3 Nephi 17

So I know I don't have a ton of followers on this blog, but that is exactly why I stopped posting these on my original blog.

Plus, I always fear that I am just tooting my own horn about what I find. I never want to come off as holier than thou.

Anyway, so sorry to those that sat in on this lesson already, but this thought was just too cool to leave off. (Which, I must be better at this, and maybe I will with the laptop, which I am currently on).

This is going to have to be fast too, so sorry, but definitely look into this one.

Today I had to teach on Christ and knowing him and developing a testimony of him. The lesson asked me to share This chapter (3 Nephi 17) with the girls. At first when I read it I didn't understand why, and was very tempted to just cut the whole section out. Something about that didn't feel right though, so I thought about it really hard.

After reading it a second time, it entirely clicked why I was supposed to.

I was teaching the girls about knowing the Savior despite not having ever personally met him. We have faith that he exists, and history tells us that he was a person, but we have faith that he was who he said he was.

In this way we are very similar to the Nephites who were waiting for Christ. Their parents had always told them that there was a Savior coming, and they always had faith that he would come. And then, in 3rd Nephi he did come. Can you imagine that? That's us too one day (or hopefully). What would happen if the Savior came tomorrow? It could happen.

We'd be in the exact same spot as these Nephites, we'd heard about him, we had faith in him, we'd seen the signs that he was coming, and now he's here.

3 Nephi 17 specifically talks about when Christ was ready to leave.

He told the people that he had to go, and that they needed to go home and pray and come back the next day and he would depart. After saying that he looked out at the crowd and they were all in tears. My thoughts with this is that he was telling them that he was leaving and they were devastated. Wouldn't you be? You just met the Savior and everything would so be perfect. If only he would stay or take you with him.

Christ was filled with compassion and did the most amazing things for them. He healed their sick and blessed their children. This is even more touching to me, because it's proof of the priesthood and his power and that he could make Tyler perfect with one touch. I have amazing faith in the priesthood, and when Tyler was born I asked for so many blessings for him hoping that maybe it would change things. I've only ever wanted the best for him. It's just a concept I can't even imagine.

Then before Christ departed he blessed them with words unspeakable and unwritable. I have thoughts about what he said. Probably some pretty powerful and amazing things. Strength and Courage. Hope. Love. The feeling must have been so overwhelming. I wish I could be there and feel that.

But even reading it and relating to them gives me that feeling. I sit here thinking the same things. That he loves me a ton, that he's sending thoughts my way. Positive encouragement and hope. I just have to catch his drift.

I miss him.

I wish so bad sometime that the 2nd Coming would come so fast. Tomorrow. I want to be with my family forever and miss out on some of the hard things that this life throws at you. Maybe not tomorrow, but here's to hoping.

Happy Sabbath Day! (Wasn't it fabulous for those of us that had 9:00 church? Blissful and Lovely are the only words I can think to describe it.)