2 Nephi 27

4 For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry; yea, ye shall be drunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong drink.
5 For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected the prophets; and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 27:4 - 5)

So, I'm left wondering: If the Lord puts those who have already rejected the prophets into a deep sleep, will we ever be able to wake them? If not, how do we help them learn of Christ? It would seem they put themselves into this deep sleep, if the Lord's work is really to bring to pass the immortality & eternal life of man. He wouldn't want them to sleep, but to wake up!

I am able to do mine own work;
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 27:20)

The rest of the discussion of how a learned man could not read the plates and how the unlearned man could is interesting. It's testimony building. However, I've pondered those many times before, and finally, today, saw this line. I am able to do mine own work. Really, it seems the Lord is saying here that the efforts we put into bringing this gospel forth are really for our good. He could do it so much better. At this moment, my children are cleaning their rooms. Well, kind of. They have been told to. I really could do it quickly, zip thru, putting stuff where it belongs, tidying up, cleaning, washing the windows...all of it would take me ten minutes. I don't keep much stuff in their rooms. But, it takes them hours (hours of quiet for me because they know that if they come complaining to me about something--like each other--I'll just say, is your room clean?) and this benefits them. It teaches them stewardship. It teaches work before play.
Serving the Lord teaches us stewardship as well. It really is for us.

Also, I was thinking about the law of consecration. I willingly sit in a classroom on Sunday learning from people who are giving of their precious time. In return, rather than pay for the wonderful gospel class, I give service to someone else. It works, if we all try to give our best.

For shall the work say of him that made it, he made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, he had no understanding?
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 27:27)

I was just thinking about how there have been people who have written books & articles about how religion destroys people. That God doesn't know us. I would have to argue. Perhaps it is that we do not know ourselves. Our potential. Our worth. What he wants us to learn. What we are capable of. So much that mankind does not know, that God does.

But, there is hope, as is added here in verse 35:
35 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 27:35)

We will learn. He is understanding. Just like I know my children do not understand why they must help clean. They do not like it. But I know they will learn, and I will wait until it sinks in. It may take a long time, but it will come.

Gee, I learn so much by parenting. It's wonderful to have a new perspective.