God wants us to understand

“For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding.” (2 Nephi 31:3)

Someone said God is not is not a showman. I think the example given was that when Christ rose from the grave there was not a crowd gathered to witness the event.  Instead he comes to those who welcome him, those of faith. He knocks but we must open the door. I heard one speaker say that when we first lay our hand on the door knob Christ runs to us. Here Nephi explains that God speaks to us in the way we can best understand. Remember how he used parables to illustrate gospel truths… stories from a way of life they could relate to. He spoke of shepherds and  vineyards, of sinners and saints.

Nephi tells us ”wherefore I say unto you feast upon the words of Christ; for behold the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Nephi 32:3)  He is speaking here not  only of the Scriptures but of words given to us by the Holy Ghost… answers given to us in prayer…words given to us in our minds when we ask in sincerity and sometimes when we do not ask. Remember Saul on his way to Damascus to slay the Christens? He “heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”  (Acts 9:4)

God desires us to understand. Sometimes we can’t hear him because we know it already and our minds are not open to learning, which has happened to me on more than one occasion, I’m sorry to say. Nephi says, “If ye cannot understand them (the words of Christ) it is because ye ask not, neither do ye knock, wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.” (2 Nephi 32:4)

I have heard that the word of God is so simple that even a child can understand. In fact a child most likely has far greater understand in their innocence than we have in all our learning. King Benjamin tells his people, “becometh as a child, submissive meek, humble, patient, full of love willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19)  

All men must come unto him or they cannot be saved.

“And the angel spake unto me… the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him or they cannot be saved. And they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb.” (1 Nephi 13: 40- 41)

There is but one God of us all. There is but one Eternal Father who created the heavens and the earth; created man in his own image and sent his only begotten Son to save us. We must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb. These Words have come to us from God, from angels and from records that have been kept by man that tell us of God’s dealings with us. How I love the old stories of Noah, Moses, Abraham, Lehi, Alma, King Benjamin and many, many others. On Sunday I go to church and I hear not just the stories of ancient servants of God, but experiences and testimonies of living individuals. If we keep a journal of our own spiritual experiences we are creating our own scriptures a legacy for our children and their children to come. I love to hear the stories of my Great Grandfather Frank Penrod. I remember vividly my Grandmother Mellie Stearns and the great love she had of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I knew her testimony by the way she lived her life and hope that I can leave behind a likewise strong testimony of our Lord. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.   

(Simeon) took him in his arms, and blessed God

“And behold there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took him in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have see thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people.

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, …she was of great age… and she was widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day, And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (Luke 2; 25-38)  

Today in our time do we recognize him? When we hear his message do we recognize it and  know it is from God?

She brought forth her first born son

“And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7)

“…For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2: 11)

“… And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher… Behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, ‘Why seek ye the living among the dead?  He is not here but is risen.’”  (Luke 24:4-6)  

The reality of these few words recorded in Luke has had a greater impact on the world than any other event since the creation of the world.

Tidings of great Joy

We know also that those in Egypt also saw the star. “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory o f the Lord shown round about them and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ’Fear not, for behold, I bring great tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.’ (Luke  2:8-14)

Lift up your head and be if good cheer for behold the time is at hand

Back on the American continent “The prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully, for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people. But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite. And they began to rejoice over their brethren saying Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled. Therefore your joy and your faith concerning this thing has been in vain… Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers that all those who believed in those traditions should  be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.” (3 Nephi 1:4&9)

Now when Nephi (named after Nephi who had come across the ocean with Lehi) heard what they were saying he bowed himself to the Lord and prayed mightily on behalf of his people.

“…the Lord came unto him saying, Lift up your head and be if good cheer for behold the time is at hand and on this night shall the sign be given and on the morrow come I into the world to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets… And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken for behold at the going down of the sun there was no darkness…And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word… ” ( 3 Nephi1 :13, 15,21)

Reading the verses in between we read that the people who had not believed fell to the earth when darkness did not come that night. They knew that they what the prophets had said was coming to pass and they were in big trouble. In the days that followed many did believe and were converted unto the Lord.  Nephi did baptize many who repented and there was a great remission of sins. Then the people began to have Peace in the land. There were no contentions among them except for a few, it says.

Kinda gives one the idea that contentions, disagreements and anger are from Satan doesn’t it.