The Book of Mormon conveys a voice of warning and wisdom from the past. By studying the spiritual triumphs of the faithful and the painful mistakes of the wayward, we can cultivate wisdom and bring ourselves closer to the Lord. Unto the faithful He will reveal all of His revelations.
In all of this, we are never to contend with the word of God. If we contend, we receive nothing. It is only through humility and a willingness of heart that we can ever hope to know and behold the things of God. Sometimes we try to explain away the word of God or rationalize that God would never do such and such—or we simply defy His word and do according to our own will. The result of such a practice, if not corrected, is to “be accursed” (verse 8)—doomed to destruction and misery, being damned in our progression and deprived of further saving knowledge. The Lord is very explicit when He gives a warning concerning those who will not hearken to His word—either from Himself or His chosen servants—stating that “it would be better for them if they had not been born. For do ye suppose that ye can get rid of the justice of an offended God, who hath been trampled under feet of men, that thereby salvation might come?” (3 Nephi 28:35). The Lord, realizing that we need understanding, encourages us to ponder on the things He has given us (see 3 Nephi 17:3). As we ponder, the eyes of our understanding are opened (see D&C 138:11). He pleads with us to ask, seek, and knock—that we might understand (see 3 Nephi 14:7–8). With this in mind, let us ensure that we will not cast away the living truths that the Lord has given us, but rather seek to be people of a sound understanding (see Alma 17:2). The Lord always gives us light that we might better understand (see 2 Nephi 31:3). If we are unbelieving, we will not comprehend the things of God, and our hearts will be hardened (see Mosiah 26:3). Thus the counsel is clear: Seek to learn and then act with faith to comprehend, for the light of the Lord will quicken our understanding (see D&C 88:11).