The Doctrine of Christ, part 2

Nephi concludes his ministry with important counsel and pleading.  He states:

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. (2 Nephi 32:3)

We shouldn't be confused, in doubt or deceived.  We have the words of Christ.  They will guide us.  We are accountable for how we use them.  The church has been under condemnation for it's past treatment of the Book of Mormon.  Collectively, we have ignored or treated the Book of Mormon lightly, sipping when we should have been feasting.  Still to this day, we have far more apologetic work (scholarly work supporting the historical veracity of the Book of Mormon) in the Church than we have doctrinal commentary on the teachings of the Book of Mormon.  It really does contain the fullness of the gospel.  If we had nothing more than 1st and 2nd Nephi we would have enough.  Is covering this material an hour a week once every four years in gospel doctrine class enough?

Many scriptures are multi-faceted and have several layers or multiple meanings.  This is intentional.  The scriptures reveal and conceal truth.  It requires experience and the Spirit to open our eyes that we may see.  It requires asking, seeking, and knocking.  Without this we are not brought into the light (2 Nephi 32:4).

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. (2 Ne. 32:5)

What a marvelous promise!  What a glorious gift we are given after baptism!  Of all the things the Father could give us, he chooses to give us the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The right to have its companionship with us always.

How do you experience this gift in your life?  Despite commonalities, it is probably slightly different for each of us.  In my life most often the spirit is manifest in one of three ways:

1)  Most often as a warm, feeling of peace and reassurance.  This is very recognizable to me.  It is also very noticeable when it is absent.  When making decisions, often one way just "feels" right and the other doesn't.  When the Holy Ghost is generally present in my life, promptings are often very subtle--just a feeling that I should do something or an idea that comes that seems right.

2)  Less frequently, the Spirit brings the words of Christ directly into my mind.  This is unmistakable as these words are separate from my thoughts.  I cherish these words.

3)  Occasionally, the spirit communicates "intelligence" and gives understanding to me.  This is a little more difficult to describe if you haven't experienced it.  It is almost as if a light switch is turned on and ideas, thoughts, understanding is poured into your mind.  This doesn't usually involve words, I'm usually left struggling to put the understanding into terms I can verbalize.

We need guidance in our lives.  We need the Spirit.  Avoid things that offend or drive the spirit from your life.  "Pray always and I will pour out my spirit upon you." (D&C 19:38)

Nephi continues:

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. (2 Nephi 32:6)

 Is Nephi referring to the appearance of the Savior to the Nephites?  Or is he referring to a personal appearance?  Or is it both?

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. (2 Nephi 32:7)

Nephi has reached the end of what he is permitted to say.  He understands much more.  He knows what unbelief, ignorance and wickedness cause us to miss and he mourns.

He gives us one last clue, however:

If ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray. (2 Nephi 32:8).

We need to have contact with heaven ourselves.  This is established through prayer.  If we read books like the Book of Enos and see only what happened to Enos we miss the point.  We each need to have our own experiences like Enos.