“The Lord Did Warn Me”

In countless instances, such warnings have been given to protect the faithful. Relative to his enemies, Joseph Smith was promised that bounds were set beyond which they could not pass and that his days were known to the Lord and they would not be “numbered less” by the evil designs of the wicked (D&C 122:9). In principle, the same applies to all who are true and faithful to the covenants they have made with the Lord.

“Knowest Thou the Condescension of God?”

In other words, “Nephi, do you fathom the majesty of it all? Can your mortal mind comprehend the infinite wonder and grandeur of the marvelous love made manifest by the Father and the Son?”

“The Condescension of God”

Perhaps no theme is more evident (or critical) in the Book of Mormon than the announcement of the condescension of God. To condescend is literally to “go down among.” The “condescension of God” is to be understood (and is taught in this chapter) in two ways. The first aspect is the condescension of God the Father, meaning Elohim. “The condescension of God lies in the fact that he, an exalted Being, steps down from his eternal throne to become the Father of a mortal Son, a Son born 'after the manner of the flesh ' ” (The Mortal Messiah 1:314).

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

References