a desire to know Him

sign

The Lord does not gratify those seeking signs. He will not show his power frivolously. But it is not for the reason most think. He knows that we are accountable all His gifts including signs, wonders, and visitations. He knows that seeing strangely doesn't always facilitate believing. Because we are weak, we rationalize away signs, wonders, and visitations as imaginations or coincidence. Therefore, He knows only faith will convert the soul to Jesus. If the unconverted receive signs, wonders, or visitations and soften not their hearts toward Jesus, they are under further condemnation with the evidence before them. "Unto whom much is given, much is required." Doctrine and Covenants 82:3


"Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder." 1 Nephi 17:45

Nephi is speaking to his older brothers, who saw angels and other signs and wonders, yet refused to accept the gospel and be converted. Signs, visitations, and wonders did not soften their hearts or convert their souls.

"But it came to pass i the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges, there were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled. And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy; thus in this year the scriptures began to be fulfilled. Nevertheless, the people began to harden their hearts, all save it were the most believing part of them, both of the Nephites and also of the Lamanites, and began to depend upon their own strength and upon their own wisdom saying: Some things they may have guessed right, among so many: but behold, we know that all these great and marvelous words cannot come to pass of which has been spoken." Helaman 16:13-16


"And it came to pass that thus passed away the ninety and fifth year also, and the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder form heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen--Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hears of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the pole again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was foolish and a vain thing." 3 Nephi 12:1-2

The people in 3 Nephi had witnessed great signs at the birth of Jesus. They also heard the prophecies of Samuel the Lamanite and saw them fulfilled. But they rationalized away the source of the miracles and gave Satan power over their hearts. Signs did not convert them. Signs will not convert us. Even if we produced the plates of gold for all the world to see, they would not convert men to the truthfulness or divinity of the translation of the Book of Mormon. Angels cannot convince us of the reality of Jesus Christ. Only a desire to know Him, the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, and faith in His mission and plan can convert.


"O the vainness and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish." 2 Nephi 9:28