Was that an Answer to Prayer?

Today I woke up planning to help my son and his wife move to a new apartment. I checked the weather forecast and found that it would likely rain in the afternoon while we would be moving their things. So, in my morning prayer I asked if God would allow the rain to hold off until after the move. I know that there are many reasons that it rains. In fact, I figured there might even be someone praying for rain. But, I felt good about asking for this and did so, believing that if it were consistent with God's will, He could do this thing. Then, it didn't rain while we moved their belongings. It rained right after we were done. It is windy and raining outside right now. But, it did not rain during the time we were moving when rain was forecast. Was my prayer answered?

I had a wonderful conversation with a colleague at work today about faith. He has been studying faith and came to a very insightful conclusion. Faith is believing evidence that is consistent with our doctrine, even when that evidence may also be consistent with other possible explanations. For example, maybe the lack of rain was an answer to my prayer. After all, God has said, "And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you (3 Ne 18:20)." It could also be the case that the weather forecast was wrong, that the wind blew in a different direction than it might have, or that we were just lucky. Faith involves believing that my prayer was answered even though there are other plausible explanations.

Let me relate two scriptures about the first recorded prayers of two great prophets. First, consider the brother of Jared. He eventually saw Jesus Christ and saw a vision of all of earth's history. Few people have had the faith that he had. Yet, in the first prayer he offered that we have a record of, he asked that the language of he and his brother and their families might not be confounded (see Ether 1:34). In the next verse we find out how he knew that his prayer had been answered. "And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon Jared; therefore he did not confound the language of Jared; and Jared and his brother were not confounded (Ether 1:35)." There was no voice from heaven, no visit from an angel, nothing but the observation that the family did not have their language confounded. He got what he asked for, and that was the answer to his prayer.

Second, consider the first recorded prayer of Nephi. Nephi also saw the vision of all of God's dealings with His children through all time. Nephi saw the Savior, Jesus Christ. Nephi said the famous words, "I will go and do ... (see 1 Nephi 3:7). Yet, before all of those things happened, the first prayer that he reports was in regards to his father's decision to leave Jerusalem. Lehi heard the prophets in Jerusalem preach repentance. He prayed about that message and received his own vision and calling as a prophet. He cried repentance in Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem tried to kill him for his efforts. So, he says to his family that they are leaving everything behind and going into the wilderness. Nephi cried to the Lord for understanding. And, as a result Nephi reports that, "[the Lord] did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers (1 Nephi 2:16)." The answer to Nephi's prayer was a softened heart and a choice to believe his father's words.

Both of these remarkable prophets who exemplify great faith began their recorded experience with prayer by trusting the simple answers they received, even though other reasons for what happened may have been equally plausible. The brother of Jared trusted that when the thing he prayed for actually happened that it was an answer from God. Nephi trusted the feeling of a softened heart as an answer from God. That is the foundation of faith.

So, I got what I prayed for and I feel to believe in God. That is my faith for tonight. Now I am going to listen to the rain that is falling outside and go to sleep grateful for God's blessings.

Easter and 3 Nephi

I have been teaching a freshman Book of Mormon class this year. This semester has been the second half of the book (Alma 30 to the end). I have loved the opportunity to study and teach from this remarkable book of scripture. For Easter, I want to share an insight from this semester. The key to this insight is that Jesus' ministry among the Nephites and Lamanites can be thought of as a type from which we can learn how to approach the Savior. I will not review every detail, but I will give an outline that may prompt some ideas as you study these remarkable chapters in 3rd Nephi for yourself.

The following is a brief outline of the series of events and teaching during this visit of the Savior:

• Jesus defines His doctrine, given to Him by His Father. It is, in essence, to believe, repent, be baptized and receive the record of the Father through the Holy Ghost. (See 3 Nephi 11:32-39, also note that this topic is elaborated upon in 2 Nephi 31-32.)
• We are commanded to accept and follow this doctrine as we become as a little child (See 3 Nephi 11:37-38)
• Chapter 12 starts with beatitudes (3 Nephi 12:2-11). Imagine these statements like two cities on a road to a destination. For example, "Blessed are those who pass through Filmore for they shall see St. George." Notice that these cities identify I-15 heading south from Provo or Salt Lake. The cities of Filmore and St. George are not the entire route. But, by driving through Filmore and on to St. George you will be traveling along Interstate 15 going south. Along the way, you will pass through towns like Meadow, Beaver, Parowan and Cedar City. Similarly, if we follow the statement, "Blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God," we will not just suddenly be pure in heart and see God. We must become pure in heart through repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost. Then we must do things, like attend the temple with the promise that the Lord is there, and we will see Him (See Psalms 24:3-4 and 3 D&C 97:16). In essence, we can use the scriptures to see how each beatitude defines a path by observing what it is that brings us to the state of being and how that leads to the promised blessing. All of the promised blessings are associated with being where God is.
• After teaching us of the characteristics (ways of being) that we should have, Jesus teaches that our motivation for action is at least as important as our actual obedience of the commandments (see 3 Nephi 12:19-45). For example, not only must we not kill, we must not get angry. Not only must we not commit adultery, we must not lust. In other words, our motivations and desires that precede action must come into alignment with the Lord's teachings.
• In 3 Nephi 13, Jesus turns to a new theme. In this chapter he teaches us to be motivated by our relationship with the Father, rather than looking to the approbation of others for approval. For example, we should do our alms (acts of service or giving) out of love for the Father and His children, not to be seen of others as a good person (3 Nephi 13:1-4). Similarly, we should fast in secret as a way of reaching out to the Father rather than looking miserable and hungry in order to be seen fasting by others (3 Nephi 13:16-18). This entire chapter focuses us on doing what we do in service of the Father and approaching the Father appropriately in prayer. We must seek for a relationship with the Father such that our self-worth comes from Him, not from putting on a show for the approval of others around us.
• Chapter 14 includes the command to ask, seek and knock (see 3 Nephi 14:7-11). I do not think that these are three words that all mean ask. Let me illustrate with a very short story. I go to an are of an old city where homes are surrounded by walls and yards are entered through doors in the walls. I am looking for a feast but cannot seem to find the location of the feast. I ask someone how to find the address. They indicate that I should go up three streets, turn right, then take the second left. The home I am seeking is on the right side of the street. Now, I have asked and found out where the home is and how to get there. Am I there yet? No. Now I need to seek. Along the way I may forget whether it was two streets and then three or three streets followed by two after the turn. In other words, I may need to ask again. After successfully seeking out the house, I knock at the door in the wall around the yard and am admitted to the feast. Thus, we must ask, seek and knock, to obtain what the Lord offers.
• Chapters 15 and 16 contain teachings about "other sheep." The decedents of Lehi find that they are the "other sheep" Jesus spoke of to his disciples in Jerusalem. But, those disciples never learned of Lehi's family because they never asked after Jesus told them about the other sheep. So, the Father told Jesus to say no more (3 Nephi 15:17-21). Next, Jesus explained that he had yet other sheep (3 Nephi 16:1-3). Now, those who were listening had just been told that the disciples in Jerusalem never learned about the other sheep because they did not ask. Then after explaining this, Jesus said there are yet other sheep (hint, hint, hint) and by the end of chapter 16 nobody asked about them. So, Jesus said, "I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words ..." (3 Nephi 17:2). He taught them to ask, seek and knock. He told them about how the disciples at Jerusalem didn't learn because they didn't ask. Then he gave them something to ask about, and they didn't ask. It seems that the people were not ready to learn about Jesus' sheep (the family of Israel).
• Jesus does not just leave in disappointment. Rather, He was filled with compassion and healed all of the sick or afflicted among them (3 Nephi 17:6-9). Then he asked for all their little children to be brought and he stood in their midst and prayed for all the people using words that cannot be written. Imagine the joy of this experience! These people witnessed the miracles that Jesus performed in mortality, and more.
• In Chapter 18 Jesus institutes the sacrament, commands the people to pray, to be a light to the world, and to teach others of Jesus Christ. He gave the disciples the power to give the Holy Ghost. and then ascended into Heaven. These things He did to prepare the people for what would happen the next day, and beyond.
• Those who were there the first day went home to gather everyone else to the temple for the return of Jesus the next day. In the morning the disciples taught what Jesus had taught the day before. Then all were baptized and received the Holy Ghost. Thus prepared, Jesus returned and stood in their midst. Everyone kneeled down and prayed. Jesus moved off a little way and prayed thanking the Father for giving these people, whom He had chosen, the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 19:20). Then, returning He finds that they are praying as directed by the Spirit and they are coming to have the same countenance as Jesus. He went a little way off again and thanked the Father for purifying these people (3 Nephi 19:28). Finally, he prays to the Father that these may all be one with Him and the Father. After observing them again, He prays using words that cannot be recorded (this reminds me of things in the temple that are too sacred to speak or record).
• In 3 Nephi 20:10 he says that people are ready and he will finish the commandment of the Father that he could not complete back in chapter 17 when He saw that the people were not ready. We can learn great lessons from this sequence. The things that happen in chapters 17, 18 and 19 are hints at the things that need to happen in our own lives for us to be ready to be taught about the covenant of the Father with Israel. That is the topic of chapters 20-26 which cover the rest of Jesus' teachings during this visit.

Let me give a more concise review of these items in sequence:

• Jesus' teaching begin with the doctrine of Christ.
• We begin as little children, but He will teach us to grow up to be part of the family of Israel.
• Jesus teaches us the characteristics we should have.
• Jesus teaches us that our motivations and thoughts matter as much as our actions.
• He commands us to ask, seek and knock.
• He begins to teach about Israel by discussing the "other sheep." But, he finds that the people are not ready to learn of the covent between the Father and His People. So, Jesus prepares the people.
• Jesus heals sickness and affliction, gathers the little children, prays for the people, and gives power to give the Holy Ghost. Then He departs.
• More people believe the witness of those who saw Jesus and are gathered together.
• The disciples teach the words of Jesus, baptize and the Holy Ghost falls on the people.
• Jesus returns. He observes the people and prays to thank the Father for giving the Holy Ghost. Jesus observes the people again and prays to thank the Father for purifying the people. Jesus observes the people again and prays to ask the Father that they might all be unified and one, just as Jesus and the Father are one.
• With the people thus prepared, Jesus teaches them of the covenant of the Father with Israel. A discussion of chapters 20-26 is a topic for another time, but it is very important. The ultimate outcome of this teaching is a zion-like society by the end of 3 Nephi. 

I have felt the voice of the Spirit often as I have studied 3 Nephi this semester. I love this record of a personal ministry of the risen Lord. This scripture is a compelling witness that the death and resurrection that we celebrate on Easter is real. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He lives and His work continues. The events of 3 Nephi point the way for us to come unto Christ and become one with Him and the Father.