapters of the Book of Mormon is beyond description. To call it remarkable, marvelous, or amazing is inadequate. To imagine what it may have been like, to place ourselves in that time can be an insightful exercise. As our own circumstances appear to be increasingly similar to those of the Nephites, anticipation for a similar prophesied event has been growing, within myself and, I have observed, within many others. There are many parallels to be drawn between the appearance of the Messiah to the remnant house of Jacob (Alma 46:23), the other sheep (John 10:14-16, 3 Nephi 15:21), and the coming of the Messiah in power and glory, “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) I believe Jesus Christ will return to the Earth in power and glory, in a manner similar to these events. Except that this time it will be in a way that commands the entire earth to recognize that he is the Messiah. He is the bridegroom; his church is the bride. Will she be ready when he comes? Will the world recognize her at the wedding feast? Will we be able to proclaim at that day, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10) Or will we be among those Nephites who were lost, or the virgins who were foolish? (Matt. 25:1-13)
In these chapters of the Book of Mormon we have a glimpse of what it could be like at his coming. The immense peace, joy and blessings that were received. Who would not want part of such things? His love is beyond comprehension. He invites all to come unto him. He commissions angels and evangelists to share his gospel, to baptize others that they may be born again in him, receiving of his purifying grace. Just as he instructed and endowed Nephi and others at that time with power and authority, so too have we received power and authority. If there were ever chapters that caused such great retrospection, it is these.
We, the members of his church, have the responsibility to ensure that when he comes to his kingdom on earth, everyone will know without doubt that it is his, and desire to be united with it. Do we live in a way that inspires others to desire to unite with us? It may be tempting to hide away our faith from the world, holding back the peculiarities that make us the saints we claim to be. We may feel content to live the gospel on our own, or even in our own way. But in doing so we neglect a principal commandment, “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). We are the “salt of the earth”, “the light of this people”. Do we act like it?
For many past years we have been known to the world as the “Mormon Church” or as “Mormons”. A name that was originally given by some to those first Latter-Day Saints because of the Book of Mormon. A name given without understanding. A name that, for a time, was even embraced and marketed by the church. But the Lord himself declared that the organization that came to be officially named The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is indeed his (D&C 115:4). And today we declare the same (The Correct Name of the Church, President Russell M. Nelson). Would the Messiah come to a church known to the world as the Mormon church, or the church of any other name? It is our responsibility to show the world who we represent, whose name has been inscribed in our hearts? Whose image is reflected in our countenances? Whose name rests upon our sacred edifices and the name tags of our missionaries? All of us collectively bear this responsibility. What are you doing to fulfill it?
In these chapters of Nephi, we learn of the higher law, the law of the terrestrial over the telestial. The law of Moses having been fulfilled in Christ. Much of it is similar to the messages given during his life in the old world, and to many other sheep that we have no record of (3 Nephi 16:1). “Behold, ye have heard the things which I taught before I ascended to my Father; therefore, whoso remembereth these sayings of mine and doeth them, him will I raise up at the last day.” (3 Nephi 15:1). These instructions are the answers to many of the retrospective questions asked earlier. This is who we are to be, this is how the world will recognize his kingdom on earth. We have to choose it, and there are many opportunities to do so, no matter how small or insignificant they are, each choice brings us closer. Imparting of our substance, sharing the gospel of hope, through service to all regardless of any differences that may separate us, we are the light among them.
In one week, we have another opportunity to hear “watchmen lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing” (3 Nephi 16:18, Isaiah 52:8–10, 3 Nephi 20:32) in our General Conference. It is interesting that in this scripture that the word is “the voice” as in “with the voice together”. As if there is a distinction between our voice and the voice, but both will sing together. Who is the other voice? I see two applications for this, it is the voice of the Lord, or the voice of the Gentile. The Gentile who is unbelieving, lost in the waste places, separated from the church, either unwilling or unable to find it. Through Jesus we are all reconciled. Through him we may see eye to eye when everyone recognizes Zion. It is his song of redeeming love that we will all sing together (Alma 5:26). It takes work to achieve this, let’s get to work.
