3 Nephi 12 "Therefore, Be Perfect"

 3 Nephi 12

Some people have an issue with the fact that some chapters in the book of Mormon are very similar to chapters in the bible. Any of you teach high school by chance? What are the odds you repeat yourself to each class that comes in? Do you ever find yourself repeating the same thing even to the same class, hoping it will sink in? This is Christ's first time teaching the people in the Americas, so the Nephites need to hear this gospel just as the Jews did. And if Christ is repeating himself to us, it's probably important. Let's look a little deeper and maybe something will sink in this time. 

V3-12 The Beatitudes

• the poor in spirit
• those that mourn
• the meek
• hunger and thirst after righteousness
• merciful
• pure in heart
• peacemakers
• persecuted

I don't think these are simply 8 traits that Jesus thought would be good for us to have, rather I think these are a stair case. To put this into perspective, the last verse of this chapter says "Therefore, I would that ye should be perfect". 

"Therefore", meaning everything up until now has led to this purpose. "Perfect" in Greek is "Teleios". The root "tele" is also used in "telescope" (Tele + skopos = to see far). So the greek word "perfect" gives the idea that it is far away, probably not a goal to be obtained any time soon. This life isn't meant to reach the destination, it is meant to establish our trajectory and momentum. Those will carry on forever. 

Nevertheless, 1 Nephi 3:7 God never gives a commandment to men without providing a way that they might accomplish it. John 14:6 "Jesus is the way". Moroni 10:32-33 "Be perfected in Christ". 

So IT IS POSSIBLE. And this chapter will put us on the right track. 

V3, "blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me". The underlined part is not in the Matthew 5 version. I think it helps us understand a little more what it means to be poor in spirit. Another word for coming unto Christ = FAITH. 

V4 "blessed are all they that mourn". Another meaning of mourn is Godly sorrow. Think "mourning for our sins" and they shall be comforted. REPENTANCE. 

V5 "blessed are the meek". Meekness is recognizing your constant dependance on the Lord. What is the first defining moment of meekness in Christ's life? BAPTISM. 

V6 "Blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the HOLY GHOST." In Matthew 5 it just says "they shall be filled". I like this clarification, we just outlined the first 4 principles and ordinances of the Gospel!

These 4 have been largely individual, meaning that you can accomplish them without really associating with others. The next 4 are more social, meaning you can't do them alone. 

V7 "Blessed are the merciful". As we forgive others, now we start our path to become a little more like Christ. 

V8 "Blessed are all the pure in heart". Up until now it is possible that you could be doing the actions, but maybe harboring some discontentment in your heart. Once you become Pure in Heart, you will be without guile, honest, true, having outward actions to meet your inward attitude. 

Cleans hands, Pure heart, Can't lose.  

V9 "Blessed are all the peace-makers". On this next step on the staircase to perfection, you can no longer stand idle. Now it's time to be pro-active and be a peace-maker. Christ is the Prince of Peace, his Gospel is a message of peace, I bet if we share the gospel, we will be giving peace and becoming like the Prince of Peace himself. 

V10 "Blessed are all they who are persecuted". Many of us will never be asked to face persecution like Peter and the original apostles, or like Joseph and the pioneers, but whatever level of persecution comes our way, it is time to lift up your cross and stay true. 

And that's the staircase to perfection! Happy climbing :)

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V21-44 you will find 6 times where Christ says "it hath been said/written ________, but I say unto you _____" 

This is Christ RAISING THE BAR. 

There are 3 ways of living in this life. 

1. The Telestial, which is not living what was written in old scripture
2. The Terrestial, which is living what was written in old scripture
3. The Celestial, which is living Christ's invitation.

For example, V21 "it hath been said... thou shalt not kill".

V22 "But I say unto you, whosoever is angry... shall be in danger of his judgement". 

So Christ just raised the bar, it's no longer good enough just not to kill people (not that any of us has any problem with that), but he asks us not to be angry. Because if we never cross the first line of anger, we will never be in danger of crossing that second line. 

Telestial living, kill people.

Terrestial living, don't kill people. 

Celestial living, don't get angry. 

V27 "it is written... thou shalt not commit adultery" 

"But I say unto you... to lust after her hath committed adultery in his heart". 

Telestial living, commit adultery

Terrestial living, don't commit adultery

Celestial living, do not lust

I think you're getting the hang of it.

V31 "it hath been written that whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement". Basically, don't divorce your wife without a good cause. 

"Verily verily, i say unto you... whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery." Basically, don't divorce your wife unless the cause is extremely grave, such as fornication.

The last part of this verse can be tough to grapple with. "whoso shall marry her who is divorced committeth adultery". Basically it's saying that if you divorced your wife when there was no extremely grave sin, then the next time she gets married, she will be committing adultery. 

I understand this is a tough one to wrestle with, especially if you find yourself in that situation. But i'm not sure we should be taking this one at face value. A divorce void of serious sin all the sudden turns into an adulterous sin? Doesn't that seem like we are blowing things out of proportion? I can picture God responding with: "EXACTLY." Is it possible that you took something small, like a disagreement or a fight, and blew it up till it seemed like a justifiable reason to divorce your spouse, severing something that was intended to be eternal?     Food for thought. 

V33 "it is written, thou shalt not forswear thyself". Basically perjury. 

V34 "I say unto you swear not at all". Gotta work on that one.... eek

V38 "it is written, eye for an eye"

V39 "I say unto you..." turn the other cheek, give him thy cloak, go the extra mile, give to him that ask, turn not away him that would borrow. 

Can you imagine, if someone came up to you in the streets, slapped you on the face and demands your coat, if you just smile and give him your shoes too? I think they would feel mighty uncomfortable. We all have this innate sense of justice and equality. He demands your coat because he sees that you have more than him. But all the sudden you offer to give even more? Not sure what he would do. But you just invited him to live up to a higher standard. 

Telestial living, return injustice. 

Terrestial living, return justice (as it should be)

Celestial living, return mercy (better than it should be)

Things to note, assuming most people are right handed, if they smite you on the right cheek, it's probably a back handed slap meant to offend. This verse is not saying do not protect your family from harm. 

Give to him that asketh, and from him that would borrow, turn not away. The first is simply give when asked. But the second is more difficult, if you find someone that maybe is too shy to ask, but in their hearts they would borrow, then be charitable. Talk about living a higher standard!!

V43 "it is written.. love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy". 

"But i say unto you, Love your enemies.... that ye may be the children of your Father in heaven; for he. maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good."

Like father like son, your chance to be like him is to love everyone. Anyone can love the lovable. Loving those who make it difficult for you is certainly living a higher law. 

And finally: "Therefore, I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." I would, as in "I want this for you, I will help you achieve it". 

Let's gooooooooooooo