After Jesus told these things to Nephi and the other eleven who had been called and had received authority to baptize, he stretched out his hand to the congregation and said aloud, "You will be blessed if you listen to the twelve I have chosen to serve you. I have given them power to baptize you with water, and after you are baptized with water, I will baptize you with fire and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, you are blessed if you believe in me and are baptized now that you have seen me and know who I am. More blessed are those who will believe your witness that you have seen me. Yes, good will come to those that believe you and humble themselves and are baptized. They will be visited by fire and the Holy Spirit, and their sins will be forgiven.
"Yes, blessed are the poor in spirit who come to me, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those that mourn, because they will be comforted. The humble will inherit the earth. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled with the Holy Spirit. The merciful will find mercy. Those with pure hearts will see God. Peacemakers will be called God's children. Those who are persecuted for following me will also receive the kingdom of heaven. When people mock you or do bad things to you or lie about you because you follow me, you will be very happy because of your great reward in heaven. They persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.
"Truly, I tell you, I give you the privilege and responsibility to be the salt of the earth. If the salt loses its flavor, what will the earth be salted with? Such salt is useless except to be thrown out and walked on. You are also to be this people's light. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Do people light a candle then hide it under a bucket? No, they put it on a candlestick to provide light for the house. In the same way, let your light shine for this people, so they can see your good works and praise your Father in heaven.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
3 Nephi 9:1-5
Also during the darkness, everyone in the land heard a voice saying, "Terrible things will happen to this people and to the whole earth unless they change their ways. The devil laughs, and his angels are happy, because of my people's beautiful sons and daughters who have been killed. They have fallen because of their horrible wrongdoings!
"Consider that I have burned the great city Zarahemla and its citizens. I have sunk the great city Moroni in the ocean and drowned the people in it. I have covered the great city Moronihah and its citizens in earth to hide from me the terrible things they have done. This way, the blood of the prophets and holy ones will no longer come to me against them....
"Consider that I have burned the great city Zarahemla and its citizens. I have sunk the great city Moroni in the ocean and drowned the people in it. I have covered the great city Moronihah and its citizens in earth to hide from me the terrible things they have done. This way, the blood of the prophets and holy ones will no longer come to me against them....
Monday, September 22, 2008
3 Nephi 8
Now the thirty-third year had passed away, according to our record, if the man who kept the record made no mistake. We know at least that our record contains no pure lies, because the man who kept it was righteous. He truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus, and no one can do a micracle in the name of Jesus without being fully clean from sin.
At this time, the people began to look eagerly for the sign given by Samuel the Lamanite that there would be darkness over the the land for three days. Many began to doubt and argue despite having had so many signs previously. However, in the thirthy-fourth year, on the fourth day of the first month, there came a terrible storm that was worse than had ever been known in the land. The thunder was horrible and shook the earth as if it would break it apart. The lightning also was extremely sharp and worse than had ever been seen.
During the storm, the city Zarahemla caught fire. The city Moroni sunk into the sea, and its inhabitants drowned. Earth was piled on top of Moronihah so that it became a mountain. There was also terrible destruction in the southern lands, but it was worse in the north. The whole face of the land was changed because of the storm, the tornados, the thunder and lightning, and the powerful earthquakes. The highways and roads were broken up and ruined. Many smooth places became rough. Many other large and important cities were sunk, burned, or shaken down, and the inhabitants were killed. Some cities remained, though very damaged, and had some survivors. Some people were carried away in the tornados and were not seen again. In summary, the whole face of the land was deformed by all the storms and earthquakes. Rocks were cracked and even broken into fragments all across the land.
When it all stopped, after about three hours (though some said it was more), there was darkness over the whole land. The darkness was a thick vapor that the people could feel. No one had any light because not even good, dry wood nor candles could be lit. There was also no light from the sun, moon, or stars that could be seen through the mist. The darkness lasted for three days, with the people howling and crying the whole time because of the darkness and the horrible destruction they had faced.
In one place they cried, "Oh that we had repented before this horrible day so our brothers would have been spared instead of being burned in the great city Zarahemla!" And in another they cried, "Oh that we had repented before this horrible day and had not killed and sent away the prophets! Then our mothers and our beautiful daughters and sons would have lived instead of being buried in the great city Moronihah." Such were the terrible howls of the people.
At this time, the people began to look eagerly for the sign given by Samuel the Lamanite that there would be darkness over the the land for three days. Many began to doubt and argue despite having had so many signs previously. However, in the thirthy-fourth year, on the fourth day of the first month, there came a terrible storm that was worse than had ever been known in the land. The thunder was horrible and shook the earth as if it would break it apart. The lightning also was extremely sharp and worse than had ever been seen.
During the storm, the city Zarahemla caught fire. The city Moroni sunk into the sea, and its inhabitants drowned. Earth was piled on top of Moronihah so that it became a mountain. There was also terrible destruction in the southern lands, but it was worse in the north. The whole face of the land was changed because of the storm, the tornados, the thunder and lightning, and the powerful earthquakes. The highways and roads were broken up and ruined. Many smooth places became rough. Many other large and important cities were sunk, burned, or shaken down, and the inhabitants were killed. Some cities remained, though very damaged, and had some survivors. Some people were carried away in the tornados and were not seen again. In summary, the whole face of the land was deformed by all the storms and earthquakes. Rocks were cracked and even broken into fragments all across the land.
When it all stopped, after about three hours (though some said it was more), there was darkness over the whole land. The darkness was a thick vapor that the people could feel. No one had any light because not even good, dry wood nor candles could be lit. There was also no light from the sun, moon, or stars that could be seen through the mist. The darkness lasted for three days, with the people howling and crying the whole time because of the darkness and the horrible destruction they had faced.
In one place they cried, "Oh that we had repented before this horrible day so our brothers would have been spared instead of being burned in the great city Zarahemla!" And in another they cried, "Oh that we had repented before this horrible day and had not killed and sent away the prophets! Then our mothers and our beautiful daughters and sons would have lived instead of being buried in the great city Moronihah." Such were the terrible howls of the people.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
3 Nephi 3:1-12
In the sixteenth year after Christ's coming, the Nephite governor Lachoneus received a letter from the leader of this band of robbers. The letter said:
When Lachoneus received this letter, he was very astonished at Giddianhi's boldness in demanding the Nephite land. Also at his threats to avenge the wrongs of those who had not been wronged. They had only wronged themselves by dissenting away to those horrible, evil robbers.
Lachoneus, most noble and chief governor of the land, see that I am writing this letter to you. I praise you very greatly for you and your people's firmness in maintaining what you think is your right and freedom. Yes, you do stand well, as if you were supported by the hand of a god, in defending what you call your freedom, your property, and your country.
So it seems a pity to me, most noble Lachoneus, that you should be so foolish and vain to think that you can stand against so many brave men who are at my command. They stand in their arms right now and anxiously wait for the command, "Go down on the Nephites and destroy them." I know their unconquerable spirit. They have proved themselves in battle. I also know their unending hatred towards you for all the wrongs you've done to them. If they came down against you, they would completely destroy you.
That's why I've written this letter, sealing it with my own hand. I care about your wellbeing and your firmness in what you believe to be your right. I respect your noble spirit in the battlefield. I write asking you to give up to us your cities, lands, and possessions. This is better than us destroying you by the sword. Join us and learn our secret works. Become our brothers, and be like us. Not our slaves, but our brothers and partners of all we have.
Now, I swear to you with an oath that if you do this, you will not be destroyed. But if you don't give up, I also swear with an oath that next month I will command my armies to come down against you. They will show no mercy but will kill you all by the sword.
I am Giddianhi. I am the governor of the secret society of Gadianton. I know that the society and its works are good, being passed down from ancient times to us. I write this letter to you, Lachoneus, hoping that you will give up your lands and possessions without bloodshed. This way my people can recover their rights to the government. They dissented from you because of your evil in keeping the government from them. If you don't surrender, I will avenge their wrongs. I am Giddanhi.
When Lachoneus received this letter, he was very astonished at Giddianhi's boldness in demanding the Nephite land. Also at his threats to avenge the wrongs of those who had not been wronged. They had only wronged themselves by dissenting away to those horrible, evil robbers.
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