The Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 32:4

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~559–545 BC

1830 Edition

Wherefore, now after that I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them, it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

Influences

James 4:2 (KJV)
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Changes

Wherefore, now after that I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them, it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

Simple English

So if you don’t understand what I said, it’s because you don’t ask and you don’t knock. You are not brought into the light. You will die in the dark.

Paraphrase

So if what I’ve said doesn’t make sense to you, it’s because you’re not asking. You’re not knocking. And if you don’t ask, you’ll stay in the dark and be lost.