I am the life and the light of the world.

3 Nephi 11

Verses 1-12

I was once asked, "If you could choose anytime to live in the history of the world, when would it be?"
My answer was either at the time of 3 Nephi 11 or now.

No description of any event anywhere has made me long to be there as much as this one in 3 Nephi 11.

The chapter opens up with the people standing around the temple in Bountiful and talking about this Jesus Christ who had spoken to them.  That is when they hear a voice.  I think it is important to note that these people were:   a) at the temple and b) talking about Jesus when this event occurred.

"And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn."

But this voice didn't belong to Jesus.  This voice was the Father.  The third time he spoke, they understood his words.

"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him."

Why did it take three times to understand the voice?  I have often wondered about this.  

In the margins of my scriptures it is written, "The spirit often testifies before there is comprehension."

I have found this to be true in my own life.  There have, at times, been a principle or even a nudging to the direction of my life that I have not understood, but I understood the truthfulness of it, despite my lack of understanding.

In verse 8 it says 

"And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them."

Have you ever been rendered speechless by a spiritual experience?  I couldn't talk for about half an our after the Nauvoo temple dedication. That is pretty much a no-talking recored for me.  

Jesus was about to explain that he was no angel, but the Son of God.  I can't imagine what that would have felt like.  

"And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

 10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world." 

11 

And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the willof the Father in all things from the beginning. "

This video does a good job of helping me to feel what it might have been like to live that day with the Savior.  I hope that your heart will be soft, and you will be able to feel Christ's love for you as you watch it.  I bear my testimony that he lives and you are known to him by name.  I have felt his love for me very powerfully at key times in my life and it is my greatest hope and prayer that my children and their children will feel his love for them, because if they do, they will feel love for everyone else as well, and then their course will be set, always seeking to be the best person they can be,  confident in the knowledge that they are of great worth to the one whose worth is greater than us all.