ADDED UPON 2

There are few sections of scripture where we are able to gain the inexhaustible nature of the Lord’s attribute of Omniscience and how it includes all things past, present and future than in chapters 10 – 15 of 1 Nephi of the Book of Mormon.

Although I can verbalize the attribute of Omniscience my understanding is limited to how it works concerning things past and present, but the knowledge of things future remains as one of my personal mysteries and I must rely heavily upon my faith as I still lack knowledge.

As we examine Nephi’s writings we find that those things which in our current 21st century are now in our past were at the time of his writing still in the future. We also find there are things he wrote which are still yet to be.

One of the more remarkable ‘things yet to come’ which were revealed to Lehi and Nephi was the detailed account revealed to them surrounding the Savior’s earthly mission.

He was to be born of a virgin who was beautiful and fair above all others from the city of Nazareth.

This beautiful and fair virgin would become the mother of the Son of God the Eternal Father after the manner of the flesh.

He was given to understand this child was the Lamb of God, the Redeemer of the world who would be worshiped of men.

The Son of God is baptized by a prophet sent to prepare the way.

The Lamb of God would minister among men, organize His earthly kingdom, teach the essence of the gospel and perform miracles.

The Son of God would be judged, lifted upon a cross and slain for the sins of the world.

The reading of these words and making them part of our bulwark of faith requires faith that Nephi received the revelation 600 years before the events transpired and faith that the future records of those who recorded these events in real time or shortly after their occurrence was true.

As I mentioned earlier I don't pretend to know how the attribute of Omniscience works as to things pertaining to the future, but I do have a powerful testimony of how the Holy Spirit can give us an assurance of these events revealed to Lehi and Nephi.

We must have faith that Jesus the Christ and His Father have unlimited knowledge.

We must demonstrate our faithfulness to the understandings and covenants we have already been given.

Our petitions must be done in unwavering faith.

If and when we demonstrate to the Lord our faithfulness in listening, believing and harkening to his word an unlimited source of knowledge becomes a possibility.

The keys to the opening of the Omniscience of Heaven to mortals includes – the need for the fulfillment of a stewardship – the need for personal advancement – and – the need of understandings necessary for the salvation of others.

There is no doubt along with Lehi and Nephi, the latter day prophet of the restoration, Joseph Smith Jr., met all of these qualifiers during the fulfilling of his stewardship.
Besides marveling over the exactness of the vision opened to Nephi concerning the mortal life of the Lord, there is one teaching which on occasion I have had glimpses of understanding.

The angel who was acting as the revelator during Nephi’s vision asked Nephi if he understood the condescension of God, which seemed to have its significance in the birth of the Savior and the tree Lehi had seen in his vision.

The angel uses the words ‘love of God’ three times during this portion of the vision which, according to their manner of writing, gives the phase added significance.

As I have read the words of those Christian writers who wrote during the centuries following the death of the Apostles ordained by the Savior and the restoration of the fullness of the gospel, I find that they speak a great deal about feeling the ‘love of God’. My own experience in the Latter Day Church has been to hear more often the words ‘love for God’.

I am beginning to understand the difference between they who have the privilege of seeing beyond the glass darkly and those who do not has a great deal to do with not only gaining a ‘love for God’ during mortality, but receiving the communion of feeling the ‘love of God’.

As we further discuss the Tree in Lehi’s Dream in the continuance of our Thoughts on these wonderful chapters, pondering upon the significance of the difference between feeling ‘love for God’ and feeling the ‘love of God’ should be a constant part of our Thoughts.

(To be continued)


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY