Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome. Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4). This priority was not only reflecte
After hearing his father's account of his vision, Nephi "was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things," (1 Nephi 10:17).
"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" (1 Nephi 10:17).
Nephi taught about the role of the Holy Ghost in learning spiritual truth, and the unchanging nature of God. He knew that the only way he could see, and hear, and know the things of God was "by the power of the Holy Ghost" and further explained that the Holy Ghost is "the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him" (1 Nephi 10:17).
In my last post I talked about keeping commandments by faith without a full knowledge of the Lord's intent and purpose. Here Nephi offers an important caveat, that the Lord can and will reveal to us anything that we diligently seek. In every instance where I have urgently sought clarification and confirmation from the Lord, I have received it. For me these moments of clarity and confidence come through my thoughts (in my own voice), images and symbols in my mind (drawn from my life and experience), and my feelings. My conversations with the Holy Ghost are very personal, and he uses thoughts and analogies that make sense to me (in my case, they are usually drawn from music, art, gardening, literature, and running). Sometimes they are in response to specific prayers or just questions I have been thinking about. This spiritual awareness and regular communication with God (through the Holy Ghost) is among the most precious gifts I have.
To some degree we have all experienced the influence of the Holy Ghost; it is the core of our most certain beliefs and the things we know "for sure." The more questions I ask God, the more certainty I have not just about what I'll call the big questions (family, love, kindness, etc.), but the details of my life (Should I take this job? Where should I enroll my kids in preschool?) and the nuances of the gospel (What can I learn from the symbolism of the sacrament?).
Not only does Nephi spell out the pattern he used to gain more knowledge in this instance, he tells us something about the nature of God. God is unchanging. He loves his children as much today as he did thousands of years ago, and he stands ready to give us the instruction, comfort, and motivation we need today. "For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world ... 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" (1 Nephi 10:18-19).
Ralph Waldo Emerson summarized this idea well when in 1838 he said, "Men have come to speak of revelation as long ago given and done, as if God were dead. It is the office of a true teacher to show us that God is, not was, that he speaketh, not spake. The need of new revelation was never greater than now."
Image Credit: Akenator
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