And the angel said unto me again, Look and behold the condescension of God. And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the Heavens open, and the holy ghost came down out of Heaven and abode upon him in the form of a dove. And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people in power and great glory, and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them. And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it came to pass that they were carried away in the spirit from before my face, that I saw them not.
The Stick of Joseph in the Hand of Ephraim 1 Nefi 3 par. 11
And the angel said unto me again, Look and behold the condescension of Elohim. And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of Elohim went forth and was immersed of him; and after he was washed by immersion, I beheld the Heavens open, and the Ruach HaKodesh came down out of Heaven and abode upon him in the form of a dove. And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people in power and great glory, and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them. And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it came to pass that they were carried away in the spirit from before my face,
that I saw them not.
As we look at what Nephi is seeing here, can we see in his account a reflection of what his father Lehi was shown?
If we move forward to another prophet in the Book of Mormon could we also say that he saw the very same thing?
And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men and shall redeem his people. And because he dwelleth in flesh, he shall be called the Son of God; and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son — the Father because he was conceived by the power of God, and the Son because of the flesh, thus becoming the Father and Son (and they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of Heaven and of earth), and thus the flesh becoming subject to the spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God — suffereth temptation and yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people. (Mosiah 15:6 - 9, NC Mosiah 8 par. 6)
Can we look at what Abinadi taught and correctly conclude that Abinadi also saw what Lehi and Nephi saw?
Are there any others?
Here is Abinadi quoting Isaiah.
Yea, even doth not Isaiah say, Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men — a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from him. He was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (Mosiah 14:4 - 10, NC Mosiah 8 par. 3)
Could we reasonably assume from the above that Isaiah saw the very same things as Lehi, Nephi, and Abinadi?
Is it possible to see a pattern emerging in the scriptures concerning what God shows to anyone and everyone who approaches Him in faith with real intent?
Is it possible even for a wicked and idolatrous person, upon the condition of repentance, to see the very same thing?
And it came to pass that she watched over the bed of her husband (Lamoni) from that time, even until that time on the morrow which Ammon had appointed that he should rise. And it came to pass that he arose according to the words of Ammon; and as he arose, he stretched forth his hand unto the woman, and said, Blessed be the name of God, and blessed art thou; for as sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name. Now when he had said these words, his heart was swollen within him and he sunk again with joy; and the queen also sunk down, being overpowered by the spirit... (Alma 19:11 - 15, NC Alma 12 par. 20)
Why would these things be shown to people exercising real faith?
Is there something to be learned by seeing these things?
I have wondered why it would be necessary for everyone who exercises faith in Christ to view these things.
Is it possible that being shown these things is related to the following events recorded by St. John, now available in the newly revealed Testimony of St. John found in the Teachings and Commandments?
Now, therefore, know that Jesus is the Messiah, the Walker in the Path who has proven for evermore that Father Ahman sent Him into the world to prove His Father’s path. (Teachings and Commandments, Section 171, The Testimony of St. John 12 par. 21)
Those who were with the Lord during His mortality saw Him prove His Father's path.
This is what the Lord said to those who had accompanied Him.
Do not allow your heart to be troubled. You are devoted to God and are also devoted to me. In the journey through my Father’s realms are many stages with temporary abodes. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare an abode for your upward journey. And when I arise, I will prepare places for you, but I will be your companion again and visit each of you, so that where I travel, you may journey to also. And the path I follow upward you know, and the way of ascent you also know. Thomas said to him, Lord, we don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way? You have not told us. Jesus said to him, I am the way, the record of the truth, and the means for Eternal lives, worlds without end: no man comes to the Throne of the Father without me. If you follow me, you will come to the Father’s Throne through me and will thereafter be like him forever. (Teachings and Commandments, Section 171, The Testimony of St. John 10 par. 9)
Is it possible that the reason the Lord was able to say to them that they knew the path He followed upward and the way of ascent is because they had seen Him, been eyewitnesses of Him, walking that path in mortality?
Is it possible to fully know the path that Christ walks in order to ascend if you have not been an eyewitness to Him walking that path?
My present understanding is that if we want to follow the path to ascend we must come to receive for ourselves our own eyewitness account of our Lord walking that path.
Why else would Nephi declare, And the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. For he that diligently seeketh shall find, and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded to them by the power of the holy ghost, as well in this time as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round. (1 Nephi 10:17 - 22, NC 1 Nephi 3:5)?
If my understanding is correct, could we look at commonalities in all of the accounts and begin to come to some understanding of what is entailed in order to walk the path?
I see one commonality that all of the accounts mention that He, God, will walk the "path" in the flesh or in other words in mortality.
Is that a requirement in order to become as Christ is, a saved being?
Is part of the condescension of God, any God, that they must come down from their throne above and pass through mortality without committing sin?
Another commonality that emerges is that the path Christ walked required Him to allow those around Him to scourge Him, to cast Him out, to mock Him, etc.
It would seem that Isaiah saw that Christ would possess nothing that would attract those of the world; no standing or political or religious authority, no wealth, etc.
Is it possible to contrast Christ walking this path with who Christ was and is from before the foundation of the earth to see His condescension then and now?
What did King Benjamin have to say concerning Christ's power over us?
What things are provided to us from day to day by Christ's power?
And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God. Behold, ye have called me your king. And if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then had not ye ought to labor to serve one another? And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service and yet has been in the service of God, doth merit any thanks from you, oh how had you ought to thank your Heavenly King! I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole souls have power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another — I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and art preserving you from day to day by lending you breath that ye may live, and move, and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another — I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole soul, yet ye would be unprofitable servants. And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments. And he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments, ye should prosper in the land. And he never doth vary from that which he hath said. Therefore, if ye do keep his commandments, he doth bless you and prosper you. Mosiah 2:17 - 22, NC Mosiah 1 par. 8)
When Christ came among men, in the flesh, who was He already?
Shouldn't this cause us to pause and consider the greatness and goodness of God?
Think about what it means to be given the power of God. Think about what it means for God to be able to do all things, including sustaining you from moment to moment by lending you breath. With that great power, God says to us, “You are free to choose to do whatever it is that you choose.” Think of the patience of our God. Think of the meekness of our God. (Denver Snuffer Podcast, 102; Love, Part 3, transcript, January 12, 2020)
When Nephi and the other eyewitnesses to the Lord's mortal life see the Lord walking the path aren't they learning from the actual experiences of the Lord Himself how a real God acts and what attributes a real God possesses?
Is it any wonder the Lord declared the following?
And behold, it is written also that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; but behold, I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father who is in Heaven, for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good. Therefore, those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled. Old things are done away and all things have become new. Therefore, I would that ye should be perfect, even as I or your Father who is in Heaven is perfect. (3 Nephi 12:43 - 48, NC 3 Nephi 5 par. 31)
Did the Lord bless those who cursed Him?
Did the Lord pray for those who despitefully used Him and persecuted Him?
Did the Lord return good to those who did evil to Him?
By seeing the God's condescension for themselves, aren't all eyewitnesses seeing what they must do (how they must live) in order to follow the path to ascend?
Christ declared,
...But Jesus called them and said, You know that the princes of the gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. And whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant, even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life, a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:24 - 28, NC Matthew 10 par. 3)
As an aside:
Is it recorded that the Savior had a grand lavish birthday party thrown for Him every year or that He traveled first class to speak to multitudes, and stayed in the finest rooms in the inns or owned a grand luxuriou home in Galilee and a vacation home in Judea?
Did the Lord have worldy acclaim and a large group of followers who were expected to stand when He entered a room and stand when He left?
Did the Lord have a security detail and chauffeurs in luxurious chariots to take Him to His destinations in Jerusalem and Nazareth and Capernaum?
Did the Lord ever teach His followers that they had to commit to donating money to Him in order to receive saving ordinances from Him like baptism and other sacred ordinances of salvation?
Did the Lord meet with people in a great big grand office and did He use lots of money to build synagogues?
Did He meet regularly with Pilate and Herod and the heads of the Sanhedrin or employ political lobbyists?
Did the Lord have a multi-billion talent bank account?
Did the Lord receive a grand living stipend, funded by the donations of followers, that was much more than the average income of His followers who had to work for their livings?
Did the Lord ever preach to the people that if they had to choose between buying food for their children or donating money to Him that they should choose to donate to Him?
If someone claims to speak for Him or to be a servant of Him, wouldn't they live like He lived?
Back to the post:
God can only exalt the meek, because only the meek can be trusted. This is what it means to
sanctify yourself. Our idea of purity and Christ's idea are entirely based on different
criteria. Why is meekness required of a God, by a God? What would happen if God Himself
were not patient, willing to suffer abuse, and be rejected? What would happen if God were
egotistical? What would happen if God did not return blessings for cursings? What would
happen if God were not exactly what He preached in the Sermon on the Mount? What if God
did not bless those who despitefully used and abused Him? What would happen if God did
not submit Himself to fall into the hands of wicked men, to be despised and rejected? And
then to be killed in shame: hanging naked on a cross in full view of the world, while people
spit upon Him, and while they mocked Him, and they ridiculed Him, saying, "If you really
are what you say you are, come down from the cross, then we will believe."(Denver Snuffer Podcast, 83; Fasting, transcript, August 25, 2019)
Are we receiving a benefit by being allowed to read part of Nephi's and Lehi's and Isaiah's and etc. eyewitness accounts?
Does the condescension of God directly relate to meekness and lowliness of heart?
I agree with the following definition of "Meekness" found in the glossary of terms in Teachings and Commandments.
A difficult attribute to recognize, it is found in the relationship between man and God, not between man and man; to be meek is to follow the Lord’s will, even when one doesn’t want to do so, even when it brings one into conflict with friends, family, or community. Meekness is measured as between the servant and the Lord, not as between the servant and his critics. Meekness, among other things, involves a conscious effort to avoid harming or offending others. It requires an absence of pride or self-will. It is not insistent upon being recognized or applauded. It denotes a willingness to suffer without complaint. Others may never recognize the meek, because meekness does not vaunt itself nor demand notice. There is great freedom in meekness. It relieves the meek from the burden of seeking their acclaim. It gives them the security of feeling God’s approval for their course of living. It is private. Meekness means a person voluntarily restrains himself and uses the absolute minimum control or authority over others. It is related to humility. Humility is voluntary submission to the control or power of God — in other words, obedience. Meekness affects a person’s relationship with his fellow man. There is nothing showy or attention-grabbing about the meek. Instead, they are content to know they have a relationship and power with God. Unless God requires something to be done or revealed, the meek do not voluntarily put this authority on display.
Do we witness in the life of the mortal Lord the above qualities?
Did the Lord suffer the will of the Father in all things?
The prophet Joseph said the following.
to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before
you,b namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pgs. 346 - 347)
Is it necessary for anyone who would follow the path to ascend, to view how the Lord completed the path so that they likewise will eventually be able to complete the same path?
Would this allow individuals to be able to declare that they are doing the things that they have seen their Father do?
Isn't that what Christ declared; that He was doing what He had seen His Father do?
Is this part of learning how to be Gods ourselves?
Are meekness and lowliness of heart indispensable characteristics to anyone who is a God?
Is a willingness to sacrifice going to be necessary for anyone to condescend, like Christ, and be able to complete the path He trod?
How important is it that we study and consider what Nephi is seeing here in vision?
How important is it that we come to see it for ourselves?
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