2 Nephi
9 verses
Now, my beloved brothers, I suppose you’re thinking in your hearts about what you should do after you have entered in by the way. But why are you wondering about these things in your hearts?
And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts?
Don’t you remember that I told you that after you received the Holy Ghost, you could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could you speak with the tongue of angels unless it was by the Holy Ghost?
Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?
Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, so they speak the words of Christ. I have told you to feast on the words of Christ, because the words of Christ will tell you everything you should do.
Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
Now, after I have spoken these words, if you cannot understand them it will be because you do not ask, and you do not knock; so you are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.
Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.
Again, I tell you that if you enter by the way and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show you everything you should do.
For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.
This is the doctrine of Christ, and no more doctrine will be given until after he shows himself to you in the flesh. When he does, you should do the things he tells you.
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. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.
Now I, Nephi, can’t say more; the Spirit stops me from speaking, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, wickedness, ignorance, and stubbornness of people. They won’t seek knowledge or understand great knowledge when it’s given to them clearly, as plainly as words can express.
And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, 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, my beloved brothers, I see that you are still thinking about this in your hearts, and it makes me sad that I have to talk about it. If you would listen to the Spirit, which teaches a person to pray, you would know that you need to pray. The evil spirit does not teach a person to pray, but teaches him that he should not pray.
And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.
I tell you that you must always pray and not give up; you should not do anything for the Lord without first praying to the Father in the name of Christ, asking Him to bless your actions so that what you do will benefit your soul.
But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.