“Praising His God”

Brant Gardner

Lehi’s vision shows that God will not suffer his people to perish. This mercy does not exempt them from pain and suffering, nor does it preserve all individuals. Rather, it confirms that Yahweh’s grand design will not be thwarted.

Literature: Ostler notes that Lehi’s praises continue to follow a set literary form known as the Qedussa:

The Qedussa, or angelic songs of the heavenly council praising Yahweh as thrice holy, is prominent in the calls of Isaiah (Isa. 6:3) and Ezekiel (Ezek. 3:12), for they join the council as the emissaries of Yahweh. Lehi also joins the heavenly council in songs of praise. Ezekiel states that “the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place” (Ezek. 3:12). The seer joining in songs of praise with the heavenly hosts while raised on high is also found in the Apocalypse of Abraham 17:3–21 where the heavenly mediator teaches the angelic songs to Abraham.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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