We are left to suppose that the inquiring rich man had assumed he would receive direction to conform to some ritualistic requirement of the Mosaic system. He did not understand that the Lord requires the whole soul and that those who gain salvation do so by their willingness to lay all of their energy, talent, and means upon the altar of God.
How much more perfect the desires of Lamoni’s father, whose power and fortune would undoubtedly have far exceeded his Old World counterpart. “I will give up all that I possess,” he said, “yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.” Such is the pattern: we obtain the kingdom of heaven by forsaking the kingdoms of earth.