Friday, October 19, 2012

Churches Built By Men, Conclusion

Nephi has a great deal more to say. You should look at the balance of what he foretells of our day.

Nephi pronounces "Wo" upon those in our day who "turn aside the just for a thing of naught, and say it is of no worth." (2 Ne. 28: 16.) What does this mean?
-Who are "the just" about whom he writes?
-What does it mean to be "justified" before God?
-Does this status come with an office?
-Is being justified before God a position to be called to in an organization?
-Does God determine who is "just" before Him?
-How would you know if someone is "just" or not?
-If someone is "just" and you discard them, are you treating them as "a thing of naught?"
-What does it mean to treat the just as "naught?"
-Why is it wrong to say the "just" are "of no worth?"
-How would you change that and treat the just as having worth?

What Nephi says will ultimately provoke the Lord's wrath. "For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish." (2 Ne. 28: 16.) What is this referring to?
-What is the relationship between treating the "just" as "a thing of naught" and the Lord's wrath?
-What is the relationship between treating the "just" as having "no worth" and becoming "ripe in iniquity?"
-Why are these associated in Nephi's prophecy?
-Can I trust an organization to sort out the "just", identify and uphold them?
-Can I ignore the Spirit when it comes to these issues?
-How can you become "fully ripe" in iniquity as a result of how you react to the "just?"

Nephi does write some very provocative prophecies about us, but they don't seem to provoke us into thought or repentance. We seem content to eat, drink and be merry, trusting that the Lord will merely inflict a few stripes on us if we err; because after all, there is no hell. (2 Ne. 28: 8.) We have little interest in recognizing "the just" much less becoming justified before God. And being sanctified before Him is not discussed or understood any longer.

Nephi is among the most important voices for our day.

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