For it came to pass, after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart, I was caught away in the spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceeding high mountain, a mountain which I never had before seen and upon which I never had before sat my foot. And the spirit said unto me, Behold, what desirest thou? And I said, I desire to behold the things which my father saw. And the spirit said unto me, Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken? And I said, Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father. And when I had spoken these words, the spirit cried with a loud voice, saying, Hosanna to the Lord, the Most High God, for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all! And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the Most High God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired. And behold, this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign, that after thou hast beheld the tree which bare the fruit of which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of Heaven, and him shall ye witness. And after ye shall have witnessed him, ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God.
TSJ 1 Nefi 3:6
For it came to pass, after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that yhwh was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in my heart, I was caught away in the spirit of yhwh, yes, into an exceedingly high mountain, a mountain which I never had before seen and upon which I never had before set my foot. And the spirit said unto me, Behold, what do you desire? And I said, I desire to behold the things which my father saw. And the spirit said unto me, Do you believe that your father saw the tree of which he has spoken? And I said, Yes, you know that I believe all the words of my father. And when I had spoken these words, the spirit cried with a loud voice, saying, Hoshianna to yhwh, the El Elyon, for he is Elohim over all the earth, yes, even above all! And blessed are you, Nefi, because you believe in the Son of the El Elyon; wherefore, you shall behold the things which you have desired. And behold, this thing shall be given unto you for a sign, that after you have beheld the tree which bears the fruit of which your father tasted, you shall also behold a man descending out of Heaven, and him shall you witness. And after you shall have witnessed him, you shall bear record that it is the Son of Elohim.
Here Nephi is told that he will behold what he desires to see and understand because of his belief in the Son of the Most High God.
What about the particular way that the spirit phrased the introduction of the vision to Nephi?
Why is it important that the spirit said, "this thing shall be given unto you for a sign,"?
Why not just say "after you have beheld the tree which bears the fruit of which your father tasted, you shall also behold a man descending out of Heaven, and him shall you witness."?
Are we invited to learn something from that fact that right here Nephi is being told that he is receiving a sign?
Was Nephi seeking a sign?
Was Nephi desiring to see the same things his father, Lehi, had seen in order the prove that his father was speaking the truth?
What is the difference between what Nephi desired (to see what his father, Lehi, had seen; which the spirit declared was a sign) and the temple authorities who confronted the Savior after He drove the money changers from the temple for example?
The temple authorities, who had authorized the profiteering, confronted Jesus asking, If you think you have a right to exercise authority over the temple, while identifying yourself as God’s son, show us a sign to prove you have this right, so we can believe you. Jesus answered and said, I will replace the holy of holies in three days with a new holy House of God. The Jews declared, It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will you replace it in three days? But he was talking of the temple of his resurrected body. Later after he was resurrected from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this to the temple authorities, and they remembered the scripture, and what Jesus had said to the disciples. (Teachings and Commandments, Section 171, The Testimony of St John Chapter 1 par. 19)
Would it be critical to understand the difference between the actions of Nephi and the actions of the temple authorities who confronted the Lord?
What has the Lord declared about people who seek for signs?
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and testing Jesus, desired of him that he would show them a sign from Heaven. And he answered and said unto them, When it is evening you say, The weather is fair, for the sky is red; and in the morning you say, The weather is foul today, for the sky is red and overcast. O hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky, but you cannot tell the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there shall no sign be given unto it but the sign of the prophet Jonah. And he left them and departed. (Matthew 16:1 - 4, NC Matthew 8 par. 15)
Why did the Lord sternly charge those He healed to be silent about the matter?
And when Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed him, crying and saying, Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on us. And when he had come into the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said unto them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it unto you. And their eyes were opened. And sternly he charged them, saying, Keep my commandments and see you tell no man in this place, that no man know it. But they, when they had departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. (Matthew 9:27 - 31, NC Matthew 4 par. 13)
This happened on multiple occasions by the way.
Does it have anything to do with this?
And he that seeks signs shall see signs, but not unto salvation. Verily I say unto you, there are those among you who seek signs, and there have been such even from the beginning. But behold, faith comes not by signs, but signs follow those that believe. Yea, signs come by faith, not by the will of men nor as they please, but by the will of God. Yea, signs come by faith unto mighty works, for without faith no man pleases God. And with whom God is angry, he is not well pleased, wherefore, unto such he shows no signs, only in wrath unto their condemnation. Wherefore, I, the Lord, am not pleased with those among you who have sought after signs and wonders for faith, and not for the good of men unto my glory. (D&C 63:7 - 12, Teachings and Commandments 50 par. 3)
Christ said to tell no one because it would attract the wrong kind of follower. It would attract the adulterers. It would attract the sign seekers. It would attract the wrong kind of people. Satan tempted Christ asking him for signs that were self-serving. Bread for the Lord to eat when the Lord was hungry. A show of angelic support when he would be cast off the Temple's pinnacle. At his death, the wicked emanded signs from him. Spare yourself from the crucifixion; heal yourself. Signs are by their very nature self-serving and attention-grabbing, and it is just inevitable. (Denver Snuffer, "Signs Follow Faith", March 2019, Centerville, Utah, pg. 13)
Capernaum enjoyed the earthly presence of the Lord and it was also the place where many miracles and great works occurred.
Isn't it evident from the Lord's words that the city of Capernaum failed to believe on Christ as the Son of God?
Is it putting people in a position where they incur the wrath of God and bring condemnation upon themselves to manifest a sign if they do not already believe?
Is this why the Lord was careful to instruct the recipients of the miracles He wrought to not publicize the miracle?
The scriptures demonstrate that anyone who believes in Christ the Son of God will receive signs; not because they seek them but because the Lord is confirming their belief and their faith.
As an example, Nephi's initial experience concerning his inquiry about his father's words.
Wasn't the softening of Nephi's heart a sign that God gave to him?
When Alma spoke of the experiment on the word of God how it would grow and swell if we would give it place, isn't the growing and swelling a sign from God that the word is good?
There is a part of Joseph Smith's history that is dear to me because of the experience I had.
Following their baptisms, Joseph and Oliver experienced the following.
Wasn't this a divine sign that followed because of Joseph and Oliver's belief in the Doctrine of Christ?
Following my re-baptism on the 21st of September 2014 I began to experience the very same sign.
What about the following sign the Lord set forth?
Does the following align with what the Lord stated here above?
Signs follow faith. Signs follow faith by the will of God, not of man. From the Teachings and Commandments: And these signs shall follow them that believe:in my name they shall do many wonderful works (T&C82:22). You want a sign that someone is a follower of Christ? Go ask the single mother with children who's being helped by the tithes of a fellowship that go directly to help her whether that is a wonderful work in her life and in her experience, and that's the first sign —perhaps the primary sign; perhaps the greatest sign. Because it’s relieving the need of someone that needs it. (Denver Snuffer, "Signs Follow Faith", March 2019, Centerville, Utah, pg. 14)
The Lord has further stated, concerning signs,
Receive Him. It may start very slow, very small, very distant. Act on that. Hearken to that. It gets louder. You will never wind up in the company of Gods and angels if you’re not willing to have faith in those preliminary things that you receive that ask you to go and to do. ("Who Is Christ", Denver Snuffer Podcast, Episode 3, Denver Snuffer.com. Also 40 Years in Mormonism Talk Series Talk #7, "Christ:Prototype of the Saved Being", Ephraim, Utah, June 28, 2014)
If we consider Nephi's journey to this point where he receives this sign does it not follow this course?
What you need is a true message from God. That is what the restored Gospel says it is. If you would like to know if those claims are true, you must want to believe it and be willing to ask God to find out. You must have a "desire" to believe. Then you must "cry unto the Lord" so the Lord can aid you to overcome unbelief.
Although the end of the process may be great and glorious, it begins very humbly. It began so with Nephi. It begins similarly with everyone who will walk that path. Interestingly, wherever you are in the path, the next step is always the first step all over again. Whenever you encounter the doubts and skepticism, the route through them is the same route taken to find faith in the first place. (The Second Comforter, Denver Snuffer, pgs 65 - 66)
We've discussed this before.
Isn't Nephi's experience included in here so that we may see the path we can and we must trod in order to come back to God?
Aren't the signs, even the small ones, that God gives along the path meant to confirm that we are still on His path after we have traveled the distance God requires us to travel to that point?
Wouldn't this way of doing things, God's way, make the process of walking in the path more important than the signs received?
Isn't it the process of walking the path that allows us to become like God?
Is it the same for each of us just like it was for Nephi?
Again, as always, there is so much more to consider and so many more resources that can be accessed than can be shared in a blog post.
Hopefully, the post gives the inspiration to dig deeper into the matter.
At the end of this paragraph, according to my present understanding, isn't Nephi being told that he is going to become a "preacher" in the sense that Paul was talking about; what we covered in the last post?
Nephi is told, "after thou hast beheld the tree which bare the fruit of which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of Heaven, and him shall ye witness. And after ye shall have witnessed him, ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God."
Nephi, after this experience, will have a true message from the Father. He will be sent to bear record of the Son of God.
Remember what the Lord declared about the city of Capernaum?
And you, Capernaum, which are exalted unto Heaven, shall be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you. (Matthew 11:23 - 24, NC Matthew 6 par. 6)
Isn't it evident from the Lord's words that the city of Capernaum failed to believe on Christ as the Son of God?
Is it putting people in a position where they incur the wrath of God and bring condemnation upon themselves to manifest a sign if they do not already believe?
Is this why the Lord was careful to instruct the recipients of the miracles He wrought to not publicize the miracle?
This sign Nephi is receiving then is coming because Nephi already has belief and the Lord declared above that "signs follow those that believe. Yea, signs come by faith...Yea, signs come by faith unto mighty works".
As an example, Nephi's initial experience concerning his inquiry about his father's words.
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceeding young, nevertheless, being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore I cried unto the Lord. And behold, he did visit me and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers. (1 Nephi 2:16 - 24, NC 1 Nephi 1 par. 9)
When Alma spoke of the experiment on the word of God how it would grow and swell if we would give it place, isn't the growing and swelling a sign from God that the word is good?
There is a part of Joseph Smith's history that is dear to me because of the experience I had.
Following their baptisms, Joseph and Oliver experienced the following.
Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understandings, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of...(Joseph Smith History 1:74, Teachings and Commandments, Section 1, Joseph Smith History part 14 par. 4)
Wasn't this a divine sign that followed because of Joseph and Oliver's belief in the Doctrine of Christ?
Following my re-baptism on the 21st of September 2014 I began to experience the very same sign.
What about the following sign the Lord set forth?
I give you a new commandment, That you love one another. Love each other as I have loved you. If you have love for each other it will be a sign that will identify you to all mankind as my followers. (Teachings and Commandments, Section 171, The testimony of St John 10 par. 7)
Signs follow faith. Signs follow faith by the will of God, not of man. From the Teachings and Commandments: And these signs shall follow them that believe:in my name they shall do many wonderful works (T&C82:22). You want a sign that someone is a follower of Christ? Go ask the single mother with children who's being helped by the tithes of a fellowship that go directly to help her whether that is a wonderful work in her life and in her experience, and that's the first sign —perhaps the primary sign; perhaps the greatest sign. Because it’s relieving the need of someone that needs it. (Denver Snuffer, "Signs Follow Faith", March 2019, Centerville, Utah, pg. 14)
And these signs shall follow them that believe: in my name they shall do many wonderful works; in my name they shall cast out devils; in my name they shall heal the sick; in my name they shall open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf, and the tongue of the dumb shall speak; and if any man shall administer poison unto them, it shall not hurt them; and the poison of a serpent shall not have power to harm them. But a commandment I give unto them that they shall not boast themselves of these things, neither speak them before the world, for these things are given unto you for your profit and for salvation. (D&C 84:65 - 73, Teachings and Commandments section 82 par. 22)
Is Nephi's experience with signs instructive for us so that we can understand "how great things the Lord has done"?
Shouldn't we be confident that if we do not seek for signs but we believe in Christ and act on that belief that God, according to His will and His timing, confirm our belief and our actions?
Receive Him. It may start very slow, very small, very distant. Act on that. Hearken to that. It gets louder. You will never wind up in the company of Gods and angels if you’re not willing to have faith in those preliminary things that you receive that ask you to go and to do. ("Who Is Christ", Denver Snuffer Podcast, Episode 3, Denver Snuffer.com. Also 40 Years in Mormonism Talk Series Talk #7, "Christ:Prototype of the Saved Being", Ephraim, Utah, June 28, 2014)
What you need is a true message from God. That is what the restored Gospel says it is. If you would like to know if those claims are true, you must want to believe it and be willing to ask God to find out. You must have a "desire" to believe. Then you must "cry unto the Lord" so the Lord can aid you to overcome unbelief.
Although the end of the process may be great and glorious, it begins very humbly. It began so with Nephi. It begins similarly with everyone who will walk that path. Interestingly, wherever you are in the path, the next step is always the first step all over again. Whenever you encounter the doubts and skepticism, the route through them is the same route taken to find faith in the first place. (The Second Comforter, Denver Snuffer, pgs 65 - 66)
We've discussed this before.
Isn't Nephi's experience included in here so that we may see the path we can and we must trod in order to come back to God?
Aren't the signs, even the small ones, that God gives along the path meant to confirm that we are still on His path after we have traveled the distance God requires us to travel to that point?
Wouldn't this way of doing things, God's way, make the process of walking in the path more important than the signs received?
Isn't it the process of walking the path that allows us to become like God?
Is it the same for each of us just like it was for Nephi?
Again, as always, there is so much more to consider and so many more resources that can be accessed than can be shared in a blog post.
Hopefully, the post gives the inspiration to dig deeper into the matter.
At the end of this paragraph, according to my present understanding, isn't Nephi being told that he is going to become a "preacher" in the sense that Paul was talking about; what we covered in the last post?
Nephi is told, "after thou hast beheld the tree which bare the fruit of which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of Heaven, and him shall ye witness. And after ye shall have witnessed him, ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God."
Nephi, after this experience, will have a true message from the Father. He will be sent to bear record of the Son of God.
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