The next set of instruction the Savior gave the multitude
was to meet together often. This repeated instruction given to His disciples in
the Holy Land. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there
am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the
week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of
the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto
you” (John 20:19).
“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came
together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the
morrow; and continued his speech until midnight”
(Acts 20:7).
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see
the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
The Nephites had been following His commandment. “And there
was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves
together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also, as
often as it was in their power, to assemble themselves together” (Mosiah
18:25).
The faithful continued to hold meetings as best they could
to the end. “And they did not walk any more after the performances and
ordinances of the law of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which
they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and
prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the
Lord” (4 Nephi 1:12).
“And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and
wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus” (Moroni 6:6).
He also commanded the church in this dispensation. “It is
expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in
the remembrance of the Lord Jesus” (D&C 20:75).
“And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when
ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may
know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and
commandments, which I have given” (D&C 43:8).
They were also commanded to neither forbid nor cast anyone
out of their meetings. “Nevertheless ye are commanded never to cast any one out
from your public meetings, which are held before the world” (D&C 46:3).
They are to let their light shine before the world. He is the light they will hold up. “The Lord
is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my
life; of whom shall I be afraid” (Psalms 27:1).
“The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for
brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee
an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory” (Isaiah 60:19).
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of
the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the
light of life” (John 8:12).
“When you think back at ‘Let your light so shine before men,’
what is it that we are supposed to let people see then? How does the rest of
that sentence go? ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven’ (Matthew 5:16). Thus,
the concept of holding up the light is not me as the light. I am at best a dim
lamp. He (Christ) is the light. Look over in 3 Nephi 18:24: ‘Therefore, hold up
your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye
shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do.’
“This has very practical implications. You give a talk in
church and someone comes up and compliments you. How do you receive a
compliment? It is tough, isn't it? You are shy; you don't want to take a
compliment. I learned once from a wise man. As he was complimented, I listened
to what he would say. He would say, ‘There was a good spirit here, wasn't
there?’ Or he would say, ‘Well, the Lord came through for us, didn't he?’ He
would say, ‘Thank you very much. I am humbled by the fact that we had a great
experience.’ It was a constant deflecting from himself.
“So, we are to do the right things for the right reasons.”[1]
The Savior commanded none were to go away but to come to
Him. “Behold, he sendeth an invitation
unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith:
Repent, and I will receive you” (Alma 5:33).
“And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the
Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see
that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name”
(Alma 19:36).
They were to feel and see and testify this to the
world. Whomever breaks this commandment
will be led into temptation.
“‘Come unto me, that ye might feel and see.’ This was a
commandment that the Savior extended to the inhabitants of ancient America.
They felt with their hands and saw with their eyes that Jesus was the Christ.
This commandment is just as important for us today as it was for them in their
day. As we come unto Christ, we can feel and ‘know of a surety’—not with our
hands and eyes but with all our heart and mind—that Jesus is the Christ.”[2]
[1] The
Doctrine of the Risen Christ: Part 2, Robert L Millet, Maxwell Institute
website.
[2] Learning
with Our Hearts, Elder Walter F. González, October 2012 General Conference.
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