Mine Own Received Me Not

 Right before the Savior was to come into the world, the prophet Nephi heard these words from Him: “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world…. Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world” (3 Nephi 1:14). I remember once a teacher commenting on this passage about the sense of anticipation of the Savior to finally be coming among His people. He had revealed His word to them for hundreds of years—to the prophets of the House of Israel—and they had worshipped Him as Jehovah. Now He was finally going to come among them, His own people, to show them the way of salvation and atone for their sins.

               As we know, though, those people—His people—did not accept Him. Jacob had prophesied how they would crucify Him and commented on their wickedness: “There is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God” (2 Nephi 10:3). They were His people, and yet they rejected and killed Him. Since His resurrection the Savior seems to have wanted to emphasize this fact that He came to His people but His people rejected Him. He said to the Nephites about 34 years after telling Nephi He was coming: “I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled” (3 Nephi 9:16). Instead of anticipation here we have a sense of disappointment that He was rejected by His own people whom He had covenanted with for thousands of years. He repeated this sentiment many times in our dispensation. To Oliver Cowdery He declared, “Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto mine own, and mine own received me not” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:21). He used almost the same language to describe Himself in four other revelations (Doctrine and Covenants 10:57, 11:29, 39:3, 45:8). He also stated that to the wicked He would say in the last day: “In that day when I came unto mine own, no man among you received me, and you were driven out. When I called again there was none of you to answer” (Doctrine and Covenants 133:66:67).

               So why did He emphasize this point to us? Surely it was not to get pity from us; rather, I believe it is a warning and a invitation for us to consider how well we would and do receive Him. We who have taken on us His name, who claim today to be His people, if He came among us would we receive Him? I think we have a couple of litmus tests to help us know how well we receive Him. One scripture tells us, “For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:36). How well do we receive His servants? How well do we hearken and heed their words? The other scripture that perhaps broadens the meaning of receiving Him much more is the parable of the sheep and goats. If we see any that are sick, or in prison, or in need, if we receive them by offering help, then we are indeed receiving Him: “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40). The Savior invites us to receive Him today by receiving His servants and receiving all of His Father’s children who need our help.