14 For behold, the Spirit of the Lord ceaseth soon to strive with them; for behold, they have rejected the prophets, and Jeremiah have they cast into prison. And they have sought to take away the life of my father, insomuch that they have driven him out of the land.
Everyone born into this life is endowed with the Spirit of Christ, which gives us the means to judge good from evil. (Moroni 7:16) This Spirit of Christ also “inviteth and enticeth” each of us to live according to God’s commandments. When we reject that influence often enough, when we refuse to repent, that Spirit stops working on us. When that happens, there really is no hope for our redemption. Why? Not because it is not available to us, but because we will not accept it. When we go so far along that path that the Lord stops working with us, essentially gives up on us, then we truly are left alone to find our way back to Him without benefit of light or direction. At that point we have no desire for anything good and beautiful. Once the Lord sees we are beyond His help (and He won’t force His way where He isn’t wanted), He withdraws and we are left to our own strength. This was the situation in Jerusalem that Lehi and his family was fleeing. Jerusalem’s days were numbered, and those who were not listening to the prophets couldn’t, or wouldn’t, see it. As long as we feel guilt for our sins, the Spirit of the Lord is working with us.
- Ezekiel 5:6
- Jeremiah 37:15 (15–21)
- Ether 2:15
- Helaman 4:12–13
- Moroni 8:28
- Moroni 9:3–5
- D&C 1:33
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