3 Nephi 17

I blogged yesterday regarding the Savior's announcement that -

"...Behold, my time is at hand."  (Book of Mormon  3 Nephi 17:1)

Suggesting, in my mind, that He had completed or taught that which He had been directed and now was His time to leave.  Obviously it had been a long day, from the many hours of the people feeling the prints in His hands and thrusting their hands into His side, to His teaching all the doctrines He had taught during His mortal ministry.  But then -

"...he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.
6 And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you."  (Book of Mormon  3 Nephi 17:5 - 6)

We are taught in modern day that -

"...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)

Even though it had been a long day, and He was to leave, He instructed -

"Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.
8 For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.
9 And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.
10 And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears."  (Book of Mormon  3 Nephi 17:7 - 10)

The Savior has always commanded His people to come to Him.  We find this same doctrine as "he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him."  Even after this long day and all these many healings, the Savior -

"...commanded that their little children should be brought.
12 So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him."  (Book of Mormon  3 Nephi 17:11 - 12)

"...and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them."  (Book of Mormon  3 Nephi 17:21)


We learn a great deal about ministering as we see the Savior doing this one by one.  Last of all, even with this long day, the Savior found it appropriate to teach the doctrine of the Sacrament.  We learn a great deal about ministering as we learn from the example of the Savior.   I have to add one more thought.  After having healed all the afflicted in any manner -   "...he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground. 14 And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.
15 And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him."  (Book of Mormon  3 Nephi 17:13 - 15)

But was is very interesting was the testimony or those there that -

"The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;
17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father."  (Book of Mormon  3 Nephi 17:16 - 17)

As He prayed, there would be no question that they would hear, but what is interesting in that "eye hat never seen" or thingw "we saw...Jesus speak" for the "both saw and heard".  Something to ponder.