3 Nephi 19

(Below is a list of questions that help me think about each verse as I read it. The numbers represent the verses in the chapter.)

Imagine how you might feel and what you might do if you knew that tomorrow Jesus Christ would be coming to a temple some distance from you. How hard would you try to get there? Would you want to bring other people with you? What would you do to prepare for this experience? How would it feel to be in the presence of the Savior and hear Him pray to the Father asking a blessing for you that through your faith you may be purified?

1-2.  If you knew that Jesus was coming tomorrow, what would you do today? What are some specific things yo can do to best prepare for Jesus second coming today? What kind of things would you not bother doing today that you normally think are important? What kinds of things would you do today that you may not normally think are important?

3. What lengths might you go to to ensure that all your family members are in attendance to hear the Savior teach? How could you ensure their presence? What can you do today to help prepare them for that future event?

4. As we wait for the Savior, who should we look to to teach us His gospel?

6. How important is prayer in our ability to learn the gospel?

7. How does prayer help prepare us to minister to others?

8. How important is it to study the exact word of Christ? Do we ever become tempted to read and study other materials with the reasoning that the scriptures are too hard to understand? If so, how can we overcome that tendency?

9. Why is having the Holy Ghost with us so extremely important?

10. How does having the Spirit with us help us to prepare for and keep the baptismal covenant?

12. How can we accept the invitation to baptism over and over again - figuratively speaking? Are there things in our lives that would decline that covenant? If so how can you purge the from your life?

13. How does making and keeping covenants with The Lord invite the Spirit into or lives?

14. How can feeling the Spirit be likened to being encircled about by fire?

"The Holy Ghost gives us the strength and courage to conduct our lives in the ways of the kingdom of God and is the source of our testimony of the Father and the Son... We need the Holy Ghost as our constant companion to help us make better choices in the decisions that confront us daily. Our young men and women are bombarded with ugly things of the world. Companionship with the spirit will give them the strength to resist evil, and when necessary, repent and return to the strait and narrow path. None of us are immune from the temptations of the adversary. We all need the fortification available through the Holy Ghost... Having the gift of the Holy ghost helps, family members make wise choices - choices that will help them return with their families to their Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, to live with them eternally."  -- Robert D Hales, GC Oct 2000

15. In order to be in the presence of the Savior we must be prepared. If the Savior was to appear during a church meeting how might you feel? Would you be overcome with guilt and shame or would you joy and revel in His divine presence?

16. Why do you suppose that the first thing that the Savior commanded the people to do was to pray?

17-18. Why were the disciples commanded to pray? Why did they pray unto Jesus?

"Jesus had already taught them to pray in His name unto the Father, which they first did... But this time they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God. Jesus was present before them as the symbol of their Father. Seeing Him it was as though they saw the Father; praying to him, it was as though they prayed to the Father. It was a special and unique situation." --Bruce R McConkie 19. Jesus also prayed while the disciples prayed? How does this action teach us of his role as Mediator in our behalf? Where did Jesus go to pray? What can we learn from the Savior about where to pray?

20. What was the Savior most grateful for in regards to his chosen disciples? What do we need to strive to attain in our own lives?

21. Christ asks a blessing in behalf of all those who believe in the gospel. What is that blessing? Why is it so important? What role does faith play on receiving the Spirit? Why should we pray for the spirit to be with us continually?

23. What does this verse teach about unity? Who do you ultimately want to be unified in purpose with?

24. How did the multitude know what to pray for?

"Perfect prayers are those which are inspired, in which the spirit reveals the words which should be used." --Bruce R McConkie

As we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, we can be purified.

25. How would you like to have the countenance of The Lord smile upon you? What do you need to do to receive this blessing? Why do you think Heavenly Father may smile as he watches us pray? Are there things that you say in your prayers that would make Heavenly Father smile?

26. What are we taught in this short verse about the consistency of our prayers?

27. It seems that with each process the people take toward improvement, Jesus feels inspired to pray a prayer of gratitude to His Father for the blessings the multitude are receiving. How often should we express gratitude to our God?

28. Now do faith in Christ and belief in the word work together to purify us?

29. What would it feel like to be given to the Savior out of the world? Does this give a whole new meaning to the phrase 'live in the world but not of the world'?

What does it mean to be purified? How does the Holy Ghost purify and cleanse us?

"Then comes the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost... That affects great change in the hearts of men... It converts them from carnality to spirituality. It cleanses, heals, and purifies the soul... faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, and water baptism are all preliminary and prerequisite to it, but it is the consummation [ultimate end]. To receive it is to have one's garments washed in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ." -- Marion G Romney 

30. How does the consistency of our prayers communicate our desire to do the lords will to our Heavenly Father?

31-32. What privilege was the multitude given in hearing Jesus pray?

33. How did the multitude understand the words of the Saviors prayer?

34. Why was this prayer not recorded?

35. What compliment did Jesus pay to the multitude? Because of their faith, what was this group of people allowed to see that others haven't been privileged to see?

36. What blessing came to these people because they prayed in sincerity and faith?

"If we could advance in holiness - increase in favor with God - nothing can take the place, of prayer... Give prayer - daily prayer, secret prayer - a foremost place in your lives. Let no day pass without it. Communion with the almighty has been a source of strength, inspiration and enlightenment through the world’s history to men and women who have shaped the destinies of individuals and nations for good." -- Ezra T Benson

 "Surely we will not be one with God and Christ until we make Their will and interest our greatest desire. Such submissiveness is not reached in a day, but through the Holy Spirit, The Lord will tutor us if we are willing until I process of time, it may accurately be said that He is in us as the Father is in Him. At times I tremble to consider what may be required, but I know that it is only in this perfect union that a fullness of joy can be found." --D Todd Christofferen