Take No Offense
All eyes were undoubtedly on Jesus when He appeared to the Nephites. His arrival had been foretold for centuries. And now that He was finally here, many tears of joy were shed over His teachings and the outpouring of His love. One poignant event, though, is when Jesus addressed Nephi directly, and all eyes next turned to him. Jesus inquired of Nephi about an event that was prophesied of by Samuel the Lamanite, and questioned why it hadn’t been recorded on the plates. This was probably an uncomfortable moment for Nephi, one in which he could have reacted to in many different ways -- embarrassment, guilt, shame, offense. But the record tells us he simply realized his oversight, and ensured the event was quickly recorded. A good reminder of the proper way to take counsel from a priesthood leader: quickly alleviating the offense and the guile of the Satan, and then moving right along.
3 Nephi 23:7 And it came to pass that he said unto Nephi: Bring forth the record which ye have kept.
3 Nephi 23:11 And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?
12 And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written.
13 And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded.
LESSON LEARNED: Spiritual correction, when prompted by the Spirit, may come to each of us from a friend, bishop, stake president, or general authority. Nephi teaches us here the appropriate way to respond.
FEEDBACK: HOW HAVE YOU CHOSEN TO RESPOND TO SPIRITUAL CORRECTION IN THE PAST?
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