Tis tragic...you seem so busy being defensive that you won't even try to see if there is something more, something of greater illumination that might expand your understandings of how the Lord does things.Arenera wrote: ↑October 7th, 2017, 11:24 pmYes, I noticed the spirit mentioned many times. Nephi’s story is about following the spirit to greater spiritual experiences. Do you really want to deny personal revelation?brlenox wrote: ↑October 7th, 2017, 9:55 pmI was wondering if you had read the Nephi slaying Laban scenario as that might give you pause to reconsider how it is that we are commonly lead by the spirit and as Nephi was. It is a bit different that you seem to understand it to be...but I agree with everything you said. :%:
Nonetheless, what you are missing is that the Holy Ghost reminded Nephi of a second witness to what he was being lead to do. He reminded Nephi of this concept in Exodus:
If you study out the discourse of Nephi you will note that the above phrase is referenced 3 times in the dialogue between Nephi and the spirit. It is this process of receiving his second witness from scripture that eliminates his concerns and persuades him to follow the voice of the spirit. He is not left to only rely on the spirit to whisper things into his ears, but he brings to his remembrance the scriptures and the voice of the prophet Moses - a second witness. Now with these two witnesses, the scriptures and the guidance of the Holy Ghost he is persuaded to act.Exodus 21:13
12 ¶ He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
What so commonly is misunderstood is that no one is wise to rely on one witness. That is how one is deceived by the whisperings of false spirits because people do not understand what is a legitimate process of communication from the Lord for scenarios of this type. Thus whenever you receive inspiration but it is in opposition to the scriptures or the words of apostles and prophets you can surely know that you are in the cross hairs of a deceiving spirit. Thus when I see someone a bit reluctant to acknowledge the great worth and value of apostles and prophets and those bent on emphasizing their imperfections and potential for error then I realize that they have taken a false spirit for their guide and if they do not grow to understand properly will follow that spirit right on out of the church...and perhaps even to a vegan restaurant...
My question then is does this perspective make sense to you? Can you see the validity of why I might find some occasion with certain of your observations and why I sought for further specific response to particular elements of the scriptures. In an attempt to understand you correctly, I was hoping to gain that clarification through dialogue - you have made that effort difficult by being so defensive but hopefully I have allayed your fears and we can simply discuss to our mutual and full understanding.