Believe, Do, Become

I absolutely Love what Brother Griffin taught us about Christ's New Law, and how it is a law of "becoming".  We talked about how the be-attitude in 3 Nephi 12:8, "pure in heart" refers to one's motive.  Our motive is why we do something, and we need to ask ourselves if we follow Christ's law for the right reasons, or because it's expected or because others around us are doing it.  Brother Griffin stressed how this Gospel isn't about saying the right things, or even DOING the right things (which is a little surprising), it's about becoming the right person.  This is interesting to me, because I remember a general conference talk one given about how, when we really believe something, we will DO something about it.  It encouraged action.  While this 'becoming' concept still encourages action, it raises the bar, making the concept like this: Believe-->Do-->Become.  I Love this concept, and how each persons progression is an incredibly personal process with them and the Lord.  He has a path for each of us, and a way for each of us to come to Him.  All we need to do is ask Him what we need to do to get on our personal path to Him, and He will help us. :)

 Here's some more insights from my reading this week, if you want to read those, too.

3 Nephi 20:16: The phrase "As a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth into pieces, and none can deliver" appears in this verse as well as in 21:12.  I'm not exactly sure what it means, and I'm curious.  I'm a little ahead in the reading, so maybe Brother Griffin will talk about it in class today. :)

3 Nephi 21:8: I find it interesting the the words "see" and "consider" are both used here.  I think this implies that we need to not only have open eyes (see), but open minds and hearts, too (consider.)

3 Nephi 21:17-18: "thou shalt no more worship the works of they hands; and I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee"  Confused at this usage of groves, I went to the cross reference in the foot notes. (1 Kings 16:32-33)  This term refers to a place for a bunch of idols.  The reference says: "And he reared up an altar for Baal... and Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord..."  Combining these to tidbits of knowledge, the verse in Third Nephi us telling us that worshiping the works of our own hands is a form of idolatry.  We should not put our own work and accomplishments above the Lord - ever.

3 Nephi 21:29: "for I will go before them... and I will be their rearward"  Christ is in front of us, leading, as well as behind us, supporting. I Love this. :)

Happy studying!