Ether 12

As I regularly blog my thoughts and feelings about my scripture reading, I feel somewhat like Moroni as he writes -

"...Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing..." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:23)

If feel much the same way. I have a difficult time putting is writing what the words of Christ as the Spirit changes my heart as I read and ponder them. Moroni continues -

"...for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;
24 And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.
25 Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:23 - 25)

But I receive some consolation as Moroni relates to us that -

"...when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness..." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:26)

For -

"...if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:27)

"...and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:28)

Moroni now with new understanding expresses -

"...I, Moroni, having heard these words, was comforted, and said: O Lord, thy righteous will be done, for I know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith..." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:29)

These words bring me great strength.

Ether 12

Moroni taught this truth -

"For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them..." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:12)

Some may interpret that statement by Moroni that God is powerless without faith -

"...as though he had authority to command God." (Book of Mormon Alma 11:35)

But I think it is more like Amulek said -

"...for I cannot deny his word..." (Book of Mormon Alma 11:37)

Suggesting that God has set his word that He would do no miracles among His children if there be now faith. This is the word of God -

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:4)

As one ponders these words, hope - that is not seen but true, or faith, provides an anchor to keep men's souls sure and steadfast, safe from harm of the advesary, as man always abounds in good works. Hope requires works. Faith requires works. And -

"...because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:8)

"...wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:6)

Ether 8

We know that since the beginning there were -

"...secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:22)

" For, from the days of Cain, there was a secret combination, and their works were in the dark, and they knew every man his brother..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:51)

These secret combinations are that -

"...they were kept up by the power of the devil to administer these oaths unto the people, to keep them in darkness, to help such as sought power to gain power, and to murder, and to plunder, and to lie, and to commit all manner of wickedness and whoredoms." (Book of Mormon Ether 8:16)

We see in the days of Omer, Akish

"...formed a secret combination, even as they of old; which combination is most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God..." (Book of Mormon Ether 8:18)

Moroni writes that -

"...I, Moroni, do not write the manner of their oaths and combinations, for it hath been made known unto me that they are had among all people..." (Book of Mormon Ether 8:20)

We see them amongst many people today. I think what is the most interesting of with these dark and secret combinations is as Akish said to his kinsfolk -

"...Will ye swear unto me that ye will be faithful unto me in the thing which I shall desire of you?
14 And it came to pass that they all sware unto him, by the God of heaven, and also by the heavens, and also by the earth, and by their heads..." (Book of Mormon Ether 8:13 - 14)

Notice that even Satan said to Cain -

"...Swear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die; and swear thy brethren by their heads, and by the living God, that they tell it not..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:29)

It's obvious that Satan and his followers swear by the God in Heaven as if this gives some sort of moral justification to that which is the most abominable of all to God. Do we not see it today with modern day terrorists? And in some cases - politicians. Moroni warned -

"...whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed..." (Book of Mormon Ether 8:22)

Ether 2

After Jared and his brethren came to the

"...great sea which divideth the lands..." (Book of Mormon Ether 2:13)

The brother of Jared was commanded by the Lord -

"...Go to work and build, after the manner of barges which ye have hitherto built...." (Book of Mormon Ether 2:16)

It is obvious that the brother of Jared and his brethren had already done this before and crossed other waters, but as of yet hadn't crossed waters of the magnitude of the great sea. Nonetheless,
-

"...the brother of Jared did go to work, and also his brethren, and built barges after the manner which they had built, according to the instructions of the Lord. And they were small, and they were light upon the water, even like unto the lightness of a fowl upon the water." (Book of Mormon Ether 2:16)

What impressed me the most of the brother of Jared was as he inquired of the Lord -

"...O Lord, behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me; and I have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?" (Book of Mormon Ether 2:22)

That question in itself suggests that the brother of Jared was willing and would be obedient in crossing the waters even if it would be in darkness. He didn't say - we can't cross the waters in darkness. He was more focused on what the mind and will of the Lord was, not his own. The Lord said to the brother of Jared -

"...never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast..." (Book of Mormon Ether 3:9)

I'm sure his obedience was just as great as his faith.

Mormon 9

Mormon seemed to be always admonishing us. With each story he seems to explain "thus we see". Moroni thought seems to much more direct. Maybe because he felt his time was possibly very limited. To the readers of the latter days, he says -

"...I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not..." (Book of Mormon Mormon 8:35)

He can speak directly to us because -

"...behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing." (Book of Mormon Mormon 8:35)

We know that this true as he tells us -

"...I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts." (Book of Mormon Mormon 8:36)

He also knows that our generation -

"...do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted." (Book of Mormon Mormon 8:37)

He directly asks this people -

"...O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?
39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?" (Book of Mormon Mormon 8:38 - 40)

"...will ye believe in the day of your visitation—behold, when the Lord shall come, yea, even that great day when the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, yea, in that great day when ye shall be brought to stand before the Lamb of God—then will ye say that there is no God?
3 Then will ye longer deny the Christ, or can ye behold the Lamb of God? Do ye suppose that ye shall dwell with him under a consciousness of your guilt? Do ye suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are racked with a consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his laws?
4 Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in hell.
5 For behold, when ye shall be brought to see your nakedness before God, and also the glory of God, and the holiness of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you." (Book of Mormon Mormon 9:2 - 5)

For those that believe we can live the way we want to live and the Lord will forgive all us and all will be well, Moroni makes it very clear our condition in His presence. Moroni tells this generation very directly what is required -

"...turn ye unto the Lord; cry mightily unto the Father in the name of Jesus, that perhaps ye may be found spotless, pure, fair, and white, having been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, at that great and last day." (Book of Mormon Mormon 9:6)

You can sense a little bit of differences in personalities of Mormon and Moroni.

Mormon 7

After what seemed to be the last great battle between the Lamanites and the Nephites, Mormon records that all that remained -

"...were those twenty and four who were with me, and also a few who had escaped into the south countries, and a few who had deserted over unto the Lamanites..." (Book of Mormon Mormon 6:15)

In the remaining time left of his life, Mormon what become his final recorded words -

"...I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel; and these are the words which I speak:
2 Know ye that ye are of the house of Israel.
3 Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved." (Book of Mormon Mormon 7:1 - 3)

And he testifies -

"Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.
6 And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat.
7 And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.
8 Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you.
9 For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.
10 And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen." (Book of Mormon Mormon 7:5 - 10)

One cannot read the Book of Mormon without building a close relationship with Mormon. Each time I read the words of his son, Moroni -

"...My father hath been slain in battle..." (Book of Mormon Mormon 8:5)

- Maybe it is just me but I feel a profound sense of sadness as if I have lost a great friend.

Mormon 4

It is amazing how patient and loving our Father in Heaven is with His children giving them every opportunity to repent. During the life of Mormon -

"...there never had been so great wickedness among all the children of Lehi, nor even among all the house of Israel, according to the words of the Lord, as was among this people." (Book of Mormon Mormon 4:12)

Finally, Mormon tells us after much war -

"...Lord did say unto me: Cry unto this people—Repent ye, and come unto me, and be ye baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be spared.
3 And I did cry unto this people, but it was in vain; and they did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them, and granted unto them a chance for repentance. And behold they did harden their hearts against the Lord their God." (Book of Mormon Mormon 3:2 - 3)

It was obvious that this people were totally ripe for destruction for as Mormon observes -

"...I saw that the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritually..." (Book of Mormon Mormon 2:15)

Though the hand of the Lord is extended still, it becomes apparent that there becomes a point of rebellion for the individual where there is no return.

As we contemplate our own lives and the challenges we face, I can't imagine a worse time in history than to live life in the same period Mormon was given.

4 Nephi

As I read 4th Nephi this morning, a thought crossed by mind. There are many members that believe that the Lamanites are direct descendents of Laman and Lemuel, the sons of Lehi. First we know that the blood was mixed at times as through many generations, there were many Nephite dissenters that went to live with the Lamanites. But after the Savior's appearance in the new world we read that -

"There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God." (Book of Mormon 4 Nephi 1:17)

They all became the people of Nephi and -

"...it came to pass that the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people." (Book of Mormon 4 Nephi 1:10)

and -

"...there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God." (Book of Mormon 4 Nephi 1:15 - 16)

And it was during the next 200 years that -

"...they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them." (Book of Mormon 4 Nephi 1:11)

I'm sure by this time, it would be very difficult to have any pure direct descendents of Laman and Lemuel. Eventually there -

"...were a small part of the people who had revolted from the church and taken upon them the name of Lamanites; therefore there began to be Lamanites again in the land." (Book of Mormon 4 Nephi 1:20)

Nothing in scripture suggests that these individuals were even descendents of Lamanites. All they did was revolt from the Church and began to call themselves Lamanites. In short, it is very unlikely that any of those that remained after the great civil ward anywhere close to direct descendents of Laman and Lemuel.

3 Nephi 25

As the Savior delivered to the Nephites, that which He had previously revealed to Malachi, He said -

"FOR behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 25:1)

What did He mean that He would leave them neither root nor branch? I believe it had a great deal to do with the restoration of the priesthood and the sealing power. The Lord continued saying -

"Remember ye the law of Moses, my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 25:4)

As I read this verse, it seems more like a query. Like - if you remember this, there is something more of greater significance for -

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 25:5 - 6)

The curse being -

"...that it shall leave them neither root nor branch..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 25:1)

Root or branch has to do with what we envision as a family tree. The root being our ancestors and the branch, our posterity. With out this special sealing power that binds in heaven what is bound (or sealed) on earth, families relationships would be lost in the eternities leaving man with neither root nor branch.

We recognize this sealing power of the priesthood with Nephi as the Lord said -

"Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people." (Book of Mormon Helaman 10:7)

It was this sealing power that in 1836, in the Kirtland Temple, a -

"...great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:
14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—
15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—
16 Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 110:13 - 16)

Joseph Field Smith said -

"...This sealing power, restored in this dispensation by Elijah the Prophet (D. & C. 2:1-3; 110:13-16), is the means whereby "All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations" attain "efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead." (D. & C. 132:7.)

All things that are not sealed by this power have an end when men are dead. Unless a baptism has this enduring seal, it will not admit a person to the celestial kingdom; unless an eternal marriage covenant is sealed by this authority, it will not take the participating parties to an exaltation in the highest heaven within the celestial world.

All things gain enduring force and validity because of the sealing power. So comprehensive is this power that it embraces ordinances performed for the living and the dead, seals the children on earth up to their fathers who went before, and forms the enduring patriarchal chain that will exist eternally among exalted beings..." (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, pp. 115-128.)

3 Nephi 24

Alma taught his son -

"...the plan of happiness, which was as eternal ... as the life of the soul." (Book of Mormon Alma 42:16)

He also taught him that -

"...wickedness never was happiness." (Book of Mormon Alma 41:10)

As we look around us, it seems that many who are not living as they should, seem to be receiving great blessings in the form of ease and wealth. There are many that suggest -

"...It is vain to serve God, and what doth it profit that we have kept his ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts?" (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:14)

As the Savior delivers the former words of Malachi to the Nephites, he explains -

"...now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:15)

As they believe -

"...All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:21)

But the Savior warns the proud that work wickedness -

"...I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger, and fear not me, saith the Lord of Hosts." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:5)

"FOR behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 25:1)

For -

"...who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:2)

"...And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:3)

It will be only the righteous unto which the Savior promised -

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:16 - 17)

Great are the words of Malachi.

3 Nephi 20

Speaking to the descendants of Israel in the new world, the Savior said -

"...all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have testified of me." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 20:24)

I believe that these same words would also apply to all of the house of Israel as the Savior teaches -

"...ye are the children of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 20:25)

The Savior explained this covenant saying -

"...the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed—unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 20:27)

These words suggest that " the pouring out of the Holy Ghost" through Him or through His priesthood would come by the works or efforts of the house of Israel. For the covenant -

"...which I have made with my people; and I have covenanted with them that I would gather them together in mine own due time..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 20:29)

"...when the fulness of my gospel shall be preached..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 20:30)

"For I will make my people with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt beat in pieces many people; and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 20:19)

I believe the "beat in pieces" is in regards to spiritual or eternal relevance. And of these missionaries -

"...then shall a cry go forth: Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch not that which is unclean; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.
42 For ye shall not go out with haste nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rearward." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 20:41 - 42)

And of the elect -

"...they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name.
32 Then shall their watchmen lift up their voice, and with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye.
33 Then will the Father gather them together again, and give unto them Jerusalem for the land of their inheritance.
34 Then shall they break forth into joy—Sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Father hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
35 The Father hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of the Father..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 20:31 - 35)

"And then shall they say: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings unto them of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!" (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 20:40)

The Savior promised -

"...all these things shall surely come, even as the Father hath commanded me. Then shall this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people be fulfilled; and then shall Jerusalem be inhabited again with my people, and it shall be the land of their inheritance." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 20:46)

3 Nephi 18

As the Savior instituted the sacrament amongst the Nephites -

"...he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the Disciples and commanded that they should eat.
4 And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 18:3 - 4)

And when the multitude had eaten it is recorded that they "were filled". The first impression may be that they had eaten until they were full. But I don't believe that is what was meant when it was written they "were filled". As the Savior shared the teachings He had given to those at Jerusalem, He said -

"...blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 12:6)

It is with the sacred ordinance of the sacrament that we should "hunger and thirst after righteousness". As the Savior administered the sacrament to the Nephites the second time-

"...he said unto them: He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled.
9 Now, when the multitude had all eaten and drunk, behold, they were filled with the Spirit..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 20:8 - 9)

The Holy Ghost satisfies the hunger and thirst for righteousness. As we covenant to -

"...that [we] are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given [us]..." (Book of Mormon Moroni 4:3)

"...it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 18:7)

With the partaking of the sacrament as intended, we should be filled with the Holy Ghost. Elder Marion G. Romney said -

“...Now partaking of the sacrament is not to be a mere passive experience. We are not to remember the Lord’s suffering and death only as we may remember some purely secular historical event. Participating in the sacrament service is meant to be a vital and a spiritualizing experience...." (Conference Report, Apr. 1946, pp. 39–40)

We must come with a repentant heart, with a renewed desire and sincere witness to keep His commandments. President David O. Mckay taught that when we pay the spiritual price of repentance, we reap the blessings of receiving the Holy Ghost. He said -

“No more sacred ordinance is administered in the Church of Christ than the administration of the sacrament. . . .

There are three things fundamentally important associated with the administration of the sacrament. The first is self-discernment. It is introspection. ‘This do in remembrance of me,’ but we should partake worthily, each one examining himself with respect to his worthiness.

Secondly, there is a covenant made; a covenant even more than a promise. . . .

Thirdly, there is another blessing, and that is a sense of close relationship with the Lord. There is an opportunity to commune with oneself and to commune with the Lord. . . .

Brethren, we recommend that we surround this sacred ordinance with more reverence, with perfect order, that each one who comes to the house of God may meditate upon his goodness and silently and prayerfully express appreciation for God’s goodness. Let the sacrament hour be one experience of the day in which the worshiper tries at least to realize within himself that it is possible for him to commune with his God.

Great events have happened in this Church because of such communion, because of the responsiveness of the soul to the inspiration of the Almighty. I know it is real. . . .

But the lesson I wish to leave tonight is: Let us make that sacrament hour one of the most impressive means of coming in contact with God’s spirit. Let the Holy Ghost, to which we are entitled, lead us into his presence, and may we sense that nearness, and have a prayer offered in our hearts which he will hear” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1946, pp. 112, 114, 116)."

3 Nephi 18

After the Savior had introduced the sacrament to those in the Americas, He turned to His disciples (leaders) and said to them -

"Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 18:10)

And then He follows with this warning -

"...And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock.
13 But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the gates of hell are ready open to receive them." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 18:12 - 13)

I sense the importance of His leaders doing exactly as He commands for -

"...whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:38)

For He has warned His leaders -

"...the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people;
15 For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;
16 They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:14 - 16)

The Lord has declared to His leaders -

"...notwithstanding those things which are written, it always has been given to the elders of my church from the beginning, and ever shall be, to conduct all meetings as they are directed and guided by the Holy Spirit." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 46:2)

Some suggest that there is the spirit of the law and also the letter of the law. I feel the spirit of the law must fall within the bounds of the letter of the law. Elder Neal A. Maxwell said -

“One of the ironies which is fostered, at times innocently, in the Church, is the feeling we have that the spirit of the law is superior to the letter of the law because for some reason it seems more permissive or less apt to offend others. The reverse is true. The spirit of the law is superior because it demands more of us than the letter of the law. The spirit of the law insists that we do more than merely comply superficially. It means, too, that we must give attention to the things that matter most and still not leave the others undone” (For the Power Is in Them, pp. 46–47).

Therefore -

"...ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him.
16 And as I have prayed among you even so shall ye pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name. Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 18:15 - 16)

And He promises if we do -

"...blessed are ye if ye shall keep my commandments, which the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 18:14)

3 Nephi 15

After having taught the saints in the Americas many of the teachings He had taught during His mortal ministry, the Savior instructed them -

"Behold, ye have heard the things which I taught before I ascended to my Father; therefore, whoso remembereth these sayings of mine and doeth them, him will I raise up at the last day." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 15:1)

The Savior made it very clear regarding His teachings the importance that they were to "doeth them". They were not to just accept Him, but they were to do His commandments. He taught this using the analogy -

"...whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand—
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 14:24 - 27)

For -

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 14:21)

Even to those at Jerusalem, the Savior asked -

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (New Testament Luke 6:46)

It is those that doeth the will of the Father and the Son (being the same) that will be allowed to enter the Kingdom of God.