3 Nephi 9

So during my scripture study a night or two ago, I studied the chapters preceding 3 Nephi 11. So good. I never thought I could get so much insight out of so much destruction. Chapter 8 gives an account of the tempests, earthquakes, fires, etc in the New World: the sign of Christ's death in the Old World. Then it tells of the three days of darkness, representative of the time Christ's body was in the tomb preceding the resurrection. In chapter 9 we read of a voice that was heard by all of the survivors of the calamities. One verse especially stood out to me, verse 13: "O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of our sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?"

The following verses are beautiful and offer hope and understanding. I especially love verse 18 in which the voice, who in verse 15 was identified as that of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, identifies himself as "the light". That word surely stuck out to the listeners who were still engulfed in a darkness that was formerly described as being a tangible vapor.

But I get ahead of myself; back to verse 13. When I read these verse this time, I read them differently than ever before. I read them hearing a pained pleading in the Savior's invitation. I thought about it contextually and realized that it was only a few days before that He had suffered in the garden and on the cross, not only for those to whom he was now speaking, but also for those that they were mourning.

I realized that surely the Savior was mourning their losses as well. He wasn't casually notifying the survivors of an option to come to Him. He was pleading that they would chose to come. The "arm of mercy" that was extended had hands fresh with nailprints attached. Tonight in Institute I noticed in a Conference quote that a call to repentance is "a loving appeal", and it immediately reminded me of these verses. Christ loved these people enough to die for them. He was personally invested in their happiness. He wanted them to repent. And he invited them to do so. The love and pain in that invitation was striking to me.

The context and timing brought the invitation to repentance to the Nephites and Lamanites at that time to life. And realizing that helps me to know that surely the Savior extends His arm of mercy, and his invitation to repent and come unto him, is just as full of love and want for me and everyone. Understanding a little bit better of His love helps me turn my heart more fully toward Him. I love the scriptures and how they help me come to know Christ.