At the October 1990 general conference, Sister Ruth B. Wright, then-second counselor in the Primary general presidency, spoke about the resurrected Savior's appearance to the Nephites and the comfort and assurance that can be received by reading the account of His visit in the Book of Mormon.
She said she had a friend who had a series of traumatic events happen to her in a short period of time. "She was physically weakened, emotionally distraught, and spiritually drained," Sister Wright said. "Every day seemed harder for her to face than the day before. She was desperate for comfort. While lying in a hospital bed anticipating an unwanted but necessary surgery, she felt utterly alone. Her thoughts turned to Joseph Smith and his sufferings in Liberty Jail. Then she thought about our Savior, Jesus Christ. She asked her husband to read to her from 3 Nephi. The Nephites had gathered at the temple in the land Bountiful and twice heard a voice they didn't understand that seemed to come from heaven." `It being a small voice . . . did pierce them . . . 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. . . .
" `And behold, the third time they did understand the voice. . . .
" `Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name - hear ye him.
" `They saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe. . . .
" `Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
" `And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.' " (3 Ne. 11:3, 6-8, 10-11.)
Sister Wright said that after her friend listened to this passage, a sweet peace enveloped her. "For the first time in months she felt relief," she said. "Her fears were calmed. She gained strength to carry on.
"Not only did Christ minister to the multitude; He also gave strength to the children. In the seventeenth chapter of 3 Nephi, Jesus asked that the little ones be brought to Him and He gathered them around Him.
" `He took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. . . .
" `And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.
" `And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.' " (3 Ne. 11:21, 23-24.)
Sister Wright said, "When I read that passage, I am filled to overflowing with the love Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father have for me and you and the whole world. He blesses us daily, as He blessed the little children, with a love that gives me strength to go forth with assurance that He will guide me."
