This is one of the greatest chapters in all of holy writ, and there is no way to do it justice in one blog post. But as I studied this chapter this morning, I was reminded of the blessings of opposition in our lives. If we have experienced misery, sin, pain, affliction, or any other mortal problem, so much great then will be our capacity to experience joy, forgiveness, healing, and redemption, because of the Savior Jesus Christ.
Lehi taught Jacob these things, and he was well aware of the tribulations that Jacob had passed through in his youth because of the rudeness of his brethren. No wonder then that Jacob was perhaps more sensitive to how women and children were being treated, and to the pride of his people in seeking after riches and the vain things of the world.
Jacob saw the glory of the Lord in his youth. He beheld that glory. He beheld the things of the Lord, and was like his brother Nephi, and his father Lehi, and Isaiah, as an eye witness of the Lord. Lehi blessed him to understand the purpose of his afflictions and that the Lord had consecrated them to his eternal welfare. Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy. Joy and happiness are the design of our existence...
“Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255–56).
"Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, 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." (2 Ne. 2:8)
“After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 113).
"And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit." (1 Ne. 8:10-12)
"And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?
And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.
And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul." (1 Ne. 11:16-23)
"And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, havemercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
Yea, 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 36:17-21)
"And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" (Alma 5:26)
"Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things, and that say unto Zion: Behold, thy God reigneth! As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them!" (D&C 128:19)
Lehi taught Jacob these things, and he was well aware of the tribulations that Jacob had passed through in his youth because of the rudeness of his brethren. No wonder then that Jacob was perhaps more sensitive to how women and children were being treated, and to the pride of his people in seeking after riches and the vain things of the world.
Jacob saw the glory of the Lord in his youth. He beheld that glory. He beheld the things of the Lord, and was like his brother Nephi, and his father Lehi, and Isaiah, as an eye witness of the Lord. Lehi blessed him to understand the purpose of his afflictions and that the Lord had consecrated them to his eternal welfare. Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy. Joy and happiness are the design of our existence...
“Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255–56).
Jacob was virtuous, upright, faithful, holy, and obedient to the commandments of the Lord. Therefore he chose liberty and eternal life by hearkening unto the Lord and unto his great commandments.
This chapter teaches plainly and clearly the most important truths concerning Heavenly Father's plan of salvation:
When I ponder the things that are most important to the Lord, it is clear that one of the greatest, if not the greatest duty is to preach the Gospel, particularly by example.
Lehi had none other object than the everlasting welfare of the souls of his children. His greatest object was to bring souls unto Christ. He had this testimony and this desire from his youth, to be sure, but his vision of the tree of life, and his conversion caused him to share these truths all of his life, and to be a tender parent, full of the love of God.
I noticed in this chapter that the forbidden fruit was placed in opposition to the tree of life, the one being sweet, and the other bitter. We can recall the sweetness of the fruit of the tree of life in Lehi's dream or vision:
And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit." (1 Ne. 8:10-12)
Nephi also learned that this fruit of the tree of life, the love of God, was the most desirable above all things. Nephi's conversation with the angel of the Lord reveals much more about the plan of salvation, and the role of the Savior:
And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.
And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul." (1 Ne. 11:16-23)
What is this love of God? It is charity, the pure love of Christ.
It is what Enos felt upon receiving forgiveness of his sins. It is what Alma, and Alma the Younger felt. Alma the younger described his joy in the following terms:
Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, havemercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
Yea, 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 36:17-21)
Here is the question:
This is the Gospel: Joy.
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