Moving quickly about the internet is easy to take for granted. At least I have, until recently, that is. The broadband that runs my home computer is being upgraded and I’m without the internet for a week or so—what a pain. I now realize just how much I rely on various internet sites.
A few days ago I noted a reduction in the speed internet pages were loading on my computer. It would take minutes instead of seconds to move from site to site. It reminded me of the days when I relied on “dial up” internet.
This experience got me thinking about access to the Lord. The prophet Nephi said:
…whoso knocketh, to him will he open…
This is a universal invitation to all of mankind to seek the Lord, but then this scripture adds some detail that helps us understand how the Lord thinks:
And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them. 2 Nephi 9:42
Whoa, that’s blunt. This scripture is directed to a certain group of people, those who are puffed up because of their success. Am I saying that successful people can’t have access to the Lord? Only those who are puffed up because of their success, not all successful people are puffed up, but all who are puffed up are successful.
To have access to God one needs to have humility. One needs to become as a child when he approaches the Lord (Mosiah 3:19). Those who are learned and puffed up can learn humility from children.
As a church member and bloggernacist you might be asking yourself if you are puffed up or humble. You might conclude that it depends on the day of the week, because you suspect that you’re both, after all, bloggernaclist are a talented lot. I’d like to suggest there is an acid test for church members to determine if they possess some humility. The Lord has said if you are humble he will answer your prayers (D&C 112:10). If our spiritual internet access is adequate then you will admit that the Lord has heard and answered some of your prayers, if not, then I hope there is adequate humility to repent, and come down in the depths of humility.
I’d like to close this post by acknowledging the Lord left the ninety and nine and brought me back home. I was lost and He found me.
Lastly, please click here to read about a learned man who humbled himself before the Lord at a critical time in his life.