1 Nephi 15

When Nephi’s brothers admit that they cannot understand the things that their father has taught, Nephi asks with a very teaching question –

‘…Have ye inquired of the Lord?” (1 Nephi 15:8)

And then they seem to sarcastically answer –

“…We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.” (1 Nephi 15:9)

I is then that, in patience, Nephi teaches how one comes to understands the word of the Lord, or in other words, come to receive the mysteries of God(by revelation) –

"…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 15:11)

The very words “with diligence in keeping the commandments” suggest that answers do not generally come immediately. It suggests a level of patience with diligence.

As Nephi continues to explain the words of his father, he teaches an important doctrine to those of our day -

“And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the covenant people of the Lord; and then shall they know and come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer, which was ministered unto their fathers by him; wherefore, 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 Nephi 15:14)

I specifically noticed that the “covenant people”, with a knowledge of the gospel and the doctrine if Christ, may come to know “how to come unto him and be saved”. This is where LDS doctrine and non-Christian and Christian begin to differ or disagree. – the meaning of “being saved”. I blogged several days ago where Nephi learned of the Bible that –

“…many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.” (1 Nephi 13:26)

We believe that making and keeping sacred covenants will lead to all the promised blessings of the Father where those blessings promise “all the Father hath shall be given him”. Others believe that in living a good life, they will inherit heaven meaning a place of glory. In fact, both statements are true – but one is much greater than another. The following is what the Prophet Joseph Smith received in a great vision of the two potential rewards where one is significantly greater than the other. I will note that receiving the Terresteral glory requires not covenants – just a function of goodness or living a good life for –

“…we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament…
75 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
76 These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness.
77 These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.
78 Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun.
79 These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.
80 And now this is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial, that the Lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the Spirit.” (D&C 76:71-80)

But of those that also make and keep sacred covenants having them sealed upon them –

“…we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
54 They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
57 And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
58 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
59, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
60 And they shall overcome all things.
61 Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet.
62 These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.
63 These are they whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people.
64 These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.
65 These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just.
66 These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.
67 These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn.
68 These are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all.
69 These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.
70 These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical. (D&C 76:50-70)