The Closing of the Mormon Mind

The Opening and The Closing of The Mormon Mind

"...and I am left to mourn because of the...ignorance...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 32:7)

To Joseph Smith this last dispensation was the opening of the heavens and an opportunity for those who accepted the gospel to "stretch their minds to the upmost heavens." As Joseph described "Our minds being now enlightened we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understanding, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of" (JS History 74).

Ours is a mind stretching religion: "Thy mind, O man, if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity" (JS).

The description given by Oliver Cowdery has always moved me (it is why I quote it repeatedly) and reminded me of what awaits us as we immerse ourselves in the word of God. "On a sudden, as from the midst of eternity the voice of the Redeemer spake peace to us... While the world was racked and distracted--while millions were groping as the blind..., and while all men were resting upon uncertainty...our eyes beheld, our ears heard.... Man may deceive his fellow-men, deception may follow deception, and the children of the wicked one may have power to seduce the foolish and untaught, till naught but fiction feeds the many, and the fruit of falsehood carries in its current the giddy to the grave but one touch with the finger of his love, yes, one ray of glory from the upper world, or one word from the mouth of the Savior, from the bosom of eternity, strikes it all into insignificance, and blots it forever from the mind" (JS History Footnote).

But we must ask the question in our generation--have we 'stretched our minds' to the upmost heavens? Have we heard His voice and can exclaim as Oliver did that one word from the mouth of the Savior strikes everything else into insignificance? Or are we more like those whom Nephi describes, a people who will not search nor understand great knowledge, who have, rather than opened the heavens, closed them once again?

The saints were cautioned by Joseph Smith, even then, who said to them: "How vain and trifling have been our spirits, our conferences, our councils, our meetings, our private as well as public conversations--too low, too mean, too vulgar, too condescending for the dignified characters of the called and chosen of God." I think he would say the same now.

In other words we are not expanding our minds and reaching to the highest heavens. Brigham continued with this theme for his entire life. The treasures of the earth are merely to provide us with room and board while we are here at school, being "made for the comfort of the creature, and not for his adoration. They are made to sustain and preserve the body while procuring the knowledge and wisdom that pertains to God and his kingdom, in order that we may preserve ourselves, and live forever in his presence."

Learning is our proper calling: "We shall never cease to learn, unless we apostatize..." "God has given us mental and physical powers to be improved."

First and last, the gospel is learning unlimited. "When we have lived millions of years in the presence of God and angels...shall we then cease learning? No, or eternity ceases."

"...every minute of every day of our lives we should strive to improve our minds and increase in the faith of the holy Gospel."

"We are trying to teach this people to use their brains."

To use one's brain is to think for one's self. "Ladies and gentlemen, I exhort you to think for yourselves, and read your Bibles for yourselves, get the Holy Spirit for yourselves, and pray for yourselves." 

Joseph Smith said: "All have the privilege of thinking for themselves upon all matters of conscience...We are not disposed, had we the power, to deprive anyone of exercising that free independence of mind which heaven has so graciously bestowed upon the human family as one of its choicest gifts."

Over and against the expanding mind, Joseph and Brigham placed the contracted mind. Brigham told the well-heeled saints to "keep their riches, and with them I promise you leanness of soul, darkness of mind, narrow and contracted hearts, and the bowels of your compassion will be shut up."

It is the things of the world versus the things of the mind.

Let's examine, as just one example, how Nephi defined knowledge. As recorded Nephi had just finished one of the great discourses in the Book of Mormon on the doctrine of Christ.  He tells us he will speak plainly "for my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding" (2 Nephi 31:2-3 emphasis added). Let me comment here on the word "plainness" because this gives insight into what Nephi says later about not searching or not understanding great knowledge. Nephi teaches us that God speaks to us in plainness through His words according to our language and there is no question but that the phrase "even as plain as word can be" refers to God's word because it is "after this manner" that he gives light to our understanding.

Nephi then teaches us why Christ was baptized and how He did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized. The answer is plain. He submitted to being baptized to witness unto His Father and unto us that he would be obedient in keeping His Father's commandment to be baptized. And again, "it showeIth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them. 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?" (2 Nephi 31:9-10 emphasis added).

And what are the 'commandments of the Father' that Nephi is referring to? "And the Father said:  Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son" (2 Nephi 31:11). 

In order to receive the Holy Ghost we must repent (turn our heart, mind and strength to Christ) and be baptized in His name, and "to him 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" (2 Nephi 31:12).  See also 3 Nephi 27:20 where the Lord says: "Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth and come unto me and be baptized." See also references in Alma 12 and Moses 6 to the "other or second law and commandments" which is to repent and be baptized.

After Nephi reminds us of the command to repent and be baptized, he tells us what it means to repent. "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 baptism...then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and ye can speak with the tongue of angels..." (2 Nephi 31:13 emphasis added). 

Note that since God cannot be deceived, the deception and hypocrisy spoken of here refers to deceiving ourselves.

Nephi explains to us that he had been shown these things so that he could teach them to others. And why? So that "ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost" (2 Nephi 31:17). If we have entered into this gate then we have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son. 

The question that Nephi then asks is, "if all is done?" And answers "Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save" (2 Nephi 31:19 emphasis added).  

There is much to consider in this answer, much more than our traditional definition of what it means to endure to the end, which is most often given without regard to Nephi's definition, and others' in the Book of Mormon. Let's examine what Nephi says about enduring to the end. First he tells how we got in the way--by virtue of the word of God, with unshaken faith in Christ and relying alone upon the merits of Christ (not any of our own merits).

He then makes it clear that 

1) "ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, 

2) having a perfect brightness of hope and 

3) a love of God and of all men" (2 Nephi 31:20).  

But he adds a qualifier that the majority of us either ignore of just miss, and that is we press forward "feasting upon the word of Christ" (2 Nephi 31:20 emphasis added). He then tells us so as to be perfectly clear: "This is the way; and there is none other way nor name given...this is the doctrine of Christ" (2 Nephi 31:21).

Now comes the interesting part. After Nephi makes it so clear and reinforces it by teaching us the word of Christ, the people still "ponder somewhat in (their) hearts concerning that which (they) should do after (they) have entered in by the way" (2 Nephi 32:1). Nephi can't believe they are even asking! He answers with a question similar to the questions that Christ would ask: "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?" (2 Nephi 32:2).

It is critical that we understand and experience what the Lord is telling us through Nephi. It is the difference between staying in the strait and narrow way, or wandering in some other path, while believing that we are on the right path. It is the only way to be baptized with fire by the Holy Ghost. Most of us, while having been baptized by water, are still waiting for the baptism by fire. This is the genius of Satan. He makes us believe we are on the right path, when we are not, and we can't see the difference. Why? Because we do not do what Nephi then tells us in the next verse!

"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore they speak the words of Christ. 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 double emphasis added). And we do not have the tongue of angels because we have not feasted on the word of God.

And what a reinforcement and a condemnation when he says: "Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye know; wherefore ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark" (2 Nephi 32:4 emphasis added).  Again note the correlation between His words and the light.

In our dispensation the Lord revealed His definition of truth as being the "word of the Lord" (D&C 84:45). He tells us that the "whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin." But we may know when someone in under the bondage of sin, "because they come not unto me." And again why do they not come unto Him? Because they "receiveth not my voice" because they are not acquainted with His voice. "And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now" (D&C 84:46-53 emphasis added). The righteous are those who are acquainted with His voice (His words), receive His voice (His words), and exercise faith because of His words and come unto Him. The wicked are those who are not acquainted with His voice, who receive not His words and who cometh not unto Him. 

It is not hard for us to feel what Nephi was feeling and why he mourned because of the unbelief (wickedness) of the people and the fact that they would not search for knowledge through His words which He had given unto them. Because we have His words we are left without excuse.

Now the heart of this article. Nephi having told the people, and make no mistake, he is talking about us also, he makes it so very clear what we are to do after we have entered into the way, and because so very few members do what he says, he is heart broken and says one of the most telling passages in all of scripture about us.  "...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 32:7 emphasis added). Note that Nephi equates the word search with feast. Reading is not searching or feasting.

In other words there is no excuse for us. We either are feasting upon the words of Christ or we are not. There is no middle ground.  Simply reading, nibbling and the occasional snack are not enough. Nephi certainly seems to know what we are doing. Note the words, unbelief, wickedness, ignorance and stiffneckedness. Nephi mourns because of our refusal to feast, even though God has spoken to us and had His words recorded.  His response is to mourn and to grieve (2 Nephi 32:8). But even in his mourning he tells us what we should be doing after entering in the way--you have the words, they are plain, so search them. Why? so you will understand great knowledge and know all things what you must do.

Talk about stretching our minds to the highest heaven. His words come from the highest heaven and it is so unbelievable that we treat them so lightly, do not search them, do not feast upon them. As a result we must "perish in the dark" (2 Nephi 32:4). We just cannot navigate our way through all the darkness around us and within us without His light--His words, but we imagine that we can. We substitute the the words of men for the words of God.

Any suggestion that we truly love truth, according to Nephi, must be taken at face value. 

We cling to the traditional or regurgitated gospel nibbling rather than feasting upon the word of God.  

Where is the hunger and thirsting after truth, the desire to gain knowledge and even greater knowledge?  

Where is the desire to search out His great treasures? 

Why do we refuse to "search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge?"  

Why is it that we do not know that the Melchizedek Priesthood holds the key to the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God? (D&C 84:19)  

Why are we content with a watered down version of His word that does not nourish?

Moreover, why has the Church been under condemnation from time to time, and remains so now, because of vanity and unbelief and treating lightly the words we have received?  

Christ has given us the Book of Mormon (but only a hundreth part of all that He taught) to test our faith and to see if we would receive it in our hearts, feast upon it, and if so then we would receive more.  (3 Nephi 26:9-11; D&C 84:54-55). Which begs the question: why have we not received more? And the little more that we did receive (Pearl of Great Price) is only worth a week or two in Gospel Doctrine class, and yet contains some of the greatest mysteries of God.

Nephi uses the word ignorance. Peter purportedly said that "all evil springs from ignorance; and ignorance herself, the mother of all evils, is sprung from carelessness and sloth (as Nephi said "they will not search knowledge'), and is nourished, and increased and rooted in the senses of men by negligence" (Clement of Rome). Ignorance can only be cut off by knowledge, especially in those who are preoccupied with erroneous opinions. Peter continues, "for nothing is worse than for one to believe that he knows what he is ignorant of, and to maintain that to be true which is false.  ...Thus, therefore, are those also who do not know what is true, yet hold some appearance of knowledge..." (Clement of Rome). Ignorance is nothing else than not knowing what is good for us. Therefore the knowledge of truth ought to be eagerly sought after; and no one can confer it except the Savior, who teaches the words of His father.  (John 12:49-50).

Abraham is an example of one who had received great knowledge, but desired even more knowledge. His hunger is recorded in Abraham 1:2: "...having been a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge."  Note the link between being a follower of righteousness and possessing great knowledge. Can we say the same of ourselves or are we content with traditional watered down inspirational talks?

As Isaiah says of us, that although Jehovah wants to give his people “instruction” and “revelation,” they are but babes and sucklings who haven’t developed far enough to digest more than milk: “Everyone who uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe” (Hebrews 5:13). Ephraim’s mode of learning is still “line upon line, line upon line, precept upon precept, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little” (saw lasaw saw lasaw qaw laqaw qaw laqaw ze‘ir sam ze‘ir sam). Assonance and alliteration parody their rote method of learning that consists of parroting back what their leaders teach (Isaiah 28:9-10). We have settled on line upon line, not realizing that line upon line leads to more!

Contrast reaching our minds to the highest heavens with our everyday diet of what Elder Holland calls Spiritual Twinkies.

We have adopted the world's view of illusion and image. This culture of illusion thrives by robbing us of the intellectual and linguistic tools to separate illusion from truth, the truth being the word of God. 

We repeat thought-terminating clichés and slogans. 

We regurgitate what we hear as if it is truth without searching the truth (the word of God) for ourselves. 

We are hostage to the constant jingle and manipulation of our world and religious culture. 

We seek refuge in familiar tenants, dogmas and labels. Our image-based culture communicates through narratives, pictures, and pseudo-events. Pseudo- events are judged on how effectively we have been manipulated by illusion. Truth becomes irrelevant. When the most valued skill is the ability to entertain, the world becomes a place where lies become true. Blind faith in illusions can becomes our culture’s version of being born again. Our ability to think for ourselves has been eroded, and we remain ignorant, but all the while claim we are enlightened, chosen.

We create an illusion of knowledge by referring to the books which contain the truth, not by searching the truth within the books. We claim that we know the books are true, without searching what is in the books,, and in Nephi's words we remain ignorant, but think we are not. 

We have adopted worldviews of ourselves as honest, hard-working, industrious, and good people. All virtues of the most wicked people in the Book of Mormon--the Zoramites. Satan has indeed cured our cold--we are virtuous and self-disciplined--but he has given us cancer--pride.

Could this observation by Hugh Nibley also be true of us? "I have known intimately a number of creative scientists and I have studied the behavior of a great many more as revealed by the record of history. I have never encountered one of any importance whatever who would welcome with joy and satisfaction the publication of a new theory, explanation, or conceptual scheme that would completely replace or render superfluous his own creation." Instead of embracing new truth at any price, "the scientist actually tries to fit each new discovery or set of discoveries into the traditional theories" as he "clings to the conceptions or preconceptions as long as it is humanly possible."

Any suggestion that scientists so dearly love the truth that they have not the slightest hesitation but to cling to their own conceptions or preconceptions is a mean perversion of the scientific process.

And with us who do the same we can ask 'why is this the case?' It is all explained in the Parable of the Sower.

Where does that leave us? Ignorant with closed and contracted minds, but believing that we are not!