2 Nephi 28:8 God will beat us with a few stripes

‘Why do some of our youth risk engaging in ritual prodigalism, intending to spend a season rebelling and acting out in Babylon and succumbing to that devilishly democratic “everybody does it”? Crowds cannot make right what God has declared to be wrong. Though planning to return later, many such stragglers find that alcohol, drugs, and pornography will not let go easily. Babylon does not give exit permits gladly. It is an ironic implementation of that ancient boast, “One soul shall not be lost.”  (Moses 4:1)

The philosophy of ritual prodigalism is “eat, drink, and be merry, … [and] God will beat us with a few stripes.” This is a cynical and shallow view of God, of self, and of life. God never can justify us “in committing a little sin.”  (2 Ne. 28:8) He is the God of the universe, not some night-court judge with whom we can haggle and plea bargain!

Of course God is forgiving! But He knows the intents of our hearts. He also knows what good we might have done while AWOL. In any case, what others do is no excuse for the disciple from whom much is required. Besides, on the straight and narrow path, there are simply no corners to be cut.’ (Neal A Maxwell, General Conference, October 1988)

2 Nephi 28:9 Vain and foolish doctrines

“The idea that one is better off after one has sinned and repented is a devilish lie of the adversary. Does anyone here think that it is better to learn firsthand that a certain blow will break a bone or a certain mixture of chemicals will explode and sear off our skin? Are we better off after we have sustained and then healed such injuries? I believe we all can see that it is better to heed the warnings of wise persons who know the effects on our bodies” (Dallin H Oaks, “Sin and Suffering,” in Brigham Young University 1989–90 Devotional and Fireside Speeches [1990], 151).

2 Nephi 28:12-14 False doctrine

‘We have no interest in teaching by the wisdom or learning or according to the precepts of men. We want to teach the gospel the way the Lord would have us teach it, and to do it under the power and influence of the Holy Ghost. If we will do that, we will teach sound doctrine. It will be the truth. It will build faith and increase righteousness in the hearts of men, and they will be led along that path which leads to the celestial world.

But if we teach without the Spirit of the Lord, if we are not guided by the Holy Ghost, we will be teaching at our peril. It is a serious thing to teach false doctrine, to teach that which is not true, to teach that which does not build faith in the hearts of men.’ (Bruce R McConkie, General Conference, October 1949)

2 Nephi 28:20 Stir them up to anger

“It should come as no surprise that one of the adversary’s tactics in the latter days is stirring up hatred among the children of men. He loves to see us criticize each other, make fun or take advantage of our neighbor’s known flaws, and generally pick on each other. The Book of Mormon is clear from where all anger, malice, greed, and hate come [2 Nephi 28:20]. By the looks of what we constantly see depicted in the news media, it appears that Satan is doing a pretty good job. In the name of reporting the news, we are besieged with sometimes graphic depictions—too often in living color—of greed, extortion, violent sexual crimes, and insults between business, athletic, or political opponents.” (Marvin J Ashton, Ensign, May 1992)

2 Nephi 28:21 All is well in Zion

“We have discussed elsewhere that other class of people who are basically unrepentant because they are not ‘doing the commandments.’ They are Church members who are steeped in lethargy. They neither drink nor commit the sexual sins. They do not gamble nor rob nor kill. They are good citizens and splendid neighbors, but spiritually speaking they seem to be in a long, deep sleep. They are doing nothing seriously wrong except in their failures to do the right things to earn their exaltation.” (Spencer W Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 211-2)

“Surely the Lord was thinking of our day as He taught the parable of the ten virgins. Of the five who were wise, He said they “have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived,”[ Doctrine and Covenants 45:57] while the lamps of the foolish “are gone out” for lack of oil.[ Matthew 25:8] Perhaps the words of Nephi best describe these once-faithful members of the Church: “And others he will pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion.”[ 2 Nephi 28:21]

Carnal security is seeking for and trusting in worldly things instead of Christ—in other words, looking through a secular lens instead of a spiritual lens. The Holy Ghost gives us the capacity to see “things as they really are, and … as they really will be.”[ Jacob 4:13] Only “by the power of the Holy Ghost [can we] know the truth of all things”[ Moroni 10:5] and be not deceived. We place Christ at the center of our lives and pledge our willingness to obey His commandments not because we are blind but because we can see.” (Elder Kevin W Pearson, General Conference, October 2022)

2 Nephi 28:22 His awful chains

‘We cannot say we will sow a few wild oats in our youth or that we will just dabble a little around the fringes of sin. There are no fringes of sin. Every act, good or bad, has a consequence. Every good act improves our ability to do good and more firmly stand against sin or failure. Every transgression, regardless of how minor, makes us more susceptible to Satan’s influence the next time he tempts us. Satan takes us an inch at a time, deceiving us as to the consequences of so-called minor sins until he captures us in major transgressions. Nephi describes this technique as one of pacifying, lulling, and flattering us away until Satan “grasps [us] with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance”’ (Richard C Edgley, General Conference, October 1994)

“We are children of God with a majestic destiny. We can be changed to become like Him and have “a fulness of joy.”[ Doctrine and Covenants 93:33] Satan, on the other hand, would have us be miserable like he is.[See  2 Nephi 2:18] We have the ability to choose whom we follow.[See  2 Nephi 2:27] When we follow Satan, we give him power.[See  2 Nephi 26:22  28:22  Mosiah 16:5  Alma 34:39  3 Nephi 7:5  Doctrine and Covenants 29:40] When we follow God, He gives us power.” (Elder Paul V Johnson, General Conference, October 2022