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9 - 15 Mar - Learn With Joy and Not With Sorrow - Jacob 1 - 4

Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome.  Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4).   This priority was not only reflecte...
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3 Nephi 24 - Prove Me Now Herewith


Christ quoted Malachi to stress the importance of paying tithing and to prophesy regarding His second coming. 

 On first reading I was curious to know why Christ would spend time prophesying about his second coming. Clearly information about Christ's second coming would not be relevant to the Nephites of ancient America. It has been almost 2,000 since Christ appeared to the Nephites and He still has not returned in triumphal glory. So why would he spend so much time teaching them about His second coming? It's likely that none of us will be on the earth to witness the second coming, either. So what value is it to us to know what will happen when Christ comes again?

 He Is like a Refiner’s Fire
Perhaps the metaphor in verses 2-3 is a hint. Speaking of Christ Malachi said, "For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness" (3 Nephi 24:2-3). God's work and glory is to refine His children and help them become more than they are. By the power of the Holy Ghost, he figuratively burns out impurities in the hearts of His followers. If Christ tells us or the people of ancient America about his second coming, it is so we can repent. 

 While we may not be personally on the earth when Christ comes again, the end of our days could come at any time. Life is fickle and fragile and can vanish in a moment. It is as impossible to anticipate our end as it is to guess the timing of the second coming. And so for us each day could be the last day of our world. God would have us move with urgency to prepare ourselves to meet Him, whether we go to Him, or He comes to us. 

 I Change Not
In explaining His role as judge, and foretelling the punishments in store for the wicked, Christ said "For I am the Lord, I change not" (3 Nephi 24:6). I interpret this to mean that God's promises are binding and that he faithfully executes all His words. Christ has perfect integrity. He says only what He means and does everything He says. His power as God comes from His ability to make and keep commitments to Himself and others. As compared to this standard I am constantly changing. Even in small things like, "I'm going to work out tomorrow," or "okay, no more sugar this week," or "yeah, I'll get that to you by the end of the week," it is so easy to let our words tumble out of us and never make good on commitments. The more congruent we are with our words and actions the more we become like God.

 Prove Me Now Herewith
Christ used the words of Malachi to introduce the law of tithing to the Nephites. He commanded them to "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (3 Nephi 24:10). Christ presents tithing as a way to strengthen our faith in Him and assures that blessings of paying tithing will far exceed the monetary expense.

 Christ went on to list specific blessings associated with paying tithing: "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts" (3 Nephi 24:11-12). I especially like the metaphor Christ invoked of a farmer. Paying tithing will not make us rich, but it will ensure that Satan "shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields." I read this to mean that we will be successful in our righteous endeavors. The things that we work to grow and build will prosper, and we will enjoy the results of those effort as a piece of vine ripened fruit. 


 Application Questions

 How does knowing about the second coming of Christ inspire me to be a better person?

 How can I be more consistent in keeping the commandments and holding to my righteous convictions?

 What is your testimony of tithing? How have you been blessed by paying tithing?
Image Credit: ldsblogs.com

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