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CHAPTER 2Redemption cometh through the Holy Messiah—Freedom of choice (agency) is essential to existence and progression—Adam fell that men might be—Men are free to choose liberty and eternal life. [Between 588 and 570 B.C.] |
[Between 579 and 570 B.C.] | |
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1 AND now, Jacob, I speak unto you: Thou
art my afirst-born in the days of my tribulation in the
wildernessa. And behold, in thy
childhood thou hast suffered afflictions and much sorrow, because of the
rudeness of thy brethren.
2 Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine aafflictions for thy gain.
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1a in the days of my tribulation in the wilderness Of what event is Lehi speaking which combines the time of the birth of his son Jacob with the 'days of my tribulation in the wilderness'. Lehi was a prophet of God. With God at his side but trouble or tribulation could there be that Lehi could not face? However when God is not with us, then are we in days of tribulation. One such event is recorded in 1 Nephi 16:20, when Lehi, after being so faithful did so forth his weakness in that he Lehi did begin 'to murmur against the Lord his God'. This was at the end of the first full season of their travels in the wilderness. It was when they had set up their camp in a fertile and promising location and did pitch their tents 'for the space of time' it would take 'to obtain food'. Of course plants take time to grow, so their immediate need was to hunt for food. This is the time of the 'broken bow incident'. Nephi broke his steel bow and the bows of his brothers had lost their 'springs'. All were 'much fatigued from their journeying and they did suffer much for the want of food.' It would seem that some were with child and in the time of delivering. One such dilivery was Lehi's own son Jacob. In a very real physical sense they were all exceedinly sorrowful'. Yet Lehi would become even more 'sorrowful' in an even greater frame of reference for the Lord would chasten him because of his murmuring against the Lord to the point of deep and great repentance as 'he was brought down into the depths of sorrow' (1 Nephi 2:16). This seems to be Lehi's all time low point and that time of which he speaks as being the 'days of my tribulation'. (See also commentary on 2 Nephi 3:1 concerning the likelihood that Jacob and Joseph were twins) |
1a
1 Ne. 18:7 (7, 19) 2a Micah 4:13; 2 Ne. 32:9; TG Affliction
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3 Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely
with thy brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be aspent in
the service of thy God. Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of
the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast bbeheld
that in the cfulness of time he cometh to bring salvation
unto men.
4 And thou hast abeheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of mana, and bsalvation is cfree. 5 And men are instructed sufficiently that they aknow good from evil. And the blaw is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is cjustified; or, by the law men are dcut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever.
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4a the way is prepared from the fall of man The means and way of salvation was set forth from the beginning. Adam was taught and lived the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as did Enoch and his city and also Noah after them (Moses 5-8). It should be of little wonder that the Nephites did know of and live according to the testimony of Christ even before his birth into mortality. This was even understood by Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea as stated in his Ecclesiatical History, Book I, Chapter 4, "If any one should assert that all those who have enjoyed the testimony of righteousness, from Abraham himself back to the first man [Adam], were Christians in fact if not in name, he would not go beyond the truth." |
3a
Enos 1:1 b 2 Ne. 11:3 c TG Fulness 4a 2 Ne. 11:3; Jacob 7:5; TG Jesus Christ, Appearances, Antemortal b Jude 1:3 c TG Grace 5a Moro. 7:16 b Gal. 2:16; Gal. 3:2; Mosiah 13:28 (27-28) c Rom. 3:20-24; Rom. 7:5; 2 Ne. 25:23; Alma 42:14 (12-16); TG Justification d Lev. 7:20-21; 1 Ne. 10:6; 2 Ne. 9:6-38; Alma 11:42 (40-45); Alma 12:16,24,36; Alma 42:7 (6-11); Hel. 14:16 (15-18)
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6 Wherefore, aredemption cometh in and through the
bHoly cMessiah; for he is full of
dgrace and truth.
7 Behold, he offereth himself a asacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirita; and unto bnone else can the cends of the law be answered. 8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, asave it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who blayeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the cresurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
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7a unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit This is the offering which Christ does require of all men that they may partake of the healing of the atonement. This is the 'sacrifice' which is laid upon the altar of Christianity which appropriately affords the blessings of the covenants of the Lord and their renewal from sacrament to sacrament. |
6a
1 Ne. 10:6;
2 Ne. 25:20; Mosiah 16:5 (4-5); Alma 12:22-25; TG Jesus Christ, Redeemer; TG Redemption b TG Holiness c TG Jesus Christ, Messiah d John 1:17 (14, 17); Alma 13:9; Moses 1:6; TG Grace 7a TG Jesus Christ, Atonement through TG Sacrifice; TG Self-sacrifice b 1 Sam. 2:2 (1-10) c Rom. 10:4 8a 2 Ne. 25:20; 2 Ne. 31:21; Mosiah 4:8; Mosiah 5:8; Alma 21:9; Alma 38:9 b TG Jesus Christ, Prophecies about c 1 Cor. 15:20; Mosiah 13:35; Alma 7:12; Alma 13:25 (24-25); Alma 42:23; TG Jesus Christ, Resurrection
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9 Wherefore, he is the first-fruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall
make aintercession for all the children of men; and they
that believe in him shall be saved.
10 And because of the intercession for aall, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him to be bjudged of him according to the truth and choliness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the dpunishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the eatonement—
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9a
Isa. 53:12 (1-12);
Mosiah 14:12; Mosiah 15:8; Moro. 7:28 (27-28); TG Jesus Christ, Mission of 10a Ps. 65:2; TG Jesus Christ, Redeemer b TG Jesus Christ, Judge c TG Holiness d TG Punishment e 2 Ne. 9:26 (7, 21-22, 26); Alma 22:14; Alma 33:22; Alma 34:9 (8-16); TG Atonement
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The Need of An Opposition in All Things |
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11 For it must needs be, that there is an
aopposition in all things. If not so, my first-born
in the wildernessa, righteousness
could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor
misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound
in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead,
having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor
misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no apurpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the bjustice of God. 13 And if ye shall say there is ano law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not bthere is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.
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11a
Job 2:10;
Matt. 5:45;
D&C 29:39; D&C 122:7 (5-9); Moses 6:55; TG Adversity; TG Agency; TG Mortality; TG Opposition 12a D&C 88:25; TG Earth, Purpose of b TG God, Justice of 13a Rom. 4:15; Rom. 5:13; 2 Ne. 9:25; 2 Ne. 11:7 b Alma 42:13
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14 And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit
and alearning; for there is a God, and he hath
bcreated all things, both the heavens and the earth, and
all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be
cacted upon.
15 And to bring about his eternal apurposes in the end of man, after he had bcreated our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the cfowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the dforbidden efruit in fopposition to the gtree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter. 16 Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should aact for himself. Wherefore, man could not bact for himself save it should be that he was centiced by the one or the other.
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14a
TG
Learning b TG Creation; TG God, Creator; TG Jesus Christ, Creator c D&C 93:30 15a Isa. 45:18 (17-18); Matt. 5:48; Rom. 8:17 (14-21); Eph. 3:11 (7-12); Alma 42:26; D&C 29:43 (42-44); Moses 1:31, 39; TG Earth, Purpose of b TG Man, Physical Creation of c Gen. 1:20 d Gen. 2:17 (16-17); Moses 3:17 e Gen. 3:6; Mosiah 3:26; Alma 12:22 (21-23) f TG Opposition g Gen. 2:9; 1 Ne. 15:36 (22,28,36); Alma 12:26 (21,23,26); Alma 32:40 16a Alma 12:31; TG Initiative b 2 Ne. 10:23; TG Agency c D&C 29:39-40
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17 And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs
suppose that an aangel of God, according to that which is
written, had bfallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a
cdevil, having sought that which was evil before
Goda1.
18 And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he asought also the misery of all mankind. Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea, even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all blies, wherefore he said: Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye shall be as God, cknowing good and evil.
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17a
TG
Council in Heaven b Isa. 14:12; 2 Ne. 9:8; Moses 4:3-4; Abr. 3:28 (27-28); TG Sons of Perdition b TG Adversary; TG Devil; TG Lucifer; TG Satan 18a Luke 22:31; Rev. 13:7; 2 Ne. 28:20 (19-23); Alma 18:18; D&C 10:22-27; D&C 52:3; D&C 76:29 b 2 Ne. 28:8; Moses 4:4 c Gen. 3:5; Mosaih 16:3; Alma 29:5; Moro. 7:16 (15-19)
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19 And after Adam and Eve had apartaken of the
forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of
bEden, to till the earth.
20 And they have brought forth children; yea, even the afamily of all the earth. 21 And the days of the children of amen were prolonged, according to the bwill of God, that they might crepent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of dprobation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were elost, because of the transgression of their parents.
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19a
Gen. 2:17 (16-17);
Alma 12:31; TG Fall of Man b TG Eden 20a 1 Cor. 15:45-48; D&C 27:11; D&C 138:38; Moses 1:34; TG Adam 21a Job 14:1; Alma 12:24; Moses 4:23 (22-25) b TG God, Will of c Alma 34:32; TG Repentance d TG Mortality; TG Probation e Jacob 7:12
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22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden.
And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must
have remained forever, and had no end.
23 And they would have had no achildren; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no bjoy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no csin. 24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who aknoweth all things.
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23a
Gen. 3:16;
Moses 5:11;
TG
Family; TG Marriage, Motherhood b TG Joy c TG Sin 24a TG God, Foreknowledge of; TG God, Intelligence of; TG God, Omniscience of
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25 aAdam bfell that men might be;
and men care, that they might have djoy.
26 And the aMessiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may bredeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are credeemed from the fall they have become dfree forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the elawa at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given. 27 Wherefore, men are afree according to the bflesh; and call things are dgiven them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to echoose fliberty and eternal glife, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be hmiserable like unto himself.
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26a to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of law Often the misconception is proliferated concerning the removal of individuality of man upon becoming one with God in and through the atonement of Christ. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is a great distinction to be made between living according to law and order and that of individuality. Living according to the law actually frees one to live and dwell forever in the highest state of individuality that can ever exist. For there are laws. And when one disobeys the law, they are taken captive and placed in submission to the penalty of that law for they are acting in opposition to it. And thus so penalized and so confinded and held captive to the punishment or the consequence of disobeying the law, they have lost their freedom to so continue to act for themselves. They rather have become subjected to the rule of the consequence and punishment which comes upon all who do so violate the law. And the Law is set upon those eternal principles of eternal existance, and none may violate such laws lest they do bring such enjury upon themselves as does always proceed from and is attached to the order of the law. And with out such order of the law, then chaos and destruction would come and destroy all. Only in the order of the truth of the law is existance defined. And only within that definition of existance can man truly dwell and be, and be at his freest to act for himself in all things within the perameters of the Law of Heaven, the Law of Eternity, The True Laws of All Existance and Being. |
25a
TG
Adam b Moses 6:48; TG Fall of Man c TG Mortality d Moses 5:10; TG Joy; TG Man, Potential to Become like Heavenly Father 26a TG Jesus Christ, Messiah b TG Salvation, Plan of c TG Redemption d Gal. 5:1; Alma 41:7; Alma 42:27; Hel. 14:30 e TG God, Law of 27a Gal. 5:1; Hel. 14:30 (29-30); Moses 6:56 b TG Mortality c 2 Ne. 26:24; Jacob 5:41; Alma 26:37 d Alma 29:8; TG Talents e TG Initiative; TG Opposition f TG Liberty g Deut. 30:15 h D&C 10:22
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28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great
aMediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be
faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of
his Holy Spirit;
29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the aevil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to bcaptivate, to bring you down to chell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom. 30 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet. And I have none other object save it be the everlasting awelfare of your souls. Amen.
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28a
TG
Jesus Christ, Mediator 29a TG Evil; TG Sin b Rom. 6:14-18; 1 Ne. 14:7; Alma 12:11 (9-11); TG Bondage, Spiritual c TG Hell 30a TG Family, Children, Responsibility toward
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