3 Nephi 11:6-7

And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them: Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

Twice a voice from heaven spoke to the people, trying to get their attention. The first time, only a few understood the voice. The next time the voice spoke, perhaps a few more understood and tried to get those around them to hear. Everyone finally stopped talking and started listening, this time anticipating the voice with ears ready to hear and minds ready to understand. When the voice spoke for the third time, everyone heard for everyone was prepared to listen. How many messages do we miss because we are preoccupied, or we don't think the Spirit will actually communicate with us, or we hear but we question what we heard?

3 Nephi 11:3

And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, 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; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

Often the feeling described when a person has a close encounter with the Holy Spirit is burning. The burning feeling is the pure elements of our soul reacting to the purifying fire of the Holy Ghost. It lights us up, and a byproduct of light is heat.

3 Nephi 11:29

For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

Contention is more than an event, it is a spirit or attitude. If we let ourselves be drawn into one contentious situation, that spirit will soon spread to other parts of our lives. When we are drawn into contention, we focus on being right rather than being humble and teachable. The Lord cannot work with us in a state of pride.

3 Nephi 11:22

And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you.

The Master wants his people to be unified. That does not mean we become robots. It means we learn from each other in humility and meekness. We do not contend for our opinion with hot emotions. Our discussions and councils are not about winning and losing but about coming to consensus as we are led by the Holy Spirit. This is how we avoid disputations.

3 Nephi 10:18

And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them.

The greatest favor God can pour out upon us is to reveal his gospel. The greatest favor we can do for ourselves is to accept it.

3 Nephi 9:20

And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

By offering a broken heart and a contrite spirit, we sacrifice our pride and our will. We give them to God. We burn them on the altar of repentance and covenants. We show the Lord that what he wants is more important to us than what we want. Our agency is the one possession that is truly ours, the one thing God will not take from us involuntarily, and therefore the one thing we can give him that is a genuine sacrifice.

3 Nephi 9:17

And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.

Like so much else in the gospel of Christ, becoming a son or daughter of God is a gift -- one for which we must qualify, but a gift nonetheless. When we come unto Christ through faith and ordinances, he begins the redemption process in us. As we repent, our redemption becomes more complete. We learn to sing the song of redeeming love. Our nature changes from carnal to spiritual. When we are truly converted, we are begotten unto God, born again in Christ, and thus he makes us a son or daughter. We are still not perfected, but we are on the path, through the gate, and in the fold. We recognize our Shepherd's voice, and we accept our relationship to him. We are past the servant stage and are on our way to being his friend.