This past week in class we went over the Beatitudes in 3 Nephi chapter 12. Instead of looking at the verses each as an individual characteristic, we approached it in a new light I hadn't thought of before. They are steps - a process of repentance and becoming more Christlike.
First: We are poor in Spirit (we are lacking and need Christ)
Second: We mourn
Third: Meek (we become teachable)
Fourth: Hunger and Thirst after righteousness (this is an action - seeking)
Fifth: Merciful (we have felt God's mercy and seek to show that do others and help them feel His mercy as well)
Sixth: Pure in heart (we are becoming cleansed and our intent to do good is for the right reasons)
Seventh: Peacemakers
Eighth: Persecuted (Christ was persecuted, and He told us that as His disciples we would be persecuted too. As we become closer to becoming more like Christ - and less like the world - we will have more opposition and persecution).
This is definitely something that I want to study more and learn from in understanding the process of repentance (and I encourage you all to study it more as well)! Repentance is an amazing thing! I feel that the process the Savior teaches here shows the joy and blessings the come from true repentance.
I love that insight. When the D&C tell us to speak nothing but repentance and when the Lord outlines his gospel in 3rd Ne. as faith, repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost it is true. Repentance is the key to progression and accessing the Savior. We forget that and try to make ourselves better on our own.
ReplyDelete