Trusting in the Lord, Not the Arm of Flesh

2 Nephi 4:34 - "O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm."

Elder Ulisses Soares - "My dear brothers and sisters, as sophisticated as modern technology has become, it simply cannot simulate the wonder, awe, and amazement found in the kind of reverence born from the influence of the Holy Ghost. As followers of Christ, we need to be careful not to weaken our connection with God and His Son by using AI-generated content and images inappropriately. We should remember that relying on a modern technological “arm of flesh” is an inadequate and disrespectful substitute for the inspiration, edification, and witness that can be received only through the power of the Holy Ghost. As Nephi declared: 'O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh.'" Soares, Reverence for Sacred Things, April 2025

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:12

Welcome to Seek This Jesus, a daily podcast dedicated to drawing closer to the Savior through the powerful truths found in the Book of Mormon. Each episode, we focus on one verse that helps us walk more faithfully in his footsteps.

SPEAKER_01 0:30

Nephi's Psalm in Second Nephi chapter four captures a deeply reflective moment where he turns fully toward the Lord after wrestling with weakness, sorrow, dependence. In today's verse, Nephi makes a clear declaration about where his trust rests and where it does not. He contrasts trusting in the Lord with trusting in the arm of flesh, drawing a sharp spiritual boundary between divine reliance and human dependence. Second Nephi chapter four verse thirty four reads O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh, for I know that cursed is he that puteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. As we study this verse today, along with teachings from Elder Ulysses, we will consider what it means to place our trust fully in the Lord and live with purpose in Jesus Christ. Nephi's statement begins with clarity and resolve. O Lord, I have trusted in thee and I will trust in thee forever. This is not a momentary feeling or a situation response. It is a declaration of faith that spans past, present, and future. Trust here is not passive belief, it is covenant loyalty. Nephi is affirming that his reliance on the Lord has already been tested and that it will continue regardless of circumstances. Another way to understand trust is through the lens of faith. Faith is not merely believing that God exists, but choosing to rely on him when outcomes are uncertain. When Nephi says he will trust forever, he is expressing confidence that the Lord remains constant even when life is not. This kind of trust does not remove struggle, but it anchors us through the struggle. Application is inseparable from this teaching. If trust is something we declare, then it must also be something we practice. Declaring trust in the Lord invites us to examine whether our decisions, priorities, and reactions reflect that declaration. Trust becomes visible not in what we say during moments of clarity, but in what we rely on during moments of pressure. Nephi immediately follows his declaration with a warning I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh. The phrase arm of flesh represents human strength, worldly systems and reliance on mortal wisdom as a substitute for divine guidance. Nephi does not deny the existence or usefulness of human effort, rather he warns against elevating it above God. The repetition of the word cursed emphasizes the seriousness of misplaced trust. Cursed is he that puteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Cursed is he that puteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. This language is not meant to instill fear, but to clarify spiritual consequences. Trust determines direction, and direction determines outcomes. This teaching invites us to reflect on where we instinctively turn first. When decisions arise, do we default to worldly assurances like Google or other search areas? AI do we put these before seeking the Lord? When challenges come, do we rely solely on human solutions without divine counsel? The warning is not against using resources, but against replacing revelation with self reliance. Trust in the arm of flesh becomes spiritually dangerous when it crowds out dependence on God. Elder Ulysses source provides a modern application of Nevi's warning. He taught.

SPEAKER_02 5:12

As followers of Christ, we need to be careful not to weaken our connection with God and His Son by using AI generated content and images inappropriately. We should remember that relying on a modern technological arm of flesh is an inadequate and disrespectful substitute for the inspiration, edification, and witness that can be received only through the power of the Holy Ghost. As Nephi declared, O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh.

SPEAKER_01 5:57

Elder Soras helps us see that the arm of flesh is not limited to ancient settings. Modern tools, systems, and technologies can quietly become substitutes for spiritual effort if we are not careful. When convenience replaces reverence and efficiency replaces inspiration, trust begins to shift away from the Lord. The application here is sobering but hopeful. Technology and human tools are not inherently wrong, but they are never meant to replace revelation. Trusting the Lord requires intentional space for the Holy Ghost to teach, correct, and testify. When we expect spiritual power to come from human innovation rather than divine influence, we unintentionally repeat the same error Nephi warned against. Nephi's verse ultimately forces a personal question. Where does our trust actually rest today? Trust is revealed not by intention but by habit. It shows up in how we seek answers, how we prepare spiritually, and how we respond when outcomes differ from expectations. Trusting the Lord forever does not mean we never plan or think critically. It means that divine guidance is the first and final voice. It means we acknowledge that lasting confidence, peace, and direction come through the Holy Ghost, not through human strength alone. This teaching invites us to realign daily patterns. Trust grows as we consistently choose the Lord over substitutes that promise certainty without discipleship. Faith deepens as we rely less on the arm of flesh and more on the arm of mercy extended through Jesus Christ. When trust is placed correctly, it becomes a stabilizing force rather than a fragile hope. So here is today's challenge. Take time today to honestly evaluate where you instinctively place your trust. Identify one area where reliance on human strength, systems or substitutes may be crowding out dependence on the Lord, and intentionally choose to seek his guidance first through prayer and scripture study. Thank you for listening to Seek This Jesus. I hope this message helps you draw a little closer to the Savior Jesus Christ. Please, don't let this podcast be your only scripture time today. As we open the scriptures for ourselves, the Spirit will teach us things no podcast ever could. If you are exploring the truths of the Book of Mormon for the first time, you can receive a free copy using the link in the description found in every episode of Seek This Jesus. I invite you to come back tomorrow for another verse and message to help you stay focused on Jesus Christ. Until next time, keep seeking this Jesus.