2 Ne 32:3 feast upon the words of Christ
The scriptures were not
given to us for an occasional perusal, a casual reading, or a brief history
lesson. They were given for us to “feast” on the words of Christ. This implies
something much more than just reading. It implies that the scriptures are
satisfying a powerful spiritual hunger and quenching a thirst for the things of
the Spirit. Those who most enjoy this “feast” are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. The promise
is given to them that they will be filled with the
Holy Ghost (3 Ne 12:8). This occurs most of the time as the individual
feasts upon the words of Christ in the scriptures. The spiritual food is
internalized and becomes a part of the individual. Spiritually speaking, “you
are what you eat.” The other verb that the scriptures use to describe our
approach to scripture study is “to search.”
Scriptures
are of little value unless they are feasted upon and searched. They are useful
if they are “read,” but the term “search” implies something totally different.
To “search” is to try to understand, to look for personal meaning, to
understand historical context, to reference other sources, to find resolution
to conflicts, and to internalize principles. The Lord has never commanded the
saints to “read” the scriptures; He always commands them to “search” them: search them diligently that ye may profit (Mosiah
1:7)….and search these things diligently, for great
are the words of Isaiah (3Ne 23:1). The
result of diligent searching is that one becomes as the sons of Mosiah who had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth (Alma
17:2).
Bruce R. McConkie
“Loaves and fishes perish, but there is
a food which is eternal, ‘which endureth unto
everlasting life.’ This is the food he is prepared to give them; it is
the everlasting word, the word of truth, the gospel of salvation. As the woman
of Samaria was invited to drink living water and never thirst more; so they
were invited to eat living bread and never hunger more. This bread was
available, without money and without price, from the Son of Man.” (The
Mortal Messiah, Book 2, p. 371)
Ezra Taft Benson
“More than at any time in our history
we have need for greater spirituality. The way to develop greater spirituality
is to feast on the words of Christ as revealed in the scriptures. One of the
most significant happenings in recent Church history is the publication of the
new editions of the standard works with the new footnotes and other helps. I
think we can say without exaggeration that never before in any dispensation
have the Saints been so abundantly blessed with the words of the Lord and His
prophets. Now our challenge is to do as the Lord commanded: "Study my word
which hath gone forth among the children of men" (D&C 11:22). (Conference
Report, April 1984, p. 7)
Elder Rulon T. Burton
“I add my voice to these wise and
inspired brethren [referencing President Spencer W. Kimball, Bruce R. McConkie
and Boyd K. Packer] and say to you that one of the most important things you
can do as priesthood leaders is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search
them diligently. Feast upon the words of Christ. Learn the doctrine. Master the
principles that are found therein. There are few other efforts that will bring
greater dividends to your calling. There are few other ways to gain greater
inspiration as you serve.” (From the General Priesthood Meeting, Apr. 1986, as
quoted in the Ensign, May 1986, p. 81-2)
2
Ne 32:4 if ye cannot understand them it will be
because ye ask not, neither do ye knock
Nephi
had learned by personal experience how to understand scriptures that he did not
understand. He would simply ask the Lord for more understanding. This is
exactly how he received his vision of the tree of life (1 Ne 11:1). Afterward,
his brothers contended about the meaning of Lehi’s vision, exclaiming, we cannot understand the words which our father hath
spoken. Nephi’s response was as follows:
‘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 things 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.’ (1 Ne 15:8-11)
2
Ne 32:5 the Holy Ghost…will show unto you all things
what ye should do
Sometimes
we tempt God with our demands for divine direction. We expect the Holy Ghost to
show us what to do without immersing ourselves in the things of the
spirit—searching the scriptures, attending the temple, prayer and fasting, etc. These are the times when we don’t receive the
direction we expect. The directive in this verse is that we must receive the Holy Ghost. This means not just receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost but to receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost
through righteous living and frequent involvement in activities which give the
opportunity for the Holy Ghost to whisper in his still, small voice. If we do
this, we have the promise that He will show us all things that we should do, ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matt 7:7).
2 Ne 32:7 the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn
Joseph Fielding Smith
“Now
what were the consequences of not praying, as they are recorded in this book
regarding the Nephite people? Let me tell you. In the very same chapter, and in
the verse preceding…Nephi says this:
“’Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be
no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the
flesh…When he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he
shall say unto you ye shall observe to do. And now I, Nephi, cannot say more.’
“Why
not? Because the people had refused to pray. Because they had hardened their
hearts, even in his day. Therefore the Lord closed his mouth, and said, there
shall be no more doctrine till Christ comes, so far as you are concerned, and I
cannot say more, because the Lord won't permit it.
‘The spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn
because of the unbelief and the ignorance and the stiffneckedness of men, for
they will not search knowledge nor understand great knowledge when it is given
unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.’ Now that applies
in our day. We have members of the Church to whom this ought to be read. They
are not here; they do not come to conference. But men who have hardened their
hearts, men who will not pray, men who will not search knowledge, who are not
acquainted with the revelations of God as they have been made known unto us in
these books and given unto us in this dispensation, notwithstanding the fact
that the knowledge which has been given unto us is plain and easily to be
understood. They shut their hearts against it, and refuse to search and to find
that which the Lord has declared, which is for their eternal salvation and the
salvation of all the world. Naturally such people are in darkness. We cannot
afford to do that.” (Conference Reports, Oct. 1919, p. 145)
Joseph Fielding Smith
“Revelation
is promised us through our faithfulness; so, also, is knowledge pertaining to
the mysteries and government of the Church. The Lord withholds much that he
would otherwise reveal if the members of the Church were prepared to receive
it. When they will not live in accordance with the revelations he has given,
how are they entitled to receive more? The people in the Church are not living
in full accord with the commandments the Lord has already required of them.
“…We
have little occasion to clamor for more revelation when we refuse to heed what
the Lord has revealed for our salvation. However, the authorities are directed
by revelation, and this is apparent to all who have the spirit of discernment.
The Lord has not forsaken his people, although they have not always put their
trust in him.” (Doctrines
of Salvation, vol. 1, p. 283)
2 Ne 32:8-9 the Spirit…teacheth a man to pray…ye must pray always
The Lord has instructed us
not only in the method of prayer (to pray to the Father in the name of Christ)
but to pray regarding every endeavor in which we perform
any thing unto the Lord. Amulek also taught us what we should pray
about:
‘Therefore may
God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto
repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy
upon you;
Yea, cry unto him for
mercy; for he is mighty to save.
Yea, humble yourselves,
and continue in prayer unto him.
Cry unto him when ye
are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.
Cry unto him in your
houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
Yea, cry unto him
against the power of your enemies.
Yea, cry unto him
against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.
Cry unto him over the
crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.
Cry over the flocks of
your fields, that they may increase.
But this is not all; ye
must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your
wilderness.
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 34:17-27)
The counsel of Alma to his
son, Helaman:
‘Yea, and cry
unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and
whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be
directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the
Lord forever.
Counsel with the Lord
in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down
at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and
when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and
if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.’ (Alma 37:36-37)
Bruce R. McConkie
“There
is nothing in the gospel that is better designed to keep the attention of men
centered on God, on righteousness, and on their duties than is prayer. Every
thought, word, and act is influenced or governed by the nature and extent of
one’s communion through prayer with Deity. Over and over again the revelations
command: Watch and pray always, lest ye enter into temptation.” (Mormon
Doctrine, p. 581-2)
Joseph Smith
“We
would say to the brethren, seek to know God in your closets, call upon him in
the fields. Follow the directions of the Book of Mormon, and pray over, and for
your families, your cattle, your flocks, your herds, your corn, and all things
that you possess; ask the blessing of God upon all your labors, and everything
that you engage in. Be virtuous and pure; be men of integrity and truth; keep
the commandments of God; and then you will be able more perfectly to understand
the difference between right and wrong-between the things of God and the things
of men; and your path will be like that of the just, which shineth brighter and
brighter unto the perfect day.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.
247)