“Being an Enemy to God; and Also Is the Devil an Enemy to God”

Brant Gardner

The fall created a gulf between Yahweh and his people. Nephi described the reason for this gulf: “But behold, I say unto you, the kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God” (1 Ne. 15:34). The fall of humankind creates a condition which requires resolution. If nothing is done, humanity will be irretrievably lost. Once they have sinned, they are forever cut off from Yahweh. Yahweh would send his children to this earth, but they would unavoidably be lost and subject to the devil.

Of course, such an outcome is inconceivable, so a plan to redeem humankind must be part of Yahweh’s understanding from the beginning. Indeed, the Messiah as the lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8) is the sacrifice who removes the sin from all the world and allows reconciliation. It is in symbolically enacting this event that the performances of the law of Moses become a type of this Messiah who is to come. In fact, Abinadi argues that the law is a type for the Messiah (Mosiah 13:10).

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 3

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