Book of MormonPodcast 033 – 2 Nephi 9:1-19 (56m 27s)https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/mstroud/episodes/2019-03-21T09_32_04-07_00Jacob explains that the Jews will be gathered in all their lands of promise—The Atonement ransoms man from the Fall—The bodies of the dead will come forth from the grave, and their spirits from hell and from paradise—They will be judged—The Atonement saves from death, hell, the devil, and endless torment—The righteous are to be saved in the kingdom of God—Penalties for sins are set forth—The Holy One of Israel is the keeper of the gate. About 559–545 B.C.

2 Nephi 9. Remember, we mentioned earlier that the chapter immediately preceding and immediately following the Isaiah recitations from the plates of brass act as a preface in the beginning and an inspired commentary at the end of Jacobs use of the Isaiah Scriptures. Be on the lookout now in chapter 9 for the commentary on the previous Isaiah references. Chapter 9 ranks in the Book of Mormon as one of the great doctrinal chapters of the whole book. If you look at the chapter heading for the 9th chapter, you will see such things as: Atonement ransoms man from the Fall—The bodies of the dead will come forth from the grave, and their spirits from hell and from paradise—They will be judged—The Atonement saves from death, hell, the devil, and endless torment—The righteous are to be saved in the kingdom of God. I believe that if we had nothing more than the 9th chapter in the Book of Mormon there is enough doctrine there to bring us to the Lord Jesus Christ in mighty prayer, open the heavens, and have been revealed to us what’s necessary to be redeemed from the fall and brought back into the presence of God. I pray that the Lord will bless us as we read the 9th chapter with the Holy Spirit, that the Holy Ghost will be our companion, and that we can have the ministering of angels to help us understand, at a deeper level than we ever have been before, the 9th chapter -- Jacobs closing remarks on his great discourse. One of the unique things about the 9th chapter is what I call the “O” statements used by Jacob. Verse 8; O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace!... Verse 10; O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; … Verse 13, O how great the plan of our God! ... Verse 17, O the greatness and the justice of our God! ... Verse 19, O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! ... And verse 20, O how great the holiness of our God! ... As we read these “O” statements from Jacob in the 9th chapter we need to ask ourselves: what is it that he understands and feels and knows about Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice that prompts him to make such praising statements concerning the Lord? This is a good way for us to begin our study of this chapter. Verse 1.

[1] And now, my beloved brethren, I have read these (That’s the Isaiah prophecies from the plates of brass) things that ye might know concerning the covenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house of Israel—

Isn’t it interesting that the thing that Jacob mentions in the beginning of his 9th chapter remarks has to do with the covenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house of Israel. Refer back to the title page of the Book of Mormon 2nd paragraph which lists 3 purposes of the Book of Mormon being translated and brought forth in our day.

Book of Mormon – Title PageWhich is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; (and then the first thing he lists is) and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, (number 2) that they are not cast off forever—And also to (and number 3) the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, …

Even in the title page of the Book of Mormon the first thing listed concerning the purpose of this book is that they may know the covenants of the Lord. In the next in the last verse, verse 53 of the 9th chapter, Jacob says this,

2 Nephi 9:[53] And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, and how great his condescensions unto the children of men;…

So, it’s almost like the whole 9th chapter begins and ends with the doctrine of covenant making and keeping between God and his children. Covenant making is the process that our heavenly Father uses between Himself and his children to be able to endow his children with power from on high. It’s not by chance that the endowment ceremony in our temples is centered around making covenants with the Lord and being taught how to keep those covenants in order to obtain the blessings, privileges, powers, and rights associated with them. I don’t know of another people on the face of the earth, save the Jews only, who have any idea concerning the power of covenant making and keeping between God and his children. The whole idea of making and keeping covenants has been lost in today’s world. As we mentioned earlier, the idea of the house of Israel being composed of 12 tribes has been all but lost to the knowledge of the people in today’s world. Isn’t it interesting that along with the loss of the knowledge of the house of Israel, God’s covenant people being lost; has also the knowledge of covenants been dimmed and lost over time. What is it about covenant making and keeping that is so critically important to God and His relationship with His children? Go back with me to 1 Nephi 13, let’s look at verse 26, where it talks about the alteration of the Bible as it passes through the hands of the great and abominable church. Verse 26.

1 Nephi 13:26

[26] And after they (meaning the words of the Bible) go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; (and this part right here) and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.

Why is it that the removal of covenants from the gospel of Jesus Christ and the written words to come forth through his prophets and spokesmen that is so important that the dark side has it as a main strategy to remove these so that they cannot be accessed by God’s children? We probably need to contemplate and ponder more on the covenants of the Lord. If we understood them better, perhaps, we like Jacob, would exclaim, O the wisdom of God, His mercy and grace! O how great the goodness of our God! Verse 2.

2 Nephi 9:[2] That he has spoken unto the Jews, by the mouth of his holy prophets, even from the beginning down, from generation to generation, until the time comes that they shall be restored to the true church and fold of God;…

The time has not yet come that they shall be restored to the true church and fold of God, but it is in process of happening now. With all of the talk of the building of the 3rd Temple in Jerusalem and of the latest archaeological findings that the temple does not need to be built upon Temple Mount; that the Haram Sharif does not need to come down in order for the 3rd Temple to be placed where it now stands; and that that Temple according to some of the latest evidence being found in talked about in Jerusalem can be built off of Temple Mount down near the city of David where it is thought that the original Temple stood. Fascinating evidence and discussion, now taking place in Jerusalem, concerning the site of the 3rd Temple to be built. All of this pointing to the statement Jacob makes in verse 2 that the time will come when they shall be restored to the true church and fold of God going. Going on in verse 2.

[2] … when they shall be gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise.

As in all things, this gathering mentioned in verse 2, is both physical and spiritual. Remember also, that being gathered home to the lands of inheritance and be established in their lands of promise represent the rights and privileges of the chosen, called, and unelected people. When President Nelson talks about the gathering of Israel on both sides of the veil, and the Book of Mormon being used as the instrument that gathering, he holds the keys, also to the gathering of

Judah to their ancient homelands, the building of their temple, all the spiritual and physical preparations necessary for this to happen with the children of Judah. Verse 3.

[3] Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children.

This lifting up of their heads forever, also, refers back to the 2nd promised in the title page of the Book of Mormon. Remember the first is: that they may know the covenants of the Lord; and the 2nd one, and that they are not cast off forever. Being able to lift up your heads indicates a hope of not being cast off forever; that their scattering an estrangement from their Holy One of Israel was temporary and necessary in order for them to be gathered finally to the lands of their inheritance, to the temples that will be built in those lands of inheritance, and enter into those temples. Remember, the prophet Joseph Smith said in The Words of Joseph Smith, by Ehat and Cook, on page 215,

That the purpose of the gathering in any age is to bestow the fullness of the priesthood upon God’s children. That fullness of the priesthood makes a man and a woman, husband-and-wife, a king and a queen, a priest and priestess. That is the purpose of the gathering of Israel in any age. Every endowment session in every temple throughout the world, at any given time on any day, points God’s children towards the reception of this ordinance which bestows the fullness of the Melchizedek priesthood.

Verse 4

[4] For I know that ye have searched much, many of you, to know of things to come; wherefore I know that ye know that our flesh must waste away and die; nevertheless, in our bodies we shall see God.

This is Jacob making reference to the book of Job found in plates of brass; Job 19:25-26.

Job 19:25-26[25] For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

This verse right here ties in directly with verse 4 in Jacob’s discourse.

[26] And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

2 Nephi 9:[5] Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; The “it” spoken of in this verse, where it says, for it is expedient that it should be among them, this it spoken of in this word is the great atoning sacrifice that would be performed at Jerusalem by the creator himself. Go with me over to 2 Nephi 24, in verse 9, we have reference again to the atonement and it being able to deliver up the dead from their spiritual captivity, and it says this:

2 Nephi 24:9[9] Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; (here we go) it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; (once more) it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

This it spoken of in verse 9 again is the great atoning sacrifice that has agitated hell and causes the dead and the chief ones of the earth who are in the spirit world to be raised up from their thrones and to meet the Lord at his coming. Back to verse 5.

2 Nephi 9:[5] Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh,…

The word behoove means that is absolutely necessary for Christ to suffer in the flesh.

[5] … and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.

Here is one of the great contradictions of eternity is that the only absolute innocent person be required to suffer and die for the sins and misdeeds of God’s children. Why is it necessary in order for all men to become subject unto God that God first of all must become subject to men? Again, the great mysteries of godliness are found in paradox and contradiction. Perhaps the answer to this is found in Alma 7:12. This is a verse that we’ve read before but I want to pay attention to a particular part of it.

Alma 7:12[12] And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, (right here) that his bowels may be filled with

mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Notice back in verse 5 of chapter 9 where it says, he suffered himself to become subject. This shows a willingness for Him to condescend down to a place in order to know how to sucker His people in their infirmities. How can he become the great judge of the living and the dead if he doesn’t have an intimate knowledge and feeling for all of the infirmities, sicknesses, sins, transgressions, weaknesses, of His Father’s children? Surely this suffering Himself to become subject to men in the flesh, at least in part, places Him in a position where His bowels may be filled with mercy according to the flesh, and that He may know how to sucker His people according to their infirmities. Verse 6.

2 Nephi 9:[6] For as death hath passed upon all men, (that’s through the fall of Adam and Eve, both physical and spiritual death) to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator,…

Again, in your searching the Scriptures, you may ask yourself the question; why is it that physical and spiritual death play merciful part in the plan of our father and his son. How does mercy play a role in that all men and women die physically and spiritually through the fall?Jacobs going to give us a key to this question as he continues;

[6] … there must needs be a power of resurrection, (notice that he does not say of the resurrection… a power of resurrection) and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.

Jacob understands the futility of the great creation of all things if there wasn’t a fall that moves things from the state of unity and oneness into an estate of division and confusion. Remember, that the fall of man, not only introduces physical and spiritual death into the family of our father, but also divides and brings everything into a state of confusion and chaos; where once unity and order reigns supreme. Jacob also understands the everlasting state of captivity and imprisonment that the children of Adam and Eve would find themselves in the telestial world if there weren’t a way to escape from this captivity, reverse the effects of the fall, through and atonement. Remember, the very word atonement means to bring things that are divided, in chaos and confusion, into a state of unity oneness and order. Do you see that sequence in verse 6 that Jacob quotes? Resurrection comes by reason of the fall, that (a); the fall came by reason of transgression (b); and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord, (c) - ABCs of the fall. Verse 7.

[7] Wherefore, it …

Now that it in verse 7 refers back up to the same it in verse 5; you may want to connect those things, because here the Lord reveals to us what it is.

[7] Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement— …

I find the 1828 Webster’s dictionary definition of infinite very interesting. It says it’s; without limits; unbounded; that there will have no end; and this one right here is very interesting, that has a beginning in space but is infinitely extended as a line beginning at a point but extended indefinitely as an infinite line; also indefinitely large; immense; of great size or extent. This act of love, completed by the Lord Jesus Christ, makes everything that is corruptible in the telestial world incorruptible in the world to come. Back to verse 7.

[7] … save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. …

To make something corruptible is to change something that is good to bad. It is to break down, to separate, and dissolve. Everything in the telestial world is corruptible. It can be laid to waste, spoil, or be consumed. All can be defiled or polluted. And where God dwells, corruption cannot exist. There is a law operating in the telestial world that is called the 2nd law of thermodynamics. The term associated with this law is entropy. This law states simply that there is a natural tendency of any isolated system to degenerate into a more disordered state. It is because of this law that the Boy Scouts of America have a merit badge called Home Repairs. You can see that anything that is not maintained by energy, to keep it in a state of order, by nature degenerates into confusion, chaos, and disorder. That is the state of corruption that is operative in the fallen telestial world. It is also that same state that causes physical death to come upon all of God’s children. The natural state of this is stated: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Back to verse 7.

[7] … Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. …

What is the first judgment? First spiritual death and then a part that first judgment followed in time by the physical death of man. See that Adam is driven out of this beautiful garden where he may learn from his own experience to distinguish good from evil, represents the spiritual death, the banishment, of our first parents from God’s presence; followed by in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die; that day turning out to be almost 1000 years where Adam’s

physical body is returned back to the earth from whence it came. If this first judgment had remained to an endless duration, as Jacob is talking about in verse 7,

[7] … And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more.

So, what is the consequence of the fall of Adam and Eve and their posterity in this world? To be forever banished from the presence of their Father and Mother in heaven, and the Lord Jesus Christ; there physical bodies to return to the earth to rise no more; and as Jacob is about to teach us, our spirits to go to a place where they would be bound and contained with no way to escape. Now, our brothers and sisters, who have the Bible, but not the advantage of additional scripture and prophetic utterance, look upon this as best they can understand as a great tragedy. They refer to Adam and Eve partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil as man’s shameful fall. And, comment how much better it would have been if they had not broken God’s laws where all of us would have remained in the state of bliss and happiness for evermore, not having to experience the trials sorrow and vicissitudes of this fallen world. What they, and some of us, do not realize is that this is exactly the way of godliness provided by our Father and Mother in heaven through the mercy and grace and atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ for us to enter into this state of corruption and dissolution; in order to be raised to something profoundly more beautiful and significantly more powerful. It is the way of godliness. The way of godliness, spoken of in the Scriptures, and defined by our brothers and sisters in the Christian world as living a religious life, is much more than that. The way of godliness is the way for the children of God to become as He is. The way of godliness is how to become of God. Verse 8.

[8] O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace!...

You can see that in the first 7 verses Jacob has laid out for us that part of the plan called the fall of man, the purposes and consequences of our ancient father and mother partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Verse 8.

[8] … For behold, if the flesh should rise no more (in other words, if there were not a power of resurrection, referred back to in verse 6) our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more.

Now, why is it, that if our spirits would go into the spirit world with no hope of ever coming out of that place… Verse 9.

[9] And our spirits must have become like unto him (the devil), and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; …

Ask yourself the question: why we would become devils if there was no way for our spirits to be brought out of the spirit world after our physical death? At least one of the reasons is through pure exposure. I believe it was President Kimball that said, and perhaps some of you can find this quote and send it to me, but I remember him saying, that you take the best Latter-day Saint boy, and the best Latter-day Saint girl, and you put them in the wrong place long enough and they will fall. Back to the middle of verse 9.

… the best boys and the best girls will finally succumb and will fall. (Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 231)

[9] … and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness.

Now, there’s some interesting strategies and tactics by the devil mentioned in verse 9. First of all, we learn that his purpose is to make all men as miserable as he himself is. We’ve seen that over in 2 Nephi 2:27 where it says,

2 Nephi 2:27 [27] Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; (and here we go) for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

There is truth to the old adage; misery loves company. The word beguile in the 1828 dictionary says: to elude by craft; to deceive; to impose on by artifice or craft. To be beguiled requires a plan. The plans of the devil and his followers are referred to as crafts. The word craft is used in the Scripture is always used to refer to the dark side of things. Notice at the bottom of verse 9, he stirs up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder, and all manner of secret works of darkness. These are the crafts of the devil. It’s truly secret works of darkness and secret combinations that he beguiles the children of men deceives them by craft, in an organized precise plan. There is no spontaneity to beguilement. It is planned and carried out by the dark ones with precision. Notice also, in verse 9, that the devil and those that follow him have the power to

transform themselves. They can appear in any way that is best designed to incite fear and deception in the father’s children. These dark ones are, in reality, likened us sons and daughters of divine beings, but because of their misery and torment have become misshapen and disgusting in their countenance. This is all according to their craft and their ability to beguile the children of father in heaven. The artifice and crafts of the devil and his followers is well explained in an essay given by Alexander Pope, an 18th-century English poet, when he said this:

Vice is a monster of so frightful mienAs to be hated needs but to be seen;Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

Notice the statement; seen too oft, and familiar with her face has direct reference to our being trapped after the physical death in the world of spirits to rise no more; and that exposure; that familiarity with the dark side; would take even the best of us; and turn us in time into devils. With such a prospect in mind, Jacob now talks to us in verse 10 by saying,

2 Nephi 9:[10] O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.

Remember, that one of the results of the fall into the telestial world is division. The death of the body is the separation or division of the spirit from the physical body; and the death of the spirit is the division or separation of the spirit of man from their heavenly parents. The monster death and hell is death being the physical death, the separation from the body and the spirit, without a way to escape, being forever trapped within the world of spirits, and through exposure becoming a devil; and the hell is the separation of God’s children from His presence, without a way for them to be reconciled and returned to their divine home. In other words, the death of the spirit is hell, and the death of the body is the physical death. This also refers to the ancient doctrine of the 2 ways; one, the way of light or darkness; the way of happiness or misery; the way of life or death. There is really only one way leading back to hearth and home of heavenly parents, but if you choose other than that, then you are in a way that leads downward to death, dissolution, misery, and despair. The choices placed before us and we are free to choose. The way Jacobs talking about in verse 11 is called,

[11] And because of the way of deliverance of our God,

What is this deliverance? While it refers back to verse 10, where it calls the escape from the grasp of this awful monster -- that is the deliverance of our God.

[11] … the Holy One of Israel, this death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its dead; which death is the grave.

No wonder verse 10 Jacob exults, O how great the goodness of our God! when he discusses the way of deliverance; first of all, from the temporal death, which takes place through the universal resurrection of all men and women who have been born of woman, receive physical bodies, and passed through the change called death; that deliverance comes through -- Back over to verse 6 -- a power of resurrection. The word resurrection comes from the Latin which means to rise. Verse 12.

[12] And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead;(this is what Jacob refers to as hell) which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death (physical death) and hell (spiritual death) must deliver up their dead, and hell (the spiritual death or separation of God’s children from his presence) must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.

No judgment upon any of God’s children, throughout eternity, can remain in place as a result of the choices and consequences made by their parents or by others. Any consequence or inheritance that we receive as a result of Adam and Eve’s transgression must be atoned for and reversed by the power of the atonement of Christ and his resurrection from the dead. Therefore, Adam and Eve’s banishment from the presence of God, spiritual death and hell, must be freely reversed as to the effects of this banishment upon her children. The consequence of physical death brought upon Adam and Eve’s children, through their transgression, must also be freely reversed through the power of the resurrection. This physical death is universally reversed through the atonement of Christ and the power of His resurrection. None of Adam and Eve’s posterity did anything as to their own personal choices to merit the physical death brought upon all of us through the actions of our ancient parents. Therefore, this must be reversed without consideration as to gender, status, age, or any other earthly consideration. The delivery up of the captive bodies of Adam and Eve’s children from the earth is a universal gift of grace given to their children. Hell, or the spiritual death, is another thing however. The original banishment of Adam and Eve and their posterity from the presence of God is reversed when all men are brought to stand before God to be judged of their works. They are brought back temporarily into his presence for this judgment. This is referred to in Helaman 14:17.

Helaman 14:17[17] But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, (this part right here) and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.

This element of the fall, introduced by Adam and Eve, is reversed when all mankind are brought back temporarily into the presence of God to be judged of their works. This is a reversal of the first judgment. It was by no choice of yours that’s his original banishment from the presence of God took place. Therefore, it must be reversed through the atonement of Christ freely and without consideration of the posterity of Adam and Eve. There is, however, a 2nd fall of man and that is the individual fall that each of us go through when we exercise our agency and choose darkness over light; death over life; and sin over redemption. The reversal of this individual fall rest solely upon each son or daughter of God and can only be reconciled upon conditions of individual repentance and forgiveness of sin. Verse 13.

2 Nephi 9:[13] O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect. (40:38)

Now, here’s an interesting doctrinal correction we need to make in our thinking as we talk about the spirit world. If you’ll go back to the chapter heading on chapter 9, you’ll see that it says, The bodies of the dead will come forth from the grave, and their spirits from hell and from paradise. Notice the 2 places that the spirits go to after death - hell and from paradise. Notice there is no reference to prison or spirit prison. According to the Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:12-13, when a person dies they go to one of 2 places upon death. They either go to the paradise of God, or they go to a place called hell. It is popular for us to teach in the church that they go to 2 places one is called Paradise and the other one is called spirit prison. According to this verse, this is incorrect. We will talk more about this paradise of God which is the desirable place for our spirits to enter into upon death, and this place called hell which we commonly referred to as the spirit prison. Remember that a good definition of hell is simply a temporary place of restriction; and those who go there are damned. Again, a fitting description of something that should flow but is now restricted in its course. Beavers dam up rivers and creeks, the water still continues to flow in its course but the flow is impeded dramatically. So it is in hell; there is still progress; there still a flow; there still a chance for repentance; there still a chance for redemption; but the veil is still in place concerning their pre-mortal estate and concerning future estates and they are in a state of probation that requires repentance and change of nature. Doctrinally speaking, the whole spirit

world, both paradise and hell, are referred to as a prison place. If you will take this information and read closely section 138, President Joseph F Smith’s great vision of the dead, you will see this doctrine will talking about here in 2 Nephi 9 explained in greater detail. In section 138 in the chapter heading that says, … President Smith sees the righteous dead assembled in paradise … go down a couple of lines, it says, President Smith … sees Adam, Eve, and many of the holy prophets in the spirit world (watch this) who considered their spirit state before their resurrection as a bondage; Even those who exist in this preferable beautiful state called Paradise look upon it before their resurrection as being a bondage and they being captives. Go to verse 18 and section 138.

D&C 138:18[18] While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the (look at this) captives who had been faithful;

Go to verse 31.

D&C 138:31[31] And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel.

Toward the end of section 138 from, verses 40 through 2 verse 49, President Smith talks about all the righteous that were seen; Isaiah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Ezekiel, Daniel, Elias, and then he says,

D&C 138:31[50] For the dead had looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage.

One last Scripture showing that even those in paradise looked upon their state as a prison, bondage, and in captivity. Go to section 45, and let’s look at verses 16 and 17.

D&C 45:16-17[16] And I will show it plainly as I showed it unto my disciples as I stood before them in the flesh, and spake unto them, saying: As ye have asked of me concerning the signs of my coming, in the day when I shall come in my glory in the clouds of heaven, to fulfil the promises that I have made unto your fathers,

[17] For as ye have looked upon the long absence of your spirits from your bodies to be a bondage, I will show unto you how the day of redemption shall come, and also the restoration of the scattered Israel.

Verse 14, 2 Nephi 9.

2 Nephi 9:[14] Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; (This will be a natural consequences of us having died in our sins and now being brought back to stand in the presence of the Holy One of Israel) and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness.

There is modern evidence pointing to the fact that our bodies and spirits, together as living souls in this world, have the ability to record and retain in memory both physical and spiritual every act, every word, and every thought done by us in the flesh. Is that retained within the DNA structure of the human cell? I’ve have learned from my own personal experience that things that we think are long and forever forgotten are only subject to recall and are recorded in every detail, every wit, somewhere within us. As we stand before the great judge of the living and the dead is there something activated within each of us where all our thoughts, our words, our deeds, and our actions are brought immediately to the forefront and we are made aware of every detail of our mortal life. Verse 15.

[15] And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, (remember, that this first death includes both physical and spiritual death that came as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s transgression in the garden) insomuch as they have become immortal, (that immortality takes place as the body and the spirit are reunited through the power of the resurrection) they must appear before the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel; (This is a reversal of the spiritual death upon all mankind as a result of Adam and Eve’s banishment from the presence of God) and then cometh the judgment, and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God.

So, the first physical death and spiritual death are reversed through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, but there is our 2nd spiritual death; and the 2nd spiritual death is referred to in verse 16.

[16] And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, (Here we go, after you were brought back into the

presence of God to be judged and the first spiritual death is reconciled then) that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end.

If at that time, you were found filthy still; still in your sins in an unrepentant, unredeemed, and irreconciled state; then you must suffer the 2nd spiritual death, which is for you to go away from his presence into an everlasting fire prepared for them. All of this fire and brimstone, referred to by the Christian world, which is centered up forever and ever and has no end; in their scriptures they do not have those 3 little words were it says their torment, these 3 words, is as a -- is as a, makes all the difference in the world. This lake of fire and brimstone and flame is metaphorical. Joseph Smith said this in the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 357.

A man is his own tormentor and his own condemner, Hence the saying, They shall go into a lake that burns with fire and brimstone. (watch this part right here) The torment of disappointment in the mind of man is as exquisite as a lake burning with fire and brimstone. I say, so is the torment of man. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 357)

Section 19 gives further information into this starting with verse 6 when the Lord refers to a great mystery.

D&C 19:6-7[6] Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.[7] Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory.

So, the Lord uses certain words that have an express application and work upon the hearts of his children to turn them to repentance and forgiveness. The words endless and eternal do not mean that there is no end to it. That’s why hell is always a temporary place of restriction. Back to verse 8 in section 19.

[8] Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles.[9] I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest.

[10] For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! (And here is a part of that mystery) For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore—[11] Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.[12] Endless punishment is God’s punishment.

Therefore, the lake of fire and brimstone whose flame and ascendeth up forever and ever has no reference to endlessness; meaning that there is no end to the torment, but it is as a lake of fire and brimstone. The torment man brings upon himself when he realizes opportunities lost. Let me close by giving you this statement by the prophet Joseph Smith.

I want to come up into the presence of God, and learn all things; but the creeds set up stakes, and say, ‘Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further;’ which I cannot subscribe to. (History the Church, volume 6, page 76)

I say to all those who are disposed to set up stakes (that means to put limits or boundaries) for the Almighty you will come short of the glory of God; To become a joint heir of the heirship of the son, one must put away all his faults traditions. (History the Church, volume 5, page 554) The great thing for us to know is to comprehend what God did Institute before the foundation of the world. Who knows it? It is the constitutional disposition (watch this) of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the Almighty. (History the Church, volume 5, page 529)

That which have been hid from before the foundation of the world is revealed to babes and sucklings in the last days. (History the Church, volume 5, page 530)

When God offers a blessing or knowledge to a man, and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned. (History the Church, volume 5, page 555)

(Think of that beaver dam, damming up that river flow.)

The Israelites prayed that God would speak to Moses and not to them; in consequence of which he curse them with the carnal law. I have always had the satisfaction of seeing the truth triumph over error and darkness give way before the light. (Letter from Joseph Smith to Oliver Cowdery, Sept. 24, 1834, Kirtland, Ohio, Evening and Morning Star, Sept. 1834, p. 192.)

Let us not be found, at a coming day, in torment because in this life we made choices to put limits and bounds to what God can give and what he cannot give. The following are the references for the Joseph Smith quotes, just given. History of the Church, volume 5, page 554; History the Church, volume 5, pages 529-530; History of the Church, volume 6, page 477; History of the Church, volume 5, page 555; and a letter from Joseph Smith to Oliver Calvary, September 24, 1834 Kirtland, Ohio published in the Evening and Morning Star, September 1834, page 192.

May the Lord bless us to be able to say as Jacob has said, O the wisdom of God in his mercy and grace: O how great the goodness of God who prepared the way for our escape! O how great the plan of our God!

May we also exclaim with praise and adoration in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

References:2 Nephi 9Book of Mormon, Title Page1 Nephi 13:26The Words of Joseph Smith, by Ehat and Cook, page 215Job 19:25-262 Nephi 24:9Alma 7:122 Nephi 2:27Alexander Pope, QuoteHelaman 14:17D&C 138, HeadingD&C 138:18D&C 138:31D&C 138:50D&C 45:16-17Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 357D&C 19:6-12History of the Church, volume 5, pages 529 History of the Church, volume 5, pages 530; History of the Church, volume 5, page 554 History of the Church, volume 5, page 555;History of the Church, volume 6, page 67 Letter from Joseph Smith to Oliver Cowdery, Sept. 24, 1834, Kirtland, Ohio, published in Evening and Morning Star, Sept. 1834, p. 192.