3 Nephi 1:6-8 -- On Faith and Comfort

"And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing hath been vain.
And it came to pass that they did make a great uproar throughout the land; and the people who believed began to be very sorrowful, lest by any means those things which had been spoken might not come to pass.
But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain."
3 Nephi 1:6-8


This is an interesting story about the prophecy of Samuel the Lamanite concerning the coming of Christ being fulfilled. The story actually gets worse instead of better right after this (the unbelievers try to have them all killed), but eventually it works out. :)

What strikes me in this part of the story is that the believers took the unbelievers' mockery to heart and started to be sorrowful and worried, even though they were faithful enough to continue to watch.

I think a similar thing happens in our lives when people ridicule something that we believe, or the hope that we have in Christ. People often act like religion is a disease of the weak-minded, and that smart people would never fall for something like that. Or they attack a certain past event or a certain thing that the Bible says, or whatever... and if we're wondering about that thing or that principle too, then it can throw us off.

I guess what I really want to say here is that we shouldn't let anyone get in the way of our relationship with God. Nothing anyone says, anywhere, can affect that relationship... if we turn to God and he turns to us, that is proof beyond mortal argument... and even though we could reassure each other on other levels that we're plenty smart, that we can see the good and the blessings around us, etc. ... it really all comes back to God. That is where our faith and our testimony resides, and God is the one who can banish every mockery with a single overwhelming feeling when he shows us how much we are loved... and he WILL show us that, if we pray to him sincerely and with faith.

The end of the story is this: Nephi got on his knees and prayed all night to the Lord oh behalf of his people who were about to be slaughtered for their belief. And God answered him: "Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets." ... He is true and faithful, and he will not leave us comfortless (John 14:18). Today, let's remember that. :)