Nephi: Talk or Text

Sometimes a text message is enough.

When you already know somebody, if the two of you have a shared context and a relationship of trust, then a brief written message may suffice to communicate something simple.

But we’ve all experienced the opposite: a written message (or series of messages) that was misunderstood and that did more harm than good. When that happens, I have often received the following advice: Pick up the phone. For some reason, an actual conversation can often accomplish far more than a written message.

Nephi was aware of this phenomenon. At the end of his writings, he laments the difference between preaching and writing in terms of its probable impact:

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 behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.

2 Nephi 33:1-2

Nephi couldn’t speak to us. The best he could do was painstakingly engrave his message on metal plates and hope that future generations would see the value in what he had written. But he was also realistic. He knew that some people would not give his words a chance. “For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet” (1 Nephi 19:7).

Why is verbal communication often more impactful than the written word? Maybe it’s because of the nonverbal signals we give and receive as we interact in real time. Maybe it’s because we tend to treat one another with more respect when we are together. It’s a lot easier to set aside a book or ignore an email than to walk away from someone who is talking to you and is aware of your immediate reaction.

As I’ve pondered this principle today, I’ve thought of two applications:

1. We should take advantage of opportunities to talk about true principles. There is power in verbalizing gospel messages, and there is power in hearing other people teach them as well. For this reason, we should prioritize family scripture study, church meetings, and informal conversations on gospel topics.
2. When we are reading instead of listening, we should recognize, as Nephi did, that we have increased responsibility. We may have to do more work to fully understand the writer’s message. We may have to discipline ourselves to avoid distractions, to appreciate the author’s perspective, and to open our hearts to the influence of the Holy Ghost. Personal scripture study can help us develop this discipline, which will make us better gospel learners overall.

Nephi said that he wasn’t a great writer (2 Nephi 33:1). He prayed tearfully that we would be able to understand him (2 Nephi 33:3). He expressed confidence that, with God’s help, the words he wrote “in weakness will be made strong” to us (2 Nephi 33:4). We can become great readers. We can apply good listening skills to our scripture study, being more kind, forgiving, thoughtful, and focused as we read.

Today, I will strive to be a better scripture reader, to really listen as I read, as though I were having a conversation with the author. I will also find opportunities to have gospel conversations with those I love, remembering that verbal communication may be more impactful to them than reading.