September 28–October 11
3 Nephi 17–19
“Behold, My Joy Is Full
”Jesus Christ had just spent the day ministering in the land of Bountiful, teaching His gospel, giving the people a chance to see and feel the marks in His resurrected body, and testifying that He was the promised Savior. And now it was time for Him to leave. He needed to return to His Father, and He knew that the people needed time to ponder what He had taught. So promising to return the next day, He dismissed the multitude to their homes. But no one left. They didn’t say what they were feeling, but Jesus could sense it: they hoped He would “tarry a little longer with them” (3 Nephi 17:5). He had other important things to do, but the opportunity to show compassion does not always come at a convenient time, so Jesus stayed with the people a little longer. What followed was perhaps the most tender example of ministering recorded in scripture. Those who were present could only say it was indescribable (see 3 Nephi 17:16–17). Jesus Himself summed up the impromptu spiritual outpouring with these simple words: “Now behold, my joy is full” (3 Nephi 17:20).
I love this lesson so much! 3 Nephi 17 is my favorite chapter in the whole Book of Mormon!
Here is the song I used at the end. It’s so beautiful.
Don’t forget conference this weekend!
I always love how passionate and inspiring your podcast is. You asked a question in Episode 44 that I answered partially for my Come Follow Me – Discussions facebook group a few weeks ago. Maybe this will answer a tiny bit more what Christ shared that kept the people righteous for 200 years following the visits.
When Christ visited the Brother of Jared, He gave him what we call the sealed portion of the Gold Plates. Those things were to be hid UNTIL Christ showed himself to the Nephites. When Christ came, then they were made manifest to the Nephites. * In other words they had the sealed portion of the gold plates as scripture among them. They were so powerful that to read them could make one overpowered. I believe the doctrine contained in that sealed portion helped them live righteous for 200+ years following the visit. Mormon again sealed those things to be revealed for us in the future. I can’t wait for that doctrine to reset our world.
*
Ether 4:
1 And the Lord commanded the brother of Jared to go down out of the mount from the presence of the Lord, and write the things which he had seen; and they were forbidden to come unto the children of men until after that he should be lifted up upon the cross; and for this cause did king Mosiah keep them, that they should not come unto the world until after Christ should show himself unto his people.
2 And after Christ truly had showed himself unto his people he commanded that they should be made manifest.
Super interesting! Thanks!
Something I’ve been thinking about since listening to last week’s podcast was this quote from President Woodruff. This is from Chapter 21 in the Teaching of the Presidents of the Church, books:
While we sometimes feel and have felt in days that are past and gone, to complain because we meet with oppression, persecution, and affliction, yet I wish to say to my brethren and sisters that these things are the heritage of the Saints of God. … I have never read of the people of God in any dispensation passing through life, as the sectarian world would say, on flowery beds of ease, without opposition of any kind. … We have been called to pass through trials many times, and I do not think we should complain, because if we had no trials we should hardly feel at home in the other world in the company of the Prophets and Apostles who were sawn asunder, crucified, etc., for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ.
I’ve always thought about who’d I’d like to meet and talk with in the next life, but never really thought about how I would feel if my conversation consisted of trials like this, “I had to give up social media for a week and thought I would literally die.” I wouldn’t even approach all the cool people I want to meet. I’d be that creepy person lurking by the table trying to eavesdrop. I’m going to try to look at trials with this new perspective. Every time I get a new trial I’ll just think, “That’s one more story I get to tell at the cool kids table.” Haha Having said all of that, I just read the amazing story of the sister missionary who was stabbed in her apartment 15 times and how she is handling it and all I have to say is…I think I just got bumped from the cool table.
One of my favorite podcasts yet!
You mention quotes from
Heber C. Kimball, Orsan Pratt, and James E. Talmage!
Can you share the links to those messages???
I am going to study more about ministering angels!!!
Love you so much Melanie!
I am grateful for your testimony. It strengthens mine!!
Here are the quotes. It’s such cool doctrine! I love it.
President Heber C. Kimball:
“That is the God whom I serve, one who has millions of angels at His command. Do you suppose that there are any angels here to-day? I would not wonder if there were ten times more angels here than people. We do not see them, but they are here watching us, and are anxious for our salvation.”
7. Journal of Discourses, 3:230..
“Gods angels are our associates, they are with us and around about us, and watch over us, and take care of us, and lead us, and guide us, and administer to our wants.”
Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, 461.
Elder Orson Pratt:
“There is no doubt . . . that heavenly messengers hover around the congregation of the Saints here assembled . . . God who has seen your labors and diligence in building a house to his name, has no doubt sent heavenly messengers to hover around us, to bluff off the powers of darkness, that seek to darken the minds of the people, and to close their hearts against understanding.”
9. Journal of Discourses, 19:312–13.
Elder James E. Talmage:
Because of God’s “great love, He has set heavenly beings to watch over us and to guard us from the attacks of evil powers while we live on earth. Do we realize that in our daily walk and work we are not alone, but that angels attend us wherever our duty causes us to go?”
10. Millennial Star 55 (July 10, 1893): 446; see also Stuy, Collected Discourses, 3:291.
Who are these angels? President Joseph F. Smith explained, “When messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, they are not strangers, but from the ranks of our kindred, friends, and fellow-beings and fellow-servants.”2
Love this weeks podcast and lesson. I waited a week because last week my family and I studied the conference talks from last time, so this week we’re doing the come follow me lessons. My heart burst when you talked about our ministering angels and them being our ancestors. In my patriarchal blessing it talks about angels attending to me…. when I received it my mother asked me who I thought would be my angels. I shrugged it off as a 16 year old kid who didn’t really understand what it was talking about, but always remembered her question. My mom passed away when I was 26, and I have firmly believed that she is my ministering angel, and I wonder if she knew when she asked me…. Thank you for your insights each week. I feel the spirit every time I listen and it has really helped me focus my learning. Your awesome.