Thou knowest that I believe

As Nephi’s own revelatory experience to understand his father’s dream began, Nephi was asked by the Spirit of God, “Behold, what desirest thou?” Nephi responded, “I desire to behold the things which my father saw.” It is instructive that Nephi’s experience begins with the Spirit inquiring about his desires. Our desires lie at the heart of our discipleship. The choosing of what we desire is likely the most fundamental expression of our agency. Our desires seem to be fundamental to the final judgement (Alma 41:3).

The Spirit then asked a second question, “Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?” To desire to know is one thing, to choose to believe is critical to coming to know. While desire may be the trigger to discipleship, belief is the catalyst. These two principles were linked by the prophet Alma when he taught every soul who searches the Book of Mormon:

if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words (Alma 32:27).

The result of sincere desire and the choice to believe results in yet another blessing. Nephi found himself face to face with the Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead, and is asked whether or not he believes what his father had said. There is no hiding from this eternal being who can discern our thoughts and desires. In response to the Spirit’s question “believest thou” Nephi responds, “Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father” (1 Nephi 11:2-5). What an impressive response to a searching question! Because Nephi’s desire was pure, his choice to believe was also pure. Therefore, he was able to speak boldly, and confidently, to a member of the Godhead, “thou knowest that I believe.” What a wonderful example of confidence in the presence of God, which is available to any of God’s children (D&C 121:45).

In response to Nephi’s declaration, “the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired” (1 Nephi 11:6).

The precept which we may abide is that we can have confidence, even in God’s presence, when we truly desire to see, hear, and know truth and choose to believe. I have found it particularly helpful to ask myself the two questions Nephi was asked of the Spirit:

What desirest thou?

Believest thou?

When I sincerely ask myself these two questions the Lord helps me understand what I truly desire and believe. The purer my desire and belief the greater my confidence. While some may believe that this is simply deluding oneself, my experience is just the opposite. The choice to desire to see, hear, and know the things of God coupled with the choice to believe in truth that is not seen (see Alma 32:21) results in a quiet, yet deep, confidence. This is a special form of peace that is promised to the faithful (John 14:27). This is my experience.