As I was reading in 1 Nephi 10, I was pondering upon the importance of prophets.
In Relief Society this past Sunday, the lesson was about each prophet having specific work to do during the time that they are called.
I considered the great sacrifices made by John the Baptist whom was beheaded for Jesus Christ. I saw the way that John's work differed from the later prophets as he was to " prepare the way " for Jesus Christ.
I was thankful that John was mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
As I read about him, I thought about the purpose of this prophet John, being mentioned in the Book of Mormon. What could these Nephites and we learn from this?
We learn from John the Baptist's work, that timing and specific work of a prophet does vary and this is why having a prophet on the earth is so important.
One account is given in Mathew 10 as we see Jesus Christ command his apostles to " go not unto the gentiles " .
We know that Christ loves all people, and wants all people to have His gospel, yet- the timing was not right.
Jesus Says :
Matthew 10:
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Now I consider how that instruction was changed and given through a prophet Peter, thus part of the specific work he had to do:
We see the work of Saul, who became Paul, as an introductory portion of Peter receiving new instructions about his specific work as a prophet:
We clearly see the work of the prophets each being individual and specific to them in these examples.
Acts 9:
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
10 ¶And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Following these verses we see Peter profess the message God would have him share following this account.
The message Peter learns is that God is no respecter of persons. The time was now right for the gospel to be taken to the Gentiles....
Acts 10
34 ¶Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
John the Baptist's work was different as a prophet in his time because he baptized and foretold the coming of Jesus Christ, but he did not give the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.
1 Nephi 10
7 And he spake also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—
8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness:Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.
9 And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.
10 And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world.
Yet later, we would see part of Paul's work as a prophet would include giving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands:
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
These things also help me to consider how each of us here upon the earth have our own work to do, even when we are not prophets. We have a work that is specific to us. We have each been given different spiritual gifts and God given attributes. My desire is that I can use those gifts of the Spirit, and my specific personality for good, to help bring us all closer to my Savior, the one that I love. I hope and pray that I can do better at this.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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