2 Nephi 33:1-3

Chapter 33 Heading

Nephi's words are true—They testify of Christ—Those who believe in Christ will believe Nephi's words—They shall stand as a witness before the judgment bar. About 559–545 B.C.
 

1  AND now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.

2 Nephi 33:1 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) is finishing his writings.  His death is recorded in the Book of Jacob (see Jacob 1:12).  The heading to Jacob, Chapter 1, dates that chapter beginning 544 BC, one year after the time covered by this chapter.  His life is ending and he wants to leave one last testimony for his people.  As we read his words in this chapter, we should keep this in mind.  It can help us fully understand and appreciate the spirit of his words.

He begins by expressing his concerns that, while he is mighty in speaking, he is a weaker writer.  (I have found Nephi(1)'s words to be very powerful.  If he was a better speaker, I truly wish I could have had the opportunity to hear him preach the gospel.  It must have been quite an experience!)  According to Nephi(1), when someone speaks through the power of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost touches the hearts of the listeners.

This is important because the Holy Ghost testifies to the truthfulness of the gospel, the divinity,words,  and mission of Christ.  He is a powerful witness to us to help us know the truthfulness of what we hear.

In the April 2001 General Conference, then Young Women's General President Margaret D. Nadauld said:

"The Lord promises us that “because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer” (Moro. 8:26).  Your Heavenly Father will help you find the right path as you seek His guidance. Remember though, after you pray you must get off your knees and start doing something positive; head in the right direction! He will send people along the way who will assist you, but you must be doing your part as well. By the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, you can be guided in your trip through life. Point number three—the Holy Ghost is also a testifier. This Holy Spirit can help you really understand deep down inside the most important truth ever known—that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that because of Him every one of us who ever lived will one day live again ... The Holy Spirit is a comforter, a guide, a testifier. What a remarkable and holy member of the Godhead. And you have the right to His influence and inspiration! How blessed and loved you are! " (Emphasis mine)

In the October 2009 General Conference, Elder Richard G. Scott said:

"Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness ...Now I share an experience that taught me a way to gain spiritual guidance. One Sunday I attended the priesthood meeting of a Spanish branch in Mexico City. I vividly recall how a humble Mexican priesthood leader struggled to communicate the truths of the gospel in his lesson material. I noted the intense desire he had to share those principles he strongly valued with his quorum members. He recognized that they were of great worth to the brethren present. In his manner, there was an evidence of a pure love of the Savior and love of those he taught.  His sincerity, purity of intent, and love permitted a spiritual strength to envelop the room. I was deeply touched. Then I began to receive personal impressions as an extension of the principles taught by that humble instructor. They were personal and related to my assignments in the area. They came in answer to my prolonged, prayerful efforts to learn ... As each impression came, I carefully wrote it down. In the process, I was given precious truths that I greatly needed in order to be a more effective servant of the Lord. The details of the communication are sacred and, like a patriarchal blessing, were for my individual benefit. I was given specific directions, instructions, and conditioned promises that have beneficially altered the course of my life ... What I have described is not an isolated experience. It embodies several true principles regarding communication from the Lord to His children here on earth. "  (Emphasis mine)

16  Rejoice evermore.
17  Pray without ceasing.
18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19  Quench not the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (Emphasis mine)

19  ¶ Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side.  Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21  Then said Jesus to them again,
22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

John 20:19- 22 (Emphasis mine)

2  But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.

It appears that there were many who did not accept Nephi(1)'s words.  This, he tells us, is because they harden their hearts against the message.  The words mean nothing to them.  They reject the words and go on as if there's nothing wrong.

1  THE word of the LORD also came unto me, saying,
2  Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 12:1-2 (Emphasis mine)

12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13  But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Matthew 15:12-14 (Emphasis mine)

37  ¶ But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38  That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report?  and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39  Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

John 12:37-40 (Emphasis mine)

3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the flight of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (Emphasis mine) 

17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Ephesians 4:17-18 (Emphasis mine)

3  But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people.  

For I pray continually for them by day, 

     and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; 

and I cry unto my God in faith, 

     and I know that he will hear my cry.

2 Nephi 33:3 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) will not apologize for what he has written (preached) to his people.  He taught what he taught and preached what he preached because he know it was important that his people know and understand these principles.

In the April 2010 General Conference, Elder D. Todd Christofferson said:

"Through the scriptures, God does indeed 'show forth his power' to save and exalt His children. By His word, as Alma said, He enlarges our memory, sheds light on falsehood and error, and brings us to repentance and to rejoice in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.  The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life. And they expand our memory in another sense by teaching us about epochs, people, and events that we did not experience personally. None of us was present to see the Red Sea part and cross with Moses between walls of water to the other side. We were not there to hear the Sermon on the Mount, to see Lazarus raised from the dead, to see the suffering Savior in Gethsemane and on the cross, and we did not, with Mary, hear the two angels testify at the empty tomb that Jesus was risen from the dead. You and I did not go forward one by one with the multitude in the land Bountiful at the resurrected Savior’s invitation to feel the prints of the nails and bathe His feet with our tears. We did not kneel beside Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and gaze there upon the Father and the Son. Yet we know all these things and much, much more because we have the scriptural record to enlarge our memory, to teach us what we did not know. And as these things penetrate our minds and hearts, our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root.  The scriptures also enlarge our memory by helping us not forget what we and earlier generations have learned. Those who either don’t have or ignore the recorded word of God eventually cease to believe in Him and forget the purpose of their existence. You will remember how important it was for Lehi’s people to take the brass plates with them when they left Jerusalem. These scriptures were key to their knowledge of God and the coming Redemption of Christ. The other group that 'came out from Jerusalem' shortly after Lehi had no scriptures, and when Lehi’s descendants encountered them some 300 or 400 years later, it is recorded that 'their language had become corrupted; … and they denied the being of their Creator' (Omni 1:15, 17). " (Emphasis mine)

3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:3-4 (Emphasis mine)

39 ¶ Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

John 5:39-40 (Emphasis mine)

15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 3:15-16 (Emphasis mine)

And, despite the people's unwillingness to listen, Nephi(1) prays and weeps for them, because of their unbelief.  And, because of his faith, he knows his prayers will be heard.

4  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Acts 6:4 (Emphasis mine)

17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:17-18 (Emphasis mine)

6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (Emphasis mine)

5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

James 1:5-6 (Emphasis mine)

12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do devil.

1 Peter 3:12 (Emphasis mine)

2 Nephi 32:1-9

Chapter 32 Heading

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost—Men must pray and gain knowledge for themselves from the Holy Ghost. About 559–545 B.C.

1  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?
2  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?
3  Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.  Wherefore, I said unto you, bfeast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

2 Nephi 32:1-3 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) asks why we carefully consider his words before we made a decision?  He has taught the principles to them, for example, they can speak with the tongue of angels after they have received the Holy Ghost.  He has taught them that angles speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, that they speak the words of Christ.  He tells them to feast on the words of Christ and you will learn all things you must do.

15  ¶ O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
16  Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Jeremiah 15:15-16 (Emphasis mine)

35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:35 (Emphasis mine)

4  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.
5  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.6  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
7  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.

2 Nephi 32:4-7 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) next informs us if we don't understand these words, it's our fault.  Why?  We don't ask!  It's that simple.  If we ask, we will know the truth.  We will now the way.  The Holy Ghost will show us all things we should do.  This, Nephi(1) writes, is the doctrine of Christ.

And he cannot continue.  He has been commanded the Spirit to stop teaching at this point.  This is because of the wickedness of men.  Even when we receive teachings in plain and simple language, we still cannot understand.  So, he stops. 

5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

James 1:5-6 (Emphasis mine)

14  ¶ Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Mark 16:14 (Emphasis mine)

24  Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt?  If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

John 10:24-26 (Emphasis mine)

14  Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Proverbs 28:14 (Emphasis mine)

52  For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Mark 6:52 (Emphasis mine)

8  Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.

2 Chronicles 30:8 (Emphasis mine)

8  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 devil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.
9  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.

2 Nephi 32:8 - 9 (Emphasis mine)

How do we overcome this stiffneckedness?  Pray.  The Spirit teaches us to pray.  It is the devil who teaches us not to pray.  Why shouldn't he?  He knows that if we pray, with a sincere heart, we will receive our answers.  That's the last thing he wants from us.

Nephi(1) closes this chapter telling us to pray always.  Pray that he will consecrate what we do do, so that what we do we do for our welfare.

20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 3:20-21 (Emphasis mine)

17  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

John 7:17 (Emphasis mine)

14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (Emphasis mine)

7  ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 (Emphasis mine)

12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Romans 12:12  (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) emphasized the importance of prayer.  In the October 2008, Elder David A. Bednar spoke on prayer.

"Simply stated, prayer is communication to Heavenly Father from His sons and daughters on earth. “As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part” (Bible Dictionary, “Prayer,” 752) ... prayer is a key part of the spiritual preparation for our day.  " (Emphasis mine)

Praying for guidance in what we do is the way we will receive "consecration in our performance. " In the October 2009 General Conference, Elder Richard G. Scott discussed the importance of spiritual guidance.

"In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness ... Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily. "  (Emphasis mine)

It is up to each one of us to learn the truth of Nephi(1)'s words.  We can do this through prayer.  As our faith grows we will become closer to the Holy Ghost.  As we become more and more in tune with the Holy Ghost, he becomes our guide in life. 

Then we will no longer have to ponder to the word God.  We will know the truthfulness of what we hear and our lives and performance will become consecrated by Christ.  It doesn't get any better than that.

2 Nephi 31:9-13

9  And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the agate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.
10  And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me.  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?
11  And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.

2 Nephi 31:9-11 (Emphasis mine)

Nephi(1) continues his comments on the baptism of the Savior by emphasizing the example He set.  Through His example He shows us the path we should follow as his disciples.

Then Nephi(1) makes an important point.  How can you follow Jesus if you don't keep His commandments? He tells us to follow Him.  Can a person truly follow Him if he doesn't follow His example?  No!  Christ's life is an example for us.  He shows us the way.  To follow Him, we must obey the commandments.  And one of the commandments is to repent and be baptized in Christ's name.

14  Ye are the alight of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16  Let your alight so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 (Emphasis mine)

12  So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

John 13:12-15 (Emphasis mine)

21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 Peter 2:21 (Emphasis mine)

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin discussed following Christ in the April 2002 General Conference.

Have you ever wondered what it must have been like to have lived in the days of the Savior? If you had been there, would you have heeded His call “Follow me”?  Perhaps a more realistic question might be, “If the Savior were to call you today, would you be just as willing to leave your nets and follow Him?” I am confident that many would.But for some, it may not be such an easy decision. Some have discovered that nets, by their very nature, are sometimes not so easy to leave.  Nets come in many sizes and shapes ... Nets in this context can be our work, our hobbies, our pleasures, and, above all else, our temptations and sins. In short, a net can be anything that pulls us away from our relationship with our Heavenly Father or from His restored Church ...Jesus the Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life: no [one] cometh unto the Father, but by [Him].”  As a special witness of Him, I testify to you this day that the time will come when every man, woman, and child will look into the Savior’s loving eyes. On that day, we will know with a surety the worth of our decision to straightway follow Him.That each of us may hear the call of the Master and straightway leave our entangling nets and joyfully follow Him is my earnest prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.  (Emphasis mine)

12  And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.
13  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by fbaptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

2 Nephi 31:12-13 (Emphasis mine)

After baptism, there is more.  Once we are baptized in His name, we will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This will allow us to "speak with tongue of angels and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel. " This special gift will allow us to not only become closer to Him, but it will allow us to be even better followers of Him.

Merely following Him is not enough.  Nephi(1) teaches us we must follow him with full purpose and real intent.  We must avoid hypocrisy and deception.  We must repent of our sins.  We must show our purpose and intent by following him through baptism and taking upon his His name.  He expects much of His followers.  He gives us much more in return.

what shall we do?
38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:37-38 (Emphasis mine)

29  ¶ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Acts 5:29-32 (Emphasis mine)

 10  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 4:10-12 (Emphasis mine)

In the October 2010 session of General Conference, Elder David A. Bednar said:

The Holy Ghost is manifested to men and women on the earth both as the power and as the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power can come upon a person before baptism; it is the convincing witness that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, sincere investigators can acquire a conviction of the truthfulness of the Savior’s gospel, of the Book of Mormon ...We first should desire, yearn for, and seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost. You and I can learn a great lesson about righteous desires from the faithful disciples of the Master described in the Book of Mormon:

“And the twelve did teach the multitude; and behold, they did cause that the multitude should kneel down upon the face of the earth, and should pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus. … And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them” (3 Nephi 19:6, 9).  

Do we likewise remember to pray earnestly and consistently for that which we should most desire, even the Holy Ghost? Or do we become distracted by the cares of the world and the routine of daily living and take for granted or even neglect this most valuable of all gifts? Receiving the Holy Ghost starts with our sincere and constant desire for His companionship in our lives. (Emphasis mine)

I would like to close this post with a few of Elder Bednar's closing words.

I pray we will sincerely desire and appropriately invite the Holy Ghost into our daily lives. I also pray each of us will faithfully obey God’s commandments and in reality receive the Holy Ghost. (Emphasis mine)

Alma 41:1-4

Alma(2)'s epistle to Corianton continues discussing the resurrection and the restoration of the resurrected being.

1  AND now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the restoration of which has been spoken; for behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray because of this thing.  And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this thing.  But behold, I will explain it unto thee.
2  I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order.  Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every apart of the body should be restored to itself.
3  And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.
4  And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil.  Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—

Alma 41:1-4 (Emphasis mine)

Two themes that have been common to Alma(2)'s epistle are seen in these verses.

First, Corianton has a bad habit of getting caught up in all sorts of things that challenge his faith. Looking at the epistle as a whole, he ignores what he has been taught.  Something comes along that seems to contradict his beliefs and he gets all confused and bothered.  So, his father has to step in and "...explain it unto thee." (I can almost hear Alma(2) sighing "again!"" (v1).

The second theme is that the judgment we obtain is based on our works and the choices we make.  We have choices throughout our lives.  If we choose to follow the commandments and teachings of Christ, we obtain happiness and enter into the presence of God.  If we ignore these things, we choose misery and "...inherit the kingdom of the devil..." (v4)

Alma(2) reminds Corianton that the things that are causing him problems were teachings that had been twisted by those who were teaching the concepts that contradicted truth.  I do wonder what these teachings were that caused Corianton so many problems.  

This has been a constant problem faced by Christians.  Peter wrote:

20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:20 - 21 (Emphasis mine)

We learn that there were those who took upon themselves the right to give their own interpretation of scripture.  Both Peter and Alma(2) emphasize that the prophets speak the will of God as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.  It is only through the Holy Ghost we can understand the teachings and prophesies of God.

He reminds us that the restoration of all things is a necessary (requisite) part of the resurrection.  "...all things must be restored to their proper order."  (v2)  We will be restored based on the choices we make.  Those that choose right will be restored to "...unto that which is good."  (v3)  Those the choose evil will be restored "...to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the 

devil (v4)

Paul also taught that "...all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption..." (v4)

 50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all asleep, but we shall all be changed,
52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:50 - 52 (Emphasis mine)

We are fortunate to have guides and inspiration to help us understand the words of God.  We need to use good and proper sources.

We also need to follow Alma(2)'s counsel to avoid getting caught up in the things of men.  When we allow the philosophies of man to shape or beliefs, it just takes us farther away from truth.

I am grateful to Mormon(2) that he included this epistle of Alma(2).  We are able to gain many great and wonderful truths.