Adding Letters

I sat in my desk waiting anxiously for the clock to reach 10am. Its monday morning and every missionary knows that monday morning at 10am your 8 hours of preparation for the week begin. Also known as 8 hours of freedom. I look over at my companion and his gaze into space of gratitude. He gently closes his scriptures and falls upon his knees. I am instantly forced to work on the Christlike attribute of patience. My fingers instantly begin tapping the desk, painfully I watch the clock go from 10:05am to 10:10am no 10:15. Finally he stands up with the most precious smile on his face. He says “give me a few minutes Elder and I will be ready too”.

By 11am we arrive to the library to begin our weekly emails home. The typing marathon begins with a limited time of an hour and a half to communicate the weeks events home. My mother doesn’t know that my new companion is EXACTLY SUPER 110% obedient to the mission rules that I am now 45 minutes behind in my email. She probably thinks that I have died or something. With 5 more minutes left in my emailing time I begin my last email in a mad rush. The time limit is now up and my companion is directly behind me arms folded with a look on his face of “Elder don’t you know that our time is up?” I don’t think I look that dumb but apparently I do. I proceed to quickly finish my email and log off. 

Ironically it takes us another 10 minutes to exit the library because he has to make sure that every living soul with two legs hears his grand and important message to bring them salvation. You think that is bad? You should join us for our 2 hour shopping at Walmart that should only take 20 minutes. My companion salivates at the multitude of people swarming around the store. He has been commissioned to make sure that every person he has the opportunity to talk to hears what he has to say. Heaven forbid we just be polite and smile at everyone on our one day “off” but no we must have a meaningful 10 minute conversation with each one. Without sharing more you just know that the 8 hours of what should be a break and a taste of freedom is actually the hardest day of the week.There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. This fine servant of God has added letters to the law. 

Exact Obedience brings forth Purity

Section: 3 Nephi 15-25

Spoken Word(s)

·      Jesus speaking/asking questions to the multitude (sermon/dialogue)

o   Page(s): 517-518, 520-521, 522, 523, 528-538

·      Jesus speaking to the 12 disciples (sermon)

o   Page(s): 518-519, 527

·      Jesus prayers unto the Father (prayer) *though not all can be written

o   Page(s): 521, 522-523, 524, 526, 527

·      Disciples talk to the multitude (sermon)

o   Page(s): 525

·      Disciples and multitude pray to the Father (prayer)

o   Page(s): 525

Specific Portion: 3 Nephi 15:12-17

            “Ye are my disciples; and ye are a light unto this people, who are a remnant of the house of Joseph. And behold, this is the land of your inheritance; and the Father hath given it unto you. And not at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell it unto your brethren at Jerusalem. Neither at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell unto them concerning the other tribes of the House of Israel, who the Father hath led away out of the land.

            “This much did the Father command me, that I should tell unto them, that ‘other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.’”

Christ is speaking to his 12 disciples who he has called (and they have accepted his call). It is therefore an intimate group, and one where much care, concern, love, and sacredness occurs; and as such, they meet reverently and only with the best of intentions to learn, be guided, and be uplifted so that they can too be a force of good in the world. Christ is teaching them their responsibilities, but also showing them his responsibilities from the Father.

As Christ talks to the disciples, he uses much softness, and shows care as he appeals to them personally. He uses the word “ye” and “your” a lot. He is engaging with the audience, speaking to them, and applying it to their life, their family, their ancestors.

Christ appeals using pathos as he purely tells of his Father’s will—and how he is using exact obedience to follow the Father. This shows of his innocence of sin, as he obeys his Father, never deviating from the will of the Father. This obedience also helps his ethos as it helps his credibility as an honest and good being. As he describes what he has done, and what he has not yet done due to the Fathers commands, this also can be seen as logos in my mind—it’s a logical path. He has done something because he was told to do it; and he hasn’t done something else because he wasn’t told to do it. It’s a very logical and pure approach.

-Lizzy S.