Nephi takes on the issue of our lacking sufficient faith to produce miracles (2 Nephi 28:6). This, again, is not only a “Gentile” (i.e., the unconverted’s) problem. Unless the Saints have ongoing experiences with the Spirit then “all is in vain.” So, we can’t really relax, talk about the miracles in the first generation of the Saints, and rely on the merits of our ancestors.
We have to get into the thick of this process ourselves. Reading about Opening the Heavens: Accounts of Divine Manifestations 1820-1844 will not be enough. Instead of feeling comfortable that others have had Divine contact, Nephi insists we have such contact ourselves. Conserving and celebrating our ancestors’ success with the Spirit is not enough. We need to have more such experiences today. Since, however, “God giveth to all men liberally” that should not be a problem. Provided, of course, we ask in faith, nothing doubting. So it is available to all, but only conditionally.
Nephi warns us against selectively enjoying the things of this world, while claiming we value the next world more. We should all feel a bit chagrined as we read Nephi’s warning: “And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.” (2 Nephi 28:8.) So we are off to the races with Nephi. A tour-de-force of our favorite weaknesses is cast right into our faces.
The “eat, drink and be merry” reference is clearly related to physical gratification. Not just gratifying our appetite for food, but for all physical indulgences. Today is a day of physical indulgences. We have “designer drugs” specifically developed to assist in the hedonistic lifestyles of Westerners. “Ecstasy” was designed to be used in connection with “rave parties” where sexual libertinism is the order of the day. We’ve returned to the same lifestyle as the ancient Romans, who lacked our pharmaceutical sophistication, but had their vomitoria to compensate for that.
The United States has a serious illegal drug abuse problem. The “War on Drugs” has been waged for decades now with no end in sight. It is because the U.S. is populated by a significant number of people who see nothing wrong with personally using drugs for recreation. Almost half of all Latter-day Saints live in the United States. Latter-day Saints are, therefore, influenced by a larger American culture where these attitudes exist. Recreational drug use in Utah is alarmingly high. However, the rates of use have declined in recent years. The rate of drug or alcohol dependency declined in Utah from 6.1% of adults in 2000 to 4.9% of adults in 2005. (Id.) Those gains, however, are not reflected in ages 12 to 17, where in 2005 the rate was 6.4%
The trend for many years in Utah has been an increase in drug dependency, particularly in the percentage of those hospitalized for treatment. In 1991, 83.4% of those admitted was for alcohol dependency, and only 16.6% for drug dependency. By 2005 those numbers nearly reversed, with only 31.6% admitted for alcohol, while 68.4% was admitted for drug dependency. (Id.)
In Utah, 55.8% of those with drug or alcohol abuse problems first experience using their preferred substance while under the age of 18. Alarmingly, 6.2% of the total began experimenting with drugs before the age of 12 years old, and 5.8% began by the time they were 10 years old. Worse still, pregnant women accounted for 7,243 of those admitted to drug or alcohol treatment in 2005. The legacy of fetal addiction to and poisoning by drugs and/or alcohol is a terrible tragedy to witness.
Many of those involved in these Utah numbers are at least nominally Latter-day Saints. In Religion, Mental Health, and the Latter-day Saints, (Edited by Daniel K. Judd, Religious Studies Center; BYU; Provo, Utah, 1999), p. 175, we read this about drug and alcohol abuse among Latter-day Saints: “LDS alcohol users do appear to have a later age of onset for alcohol use than do the Other Religions and No Religion group members. However, LDS members who reported marijuana use did not differ significantly in the age of first use from those of Other Religions and No Religion subgroups. The LDS religion appears to be more effective in delaying alcohol first use than marijuana first use.”
It is fair to be disappointed with our performance with illegal drug use and dependency. Just as Nephi condemned the attitude which leads to these problems, President Hinckley has also warned the Saints about this. He has identified the only cure. “But I believe that, only when far greater numbers of people conclude within their hearts and minds that the fruits of drug-taking are only sorrow and trouble, remorse, and even death, then will things change to any significant degree.” (The Scourge of Illegal Drugs; Ensign; Nov. 1989; beginning at p. 48.) He goes on to state: “I am convinced that their use is an affront to God. He is our Creator. We are made in His image. These remarkable and wonderful bodies are His handiwork. Does anyone think that he can deliberately injure and impair his body without affronting its Creator?” (Id.)
This is not merely a personal choice. This is a terrible failing. Prophets, modern and ancient, have warned against it. As we see it among us we are witnessing the unfolding failures which will have fearful and unavoidable consequences. We are watching the tares ripen. Nephi would like to help us correspondingly ripen as “wheat” in our commitment to the Lord. Church activity alone does not penetrate to the heart. Almost all the great villains of scripture were “churchy.” But they were not converted to truth, led by the Spirit, and following God. Individual conversion to the Gospel is what changes behavior.