1 Nephi 15:6 - 11, NC 1 Nephi 4 par, 2
And it came to pass that after I had received strength, I spake unto my brethren, desiring to know of them the cause of their disputations. And they said, Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree, and also concerning the gentiles. And I said unto them, Have ye inquired of the Lord? And they said unto me, We have not, for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us. Behold, I said unto them, How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish because of the hardness of your hearts? Do ye not remember the thing which the Lord hath said, If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you?
The Stick of Joseph in the Hand of Ephraim, 1 Nefi 4 par. 2
Is Nephi's lack of strength following his amazing vision a detail that demonstrates that Nephi really has encountered heaven?
Is such a condition consistent with what occurred to his father, Lehi?
Wherefore, it came to pass that my father Lehi, as he went forth, prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart in behalf of his people. And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him, and he saw and heard much. And because of the things which he saw and heard, he did quake and tremble exceedingly. And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem. And he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the spirit and the things which he had seen... (1 Nephi 1:5 - 15, NC 1 Nephi 1 par. 3)
Is it consistent with the experience Moses had?
And it came to pass that Moses looked and beheld the world upon which he was created. And as Moses beheld the world, and the ends thereof, and all the children of men who are and who were created, of the same he greatly marveled and wondered. And the presence of God withdrew from Moses, that his glory was not upon him, and Moses was left unto himself. And as he was left unto himself, he fell unto the earth. And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before he did again receive his natural strength like unto man. And he said unto himself, Now for this once I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed. But now my eyes have beheld God — but not my natural eyes, but my spiritual, for my natural eyes could not have beheld, for I should have withered and died in his presence. But his glory was upon me and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him. (Moses 1:8 - 11, OC Genesis 1 par. 2)
Is it consistent with what the Prophet Joseph experienced?
When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength, but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fire piece, Mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, Never mind, all is well; I am well enough off. I then told my mother, I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true. (Joseph Smith History 1:20, T&C 1, Joseph Smith History Part 2 par. 6)
Is it possible in this conversation with his brothers, to detect here that Nephi is now beginning his reign and ministry among his family?
Had Nephi ministered to his brothers before this time?
Can it be seen in the record of the Book of Mormon that Nephi had to qualify to be called to minister to his brothers?
Did Nephi have to be obedient to the commands of God in order to receive what was necessary to qualify to minister to his brothers and his family?
Can we find in the scriptures a more current example of how an individual would qualify to minister to others?
What about Hyrum?
This is a command from the Lord to Hyrum when Hyrum expressed a desire to be a part of the Lord's work.
Behold, this is your work: to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind, and strength. Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosened. Then, if you desire, you shall have my spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men. But now hold your peace, study my word which has gone forth among the children of men, and also study my word which shall come forth among the children of men, or that which is now translating, yea, until you have obtained all which I shall grant unto the children of men in this generation, and then shall all things be added thereunto. Behold, you are Hyrum, my son. Seek the kingdom of God and all things shall be added according to that which is just. Build upon my rock, which is my gospel. Deny not the spirit of revelation nor the spirit of prophecy, for woe unto him that denies these things; therefore, treasure up in your hearts until the time which is in my wisdom that you shall go forth. Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires and have thrust in their sickles to reap. (D&C 11:20 - 27, T&C 1, Joseph Smith History, Part 14 par. 14 - 15)
The above command was given from the Lord to Hyrum in 1829.
When did the Lord declare to Hyrum that it was now in His, the Lord's, wisdom for Hyrum to go forth and minister?
When did the Lord loose Hyrum's tongue and allow Hyrum to declare His, the Lord's, word?
And again, verily I say unto you that my servant William be appointed, ordained, and anointed as a counselor unto my servant Joseph, in the room of my servant Hyrum, that my servant Hyrum may take the office of Priesthood and Patriarch, which was appointed unto him by his father by blessing, and also by right, that from henceforth he shall hold the keys of the Patriarchal blessings upon the heads of all my people, that whoever he blesses shall be blessed and whoever he curses shall be cursed, that whatever he shall bind on the earth shall be bound in Heaven, and that whatever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven. And from this time forth I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph, that he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph, and that he shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with the same blessings. I crown upon his head the bishopric, and blessing, and glory, and honor, and Priesthood, and gifts of the Priesthood, that once were put upon him that was my servant Oliver Cowdery, that my servant Hyrum may bear record of the things which I shall show unto him, that his name may be had in honorable remembrance from generation to generation for ever and ever. (D&C 124:91 - 96, T&C 141 par. 32)
The above revelation from the Lord concerning Hyrum came in January of 1841.
Hyrum kept the word of the Lord to him from 1829 to 1841 before he became qualified to minister to others.
Now the Lord was loosing Hyrum's tongue and giving Hyrum His, the Lords, words and the power of God unto the convincing of men.
In the Lord's own words He declared concerning Hyrum that I appoint unto him that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my church, as well as my servant Joseph, that he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph, and that he shall receive counsel from my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with the same blessings. I crown upon his head the bishopric, and blessing, and glory, and honor, and Priesthood, and gifts of the Priesthood, that once were put upon him that was my servant Oliver Cowdery, that my servant Hyrum may bear record of the things which I shall show unto him,...
Ministering to others and bearing record to things the Lord has shown to a person is a serious matter because it concerns the salvation of the souls of the children of men.
The Prophet Joseph declared the following.
A fanciful and flowery an heated imagination beware of; because the things of God are of deep
import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find
them out. Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the
utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of
eternity—thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts
of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart! None but fools will trifle with the souls
of men. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 137)
It was only through 12 years of meek and faithful obedience to the commandments of God and those same 12 years of meekly receiving revelation and prophecy from God that Hyrum was able to be transformed into a person who God could trust not to trifle with the souls of men; he, Hyrum received God's word.
In these 12 years of obedience to the commandments of God Hyrum's mind was stretched as high as the utmost heavens and contemplated the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity. He had communed with God.
Is it possible that Hyrum's obedience to the commandments of God to him day by day for those twelve years is what allowed the experiences to come that stretched Hyrum's mind to things both above and below and allowed him to commune with God?
My present understanding is that individuals who receive the burden and obligation to minister or lead a soul to salvation, like Hyrum and Nephi, they cannot, even in the least degree, input their thoughts, words, or understanding into a message sent from God to the children of men because God's words are precise in their message and timing to the salvation of the children of men.
Alma declared the following concerning this principle.
Oh that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people. Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption — that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might be no more sorrow upon all the face of the earth. But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish, for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me. I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life. Yea, I know that he allotteth unto men — yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable — according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction. Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men, or he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless, but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience. Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called? Why should I desire that I was an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth? For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore, we see that the Lord doth counsel in his wisdom, according to that which is just and true. I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy. And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer. Yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me. Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers, for I surely do know that the Lord did deliver them out of bondage, and by this did establish his church. Yea, the Lord God — the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob — did deliver them out of bondage. Yea, I have always remembered the captivity of my fathers; and that same God who delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians did deliver them out of bondage. Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them. Yea, and that same God hath called me by a holy calling to preach the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full. But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren who have been up to the land of Nephi. Behold, they have labored exceedingly and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward. Now when I think of the success of these my brethren, my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy.(Alma 29:1 - 16, NC Alma 15 par. 12 - 13)
These individuals are meek enough to understand that their desires are not important only God's.
They understand that the Lord grants unto the children of men light and knowledge according to His wisdom.
These individuals will not innovate. They will not go outside the work to which they have been called.
These individuals become "angels" on earth.
For he that receives my servants receives me (T&C 82:17). The word “servants” in this context means “angels.” Angel is derived from the Greek word ággelos [ἄγγελος] which means “messenger.” The messenger must bring a message from the Lord. It does not matter if the messenger is mortal. The word describes a category of messenger that includes not only pre-mortal and post-mortal spirits, but also living men. When anyone, man or angel, is entrusted with a message from God, the message is God’s. God makes no distinction between the messenger and Himself. And now I have spoken the words which the Lord God hath commanded me (Mosiah 1:18). The angel added nothing. He hid nothing. He delivered what the Lord told him to deliver. These are not merely the words of an angel. Because the angel certifies they originated from God, they are the words of God (see T&C 54:7). Joseph explained that all angels either have or do belong to this earth: But there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it. Their status as angel comes from the fact they have met with God, received their assignment and authority from Him, and deliver only the message He instructs should be delivered. They are in His service, and the message is confined to what He has told them to do. Angels minister to mankind and confer power, light, and truth. They prepare one to receive the Lord. “Neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men. For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, shewing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness. And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfill and to do the work of the covenants of the Father which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him; and by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the holy ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.” (Moroni 7:6; emphasis added) Angels minister to “chosen vessels” or mortal messengers, as the Three Nephites did with Mormon and Moroni (see Mormon 4:2). Then these vessels testify and bear testimony so that the way is prepared that the residue of men may have faith in Christ. These three visited with Mormon, but the people to whom Mormon ministered didn’t see them. They ministered to Moroni, and those to whom Moroni ministered didn’t see them. The chosen vessels also become as ministering angels. Many people have received ministering angels. Men, women, and children have, can, and do receive angelic ministers. Angels minister to those with faith, then they are supposed to preach salvation to others. Appearances of angels, like the post-resurrection ministry of Christ, happen with the faithful. Christ appeared as a resurrected minister only to the faithful in Jerusalem. Likewise, He showed Himself to “the more righteous” who had been spared among the Nephites.(T&C Glossary of Terms, Angel)
Because the Lord is bound by His word and because the Lord has declared that by the voice of His servants or in other words "angels" or by His own voice it is the same, is it not a terrible burden to speak in the name of the Lord?
Is it any wonder that the Lord, who is infinitely interested in the salvation of the children of men, who is not trifling with the souls of men, has declared that none should take His name in vain having no authority or in other words none should declare something they are speaking to be from the Lord when it is not?
These mortal "angels", like Hyrum and Nephi, are indispensable to the salvation of the children of men.
My present understanding is that an individual who arrives to this point on the journey to salvation becomes a part of the Holy Order.
Because of the task they are called to, to minister to the children of men, and because they are allowed to open their mouths to declare repentance to the children of men only according to the faith and heed that the children of men exercise in Christ their task is a great burden.
We should not be surprised to learn that initiation into God’s mysteries can be troubling, disquieting, even a burden. If asked to carry a burden by God, do it willingly. If not asked, do not envy. Remember Alma’s statement, “behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish, for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.” It is our common enemy who stirs up jealousy and envy, rather than patience and meekness. Great works of God fail because mankind will not wait on the Lord.
Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen, and why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson — that the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected with the Powers of Heaven and that the Powers of Heaven cannot be controlled nor handled, only upon the principles of righteousness. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control, or dominion, or compulsion, upon the souls of the children of men in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the Heavens withdraw themselves, the spirit of the Lord is grieved, and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
The more God gives, the greater the peril. Weaknesses of appetites, ambitions, passions and covetousness is akin to trying to navigate through a narrow pass, guarded by a great beast, pitiless and cruel, that destroys all those whose zeal and impatience brings them into the reach of the beast. God has provided to us guidance on how to reach Zion. It requires self-discipline and meekness to follow the Lord rather than racing ahead of Him to destruction. ("The Religion of the Fathers", March 2021, Denver C. Snuffer, Jr., pgs. 61 - 62)
I have not written any explanation for the Second Anointing or Calling and Election process. I do not think it is important or meaningful to ever write anything about it. What is important is to understand “how” someone would make changes in their lives to then be taught things directly from the Lord. He has a continuing ministry. You should be interested in having Him as your minister.
The books I have written do not ever touch upon Calling and Election, nor discuss the Second Anointing. But they will tell you what is required to go and learn from the Lord about these things directly. If you want answers about that, then follow the same path as the ancients did, as Joseph Smith did, and as Abraham did. I’m only interested in helping you understand the path.
Beyond that, the details of such things are simply irrelevant to someone who is not invited to participate. It is pure voyeurism without any purpose. Rather like putting jewelery on pigs, which Christ recommended against. Not that the inquiry comes from a “pig” but the answer would be subject to public scrutiny by everyone on the web.
The fact you are aware there is more to the Gospel is important. The fact that you become entitled to receive things pertaining to a higher law by living that higher law is also important. What you should focus on is the living, not the curiosity about things which you are not yet prepared to receive. Prepare to receive them. Everything else will be answered to your entire satisfaction once you are. ("Clarification", Denversnuffer.com, May 2, 2010)
Doesn't the above statement reflect what Nephi declared to his brothers that If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you?
Do we read in the Book of Mormon account concerning Nephi's exceeding sorrow due to his knowledge of things that he knew must surely come to pass?
Do we understand the burden placed upon Nephi here at the very beginning of his ministry to his brothers to open his mouth only according to the heed and diligence they were willing to give to Christ's words?
Is the burden of possessing the knowledge that Hyrum and Nephi received a lonely burden?
Do we truly understand what a peril we would pose to the work of the Lord if we possessed the knowledge Nephi and Hyrum received, with our weaknesses of appetites, ambitions, passions and covetousness?
How could we consider that we would, in a mere moment, be able to overcome our zeal and impatience which things would destroy the Lord's work if we were put in possession of the knowledge that Nephi and Hyrum received?
Is it any wonder that it took Hyrum 12 years of consistent obedience to the commandments of God day by day in order to become meek enough to receive such knowledge?
Is it possible that the Book of Mormon record is greatly compressed and so we do not totally understand what time it took or in other words how long it took Nephi to obediently live day by day according to the commandments of God in order to become meek enough to be trusted with the knowledge he received?
Is Nephi in any way beginning this conversation with his brothers of his own will?
I would like to consider Nephi's first words here in his ministry to his brothers in light of my own experiences.
I would like to apply these words to myself.
Have ye inquired of the Lord? And they said unto me, We have not, for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us. Behold, I said unto them, How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish because of the hardness of your hearts? Do ye not remember the thing which the Lord hath said, If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you?
Nephi's first question here stems from his brothers wanting further clarification concerning the words of their father Lehi concerning the olive tree.
I have heard and read many things in my lifetime that I must truly say I did not and still may not now understand; which things are in the scriptures and teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith and now in the teachings of a living messenger from God, Denver Snuffer.
Isn't Nephi pointing out to me in his first words to his brothers how it is that I may either continue my quest for the understanding of these things I do not understand on the one hand or perish because of the hardness of my heart on the other hand?
I must confess that I have in the past hoped to find information from another mortal who has received what Nephi received instead of inquiring of the Lord.
Isn't such a course filled with the same attitude that Nephi's brothers had that the Lord maketh no such thing known unto (me)?
My present understanding is that such a course is a course that would lead me to perish.
It has taken me a while to come around but I do presently agree with the following.
The books I have written do not ever touch upon Calling and Election, nor discuss the Second Anointing. But they will tell you what is required to go and learn from the Lord about these things directly. If you want answers about that, then follow the same path as the ancients did, as Joseph Smith did, and as Abraham did. I’m only interested in helping you understand the path.
Beyond that, the details of such things are simply irrelevant to someone who is not invited to participate. It is pure voyeurism without any purpose. Rather like putting jewelery on pigs, which Christ recommended against. Not that the inquiry comes from a “pig” but the answer would be subject to public scrutiny by everyone on the web.
The fact you are aware there is more to the Gospel is important. The fact that you become entitled to receive things pertaining to a higher law by living that higher law is also important. What you should focus on is the living, not the curiosity about things which you are not yet prepared to receive. Prepare to receive them. Everything else will be answered to your entire satisfaction once you are. ("Clarification", Denversnuffer.com, May 2, 2010)
I do believe that there is a specific purpose for the Lord to reveal His mysteries to those who exercise faith in Him and obey His voice.
I believe that the following explains my present understanding for the Lord's purpose mentioned above.
Back in those days, I thought all you people had these things. And then there was the patriarchal blessing that I got which said, this is a quote, that “you will again be in the presence of your Father in Heaven while in the second estate.” That’s in my patriarchal blessing. And I thought, well, of course; it belongs there. That’s what we do, isn’t it? I thought we were related to God in an intimate way because, well, the heavens were opened.
And therefore, it was not, to me, shocking when I encountered an angel. And I have encountered many of them. And all of them leave a vivid and permanent impression. I can tell you that it’s been nearly 40 years since the first time I met with an angel. And I can still close my eyes and see the scene this minute.
This stuff happens. My experiences matter only because I can testify that it happens. The content is nothing but voyeurism for you. You need to have a connection with heaven. The scriptures are the authorized accounts given to us that testify to these things. The Lectures on Faith are trying to set it forth in a comprehensive way so that we can all get it. But the gospel is supposed to be a living, breathing, miraculous thing in your life. Whether I’m saved or not doesn’t matter. What matters is whether you are saved or not. And the way in which you become saved is by coming to know “eternal certainty,” the last words in verse 56. And “eternal certainty” is about your salvation, so that you’re not dependent upon someone else for your knowledge of God, but so that you can say in your own right, “I know.”... Nephi couldn’t have been more plain if he had said, “Here’s my guidebook. Here’s my rule book. Here’s my pattern-recognition sequence. You go and do likewise.” He’s trying to get us to get our hands around, as Joseph Smith put it, the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ involves the path to and through the veil into the presence of God, becoming joint heir, becoming a son of God. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith page 375, he refers to “sons of God who exalt themselves to be God even before they were born, and all can cry Abba, Father.”
Joseph wanted us to take the religion that he restored to the earth rather seriously and to search into and contemplate both the heavens and the darkest abyss. (Podcast #29 Patriarchal Blessings, Denver Snuffer Podcast, August 5, 2018)
My present understanding is that I need to receive understanding and revelation from the Lord so that I can have a connection personally with heaven and by obedience to what is received by that connection come to the point were I possess "eternal certainty" so that I know in my own right that I am saved.
He’s trying to get… I mean, what does it mean to be connected up with the vine and to derive sustenance from it? I mean, you have to be alive, which is not inert or an object that you move from there to there. If it’s alive, it’s going to grow. It’s going to increase. It’s going to improve. It’s going to have connection with. It’s going to have… Christ was extraordinary in His selection of the things that He wanted to use to communicate to us what He intended the gospel to be. And we read them and say, “That’s cool. I’ll pay my tithing. I’m connected. I got a card, I’m connected.” Well, it’s intended to be more than that, and the way that it becomes more than that is an individual journey in which you receive from Him and become a part of Him, and He does His best to try and use analogies and parables and stories to make it clear to us. And the history of the events that are recorded in scripture are intended to try and make it clear to us, but at the end of the day it’s up to you to have the “aha moment” and realize He really is talking to and inviting you. You, individually, whoever you are, wherever you’re at, whatever your confusion, whatever your doubts, whatever your uncertainties, He wants to talk to you about them. (Podcast #29 Patriarchal Blessings, Denver Snuffer Podcast, August 5, 2018)
Please also consider the following.
Using a cup, how can I ever portray the depth and pressure of the ocean? How can you ever discover its vast range of temperature in my small cup? How will you understand the relation between temperature and current, or the great power of the ocean’s current? How shall I explain the effect of the moon on the ocean’s tides when I have only a cup to declare it to you? How will the great diversity of both plant and animal life living in the ocean ever be understood when I have only a cup to show you? In the top 600 feet of the ocean lives 90% of known oceanic animal life, but the ocean is over 36,000 feet deep. Mount Everest rises 29,000 feet, and the ocean plunges down more than 7,000 feet beyond Everest’s height. If 90% of the animal life we know lives in less than the top 2% of the ocean, how much life is there in the oceans we know nothing about. Life we have not even a hint exists may thrive in abundance in depths completely hidden from our knowledge.
The grandeur of Christ’s gospel makes my capacity to declare it pitiful. I confess my inability, and I fear I can never do enough to help this generation to awaken and arise. If I can help you grasp even a little of it, then let me point you to God who can do the rest. Men cannot utter what you need to learn. I am not capable, and it is not lawful.
[G]reat and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his Kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpasses 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 Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him and purify 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.
You can know. God can show it to you. I testify that has and does happen. But if God deigns to show you some of His great mysteries, never think that excuses you from the labor still left undone. Rejoice in your knowledge, but do not forsake God’s work. (Keep the Covenant: Do the Work, Denver C. Snuffer, Jr. 2018, pg. 7)
If I personally fail to follow such a course do I remain in the same situation as Nephi's brothers in being of the opinion that the Lord maketh no such thing known unto me?
How would I ever be able to overcome my weaknesses (which are multitude), my misguided zeal, and my impatience if I am not willing to let the Lord, who knows me better than I know myself, guide me day by day through my life experiences and revelation to me?
Do I really believe what has been said that He wants to talk to me about my confusion, my uncertainties and my doubts?
Do I really believe that He can make known unto me the vastness of the ocean of His gospel?
If I really do believe these things then my present understanding is that this is the path that I must follow in order to give heed to the Lord's words through Nephi to ask in faith, believing that I will receive with diligence in obeying His commandments.
Should I expect that such a journey would require a great deal of time, years maybe even decades, in living day by day demonstrating obedience to the Lord and looking to Him as I ought as was discussed in the previous post?
If I am to be truthful I must state that such an individual journey is frightening to me.
I have expressed to a very good friend that it is really terrifying to me to consider what works the Lord will perform in my life if I give my life over to Him completely.
I say that because it is true. I don't know what must occur in my life to break my heart so that I cry out to the Lord. I don't know what life experiences will come along so that my resolve to obey His word will be sufficiently tested to show that I will look to Him as I ought to.
I believe that the only way materials can be completely tested for total integrity is to perform tests on them that destroy them.
I believe, from what I have read in the scriptures, that that is the manner in which the Lord is able to prove those who would truly follow Him, and be connected to Him, and be able to know that He is and that He is willing to make all such things known unto them.
Now the question that remains for me is do I have the courage to go forward?
