Christ-Centered Life

Started my day by going to the Provo Temple with my roommate like any other Thursday. I got some ideas for my mission preparation essay and I was quite excited about it. The temple is such a lovely place. I cannot wait until I get to go through all of it to learn more and grow closer to my Savior. Anyway, so we get back home after a lovely morning and, after my shower, I decided to write my essay. It was on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (taken from the Articles of Faith #4 [to see the full version go here: http://classic.scriptures.lds.org/en/a_of_f/1 ]). It was a lovely experience to focus on the Savior this morning and I felt I did well on my essay. Then, I took my time getting ready rather than take a nap like I typically do. Around 12:45, I headed for my Book of Mormon class. We were studying 3Nephi 11 and this seemed completely normal until one of my friends, who has the class before me, said that today was a crying day. Uh-oh, I thought. Well, class began and it was spiritual and great but, I was not seeing this whole "crying" thing. Then, it happened. My teacher ended class by playing a video for us depicting Christ coming to the Americas to visit the Nephites. We talked about how he met with them all one by one. This video really touched me and, if I had not been trying to hard not to cry, I probably would have. It was quite touching to study the scriptures and then, to see it depicted in a way it typically is not done (the whole one by one way). Because it meant a lot to me, I wish to share it.

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3 Nephi 11: (copied from LDS.org:http://classic.scriptures.lds.org/en/3_ne/11)

1 And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude ^agathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land ^bBountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the ^cgreat and marvelous change which had taken place.

  2 And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the ^asign had been given concerning his death.

  3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a ^avoice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a ^bsmall voice it did ^cpierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

  4 And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they ^aunderstood it not.

  5 And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did ^aopen their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

  6 And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

  7 Behold my ^aBeloved Son, ^bin whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

  8 And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they ^asaw a Man ^bdescending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

  9 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

  10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

  11 And behold, I am the ^alight and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter ^bcup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in ^ctaking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the ^dwill of the Father in all things from the beginning.

  12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude ^afell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been ^bprophesied among them that Christ should ^cshow himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

  13 And it came to pass that the ^aLord spake unto them saying:

  14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may ^athrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may ^bfeel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the ^cGod of Israel, and the God of the whole ^dearth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

  15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and ^adid feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

  16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:

  17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did ^aworship him.

  18 And it came to pass that he spake unto ^aNephi (for Nephi was among the multitude) and he commanded him that he should come forth.

  19 And Nephi arose and went forth, and ^abowed himself before the Lord and did ^bkiss his feet.

  20 And the Lord commanded him that he should ^aarise. And he arose and stood before him.

  21 And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you ^apower that ye shall ^bbaptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.

  22 And again the Lord called ^aothers, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be^bno disputations among you.

  23 Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your ^awords, and ^bdesireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them—Behold, ye shall go down and ^cstand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them.

  24 And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying:

  25 Having ^aauthority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the ^bFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

  26 And then shall ye ^aimmerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water.

  27 And after this manner shall ye ^abaptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are ^bone; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.

  28 And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye baptize. And there shall be no ^adisputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been.

  29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of ^acontention is not of me, but is of the ^bdevil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

  30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things ^ashould be done away.

  31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my ^adoctrine.

  32 And this is my ^adoctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear ^brecord of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the ^cHoly Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.

  33 And whoso believeth in me, and is ^abaptized, the same shall be ^bsaved; and they are they who shall ^cinherit the kingdom of God.

  34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not ^abaptized, shall be damned.

  35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso ^abelieveth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him ^bwith fire and with the ^cHoly Ghost.

  36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the ^aHoly Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are ^bone.

  37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and ^abecome as a ^blittle child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.

  38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little ^achild, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

  39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my ^adoctrine, and whoso ^bbuildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the ^cgates of hell shall not prevail against them.

  40 And whoso shall ^adeclare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a ^bsandyfoundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.

  41 Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth.

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