3 Nephi 10:12-15 -- Enduring to Witness the Resurrection

12 - And it was the more righteous part of the people who were saved, and it was they who received the prophets and stoned them not; and it was they who had not shed the blood of the saints, who were spared-

What did it take to be a part of this "more righteous part". Look at the scriptures in the footnotes for "more". Specifically, read 2 Nephi 26:8. These were those who hearkened to the words of the prophets, and destroy them not. Destroy what, the words of the prophets? The prophets themselves? Is there a difference from an eternal perspective? How does one go about destroying the words of the prophets? They looked forward to Christ with steadfastness. What does it mean to be steadfast in this instance? They were steadfast, even in the midst of all persecution. For ANY person to walk the same path that these saints walked, persecution will come. That persecution may have different forms for different people, but the persecution will come. This is part of the process of salvation. Think about all the dispensations of the gospel, were there any where the righteous were not persecuted? If you are not being persecuted, what can that imply? Back to verse 12. What or who makes a person a prophet? Why were they stoned? Why not just ignore them?

13 - And they were spared and were not sunk and buried up in the earth; and they were not drowned in the depths of the sea; and they were not burned by fire, neither were they fallen upon and crushed to death; and they were not carried away in the whirlwind; neither were they overpowered by the vapor of smoke and darkness.

All of these calamities that are described in this verse, who did they happen to? Did just the wicked experience the precursor actions that ended in these calamities? Were the righteous protected and watching from afar off? Why were the righteous people required to experience these things, the same as the wicked? The sparing happened at the end, not before the trials started. Why?

14 - And now, whoso readeth, let him understand; he that hath the scriptures, let him search them, and see and behold if all these deaths and destructions by fire, and by smoke, and by tempests, and by whirlwinds, and by the opening of the earth to receive them, and all these things are not unto the fulfilling of the prophecies of many of the holy prophets.

Mormon stops the reader here and says "And now, whoso readeth, let him understand". Why would he have put a statement in there like that? Are the things preceding that statement to be taken lightly? Glossed over? He saw us in this day. He knew what kind of people were are. Why are the events that happened on the American continent at the death and resurrection of Christ so important to us now? We don't stone prophets do we? Are those events and attitudes that happened then a type of what will happen before the second coming of Christ? Mormon also pleads with us to search the scriptures. Why? He tells us that they say these things. Why would he tell us to search them? Is there something vital that can not be gained/given to a person except through searching in the scriptures for these things? Do you trust Mormon enough to do as he asks?

15 - Behold, I say unto you, Yeah, many have testified of these things at the coming of Christ, and were slain because they testified of these things.

When is the time period being referenced here? Is it at the same time that the signs of the Savior's birth? So great signs were given and those who prophesied that more great things would happen at his death were killed because they said these things. How can that possibly apply to us in this day and age? Are we guilty of thinking that all of the calamitous events prophesied to happen before the second coming of the Lord won't happen because everything seems to be going fine right now? Are we guilty of destroying the words of prophets by rationalizing the meaning away because it is contrary to our will? Are you prepared to endure the events that are coming?

... Great things 2 ponder upon.