Press Forward
Nephi's Simple Solution
The whole world ought to know, and the whole world shall know, that what Nephi wrote in the Book of Mormon is true.
Nephi only recorded a small portion of his great vision and his great prophecies. Nevertheless, that small portion is invaluable for those of us who live in the era that Nephi beheld in vision: the last days.
Nephi saw that which is very difficult for us to see. Like a prophetic pelican soaring over the oceans of time and space, Nephi saw that which is obscure to us, namely the waters in which we now swim.
The turbulent waters of the last days are also cloudy, dark, polluted, and even toxic. What is this murky miasma of modernity? How can any moiling mortal, like a mad marine mammal, possibly pierce through it all to perceive the rays of the Sun that light the way to a better world?
More than two millennia ago, Nephi recorded the answers to these questions, and much, much more.
I have yet to read a clearer description of modern times, particularly modern times in America, than that which Nephi engraved upon metal plates six centuries before Christ’s birth. Nephi’s panoramic vision reveals everything from the rise and fall of his own great civilization to the voyages of Columbus and other explorers and pilgrims, the American Revolution, the birth and rise of the United States of America, the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the coming forth and dissemination of the Book of Mormon, and the state of the world before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the millennium.
Nephi saw the conditions that caused the young farm boy Joseph Smith to seek wisdom from God: priests and parishioners contending with one another, denying a God of miracles, and preaching their own wisdom. Nephi saw the confusion caused by appeals to a Bible from which plain and precious parts had been removed. He saw rampant pride, wickedness, and evil, and the formation of many churches or organizations whose purpose is to get gain by robbing from and oppressing the poor and the meek. He saw all of this, and much, much more.
Nephi saw corrupt leaders of corrupt churches, false preachers of false doctrines, and the resultant ignorance and confusion of even the best people. Nephi saw conspiracies, secret combinations, and priestcraft. He saw the devil raging in the hearts of many, and pacifying or lulling into carnal security many others. He even saw that many people would reject his words and new scripture because of a foolish belief that the Bible (and the Book of Mormon) is enough and that God no longer speaks.
As I study Nephi’s prophesies that build upon and clarify the prophesies of Isaiah, I rejoice that he saw things so clearly. I rejoice that Nephi and his friends spoke of Christ, rejoiced in Christ, preached of Christ, prophesied of Christ, and wrote their prophecies so that we may know to what source we may look for a remission of our sins.
But I confess that after reading and rejoicing in the clarity and truth of Nephi’s visions and prophesies, I often wonder: therefore, what? What is to be done?
Clearly there is something deeply disturbing about the time in which we now live. Thankfully Nephi has confirmed that fact with great plainness and in stunning detail. But what on earth can anyone hope to do about it?
As I observe the chaos, confusion, and commotion of the world and the resultant bewilderment, perplexity, and frustration of many good people, my heart cries out to my beloved friend Nephi: therefore, what? What is to be done?
Nephi, true friend that he always has been and always will be, does not disappoint in his response. His response is simple and straightforward. His response is gentle and firm. His response pierces through the miasma like a ray of Sunlight: repent.
The brightness and splendor of Nephi’s solution stands in sharp relief against the dark background of conditions in the last days. What is to be done? Nephi’s voice from the dust whispers: believe in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost.
The simplicity is astounding. Nephi then reminds those of us who have already followed his invitation that there is yet more to do because we have only come this far because of Jesus Christ:
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:20)
This is the way. This is the ray of Sunlight that beckons us toward a better world.