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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 25 - With Healing in His Wings


In chapter 25, Christ quoted Malachi chapter 4 to testify of the healing power of the Savior, and to foretell of the restoration of the sealing keys by the Old Testament prophet Elijah. 

 With Healing in His Wings
Regarding His second coming, Christ promised the Nephites that, "unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings" (3 Nephi 25:2). I usually think of the phrase "with healing in his wings" figuratively to mean that the power of his atonement will purify our hearts and comfort our sorrows. Re-reading this verse today, though, I am reminded of the literal meaning of this phrase as a reference to the resurrection. All people, regardless of how they have lived, will receive a perfected immortal body as a free gift. 

 Modern revelation give to Joseph Smith also explains that as a symbol “wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, etc.” (D&C 77:4). It would be an extrapolation to take the connection one step further, but I can't help but think of the priesthood, which is the power of God to act and fulfill His work. The Priesthood is the power by which the earth was created and by which God has performed miracles throughout history. It is also the power by which we will all be resurrected, and by which the earth will be cleansed. Our ability to be healed--emotionally, physically, spiritually--is a function of the power of God. 
Application Questions

 How has the power of the priesthood blessed your life? 

 How can you seek for greater priesthood blessings now?


 Image Credit: cah4el.wordpress.com

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