For the "Come Follow Me" home study program in the church this year, we have been studying the Book of Mormon - my favorite book of scripture.
The Book of Mormon is a gift given to us from a loving Heavenly Father. It was prepared for our day. The events that are occurring to us today parallel the true events that happened to those people before and after Christ's birth and death. He who has eyes to see, ears to hear, and the faith to believe will know that the contents of the book are true.
I have studied it many times throughout my lifetime, but never quite as thoroughly as I have this year - even when I taught the B of M in Seminary and taught the Gospel Doctrine class.
Right now we are studying 3rd Nephi - my favorite part of the Book of Mormon. I've always considered 3rd Nephi to be the "heart" of the book. I have also recently heard it referred to as "the focal point" of the book and "the Holy of Holies" of the book. I LOVE those descriptions. Any way you look at it, 3rd Nephi is definitely supremely important and magnificently poignant! It's my favorite section because it is so centered on Jesus Christ. Twenty of the thirty chapters in 3rd Nephi are the teachings of Christ, which makes this book so much more important than any other book in the Book of Mormon.
Third Nephi highlights Christ's visit to the American continent after his death and resurrection. It is very powerful, and there are many "pearls" or "words of wisdom" that can be extracted from Christ's appearance to the righteous individuals who were spared all of the destruction that occurred prior to His visit.
I love that Christ compares himself to a hen who protects her chicks by gathering them under her wings. Nothing will prevent her from protecting them from harm. That's not true of all animals. Christ will protect us as well if we are willing to let him. I want to be the first to run into his protective arms when danger threatens me, whether spiritual or physical danger lurks.
In 3rd Nephi chapter 11, Christ is teaching the people and He allows them to come unto him "one by one" to feel the prints in his hands and the wound in his side. Over 2,500 people were there to witness that event. I can only imagine what that would have been like. I don't like crowds and I don't like standing in long lines, but that is one line I would stand in if it meant being able to have a personal one-on-one experience with the Savior of the world.
If I'm allowed to remain on the earth until the 2nd coming of Christ, I might get to experience something very similar to what they experienced. Christ healed the sick, caused the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. Oh, how I would love to be able to be healed by the Savior. I'm hoping for that great blessing one day. Even one day without back pain would be glorious!
I'm looking forward to the day that Christ will come again in full glory. I live for that day! A lot needs to happen before he can come, but I know it will one day come to pass. Of that I bear my witness!
