I'm sorry this post is very long and a little late, but I have been SO excited to study this chapter! Chapter 11 in 3 Nephi is my very favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon. This is the chapter when Christ comes to visit the Americas after He has been resurrected. I'll just highlight a few of my favorite points and hopefully I can do it justice :)
Quick summary: It's about a year after all the destruction happened because of the Savior's crucifixion. The people gathered at the temple and they were admiring the changes that had occurred since then.
While they're talking, "...they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard..." (Verse 3).
I italicized "round about" because that gives us a horizontal implication. They looked around at each other, trying to figure out what just happened. If there is something that you don't understand, go straight to the source. Go vertical instead of horizontal and pray to your Heavenly Father for answers.
Verse 5: "And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were toward the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came."
When it says that they "did open their ears to hear it," that wasn't a physical change. In order to hear the voice of the Lord through the Spirit, we should open up our spiritual ears. How do we do that?
Well, you have a heart. Not just the one that pumps blood through your body and keeps your body alive, but the non-tangible one. The one that defines who you are, what you like and dislike, and that should be softened in order to feel the Spirit in your life. Watch this:
Heart
In the middle of the word heart, you have the word ear! In order to hear and understand someone, especially your loving Heavenly Father, you need to open your heart and be ready and willing to listen.
After He is introduced by both Heavenly Father and Himself as the Savior of the world, the people "fell to the earth" out of reverence and respect for their Redeemer. That reaction is symbolic of Adam's and our own falls. Christ then invites everyone to rise up and come to Him. He is the only one who can redeem us and bring us back up after we fall, whether our fall is because of sin or a hard time in our lives. He can lift us and help us along.
Verse 15: "And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come."
Once again, I've italicized those words for a reason. Christ invites the people to come to Him and feel the wounds in His hands and side. Not only does the whole multitude go forth, but they go one by one. Because they went forth as a group, that shows us how infinite the Atonement is. It's for everyone! Every single person who has or will live on the earth. I think it's more important, however, that we notice that they go one by one. Not only is the Atonement infinite, but it's very intimate. Each of those people had a different need. Some would need the Savior to smile with them, others to cry with them. He is not worried one bit about time here.
So, I'd like to pose the question, what do you need Jesus to be for you? It will be different for each person, and it will change throughout your life, but He knows exactly what you're feeling. He knows what it feels like to have your heart broken, to stub your toe really hard, to lose a loved one, or whatever the feeling may be. He went forth suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind. He wants to help you! He loves you so very much.
Now, on the other side of that, what does Jesus need you to be for Him? I think after performing something like the Atonement, the least we could do in return is believe in Him. Follow in His footsteps. He wants to be your best friend.
Finally, I want to share this video with you. This is a really beautiful slideshow of pictures of what the Savior's coming to the Americas might have looked like. Please watch it! It really touched me, so hopefully it will do the same for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgjzpn4fMBY
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