Lehi here defines the principles of divine authority. It is the voice of God through his inspired servant. "It was not he ... it was the Spirit of the Lord ... which opened his mouth to utterance, that he could not shut it." Divine authority must not be assumed, no matter how great faith we may have. It cannot be acquired by study—not even of theology. It is given by God and received—by faith, yes! But faith is only the hand that receives. It is God that puts the gift into the hand. Until that is done, the hand is empty.