3 Nephi 17: 15 And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him.
I learned years ago the importance of kneeling from my young eight year old son. He would kneel at every prayer, whether at his Christian school morning prayer, at the table before eating, or at church. If we prayed—-he knelt! One day I explained that kneeling is important, but it’s not always necessary. He turned to me, looked up with his crystal blue eyes that pierced me to the center and boldly stated, “I have to kneel, it helps me focus on my Savior.” Those words have pelted my soul over the years and helped me to get on my knees and turn to my father in full respect. In later years, this same son, still always kneeling taught our family that it is a small sacrifice to offer for all that the Lord does for us. I have come to believe in kneeling. Here in third Nephi we have Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, one who is already perfectly one with the Father, and yet, HE KNEELS to the Father in prayer. “He himself knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father.” (3 Nephi 17:15) What an amazing example of perfect humility. He knelt in prayer for us. “The joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.” (3 Nephi 17:17) Wow! Is this not the most amazing moment ever? Does this not give us unbelievable hope in the future? I couldn’t help but to stand a little taller after reading this—Christ joins us in prayer unto the Father for all of our tribulations. “It came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.” (3 Nephi 17:14)
Christ is aware of the trials we face, he has personally suffered for all the ailments that mortality pours out. I have felt that “groan” as I pray to the Father in the name of Christ for my children as they head off to face life. It is overwhelming at times to watch them leave my safe arms—knowing all the stumbling blocks that will be placed in their path, and hoping they will have the courage to overcome them. I have also felt an immense joy and peace with those children of mine who diligently follow the council of the Lord and turn to him in prayer and scriptures to fortify their faith. There is no greater joy or peace for a parent’s heart then to know that their child has prepared themselves to face the world—wrapped in the protection of Christ with the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. I feel this is similar to what Christ is expressing. He groans as he approaches the Father in our behalf, and then he is overcome with joy—joy that comes from our faith and our diligence. He feels so much joy that he weeps! He weeps tears of pure joy! “Blessed are Ye because of your faith. And now behold my joy is full. And when he had said these words, he wept.” (3 Nephi 17:20-21) “And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open.” (3 Nephi 17:24)
We can take that same kneeling respect and sacrifice as we partake of the sacrament each week. Sacrament’s root word is sacrifice. It represents the ultimate—divine sacrifice, made in our behalf by Christ. “And ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you.” (3 Nephi 18:11) As we invite the spirit of repentance and obedience into our hearts while we eat the bread and the water we will be aligning our will with the Father’s and we will be strengthened beyond our natural ability, to resist the adversary and to forgive and love others. “When they had eaten they were filled….and did drink of it and were filled.” (3 Nephi 18:4, 9) This is how we remember Christ in our daily walk, this is how we overcome the world. “It shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.” (3 Nephi 18:7) “If ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock.” (3 Nephi 18:12)
The Lord knows his sheep, and he is counting on us. “I know my sheep and they are numbered.” (3 Nephi 18:31) Now we need to pray without ceasing, for we are going to need his guidance and support. “Ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him….Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” 3 Nephi 18:15) “I am the light; and I have set an example for you.” (3 Nephi 18:16,18) “Ye must always pray unto the Father in my name; And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you. Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.” (3 Nephi 18: 19-21) “Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed.” (3 Nephi 18:24) “When they had all knelt down upon the earth, he commanded his disciples that they should pray.” (3 Nephi 19:17) “They did continue without ceasing to pray.” (3 Nephi 19:24)
3 Nephi 19: 22-23 Father, thou hast given them the Holy Ghost because they believe in me; and thou seest that they believe in me because thou hearest them, and they pray unto me; and they pray unto me because I am with them. And now Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one.
As we kneel in reverence both physically and spiritually our countenance will be changed. “Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus.” (3 Nephi 19:25) This is my favorite moment—Christ smiles! After all he has done for us, we can repay him with joy that makes him weep tears of joy and SMILE! “I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world, because of their faith, that they may be purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them.” (3 Nephi 19:29) “and he did SMILE!” (3 Nephi 19:30)
3 Nephi 19:35 …So great faith have I never seen ….
By Sherri Jorgensen
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