There are more things...

 There are more things that I learned this past week while studying 3 Nephi 20-26 that I feel like I need to write down before I forget them and move on to next week's Come, Follow Me study.

First. Record Keeping/Scripture Study. I love Chapter 23, as Christ takes a little break from talking about the gathering of Israel to talk to the Nephites about the importance of record keeping and searching the scriptures and the words of the prophets. It's instructive to note that Christ has just been quoting Isaiah-and will soon quote Malachi-two Old Testament prophets whose words Jesus himself would have "searched diligently" during his own life and ministry in Jerusalem. So, again, he's providing us a great example of what he's asking us to do. I discovered a chiasmus in verses 6-14. If you don't know what chiasmus is, its a literary form where concepts are repeated in a reverse order to emphasize a main point. If you want to learn more about chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, visit this link "Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon" Here's the chiasmus that I found...

a. Jesus expounded all the scriptures unto them that they had received (vs. 6)

    b. other scriptures I would that ye should write (vs. 6)

        c. many saints should arise from the dead and minister (vs. 9)

            d. Samuel prophesied thy words and they were all fulfilled (vs. 10)

        c. many saints did arise and appear and minister (vs. 11)

    b. Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written (vs. 12)

a. Jesus expounded all the scriptures in one, and he commanded them to teach these things (vs. 14)

The main point that is being emphasized in this chiasmus, is that the words prophesied by the prophet, Samuel, were all fulfilled! I love that this principle is emphasized in the middle of theses chapters that are filled with promises from Christ to covenant Israel.

Second. The blessing of paying Tithing. In this most recent General Conference, Elder Bednar gave a talk entitled "We will Prove Them Herewith". In his message he talks about how this life is a test and whether or not one day, we will be able to prove to God that we were willing to keep His commandments. So, after hearing that talk, it was interesting to read the words in Chapter 24:10 "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."(italics added) So the Lord is saying to us that now it's our turn to put Him to the test. And the test is this: If you pay your tithing, I will pour out blessings upon you. When we know the character of God, and that He keeps all his promises, then we should never fear the commandment to pay our tithing, because we know that God keeps His promises.

Third. A refiner's fire. Chapter 24:2-3. I heard someone tell a story this week about two ladies that went to see someone who was a refiner of silver. As they watched this process of the worker firing the metal in order to remove the impurities, one of them asked him, "how do you know when you're done?" And he responded "when I can see my reflection in the metal." I like the analogy there, that we're not "done" being perfected until Christ can see His reflection in us.

Fourth. The Importance of the Sacrament. Christ is only with the people for three days (26:13), and yet during those precious few days, he partakes of the sacrament twice with them (chapters 18,20).  And then after he leaves, the scriptures say that he "showed himself unto them oft, and did break bread oft, and bless it, and give it unto them." (26:13). When Mormon tells us that he could not write "even a hundreth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people."(26:6), then its important to note the emphasis that Christ/Mormon put on recording the time that was spent partaking of the sacrament.