I Read More Than Was Written

I remember one of my first experiences with revelation while reading the word of God. I was maybe 16-years-old at the time, and I was reading the farewell of an ancient prophet. Said he:

"I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust" (2 Ne. 33:13).

Suddenly, as I knelt there reading at the side of my bed, I began to feel his cry. His impassioned plea was all of a sudden a personal one—to me!

"Hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness" (2 Ne. 33:10 – 11, emphasis added).

Every ye I knew was meant for me: I would believe in Christ; I would judge his words; and, at the last day, I would stand face to face with him. As I continued to read through eyes that were increasingly clouded by tears, the Holy Ghost began to expand the text in my heart. It seemed as though I had been reading for minutes and that I had read through multiple pages.

The next day I wanted to go back and re-read those impactful words so that I could highlight them and save them for future reference. But when I turned to the chapter I found, to my disbelief, that the whole chapter only spanned a couple pages and that I couldn't find half of the verses that I had read the night before!

In a poetic turn of events, the ancient prophet began his last chapter by explaining exactly what had happened:

"And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.... But...I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong" (2 Ne. 33:1, 3 – 4).

Indeed, on that night at my bedside many years ago, the Holy Ghost made the ancient prophet's written words strong to me. And as I heard his voice crying as if from the dust, the Holy Ghost carried it to my heart.