Greater Desires

Book of Mormon Notes - Thursday, March 14, 2024, 3 Nephi 28

This morning as I listened to Elder Oaks most recent conference talk on “Kingdoms of Glory,” I heard him confirm the definition of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I outlined in the previous post:

From such teachings we conclude that the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is based on the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. We qualify for eternal life through a process of conversion. As used here, this word of many meanings signifies a profound change of nature. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become.

There are few better examples of people who became what our Heavenly Father desired for them to become than the twelve Nephite disciples of Christ who were with him during His ministry in Bountiful. They were, and are, exemplary like Peter and John the Beloved who were with Jesus Christ during His ministry in Palestine. Nine of the twelve Nephites had desires similar to those of Peter: they desired to come unto the Lord quickly. Three of the twelve Nephites had desires similar to those of John the Beloved: they desired to bring more souls unto Jesus Christ.

There is an interesting contrast between the desires and requests of the masses of good Nephites and the desires and requests of the Lord’s special witnesses and disciples. The masses argued and debated about what they should call the Church, but the Nephite disciples had greater vision and higher hopes. The Lord responded to the righteous desires and requests of both groups of people. For the masses, the Lord inquired: “What will ye that I shall give unto you?” The Lord’s disciples had gathered together, united in mighty prayer and fasting, to resolve what appeared to be a difficult dilemma among the people. They wanted to know which name to give to the Church. This was a good desire, and a righteous request, but the Lord’s reply demonstrates that it was a desire and a request that could easily be fulfilled by more diligent study of the scriptures:

And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing?

Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the ^aname of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;

And whoso taketh upon him my name, and ^aendureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.

Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake. (3 Nephi 27:4-7)

When there are disputes, debates, murmuring, and questions among the masses of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we might consider the Lord’s response to these good Nephites. Many if not most of the answers to such quarrelsome questions are already embedded in the scriptures, in the teachings of the living prophets, in the proclamations, or in the Church handbook. To the tumults of the masses of Church members, and to many of the sincere questions that arise from the masses, we might remember the Lord’s reply to the masses of Nephites: Have they not read the scriptures? (or, I would add, the teachings of the living prophets, the proclamations, and the Church handbook)

There may be legitimate concerns and questions that arise that have not yet been directly addressed in the aforementioned resources that the Lord has already provided, but I surmise that many, if not most of the answers to the questions of the masses have already been adequately answered. We may not like or accept the answers that have already been given, but many, if not most of the answers, are already contained in the Standard Works, the teachings of the living prophets, and other Church resources.

After the Lord instructed his disciples concerning the name of His Church, He returned to them again to answer their more intimate requests and to respond to their deeper desires:

And it came to pass when Jesus had said these words, he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is it that ye ^adesire of me, after that I am gone to the Father? (3 Nephi 28)

Elder Maxwell, Elder Oaks, and Elder Uchtdorf, among others, have spoken eloquently and at length on the topic of desire. C.S. Lewis’ keen observation is also relevant:

It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

Whereas the masses of Nephites were content to know the correct name of the Church, an answer that they might have found already in the scriptures, the Lord’s twelve disciples had stronger desires and more earnest requests. There may have been some among the masses of the Nephites who had similarly strong desires and earnest requests, but Mormon revealed as much as he could about the desires and requests of those who were closest to the Savior, just as the Gospel writers revealed as much as they could about the desires and requests of the great Peter and the inimitable John the Beloved.

These twelve disciples of Jesus Christ had already trained their desires through many years of hungering and thirsting after righteousness and being anxiously engaged in a good cause, even the best cause, the cause of Christ. The Lord had fulfilled their righteous desires in every way, manifesting Himself unto them, ministering unto them, blessing and healing them, and teaching them of His ways. But the Lord wasn’t done teaching them. In fact, He was just getting started.

Thus, when He appeared again to His disciples and spoke unto them, one by one (and it is significant that He spoke to each one of them individually), the Lord wanted to know if they were ready for more. The Lord always has more to teach us. The Lord always has more blessings to bestow. The Lord is always eager to bless and instruct those who diligently seek Him and believe in Him. “What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?” He asked.

Like Peter, nine of the twelve responded with their earnest, righteous desire:

And they all spake, save it were three, saying: We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our ministry, wherein thou hast called us, may have an end, that we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom. (3 Nephi 28:2)

Remember Peter’s inquiry:

Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he ^atarry till I come, what is that to thee? ^bfollow thou me.

Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not ^adie: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? (John 21:20-23)

Through modern revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in Harmony, Pennsylvania in April 1829, we learn more of the details of this occasion:

And the Lord said unto me: ^aJohn, my beloved, what ^bdesirest thou? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you.

And I said unto him: Lord, give unto me ^apower over ^bdeath, that I may live and bring souls unto thee.

And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, because thou desirest this thou shalt ^atarry until I come in my ^bglory, and shalt ^cprophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people.

And for this cause the Lord said unto Peter: If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? For he desired of me that he might bring ^asouls unto me, but thou desiredst that thou mightest speedily come unto me in my ^bkingdom.

I say unto thee, Peter, this was a good desire; but my beloved has desired that he might do more, or a greater ^awork yet among men than what he has before done.

Yea, he has undertaken a greater work; therefore I will make him as flaming fire and a ^aministering angel; he shall minister for those who shall be ^bheirs of salvation who dwell on the earth.

And I will make thee to minister for him and for thy brother James; and unto you three I will ^agive this power and the ^bkeys of this ministry until I come.

Verily I say unto you, ye shall both have according to your desires, for ye both ^ajoy in that which ye have desired. (D&C 7:1-8)

Nine of the Nephite twelve, like Peter, had the good desire to finish their ministries and come speedily unto Jesus in His Kingdom. Honestly, considering conditions in the world and how difficult mortality can be, I don’t blame the nine or Peter for their good and righteous desire. In the commotion, chaos, and competition of the world, my heart often pleads: Please come Jesus, or let me speedily come unto Thee. I think that the Prophet Joseph Smith had a similar desire:

God is my friend. In him I shall find comfort. I have given my life into his hands. I am prepared to go at his call. I desire to be with Christ. I count not my life dear to me, only to do his will.

But John the Beloved and the three beloved Nephites show us a higher and holier way. Listen again to John’s bold request:

Lord, give unto me ^apower over ^bdeath, that I may live and bring souls unto thee. (D&C 7:2)

John desired to bring souls unto Christ, to do more, or a greater work than what he had done before. The Lord granted his bold request, and John the Beloved continues his work upon the earth. The three beloved Nephites were not as bold or direct in their request, but the Lord knew their hearts:

And when he had spoken unto them, he turned himself unto the three, and said unto them: What will ye that I should do unto you, when I am gone unto the Father?

And they sorrowed in their hearts, for they durst not speak unto him the thing which they desired.

And he said unto them: Behold, I ^aknow your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which ^bJohn, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me. (3 Nephi 28:4-7)

Did these three Nephites sorrow in their hearts, fearing to speak, because they believed that their request was too great or too extravagant? Perhaps they didn’t want to embarrass their colleagues who had requested to come speedily unto the Lord in His kingdom after their ministries.

Whatever the case, their desires, like the desires of John the Beloved, were greater, because they desired to bring souls unto Christ. The Lord recognized and fulfilled their righteous desires, acknowledging that in the hierarchy of desires, the worth and salvation of souls through the love of God is the greatest and most desirable thing:

And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the ^alove of God, which ^bsheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the ^cmost desirable above all things.

And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most ^ajoyous to the soul. (1 Nephi 11:22-23)

No wonder, then, that Moroni exhorted us to aim higher in our desires:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth ^cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen. (Moroni 7:48)

Because of their greater desires, the Lord blessed the three beloved Nephites with even greater blessings:

Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall ^anever taste of ^bdeath; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the ^cpowers of heaven.

And ye shall never endure the pains of death; but when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from ^amortality to ^bimmortality; and then shall ye be blessed in the kingdom of my Father.

And again, ye shall not have pain while ye shall dwell in the flesh, neither sorrow save it be for the ^asins of the world; and all this will I do because of the thing which ye have desired of me, for ye have desired that ye might ^bbring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand.

And for this cause ye shall have ^afulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are ^bone;

And the ^aHoly Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and the Father giveth the Holy Ghost unto the children of men, because of me. (3 Nephi 28:7-11)

Why does Mormon share these things with us? Why is it important for us to know about they who tarry? I don’t know all of the reasons, but whatever the reasons, Mormon lifts our vision and inspires us with a greater view of our possibilities. Our hearts don’t need to weep, our souls don’t need to linger, our flesh doesn’t need to waste away, our strength doesn’t need to slacken, and our souls don’t need to droop in sin. (see 2 Nephi 4) We don’t need to murmur and dispute with the masses about questions that are already answered in the scriptures and by the Lord’s servants. Our desires can be stronger, and we don’t need to be too easily pleased. We may have already done many great things to build up the Kingdom of God on the earth, but the much greater work still lies ahead of us. Even though there are days when we just want to speedily come unto Jesus in His Kingdom (or when we want Jesus to speedily return to the earth), we can remember that John the Beloved and the three beloved Nephites still roam the earth, eager to lead more souls unto Christ. We can help them, if we desire to do so:

Now behold, a ^amarvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.

Therefore, O ye that embark in the ^aservice of God, see that ye ^bserve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand ^cblameless before God at the last day.

Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are ^acalled to the work; (D&C 4:1-3)