Snelsons in Africa!: Personal Revelation-"continue in the path" (2 Ne. 33:9)‏

As you contemplate various decisions you will make now and in the future, I'm sure you are aware of this insightful statement by Sister Julie B. Beck: "The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life."

(Julie B. Beck, “And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit,” Ensign, May 2010, 11–12.)

Here are some notes from my recent study of the Tree of Life Vision:

Laman and Lemuel explain why they didn't pray: "We have not [prayed]; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us." Nephi does not disagree with their reasoning, but asks: "How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? (1 Ne. 15:9-10).

Nephi, while explaining the Tree of Life Vision to his brothers, provides one of the best 'how to' formulas for receiving personal revelation.

1.) "If ye will not harden your hearts, and

2.) ask me in faith,

3.) believing that ye shall receive,

4.) with diligence in keeping my commandments,

surely these things shall be made known unto you."

(1 Ne. 15: 11)

"Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God." (1 Ne. 17:35) (see also Alma 28:13)

One way that God favors the righteous is by giving them personal revelation.

“Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord–therefore he was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them..” (Mosiah 10:13)

Nephi kept the commandments, therefore he was favored of God by having his prayers answered.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said: "The secret of gaining answers to prayers is prior obedience to the Lord's [commandments]." (DNTC, vol. 3, pages 391-392)

“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers..”

(1 Pet. 3:12)

“..if it were not for the prayers of the righteous..ye would even now be visited with utter

destruction..But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are now spared..” (Alma 10:22-23)

“..nevertheless for the righteous sake, yea, because of the prayers of the righteous, they were

spared.” (Alma 62:40)

“..the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous..” (Mormon 5:21)

“..shall not be suffered to perish, because of the prayers of the faithful;” (2 Ne. 6:11)

“And except they repent..and cry mightily to the Lord their God, I will not hear their prayers..”

(Mosiah 11:25) see also (Mosiah 9:17; 21:10 &14; 24:10; Alma 9:25, 14:11; Mormon 9:6)

A major purpose of the Book of Mormon is contained on the title page "that ye may be found spotless before the judgement-seat of Christ".

Nephi explains that we are all accountable to God. "remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into judgement. Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgement-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God" (1 Ne. 10:20-21)

The solution is to "repent and come unto him" (1 Ne. 10:18) This is the process of conversion or the purpose of the Tree of Life Vision. "These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him." (1 Ne. 12:11) D & C 45:3-5; 3 Ne. 27:19 "they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved" (1 Ne. 15:14) "the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved." (1 Ne. 13:40) "the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto [Christ]" (1 Ne. 6:4)

We come unto Christ by repenting and entering into covenants with Him. Jesus has extended this simple six (6) word invitation to all mankind: "Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you. Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life.." (Alma 5:33-34)

We come unto Christ, who is represented by the Tree of Life and partake of the fruit of His Atonement by repenting and entering into covenants with God. "the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism...then cometh a remission of your sins" (2 Ne. 31:17)

Alma later explains "Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life." (Alma 5:62)

"the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him....on conditions of repentance. And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth ! Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people." (D & C 18:11-14)

The Lord converts people by convincing them of their sins in order to redeem them from their sins. "unto the convincing of many of their sins, that they may come unto repentance" (D & C 18:44) (see also 1 Ne. 14:7, Alma 21:17, 24:9, 37:9, 62:45, Hel.5:18-19,50-51) "he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins." (Hel. 5:10)

The first step is to recognize and acknowledge our sinful state "God be merciful to me a sinner." (Luke 18:13) Lehi says: "I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste"

(1 Ne. 8:7) Without Christ and the fruits of His Atonement, we remain in a 'dark and dreary waste'

Lehi travels for "many hours in darkness" (1 Ne. 8:8) only after he prays for mercy does he see "a large and spacious field" (1 Ne. 8:9) with "a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy." (1 Ne. 8:10)

A prayer for mercy implies that one is repenting, because "Mercy is for those who repent--All others are subject to God's justice" (Alma 42 chapter heading) "mercy cometh because of the atonement" (Alma 42:23) "Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you."

(Alma 5: 33)

When we repent and receive forgiveness "it fill[s] [our] soul with exceedingly great joy" we then want to share this joy "wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit." (1 Ne. 8:12) "the most desirable above all things."

(1 Ne. 11:22)

Before concluding his record in 2 Ne. 31-33, Nephi provides more commentary on the Tree of Life vision and focuses on what should occur after one has partaken of the fruit from the Tree of Life, received a remission of sins and gained the companionship of the Holy Ghost. We press forward on "this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life" (2 Ne. 31: 18-19) compared to "a strait and narrow path, which came...to the tree" (1 Ne. 8:20) The goal to "meet many souls spotless at his judgement-seat." (2 Ne. 33:7)

He concludes with this warning to those who choose to not partake of the fruit from the Tree of Life. "..you that will not partake of the goodness of God..behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day." (2 Ne. 33:14)

Nephi summarizes the purpose of the vision, which is the purpose of the scriptures and the purpose of mortal life.

1.) “be reconciled unto Christ and

2.) enter into the narrow gate, and

3.) walk in the strait path which leads to life, and

4.) continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.” (2 Ne. 33:9)

Nephi then emphasizes how to proceed on the path: “believe in Christ”. He repeats this phrase 3 times in the same verse. (2 Ne. 33:10).

Next week I'll write about how to continue in the path.

Photos of the week.....

Elder Proksch and Elder De Oliveira returning home after completing their missions.