When Nephi, whose writings are the first we have in the Book of Mormon, was a teenager, his father had a great vision. Nephi longed to know for himself that what his father had said was true, so he went off alone and asked God for confirmation. In response, he received a vision of his own, which helped him to understand his father’s vision and prepared him to take over leadership of the church in the future.
When Nephi returned home, he found his older brothers had taken a different approach to the problem. Instead of asking God what the vision meant, and if it was true, they were arguing about it. Nephi, who had seen in his vision the unhappy fate of his two oldest brothers and their descendants, was sad. He knew that what his father had taught was very difficult to understand without God’s help. When the brothers asked Nephi what the vision meant, complaining that they hadn’t understood it, he asked them if they had prayed about it.
9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.
10 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?
11 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 Nephi 15)
Nephi did not enter into the debate they had been holding. Instead, he gave them straightforward information, answering the questions they had for him. He shared his testimony of what he was telling them. Even this was not enough, however.
Although the brothers asked a great many questions, they didn’t really want to know. Their questions were more from curiosity than from a desire to know the truth. As a result, the answers they received did not convert them any more than the debate had. They refused to pray, because they didn’t believe God would answer them. They preferred to let Nephi do the praying and just tell them—but that has no converting power.
The brothers were not humble. They didn’t seek for truth, and complained about the information Nephi gave them concerning what God had said. They were unwilling to go to God and ask for a testimony, and unwilling to act on the knowledge they received. The information simply didn’t fit into their plans or the way they wanted the world to operate.
As a result, they never did find out what God wanted and they forfeited the blessings they could have received had they humbled themselves and bowed themselves to God’s will instead of their own.
The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.
