Book of Mormon: Day 274: Seeking For Signs

3 Nephi 8:1-12

3 And the people began to look with great earnestness for the sign which had been given by the prophet Samuel, the Lamanite, yea, for the time that there should be darkness for the space of three days over the face of the land.

The Nephites had been told of something amazing to come!  The prophet Samuel taught about the birth of a Savior.  Even their Savior; the one who would rescue them from both death and hell. Samuel had told them that in 5 years time their Savior would be born.  Of the signs of His miraculous birth would be “great lights in heaven,” and a new star.  The lights, in fact, would be so great that there would be no night the night before the holy babe would grace the world. (i)

The people searched for these signs with “earnestness.”

We are told that, “(she) that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man. And they shall see signs and wonders.” (ii)

It makes me take an internal inventory, “Am I seeking for signs?” and am I doing so earnestly?

Yesterday in General Conference, Elder Nelson said, “These are the Latter Days, so none of us should be surprised when we see prophecy fulfilled.”  (iii)  We won’t recognize the fulfillment of prophecy, however, if we don’t know what the signs are.  Diligent study of the scriptures is the cure for such  a gap in our knowledge.

Recently, I relished studying the New Testament, and saw some of the signs with fresh eyes.  I saw the coming of signs such as “Wormwood,” (iv) and terrible pestilences and diseases.  I envisioned the destruction of 1/3rd of the waters, fish and boats.  (v) My mind’s eye saw a black sun and a blood moon. (vi)   I was reminded that 1/3rd of the world’s population will be extinguished. (vii)  Signs of the Second Coming of Christ were more real to me.  Things that I had skimmed over in the past were brought to the front of my mind.

We currently witness “wars, and rumors of wars,” (viii) among other signs.  We can be reminded that vigilance to seek for signs is not only necessary, but critical.

Fear Not Little Flock

Prophetic warnings about Latter Days signs may be overwhelming to us, but Elder Nelson prescribed a remedy: JOY.  He taught us that amidst even terrible trials, we can be cheerful.  (See above for link.)  He taught,

… the joy that we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.  When the focus of our lives is on God’s Plan of Salvation… and Jesus’s gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening or not happing in our lives.  Joy comes from and because of Him.  He is the source of all joy.

We can learn to have joy in the worst of situations.  With an eternal perspective at hand, the bleakest of nights can hold hope.  The Savior said, “Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.” (ix)  There is tremendous peace in knowing that we have not yet experienced a fullness of joy, nor is it to be found here.  We have much better things to look forward to, even an eternity of joy!

As we seek for signs, and prepare both physically and spiritually, we can experience peace amidst turmoil.  Faith can overcome our fear, and we can experience true JOY!

 

 

 

 

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