Nephi Desires to Know of the Redeemer of the World

After a period of no more than eight years after Lehi and his family left Jerusalem, Nephi had developed sufficient faith by his many experiences that he was now ready to receive the second comforter. Understanding the process by which Nephi came to faith is perhaps most important for those of us that are yet seeking the fullness of the gospel, which is the personal visit with the Lord. We will develop our own faith by the very same processes that Nephi developed his. We will not have the identical experiences of Nephi, but we will experience identical procedural aspects of faith building. In fact, there is no other way by which faith can be acquired. The important thing for us is that we learn to act and react to the voice of God affirmatively as Nephi always did. By doing so, Nephi developed faith and was prepared in something less than a decade to stand face to face with the Lord.

Nephi's father Lehi had received and recounted his great vision that we now call the vision of the tree of life. That vision of Lehi's, however, was only part of the things Lehi was shown. Nephi records in  1Nephi 10, other magnificent things the Lord had revealed to Lehi. These prophecies and teachings of Lehi seemed to have had particular effect on Nephi. He records the following: (1Nephi 10: 2, 4-6)

"it came to pass after my father had made an end of speaking the words of his dream, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, he spake unto them concerning the Jews—...six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world. And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world. Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer."

Lehi's recounting included the ministry of John the Baptist and the baptism of the Lord Jesus, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the scattering of Israel, the fullness of the gospel among the Gentiles, and the gathering of Israel back to the Lord their Redeemer. (1Nephi 10: 7-14)

After listening to all of these marvelous teachings of his father, Nephi says: (1Nephi 10: 17)

"And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men."

Notice the foundation of "desire" in Nephi that once again provides the beginning point for development of faith. Only this time, Nephi's "desire" will lead to his last step in faith.

What if we were to deeply consider all that is written in the Second Comforter Conversing with the Lord through the Veil, and as a result, were to say to ourselves; I am "desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him"? (1Nephi 10: 17) After all, "he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come..." (1Nephi 10: 18-19)

"To receive the second comforter we must allow others who have been so blessed to serve as our guides. Their instructions and testimony need to be accepted and followed." (The Second Comforter Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil pg. 15)

Nephi is among the foremost and clearest of those who have been "so blessed." If we are wise, we will allow Nephi to be our guide back to the presence of the Lord. We should consciously, with real intent, try to duplicate what Nephi did in or own lives. If we look closely, we will see that Nephi really just did the same thing over and over again as each opportunity for faith came his way. We should master this pattern and do the same. Desire, believe, ask, listen to the voice of the Lord, act in accordance with the communication from God, and look for the results that provide evidence that will increase our faith, move on to the next opportunity, repeat. Never quit trying. Persist until completed. 

"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 Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil Pg 66)

Finally with this last expressed "desire to know," Nephi is prepared to cross the threshold of the veil to converse there with the Lord.

Second Comforter "Hard Requests of the Lord"

“Getting light and truth from God is obtained through experiences. It is experiential rather than academic. Feeling comes before seeing, hearing, and touching... Anecdotal proof is what you must be willing to accept throughout this process. Your own experiences are going to be your guide.” The Second Comforter Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil Pg 38

When Nephi was caught away in the spirit of the Lord, (1Nephi 11: 1) it was only after a process by which he had learned by his own firsthand experience to comfortably converse with God. He had become proficient at the process by which a curiosity or "desire" was converted into belief. Then, belief became faith as Nephi learned to act on things God told him. By learning to distinguish when God was speaking to Him, Nephi was able to conform his actions into obedience to what he was told. Obedience to everything he heard from God led Nephi to God's presence. This happened naturally as Nephi obeyed because that is what God does. He leads us to Him. There is no other ultimate purpose for God's communications to us. 

If we, like Nephi, can first learn to listen, then develop the resolve to do what we are told, when we are told, we will be led to His presence just like Nephi was. All Nephi really did was obey laws (D&C 130: 20-21) that could have no other result than to lead to a face-to-face encounter with the Lord. Obedience to the directions we receive from the Lord produce results that are as sure as the result that happens when a lit match is tossed on a spot of gasoline. Eternal law dictates the resulting combustion. It cannot be avoided if the law is kept. (D&C 82: 10)

From The Second Comforter Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil:

"That is our challenge..to consistently perform In a way we know will please God. Knowing what will please God is not difficult. Mustering the will to do so is where the difficulty arises. Just because the task becomes difficult or awkward, it does not change whether God has commanded the task... If you know Gods will, you must do it. For the necessary faith to seize hold upon Gods blessings can be obtained in no other way." (Second Comforter pg. 84)

Eventually, Nephi stood over his inebriated and passed out cousin Laban with Laban's own sword in his hands. By the time of this encounter with Laban, Nephi had not only been "visited" by the Lord as in his first faith building experience when his “heart was softened,” (1Nephi 2: 16), but he had begun to hear the Lord speaking to him in his mind. (1Nephi 2: 19-24) Then, Nephi's record shows the following conversation between Nephi and the spirit of the Lord. The thing required of Nephi seemed to be counter to every feeling of civility, righteousness, and humanity. Nephi, like us when we are commanded, was expected to listen, hearken, and obey. Faith comes in no other way.


1Nephi 4: 10-18

Spirit:  Kill Laban

Nephi:  never at any time have I shed the blood of man

Spirit:  behold the lord hath delivered him into thy hands

Nephi:  I knew he had sought to take away mine own life; he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; he also had taken away our property.

Spirit:  Slay him for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands; behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in un belief.

Nephi:  I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise. Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law. And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass. And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands for this cause—that I might obtain the records according to his commandments.

Nephi:  Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword.

This conversational interchange between Nephi and God illustrates how patiently God leads us through a process of reasoning and persuasion in order to get us to respond. It is a demonstration of how priesthood authority ought to be used by those seeking to provoke action and results from those they lead. (D&C 121: 41-42)

The Lord's way is nearly never, "my way or the highway." Even in something as momentous as the killing of Laban in order to acquire the brass plates, the Lord sought to reason, to persuade, and to lead the mind of Nephi to a righteous conclusion. “Persuasion” is an eternal priesthood principle. (D&C 50: 10-12)

10 And now come, saith the Lord, by the Spirit, unto the elders of his church, and let us reason together, that ye may understand;

11 Let us reason even as a man reasoneth one with another face to face.

12 Now, when a man reasoneth he is understood of man, because he reasoneth as a man; even so will I, the Lord, reason with you that you may understand.

Your conversations with the Lord will very likely include reasoning and persuasion of the kind Nephi experienced. It will be important for you to know when this is happening, and when it does happen to you, you must obey, quickly. Because, "Knowing what will please God is not difficult. Mustering the will to do so is where the difficulty arises." (Second Comforter Pg 84) Further, “Keeping Christ’s commandments is not just incidental to the path back to Him. It is the path back. There is nothing optional about it.” (Second Comforter Pg 47)   

In the process of building your faith in order to bring you to Him, He will require some things that are difficult. It has to be this way in order that He may try you and prove you. If you shrink or pull back at such a moment, the Lord's purposes cannot be fulfilled in you. You may be asked to suffer embarrassment, poverty, rejection, hatred, reviling, belittling, illness, disease, or any one of a thousand other situations that will try your resolve to do what the Lord requires. But, be of good cheer, obey every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God, (D&C 84: 44) because, as Joseph Smith said,

"When the Lord has thoroughly proved him and finds that the man is determined to serve him at all hazard. Then the man will find his calling and election made sure. Then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter which the Lord hath promised the saints."

If Nephi had failed to follow through at every command, the second comforter may have eluded him forever.

Second Comforter "Nephi's Desire"

Do you realize from the time Nephi first began to develop real saving faith, until he received the second comforter, no more than eight years had come and gone? I point this out not to create undue expectations or to suggest Nephi's timeline is to be any other person's timeline for developing sufficient faith to stand in the presence of the Lord. However, if we are wise, we will look at Nephi's experience and glean what we can from it because he is one of the foremost-recorded examples of one who has "been so blessed."

"To receive the second comforter we must allow others who have been so blessed to serve as our guides. Their instructions and testimony need to be accepted and followed." (Second Comforter pg. 15)

The Second Comforter Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil identifies a pivotal moment at which Nephi began to develop the faith that would lead him ultimately to the presence of the Lord. Of course, faith needed to grow and increase over the course of time in order for Nephi to be adequately prepared for the presence of the Lord. But faith has to begin somewhere for all of us. For Nephi, real faith began shortly after his family departed their home in the land of Jerusalem to begin a journey, the end of which, no one in the family at the time could anticipate or know.

After only three days of travel away from Jerusalem, the family stopped by the side of a river, an alter was built, an offering was made to the Lord, (1Nephi 2: 6-7) and the murmuring began. (1Nephi 2: 11-13) Nephi describes himself at the time of the family's departure and the set up of this first tent camp by the side of a river as, "exceedingly young," "large in stature," and "having great desires to know of the mysteries of God." (1Nephi 2: 16) It took only three days of travel, and some of the family had already begun to complain and murmur against their father leader. Nephi might have so easily begun to complain also. The comforts of home were only three days away and were probably sounding pretty good to everyone in the family after three days of hard travel. Nephi was not exempt from the draw of creature comforts. It no doubt crossed his mind to be ill at ease like others in the family. Instead, as pointed out in The Second Comforter, Nephi turned his self-proclaimed, "desire" into something more.

Nephi's record says, "having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry 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;" (1Nephi 2: 16)

The Second Comforter states:

"This short verse contains a succinct statement of how the path to a fullness of the gospel begins." (Second Comforter pg. 65) If this is so, then this statement by Nephi ought to be pulled apart and examined very closely.  Remember, in something less than eight years from the time of this statement by Nephi, he will stand in the presence of the Lord, which is the "fullness of the gospel." You, (my children especially,) will need to begin somewhere just as Nephi did. In view of the fact that the process of increasing faith is really nothing more than repeating the same steps over and over again as faith increases, we all should learn well the lesson of this seemingly simple verse of scripture. For my part, I tend to forget all too often. If we were more purposeful in our efforts to develop faith, we might also more quickly find the presence of the Lord. 

Beginning on the path, or taking the next step along the path, wherever you are, requires nothing more than "desire." Alma said, "even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe..." (Alma 32: 27) Look closely at Nephi's statement about himself; all he had to start with was "great desires to know the mysteries of God..." I want to drive the point again so we are clear, within eight years of his proclaimed "desire," Nephi stood face to face with God.

Desire and belief may be turned into faith or they may simply remain as they are, in which case, we will remain where we are on the path, or off the path as our individual case may be. In order for faith to develop for us, just as it was for Nephi, some kind of action is required. Action, or doing something because of the desire we feel is what turns desire and belief into faith. This principle is true regardless where we are on the path. One may have their calling and election made sure, then stagnate on the path at some point because the next level of desire and belief are not acted upon in order to increase faith and move along. Nephi might never have done anything despite feeling a "great desire." If he had done that, (nothing that is), his desire would never have become anything more than what it was, desire.

Nephi acted. He "did cry unto the Lord."  As a result, the Lord "visited" him. (1Nephi 2: 16) This "visit" by the Lord was perhaps no more than the conversational kind of discussion with the spirit of the Lord the author of The Second Comforter spoke about:

"After two hours of raising questions and considering answers alone in the barracks, I reached this final question: "But how do I know there even is a God? After all, there may not even be a God, and life may not have any real meaning." In response to which came this final thought:

Who do you think you have been talking with these last two hours?

It was that last thought which alarmed me. Had I really been in a conversation with God?...Perhaps this was what it meant to talk with God." (The Second Comforter pg. 62-63)

Nephi, in being "visited" by the Lord experienced nothing more than a "softening of his heart" that allowed him to believe "all the words which had been spoken by" his father. Wherefore Nephi "did not rebel against his father" like his brothers had begun to do. (1Nephi 2: 16)

The importance of the element of faith developed in Nephi from this simple experience is illustrated when, just before receiving the second comforter some eight years later, the spirit of the Lord asks Nephi,

"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." (1Nephi 11: 4-5) The spirit then declares to Nephi, "thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired." (1Nephi 11: 6) Again, it was “desire” that led Nephi to the final step of faith across the threshold into the presence of the Lord where faith was replaced with knowledge.

The beginnings of Nephi's faith started with nothing more than him acting on a desire that brought a "visit" from the Lord.  That visit resulted in a softened heart that allowed Nephi to believe his fathers words. Some eight years later, it would be Nephi's declaration to the spirit of the Lord that he "believed all the words of his father" that would allow the veil to part and Nephi to receive the second comforter. Nephi had learned and practiced the lesson we too must learn if we "desire" to come into the presence of the Lord.

We should practice the process of building faith by desire, action, and resulting evidence. We ought to experiment upon it. It should become second nature in us.

Second Comforter "Highly Favored Tidings"

I have found, like reading scripture, that returning to the Second Comforter Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil is almost like having never read the book to begin with. Experiences of the last couple of years have given new perspective, new faith, and the ability to see and perceive things I had not noticed before. No matter where you are on the path, or if you have not yet found your way to the path, returning to the well of living water will always provide refreshment and vital new perspective that comes with that refreshment. I am learning frequent stops to quench a dry and thirsting soul are needed on this journey in order to have strength to continue. I have found sweet satiating spiritual rehydration and revitalization as I have returned to the great well of the Second Comforter. I increasingly understand there is much more than just inspiration to start and continue a climb there.

"To receive the second comforter we must allow others who have been so blessed to serve as our guides. Their instructions and testimony need to be accepted and followed." (Second Comforter pg. 15)

The Second Comforter is itself such instruction and testimony. We really must allow those who have been so blessed to serve as our guides. I believe the Lord places those who have been so blessed among us for the very purpose of showing the way and providing encouragement. He does not leave us alone. It is for us, in our day, just as it was in the days of Alma: (Alma 13)

22 Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us.

23 And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard.

24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.

What tidings could be gladder? What news could create in us greater joy than the tidings contained in the Second Comforter that declare He awaits our coming to Him? These tidings have come to us. They are indeed made known to us in "plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err...we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us." Angles are declaring it unto many at this time in our land, in our very homes and families.

We need to remember, and be sure, that we never confuse the messenger with the message. Though "the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it" to us, it is not the angels that should be the focus. It is the message and the instruction given to us by His messengers that will bring us into His presence. After all, it is "the voice of the Lord" even if it comes to us by the "mouth of angels." The Lord, by His own mouth, is providing a way that we may "allow others who have been so blessed to serve as our guides. Their instructions and testimony need to be accepted and followed." We have been highly favored to receive these things "for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory."

Let there be no doubt, we have received these things in order that the Lord may prepare our hearts to receive "His Word" at the time of His coming in His glory. We are thus "highly favored" to have received these glad tidings of great joy. We have received these things not because we are highly favored; instead, we are highly favored because we have received the glad news. It is the tidings of joy contained in the message that is "highly favored," not the one that receives the message. Knowing what we know, and drawing near to God, cannot ever create in us a sense of pride or vanity. We are highly favored to know these things. That favor can be immediately lost if we step away from the message and instruction that have come to us from “the voice of the Lord" by the mouth of angels.

Returning to a study of the Second Comforter shows us in a very intrinsic way, "instructions and testimony" of those who have been so blessed to have received the Second Comforter. Included in that instruction and testimony of those so blessed, is the additional example of Nephi who was also blessed to receive the Lord. I have found in that instruction concerning Nephi, guidance I did not know was there before. Some of that we can discuss in additional installments.

Conversing With the Lord - "No Veil to Our Feelings"

I want to go back to one of the notes I made from The Second Comforter Conversing with the Lord Through the Veil in the last post. This concept is striking in its meaning and its importance. We should try to understand it better. For anyone that is committed to striving for the conversation with the Lord at the veil, this truth, perhaps more than any other, provides a key. By understanding this principle, we can learn to talk with, (not just necessarily "to") God. More importantly, we can learn to recognize when He in turn talks with us.

Here is the principle from "The Second Comforter Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil":

"It can be a great benefit to have both this worlds learning and still keep the sensitivity to feel what lies behind the veil. There is no veil to our feelings. The veil is to our other senses. But we have learned to trust everything but our feelings…(emphasis added) it will be necessary to go back to trusting your feelings from a time long ago in childhood."

My daughter Rebecca had a very lively relationship with unseen characters when she was small. She would literally carry on audible conversations with her unseen “friends” Ronie and Jonie. Those of us who had long ago left our childhood behind could hear only one side of Rebecca’s cute conversations with these unseen friends. But, it was clear, by the long periods of Rebecca’s silence in between her own jabbering that Ronie and Jonie were speaking with her. She played and carried on conversations for hours with people we could not see. This relationship lasted for Rebecca for a very long time. Now, at age 17, Rebecca can still tell you about Ronie and Jonie her childhood friends none of the rest of us could see. Perhaps if we had been a little more like little children ourselves, we may have been able to participate in the delightful conversation and fun. Ronie and Jonie may have been real, or they may have been imaginary. The point is, like little children, we need to understand that there is indeed communication from an unseen world. We need to learn again, as the big children we are, to hear and trust that which emanates from the unseen world.

Because there “is no veil to our feelings,” because the veil pertains to, and affects only our “mortal senses,” there is always the possibility of an open connection between heaven and us. I love the thought that the sometimes seemingly impenetrable veil cannot completely block us out from our heavenly home. We can always be connected there if we choose to accept it and learn to use that connection.   

 Joseph Smith taught:

"All things whatsoever God in his infinite wisdom has seen fit and proper to reveal to us, while we are dwelling in mortality, in regard to our mortal bodies, are revealed to us in the abstract, and independent of affinity of this mortal tabernacle, but are revealed to our spirits precisely as though we had no bodies at all."

And,

"A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; [that is,] those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus."

I want to point out three examples of very personal revelation recorded in The Second Comforter. In these examples we can learn a great deal about how the Lord communicates and reveals information to us. The first of these examples is found on pages 46 and 47. The author records the following:

"I began to debate with myself: "Joseph Smith could not be a prophet because there are no prophets any more."

How do you know that?

"Because there haven't been prophets for nearly two thousand years."

Just because it has not occurred for a time, does that make it impossible to happen again?

"Well, no. But the scriptures do not say further prophets should be expected."

What about Christ's test: 'By their fruits ye shall know them.'...

...Does God not have the right to add or take away? The commandment to not add or detract is addressed to man. Why would that limit God?

"Hadn't thought of it like that..."

The second example of personal revelation is found on pages 306-308. The author records a journal entry in which he converses with the Lord in a flowing conversational style. (You should take a minute and read that account. It is too long to include here but will help you understand this principle.) The back and forth conversation between the author and another unseen person leads to discovery of the presence and attendance of the Lord during a difficult time of struggle. This recorded conversation with the Lord is beautiful and provides a marvelous example of the Lord giving comfort through revelation.

The third example is found on pages 62 and 63. There, we find the following:

"After two hours of raising questions and considering answers alone in the barracks, I reached this final question: "But how do I know there even is a God? After all, there may not even be a God, and life may not have any real meaning." In response to which came this final thought:

Who do you think you have been talking with these last two hours?

It was that last thought which alarmed me. Had I really been in a conversation with God?...Perhaps this was what it meant to talk with God."

All of these "conversations" happened inside the author's head. The revelation came without affinity to the man's mortal body. It all happened inside the author's head in the abstract in a quiet moment of reflection. Think again about the meaning of Joseph Smith's teaching:

"All things whatsoever God in his infinite wisdom has seen fit and proper to reveal to us, while we are dwelling in mortality, in regard to our mortal bodies, are revealed to us in the abstract, and independent of affinity of this mortal tabernacle, but are revealed to our spirits precisely as though we had no bodies at all."

This conversational revealing of information to our minds is pure revelation from the Lord. We all have this kind of thing going on in our minds almost always when we are reflective and quiet. I suppose this is true because "there is no veil" where our feelings are concerned. We don't often stop to pay close attention to the flow of thoughts or impressions in our minds. When we do pay attention, however, we will notice a lot of back and forth conversational type of interaction going on. We usually take credit for everything that goes on in the conversations in our heads. We tend to attribute both sides of the conversations there to our own thoughts. But, if we will attune ourselves, and pay close attention, just as in the examples from The Second Comforter, we will notice a clear difference between our own inputs to the conversation and those that come from the Lord speaking to us in our mind. This is the still small voice. It is there. There is no veil prohibiting our feelings that come from it. We need to learn to understand when it is that voice and not our own speaking. Then, when it speaks, we should respond immediately. 

I have found the lord appreciates it when we acknowledge His voice and thank Him for speaking with us. His expressions of love in return are a priceless reward. My personal experience is that, as we grow to recognize His voice, it becomes easier and easier to distinguish from all other voices. His voice has a recognizable tone and softness that is His own. Like every person’s individual voice, His tone and sound, distinguish Him as a person. King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon taught: (Mosiah 5)

12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.

13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

The Lord instructed Oliver Cowdery: (D&C 8)

2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; 

Coming to know His voice and obeying it is key to finding the presence of the Lord. How will He ever be able to lead us to Him if we cannot hear and understand, then obey His instructions to us?

Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil

From time to time course corrections are required. For me those times seem to arrive frequently. Despite my recurring inability to traverse a path without diversion to less meaningful things, I find the Lord gently coaxing me back to narrower ways. How grateful I am for His enduring patience and kindness. He seems never to give up. If He were going to give up, I suppose He would have done it long ago. I love Him and I thank Him.

Recently, I have felt the need for a more solid grounding in foundational bedrock principles that will lead me where I really desire most to go. A few years ago my wandering explorations into truth led to a book. The truths contained in the book guided me to some marvelous and cherished blessings and understanding. But the ultimate objective of the instruction in the book continues to elude me. So, now it is time to go back. In order to go forward it is required that we go back. (This is one of the great truths taught in the book The Second Comforter Conversing with the Lord Through the Veil.) I thought I understood the principle when I once read it a few years ago. Now, because of my errant wanderings, it's time to go back to be reminded again. 

Over time, the true principles and the course set forth in the Second Comforter never changed. In fact they cannot ever change. But I have changed. Following the designated path has brought me so far. Understanding and increased light and truth have resulted to a degree I could not have anticipated when this journey began. The things of God are marvelous and magnificent beyond our paltry ability to comprehend. It is true what Joseph Smith said, even the least saint, (me), can receive and understand the things of God as soon as we are ready for them.

Since this blog is written primarily for you, my children, and a few dear friends and family, I invite you to go back with me to The Second Comforter. I have begun on the path set forth there and found the promised interim results manifested just as promised. But I have begun to realize, we cannot ever be satisfied with interim results and blessings. Though they are magnificent, interim blessings were never intended to be any kind of end. Instead, they are meant to provide sign posts along the way; they are given to instill greater faith for the continuing climb to God.

So, I am going back to the Second Comforter. I am going there in hopes of remembering how it was I arrived there and beyond on the path to begin with. I am going to allow the Lord to show me once again, what is needed and required in order to find His presence. We, (I), cannot be fooled or misled into thinking we can deviate in the least from the path the Lord has set forth. The necessary components of the path are found in The Second Comforter Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil. Gaining knowledge and understanding will not in itself bring us to Him. It is easy to begin to confuse the effort to learn with the necessary requirements of the path. they are not the same thing.

Until we converse with the Lord at the veil, all other attainments, all other knowledge, and understanding, all other good and worthy endeavors and efforts, may become for us only distractions. I am going back hoping to discover where I may have deviated from the only accepted path that ends at His feet. 

Here are some notes I have begun to compile. These are the bedrock foundational principles that will set us off correctly once again. These are not my words. These words come from The Second Comforter Conversing With the Lord Through the Veil. I am going to allow them to guide me where He is. I invite you, my children and dear friends and family to consider where you stand on the path back to His presence. Because I feel resolved, with new determination to continue upward, I want you to feel the same thing. Consider Brother Snuffer's words carefully, then assess your standing and move ahead.

Notes from The Second Comforter Conversing With the Lord through the Veil: (again, these are quotes from the book not my words with the exception of an occasional parenthetical)


·      To receive the second comforter we must allow others who have been so blessed to serve as our guides. Their instructions and testimony need to be accepted and followed.  


·      Heaven will not permit any soul to receive mysteries if they cannot resist revealing them unwisely to others. The constraint that they may be learned but cannot be taught is enforced by withholding them from those who will not abide by this constraint.  


·      The nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin...this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment…


·      Like opening a combination lock, unless you have the right sequence and the right information, it is not possible to have the veil open.  (It's not about simply spinning the dial back and forth) 


·      There should be in the mind of the student only one thing to do. There is always only one thing to do. It is the thing most wrong at the moment. Once that is addressed and corrected, then you can move on to the next thing... Then there is still only one thing to do... Never work on three, or thirty, or fifty things at once.


·      Through the ordinances of the gospel you become an heir and a member of Gods family. He comes to visit with members of His family, but not with strangers and foreigners. The rites collectively are adoption rites, through which you are restored to Gods family.


·      The scriptures are accounts written about and by people who have received the second comforter... They tell us what to do... We should be eager to look carefully at what they tell us about how they got there. 


·      The past is forgivable. Even serious sins are forgivable. That's the point o what Christ did. He wants us to recover from our errors... Your own past sins, even serious sins, are no impediment to His power to forgive. 


·      Through the steps of asking, receiving, trusting and acting, we develop stronger faith... Anyone willing to move along with this will grow in light and truth. 


·      Getting light and truth from God is obtained through experiences. It is experiential rather than academic. Feeling comes before seeing, hearing, and touching... Anecdotal proof is what you must be willing to accept throughout this process. Your own experiences are going to be your guide. 


·      It can be a great benefit to have both this worlds learning and still keep the sensitivity to feel what lies behind the veil.       ***There is no veil to our feelings. The veil is to our other senses. But we have learned to trust everything but our feelings…*** (emphasis added) it will be necessary to go back to trusting your feelings from a time long ago in childhood 


·      Before you are ready to receive the second comforter you will encounter substantial tests of your faith. Of course, you should expect that. Hearts must be broken. That is the only way to get the required "broken heart and a contrite spirit" the Lord demands.


·      How, when, where, and to what extent you will be tested is an individual matter. But a test that will break your heart will certainly come. You must pass through the very valley of the shadow of death, while relying upon the Lord to guide you and provide you the comfort to endure.

He whose presence we seek said it this way: (Revelation 3:)

18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

So, for me, it’s back to the knitting. Stick to the knitting. Stick to the Knitting. My children especially, I invite you to join me here.

Book of Mormon Precepts "A Type of the Latter Day Church"

This post is an introduction of sorts to a topic that will require many additional posts to develop fully from the Book of Mormon what we need to eventually understand. This topic, in order to be properly understood, will require additional understanding of prophecy and teachings from the Book of Mormon; those will be addressed and developed as we move along. To begin understanding, we need to first discover something about the last group of Nephi's descendants recorded in the Book of Mormon.

Among the recorded instances of "dwindling in unbelief" in the Book of Mormon narrative, there is one occurrence that should be paid particular attention. The dwindling, and ultimate destruction of the people that once received the Lord Jesus Christ and His personal ministry, is the most important and instructive example of all. This highly favored people began in such a condition that they were able to stand in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. (3Nephi 11) Whenever a person or a group of people arrive at the level of purity and holiness that enables them to endure the presence of God while in mortality, that condition is called, Zion. (3Nephi 12: 8, D&C 97: 21) The last Nephites began as a Zion people when Christ appeared to them and personally ministered to them. (3Nephi 11) In order for the people to be able to endure the presence of the risen Lord and still live, it was necessary for them to have received ordinances of the higher priesthood. (D&C 84: 19-22) It was necessary that they receive the fullness of the priesthood. These Nephites were spiritually advanced and spiritually accomplished saints. They enjoyed the company and presence of Christ during an intensive three-day ministry. Thereafter "he did show himself unto them oft, and did break bread oft, and bless it, and give it unto them." (3Nephi 26: 13)

The Nephites enjoyed a true Zion society where Christ and the fulness of the priesthood was present among them. The latter day saints on the other hand, failed in their attempts to establish Zion.  (D&C 124: 28, 32-34) Though the latter day saints came into the habit of calling themselves Zion, and are referred to in various places in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants as "Zion", (for example, 2Nephi 28: 21, 24), like the Israelites of Moses' day, (D&C 84: 23-25), the latter day saints never achieved the Zion condition that would allow God to dwell among them as the Nephites did. The latter day saints merited the ministering of angels among them from time to time. The Kirtland temple dedication era record includes instances of angelic presence and ministry. But, to Joseph Smith’s frustration and dismay, the latter day saints never achieved Zion despite all of Joseph's great efforts to bring the saints to that understanding and condition. 

About his frustration and inability to instill understanding among the saints, Joseph said, "there has been a great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation. It has been like splitting hemlock knots with a corn dodger for a wedge and a pumpkin for a beetle…I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the saints prepared to receive the things of God, but we frequently see some of them …fly to pieces like glass as soon as anything comes that is contrary to their traditions, they cannot stand the fire at all. How many will be able to abide a celestial law and go through and receive their exaltation I am unable to say, but many are called and few are chosen." Modern latter day saints do not seem to have changed much in this regard since Joseph's day. "Tradition" rules the day among them still.


As to Joseph's expressed concern about "how many will be able to abide a celestial law," the Lord later revealed, (D&C 105) 


2 Behold, I say unto you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church and not individuals, they might have been redeemed even now.

3 But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them;

4 And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom;

5 And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.

6 And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they suffer.

From the record of that last group of once highly blessed Nephite believers, is found a type of the latter day restored church. To miss, or misunderstand, the message of the experience of the last Nephites is to miss one of the foremost warnings provided by the Lord to latter day people from the Book of Mormon. To see and understand the great type established by the last Nephites is to begin to understand latter day events and fulfillment of latter day prophecy regarding the latter day church as set forth previously in the precious Book of Mormon.

The purpose of Mormon's inclusion in the abridged record, of the dwindling and ultimate destruction of a once Zion people, is misunderstood by almost all latter day saints. Generally, latter day saints tend to read and view the horrific events that led to the ultimate total destruction of the Zion Nephites as separate from themselves; as though they had no direct meaning or application to a latter day church or a latter day people. What can be learned after all, by a "chosen," and a "promised," latter day people, from a fallen, wicked, and destroyed Nephite people? Even if the Nephites were once Zion, even if God once dwelled among them, what can the experience of their dwindling and destruction possibly mean to a church who’s glorious destiny is assured? A proper and introspective understanding of what happened to the Zion Nephites; understanding why the Lord desires that it be clearly understood by latter day people what happened to the Zion Nephites, has everything to do with the church's own latter day history and destiny as it relates to prophecy in the Book of Mormon. We might even rightly say, to understand the latter day saints is to understand substantially what happened to the Zion Nephites.

It seems difficult, if not impossible, for latter day saints to see and understand the striking parallels between themselves and the Zion Nephites. It is because of pride, vanity, and unbelief of the latter day saints (D&C 84: 54-57) that they are unable to see what the Lord has placed before their eyes in the words of the Book of Mormon. Their minds have in fact been "darkened" just as the Lord said. (D&C 84: 54) It is, after all, the work of the enemy of God to, "blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost." (1Nephi 12 : 17)   We must not make the mistake of all together missing, misjudging, or discounting, the lessons and experience of the last Nephites. (Those things do in fact pertain directly to the latter day church.) To do so is to succumb to our "vanity" and "unbelief." If we believe the glorious destiny of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints makes it impervious to anything like what happened to the Zion Nephites, then we may surely know we are being guided by our "vanity" and "unbelief." The first evidence of a "darkened mind" is the refusal, or inability, to believe what is plainly written. (D&C 84: 54-57)

Much knowledge is needed to understand just how the last Nephites and the latter day church are set up in the Book of Mormon as types of one another. For now, in order to begin a foundation of understanding, we will try to understand just what happened to the Zion Nephites

Remember, our overall objective is to learn the precepts of the Book of Mormon in order that, as Joseph Smith said, we can come nearer to God by abiding by its precepts.

Book of Mormon Precepts "Believe in Me"

The greatest message of the Book of Mormon is the glad news that declares Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. That all men, His lowly creations, may seek Him and find His presence during mortality thereby securing from Him personally redemption from the fall. The Lord Jesus Himself said, "Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me...Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin." (3 Nephi 9: 14,21)

If the precepts of the Book of Mormon have the ability to bring us "near to God" as Joseph Smith taught, it is because the book is full of invitation, testimony, and instruction from, and about, Christ and His redeeming power. Everything needed to show a man how he may seek and find Him and His offered redemption is included. This is the great message and principle we are commanded to "believe" in order that we may come unto Him and receive eternal life. All else falls into the category of "unbelief." The great patriarch leader Lehi taught his sons, "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered." (2Nephi 2: 6-7)

Recognizing the critical centrality and eternally important nature of the message of the redemption offered through Christ, Lehi testifies, "Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise." (2Nephi 2: 8) The importance of making these things known as Lehi suggests is great enough that the Lord would carefully, over many centuries, personally supervise and direct the writing and composition of the records that would one day comprise the words of the Book of Mormon. It's greatest purpose is, "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations—" (Title page of the Book of Mormon)

We can't allow ourselves to focus on unbelief and dwindling or any of the other very important warnings found in the precious Book of Mormon without giving at least equal attention to the happy message of "believe in Christ" found there. The first purpose of the Book of Mormon is to testify and teach of Christ and to instruct how individual people may find Him and come into His presence. The words of the Book of Mormon necessarily provide stern and repeated warnings about unbelief, dwindling, and many other unsavory warnings and prophecies that may be viewed as less than optimistic when they are understood properly. These warnings are a necessary part of the record. Even the warnings and prophecies of failure and predictions of destruction and judgment, if people choose to hear it, have the purpose of calling them to repent and come to Him. 

If one is willing to pay close attention in order to see and understand, the Book of Mormon shows and explains the movement and shifting of the gospel of Christ among various steward groups all the way from beginnings with the Nephites, through and including the Millennium and the reign of Christ. It is one of the overriding purposes of the Book of Mormon to show latter day people the prophetic movement of the gospel of Jesus Christ and its blessings from one group of people to another. A substantial portion of the entire volume of the Book of Mormon is comprised of the prophecies that speak of these things. The prophetic description of the flow of the gospel of Jesus Christ from one steward group to another and yet another is built into the structure of the book in order that the various players in the prophecies in the latter days may be informed and prepared for the prophesied developments. Each one of the various steward groups must learn repentance and receive the knowledge needed  to come unto Him and receive Him. As one group receives heavenly knowledge and the gospel, and prospers, another "dwindles in unbelief." This process repeats itself in the prophecies of the Book of Mormon through the Nephites, to the Gentiles, until the remnant of the Nephite's seed will take final stewardship of the fullness of the gospel to build the New Jerusalem and Zion. (3Nephi  20, 21) 

The movement of stewardship for the gospel of Jesus Christ is to go from the Nephites, to latter day Gentiles. (1Nephi 13: 35-36) The latter day Gentiles will then deliver the gospel message to a remnant of Nepite blood. (1Nephi 13: 38-39) Then finally, the eventual total stewardship of the gospel of Jesus Christ will be assumed by the remnant of the Nephites. (3Nephi 16: 10-11 and 3Nephi 20-21) None of this prophecy that fills so many pages of the Book of Mormon can be properly viewed or understood separately from the message of "Come unto Me and believe in Me." Every aspect of the Book of Mormon narrative is given to lead latter day people to Christ and His redemption. 

When the words of the Book of Mormon speak of "unbelief" and "dwindling," when there are suggestions of failure and disappointment in the conduct of latter day people, even when the Lord warns about destruction and judgments to come, it all has the singular purpose of crying out to the reader to repent and come to Him. There is not one warning given in the book, there is no prophecy of destruction and judgment to come, that cannot be applied unto the blessing of the reader’s soul if one is willing to give heed to the message and repent. Every single warning and judgment pronounced in the Book of Mormon can be avoided even eliminated for the individual soul that is willing to come unto Him. This is the very purpose of such language in the book. 

The Lord repeats the message over and over again in the words of the Book of Mormon, "Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts." (2 Nephi 28: 32) The key contingency in the Lord's message is "if they will repent and come unto me." One cannot sincerely read the words of the Book of Mormon without recognizing the desperation with which the Lord seems to want to be merciful to all.  He would redeem them all if they would just repent and come to Him. Unfortunately, as He said in the verse above, "they will deny me." In another place He said, “And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.” (3Nephi 10: 5)

The message of hope, love, and redemption through Christ the Lord, is the purpose and meaning of the precious Book of Mormon. Its words are not always encouraging for those unwilling to repent and come to Him. But for the repentant soul that is willing, just as it was for Nephi, and Jacob, Enos, and Alma, the later Nephi, the brother of Jared, Mormon, Moroni, and Joseph Smith, he calls through the words of the Book of Mormon for you to come unto Him in order that you may receive Him and be redeemed through His testimony to you.