3 Nephi 27-4 Nephi
3 Nephi 27
While the
Twelve were praying one day the Savior came
And they
asked him, “Jesus, what is the church’s name?”
“Call the
church in my name,” the Savior said to them,
“If it
has a man’s name, then it’s a church of man.”
“Build it
on my gospel and it will be my church
“And in
it Heavenly Father will show His works.
“This is
the gospel that I have given to thee
“That I
might be lifted up to draw men unto me.
“Just as
I was lifted, God will lift all men up
“So,
according to their works, they can all be judged.
“Nothing
that is unclean can come into God’s rest
“Only
those who have repented in faithfulness.
“Follow
this commandment: repent and be baptized
“That ye
may receive the Spirit which sanctifies.
“All the works
that I’ve done that must you also do
“And be
sure that your records are faithful and true.
“Even as
I am, that is how you ought to be.
“Knock
and it will open; just ask and you’ll receive.
“Thanks
to your great faith, you’ll all be saved, everyone
“But I’m
sorrowful for the fourth generation.
“Enter
the strait gate, few will walk this narrow way,
“Choosing
death instead through the wider, broader gate.”
3 Nephi 28
Then the
Savior granted his nine apostles’ plea,
“After
seventy two years you’ll die and come to me.”
Three
other apostles’ desire was that of John:
That, in
order to share the gospel, they’d live on.
“Until I
come in glory you’ll never taste of death.
“Then you
will be changed and in God’s kingdom you’ll rest.”
Then it
seems those three apostles were transfigured,
Which
changed their bodies so that they could minister.
Prisons,
dens of beasts, fires and pits could not harm them
As they
traveled to share the gospel with all men.
So the
people listened and they had great success.
They were
united; their generation was blessed.
Mormon
then shares more of the three who chose to stay,
Saying
he’d been forbidden to write down their names.
He said
they’re like angels among Gentiles and Jews.
You won’t
even know it if they minister to you.
Later,
Mormon prayed to find out about these men
He even
said that they had ministered to him.
He was
told that their bodies had gone through a change.
Though
they could feel sorrow, they no longer felt pain.
Their
bodies had not been resurrected just yet
But they
would be when we reach the day of judgment.
3 Nephi 29
“When the
Gentiles learn of these sayings,” Mormon said,
“That’s
how God will start fulfilling His covenant.
“He will
not forget his promises to Israel
“Do not
doubt or spurn Him. They will all be
fulfilled.
“Those
who think the Lord doesn’t use revelation
“Or the Spirit
any more will have cause to lament.”
3 Nephi 30
“Hear the
words of Jesus,” Mormon went on to say,
“Repent,
all ye Gentiles, turn from your wicked ways.
“If you
will be baptized with water and with fire
“You’ll
have all that God has promised the Israelites.”
4 Nephi
Then
Mormon tells us for the next two centuries
Everyone
was baptized and they enjoyed great peace.
They
shared everything so there were no rich or poor
And in
all the land there were no “ites” any more.
They
rebuilt their cities and the apostles preached
There
were miracles and there was prosperity.
After 84
years some rebels in the land
Left the
church so now there were Lamanites again.
After 200
years the church was broken up;
Pride
replaced all their feelings of brotherly love.
There
were classes now and churches meant to get gain
The three
apostles’ felt that their teaching was in vain.
The
people’s hearts were hard and they sought to kill these men
And, over
the years, there were greater divisions.
True
believers of Christ still called themselves Nephites
Those who
rejected Him called themselves Lamanites.
In a few
decades they brought back the oaths and ways
That were
used by Gadianton in older days.
The wicked
outnumbered the righteous by that time
And even
Nephites began struggling with pride.
By 300
years, both peoples became wicked
And
across the land Gadianton robbers spread.
In the
year 320 a man named Ammoron
Was
prompted to hide up the records in the ground.
© 2020 by N. Noelle Maes
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