His Hand is Still Upraised

Sometimes life seems overwhelming. Whether it be a class or a test at school that feels like more than we can do, or an illness, or an employment setback, life can be quite difficult at times. These are the times to remember God's covenant with His people. An oft repeated word in the Book of Mormon is "remember." We are encouraged to remember: the words of the Lord (1 Ne 4:14), our Redeemer (1 Ne 19:18), the greatness of the Holy One of Israel (2 Ne 9:40), to be grateful for the scriptures (Mosiah 1:3), that the Lord delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt and us from our own captivity (Alma 29:10-12), as well as the covenants the Lord has made with us (3 Ne 20:29).

I found a phrase in Isaiah that is, to me, quite inspiring, especially in difficult times. In 2 Nephi 19-20 (Isaiah 9-10), Isaiah is declaring the woes that will befall Israel. These include that Israel will be attacked by Syria and the Philistines, that they will be led to destruction by their leaders, that they will be as fuel in the fire, that they will be hungry, and that the tribes of Israel will turn against each other. He finally says that they will be captives. Then, Isaiah asks the question in Isaiah 10:3, "to whom will ye flee for help?"

Amidst all these woes, there is a phrase that is repeated three times in chapter nine and then repeated again a fourth time early in the next chapter. The phrase is:

For all this his anger is not turned away,
     but his hand is stretched out still. (King James Version)

I have long wondered what this stretched out hand signified. I gather from the first part of the phrase that the trials of life, some of our own making and some that happen because of the circumstances in which we live, will be allowed by the Lord to happen. But I have wondered what we are to understand from the hand that is stretched out. Recently, I looked at several translations of Isaiah and found that another reasonable translation of this phrase is:

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
     his hand is still upraised. (New International Version)

When I saw that the hand that is stretched out may be an upraised hand I flashed back to a recent experience where I had to testify in a legal proceeding. Before testifying I was asked to raise my right hand to be sworn in. My raised right hand was part of my signifying that I would tell the truth. Thus, a common gesture associated with being sworn in, or making an oath, is the upraised right hand.

This insight into the Lord's hand being upraised became more significant to me when I read the concluding verses of Nephi's extended quote of Isaiah. Nephi quotes twelve chapters of Isaiah that include condemnation of Israel for sinning against their covenant with the Lord, prophecies of the scattering of Israel, the coming of the Messiah, the scattering of Judah, and the restoration of the gospel. Finally, the destruction of the wicked leading up to the second coming of Christ is described. The final chapter describes the destruction of Assyria as a type of the salvation of the righteous at Christ's coming. In the context of the assurance that when we are surrounded by Assyria, and all seems lost, is the assurance that we will be delivered. In describing our salvation, the meaning of the outstretched (upraised) hand is given in 2 Ne 24:

  24 The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand—
  25 That I will bring the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot; then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.
  26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all nations.
  27 For the Lord of Hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

As verse 24 says, we are in a covenant relationship with the Lord. He has sworn, with his hand stretched out (upraised) that we will endure trials and that the faithful will be delivered. The Lord is telling us, through the prophesies of Isaiah, that his purpose for the whole earth is that when we trust in the Lord, he will ultimately deliver us. Life may feel as bleak as Jerusalem surrounded by the Assyrian army. But we have a covenant with the Lord that He will deliver us if we rely on Him. He has reminded us of that promise in our day in D&C 1:

  38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

I do not mean to suggest that life will be easy for the righteous. I do, however, suggest that there is reason for hope even during the most difficult times in life. I agree with Nephi's testimony when he says in 1 Nephi 22:

  30 Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God.
  31 Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified, and also taught them. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen.

Life can be difficult. Sometimes the trials seem overwhelming. While we are not promised that each and every trial will be taken away, our struggles have meaning when we understand that we are in a covenant with the Lord that will bring us back into His presence to dwell among the people of Zion. Life could be overwhelming without that sense of meaning. Trials are easier to endure when they are known to be part of our covenant journey.

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.