"Lord, to whom shall we go?" Charting the Course of the Church from Here to the Second Coming: Part 18

​I Call to the Stand . . . 

Your honor, I next call an expert witness to the stand, Nephi.

Me:  Please state your name for the record.

Nephi:  Nephi.

Me:  Are you First, Second, or Third Nephi?

Nephi:  I am Nephi, son of Lehi and Sariah.  Plain "Nephi" will do.

Me:  Very good.  Are you familiar with the writings of the prophet Isaiah?

Nephi:  Quite.  

Me:  You are being modest.  Aren't you, in fact, one of the preeminent commentators and experts on Isaiah's writings?

Nephi:  If you say so.

Me:  And therefore, you understand Isaiah's somewhat . . . umm . . . difficult-to-understand passages?

Nephi:  Actually, Isaiah is quite plain to anyone who has the Spirit of Prophecy.

Me:  *Cough*  Okay.  Can you explain to the Court what is the meaning of "nursing fathers?"

​Nephi:  With pleasure.  I have written extensively about the Gentiles, as well as the House of Israel.  

Me:  And are the nursing fathers and mothers, in fact, Gentiles?

Nephi:  Yes.

Me:  And what will these Gentiles do?

Nephi:  They are restorers. 

Me:  What do you mean?

Nephi:  The Gentiles are restorers in two important ways.  First, the Gentiles restore the knowledge of the covenants of the Lord to the House of Israel.  Second, the Gentiles restore Israel to the lands of their inheritance (2 Nephi 10:7).

Me:  And do the Gentiles have any role in the latter-days as it pertains to restoring your posterity, that is to say, the Lamanites, to the truth?

Nephi:  Yes, because the Lord's covenants that he made with the House of Israel also apply to the descendants of Lehi, or me.  "Meaning us in the days to come" (1 Nephi 22:6).

Me:  I see.  And what do the Gentiles need to do in order to be helpful?

Nephi:  In the words of my brother Jacob, "Blessed are the Gentiles, they of whom the prophet [Isaiah] has written; for behold, if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion . . . they shall be saved (2 Nephi 6:12).

Me:  I'd like to pause on that last statement.  How do the Gentiles "fight" against Zion?

Nephi:  The Lord commands us to (1) be equal; (2) have charity, and (3) to not practice priestcraft (see, 2 Nephi 26:28-30).  So if the Gentiles build up churches that result in inequality, pride, and denying the Spirit of revelation among God's children, then they are fighting against Zion.

Me:  I see.  *Turning to the judge*  Your honor, may I approach the witness?  Thank you.

*I approach the witness*

Me:  Nephi, I am showing you what has been marked as Exhibit "A."  Are you familiar with this?  

Nephi:  Yes.  

Me:  What is it?

Nephi:  The small plates of Nephi.

Me:  And this is your handwriting etched on the plates?

Nephi:  Yes.

Me:  And did you prophecy ― and I quote ― "Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up" (2 Nephi 28:12)?

Nephi:  Yes, I wrote that.

Me:  And do those words, sir, apply to all churches, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Nephi:   As I've said before, "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.  Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! ―

Me:  Excuse me.  Sorry to interrupt.  I thought you testified earlier that the Gentiles are blessed.  

Nephi:  Only the ones who don't fight against Zion.

Me:  *Nodding*  Continue.

Nephi:  "For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts" (2 Nephi 28:31).

Me:  Now, I've saved the my most important question for last.  Here it is:  Is it possible to come unto Christ through a mediator or regent or prophet, such as a pope or president?  Isn't it true that following our spiritual leaders is the same as following Jesus?

Nephi:  *Looking bewildered*  Are you daft, man?  

Me:  Quite.  But please answer the question.

Nephi:  Can you repeat the question? 

Me:  Okay, but first let me show you what's been marked as Exhibit "B."  This is the actual excommunication letter delivered to a member of the Church in the Cardston Alberta Stake, dated January 21, 2021.  In it, the Stake President writes, "We know that President Russell M. Nelson is a true prophet and continues to guide the Church through revelation from the Savior Himself.  We know that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will never lead the church astray.  If we follow their counsel, we are following the Lord."  Close quote.  Is this statement correct, in your view?  

Nephi:  *Sigh*  No, we cannot serve two masters.  I will say it again: "If ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.  Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ!" (2 Nephi 32:5-6).

Me:  I see.  So is it your testimony, then, that we are to follow the Holy Ghost, as opposed to putting our trust in men?"

Nephi:  That's what I've said, yes.

Me:  Thank you.