The Ministry of Christ to the Nephites

We have heard many times throughout the Church that the biggest highlight of the Book of Mormon is when Jesus Christ comes and administers to the Nephites. What better way to learn of Jesus Christ gospel than to hear it from himself? Many wonderful things happened while Jesus visited the Nephites. But I am going to talk about one of my favorite moments of that whole ministry that can be applied to us in our needs.

This particular moment happens in 3 Nephi chapter 17 where Jesus is teaching the Nephites many things and he sees that the Nephites can't comprehend all of his teachings and tells him that he is going to depart so that they can study out in their mind. Does Jesus sometimes do this to us? Although we hear multiple times that he never leaves us, do we feel like Jesus leaves us for a bit so that we can understand his teachings? There were many times in my mission where this was the case. We were told many things both by members and non-members of the gospel that were pretty deep. But it just took some time thinking about it and going back to the basics so that we could find out for ourselves if what they said was true.

But that isn't the part that I wanted to focus on. It is the part after this moment that really hits me. In verse 5 we read, "And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them." I am sure we all feel this feeling. We wish that we can feel the love of God all the time in our lives, but there can be distractions that pull us away from that or draw our minds somewhere else. 

Listen to what Jesus says in the next two verses:
6. And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.

 7 Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.

This is a personal invitation from the Savior for us to bring others or ourselves to him so that we may be healed. But you may say, "I am not lame, or blind, or halt, maimed, leprous or death. So this invitation is not really directed towards me". To these people, I say they have forgotten one thing that Jesus said in that verse. He invites those who "are afflicted in any manner. What fits into that category? I would say everything! Whether it be depression, addictions, or anything that we are having a hard time going through, that category covers it. So not only was Jesus healing the Nephites physically here, he was also healing them mentally and spiritually. And this invitation is to all.

Patrick Kearon of the Seventy reaffirms this in his General Conference talk in October saying, "The invitation given to the Nephites, when He ministered to them as the resurrected Christ, is still in force for you and for me: “Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them.” ^.

In closing I would like to read one more scripture, Alma 7: 12 "...and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." May we be able to continue to come to Him and have him be able to heal us.