Beware The Signs you Seek
After Nephi had passed away, his brother Jacob took responsibility for the records. Jacob confronted a man named Sherem who asked to be shown a sign, but Jacob replied saying: “What am I that I should tempt God to show unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil” Jacob 7:13–14. Seeking signs is not a good way to gain a testimony of Christ, because “he that seeketh signs shall see signs, but not unto salvation . . . But, behold, faith cometh not by signs . . .” D&C 63:7–12. Signs may come after we demonstrate faith and obedience, but we should not seek them.
You can remember from past lessons that Laman and Lemuel’s also lacked a testimony. They two had been shown many signs: 1 Nephi 3:29–31, 1 Nephi 16:39, 1 Nephi 17:45, and 1 Nephi 18:20. Despite all the signs they had seen, they still ultimately ended up being enemies of Nephi (see Alma 49:32).
Real Knowledge Come From the Holy Ghost
In Sherem’s case, he was given a sign, but at the cost of his life. He confesses that his deceptions were from the devil, and then he died. The people who witnessed this did not just see this as a sign, but also were given a spiritual confirmation. “And when the multitude had witnessed that he spoke these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the earth” (Jacob 7:21–23).
The only way to ultimately know if something is true is through confirmation from the holy ghost (See: Moroni 10:4-7).
Lesson 10 – Withstand Evil Influences | More Lessons | Lesson 12 – Pray Always |