The message of the Savior to His listeners in America two millennia ago is universal and timeless. In the Beatitudes He reveals His agenda for blessing them and all covenant peoples of every generation. He teaches them that they are “the salt of the earth” and “a light to this people” (3 Nephi 12:13–14). With the law of Moses fulfilled in Him, He teaches them the higher law of perfection, including the practices that characterize the nature of true discipleship.
In these marvelous chapters of 3 Nephi, the Lord gives to us His law for living—eternal verities that, when followed sincerely, lead us to life everlasting. Third Nephi is the Lord’s occasion to preach and teach these celestial and transcendent truths of the kingdom. What He says should serve as the basis for a lifetime of study and application in our individual lives. He instructs us later in His discourse that we need to ponder and meditate over His teachings. In keeping with this instruction, we should implement these sayings of the Lord in our lives. These are the words to live by, our standards and values for living. They become our strength in our hour of need. Surely they show us the things we need to do and improve upon. They come as principles with a promise, even the promise happiness and eventually eternal life. “I am the law, and the light,” the Savior declares. “Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live” (3 Nephi 15:9).