2 Nephi 28:30-31

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Reference Search: 2 Nephi 28:30-31

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.

31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Quotes for Discussion

“Lend an ear unto my counsel”

We seem to be developing an epidemic of “counselitis’ which drains spiritual strength from the Church, much like the common cold drains more strength out of humanity than any other disease….Some bishops dole out counsel and advice without considering that the member should solve the problem himself….

We have become very anxious over the amount of counseling that we seem to need in the Church. Our members are becoming dependent.

We must not set up a network of counseling services without at the same time emphasizing the principle of emotional self-reliance and individual independence….

Bishops, keep constantly in mind that fathers are responsible to preside over their families….

If my boy needs counseling, bishop, it should be my responsibility first, and yours second.

If my boy needs recreation, bishop, I should provide it first, and you second.

If my boy needs correction, that should be my responsibility first, and yours second.

If I am failing as a father, help me first, and my children second.

Do not be too quick to take over from me the job of raising my children.

Do not be too quick to counsel them and solve all of the problems. Get me involved. It is my ministry.

Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, Apr. 1978 [salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1978], 137, 139

[Hemidakota]

Interesting and we need to reminded many times in the near future when the world changes, never put trust in the arm of flesh. Robert millet made a great narration of his opinion regarding this statement, along with "shall hearken to the precepts of men" in verse 31:

31. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man] Man's ultimate trust must forever be in the Lord God. Man's foundation must always be the Rock of Christ; otherwise the winds and storms of adversity will bring one's house of faith to a fall, leaving only a heap of rubble (see Helaman 5:12). "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath [juniper tree] in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river . . . . neither shall cease from yielding fruit." (Jeremiah 17:5-8.)

31. Shall hearken unto the precepts of men] Even among Church members, the Saints of the Most High-those who have by covenant come out of the world into the Church of God- there are those who seek to keep one foot in the world. They have a residence in Zion but visit Babylon periodically. Their membership may be in the former but their hearts are in the latter. Their ultimate trust may be in the power of God, but their interim interest is the arm of flesh.

Too many in the Church today "err because they are taught by the precepts of men" rather than by the scriptural canon, the words of the living oracles, or the revelations of the Holy Spirit. The theories of men accent their teachings, and the philosophies of the learned determine their course in life: they view the world (and even the workings of God) through the lenses of their own particular discipline or field of study. There are among us many learned and adept educators who teach things that are contrary to the divine will; they seem to be more concerned with sustaining the dogmas of their academic disciplines than in discovering ultimate truth. There are historians of self-announced renown whose works are false, much of their "writing being harmfully speculative and out of harmony with the divine will.

Feigning scholarly detachment, some of the learned reach false conclusions by giving full credence to the biased opinions of those who oppose the Lord and his cause. In determining the divine Sonship of the Lord Jesus they interview both Peter and Caiaphas, consider them both to be extremists, and conclude in their own wisdom that there must be some alternative explanation of our Lord's greatness that grew out of the social and religious milieu of the day.

The Saints of God may be educators, authors, scientists, or historians; they may be soldiers, farmers, or judges; they may be shepherds of sheep or drovers of cattle; they may earn their bread in any one of a thousand temporal pursuits. All of these things, however are but avocations. They are also and preeminently the elders or sisters of Israel and the Saints of the Most High. They are the Lord's agents and his representatives. These are their true vocations. Their labors in our Father's business must take precedence over all else. Through those labors they earn the eternal bread of which men may eat and never hunger more.

If and when there is a conflict of interest between members' earthly pursuits and their heavenly pursuits, it is time to take stock and choose to walk in the course charted from on high. The Saints' chief obligation is to follow the Lord and work for his interests. Their pledge, sworn on the altars of God, is and must be that they will never do anything to destroy faith; they must never perform an act or espouse a cause that runs counter to the needs and purposes of the Church. if this means they forsake the course their colleagues in the world pursue, so be it. Each member must come to believe and declare with soberness: "The kingdom of God or nothing!" (Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1, by Robert L. Millet, Joseph Fielding McConkie, P.345-346)