Christ's Love

Here is the BOM reading schedule for this week:

Today: 3 Nephi 13
Tuesday: 3 Nephi 16
Wednesday: 3 Nephi 18
Thursday: 3 Nephi 20
Friday: 3 Nephi 23
Saturday: 3 Nephi 27
Sunday: 3 Nephi 28

What a blessing it is to be studying Christ's ministry among the
Nephites at a time so close to Christmas. 3 Nephi 11-28 is the
absolute climax of the Book of Mormon. One of my favorite moments in
all of scripture is found in 3 Nephi 17. In verse 4 Christ announces
to the multitudes that He will go back to the Father and also show
himself unto the lost tribes of Israel. I love to think about and
visualize what happens in the next verse. It says:

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his
eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in
tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to
tarry a little longer with them."

I can just imagine the faces, old and young, of those Nephite people
looking up at the Savior and pleading him with their eyes to stay just
a little longer. His love for them was so pure, powerful, and perfect
that the thought of him leaving their presence, even for a short time,
compelled them to tears. Having felt so tangibly of the personalized
love that radiated from their savior, they yearned desperately for him
to stay. These verses are such a beautiful description of the reality
that each of us is in need of Christ's love. When we feel it, our
spirits recognize it as something special and yearn for it to remain.
There are people in this world, people we will meet, people we will
perform for this year whom have not in a long time or rarely at all
felt Christ's love for them. We have such a great opportunity to be
messengers of that love. As we read of Christ and strive to acquire
the attributes he demonstrated, we can be made vessels of his love.
Our hearts will be changed and enabled to love others the way that He
loves us. Once our hearts are changed, once love begins to be the
motivation for what we do, will we have the power to touch and change
others. As we gain a sincere love for those around us, those around us
will subsequently feel of Christ's love.

I love you guys and I love the Savior. The Gospel and all of its
principles are so true!

-Derek Davis