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I am going to stop saying which week it is because inevitably, like this time, I may not post in a timely manner. But I do want to keep track of my thoughts as I go. I am still pondering the lesson from two weeks ago. We had a substitute Sunday School teacher. I REALLY enjoy all of the teachers we have. They each bring their own strengths, but this week we had Brother Tilley who is our most local seminary teacher stepping in. I love his energy and vibrance! What a great lesson.
While chapter one deals with some of the promises of the land of liberty (or the Land of Promise, which we believe is America), it's chapter 2 that really caught my pondering this time through. I believe lds theology is unique in regard to Adam and Eve. The 2nd chapter of @ Nephi is where we first get a glimpse of the differences between our faith and the rest of Christianity. If I'm not mistaken, most of Christianity sees the Garden as a great tragedy. We see it as a great necessity and are grateful for the contributions of our First Parents. Had they not transgressed the law, contrary to popular thought, we would not all be living in a state of bliss and love and peace. Because, WE wouldn't be there. Adam and Eve would be there in that state, and we'd all still be cheering on the other side for them to do what was necessary to bring about the Plan of Salvation. You can read about that here.
One of the most oft quoted verses from the Book of Mormon, comes from this chapter.
I love that! But that's not my favorite verse actually. There are two that caught my attention. One from my own reading, and one from Brother Tilley's insight. Shout out to Josh.Adam fell that men might be, and men are, that they might have joy!
In verse 16, we read:
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.That really stood out. "COULD NOT ACT FOR HIMSELF," save he was enticed by one or the other. So, in the Garden, we had two enticements; the tree of Life, and the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Of course, there was also the third wheel in the Garden doing the evil enticing. We literally have to have good or evil to entice us, to be able to act. It's how we prove whether we will do all things the Lord commands us. You can be enticed by the evil one or by the Holy One.
Brother Tilley turned our attention to this verse:
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—He brought our attention to the word AFFIXED. He said he hadn't noticed it before and I'm not sure I had either. The point was, that happiness and punishment are affixed. So, if we want happiness or joy that we are meant to have, there is a sure way to it. It's affixed. And happiness and punishment are in opposition to one another. The law, and the keeping of it, is what brings us happiness. What a simple formula and solution. If you are unhappy (not talking about depression), do a thorough review of your life. Figure out what laws (commandments) you could keep better, and do it. That's pretty awesome. In my world, when I go to our sacrament meeting and partake of the sacrament, I can repent of the ones I'm not doing so well and try again.
The sacrament has become so joyful to me for that purpose. I can never return without the atonement of Jesus Christ. I would have never had the opportunity for a joyful life without the Fall. Life is grand, and so in the plan!
