Esteem Them as Things of Naught

Nephi wrote in some of his final words, “But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught. But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth” (2 Nephi 33:1-2). There are indeed many who reject the written words of the scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, and consider them as things of “naught”. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines this word as “bad; worthless; of no value or account,” which is indeed exactly opposite of the “great worth” that Nephi found in the words of holy writ. One of the great challenges of our day is to not mistake that which is of great worth for something “of naught” and vice versa. When Joseph Smith received the plates of gold containing the Book of Mormon, the world indeed got it wrong: they sought to steal the plates themselves thinking the gold was of great worth, and at the same time they rejected the message upon them that was the real treasure. Moroni commented on this: “The plates thereof are of no worth, because of the commandment of the Lord. For he truly saith that no one shall have them to get gain; but the record thereof is of great worth; and whoso shall bring it to light, him will the Lord bless” (Mormon 8:14). The world values money and possessions, but in the end those things are of no worth compared to the word of God. I love how the November 1831 conference determining to publish the revelations given to Joseph Smith asserted that those divine revelations were “worth to the Church the riches of the whole Earth” (heading to section 70). The Lord put it this way: “Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:7). That which is of real worth is the knowledge of the mysteries of God, and the riches of the earth will in the end be of naught.

                 Other scriptures highlight the things that we might incorrectly esteem to be of naught. When the Nephites began to realize that they had become wicked, “they saw that they had been a stiffnecked people, and that they had set at naught the commandments of God; And that they had altered and trampled under their feet the laws of Mosiah, or that which the Lord commanded him to give unto the people” (Helaman 4:21-22). Some set at naught the commandments of the Lord and fail to see their great value. Contemplating the wickedness of the people, Mormon lamented, “They do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide” (Helaman 12:6). Too many of us set at naught the counsels of God given to us through His prophets and servants and instead suppose that we know better ourselves. Most importantly, Nephi wrote, “For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels” (1 Nephi 19:7). Some set at naught the Savior Himself, but we must strive to see Him for who He really is and hearken fully to the voice of His counsels. The world will undoubtedly continue to move further away from Him and esteem the things of God as naught, but as His disciples we must be careful to not harden our hearts against that which is truly of great worth.