Introduction
Jesus commanded the Nephites in the last verse of 3 Nephi 12 to be perfect as He is perfect. The message he delivered to the Nephites in 3 Nephi 12-15 includes counsel to help us reach this goal. As we read these verses, pay attention to the whispering of the Spirit for ways you can apply these teachings and be perfect too.
Jesus teaches the Beatitudes
Jesus taught us to be perfect, even has He is perfect. In the Beatitudes as taught to the Jews in Matthew 5 and to the Nephites in 3 Nephi 12, He describes his own perfect character. These are the Christ-like qualities we should emulate in our lives. (Review the “blessed” qualities, then ask what areas are most meaningful or challenging for class members. Because there is so much material in this lesson, focus just on those parts that are most meaningful to the class members.)
- Poor in spirit – What does this mean? Emphasize the phrase “who come unto me.” What good is our poverty if we don’t go to the source of all wealth for relief? When I recognize I am poor in money, what do I want more of? I become creative and resourceful to get it! Same applies to being poor in Spirit.
- Mourn
- Why might we mourn?
- Sin – this is good, because it helps us repent
- Personal loss – This life is a time of proving, but God does not leave us comfortless. In fact, that is one of the roles of the Holy Ghost (John 14:26-27).
- Sorrow for others – God feels this too for the choices others make.
- Psychologists say that mourning is a step in the healing process.
- Meek – these people inherit the earth! Compare to today’s political leaders who don’t seem to be very meek.
- How do we develop meekness? Mosiah 3:19 and
- Hunger and thirst – We will be filled with the Holy Ghost as we truly desire righteousness. How does the Holy Ghost help us be righteous?
- Merciful
- As part of sequential progression, as we are filled after hungering, we recognize what a great blessing this is and have compassion on those who still hunger, whether or not they realize it.
- Mercy is a fundamental requirement and attribute of God’s Plan of Salvation, aka the Merciful Plan of Our Great Creator.
- Pure in heart
- What does this mean? We want the right things for the right reasons. We are becoming like God (see
- How does this happen? See Helaman 3:35.
- Peacemakers – As we become like God, we understand our relationship with him, and by extension, our relationship with our brothers and sisters. We truly want everyone to live together in peace. How can we promote this?
- Persecution
- Verse 10 focuses on the general “blessed are they” and then verses 11 and 12 change to “blessed are ye.”
- Why does persecution come? Because Satan does not want the blessings God promises to the “blessed are’s” to be given to anyone!
Jesus teaches the Nephites a higher law
After teaching the Beatitudes, Jesus announced that the Law of Moses was fulfilled. In Mosiah 13:29–30 Abinadi taught why the Law of Moses was given. Nephi explains in 2 Nephi 25:24-25 that although the Nephites understood the purpose of the Law, they still kept this lower law until it was completely fulfilled.
What is the purpose of the higher law that is now in effect? I think it is to change us into people Jesus described in the Beatitudes. The higher law helps us to be meek, merciful, pure in heart peacemakers who recognize our complete dependence on God. Consider these requirements of the higher law:
| Ye have heard that | But I say unto you |
| Don’t kill (verse 21) | Don’t be angry. The meek (verse 5) are not angry. |
| Don’t commit adultery (verse 27) | Don’t lust. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness (verse 6) subjugate temporal desires to spiritual ones. |
| Don’t swear falsely (verse 33) | Don’t swear at all. Just be honest! The pure in heart (verse 8) have no reason to deceive others or to break their promises. |
| Eye for an eye (verse 38) | Turn the other cheek. Being merciful isn’t always easy, but it is exalting. (Note: being merciful isn’t being weak or cowardly.) |
| Hate your enemies (verse 43) | Love your enemies. Read |
Jesus teaches about true discipleship
The Lord’s prayer
The Lord’s prayer includes the phrase “lead us not into temptation.” The JST clarifies this to “suffer us not to be led into temptation.” I like the phrase in Spanish, “no nos deje caer en tentación” or “don’t leave us to fall into temptation.”
Eye single to God’s glory
Read 3 Nephi 13:21-24, cross reference with D&C 88:67-69. To have an eye single to God’s glory means that is the primary motivation for all we do. To cultivate this, we need to quit daydreaming and spending inordinate amounts of time chasing entertainment (represented by excess laughter).
Beware of false prophets
Read 3 Nephi 13:15-20. How might we as members of the Church need to watch for “false prophets” today? I think we can learn from this to be wary of those who quote scripture or General Authorities to justify their economic, political, or social agendas.
Don’t be complacent as a church member
Read 3 Nephi 13:21-23. I suspect this applies to Church members, possibly more so than to anyone else.
Conclusion
Finish with 3 Nephi 13:24-27. We can be like the wise man and hearken to the Savior’s words and truly become perfect as He is through the influence of the Holy Ghost.
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