Mormon continues to discuss the ministry of the Lord’s
disciple.
Many great and wondrous works were done by the disciples. They
healed the sick, raised the dead, caused the lame to walk, the deaf to hear,
and the blind to see. They did all manner of miracles. Everything they did was
done is Jesus’s name.
The peace and dedication to Christ continued in to the 59th
year after Christ’s ministry ended.
They continued to prosper. They began to rebuild cities they
could. Many had been sunk and could not be rebuilt.
“People also manifested their at-one-ment[1]
by constructing cities (see Helaman 3:11; 3 Nephi 6:7; 4 Nephi 1:7–8; Ether
9:23). Construction of cities requires investments in public goods that generally
benefit people. Moreover, for people to live in cities, they must agree to live
together as neighbors. In addition, the construction of cities requires a high
degree of specialization and trade, conditions requiring at-one-ment among
people.”[2]
The Nephites were strong in faith, the population grew, and
they “became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people” (4 Nephi 1:10). “The
phrase fair and delightsome stands in stark contrast to descriptions such as ‘filthy’
and ‘loathsome,’ as the Lamanites are often described during periods of
degeneracy and unbelief (compare 1 Nephi 12:23; 2 Nephi 5:22; Mormon 5:15). It
must be noted that Book of Mormon prophets invariably taught that being ‘fair
and delightsome’ has everything to do with righteous living and very little to
do with perceived cultural or racial superiority (see 1 Nephi 1:17:33-40; Jacob
3; Helaman 15).”[3]
Life went on. People married and blessed “according to the
multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them.” (4 Nephi 1:11). “Throughout
the scriptures, Zion refers to a covenant community of temple-worthy saints,
such as the happy people who lived the law of consecration in the New Testament
and in the Book of Mormon. In such Zion societies, people are ‘married, and
given in marriage’ and are blessed according to the Lord’s promises (4 Nephi
1:11).”[4]
“Previous tribal and ethnic distinctions—including,
apparently, prohibitions against intermarriage—were abolished until some time
between 110 and 194 years after Christ…”[5]
“One of the sweetest verses in the Book of Mormon states
simply, ‘And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed
according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them.’
The promises of the Lord are extended to all those who follow the pattern of
life that builds happy, holy marriage relationships. Such blessings come as the
delightful, predictable consequences of faithfully living the gospel of Jesus
Christ.”[6]
The Nephites no longer followed the law of Moses, as it had
been fulfilled in Christ. They meet together often, fasted and prayed, and
heard the word of the Lord.
[1] The state of being one.
[2] “No
Poor Among Them.” Lindon J. Robison, Journal
of Book of Mormon Studies 14/1 (2005): 93.
[3] “O
Ye Fair Ones”: An Additional Note on the Meaning of the Name Nephi, Mathew
L. Bowen, Insights, Volume 23, Number 6, 2003, pg. 2.
[4]Redeeming
the Desolate Woman: The Message of Isaiah 54 and 3 Nephi 22, Cynthia L.
Hallen, Maxwell Institute website.
[5] Swimming
in the Gene Pool: Israelite Kinship Relations, Genes, and Genealogy, Matthew
Roper, Maxwell Institute website.
[6] Marriage:
Watch and Learn, Elder L. Whitney Clayton, April 2013 General Conference.
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