Day 76: 3 Nephi 19-20

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are having a great week so far!  I've been a little crazy, busy this week.  I'm trying to catch up on everything I've missed!  We said goodbye to Elder Beus on Tuesday night.  He was transferred to a new area in Oklahoma and will do a wonderful job sharing the gospel there, too.  I met Elder Davis' new companion, Elder Reynolds, who is from Idaho, yesterday.  You can click HERE to meet the missionaries in your part of the country or world!

Here is a picture we took on Tuesday night.  One of my daughters had "Pink Out" day in school so that is why she is so PINK!  LOL!

(We were supposed to make a crazy face but I never do!)

Last Saturday night I also took some pictures of us Sisters as we gathered at a member of the church's house to watch the General Relief Society Broadcast.  If you would like to watch it you can click HERE!

I am so grateful to be a part of such a large women's organization called the Relief Society.  I have been the Relief Society President in my ward for almost 16 months now.  In our church we have what's called Lay Ministry where we are "called" to serve in difference positions through our church leadership.  They pray and ask who should serve where.  Nobody applies for a calling or asks to do something specific.  (Click HERE to learn more about Lay Ministry.)  I am only the Relief Society President right now because that is where the Lord knows I will grow and learn.  It is true!  I have grown so much in the last year and love every single sister I get to serve.  

Today we are reading more about Jesus Christ's ministry to the Nephites.  These are both great chapters to study.

3 Nephi 19:10-13

10 And when they had thus prayed they went down unto the water’s edge, and the multitude followed them.

 11 And it came to pass that Nephi went down into the water and was baptized.

 12 And he came up out of the water and began to baptize. And he baptized all those whom Jesus had chosen.

 13 And it came to pass when they were all baptized and had come up out of the water, the Holy Ghost did fall upon them, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

3 Nephi 19:10–13. Baptized Anew

• •
  President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) explained why Jesus commanded the Nephites to be baptized again:
  “When Christ appeared to the Nephites on this continent, he commanded them to be baptized, although they had been baptized previously for the remission of their sins. … The Savior commanded Nephi and the people to be baptized again, because he had organized anew the Church under the gospel [see 3 Nephi 19:7–15; 26:17].Before that it had been organized under the law [see 3 Nephi 9:15–22;11:10–40; 12:18–19; 15:4–10].
  “… For the same reason Joseph Smith and those who had been baptized prior to April 6, 1830, were again baptized on the day of the organization of the Church”.

3 Nephi 19:25

 25 And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof.

I love that verse.  I can only imagine what that was like.  What a blessing to be able to see my savior face to face.  

3 Nephi 19:35

 35 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying he came again to the disciples, and said unto them: So great faith have I never seen among all the Jews; wherefore I could not show unto them so great miracles, because of their unbelief.

3 Nephi 20:1

 1 And it came to pass that he commanded the multitude that they should cease to pray, and also his disciples. And he commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts.

3 Nephi 20:1. We Should Continually Pray in Our Hearts

• •
  After their prayer had ended, the Savior gave the Nephites important counsel to keep a prayer continually in their hearts. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles similarly declared:
  “Prophets have long told us to pray humbly and frequently. …
  “Prayers can be offered even in silence. One can think a prayer, especially when words would interfere” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2003, 5; or Ensign, May 2003, 7).
• •
  President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught:
  “Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. …
  “Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil .

There is much more that I would have loved to share today but I have to log off.  I hope you have a wonderful day!

Hugs,
Robyn