3 Nephi 5

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Chapter 5

The Nephites repent and forsake their sins—Mormon writes the history of his people and declares the everlasting word to them—Israel will be gathered in from her long dispersion. About A.D. 22–26. Many tears shed-Mormon is speaking about us and our ministering charge at the end! In this chapter, 7 verses are about the happiness of a converted people, the other 19 are devoted to Mormon's feelings about his ministry.  His life was one of service to his contemporaries, but so importantly, a ministry to the yet-born.

 
  1 And now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people of the Nephites who did ^adoubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled. The Nephites forsook their sins, all were converted through the ministering of love and the Gospel.  All believed, there was no doubting.  All the things the prophets had foretold had come to pass, and they knew the rest was coming.
  2 And they knew that it must be expedient that Christ had come, because of the many signs which had been given, according to the words of the prophets; and because of the things which had come to pass already they knew that it must needs be that all things should come to pass according to that which had been spoken.
 3 Therefore they did forsake all their sins, and their abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve God with all diligence day and night. What power there must have been in the unity of belief! Everyone repenting and serving "with all diligence" day and night. Wow! What would happen if we left General Conference with every soul "not doubting in the least" the words that were spoken and immediately repenting where their lives are not in harmony with what they just heard. Notice that belief and true repentance leads one to want to serve!  They served God with diligence, both day and night. This implies that there was much loving and caring in the homes in the evening and beyond, when people are home with their families. vs 1-3 There must have been great ministering among the Nephites from both sides of the veil, that not one of them doubted the words of the holy prophets. Like the power within the Book of Mormon, there is a power within ministering. Go and find the one...again, and again and again. 
 4 And now it came to pass that when they had taken all the robbers prisoners, insomuch that none did escape who were not slain, they did cast their prisoners into prison, and did cause the word of God to be preached unto them; and as many as would repent of their sins and ^aenter into a ^bcovenant that they would murder no more were set at ^cliberty. I love this verse! What a beautiful way to treat their prisoners. Teach them the truth. When they repent and are changed, they go free. Sometimes I wish we could take our rebellious friends/family prisoner and force them to sit and hear truth too:) As they ministered to their prisoners, you can see that many here are in prison - captured by his snares, addictions and unbelief. We must be diligent like the Nephites and minister (preach and teach the words of God) to our brothers and sisters as commanded by God through our living prophet, Pres. Russel M. Nelson and apostles. As I ponder how the Atonement of Jesus Christ works, I wonder if it isn't much like this example. We are the prisoners, but he offers us freedom from the penalty of our crimes if we accept the good word and are converted. And he does that not because he paid the penalty but because he bore the effects of the crime. He, the victim, is the one who has power to forgive if we repent. If we don't repent, we suffer. I'm not sure that he suffered for the penalty of our sins, but instead, only the effects of our sins. If justice requires only that what is the "best good" be done as a consequence, then it would not require He suffer for sins that would be forgiven ever...and unforgiven sinners suffer for their own sins. The suffering he said caused him to bleed at every pore could truly have been from the victim side of the weight and not the penalty side. I'm really leaning towards this view...
 5 But as many as there were who did not enter into a covenant, and who did still continue to have those ^asecret murders in their hearts, God and satan both want your heart! yea, as many as were found breathing out threatenings against their brethren were condemned and punished according to the law. which was what? And so it may also be with us and the Atonement of Christ.
 6 And thus they did put an end to all those wicked, and secret, and abominable combinations, in the which there was so much wickedness, and so many murders committed. They preached the Gospel to the prisoners, endeavoring to bring the light of the Gospel to all.  Those they ministered to, who accepted the Gospel, and made a covenant to change, were released.
 7 And thus had the ^atwenty and second year passed away, and the twenty and third year also, and the twenty and fourth, and the twenty and fifth; and thus had twenty and five years passed away. 25 years since the sign of Christ's birth...25 years has gone by since Christ was born.  At this time, he is growing in his community as a carpenter, and learning and honing those qualities and skills that will serve him well during his ministry in about 5 years.
 8 And there had many things transpired which, in the eyes of some, (those who have "eyes to see") would be great and marvelous; nevertheless, they cannot all be written in this book; yea, this book cannot contain even a ^ahundredth part of what was done so know that what Mormon chose to include was specifically for our day, those things that would repeat among us. Can you see it? Pres. Hinckley said the Book of Mormon was a current as the morning newspaper! among so many people in the space of twenty and five years;
 9 But behold there are ^arecords which do contain ^ball the proceedings of this people; and a ^cshorter but true account was given by Nephi. This book hardly contains 1/100th part of all that was recorded, that Mormon had access to, but he says there are records that have all of it.  We know that many records were made by prophets, and that it was SO time-consuming to write records that would last--metal ore melted and shaped into plates, the painstaking time it took scratching into the metal to create the words, the time and worry in hauling these records around and finding a safe place to store them--this was a labor (ministering) of love.  Keeping records is a special and very important kind of ministering, which can affect generations and multitudes.  As I read this, I thought how easy a time we have in writing and keeping journals.  I also know that I love my ancestors who took the time to write a little about themselves, because time is a precious commodity.  Reading and knowing Mormon's expressions, makes me feel that I should be more diligent in keeping my records for my posterity.  Even if they never got combined into scripture for the Church, they could be like scripture to those I love.
 10 Therefore I have made my ^arecord of these things according to the record of Nephi, which was engraven on the plates which were called the ^bplates of Nephi.
 11 And behold, I do make the record on plates which I have made with mine own hands. Mormon testifies that he made the metal plates from ore and wrote on them.  Another act of love.
 12 And behold, I am called ^aMormon, being called after the ^bland of Mormon, the land in which Alma did establish the church among the people, yea, the first church which was established among them after their transgression. He was named Mormon, and he elaborates on why.  Did his dad ponder on what to name him, and later, told him stories of his namesake--a name he would be humbly proud to bear?  Giving a child a righteous and honorable name, can bless that child all his/her life--another type of ministering.
 13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been ^acalled of him to declare his word among his people, this "calling" gave him power and authority to preach with and by the Holy Spirit.  that they might have everlasting life. We are disciples of Jesus Christ too. He has called us to minister to one another and declare His word so that all may have everlasting life. (Ditto)
 14 And it hath become expedient that I, according to the will of God, that the prayers of those who have gone hence, who were the holy ones, should be fulfilled according to their faith, should make a ^arecord of these things which have been done—It seems like this verse is teaching that our prayers of faith have an effect even after we have passed to the other side. He tells how he ministers to "the holy ones" who've gone on before, as an answer to their prayers, and made this record, again, ministering to those beyond the veil.
 15 Yea, a ^asmall record of that which hath taken place from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem, even down until the present time.
 16 Therefore I do make my record from the accounts which have been given by those who were before me, until the commencement of my day;
 17 And then I do make a ^arecord of the things which I have seen with mine own eyes.
 18 And I know the record which I make to be a just and a true record; nevertheless there are many things which, according to our ^alanguage, we are not able to ^bwrite. Mormon explains how he's cared for the records entrusted to him, and has abridged them, along with the things he's seen.  Undoubtedly, there have been some ministering coming also from the other side of the veil, in selecting the most essential things that those "holy ones" wanted to preserve, the most essential things that will help us--ministering again!!!!
 19 And now I make an end of my saying, which is of myself, and proceed to give my account of the things which have been before me. Several verses here on the importance of there being a record. We should record our ministerings as well.
 20 I am Mormon, and a pure ^adescendant of Lehi. He didn't record his direct line, but at least tells us he's a direct descendant. I have reason to bless my God and my Savior Jesus Christ, that he brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem, (and ^bno one knew it save it were himself and those whom he brought out of that land) and that he hath given me and my people so much knowledge unto the salvation of our souls.  He praises Father and the Savior for bringing his ancestors here, and taking care of them (ministering). and "that he hath given me and my people so much knowledge unto the salvation of our souls."
 21 Surely he hath ^ablessed the house of ^bJacob, and hath been ^cmerciful unto the seed of Joseph. We are being reminded that the Nephites and Lamanites are of the House of Israel through Jacob and Joseph. I thought they were Jews? Not through Joseph? I'll have to research that one...
 22 And ^ainsomuch as the children of Lehi have kept his commandments he hath blessed them and prospered them according to his word. He extols the ministering of our God as he continues--they've been blessed, shown mercy, and God has prospered them.  vs 22-26 As I read these verses and came across the word 'gather' and 'gathering', how is this done? How do we gather? Then the Spirit taught me that it is through ministering. This was Jesus' whole life - to gather us as little children and bring us back to our Father. 
 23 Yea, and surely shall he again bring a ^aremnant of the seed of Joseph to the ^bknowledge of the Lord their God. This is part of the gathering. He talks of the future ministering of blessings to the remnant of Joseph's seed, as promised.
 24 And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he ^agather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the ^bseed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth. THIS is the "marvelous work and a wonder"!
 25 And as he hath ^acovenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the ^brestoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them.
 26 And then shall they ^aknow their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be. Amen. Pres. Nelson just told the youth,
"Would you like to be a big part of the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today? Would you like to help gather Israel during these precious latter days? Would you, who are the elect, be willing to help find the elect who have not heard the message of the restored gospel? Would you like to be among those “swift messengers” of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke?5  My dear extraordinary youth, you were sent to earth at this precise time, the most crucial time in the history of the world, to help gather Israel. There is nothing  happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing. This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for which you were sent to earth. So my question to you is “Are you willing to enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord to help gather Israel?”" 
In light of what President Nelson has challenged and invited the youth (and us!!!) to do these past few weeks, this was so exciting, as I saw our part in this great time! VS. 24-26 - THIS IS OUR CHARGE! And its' not just missionary work. Study Isaiah. Listen to this podcast...(https://isaiahinstitute.com/book-of-mormon-isaiah-prophecy/)  Book of Mormon Prophecy - Isaiah Institute