Turn Aside

To leave or move away from. Nephi warns against turning aside the just for a thing of naught (meaning something without value): Woe unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught, and revile against that which is good and say that it is of no worth, for the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth. And in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity, they shall perish. But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their wickedness and abominations, they shall not be destroyed, saith the Lord of Hosts (2 Nephi 12:4). Covenant of Christ defines it as those who disregard the just for something of no value and loudly condemn what’s good and say it’s worthless (ibid., CE). Nephi is saying to be careful to not walk away from the truth being taught by a “just” or true source and instead choose to follow after something of no value. This rejection of a true messenger and following after a false one inevitably results in “reviling that which is good.” When one rejects the truth, he normally has to deal with a troubled conscience, and the way to calm it is to “revile against” the thing he has rejected. Not only do people “revile against” the message, but they usually go on to “say that it is of no worth!” This pattern can be seen in the general reception given to the Lord’s messengers throughout scripture. They are always the objects of criticism and reviling. Nephi is describing a syndrome that always attaches to the true message and true messenger. They aren’t valued and are instead “thought a thing of naught.” The argument is always: “If what he had to say was of value, it would come from someone more important.” Content is ignored in favor of status.¹