Hard to Be Understood Save a Man Should Inquire of the Lord

 1 Nephi 15:1 - 5, NC 1 Nephi 4 par. 1

And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been carried away in the spirit and seen all these things, I returned to the tent of my father. And it came to pass that I beheld my brethren, and they were disputing one with another concerning the things which my father had spoken unto them; for he truly spake many great things unto them which were hard to be understood save a man should inquire of the Lord. And they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto the Lord as they ought. And now I, Nephi, was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, and also because of the things which I had seen, and knew they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great wickedness of the children of men. And it came to pass that I was overcome because of my afflictions, for I considered that mine afflictions were great above all because of the destructions of my people, for I had beheld their fall.

The Stick of Joseph in the Hand of Ephraim 1 Nefi 4 par. 1

And it came to pass that after I, Nefi, had been carried away in the spirit and seen all these things, I returned to the tent of my father. And it came to pass that I beheld my brothers, and they were disputing one with another concerning the things which my father had spoken unto them; for he truly spoke many great things unto them which were hard to be understood except a man should inquire of yhwh. And they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto yhwh as they ought. And now I, Nefi, was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, and also because of the things which I had seen, and knew they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great wickedness of the children of men. And it came to pass that I was overcome because of my afflictions, for I considered that my afflictions were great above all because of the destructions of my people, for I had beheld their fall.

For me, when I am presented with a godly principle where I am lacking quite badly because of my own actions, it is hard to address.

My understanding is that I am lacking exceedingly in all godly principles because of my own actions but this one weighs on me more than most right now.

If I look honestly at my life and I reflect on my present exceedingly limited understanding of godliness, I must confess that for an overwhelming majority of the time I find myself in just this condition; disputing concerning the things which have been spoken unto me by authorized servants in the scriptures and in person because in the hardness of my own heart I have not looked unto the Lord as I ought to have done for understanding of things which are hard to be understood save I should inquire of the Lord.

As I write this post I would point out that what I am sharing is something I am trying to look at in a way of repentance for me.  I believe that what I find will do me no good except I put it into action.

I presently understand that the above statement of putting things into action applies to all parts of the gospel, but for me presently, this matter it feels even more acute.

I guess the first question I would ask, for myself, is what does it mean to really and truly look unto the Lord?

What qualities and characteristics are involved in living a life of performing such an action?

Obviously Nephi has been doing just that.

If I look back right now on Nephi's experience to this point can I pick up on things that I have passed over?

Is this the first recorded event of Nephi's looking unto the Lord so to speak?

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. And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his holy spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words. But behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my words. And being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, I cried unto the Lord for them. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying, Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently with lowliness of heart. And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper and shall be led to a land of promise, yea, even a land which I have prepared for you, a land which is choice above all other lands. And inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren. For behold, in that day that they shall rebel against me, I will curse them even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over thy seed except they shall rebel against me also. And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto thy seed to stir them up in the ways of remembrance. (1 Nephi 2:16 - 24, NC 1 Nephi 1 par. 9)

Did Nephi's journey of looking unto the Lord come because of his great desires to know of the mysteries of God?

If so, do I possess the same desire or am I content with where I am at?

What would be the definition of the mysteries of God?

That knowledge which is hidden from the world and only made available through revelation to the faithful. Much of such knowledge may be learned but is not to be taught. One will have to apply the process of learning the mysteries in one’s life if he or she intends to learn the mysteries themselves. The scriptures tell us how to get the “mysteries of God.” Learning these mysteries is the fullness of Christ’s Gospel. There is a system by which men learn the mysteries of heaven and are saved. That system is set out in Alma 9:7: first, angels are sent to prepare men and women; second, they are allowed to behold the Lord’s glory; then they converse with the Lord, at which point they are taught the things that have been prepared from the foundation of the earth for their salvation. All of this is driven by the man or woman’s faith, repentance, and holy works. Joseph Smith said, I advise all to go on to perfection and search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of godliness…. [As for myself] it has always been my province to dig up hidden mysteries, new things, for my hearers. This is the Book of Mormon theme. Search deeper, and find God. Ask that you may know the mysteries of God. That is a commandment. Although given to Oliver Cowdery, it is a principle that is applicable to all of mankind (see T&C 3:3). The claim that one should stay away from the mysteries of God is false. Refusing to follow the command to ask that you may know the mysteries of God (JSH 13:26) denies the power of godliness and opposes the doctrine of salvation. It is anti-Christ. “We make our own mysteries; we are not meant to be kept in darkness, and the mysteries of heaven will be unfolded to us as we make an effort to understand them.” Christ said that the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are understood only by those who have been initiated and given that understanding (see Matthew 7:2). Mysteries can also be defined as solemn ceremonial ordinances or rituals which take place in a special setting. “Mysteries (from the Greek, mystērion, μυστήριον)…[are] confided only to the initiated and not to be communicated by them to ordinary mortals.” (Teachings and Commandments, Glossary of Terms, "Mysteries of God")

Did Nephi spend his days walking around alone or sitting around reading and pondering the things of God to manifest his desire to know these mysteries?

I don't believe so.

I do believe that Nephi took time to be alone and ponder and meditate but I do not believe that he was neglectful of his daily labors necessary for his and his family's maintenance.

My present understanding is that any individual may perform all of the responsible duties of life that require time and effort and still have and act on this same desire to know the mysteries of God.

The priests that Alma the elder ordained were taught to perform the necessary labors of life to support themselves and their families and in addition to that perform their responsibilities to teach, thus showing their desire to know the mysteries of God.

And he commanded them that they should observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God. And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support. And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also as often as it was in their power to assemble themselves together. And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support, but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that they might wax strong in the spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they might teach with power and authority from God. (Mosiah 18:23 - 26, NC Mosiah 9 par. 10)

If I understand it correctly it was precisely because the priests worked to support themselves and their families and in addition to that spent additional time to do whatever was necessary to teach that they qualified to have knowledge of God (would that be considered knowledge of His mysteries?).

They were given grace which allowed them to wax strong in the spirit.

So how is one able to manifest their desires to know the mysteries of God while they are required to labor for their support?

Is the following one example of being able to do just that?

Well, my Stake President asked me a few weeks ago about whether I was praying at the time I had one of the encounters he and I were discussing, and I said, ‘It's not a fair question. I'll wake up in the morning and I start to pray. Throughout the day, I will take care of a thousand things. And whenever I am free, my mind will revert back to the prayer, and we'll continue the dialogue. And it goes on all day. There's not a moment in my life in which I am not being prayerful. And so the answer to his question is, I suppose, yes I was praying. Because there's hardly a moment when I'm idle, when I am not praying.” Prayer, scripture study, laboring to know God, all go together. (Be of Good Cheer, Be of Good Courage, Denver Snuffer, 9-10-13, Lecture 1 Boise, Idaho, pg 8)

Is it possible for God to make things "jump out at us" as we think about and ponder upon principles and teachings of the gospel as we work and interact with people?

Is it possible that in the daily living of life, during work and other moments of interaction with people, that these necessary actions allow us an insight into the character of God that we can receive in no other way?

This is what the Lord said recently concerning this principle.

You pray each time you partake of the sacrament to always have my spirit to be with you. And what is my spirit? It is to love one another as I have loved you. Do my works and you will know my doctrine, for you will uncover hidden mysteries by obedience to these things that can be uncovered in no other way. This is the way I will restore knowledge to my people. If you return good for evil, you will cleanse yourself and know the joy of your Master. You call me Lord, and do well to regard me so, but to know your Lord is to love one another. Flee from the cares and longings that belong to Babylon, obtain a new heart, for you have all been wounded. In me you will find peace, and through me will come Zion, a place of peace and safety. (T&C 157 par. 51)

Is it possible to do His works without interacting with other people?

As we interact with people will we have opportunities to return good for evil?

Is knowing the joy of our Master a mystery, or in other words, something that is hidden from the world at present?

Is the Lord revealing here a way in which one might uncover, through obedient action, a mystery of godliness?

Doesn't the Lord declare here in so many words that it is only through the daily living of life and interacting with others (ie. family, neighbors, acquaintances, strangers) in our daily labors, that by doing His works in our interactions with these other folks, we uncover hidden mysteries because we are being obedient?

Is part of fleeing the cares and longings that belong to Babylon achieved by daily doing His works among those who are in our own small spheres of influence?

Especially at this moment in history, is finding peace in the Lord a mystery or something that is hidden from the rest of the world?

Is it possible that the required daily tasks of living, which produce opportunities for us to do the Savior's works while we necessarily interact with others, are given to us precisely for us to demonstrate our desire to know the mysteries of God?

Is it possible that the priests Alma ordained received grace and grew and waxed strong in the spirit and grew in the knowledge of God precisely because their daily labors to support themselves afforded them the opportunities to interact with and show grace to others on a daily basis?

Hasn't the Lord revealed that we receive grace for grace, or in other words, we receive grace from Him as we give grace to others?

Was it through this obedience that these priests uncovered hidden mysteries that can be uncovered in no other way so that the Lord restored knowledge to them as His people?

Is it possible that this is one way in which Nephi demonstrated his great desire to receive knowledge of God by his giving of grace, during his daily labors, to those who he interacted with in his sphere of influence? 

Does the record bear out that Nephi's actions followed this course of giving grace to others?

If this is a true principle, would I do well to keep this front and center on my mind as I daily labor and interact with others?

If I am obedient in this principle could it be said that I am looking to the Lord as I ought because I am looking to His example in seeking to do His works in my daily relationships with everyone around me?

As, incomplete as my understanding is, I still believe the above to be a crucial part in looking to the Lord as I ought.

Nephi also declares that he cried unto the Lord.

What does that mean?  

What is entailed in crying to the Lord? 

Is crying unto the Lord different than prayer?

There is a difference between praying and crying to God. A petitioner who cries comprehends his desperate and lowly position. It is used eleven times in the Ether chapters to describe the brother of Jared. Amulek’s sermon to the Zoramites advises them eight times to cry unto God (see Alma 16:35). In these examples the petitions to God are not called “prayer,” but are called “crying” to Him. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you (Alma 16:35). For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night because of them. And I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry (2 Nephi 15:1). (Teachings and Commandments, Glossary of Terms, "Cry Unto the Lord")

Do I really comprehend my desperate and lowly position before God?

In a prior talk we looked at Mormon 9: 2-5. We considered the reaction people will have in the

last day of judgment. Those verses describe what it will be like to stand in the presence of a just and holy being while unprepared. They will feel awful, even condemned. However, I pointed out

in that passage God does nothing other than exist. The disappointment in the mind of man is so

exquisite that Joseph Smith compares it to a lake of fire and brimstone.

Therefore, God “in His wrath” simply withdrew from ancient Israel. He took a step back because

the people Moses led were not suited to be in His presence. Therefore, God withdrawing is how

His “wrath” manifests itself. If He withdraws from you, that should be felt keenly as an absence

and rejection.

The incident referred to in modern revelation about Israel’s rejection (section 84), is set out in

Exodus chapter 20, beginning at verse 18: "And all the people saw the thunderings, and the

lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it,

they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will

hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for

God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the

people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was."

The Israelites Moses led did not want to encounter Him. This was not because God’s presence is

so terrible it drives men from Him. That cannot be true because Moses approached Him, Joseph,

Abraham, Isaiah all approached Him. However, God’s presence makes every man evaluate who

and what they are. Although we can lie to ourselves about how good we are, when the measuring

stick used is God, we are unable to deceive ourselves. When the comparison is to God, all of us

come short. Even when the Lord testifies to you that your sins are forgiven, you still recognize

you fall short. To the extent a man has confidence in the presence of the Lord it is wholly derived

from Him. He must strengthen you, because if He does not, we would all retire in shame. (A Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit, Denver Snuffer, 7-25-14, Lecture 8, Las Vegas, Nevada, pgs. 1-2)

If I do not comprehend this can I cry to God?

I don't believe so.

If I have any portion of a thought that I am doing better than others are doing, or in other words, if I am comparing my actions to the actions of others can I ever come to a real understanding of my desperate situation?

This text in Ether chapter 3 is probably the best single text in existence to study about gaining the

knowledge of God, and the process by which it is gained. Most importantly, it exposes the

attitude possessed by the person who comes back to be redeemed. It tells you, not directly, it tells

you indirectly by telling you what the brother of Jared did. Go thou and do likewise.

Everything that you have been put through, and every challenge that you have been given, and

every weakness that you possess, have all been given to you in a studied way to bring you,

hopefully, to your knees. To bring you, hopefully, to feel the chastening hand of God, so that

you, in your day, in your circumstance, can look upon it all as a gift, because it surely is.

"I give unto men weakness that they may come unto me, and if they humble themselves and come

unto me, I'll make weak things strong." That is also in the book of Ether. It is an aside in which

Moroni was complaining that the Gentiles were not going to believe his book. Moroni feared the

Gentiles were not going to believe this record but would notice its weaknesses.

Ether chapter 12 verse 26: "And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools

mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no

advantage of your weakness; And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness."

[That's unavoidable. That's an inevitability. You stand in the presence of a just and holy being,

you will realize your weaknesses. You are going to recognize what you lack.]

"I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that

humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me,

then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

How do weak things become strong? Not by fighting a battle you are going to lose. It is by

appreciating as the brother of Jared did, the fact that none of us can come into the presence of

God without feeling keenly this scripture. "Fools mock, but they shall mourn." This is Christ

speaking. "I give unto men weakness,[for one purpose], I give unto them weakness that they may

be strong."

That anvil you are dragging around was given to you by God as a gift. Don't curse it. Pray for

God to come and lift it. You are never going to be able to get far carrying it anyway. You may

not even be able to lift it, but in the economy of God, that is a gift. A gift! Not for you to act

upon, nor to surrender to, but for you to fight against in humility and meekness and to say, "I'm

not winning. I haven't won. It goes on and on, and yet still I fight against it."

When will you finally come to Him and cry out? When, in the bitter anguish of your soul, like

Joseph Smith in Liberty jail, will you cry out, "How long must I endure this? How long do I have

to suffer from the abuse of the guards? How long do I have to sit inside a gated room, in a

dungeon, to hear stories about the rape of the people who followed me? And the murder of the

people that believed what I was teaching?"

How long did Joseph's heart break in Liberty Jail? He emerged from that ordeal a fundamentally

different man than the one who went in....

Turn to Luke chapter 18, because there the Lord pretty much tells you how He evaluates whether

someone has purified themselves before Him. This is a parable the Lord gives found in chapter

18 of Luke, telling about those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous.

Beginning at verse 10. "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the

other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am

not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the

week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so

much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that

exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

God can only exalt the meek, because only the meek can be trusted. This is what it means to

sanctify yourself. Our idea of purity and Christ's idea of purity are based on very different

criteria. Why is meekness required of a God, by a God? What would happen if God Himself

were not patient, willing to suffer abuse and be rejected? What would happen if God were

egotistical? What would happen if God did not return blessings for cursings? What would

happen if God were not exactly what He preached in the Sermon on the Mount? What if God did

not bless those who despitefully used and abused Him? What would happen if God did not

submit Himself to fall into the hands of wicked men to be despised and rejected? And then to be

killed in shame, hanging naked on a cross, in full view of the world, while people spit upon Him,

and mocked Him and ridiculed Him, and saying, "If you really are what you say you are, come

down from the cross, then we will believe." (40 Years in Mormonism Lecture Series, A Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit, Denver Snuffer, 7-25-14, Lecture 8, Las Vegas, Nevada, pgs. 268 - 269, 276)

How do I arrive at the situation where I am able to see clearly my desperate and lowly position so that my heart will be broken and my spirit will be contrite?

There are examples of just such occurrences in the scriptures and in every instance that I can find, the persons involved all "cried".

King Benjamin's people 

And now it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold, they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them; and they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying, O have mercy and apply the atoning blood of Christ, that we may receive forgiveness of our sins and our hearts may be purified! For we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who created Heaven and earth and all things, who shall come down among the children of men. (Mosiah 4:1 - 2, NC Mosiah 2 par. 1)

King Lamoni

And it came to pass that after he had said all these things and expounded them to the king, that the king believed all his words. And he began to cry unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, have mercy, according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of Nephi, have upon me and my people. And now when he had said this, he fell unto the earth as if he were dead. And it came to pass that his servants took him, and carried him in unto his wife, and laid him upon a bed. And he lay as if he were dead for the space of two days and two nights; and his wife, and his sons, and his daughters mourned over him after the manner of the Lamanites, greatly lamenting his loss.(Alma 18:40 - 43, NC Alma 12 par. 17)

King Lamoni's father

And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord upon his knees, yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying, O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God, and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me? And I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead. (Alma 22:17 - 18, NC Alma 13 par. 10)

Those at the prison who had come to kill Nephi and Lehi the sons of Helaman

And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shook the earth, yea, they did cry even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed. And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, and behold, they saw that they were encircled about (yea, every soul) by a pillar of fire. And Nephi and Lehi were in the midst of them, yea, they were encircled about, yea, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire, yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold upon the walls of the prison; and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory. And behold, the holy spirit of God did come down from Heaven and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words. (Helaman 5:42 - 45, NC Helaman 2 par. 25)

I'm sure there are many more but the above examples I believe, are sufficient to demonstrate that what resulted from the broken hearts and contrite spirits, or in other words seeing there desperate and lowly situation before God led to crying unto God.

If I understand correctly the examples above, these folks arrived to the point where they were able to cry out to God because the words of the messages that authorized servants delivered convicted them in their hearts so that they acted.

If I am to truthfully consider my reaction to a message sent from God through an authorized servant I have to declare that I have not yet allowed the message to break my heart like the accounts above show.

So I'm not there yet.

This is something I do have to figure out for myself unless I am content to remain in my darkened state.

The reason I express these things is that I believe Nephi when he writes he truly spake many great things unto them which were hard to be understood save a man should inquire of the Lord concerning the things that Lehi taught to all of his sons.

My son is presently taking the Restoration Edition of the Book of Mormon and translating it into Danish.

We have visited many times about different terms and how to translate them to Danish while keeping a correct meaning for the word.

We discussed the other night that mortal languages are so very weak in being able to express meaning for the things of God. (The reason for the discussion was that in Danish one word is used to express both the term "just" and the term "righteous" which are not the same and also the word in Danish used to express "sin" is also used to express "iniquity" which is also not the same. The same is true for "faith" and "belief" in the Danish language.)

I do believe presently that there are many many things in the gospel of Jesus Christ that are hard to be understood except the Lord through the holy spirit gives the correct interpretation of it.

I also presently believe that there are many many things in the gospel of Jesus Christ that do not have words in the mortal languages that can express them.

For me, this presents new meaning to the following.

But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he shewed unto us, which surpasseth all understanding, in glory, and in might, and in dominion, which he commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the spirit, and are not lawful for men to utter, neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the holy ghost, which God bestows on those who love him and purifieth themselves before him, to whom he grants the privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves, that through the power and manifestation of the spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory. (D&C 76:114 - 118, T&C 69 par. 29)

Is it possible that the reason it is not possible for man to make these things known is not because of some magic shutting their mouths but because there are no words or concepts available in the mortal realm to express them?

This is the new revelation in T&C 157 where the Lord gave a replacement revelation for section 110 of the D&C.

In this revelation we see something interesting.

On the third day of April 1836, Joseph and Oliver were in the temple in Kirtland, Ohio. The veil was taken from their minds and the eyes of their understanding were opened. They saw the Lord in his glory standing above them and the breastwork of the pulpit; and under his feet appeared as it were a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

I am the Alpha and the Omega; I am he who was slain, I am he who lives; I am your advocate with the Father.

Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me, therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice. Let the hearts of your brethren also rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name. For behold, I have accepted this house and my name shall be here, and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house. Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house.

Behold and see: The hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings that shall be poured out and the endowment with which my servants will be endowed in this house. Behold, the fame of this house shall spread to foreign lands; and this is the beginning of the blessings I shall pour out upon my people. Even so. Amen.

As this vision closed, the Heavens were again opened to their view, and they saw and beheld, and were endowed with knowledge from the beginning of this creation to the ends thereof. And they were shown unspeakable things from the sealed record of Heaven, which man is not capable of making known, but must be revealed by the Powers of Heaven.

They beheld Michael, the archangel, Gabriel, and Raphael, and divers angels, from Michael or Adam down to the end of time, showing in turns their dispensations, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the Powers of their Priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; endowing them with knowledge, even here a little and there a little; holding forth hope for the work God was yet to perform, even the revelation of all things which are to come upon the earth until the return of the Lord in glory with His holy angels — to pour out judgment upon the world, and to reward the righteous.

And they were unable to take it in; therefore, they were commanded to pray and ask to comprehend by the power of the spirit, to bring all things to their remembrance, even the Record of Heaven which would abide in them. Amen and Amen. (D&C 110:1 - 11, T&C 157 pars. 26 - 32)

We see that Joseph and Oliver were shown things that are not capable for man to make them known.

We see that Joseph and Oliver could not take in the vision and so the were commanded to pray and ask to comprehend by the power of the spirit.

Would that be the same as things, "hard to be understood save a man should inquire of the Lord"?

Nephi declared that he pondered continually upon the things of the Lord or the things he had been shown.

Is it because of this same principle that what he received he, Nephi, was unable to take it in so he was continually pondering upon those things in order for the power of the spirit to give him comprehension?

How hard was it or rather how much work was required by Nephi to put into words what he was commanded to put into words from his vision?

Is this principle operative in the following explanation?

There are at least three stages in the process of restoring knowledge. The first stage is to receive it, but that’s just receiving it. Receiving it is not the same thing as the second stage, which is to comprehend it. It is possible that a man receive something without understanding what it was that he had received. Time and careful and solemn and ponderous thoughts are required to untangle what has been received in order to comprehend what it is that you have been given. But it is altogether something of a different order of magnitude, completely separate from that, to teach it. You can receive it, you can comprehend it, but you may not be able to teach it. When it finally does get taught, undoubtedly it will be taught in the manner that Joseph Smith was beginning to work on in Nauvoo that he never finished, at the time that he was taken. That is, by ceremony, by covenant. And this, too, by something given by God, and it to be established in a house that is acceptable to him. (Denver Snuffer Podcast, #35: Temple Part 3, September 16, 2018)

Is it possible that this principle is involved in what the Prophet Joseph declared here?

It is my meditation all the day, and more than my meat and drink, to know how I shall make

the Saints of God comprehend the visions that roll like an overflowing surge before my mind. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 296)

If there are not words that exist to express concepts, ideas, events, etc. that are shown to a faithful mortal individual does that not present an immense burden for that faithful mortal to try and communicate even the smallest of such things, those things that are lawful and meet to be communicated, to other mortals?

Is it any wonder that many things included in the gospel of Jesus Christ, even when they are lawful to be expressed, still would be hard to be understood save a man should inquire of the Lord?

I have to ask myself how many times in the past and even now have I interpreted things that have been  said or recorded in scripture, concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ, incorrectly because of my inability to comprehend what has been delivered?

If I speak exclusively to other mortals and inquire of them the meaning of things would any other mortal have the capacity to explain things correctly except they speak by the power of the Holy Ghost?

Even then, if I did not receive them by the power of the holy ghost would I be able to comprehend them?

Do I also have the further complication in my own life of looking at the meaning of words and phrases etc. through the lenses of my own life experience, education, and family and cultural traditions?

Except for the Lord being able to cut through this other complication by the power of the spirit, would I really be able at all on my own to come to a correct comprehension of what the Lord has commanded others to communicate to the world?

Will the Lord ever act against my agency?

If I do not look to Him and inquire of Him will he be able to give me proper comprehension of His gospel?

I am certain there is so much more to this conversation and I am also sure that at best my present understanding of this topic is sadly insufficient.

I do feel however, with Nephi's words a call for me to repent and I will trust in the words of the Lord that if I will do his works I will come to know (I believe that also means comprehend) His doctrine.