The most poignant passage in all Nephi's writings says this: "They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men." (2 Nephi 28: 14, emphasis added.) Who can doubt we have stiff necks and high heads among us? Nephi, quoting Isaiah, will call our necks "iron" because we do not bow our heads in prayer, and do not submit to God in humility.
As we hear and read repeated warnings and lamentations from Church leaders about the prevalence of pornography, even pornography addictions, among the Latter-day Saints, who can question Nephi's characterization of our "pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms." He must have seen us. He certainly describes us: "[T]hey have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ." All of us are astray, except for a tiny minority. However, even this tiny minority who are humble and follow Christ, are also burdened by the lamentable quality of what they are taught. He writes: "nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men." You see, even being a humble follower of Christ is not enough when you follow teachers lacking the Spirit. The burden is on all of us to seek and follow the Spirit. The "precepts of men," even very good men and women trying very hard to be right, are not going to save you. And so Nephi and Isaiah are in agreement: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way." (Isa. 53:6.)
What does it mean to be taught by the "precepts of men" on the one hand, and to be led by "the Holy Ghost" on the other? Nephi makes this of pivotal importance. At least one distinguishing characteristic of the "arm of flesh" or the "precepts of men" is that an answer can be provided without any reference to the Spirit or inspiration. Men use analytical tools which are understood by the natural man. Statistics and studies based upon group behavior; the work of social scientists, psychologists and focus groups, and demographic studies are used by General Motors, the Republican Party, Planned Parenthood, Time Warner and Microsoft. These tools serve men well in trying to develop a good marketing study, or improve product appeal, or win elections. But they are precepts men can use without any reference to the Holy Ghost. To the extent men choose to rely upon such tools, they risk the kinds of errors which Nephi is trying to alert us about. A whole volume should be devoted to this, but we cannot do more than make passing mention here. Decisions made by relying solely upon focus group studies cannot be inspired. In the end, focus groups will inevitably lead to Circus Maximus, free bread, and boat battles in a flooded coliseum, but never to the Mount of Transfiguration. We will return to this subject later.