3 Nephi 11

Shortly after His visit to the New World, the Savior said to the twelve disciples he selected -

"...whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 11:33)

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, inherit means -

"...to come into possession of or receive especially as a right or divine portion..."

There are several definitions of the "Kingdom of God", but in this case, I believe the Savior is referring to the Celestial Kingdom where God dwells. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote -

"In the eternal worlds, the celestial kingdom is the kingdom of God, and that kingdom does not reach down to include either a terrestrial kingdom or a telestial kingdom. (D. & C. 20:29; Moses 6:57; 2 Ne. 9:18, 23; Luke 13:28-29; John 3:3-5.) The gospel is designed to prepare men for an inheritance in the celestial kingdom of God; persons can gain admittance to the lower kingdoms without obedience to the law of Christ. (D. & C. 88:16-29.)

Deity is, of course, the ruler, governor, and creator of all kingdoms of glory. Those going to terrestrial or telestial kingdoms will go to realms which are his and which he has provided. But since the whole gospel system is one of preparing men for a celestial inheritance, it is that particular part of the eternal worlds that is the kingdom of God in the true and full sense." (Mormon Doctrine)

The Savior's definition of believing in this case is to b obedient to all His laws and commandments. The essential ordinance to "inherit" the Celestial Kingdom is baptism.

3 Nephi 1

After the miraculous signs that occured as prophecied by Samuel the Lamanite -

"...there began to be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent that they might not believe in those signs and wonders which they had seen..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 1:22)

And shortly thereafter -

"...the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen—
2 Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 2:1 - 2)

Is it any wonder the Lord explained that -

"...there are those among you who seek signs, and there have been such even from the beginning;
9 But, behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe.
10 Yea, signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God.
11 Yea, signs come by faith, unto mighty works, for without faith no man pleaseth God; and with whom God is angry he is not well pleased; wherefore, unto such he showeth no signs, only in wrath unto their condemnation.
12 Wherefore, I, the Lord, am not pleased with those among you who have sought after signs and wonders for faith, and not for the good of men unto my glory." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 63:8 - 12)

The emphasis being that "signs follow those that believe" not for those to convince them to believe. Moroni wrote that -

"...signs shall follow them that believe—in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover;
25 And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth." (Book of Mormon Mormon 9:24 - 25)

Such signs are reserved for those that believe and will recognize them and not wave them off as "wrought by men". Bruce R. McConkie wrote -

“Gifts of the Spirit which the Lord bestows upon those who believe and obey the gospel of Christ are called signs. That is, their receipt stands as an evidence or sign of the presence of that faith which results from believing the truth. Signs are wonders and miracles; they always and invariably are manifest to and among the faithful saints.. . .)” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 713).

Helaman 13

In the scriptures, those people that were about to be destroyed were referred to as being "ripe in iniquity". Sometime ago, I was involved with litigation with the county I lived in on the an issue of a takings claim. A takings claim is where the government passes legislation or policy that takes the value of property away from an owner. The essence of the courts decision was an issue of "ripeness", meaning had I as an owner considered every possible alternative use or was given every possible means to maintain the value of the property due to the restrictions caused by the county. In the district court, the judge ruled that the case was not yet ripe. But the appellate court overruled that decision claiming the case to be ripe. Ripeness now has brought on new meaning.

The Lord, in his great love and patience, provides every opportunity for man to repent and come unto him before they become fully ripe in iniquity. Regarding the Israelites entry into the promised land, Nephi said to his brothers -

"...do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
34 Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay.
35 Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them..." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:33 - 35)

Nephi later warned us -

"Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth! For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:16)

Even Amulek declared to the people of Ammonihah -

"...if the time should come that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if the time should come that this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction." (Book of Mormon Alma 10:19)

Moroni writes that the Lord swore in his wrath to the brother of Jared that -

"...the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity." (Book of Mormon Ether 2:9)

We also learn that the ripeness of a society has a great deal to do with the righteous that may live amongst the wicked as Samuel the Lamanite preached to the people of Zarahemla -

"But if ye will repent and return unto the Lord your God I will turn away mine anger, saith the Lord; yea, thus saith the Lord, blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me, but wo unto him that repenteth not.
12 Yea, wo unto this great city of Zarahemla; for behold, it is because of those who are righteous that it is saved; yea, wo unto this great city, for I perceive, saith the Lord, that there are many, yea, even the more part of this great city, that will harden their hearts against me, saith the Lord.
13 But blessed are they who will repent, for them will I spare. But behold, if it were not for the righteous who are in this great city, behold, I would cause that fire should come down out of heaven and destroy it.
14 But behold, it is for the righteous' sake that it is spared. But behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye shall cast out the righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction; yea, wo be unto this great city, because of the wickedness and abominations which are in her." (Book of Mormon Helaman 13:11 - 14)

We saw this same example when -

"...the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes." (Old Testament Genesis 18:26)

He eventually agreed -

"...I will not destroy it for ten's sake." (Old Testament Genesis 18:32)

We all know there could not be ten found for Sodom and Gommorah was fully ripe and was destroyed. The same happened as He revealed -

"...that great city Zarahemla have I burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 9:3)

And we see another example as the Lord said to the survivors among the Nephites -

"...behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations.
11 And because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them, I did send down fire and destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 9:10 - 11)

I guess my thought is today, is that it may be the very righteous that is preventing this nation from being fully ripe in inquity.

Helaman 16

The other day, I was listening to the History Channel where they were discussing possible origins of the so called "wise men" that came to worship the new born Savior.

In the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees, the Lord talks of three natural branches or groups -

"...the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Let us go down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard, and behold if the natural branches have also brought forth evil fruit.
39 And it came to pass that they went down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard. And it came to pass that they beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupt also; yea, the first and the second and also the last; and they had all become corrupt."
(Book of Mormon Jacob 5:38 - 39)

He mentions earlier in the allegory that all three branches brought forth good fruit except the last which had good and bad fruit.

The allegory suggests that there were branches of groups of Israel spread in places throughout the world. As with their forefathers, I'm sure each kept of record of their dealings with God. There must have been righteous men amongst them as we find in Babylon with Daniel and others and in the new world with the Nephites and Lamanites. As the time neared to the coming of the Savior in the flesh, Mormon writes -

"...there were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled.
14 And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy..." (Book of Mormon Helaman 16:13 - 14)

If this took place amongst the Israelites in the new world, would it not also be expected that it would also happen amongst righteous Israelites, wise men in other places in the Lords vineyard. Might not this also explain the coming of "wise men" with gifts for the prophesied Messiah?

Helaman 12

As Mormon abridges the record, he is inspired to be selective on what he feels are the most important historical events as he tells us -

"...behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, yea, the account of the Lamanites and of the Nephites, and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and their building of ships, and their building of temples, and of synagogues and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their plundering, and all manner of abominations and whoredoms, cannot be contained in this work." (Book of Mormon Helaman 3:14)

And as he shares with us those events he feels are of greatest worth, he inserts some of his thoughts and feelings. As the Nephites quickly return to wicked ways following the great famine in the land, Mormon comments -

"...thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.
2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity." (Book of Mormon Helaman 12:1 - 2)

Then because of His great love for His children -

"...we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him." (Book of Mormon Helaman 12:3)

The Lord has specifically stated -

"...For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth..." (New Testament Hebrews 12:6)

He does not limit it to just the wicked. As Alma and his faithful followers were in the land of Helam we read that -

"...the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.
22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:21 - 22)

But as he tried and tested their patience and faith -

"...the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 24:15)

Just another thought - in a brief sentence shared by Mormon provides us great incite in the faith and character of the prophet -

"...I would that all men might be saved...." (Book of Mormon Helaman 12:25)

Helaman 8

As Israel was plagued with fiery serpents, Nephi reminded his people of Moses, that -

"...did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.
15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal." (Book of Mormon Helaman 8:14 - 15)

For -

"...after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:41)

Alma simply counseled his son Helaman -

"...see that ye look to God and live." (Book of Mormon Alma 37:47)

for it is stated in many scriptural references -

"...for why will ye die?" (Book of Mormon Jacob 6:6)

Elder Marion G. Romney wrote -

“...Now, from Adam to Noah and beyond, the gospel was taught by father to son. Later on it was revealed to Abraham. Moses received it anew following the long bondage of Israel in Egypt. Jesus, in the meridian of time, taught and demonstrated it. The Jaredites and the Nephites were likewise prophetically instructed.

That men have not enjoyed peace, happiness, and continual progress is, therefore, not because God has failed to make known the way by which these blessings could be had. It is because men have refused to obey the revealed laws upon which these blessings are predicated.

The burden of all the prophets, from Adam to our present prophet, has been to persuade men to look to God and live. Over and over again in every dispensation they have warned of calamities pending because of man’s corrupt and sinful ways.

Cain’s curse was brought on by his own willful rejection of the counsel of God. The antediluvians brought on the flood in which they perished by rejecting Noah, who taught and pleaded with them for one hundred twenty years. The Jaredites pursued their rebellious course to their utter destruction in defiance of the teachings and warnings of their prophets. Following the same course, the Nephites suffered great destruction at the time of Christ’s crucifixion.

All of this endless tragedy, carnage, and sorrow could have been avoided. All of these peoples could have existed in peace and prosperity had they been willing to look to God..." (Look to God and Live, pp. 8–9).

Helaman 3

The dictionary defines sanctified as -

"...to free from sin..."

The only way one can be sanctified or free from sin, that is -

"...remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.
10 And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins." (Book of Mormon Helaman 5:9 - 10)

"Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.
28 Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.
29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—
30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out." (Book of Mormon Helaman 3:27 - 30)

Recently, President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away. As I read the following teachings of Mormon, my thoughts turned to him as a great exemplar -

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." (Book of Mormon Helaman 3:35)

As we have watched him over the years, we have come to witness him being a man that "did wax stronger and stronger in humility" and "firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ" in yielding his "entire heart unto God". He seems to emulate a great example of one purified and sanctified.