The Lord understood His disciples would be persecuted. We would face evil falsely on His
account. We are told to rejoice for we
will receive our reward in heaven.
“Enemies will revile or rise up against the servants of the
Lord (see Alma 30:31). Instead of suffering permanent damage, Zion will be
blessed when she remembers the Lord's kind words of affirmation…”[1]
Let’s look at verse 12.
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12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your
reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
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12 For ye shall have great joy and be
exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so
persecuted they the prophets who were before you.
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He tells the Nephites, if they are persecuted for being
believers, they will “have great joy and be exceedingly glad” (3 Nephi
12:12). We are told throughout the
scriptures we will face persecution for being a disciple. “But he that received
the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with
joy receiveth it; “Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for
when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is
offended” (Matthew 13:20-21).
“Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men,
and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall
ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city” (Matthew
23:34).
“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they
shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out
your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake” (Luke 6:22).
“And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to
slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day” (John 5:16).
“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not
greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute
you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also”
(John 15:20).
“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time
cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” (John
16:2).
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not” (Romans
12:14).
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the
altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the
testimony which they held” (Revelation 6:9).
“But behold, the righteous that hearken unto the words of
the prophets, and destroy them not, but look forward unto Christ with
steadfastness for the signs which are given, notwithstanding all
persecution—behold, they are they which shall not perish” (2 Nephi 26:8).
“Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my servant John
Murdock—thou art called to go into the eastern countries from house to house,
from village to village, and from city to city, to proclaim mine everlasting
gospel unto the inhabitants thereof, in the midst of persecution and wickedness”
(D&C 99:1).
Let’s compare verse 13.
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13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost
his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing,
but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
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13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give
unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its
savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The
salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to
be trodden under foot of men.
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We are told to be the salt of the earth. Why? It is “[u]sed as an important
preservative of food in the ancient world; it was considered essential for
life.”[2]
The people living at the time of Christ would recognize the importance of
salt. If you eaten food without salt,
you know how bland it tastes. Food
without salt is “good for nothing” (3 Nephi 12:13).
Matthew 5:13 tells us we are the salt of the earth. 3 Nephi 12:13 begins by telling us “I give
unto to be the salt of the earth.” The
Savior tell us it is our obligation to be the salt of the earth.
He also says, “if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith
shall it be salted?” (Matthew 5:13). In
3 Nephi 12:13, the Lord makes it clear “it” is the earth. He also tells us “it is thenceforth good for
nothing” (Matthew 5:13). The Savior
clarifies “it,” telling us the salt is worthless.
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14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an
hill cannot be hid.
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14. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give
unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill
cannot be hid.
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The Savior informed the people in Jerusalem they “are the light
of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Like verse 13, 3 Nephi 12:14 tells us he gives us
the responsibility to be the light.
“A few years ago I wrote this passage, which kind of
reflects my feelings on what it means to be a light unto the world:
“In a world which is too often shrouded in uncertainty and
doubt, the Light of Life bids us to let out light shine, to stand as beacons in
the storms of the night, and to certify our discipleship by preachment and
practice. Discipleship entails example. Discipleship involves standing out from
the generality of mankind and standing up for what is true and right and good.
We come to make a difference only when we are different, and that difference
must be substantive enough to be witnessed and then acknowledged by others.”[3]
Continuing in verse 15, we are told not to place our candle
under a bushel. We are to place it on a
candlestick so it will give light to all the house.
We are to let our light shine so people may “see your good
works, and glorify your Father wihcih is in heaven” (3 Nephi 12:16).
[1] Redeeming
the Desolate Woman: The Message of Isaiah 54 and 3 Nephi 22, Cynthia L.
Hallen, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 7/1 (1998): 47.
[2] Guide to the Scirptures, Salt Entry.
[3] The
Doctrine of the Risen Christ: Part 1, Robert L. Millet, Maxwell Institute
website.
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