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THE SECOND BOOK OF NEPHI
CHAPTER 2

Redemption 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.]

[ One of the best theological chapters in the Book of Mormon. The three pillar concepts are the Creation, the Fall and the Atonement. It is interesting that this is the blessing that Lehi gives Jacob; but look at how doctrinal it is. The concepts taught in this chapter are the same doctrines we need to learn and understand when we attend the Temple. When you go to the Temple and want to know: “What I am supposed to learn from this?” return back to 2 Ne 2 and study each of these concepts that Lehi is teaching his son Jacob. This chapter is a Temple Text. Lehi is teaching his son the doctrines of the endowment. 1) Redemption through Jesus Christ, the atonement, Sacrifice and resurrection; 2) Faith; 3) Judgement, Justice and mercy; 4) The law of opposition; 5) Free will or agency; 6) The purpose of the creation; 7) Adam and Eve; 8) Fall of Satan and his plan; 9) The forbidden fruit and the fall of man; 10) Repentance (change of character); 11) Life is a probationary state - this is the time to prove ourselves worthy to live with God; 12) Mankind, joy and redemption; 13) True freedom through the atonement - to satisfy the demand of justice, opening the bowls of mercy; 14) Choose eternal life or spiritual death; 15)The last will and testament of Lehi - which is the everlasting welfare of their souls. ]

1 AND now, Jacob, I speak unto you: Thou art my first-born [ Lehi is speaking to Jacob - see 2 Ne. 1:1. Lehi is about to die and he wants to provide Jacob with his testimony and provide him with instruction that will give him power to spiritually endure mortality. The ideas that he will bring froward include: 1) Redemption through Christ, Atonement, Sacrifice, Resurrection; 2) Faith; 3) Judgement, Justice and Mercy; 4) Law of Opposition; 5) Free Will or Agency; 6) Purpose of the Creation; 7) Adam and Eve and the First Parents; 8) Fall of Satan; 9) Fall of Adam and Eve and the Forbidden Fruit; 10) Repentance and Character change; 11) Probationary State; 12) Mankind(why men exist), Joy and Redemption; 13) True Freedom Through Atonement; 14) Choose Eternal Life or Spiritual Death; 15) Lehi Says that this is His Last Will and Testament - and ends with "None other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls" - This is why he is teaching Jacob these things. Joseph Smith said "They do not know, neither do they mankind] understand the nature of that relationship [with God] ; and consequently they know but little above the brute beast, or more than to eat, drink and sleep. This is all man knows about God or his existence, unless it is given by the inspiration of the Almighty. If a man learns nothing more than to eat, drink and sleep, and does not comprehend any of the designs of God, the beast comprehends the same things. It eats, drinks, sleeps, and knows nothing more about God; yet it knows as much as we, unless we are able to comprehend by the inspiration of Almighty God. If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves." (TPJS pg 343) ] in the days of my tribulation in the wilderness. And behold, in thy childhood thou hast suffered afflictions [ To strike down or cast down - being downcast  or brought low humbled in body~ mind~ or spirit  including tribulation~ adversity~ calamity~ distress~ grief~ trouble~ trial or sorrow- evidence of divine chastisement. "Chris Conkling: Every reference to Jacob thus far has included sorrow, suffering, afflictions, or wandering. While some who suffer become insensitive, even brutal, Jacob grew in the opposite direction, just as Lehi foretold. (See 2 Ne. 2:2.) These early afflictions left Jacob with a certain gravity that persisted until the end of his long life, when he concluded his record on an unusually sad note. …We should not assume, however, that Jacob’s life was without joy and comfort. Lehi reveals that Jacob had “beheld in [His] youth [God’s] glory” (2 Ne. 2:4), and Nephi notes that “my brother, Jacob, also has seen [The Redeemer] as I have seen him” (2 Ne. 11:3). Despite everything, Jacob had the comfort of an absolute witness of his Messiah. Ensign, Feb 1992, 7-8)". ] 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; [ Lehi is giving this information to Jacob so that he can act upon the information that he is given and therefore have power over mortality. ] and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain . [ Or life is good even when it is bad. It is in our extremities that we become acquainted with God, which is life’s greatest blessing. The soul of the righteous is sanctified through suffering. To a lamenting Joseph Smith, then incarcerated in the Liberty prison, the Lord granted the assurance, “All these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good.” D&C 122:7. DCBM, 1:190. Elaine Cannon said: “Adversity in our own lives can bring life's purpose to mind. Bad times have certain scientific value, according to Emerson. In his "Conduct of Life" essays he says that the trying times are occasions a good learner would not miss. One can learn a great deal. Can it be, then, that if one doesn't kick against the pricks, increased understanding comes-the nature of God, the importance of the adventure of life?” (Elaine Cannon, Adversity, p. 4) Marion G. Romney said: “If we can bear our afflictions with the understanding, faith, and courage,…we shall be strengthened and comforted in many ways. We shall be spared the torment which accompanies the mistaken idea that all suffering comes as chastisement for transgression… I have seen the remorse and despair in the lives of men who, in the hour of trial, have cursed God and died spiritually. And I have seen people rise to great heights from what seemed to be unbearable burdens.” (Conference Report, Oct. 1969, pp. 59-60 as taken from the Book of Mormon Student Manual, 1981 ed., p. 69) If you have troubles at home with children who stray, if you suffer financial reverses and emotional strain that threaten your homes and your happiness, if you must face loss of life or health, may peace be unto your soul. We will not be tempted beyond our ability to withstand. Our detours and disappointments are the straight and narrow path to Him. Marion G. Romney, CR, Oct 1987.) ]
3 Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, [ Lehi is going to give Jacob his endowment here. We need to remember that the endowment is not just the ordinances but it is the truths that are taught like where did we come from, what is our purpose on earth, where do we go after this life, where does evil come from, how do we control evil. This is the endowment of power - to know these things makes all of the difference in how we live our lives. Or the doctrines that a person needs to understand in order to become the person that they need to be, the characteristics that God has. ] and thou shalt dwell safely with thy brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God. Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed , [ Speaking of Jacob here. Your salvation is sure. ] because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer ; [ It’s not our righteousness that saves us, but that of the Savior. ] for thou hast beheld [ Jacob has seen in vision the Savior and his mission. D&C 93:1 states, Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am. This is the same thing that Nephi had done earlier (1 Ne. 10:17-18). ] that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men.
4 And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; [ There are few greater prophets than Jacob, the son of Lehi. He was one of the mighty apostles of the Book of Mormon: as a special witness of Christ. In speaking of Jacob’s witness of the coming Messiah, Nephi declared: “I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words, . . . for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him. And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true” (2 Nephi 11:2–3; emphasis added). ] 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. [ God's plan is not going to change, it is consistent, the gospel (which is made up of Laws(these are Eternal in nature. These are Unchangeable, Immutable and Irrevocable, Unalterable, Invariable, Unvarying, Firm, Fixed, Hard and Fast, Permanent, Enduring, Abiding, Lasting, Indestructible, Ineradicable,Irreversible,Constant, Perpetual and ETERNAL. All eternal laws are eternal truths but not all eternal truths are eternal laws. If these are changed then God would cease to be God. What is an eternal Law? That no unclean thing can dwell in the presence or kingdom of God. Mercy cannot rob justice or God would cease to be God. The reason for that simple, it is because no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God. Another law is that God cannot deny himself or His glory(or he cannot turn it off, or dial it down so that an unclean spirit can dwell in his presence.), Truths(Based on top of eternal laws are the eternal truths. What are eternal truths? The scriptures are the standard of truth, The scriptures and the words of God is true and real, God created the heavens and the earth, God created humanity in his image and likeness, Our spirits are eternal, God will not control our agency. So these are eternal truths but they are not laws, things do not have to function this way, but these are the truths that God has set up for how he does function. ) ), Doctrines(true doctrines are based on eternal truths and eternal laws. Are Founded Upon Eternal Truths and Eternal laws. There is "ONE" foundational doctrine, based upon eternal laws and eternal truths. Upon this doctrine, the heavens and the earth were created, the work and Glory of God and all our beliefs, the Church and all it's organizations, every commandment given, principle, teaching, and all scripture exists for the accomplishment of this doctrine. Even the condescension of God, the birth, life, teachings, death, resurrection, and atonement of Christ and into mortality has happened because of this foundational doctrine. "God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself, so that they might have one glory upon another," TPJS pg 354. Everything that God does is based on this foundational doctrine - Bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. ), Commandments(are based on the doctrines, the truths and the eternal laws the commandments are given. Commandments are not doctrines, but they exist because of the doctrines, because of the truths and Laws. Commandments are proof of God's love humanity. Commandments are not restrictions but recipes for happiness. Commandments help us develop the character, necessary to dwell with God and receive the same glory and exaltation that makes God, God. ), Principles(which are there to assist us in keeping the commandments. Principles are taught to help us with reason to keep the commandments. Most principles are based in the actions and activities that build a better character, as do all commandments. We as a people are moving away from a doctrinal based faith into a principle based learning and activity. This is because of the generational thought that feelings and emotions determine truth. True doctrine, eternal truths, and character changing commandments offend the feelings, emotions, and the mental and physical desires of many. This notion of being offended by commandments is coupled with the social and sexual norms that are taught to our youth from kindergarten to college. So we as a church(not the leadership, but the membership) are moving toward principle based verse doctrinal based. This is so that we do not offend anyone. Nephi prophesied of this day when doctrines and truths would be rejected by member and non-member 2 Ne. 28:5-31) and Policies(Policies are used to administer the gospel.)) in all ages is the same, the doctrine is always the same, the administration of it may however change depending on the times of man. ] And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free. [ Christ has paid for it, and everyone will be brought back to the presence of God - where we stay there or not will be based on us. Unconditional or general salvation, that which comes by grace alone without obedience to gospel law, consists in the mere fact of being resurrected. In this sense salvation is synonymous with immortality; it is the inseparable connection of body and spirit so that the resurrected personage lives forever… Conditional or individual salvation, that which comes by grace coupled with gospel obedience, consists in receiving an inheritance in the celestial kingdom of God. This kind of salvation follows faith, repentance, baptism, receipt of the Holy Ghost, and continued righteousness to the end of one’s mortal probation. MD, 669-670. We believe that through the sufferings, death, and atonement of Jesus Christ all mankind, without one exception, are to be completely and fully redeemed, both body and spirit, from the endless banishment and curse to which they were consigned by Adam’s transgression; and that this universal salvation and redemption of the whole human family from the endless penalty of the original sin, is effected without any conditions whatever on their part; that is, they are not required to believe or repent, or be baptized, or do anything else, in order to be redeemed from that penalty; for whether they believe or disbelieve, whether they repent or remain impenitent, whether they are baptized or unbaptized, whether they keep the commandments or break them, whether they are righteous or unrighteous, it will make no difference in relation to their redemption, both soul and body, from the penalty of Adam’s transgression. The most righteous man that ever lived on the earth, and the most wicked wretch of the whole human family, were both placed under the same curse without any transgression or agency of their own, and they both alike will be redeemed from that curse, without any agency or conditions on their part. Orson Pratt, Articles of Faith, p. 477-78. You have been indebted to other men in the first instance for evidence; on that you have acted; but it is necessary that you receive a testimony from Heaven for yourselves; so that you can bear testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon, and that you have seen the face of God. That is more than the testimony of an angel. When the proper time arrives, you shall be able to bear this testimony to the world. When you bear testimony that you have seen God, this testimony God will never suffer to fall, but will bear you out; although many will not give heed, yet others will. You will, therefore, see the necessity of getting this testimony from Heaven. Never cease striving till you have seen God face to face. Strengthen your faith; cast off your doubts, your sins, and all your unbelief, and nothing can prevent you from coming to God. Your ordination is not full and complete till God has laid His hands upon you. We require as much to qualify us as did those who have gone before us; God is the same. If the Savior in former days laid his hands on his disciples, why not in latter days? Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt, p. 123). ]
5 [ -GOD PROVIDES US WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL- ] And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil . [ The choice is theirs, when they know good from evil everything becomes a choice. Lehi was speaking of those who reach accountability, though he did not explicitly state so. Jacob later made this point clearly. (See 2 Ne. 9:25-26; Mosiah 15:26-27) Exactly what did Lehi mean when he said, "Men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil" and "The law is given unto men"? We know from other places in scripture that the medium or the means by which this instruction comes to all men is known as the Light of Christ. Through and by the Light of Christ, individuals come to a basic level of understanding of good and evil. Gerald N. Lund: Selected Writings of Gerald N. Lund, p. 194 ] And the law is given unto men. [ And what is this law? It is found in verse 8, it is the eternal law that brings everything in this chapter together. In verse four it talks about what Lehi is going to share with Jacob are the things of God. It starts with saying that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow - suggesting that he rules consistently, based on eternal laws, laws that can not ever change. It is that no unclean thing can enter the kingdom of heaven. Eternal Law verse 4 (3 Ne. 27:19; Alma 11:37; 1 Ne. 10:21; 1 Ne. 15:34; Alma 7:21; Hel. 8:25; Alma 40:26). So even as much as God may love you he cannot break the law, it is eternal. ] And by the law no flesh is justified ; [ Again the law is that No unclean thing can enter the place where God dwells or his kingdom. (3 Ne. 27:19; Alma 11:37; 1 Ne. 10:21; 1 Ne. 15:34; Alma 7:21; Hel. 8:25; Moses 6:57; Eph. 5:5-6) Gerald N. Lund: In that simple statement lies the primary reason why there must be a Redeemer, and so examining Lehi's fifth fundamental at greater length is essential. The word justified and its cognate forms justification, justice, or just all have the same basic root meaning. To be "just" means to be right or be in order with God. Therefore to be justified (the process of justification) is defined as the "declaration of right, thus judicial acquittal, the opposite of condemnation. . . . Justification may be defined, in its theological sense, as the non imputation of sin and the imputation of righteousness. Why was it, then, that Lehi said that no flesh is justified by the law? Because no one keeps the law perfectly! If the law of justice were the only thing operating, no one could be justified (declared to be right or just) by virtue of the law alone, because as Paul said, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23; see also Rom. 5:12; 1 Ne. 10:6.) Selected Writings of Gerald N. Lund, p. 195. Moses 6:60 also says, “by the Spirit ye are justified.” So it is the Spirit then that aligns us with God, much like how a word processor justifies text—bringing it into perfect alignment. The Holy Ghost helps us recognize when our lives are in harmony with God, and gently warns us when we stray. ] or, by the law men are cut off. [ Again the law is that No unclean thing can enter the place where God dwells.(3 Ne. 27:19; Alma 11:37; 1 Ne. 10:21; 1 Ne. 15:34; Alma 7:21; Hel. 8:25; Moses 6:57; Eph. 5:5-6) So then they are cut off from the presence of God. The principle is that God created Adam, and Adam fell. Bringing into the world first a spiritual death and second a temporal death. If we do not comprehend or believe in the fall of Adam then we will not believe in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Because Christ came to ransom us from the effects of the fall of Adam. Such that the elements of the atonement are designed to bring eternal life (overcoming spiritual death) and resurrection (Overcoming temporal death). ] Yea, by the temporal law [ In addition we are cut off by the physical law(Death). ] they were cut off; [ Physical death. ] and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, [ We are cast out of the presence of God (Like Adam and Eve were cast out of the presence of God where he walked with them in the cool of the day), which is spiritual death. ] and become miserable forever.
6 Wherefore, redemption [ Redemption from what? Well as we saw in the previous verse it is redemption from THE LAW - the law that states that no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God or his kingdom. ] cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; [ The only way to receive redemption from the law is through Jesus Christ, it is the only way. This is one of the Eternal Truths(verse 5) upon which salvation is granted. Only Christ can satisfy the demands of justice, This is what grace is, it is granted to those who are exercising faith to change their character. Christ because of the atonement can step in and open the bowles of mercy, and satisfy the demands of justice giving just the time to develop our character to be like the character that makes God, God. Our perfection of character does not come by miracle, ordinance or by any other means other than us using our agency to develop our character to be like God's character. That we must believe that Jesus is the Christ; that he is literally the son of God just as you and I are sone's and daughters of mortal parents. Because without that kind of birth he would not have had the kind of power required to bring to pass the resurrection of all men. Here, Lehi is addressing the Doctrine of Grace. He indicates that no flesh is justified (i.e. declared righteous, cleared from sin) apart from the merits, mercy and grace of Christ who full of grace and truth. Lehi also adds at the end "they that believe in him shall be saved". This statement is very much similar to comments Paul makes. Note Lehi is referring specifically to the issue of explanation of sins, and indicates it is only through Jesus' actions that this is made possible. Lehi also indicates that while the resurrection is belief independant, justification is belief dependent. Thus, we have the justification of the individual being belief dependent and by virtue of the merits and grace of Jesus Christ only and not by any other means. ] for he is full of grace and truth.
7 Behold, he [ The Messiah or Jesus Christ. Interesting note that Nephi knows the name of the Messiah already however he does not use it until 2 Ne. 10:3. However in the first version of the Book of Mormon "and Jesus Christ which is the Lamb of God" now reads "and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God" in 1 Ne 12:18. ] offereth himself a sacrifice [ The Hebrew word for "sacrifice" is (korban le-hakriv) and is from the root which means "to come near to, to approach, to become closely involved in a relationship with someone". ] for sin, to answer [ To satisfy. ] the ends of the law , [ Christ met the demands of the law because he lived a perfect life. The law again is the no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God. ] unto all [ whom does this sacrifice apply? Everyone who will do the following. ] those who have a broken heart [ What does it mean to have a broken heart? When we sin and desire forgiveness, a broken heart and a contrite spirit mean to experience “godly sorrow [that] worketh repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:10). This comes when our desire to be cleansed from sin is so consuming that our hearts ache with sorrow and we yearn to feel at peace with our Father in Heaven. Those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit are willing to do anything and everything that God asks of them, without resistance or resentment. We cease doing things our way and learn to do them God’s way instead. In such a condition of submissiveness, the Atonement can take effect and true repentance can occur. The penitent will then experience the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost, which will fill them with peace of conscience and the joy of reconciliation with God. In a wondrous union of divine attributes, the same God who teaches us to walk with a broken heart invites us to rejoice and to be of good cheer. ( A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit; Bruce D. Porter Gen Conf October 2007 ). ] and a contrite spirit; [ What does it mean to have a contrite spirit? As in all things, the Savior’s life offers us the perfect example: though Jesus of Nazareth was utterly without sin, He walked through life with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, as manifested by His submission to the will of the Father. “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38).... And when the time came to pay the ultimate sacrifice entailed in the Atonement, Christ shrank not to partake of the bitter cup but submitted completely to His Father’s will. The Savior’s perfect submission to the Eternal Father is the very essence of a contrite spirit. ( A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit; Bruce D. Porter Gen Conf October 2007 ). ] and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. [ Satisfied, so the only way that mercy can work are those who have decided to change their character, who exercise their faith unto repentance. This part is often overlooked - but what is said is you only have one choice to repent(to change your character) with a broken heart and a contrite spirit - that is the ONLY way. All other ways do not matter. All other approaches have no appeal to the law, because they exercise no faith toward the application. ]
8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, [ He is telling Jacob how important it is the he teaches his family, then his friends and everyone who will listen. This is upmost importance here! ] that they [ You family, your children, your friends, and everyone who will listen. ] may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, [ Sound pretty familiar to Moses 6:57 "57 Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time." Doesn't it? But then it sounds like Paul(1 Cor. 15:50)"that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither" to me it appears as if Nephi and Paul are paraphrasing from a familiar source - Enoch. We know that Moses 6:57 is from Enoch, we also see that Nephi references this topic again in (1 Ne. 10:21)"and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever." From the plates of Brass. ] save it be through the merits, [ That he lived a perfect life, and then submitted that perfect life unto physical death because the Father asked him to for us. ] and mercy, [ He did it for us because of his great love and compassion he had for us as he knew that if he did not do it then it would not be possible for us to return to live with both him and our Father in heaven. So it is only through the mercy of God that allowed Jesus Christ to satisfy the demands of justice, by granting to those who are exercising faith to change their character, and allowing them the time to develop their character to be like the character that makes God, God. ] and grace of the Holy Messiah, [ He did it as an unmerited favor - we did not earn it on our own. "Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth..." (Moses 6:52 a teaching that we learn from Enoch) ] who layeth down his life according to the flesh, [ What is significant about being in the flesh? There are conditions and laws that govern in mortality - condensation of God - Christ had to experience suffering~ pain and afflictions that he may know how to succor his people. Second we are removed from the influence of being in the presence of God. ] and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. [ In order to believe that this is both possible and true we must come to understand at least two eternal truths: 1) That Jesus Christ was and is indeed the son of God just as I am the son of my earthly father - he was the literal son of God, and it is because he was the son of God that he had the power to yield up his life and to take it back again in the resurrection. 2) That God created Adam, and that Adam fell bringing into the world first a spiritual death and then a temporal death. If man does not believe in the fall of Adam then man cannot believe in the atoning sacrifice of Adam because Christ came to randsom us from the effects of the fall of Adam. Hence the atonement is designed to bring both spiritual life and eternal life to those who apply the atonement in their life. ]
9 Wherefore, he is the firstfruits [ Significant why? Because he is the first born hence entitled to a greater portion under the law(a double share in his inheritance. What was the purpose of the double share? To take care of the widows and the orphans under the ancient law.), 2) He is the best so to speak or the one whom would be offerred as a sacrifice - the best that the Father had. In addition he was the first one to be resurrected. ] unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession [ The act of interceding; mediation; interposition between parties at variance, with a view to reconciliation; prayer or solicitation to one party in favor of another, sometimes against another. ] for all the children of men; and they that believe in him [ Why would he not save everyone, I mean if he really loves us as a God why not save everyone? Simple - he cannot. If we do not believe that he has the power to save us, if we do not trust in him then we have limited his ability to save us. The law of agency again Satan would have saved everyone but with the law of agency only those who believe can be saved. ] shall be saved.
10 And because of the intercession [ God allowing Jesus Christ to act as the one who would bear our burdens of sin, so that we may have a way back to the presence of God through the atonement. ] for all, all men come unto God; [ Every person that ever lives will be saved by the grace of theis intercession. No matter what they do. ] wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, [ Everyone will be resurrected, no matter how bad they might be, everyone will be resurrected. ] to be judged of him [ I believe this will be the hardest thing that the Savior will have to do - maybe harder than the garden or the cross, fair judgement is not easy. This judgement will be eternal...not an easy task. ] according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law [ Which is again - that no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God. ] which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment [ Which is that if they are unclean then they MUST be cast out. ] which is affixed, [ Or the punishment is there to make sure that the law is upheld. If no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God then everything that is unclean must be removed. So removal is the punishment. ] which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed , [ As if to say that if there were not opposition then there could neither be a reward nor could there be at the other end of the spectrum an associated withdrawal of blessings, or opportunities (punishment) for if there were not any blessings provided for faithfulness then there could be no lack of them. For example: light dark, hot cold both are merely the absence of the other. ] to answer the ends [ Or the purpose of the atonement. So our contribution to the atonement is that we exercise faith to change our character to become like God. If we are doing that then Christ steps in, mercy steps in to satisfy the demands of justice, this mercy then allows us the time that we need to change out character to be like Gods character. Because our character change must come about by the exercise of our own individual agency. The ends are that every misdeed must be accounted for because ever good dead is rewarded. Hence the ends are that pure justice must be meeted out in the end - that all things must be brought into balance - equal. This is know as the law of restoration. ] of the atonement— [ So the purpose of the atonement is to enable, or assist us in being able to dwell in the presence of God. That is applied when we have attributed our portion to the atonement(exercising our faith unto the change of our character). God has provided us with everything that we cannot do for ourselves, and everything that we need in order to us our agency in do what we can do for ourselves. Russell M. Nelson said: “In the English language, the components are at-one-meant, suggesting that a person is at one with another. Other languages employ words that connote either expiation or reconciliation. Expiation means ‘to atone for.’ Reconciliation comes from Latin roots re, meaning ‘again’; con, meaning ‘with’; and sella, meaning ‘seat.’ Reconciliation, therefore, literally means ‘to sit again with.’ To be seen again with God. …In Hebrew, the basic word for atonement is kaphar, a verb that means ‘to cover’ or ‘to forgive.’ Closely related is the Aramaic and Arabic word kafat, meaning ‘a close embrace’—no doubt related to the Egyptian ritual embrace….While the words atone or atonement, in any of their forms, appear only once in the King James translation of the New Testament, they appear 35 times in the Book of Mormon. As another testament of Jesus Christ, it sheds precious light on His Atonement.” (Ensign, Nov. 1996, pp.34-5 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 85)). ]
11 [ -OPPOSITION REQUIRED FOR CHOICE- ] For it must needs be, [ There is a requirement for all of this to happen. ] that there is an opposition in all things.[ There must be spiritual choice in order for agency, righteousness, wickedness, right and wrong to exist. Contrariety - No virtue can exist without its corresponding evil: Without the evil of danger there could be no courage, without suffering their could be no sympathy, without poverty there could be no generosity, and so forth. Without darkness there could be no light, without cold there could be no hot, without depths there could be no heights. Thus there must be wickedness so there might be righteousness, death so there might be life, that which is satanic so there might be that which is godly. Were there no opposites, all things must remain “a compound in one.” Imagine a world in which all things were the same color, were the same size, and had the same function – a world in which one could neither have nor be without; a world with neither sound nor silence; a world in which there was no beauty or lack of it; a world without love or hate, the sweet or the sour, virtue or vice. DCBM, 1:195. ] If not so, [ If there was no opposition in all things. ] my first-born in the wilderness, 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; [ All things are bound by their respective influence coming from each edge of their respective spectrum. For example the hotest that we know that something can be is (There's something called the "Planck Temperature" that is the current limit of how hot something can be before the physics we use to describe it breaks down. The Planck Temperature is about 1.4 * 10^32 K.) and the respective compound is the coldest that something can be which is absolute zero (The temps are −273.15 on the Celsius (centigrade). ] wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, [ This is the foundational principle that athesists build upon. That life is one big random chance. There is no real choice to when you were born, how you live your life, the decisions that you make, they do not matter, there is no consequence for actions as there is no plan. The idea that there cannot be wickedness or righteousness, one cannot be good or bad - they just are true to themselves, who they really are; that is truth. ] having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility. [ Satan is a master at opposition. He will try to make us feel that there is not hope, get us to dispair. Why because he does not want opposition to his plan - that is to lead us all to the hell that he lives in. But there is opposition to dispair it is hope. "The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward. Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear." The Infinite Power of Hope - President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (October 2008). ]
12  Wherefore, [ If there is no opposition, no choice, no way to exercise our agency. ] it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; [ There would have been no reason for the creation of the earth, or creation would have been of no value to the growth of man. In heaven we could not grow without the exercise of faith, to see if we would do what our Father asked when we were not in his presence. ] wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. [ The reason for the creation was to provide a place for us to experience opposition, and choice - that we may learn for ourselves. If we were not going to have a chance to learn then there was no need for the creation. We need to remember that during our trials. Remember the war in heaven was about this as well. Satan wanted to take away accountability, with accountability removed then it does not matter what you choose, so growth is stopped as there are no consequences for actions. So rather than protecting ourselves and our children from opposition we should be preparing to righteously handle the opposition that will come. ] Wherefore, this thing [ The fact there must be opposition in order to have choice and exercise agency. ] must needs destroy the wisdom of God [ God wanted us to be able to prove to ourselves that we were worthy to live with him forever. To do that we needed to be able to follow his plan while here on earth. To make choice and grow from those choices. The other plan Satans rebellion suggested that there would be no right and wrong, no reason for judgement because there would be no choice. And if there was any kind of choice that there would be no accountability such that it would not matter which way you choose. With that plan there would be no growth, no reason for us to change our character. Which is God's purpose for us, to bring to pass the immortality(through the righteous choices made by the Savior all will be resurrected) and eternal life(accomplished by us changing our character and becoming like Christ) ] and his eternal purposes, [ Which is what? To bring to pass the eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39) To allow us to develop a character like his while we were not in his presence. So then it is with or because of opposition that we create tha kind of character that God has. ] and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.
13 [ -GOD GAVE LAWS DIRECTING USE HOW HE WOULD LIKE US TO CHOOSE- ] And if ye shall say there is no law, [ First there is the opportunity for choice, then there are laws or consequences of each choice. Meaning that it does matter what you choose as each choice provides a different set of alternatives. This is opposite to Satans plan which was in essence that it does not matter which way you choose the result will be the same. This is the very idea of Satans plan. You see if he can destroy consequence of action, that choice does not matter then in essence he has destroyed the agency of man - Satan's same goal from the beginning - Why? Because Satan is not stupid - he knows that it is with exercise of agency that men can grow. It is the existence of opposites coupled with the agency of man that gives meaning and purpose to our mortal probation. Laws are essential to the purposeful life, as is a clear distinction between good and evil. Any therapy that purports to free men from the burden of sin by denying the existence of sin also denies to its adherents that joy and peace which can only be known by obedience to the laws of God. Any religious system in which a profession of faith is accepted as a substitute for true repentance denies its practitioners not only relief from the burden of sin but also the very knowledge of how one obtains God’s favor and progresses in the direction of the divine presence. DCBM, 1:195. Ronald Reagan has been quoted as saying, “sometimes when I’m faced with an atheist, I am tempted to invite him to the greatest gourmet dinner that one could ever serve. And when we have finished eating that magnificent dinner to ask him if he believes there’s a cook.” (Quote Book #4, compiled by James H. Patterson, p. 5) James. E. Faust: Being acted upon means somebody else is pulling the strings. Many of you worry about your future. I think every conscientious young man does. But you do not realize what opportunities lie ahead of you. After a lifetime of dealing with human affairs, I am persuaded that your future will be beyond your dreams if you observe the following: 1. Do not live on the edge. 2. Avoid not only evil, but even the appearance of evil. 3. Follow the counsel of Lehi to act for yourselves and not be acted upon. 4. Seek first the kingdom of God and receive the great promise that all else will be added upon you. 5. Follow the counsel of Church leaders. Ensign, Nov 1995, 46-7. ] ye shall also say there is no sin. [ Part of Satan's plan. The idea that you cannot sin because there is no accountability. Without accountability it does not matter what you do choose as the outcome is the same. Without accountability the is really no law. The idea is planted that we are acting just like the animal world - do animals sin? Satan suggests, so why does or can man sin since man is just like an animal, we are all creatures of this world. ] 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 there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, [ Or if things were indeed created then there is a creator. ] neither to act nor to be acted upon; [ This is satans interjection into our view of things in life. If you do not belive that you are an agent unto yourself then you believe that everything that you are is a direct result of what has happened to you in life(how you were acted upon), therefore you should not be held responsible for anything. ] wherefore, all things must have vanished away. [ In other-words since there was a Creation of all things, therefore God exists, and so moral must exist as well that we may prove our righteousness. So to recap this verse IF YOU SAY there is no law, then you will imply that there is no sin; so if there is now no sin then of coarse there cannot be righteousness; Your idea contines forward then that without righteousness you cannot have happiness. So without righteousness and happiness there is not punishment or misery, and you will continue down this road until you say that this proves that there is no God, and if there is no God then God did not create the earth and all things on it, and that there is no purpose for man to try to act like God because you say that he does not exist. But we are taught in (Alma 42:18) that there is a law and a punishment exists. ]
14  And now, my sons, [ In those days when an endowment was given the whole family was there to learn. They were all gathered together in the tent, or outside around the fire. So all his children are most likely there listening and he says he is teaching them these things for the benefit of his posterity, just like Abraham about the same things when he says he is writing these things for the benefit of his posterity. ] I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; [ He is sharing these things with them for their welfare. ] for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act [ Agency is the greatest principle next to life itself. David O. McKay (Mosiah 2:36-39)] and things to be acted upon. [ This is satans plan. If you do not belive that you are an agent unto yourself then you believe that everything that you are is a direct result of what has happened to you in life(how you were acted upon), therefore you should not be held responsible for anything. ]
15 And to bring about his eternal purposes [ Their work is designed to bring about Their eternal purposes for us.Which is what? To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39). Or the process that will allow us to live with him again and to become like unto him. What principle is necessary for that purpose to be accomplished? We need to be able to make decisions, to learn and to grow. We need to be able to make mistakes and then have a way through the atonement to get back on the path that leads back to eternal life with our heavenly father. ] in the end of man, [ Or the final goal for a man, which is his exaltation. This is the reason for the creation(a place where we can learn through our agency to develop a character like God has), and all of the commandments(the how to's to develop a character like God has) given, the condescension of God, the atonement, death, resurrection of Christ. All of these are the details to bring about the end of man. ] after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; [ And you are enticed by the one or the other, and you are enticed equally in either direction. The devil enticeth and inviteth in one direction. At the same time God inviteth and enticeth in the other, and you are pulled between orbits. Which way you go depends on you; you will decide which one you will follow. Neither one is overpowering or irresistible because if that was so then you wouldn’t be responsible. You’d say, “It’s stronger than I and I have to yield.” But that’s not so. Teachings of the Book or Mormon, 1:275 Why must the be opposition then? As Latter-day Saints we often associate this sermon with the purpose of trials and hardship. But it is far more reaching than that. In a recent conference talk, Elder Oaks affirmed that Lehi wasn’t just talking about opposition in the sense of difficulty, but more particularly about opposition in the sense of differences, or opposites.With that understanding, watch how Lehi’s words respond to the goal of post-modern Atheism (those that would make it so that choice really does not matter, or it does not matter which way you choose:
“And to bring about [God’s] eternal purposes in the end of man…it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life…Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. [But] man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.”Lehi explains that for agency to work, man must not only have freedom, but choices. The goal of Atheism, however, is to destroy the moral distinction between choices. Or, in other words, so the goal of Atheism is to destroy the agency of man - just the same as it was Satans goal in the beginning. At least, to the extent possible.
Ultimately, this is what anti-Mormonism intends to accomplish. “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, 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…neither happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility. “Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes…” From the prespective of what Satan would teach is "Speaking of the New Age to Come Christopher S. Hyatt says "It seemed as if every second becomes more and more sacred as we moved cloer and closer to the well planned for and long awaited invocation of the Prime Minister unto the very King of Hell. The grand vicar of Lord Lucifer" This is what they are waiting for they know it is coming. He also said that "oppisites do not exist apart from the mind (or, each other). Anything understood Opposites can equally and probably be better understood in terms of scales such as, so much of X or Y. The process of thinking in opposites create an illusion of opposition, a world of conflict, which in fact may not exist independent of our beliefs." Or evil and good are all in your head." ] even the forbidden fruit in opposition [ He is setting up for them the purpose of the fall. That the fall needs to take place in order for God to bring about his eternal purpose - which is the end of man. They allowed Adam and Eve to experience opposition and gave them agency to act for themselves (verses 15-16, 26-27) ] to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter. [ These bitter/sweet elements appear to correspond to the evil/good dichotomy inherent in Adam and Eve’s temptation in Eden. They also reflect the sorrow and misery of sin, in contrast to the joy and happiness of eternal life. When read together, these passages indicate that the Fall from Eden was necessary, for without tasting or experiencing the bitter/evil/sorrowful aspects of mortal life, mankind could not fully appreciate the sweet/good/joyful aspects of the Plan of Salvation. For instance, during Moses’s encounter with Satan, we read that “Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell” (Moses 1:20). Enoch had a similar experience. After witnessing a vision of Satan, the destruction of the flood, and the torment of those imprisoned in hell, Enoch “had bitterness of soul, and wept over his brethren” (Moses 7:44). This idea also turns up in the Book of Mormon. In each of Alma’s accounts of his remarkable conversion, he commented on his experience with the bitterness of hell:3 “My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity” (Mosiah 27:29)4 “O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death” …. “I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy” (Alma 36:18, 21)5 “And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul” (Alma 38:8) ]
16 [ -POWER TO CHOOSE- ] Wherefore, the Lord God [ Hebrew - Yahweh ( or Jehovah which means "to become" or "to exist") translated as Lord; Elohim translated as God ("the Gods") which together the words mean "He will cause Gods to be". ] gave unto man that he should act for himself. [ This is the doctrine of Agency; it is the same doctrine that was applied when Satan was cast out of heaven. Imbedded in every part of the plan is the right of every man to act for himself, to choose one or the other of the opposites which present themselves before him. If he chooses to do that which is for his welfare, which enables him to progress, he chooses the good. If he chooses that which retards his progress, he chooses the evil. Whatever conforms to the plan of God for His earth children is good; whatever is opposition to the plan is evil. That is a simple, plain definition of evil. John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, p. 205-6. Richard G. Scott: Difficulty comes when agency is used to make choices that are inconsistent with those covenants. Study the things you do in your discretionary time, that time you are free to control. Do you find that it is centered in those things that are of highest priority and of greatest importance? Or do you unconsciously, consistently fill it with trivia and activities that are not of enduring value nor help you accomplish the purpose for which you came to earth? Think of the long view of life, not just what’s going to happen today or tomorrow. Don’t give up what you most want in life for something you think you want now. Ensign, May 1997, p. 54. Marvin J. Ashton: We can choose our reactions to difficulties and challenges. One way to learn how to incorporate the voice of gladness through tragedy or happiness is to learn to apply gospel principles. They never teach us to be overcome by the negative, by gloom, or by cynicism. From guidelines given to us in the scriptures and by the words of prophets, we learn that life is a teaching experience. Self-pity and discouragement do not come from the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But life can be both bitter and sweet. It is up to us to choose whether we want to reflect the voices of gloom or gladness. Conference Report, Apr 1991, p. 24. Neal A. Maxwell: If there is one lament I cannot abide, it is the poor, pitiful, withered cry, "Well, that's just the way I am." You can change anything you want to change, and you can do it very fast. Only Satan would say, "You can't change. You won't change. It's too long and too hard to change. Give up. Give in. You are just the way you are." That is a lie born of desperation. Don't fall for it. We Believe in Christ, p. 6-7. Boyd K. Packer: The angels of the devil convince some that they are born to a life from which they cannot escape and are compelled to live in sin. The most wicked of lies is that they cannot change and repent and that they will not be forgiven. That cannot be true. They have forgotten the Atonement of Christ. Christ is the Creator, the Healer. What He made, He can fix. Ensign, May 2006, 28). "Once society loses its capacity to declare that some things are wrong per se, then it finds itself forever building temporary defenses, revising rationales, drawing new lines—but forever falling back and losing its nerve. A society which permits anything will eventually lose everything! Take away a consciousness of eternity and see how differently time is spent. Take away an acknowledgement of divine design in the structure of life and then watch the mindless scurrying to redesign human systems to make life pain-free and pleasure-filled. Take away regard for the divinity in one’s neighbor, and watch the drop in our regard for his property. Take away basic moral standards and observe how quickly tolerance changes into permissiveness. Take away the sacred sense of belonging to a family or community, and observe how quickly citizens cease to care for big cities. Can we turn such trends around?... It will take the same kind of spunk the Spartans displayed at Thermopylae when they tenaciously held a small mountain pass against overwhelming numbers of Persians. The Persians could not dislodge the Spartans and sent emissaries forward to threaten what would happen if the Spartans did not surrender. The Spartans were told that if they did not give up, the Persians had so many archers in their army that they would darken the skies with their arrows. The Spartans said simply: “so much the better, we will fight in the shade!" -Neal A Maxwell. ] Wherefore, man could not act [ This is how the lord teaches obedience (Moses 3:15-17) ] for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other. [ Second, for us to have agency, we must not only have alternatives, but we must also know what they are. If we are unaware of the choices available, the existence of those choices is meaningless to us.  Hence we are enticed to decide to do one thing over another.  The third element of agency: the freedom to make choices (see 2 Nephi 10:23). … Freedom of choice is the freedom to obey or disobey existing laws—not the freedom to alter their consequences. Law, as mentioned earlier, exists as a foundational element of moral agency with fixed outcomes that do not vary according to our opinions or preferences” (Christofferson, June 2009 Ensign). ]
17 And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, [ On the brass plates. We can assume then that the plates of brass contained writings that are greater than the old testament - why? Because the old testament does not provide that information anywhere. Where do we read in the old testament that Lucifer was kicked out of heaven? Satan only appears 15 times in the old testament and 11 of those are in the book of job. The traditional Genesis account makes no mention of such an event. So where did, or where could this information have come from? We do have such records available today that did not exists at the time that Joseph Smith translated the plates, one apocryphal text is the Life Of Adam and Eve where it suggests that Satan and Jesus share the same father. These creation accounts are also found in Book of the Cave of Treasures; The Discourse On Abbaton; The Divine Investure Of St.Michael. ] must needs suppose that an angel of God, [ Lucifer - note how even lucifer was looked upon by our Father in Heaven, as an angel. The creation accounts of the Book of the Cave of Ireasures, the Discourse on Abbaton and the Divine Investiture of St. Michael all corroborate Lehi's timeline. Satan's rebellion is necessarily after the creation of the beasts and because of their adoration for Adam. It was the envy of Adam is why Lucifer becomes jealous, prideful, and ultimately starts a rebellion. In the Divine Investiture of St. Michael, Lucifer tells the Father, "I will not worship him, for he is a man and I am before him and I am the greatest of all the angels."(The Divine Investure Of St. Michael 1:17) In the Discourse on Abbaton, the angel Lucifer has the same complaint: "And he, a being of great pride, drew himself up in a shameless manner, and said, It is meet that this man Adam should come and worship me, for I existed before he came into being. "(The Discourse On Abbaton 2:32) The Book of the Cave of Treasures describes Satan as "jealous of [Adam] from that day, and he did not wish to worship him." Lucifer complains: "It is meet that ye should worship me, because I am fire and spirit; and not that I should worship a thing of dust, which hath been fashioned of fine dust."(Book of the Cave of Treasures p.51) In the Egyptian retelling of the Fall story, Satan admits it was Adam's creation that catalyzed his rebellion: "When thou wast formed. I was hurled out of the presence of God and banished from the company of the angels."(Life Of Adam and Eve 6) Similarly, the Tales of the Prophets, an Islamic compendium of apocryphal Satan tells the father that he is better than Adam because he(Satan) was created with fire, and Adam was created from clay. ] according to that which is written, had fallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before God. [ What did Satan want? To take away accountability so that everyone would be saved, to take away choice, and then he wanted all of the glory. Lehi is teaching were evil comes from and why it is here. (Moses 4:1-3) ]
18 And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind. [ While Adam and Eve were in the Garden they were in the presence of God. Satan knew that if he could get them to partake of the fruit they would be kicked out of our Heavenly Father's presence. That is one definition of misery. ] Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea, even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies, wherefore he said: Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
19 And after Adam [ In the council in heaven we agreed using our agency to be bound by the consequences of any action of Adam who was to be our first parent – just as we are bound by any actions of any other of our parents – some are born into the church others are not… ] and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit [ It was not the fruit, or the nature of the fruit that caused Adam and Eve to be cast from the garden and the presence of God, it was the character(they made a choice with a perfect knowledge that if they did partake of the fruit they would(surely die) be cast out) of Adam that was such that he would disobey a commandment from God. This made Adam unclean(because he did not act according to the direction of God, or the way that God would have acted) before God. No unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God. ] they were driven out of the garden of Eden, [ When they were driven from the Garden they were also moved into a sphere where time existed. With the introduction of time Adam and Eve's bodies where introduced to the principle of entropy(death). As Abraham explains it in Abr. 5:13 In order for things to die (entropy) which is defined as going from a state of order to a state of disorder. The second law of Thermodynamics states that the one thing required for death(entropy) to occur is time, or entropy requires time in order to change. Therefore if there is no dimension of time(like where God lives all things are present to him, as things were in the garden of Eden), then there is no entropy. Temples are Gardens of Eden on earth so to speak as such we can relate to the events associated with the Garden of Eden where Adam received the priesthood, there Adam and Eve walked and talked with God, it was where our first parents were eternally married by God himself; there they learned of the tree of good and evil and of the tree of life; there they were taught the law of sacrifice and clothed in garments of skin; and from there they ventured into the lone and dreary world that they and their posterity might prove themselves worthy to return again to the divine presence. Joseph Fielding McConkie, Gospel Symbolism, p. 258. ] to till the earth. [ Because in the garden it was self tilled, everything just was given to them by God. When Adam and Eve were created they were caused to "multiply and replenish the earth; to subdue the earth; to have dominion over the earth and all thing on it." (Abr 4:28) ]
20  And they have brought forth children; [ A direct result of being driven from the Garden, a place where they were innocent they did not have sexuality. (Moses 3:25; Abr 4: 28) ] yea, even the family of all the earth.
21 And the days of the children of men were prolonged, [ That is to say, the eternal consequences of sin are temporarily postponed giving mankind an opportunity to repent of their sins, a period in which to change their character. In such a way, those who have gained a knowledge of good and evil by experiencing opposites, can become free from the eternal consequences of their choices. We are not judged immediately after we do wrong and zapped to eternal damnation right after committing a sin - so that we can change and grow. ] according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state [ Mortality. ] became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, [ They did not die once they committed a sin. They were given time to change their character. ] according to the commandments which the Lord God [ Hebrew - Yahweh ( or Jehovah which means "to become" or "to exist") translated as Lord; Elohim translated as God ("the Gods") which together the words mean "He will cause Gods to be". ] gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; [ So in essence we are given time after we sin to recognized that we did sin, and then to change, to learn from that and start new so to speak through repentance. If we look at life that way things are just different, sin is different. If we are learning and growing, changing our character more each day to be like Gods then we are fulfilling the purpose of our life, the reason for our creation. ] for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents. [ Adam and Eve brought death into the world. ]
22 And now, behold, if Adam [ In the council in heaven we agreed using our agency to be bound by the consequences of any action of Adam who was to be our first parent – just as we are bound by any actions of any other of our parents – some are born into the church others are not… ] had not transgressed [ Is what they did a transgression or a sin? It was a transgression we are told that plain and simple right here. Knowledge of Good and Evil is necessary for sin to be committed, they have not covenanted with God to be obedient which is the first law of the Gospel. Therefore they cannot sin. All scripture defines their act as a transgression and not a sin. ] 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 [ Who is the "they" here? Adam and Eve. ] were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
23 And they [ That is Adam and Eve. ] would have had no children; [ When God created them he said that he blessed with the ability to multiply, but they also where in a state without sexuality - they were as little children. They had the power inside but did not recognize it, nor were they enticed by that power until after they where driven from the garden. ] wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, [ Or a state like a child that knows no sexuality, has no desire for posterity because they cannot comprehend the meaning of children, and no knowledge of good or bad. ] having no joy, [ Because we could not become like our Father in Heaven vs 25. ] for they [ That is Adam and Eve. ] knew no misery; doing no good, [ Because they could not choose good as they did not know that there was a difference between good and evil. ] for they [ That is Adam and Eve. ] knew no sin. [ This is the very principle that Lehi is presenting here. That in order to sin you must understand the law. Adam and Eve did not have the law, they did not know right from wrong, it might be a strange concept for us to understand but that is what this chapter is all about. We need to have the law, then we need to commit to live the law of obedience before we can sin. (2 Ne. 9:25) Joseph Fielding Smith said: Adam and Eve therefore did the very thing that the Lord intended them to do…The Lord said to Adam that if he wished to remain in the garden, then he was not to eat the fruit, but if he desired to eat it and partake of death he was at liberty to do so. So really it was not in the true sense a transgression of a divine commandment….It was the divine plan from the very beginning that man should be placed on the earth and be subject to mortal conditions and pass through a probationary state as explained in the Book of Mormon.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 4, pp. 79-82 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p.92) Joseph Fielding Smith: When Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, there was no blood in their bodies. Their lives were quickened by spirit; therefore they were in a state where they could have lived forever, and so likewise could every other mortal creature. (2 Nephi 2:2-25.) When Adam fell, the change came upon all other living things and even the earth itself became mortal, and all things including the earth were redeemed from death through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol 3.) ]
24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. [ God had a complete for all of the options. We may not know what they were but he had a plan. In this case Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So it would need to be that a Savior would need to be provided as was the council decided upon in the grand council in heaven. ]
25 Adam [ In the council in heaven we agreed using our agency to be bound by the consequences of any action of Adam who was to be our first parent – just as we are bound by any actions of any other of our parents – some are born into the church others are not… ] fell that men might be; [ This is a paraphrase of the statement made by Enoch whihc is found in the Book Of Moses 6:48. This Book of Enoch that is contained in our Book Of Moses was also then on the plates of Brass. ] and men are, that they might have joy. [ (Moses 5:10-11) D&C 93 - we won’t have a fullness of joy until we’re resurrected so in essence it is to become like him. ]
26 And the Messiah [ The great Mediator of all men. ] cometh in the fulness of time, [ The expression used here has reference to the day of Christ's mortal ministry, usually designated as the meridian of time. Using the same expression as Nephi, Paul wrote, ‘When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons’ (Galatians 4:4-5). Paul also spoke of ‘the dispensation of the fulness of times’ as the day in which we live- the day in which all things are to be restored (see Ephesians 1:10). Those living before Christ's earthly ministry would properly see his coming as a time of fulness or a time of completion not only of the law of Moses but also of thousands of messianic prophecies. In the revelations of the Restoration the phrase is used to identify our dispensation as the fulness of all past dispensations ( see D&C 27:13; D&C 121:31; D&C 124:41; D&C 128:18, 20).” (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1, p. 191)) ] that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. [ Through His grace all mankind will be resurrected. (Alma 34:10) ] And because that [ "because that" How could Joseph Smith have known? Biblical Hebrew begins subordinate clauses with prepositions plus a word that translates as that, such as in Ezekiel 40:1: "after that the city was smitten." Such a use of that in English is awkward and therefore rare. Yet it appears frequently in the Book of Mormon, another evidence of Hebrew influence. It was even more frequent in the 1830 edition, but many of the thats were dropped from later editions to read more smoothly.(The Maxwell Institute - Hebrew Background of the Book Of Mormon; John A. Tvedtnes) ] they are redeemed [ 1) compensate for the faults or bad aspects of (something). 2) gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment. ] from the fall [ Because they(all men) are redeemed from the fall there is no one to blame. ] they have become free forever, [ Because they have the freedom to choose they will not just be acted upon. ] knowing good from evil; [ Acquiring a knowledge of good and evil is vital for God’s children. Without it they could not become as he is. Elder James E. Talmage wrote: “A knowledge of good and evil is essential to the advancement that God has made possible for His children to achieve; and this knowledge can be best gained by actual experience, with the contrasts of good and its opposite plainly discernible.” A Study of the Articles of Faith. 12th ed., rev. (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1978), 54. Mortality is necessary to the acquisition of the knowledge of good and evil. Elder Talmage said: “A knowledge of good and evil is essential to progress, and the school of experience in mortality has been provided for the acquirement of such knowledge.” Vitality of Mormonism (Boston: The Gorham Press, 1919), 46. President George Q. Cannon declared: “It is for this purpose that we are here. God has given unto us this probation for the express purpose of obtaining a knowledge of good and evil--of understanding evil and being able to overcome the evil--and by overcoming it receive the exaltation and glory that He has in store for us.” Journal of Discourses, 26:190-191. ] to act for themselves [ We are free to choose our actions, but not the consequences of those actions. “Standing alone, these verses (verses 22-26) would justify the eternal worth of the Book of Mormon. The most transcendent event in all history was the atoning sacrifice of Christ. The Atonement came in answer to the Fall. Without an understanding of the Fall there can be no meaningful understanding of the Atonement. In turn, to understand the Fall one must understand the nature of the Creation, for it is from the original state in which things were created that they have fallen and to which, through the Atonement, they are in large measure intended to return. These three principles - the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement - are inseparable and have properly been called the three pillars of eternity. Within the covers of the Bible we can read an account of the Creation, of Adam's fall, and of the events that surrounded Christ's atoning sacrifice. Yet it is to the Book of Mormon that we must turn to learn why things were created as they were, why it was essential to the eternal plan for the salvation of man that Adam fall, and why the blood of Christ needed to be shed in an infinite sacrifice. To this end, few verses have ever been penned that are more instructive than those here written by father Lehi. First, he told us that if Adam had not fallen, all created things- that is, Adam, Eve, plants, animals, and even the earth itself- would have remained forever in the paradisiacal state in which they had been created. None would know death, none would know corruption or change of any kind, and none could produce after their own kind. All must have remained forever as they existed at the completion of the creative act.” (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1, p. 199-200 Henry B. Eyring: we are not the helpless victims of our circumstances. The world tries to tell us that the opposite is true: imperfections in our parents or our faulty genetic inheritance are presented to us as absolving us of personal responsibility. But difficult as circumstances may be, they do not relieve us of accountability for our actions or our inactions. Nephi was right. God gives no commandments to the children of men save He prepares a way for them to obey. The world might be willing to excuse our bad behavior because those around us behave badly. It is not true that the behavior of others removes our responsibility for our own. Ensign, Nov 1999, 34) ] and not to be acted upon, [ The freedom that they (Adam and Eve/Us) receive by exercising the faith required to change their characters and choose good will bring forth the power of the atonement which will overcome the law(they will be made clean). ] save it be by the punishment of the law [ That no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God or His kingdom. ] at the great and last day, [ So because they choose good they will not be acted upon (cast out of the presence of God) by the law that no unclean thing can dwell with God. ] according to the commandments which God hath given.
27 Wherefore, men are free [ We have our agency (freedom of choice), and that agency comes because we are provided with the tools as well to deal with that freedom so that we are not just left in a helpless state (Power to choose, the Opportunity to choose, the Laws that help us know what to choose, the Knowledge of what is good and what is evil). Let's look at what happens if we just had agency and not knowledge or direction. Kirk in the wheel chair, burnt his hand because he could not feel pain, his body didn't have any direction as what to do when it got the signals that it was experiencing pain. ] according to the flesh; [ The conditions and laws that govern in mortality] and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. [ We are granted sufficient knowledge of the mysteries of heaven to save ourselves, yet not enough to negate mortality as a time and place of trial and testing. It is not expedient that we have answers to all things or that we be able to see the end from the beginning. DCBM, 1:102 ] And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, [ And how do we get eternal life and liberty? through obedience to the saviors plan of happiness, repent and make the atonement real in our life! ] through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, [ Notice they are complete opposites captivity vs liberty, eternal death vs eternal life. ] according to the captivity and power of the devil; [ Those who demand the freedom to satisfy the desires, appetites, and passions of the body will in time lose their freedom of choice and be acted upon, becoming enslaved to the demands of the body. ] [ All men have sinned and so the release from sin can come only through the atonement brought about by our repentance. Without it we would have all become sons of perdition 2 Ne 9:9. ] for he seeketh that all men might be miserable [ The plan of misery vs the plan of happiness you choose. How easy is that to forget during the every day pressures of life? ] like unto himself. [ Brigham Young said: “You are aware that many think that the Devil has rule and power over both body and spirit. Now, I want to tell you that he does not hold any power over man, only so far as the body overcomes the spirit that is in a man, through yielding to the spirit of evil. The spirit that the Lord puts into a tabernacle of flesh, is under the dictation of the Lord Almighty; but the spirit and body are united in order that the spirit may have a tabernacle, and be exalted; and the spirit is influenced by the body, and the body by the spirit. In the first place the spirit is pure, and under the special control and influence of the Lord, but the body is of the earth, and is subject to the power of the Devil, and is under the mighty influence of that fallen nature that is of the earth. If the spirit yields to the body, the Devil then has power to overcome the body and spirit of that man, and he loses both. Recollect, brethren and sisters, every one of you, that when evil is suggested to you, when it arises in your hearts, it is through the temporal organization. When you are tempted, buffeted, and step out of the way inadvertently; when you are overtaken in a fault, or commit an overt act unthinkingly; when you are full of evil passion, and wish to yield to it, then stop and let the spirit, which God has put into your tabernacles, take the lead. If you do that, I will promise that you will overcome all evil, and obtain eternal lives. But many, very many, let the spirit yield to the body, and are overcome and destroyed.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 69-70 as taken from the Book of Mormon Student Manual, 1981 ed., p. 73-4)) ]
28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, [ An advocate is one who defends or pleads for or in behalf of another. A mediator is one who reconciles or brings about agreement between parties. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, p. 26. ] and hearken [ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearken which means to "listen" and "obey". ] unto his great commandments; [ His recipes for success, the way that he would do things, how he teaches us about hi character. ] and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, [ Life in his presence requires that you are clean. ] according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh [ Those desires, appetites and passions and pride. ] and the evil which is therein, [ In your body, in the flesh. There are two ways that Satan gains power over humanity (2 Ne. 2:29 this is the flesh; 1 Ne. 13:29 truths are taken away and not available for the mind; Alma 12:11 )] , which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, [ He takes over your body, then your mind and then your character. ] to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom. [ Elder Orson Pratt discussed why: “By one man came death–the death of the body. What becomes of the spirit when the body dies? Will it be perfectly happy? Would old father Adam’s spirit have gone back into the presence of God, and dwelt there eternally, enjoying all the felicities and glories of heaven, after his body had died? No; for the penalty of that transgression was not limited to the body alone.” He then explained: “When he sinned, it was with both the body and the spirit that he sinned: it was not only the body that did eat of the fruit, but the spirit gave the will to eat; the spirit sinned therefore as well as the body; they were agreed in partaking of that fruit. Was not the spirit to suffer then as well as the body? Yes. How long? To all ages of eternity, without any end; while the body was to return back to its mother earth, and there slumber to all eternity.” He then taught that without the atonement of Christ, the effect of the fall would have brought “an eternal dissolution of the body and spirit--the one to lie mingling with its mother earth, to all ages of eternity, and the other to be subject, throughout all future duration, to the power that deceived him, and led them astray; to be completely miserable.” Journal of Discourses, 1:284) ]
30 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, [ He has all of his children present, he is teaching them all, all together in the tent or around the campfire. ] in the last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet. [ See Job 34:4 The things that are most sacred. ] And I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls. [ Why the everlasting welfare of their souls? Because he understand what he has been trying to teach them all along - That those with a knowledge of the gospel, probation ends at death. For those who have not had the opportunity to hear the gospel in mortality, the days of probation continue into the world of spirits. DCBM, 1:202. ] Amen.