2 Nephi 28:30

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Reference Search: 2 Nephi 28:30

30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

Quotes for Discussion

Line upon Line

It is not wisdom that we should have all knowledge at once presented before us; but that we should have a little at a time; then we can comprehend it.

Joseph Smith, Teachings, p. 297

A testimony is not thrust upon you; a testimony grows. We become taller in testimony like we grow taller in physical stature; we hardly know it happens because it comes by growth….You cannot force spiritual things…You can no more force the Spirit to respond than you can force a bean to sprout, or an egg to hatch before its time. You can create a climate to foster growth, nourish, and protect; but you cannot force or compel: you must await the growth. Do not be impatient to gin great spiritual knowledge. Let it grow, help it grow, but do not force it or you will open the way to be misled.

Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Jan. 1983 [salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1983], 53

Joseph’s vision of the Father and the Son opened this dispensation. Then came the Restoration of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ with the same organization that existed in the primitive Church, built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets (see Article of Faith 1:6; Eph. 2:20). Some suppose that the organization was handed to the Prophet Joseph Smith like a set of plans and specifications for a building, with all of the details known at the beginning. But it did not come that way. Rather, it came a piece at a time as the Brethren were ready and as they inquired of God….it took a generation of asking and receiving before the order of things as we know it today was firmly in place. Each move to perfect that order has come about in response to a need and in answer to prayer. And that process continues in our day.

Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Nov. 1996 [salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1996], 6

How many have read the Book of Mormon through? How many have made themselves familiar with the things revealed to us in the Doctrine and Covenants regarding what the Lord has said of our duties as members of the Church and what he has said regarding our salvation and exaltation and how it may be obtained? Until we are prepared to receive the things already given. I fear the Lord will hold from us those other things which one time will be revealed. (D&C 59:4; 101:32-34.)…

When we, the members of the Church, reach the point that we are willing to live by all that the Lord has revealed, he will give us more than can be placed in the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord is withholding from us great and mighty truths because of the hardness of our hearts. Why should we clamor for more when we will not abide in what we already have? We are led by revelation today just as much as they were anciently.

Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation: Sermons and Writings of Joseph Fielding Smith, ed. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954-1956], 3:202

When God communicates that priceless truth to us, He does it by the Spirit of Truth. We have to ask for it in prayer. Then He sends us a small part of that truth by the Spirit. It comes to our hearts and minds. It feels good, like the light from the sun shining through the clouds on a dark day. He sends truth line upon line, like the lines on the page of a book. Each time a line of truth comes to us, we get to choose what we will do about it. If we try hard to do what that truth requires of us, God will send more light and more truth. It will go on, line after line, as long as we choose to obey the truth.

Henry B. Eyring, Because He First Loved Us [salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002], 4

Edited August 7, 2010 by pam