3 Nephi 12

The BeatitudesWhat does ‘beatitudes’ mean?

The word beatitude means “blessedness,” “to be fortunate,” or

“to be happy.”

The Beatitudes“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of

attitude on life. Attitude is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.

“The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

“I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.”

~Charles Swindoll

3 Nephi 12:3-12 vsMatthew 5:3-12

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

President Harold B. Lee said:

“Jesus has given us eight distinct ways by which we might receive joy. . . . These declarations of the Master are known as the Beatitudes and have been referred to by Bible commentators as ‘The Constitution for a Perfect Life.’” (Harold B. Lee, Decisions for Successful Living [1973], 56–57).

The Beatitudes (Bible Video)

3 Nephi 11

Take 5-10 minutes and study your beatitude; seek to discover a principle or application1. Poor in Spirit2. Blessed are they that mourn3. The Meek4. Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness5. The Merciful6. Pure in Heart7. Peacemakers8. The Persecuted

The Beatitudes

Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the poor in spirit

“To be poor in spirit is to feel yourselves as the spiritually needy, ever dependent upon the Lord for your clothes, your food and the air you breathe, your health, your life.”

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Blessed are they that mourn

Blessed are they that mourn

“To mourn, one must show that ‘godly sorrow’ and a forgiveness of sins.”

Blessed are they that mourn

Blessed are the meek

The Meek

“A meek man is defined as one who is not easily provoked or irritated and forbearing under injury or annoyance. Meekness is not synonymous with weakness. The meek man is the strong, the mighty, the man of complete self-mastery.”

Blessed are the meek

Blessed are they which do hungerand thirst after righteousness

Hunger and Thirst After Righteousness

“It’s that hungering and thirsting that leads those away from home to seek fellowship with saints in sacrament meeting. It is that which prompts fervent prayer and leads our feet to holy temples.”

Blessed are they which do hungerand thirst after righteousness

Blessed are the merciful

The Merciful

“Is there one who has never been wounded by the slander of another whom he thought to be his friend? Do you remember the struggle you had to try to refrain from retribution? Blessed are all you who are merciful for you shall obtain mercy!”

Blessed are the merciful

Blessed are the pure in heart

Pure in Heart

“If you would see God, you must be pure. In a lesser degree, you will be able to see ‘God’ or “The Good” in others and love them because of the goodness you see.”

Blessed are the pure in heart

Blessed are the peacemakers

Peacemakers

“Peacemakers shall be called the children of God. The trouble-maker, the striker, the leader of the mob, the law-breaker are prompted by motives of evil. Unless they desist, they will be known as the children of Satan rather than children of God. That one who is quarrelsome or contentious, and whose arguments are for other purposes than to resolve the truth, is violating a fundamental principle.”

Blessed are the peacemakers

Blessed are they which are persecuted

The Persecuted

“When you are hissed and scoffed because you refuse to compromise your standards in order to win the applause of the crowd, if you stand firmly for the right despite the jeers of the crowd or even physical violence, you shall be crowned with the blessedness of eternal joy.”

Blessed are they which are persecuted

BEATTITUDE BLESSING PRINCIPLE/ORDINANCE

The Sermon on the Plain3 Nephi 12-14

BEATTITUDE BLESSING PRINCIPLE/ORDINANCE

Poor in Spirit (who come unto me)

MournMeek

Hunger and Thirst

The Sermon on the Plain3 Nephi 12-14

BEATTITUDE BLESSING PRINCIPLE/ORDINANCE

Poor in Spirit (who come unto me)

Kingdom of Heaven

Mourn ComfortMeek Inherit the Earth

Hunger and Thirst Filled w/ Holy Ghost

The Sermon on the Plain3 Nephi 12-14

BEATTITUDE BLESSING PRINCIPLE/ORDINANCE

Poor in Spirit (who come unto me)

Kingdom of Heaven

Faith

Mourn Comfort RepentanceMeek Inherit the Earth Baptism

Hunger and Thirst Filled w/ Holy Ghost

Gift of the Holy Ghost

The Sermon on the Plain3 Nephi 12-14

4th A

OF

BEATTITUDE BLESSING PRINCIPLE/ORDINANCE

Poor in Spirit (who come unto me)

Kingdom of Heaven

Faith

Mourn Comfort RepentanceMeek Inherit the Earth Baptism

Hunger and Thirst Filled w/ Holy Ghost

Gift of the Holy Ghost

MercifulPure in HeartPeacemakersPersecuted

The Sermon on the Plain3 Nephi 12-14

4th A

OF

BEATTITUDE BLESSING PRINCIPLE/ORDINANCE

Poor in Spirit (who come unto me)

Kingdom of Heaven

Faith

Mourn Comfort RepentanceMeek Inherit the Earth Baptism

Hunger and Thirst Filled w/ Holy Ghost

Gift of the Holy Ghost

Merciful Obtain Forgiveness

Pure in Heart See GodPeacemakers Kingdom of

HeavenPersecuted Rewarded in

Heaven

The Sermon on the Plain3 Nephi 12-14

4th A

OF

BEATTITUDE BLESSING PRINCIPLE/ORDINANCE

Poor in Spirit (who come unto me)

Kingdom of Heaven

Faith

Mourn Comfort RepentanceMeek Inherit the Earth Baptism

Hunger and Thirst Filled w/ Holy Ghost

Gift of the Holy Ghost

Merciful Obtain Forgiveness

Pure in Heart See GodPeacemakers Kingdom of

HeavenPersecuted Rewarded in

Heaven

The Sermon on the Plain3 Nephi 12-14

4th A

OF

D&

C 1

07:1

8-19

D&C 107:18-19

Class Discussion

Can you think of someone you know who seems to understand and live by example one of the beatitudes? What is like to be around them? How are they an example to you? 1. Poor in Spirit

2. Blessed are they that mourn3. The Meek4. Hunger and Thirst After

Righteousness5. The Merciful6. Pure in Heart7. Peacemakers8. The Persecuted

3 Nephi 12:13, 14-

16

Think of the individual who impresses you most as perfection in chastity…

Now think of the one who is most unselfish, whose life is bound up in the lives of others…

Now one who is your ideal in kindliness, who forgives with all the heart, who carries no bitterness, no envy, no jealousy.

Now the individual whom you admire most as one who is obedient and free from arrogance, who prays with most sincerity and who follows righteous teachings most completely.

And now consider the person whom you most admire; who is keen in intellect, who knows much but is ever learning; and the individual who is most unselfish, who gives himself, his time, his talents generously for others.

Blessed are they….

And now, the one who exhibits the greatest degree of love—love for the Lord, love for his fellowmen, love for his associates, his family; the one who is gracious, personable, generous, loving; the ideal son, father, daughter, mother and friend.

And now . . . combine all these heroic people with all their monumental virtues into one composite figure….

and…..

you still have an inferior to the Lord, Jesus Christ, who had all virtues at their best.

 

Elder Spencer W. Kimball to the Jordan Seminary Graduation Class, May 14, 1954, Sandy, Utah, pamphlet, pp. 9-10.

Blessed are they …

• The poor in spirit. Are you coming unto Christ?• Those who mourn. Are you repenting?• The meek. Are you controlled?• They who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Are you

hungry for the gospel? Do you attend your church meetings ‘hungry’?

• The merciful. Are you forgiving?• The pure in heart. Is your media pure?• The peacemakers. Do others consider you a

peacemaker?• Those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.

Are you standing up for your beliefs?

The Beatitudes

Which of the Beatitudes do you think you are living live best? Which one would you like to apply more fully in your life?    

3 Nephi 12