EVEN AS I

 

 

Towards the end of His visit the Saviour commanded the Nephites to record all their doings because out of the books that are written shall the people be judged ‘for by them all their works will be known unto men’ (3 Nephi 27:25).

He also mentioned that the Father likewise keeps a record of all our doings and the whole world will be judged by that which He has caused to be written (v 26).

The idea of being judged seems to bring up a negative connotation of fear as we reflect on all our failings and short comings. Rarely do we look forward to it because we want to be excited about our good works and good character coming before the Father….to bring Him joy……but this is exactly what the pursuit of our lives should be.

The Saviour himself said to the Nephites as He parted from them, that His joy was great, ‘even unto fulness’ and that ‘even the Father rejoiced and all the holy angels’, because none of that generation was lost (v 30,31). Our salvation is their joy and I surmise this is what they look forward to experiencing on Judgment Day…..and there is a reason for their hope.

The Saviour asked the Nephites a crucial question in connection with the judgment we will one day face: “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be?” and then He answered: “Verily, I say unto you, even as I am” (v 27). Elder John M. Madsen of the Seventy had this to say about this answer:

“The meaning of the word OUGHT, as used in His question….is crucial to understanding His answer, “Even as I am”. The word OUGHT means ‘to be necessary’ or ‘to be held or bound in duty or moral obligation’…….., suggesting and the holy scriptures, ancient and modern, confirm – that it is ‘necessary’ and that we are ‘bound’, as by covenant, ‘to be’, as He declared, ‘even as I am’ (3 N 27:27; see also 3 N 12:48; Matt 5:48; 1 John 3:2; Moroni 7:48)” (in CR April 2002, Eternal Life Through Jesus Christ).

Being like the One ‘who, being in the form of God, took upon himself the form of a servant, and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient unto death’ assures us of a joyful judgment because He is the blue print, He is the map, He is the way….’wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’ (Philippians 2:6-11).

We are bound to Him by covenant and He to us by the cross: “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands….” (Isaiah 49:16).

 

I sorrowed for Your pain

As You entered the Garden’s gate.

I sorrowed for it

As You hung on Calvary’s cross.

Now that our hearts beat as one,

I rejoice my soul will never to be lost. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Then Sings My Soul by LDS Art)

CONVERSION OF INTEGRITY

 

When Ammon and his brothers brought King Lamoni, his father and their subjects to the knowledge of the truth, their conversion was so deep that they buried their weapons of war as a token of their repentance, never to be used again for the shedding of blood. This token also extended to their desire to be distinguished from their brethren the Lamanites whereby they sought to take upon themselves a new name. Being more Lamanites by their biological nature and more Nephites by the changed nature of their hearts, they chose the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehies (Alma 23:16,17). This name also suggests the joining together of the descendants of Nephi and Lehi's other posterity, meaning they were now one. The prefix ‘Anti’ does not suggest opposition as it does in our English language. It rather suggests a reflex of the Egyptian nty meaning 'he of’ or ‘the one of''. Thus, rather than having the sense 'against', the name means 'the one of Nephi and Lehi'" (Stephen D. Ricks, "Anti-Nephi-Lehi", in Dennis L. Largey, ed., Book of Mormon Reference Companion [2003], p 67).

When the Lamanites came upon them to slay them, the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi did not prepare for war, nor did they run away. They stayed put, buried their weapons and subjected themselves to slaughter. We tend to always reflect on the main reason they did this, that reason being a sign of their covenant with God (Alma 24:18) that they would kill no more but that reason does not end there.

During the massacre of the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, the number of Lamanites who were converted and ‘saved’ was greater than one thousand and five of them who were slain (Alma 24:22,26). So the sacrifice of the ‘innocent’ brought about the salvation of the ‘sinful’. In other words, one thousand and five of them went willingly to their deaths for the sake of the salvation of others. How is that possible? Here is how: We are told that the people Anti-Nephi-Lehi LOVED their brethren who sought to kill them (Alma 26:32).  Does all this remind you of someone?

The love these converts possessed towards their brethren was not ordinary love but ‘the pure love of Christ’. This was a deeper love than loving your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 19:19). This was to love ‘as I have loved you’ (John 13:34), this was the love the way HE FEELS IT, not the way we do. This love sends you to the altar of sacrifice to lay down your life for another, as was the case of the people of Ammon whose self-sacrifice mirrored the sacrifice of the Son of God. This love cannot be developed by us but can only be a gift to the true followers of Christ who prayerfully seek it (Moroni 7:47,48) AND who are deeply committed to the covenants they have made. Only the integrity of the conversion of our hearts qualifies us for this love.

The lesson and example of Anti-Nephi-Lehies’ resonates throughout history but their greatest legacy? 2,000 stripling warriors….but of that later….

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Anti-Nephi-Lehies by Del Parson)