I am the I am the Law and Law and the Lightthe Light

3 Nephi 12-153 Nephi 12-15

President BensonPresident Benson

We are a We are a covenant-making covenant-making peoplepeople. The temple is one of . The temple is one of the holy places in which the the holy places in which the Savior commanded the faithful Savior commanded the faithful to stand. It is a holy place to stand. It is a holy place because it is a house of because it is a house of covenants. covenants.

Rabbi Sternfield of ChicagoRabbi Sternfield of ChicagoNearly 4000 years ago, in seeking to establish our people’s Nearly 4000 years ago, in seeking to establish our people’s

own unique identity, the people of Abraham…devised own unique identity, the people of Abraham…devised the idea of the covenant. Several times in the Torah, the idea of the covenant. Several times in the Torah, God is described as establishing that Covenant with the God is described as establishing that Covenant with the Jewish people. God is depicted as speaking directly with Jewish people. God is depicted as speaking directly with Abraham, then later with Moses and the other Hebrew Abraham, then later with Moses and the other Hebrew prophets. prophets.

It is much more likely that if happened the other way It is much more likely that if happened the other way around. around. It was our people who invented…yes, It was our people who invented…yes, invented…this Covenant with God.invented…this Covenant with God. Thus arose Thus arose unfortunate monikerunfortunate moniker of the Chosen People, when in fact of the Chosen People, when in fact we have been only a choosing people, having chosen to we have been only a choosing people, having chosen to follow the Torah’s discipline.follow the Torah’s discipline.

Shavuot (Pentecost) Shavuot (Pentecost)

Also known as the Festival of WeeksAlso known as the Festival of Weeks

50 days after Passover50 days after Passover

Celebrates the day the Law was given to IsraelCelebrates the day the Law was given to Israel

Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center:Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center:

Shavuot also means "oaths", with the giving of Shavuot also means "oaths", with the giving of the Torah, the Jewish people and G-d the Torah, the Jewish people and G-d exchanged oaths, forming an everlasting exchanged oaths, forming an everlasting covenant, not to forsake one another.covenant, not to forsake one another.

Bro Jay WelchBro Jay Welch

Shavuot was a day for remembering great spiritual Shavuot was a day for remembering great spiritual manifestations. … Shavuot came to be associated manifestations. … Shavuot came to be associated with the day on which the Lord came down in smoke with the day on which the Lord came down in smoke and flame on Mount Sinai and appeared to Moses on and flame on Mount Sinai and appeared to Moses on behalf of the host of Israel. Now Jesus had come behalf of the host of Israel. Now Jesus had come down and appeared to all gathered in Bountiful (at down and appeared to all gathered in Bountiful (at Shavuot).Shavuot).

……as the Nephites had washed and presented as the Nephites had washed and presented themselves ritually clean before the Lord at the themselves ritually clean before the Lord at the temple, the question must have forcefully arisen temple, the question must have forcefully arisen again, as it had a generation earlier when the sign of again, as it had a generation earlier when the sign of Jesus' birth was seen, asking Jesus' birth was seen, asking what priestly functions what priestly functions this branch of Israel should continue to perform at this branch of Israel should continue to perform at its temple now that Jesus had lived and died.its temple now that Jesus had lived and died.

Important Sequence of EventsImportant Sequence of Events

Appears in great lightAppears in great light

By feeling the prints of the By feeling the prints of the nails, they know it is Himnails, they know it is Him

He then gives the Sermon at the He then gives the Sermon at the Temple (Sermon on the Mount)Temple (Sermon on the Mount)

After the SermonAfter the Sermon

3 Nephi 15:4 Behold I say unto you that the 3 Nephi 15:4 Behold I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moseslaw is fulfilled that was given unto Moses

99 Behold, I am the law and the lightBehold, I am the law and the light

The Sermon (on the Mount, at the Temple) The Sermon (on the Mount, at the Temple) could be renamed to “How to be Disciple”could be renamed to “How to be Disciple”

Sermon At the TempleSermon At the Temple

3 Nephi 12:2 And again, more blessed are they 3 Nephi 12:2 And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. know that I am.

Yea, blessed are they who Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, shall believe in your words, and come down into the and come down into the depths of humility and be depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive Holy Ghost, and shall receive

a a remission of their sins.remission of their sins.

3 Nephi 12: 2 Yea, blessed are they 3 Nephi 12: 2 Yea, blessed are they

who shall who shall believe in your words…believe in your words…

…and come down into the and come down into the depths of depths of humility…humility…

… … and be and be baptized…baptized…

……for for they shall be visited they shall be visited with fire and with fire and with the Holy Ghostwith the Holy Ghost……

… … and shall receive a and shall receive a remission of sins.remission of sins.

..ye shall testify that ..ye shall testify that ye have seen meye have seen me and …know that I amand …know that I am

3 Nephi 18:34…3 Nephi 18:34…blessed are ye if ye have blessed are ye if ye have no disputationsno disputations among you… among you…

3 Nephi 15:93 Nephi 15:9…for unto him that …for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal endureth to the end will I give eternal life…life…

FAITH FAITH AND BELIEFAND BELIEF

REPENTREPENT

BAPTISMBAPTISM

HOLY HOLY GHOSTGHOST

FORGIVE FORGIVE TO BE TO BE FORGIVENFORGIVEN

TEMPLETEMPLE

LIVE THELIVE THEGOSPEL OF GOSPEL OF

PEACEPEACE

ENDURE ENDURE TO THE ENDTO THE END

3 Nephi 12: 3 Yea, 3 Nephi 12: 3 Yea, blessed are the poor in blessed are the poor in spirit (spirit (who come unto me),who come unto me), for theirs is the for theirs is the

kingdom of heaven kingdom of heaven

and again and again blessed are blessed are allall they that mourn,they that mourn, for they shall be comforted…for they shall be comforted…

and and blessed are the blessed are the meekmeek, for they shall , for they shall inherit the earth…inherit the earth…

and and blessed are blessed are allall they who do hunger and they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for thirst after righteousness, for they shall be they shall be filled (with the Holy Ghost…)filled (with the Holy Ghost…)

and and blessed are the merciful, for they shall blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercyobtain mercy… …

andand blessed are blessed are allall the pure in heart, the pure in heart, for for

they shall see Godthey shall see God

And And Blessed are Blessed are all all the the peacemakerspeacemakers, for , for they shall be called the children of God.they shall be called the children of God.

and and Blessed are Blessed are all all they which are they which are persecuted (persecuted (for my name’sfor my name’s sake): for theirs sake): for theirs is the kingdom of heavenis the kingdom of heaven

Salt Salt

3 Nephi 12: 133 Nephi 12: 13

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of cast out and to be trodden under foot of men. men.

The Utah WarThe Utah War

Jesse Crosby: President Jesse Crosby: President Young sent (the army) a Young sent (the army) a load of salt on hearing they load of salt on hearing they were out but (General were out but (General Johnston) would not receive Johnston) would not receive it and our men scattered it in it and our men scattered it in the snow…the snow…

Richard Dewey reports that “…Richard Dewey reports that “…the officers mess was soon the officers mess was soon after supplied by the Indians after supplied by the Indians at the rate of $5 a pound.”at the rate of $5 a pound.”

Senator Sam HoustonSenator Sam Houston

An act of civility was tendered by Brigham An act of civility was tendered by Brigham Young, and you might, if you please Young, and you might, if you please

construe construe it, under the circumstances, rather it, under the circumstances, rather as an act of as an act of submission on his part. … As an submission on his part. … As an act of act of humanity, thinking that at least it humanity, thinking that at least it could not be could not be regarded as discourteous, he sent regarded as discourteous, he sent a supply of a supply of salt requisite for the relief of the salt requisite for the relief of the encampment, encampment, … What was the message the … What was the message the military officer military officer sent back? sent back?

I believe the substance of it was that he would have no intercourse with I believe the substance of it was that he would have no intercourse with a rebel (Brigham Young), and when they met they would fight. They a rebel (Brigham Young), and when they met they would fight. They (the Mormons) will fight; and if they fight he (Johnston) will get (the Mormons) will fight; and if they fight he (Johnston) will get miserably whipped. miserably whipped.

That was a time to make peace with Brigham Young, because there is That was a time to make peace with Brigham Young, because there is something potent in salt. With the Turk, who has similar habits and something potent in salt. With the Turk, who has similar habits and religion of the Mormons, it is the sacrament of perpetual friendship.religion of the Mormons, it is the sacrament of perpetual friendship.

One Covenant Ends- But another One Covenant Ends- But another still continuesstill continues

3 Nephi 15:53 Nephi 15:5

Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am I he who covenanted with my people IsraelI he who covenanted with my people Israel

8- For behold, the covenant which I have 8- For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not fulfilled; made with my people is not fulfilled;

but the law which was given to Moses hath but the law which was given to Moses hath an end in me.an end in me.

Thomas S. MonsonThomas S. Monson

Stan, a dear friend of mine, was stricken by cancer. He Stan, a dear friend of mine, was stricken by cancer. He had been robust in health, athletic in build, and active had been robust in health, athletic in build, and active in many pursuits. Now he was unable to walk or to in many pursuits. Now he was unable to walk or to stand. His wheelchair was his home. The finest of stand. His wheelchair was his home. The finest of physicians had cared for him, and the prayers of family and friends physicians had cared for him, and the prayers of family and friends had been offered in a spirit of hope and trust. Yet Stan continued to had been offered in a spirit of hope and trust. Yet Stan continued to lie in the confinement of his bed at University Hospital.lie in the confinement of his bed at University Hospital.

Late one afternoon I was swimming at Deseret Gym, gazing at the Late one afternoon I was swimming at Deseret Gym, gazing at the ceiling while backstroking width after width. Silently, but ever so ceiling while backstroking width after width. Silently, but ever so clearly, there came to my mind the thought: "Here you swim almost clearly, there came to my mind the thought: "Here you swim almost effortlessly, while your friend Stan is unable to move." I felt the effortlessly, while your friend Stan is unable to move." I felt the prompting: "Get to the hospital and give him a blessing.“prompting: "Get to the hospital and give him a blessing.“

I ceased my swimming, dressed, and hurried to Stan's room at the I ceased my swimming, dressed, and hurried to Stan's room at the hospital. His bed was empty. A nurse said he was in his wheelchair hospital. His bed was empty. A nurse said he was in his wheelchair at the swimming pool, preparing for therapy. I hurried to the area, at the swimming pool, preparing for therapy. I hurried to the area, and there was Stan, all alone, at the edge of the deeper portion of and there was Stan, all alone, at the edge of the deeper portion of the pool. We greeted each other and returned to his room, where a the pool. We greeted each other and returned to his room, where a priesthood blessing was provided.priesthood blessing was provided.

Slowly but surely, strength and movement returned to Stan's legs. First Slowly but surely, strength and movement returned to Stan's legs. First he could stand on faltering feet. Then he learned once again to he could stand on faltering feet. Then he learned once again to walk, step by step. Today one would not know that Stan had lain so walk, step by step. Today one would not know that Stan had lain so close to death and with no hope of recovery.close to death and with no hope of recovery.

Frequently Stan speaks in church meetings and tells of the goodness Frequently Stan speaks in church meetings and tells of the goodness of the Lord to him. To some he reveals the dark thoughts of of the Lord to him. To some he reveals the dark thoughts of depression that engulfed him that afternoon as he sat in his depression that engulfed him that afternoon as he sat in his wheelchair at the edge of the pool, sentenced, it seemed, to a life of wheelchair at the edge of the pool, sentenced, it seemed, to a life of despair. despair.

He tells how he pondered the alternative. It would be so easy to propel He tells how he pondered the alternative. It would be so easy to propel the hated wheelchair into the silent water of the deep pool. Life the hated wheelchair into the silent water of the deep pool. Life would then be over. But at that precise moment he saw me, his would then be over. But at that precise moment he saw me, his friend. That day Stan learned literally that we do not walk alone. I friend. That day Stan learned literally that we do not walk alone. I too learned a lesson that day: never, never, never postpone a too learned a lesson that day: never, never, never postpone a prompting.prompting.