Come Follow Me Personal Thoughts: Book of Mormon Lesson #11

Book of Mormon Lesson # 11—2 Nephi 30–33

“Press Forward with a Steadfastness in Christ”

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Ponderize Scripture: 2 Nephi 33:15. “For thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen.”

Introduction

A long time ago I translated for French and German missionaries in the MTC, mostly for Sunday night gospel study and Tuesday night devotionals. I do not remember who it was who talked on this subject (and if I had been diligent in keeping a journal, I would be able to look it up), but he was from the Missionary Department and he had the MTC missionaries stand up and repeat Nephi’s last words: “for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen” (2 Nephi 33:15). It was to be the driving force for the missionaries as they prepared to serve in the mission field, but it is also a driving force for all of us who wish to be disciples of Christ. Nephi writes that at the end of his life, and indeed it underscored his life of trials and triumphs. Only by striving to obey the Lord’s commandments can we really have a steadfastness, a complete trust, in Christ. And it is because of that steadfastness that we can continue to strive to obey. One eternal round.

2 Nephi 31:1–18. Nephi teaches of the doctrine of Christ. He teaches that Jesus was baptized to “fulfil all righteousness” and that we must be baptized and follow Him. He also teaches about the blessings and power of the Holy Ghost.

What is the “doctrine of Christ?”, Elder Holland: “In the Book of Mormon, ‘the doctrine of Christ’ is simple and direct. It focuses on the first principles of the gospel exclusively, including an expression of encouragement to endure, to persist, to press on. Indeed, it is in the clarity and simplicity of ‘the doctrine of Christ’ that its impact is found. … The doctrine of Christ is not complicated. It is profoundly, beautifully, single-mindedly clear and complete” (Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 49–50, 56). In Elder Scott’s penultimate conference address, citing 2 Nephi 31, he said, “There is no doctrine more fundamental to our work than the Atonement of Jesus Christ. At every appropriate opportunity, testify of the Savior and of the power of His Atoning sacrifice. Use scriptures that teach of Him and why He is the perfect pattern for everyone in life.”[1]

The ongoing part of those first principles seem to be the first two, faith, and repentance. One might think that having been baptized and having received the gift of the Holy Ghost, those two are fulfilled. Here is Elder Hales on baptism, “Entering into the kingdom of God is so important that Jesus was baptized to show us ‘the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which [we] should enter’ (2 Nephi 31:9). … Born of a mortal mother, Jesus was baptized to fulfill His Father’s commandment that sons and daughters of God should be baptized. He set the example for all of us to humble ourselves before our Heavenly Father. We are all welcome to come into the waters of baptism. He was baptized to witness to His Father that He would be obedient in keeping His commandments. He was baptized to show us that we should receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (see 2 Nephi 31:4–9). As we follow the example of Jesus, we, too, demonstrate that we will repent and be obedient in keeping the commandments of our Father in Heaven. We humble ourselves with a broken heart and a contrite spirit as we recognize our sins and seek forgiveness of our trespasses (see 3 Nephi 9:20). We covenant that we are willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and always remember Him” (Ensign, Nov. 2000, 7–8). So we see that the first four principles are intertwined, an integral part of our discipleship.

Verses 17 and 18 teach us about the role of the Holy Ghost—where do you stand in relation to these scriptures? Elder Hales again, “The gift of the Holy Ghost, given to us when we are confirmed, gives us the ability to discern the difference between the giving ways of the kingdom of God and the taking practices of the world. The Holy Ghost gives us the strength and courage to conduct our lives in the ways of the kingdom of God and is the source of our testimony of the Father and the Son. As we obey the will of our Father in Heaven, this priceless gift of the Holy Ghost will be with us continually. We need the Holy Ghost as our constant companion to help us make better choices in the decisions that confront us daily. Our young men and women are bombarded with ugly things of the world. Companionship with the Spirit will give them the strength to resist evil and, when necessary, repent and return to the strait and narrow path. None of us are immune from the temptations of the adversary. We all need the fortification available through the Holy Ghost. Mothers and fathers should prayerfully invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in their dedicated homes. Having the gift of the Holy Ghost helps family members make wise choices—choices that will help them return with their families to their Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, to live with Them eternally” (Ensign, Nov. 2000, 7–8).

2 Nephi 31:19–21. Nephi teaches that we must press forward and endure to the end.

These last verses are very familiar to us, and a reminder that we can only become spiritually “full” if we feast, not nibble, on the words of Christ. And for us this year, that means the Book of Mormon. Elder Maxwell, “We need to feast upon the words of Christ in the scriptures and as these words come to us from living prophets. Just nibbling occasionally will not do. (See 2 Nephi 31:20 and 32:3.) Feasting means partaking with relish and delight and savoring—not gorging episodically in heedless hunger, but partaking gratefully, dining with delight, at a sumptuous spread carefully and lovingly prepared … over the centuries” (Wherefore Ye Must Press Forward [1977], 28).

President Nelson, “To feast means more than to taste. To feast means to savor. We savor the scriptures by studying them in a spirit of delightful discovery and faithful obedience. When we feast upon the words of Christ, they are embedded ‘in fleshy tables of the heart’ [2 Corinthians 3:3]. They become an integral part of our nature” (Ensign, Nov. 2000, 17).

President Benson, who turned our hearts back to the Book of Mormon, said, “In Book of Mormon language, we need to ‘believe in Christ and deny him not.’ (2 Nephi 25:28.) … We need to ‘come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.’ (Moroni 10:32.) … We need to come ‘feasting upon the word of Christ’ (2 Nephi 31:20), as we receive it through His scriptures, His anointed, and His Holy Spirit” (A Witness and a Warning [1988], 51).

2 Nephi 32. Nephi speaks of the importance of feasting on the words of Christ and praying always.

In this chapter, Nephi reiterates the “doctrine of Christ.” Sister Vicki Matsumori, “When we come to understand the whisperings of the Spirit, we will be able to hear Him teach us “the peaceable things of the kingdom” and “all things what [we] should do.” We will recognize answers to our prayers and know how to live the gospel more fully each day. We will be guided and protected. And we can cultivate this gift in our lives as we follow those spiritual promptings. Most importantly, we will feel Him witness to us of the Father and of the Son.”[2]

Maybe you have heard enough of both me and Br. Lott testifying of how important it is to study the Book of Mormon—maybe you have heard that throughout your lives from modern-day prophets, but just in case, here is an illustration from the current General Sunday School President, Tad R. Callister, “But why is the Book of Mormon so essential if we already have the Bible to teach us about Jesus Christ? Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christian churches in the world today when they obtain their doctrines from essentially the same Bible? It is because they interpret the Bible differently. If they interpreted it the same, they would be the same church. This is not a condition the Lord desires, for the Apostle Paul declared that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). To help bring this oneness about, the Lord established a divine law of witnesses. Paul taught, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1). The Bible is one witness of Jesus Christ; the Book of Mormon is another. Why is this second witness so crucial? The following illustration may help: How many straight lines can you draw through a single point on a piece of paper? The answer is infinite. For a moment, suppose that single point represents the Bible and that hundreds of those straight lines drawn through that point represent different interpretations of the Bible and that each of those interpretations represents a different church. What happens, however, if on that piece of paper there is a second point representing the Book of Mormon? How many straight lines could you draw between these two reference points: the Bible and the Book of Mormon? Only one. Only one interpretation of Christ’s doctrines survives the testimony of these two witnesses.”[3]

2 Nephi 33. Nephi declares that people will believe his words if they believe in Christ. He warns that we will be judged according to our acceptance or rejection of his words.

(Br. Lott provided this helpful quote). Elder Bednar has said: “[T]he power of the Spirit carries the message unto but not necessarily into the heart. … [T]he content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter.” (September 2007 Ensign, 61) Quoting the preceding, Elder Gerald L. Lund added: “Individual agency is so sacred that Heavenly Father will never force the human heart …. God allows us to be the guardians, or the gatekeepers, of our own hearts. We must, of our own free will, open our hearts to the Spirit …” (April 2008 General Conference.)

Regarding accepting or rejecting, is there another way, can you sit on the fence? The Lord has said, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). We must have some reaction to what we read in the Book of Mormon, and basically I don’t think you would be reading this unless you were “hot.” But with greater obedience and diligence come greater blessings. Here’s Elder Maxwell, “Serious study of the blessed Book of Mormon admits one to a wonder world of complexity and beauty, even in the midst of the book’s simple, but powerful, spiritual refrain. We are given that which we most need—yet we are athirst for more! Granted, whenever the words of heaven are filtered through mortal minds and tongues there is some diminution. Yet, as with Nephi of old, so it was with Joseph Smith: ‘If ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me’ (2 Ne. 33:10).”[4]

And finally, we, like Nephi, are accountable for our reaction to the Book of Mormon. “President Ezra Taft Benson taught that one of our roles as members of the Church is to declare to others that these are the words of Jesus Christ through His servants: ‘Our main task is to declare the gospel and do it effectively. We are not obligated to answer every objection. Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand. ‘And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye,’ said Nephi, ‘for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things.’ (2 Ne. 33:11.) Every man must judge for himself, knowing God will hold him accountable” (Ensign, May 1975, 65).”[5]

Regarding 2 Nephi 33:7–11, Nibley says in his lecture, "This is one of the objections people always have: It’s always so narrow-minded and so demeaning. Why is it so narrow? Why do so few get through the door? Why is it so limited? Well, to be on target. Here in this world we are on a vast, wide, almost endless plain. We can wander anywhere we want here, and we are prone to wander and go into all sorts of things. With this field to wander in, we can show whether [or not] we have the sense to go in the right direction. You will choose what your heart desires when it’s left entirely up to you. You will gravitate in the direction in which you really want to go. It will expose you as you really are."

Nibley Lecture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5Bx-fHBuQE