And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?
1 Nephi 11:16-17
And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children;
The first attribute of God is love for His children. That is the thing which animates everything else. He makes and enforces law because of His love for His children. He designed a plan for our progression because of His love. No matter how imperfect we are, if our primary motivation is love for Him and His children we can’t go too far astray. If we find ourselves going far afield we should examine what motivation is supplanting love for God and our fellow men.
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 come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove.1 Nephi 11:26-28
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.
Elements of His condescension: receiving an infant mortal body, receiving baptism while spotless, teaching the people, and being rejected. Being rejected is a important part of His condescension because it demonstrates how freely He offered. He didn’t come only to reach those who would listen.
And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.
And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.1 Nephi 11:31-33
And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.
Christ offered goodness and healing to all even knowing that the reward from mankind would be rejection, betrayal and death.
Because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood.
And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God. And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him.
1 Nephi 12:10-11
All who have faith in Christ will have their garments made white in the end.
It occurs to me that the abominable church established in the nations of the gentiles need not refer only to the Catholic church or any recognized religious organization. Look at the entertainment industry, or politics, or secularism and see them worshipping wealth and the finery of the world. Watch as they slay the righteous. They match the description of the abominable church every bit as much as evil people in the Catholic church especially in the middle ages.
I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb.
1 Nephi 13:34
The Atonement is evident by the fact that the Lord made provision to restore the plain and precious truths after they had been taken away by the hand of wickedness.
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