1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:22,440 Hey there everybody, welcome out to another episode of He Redeems Through His Blood. 2 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,040 My name is Scott Durfey, I want to be the first to welcome you out. 3 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:29,200 Today I'm joined as always by Uncle Dave, say hi Dave. 4 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,720 Hi everybody, hope all is well. 5 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:37,280 A great episode that we have in store I hope, I think for this week. 6 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:43,640 We're going to be talking about and continuing a discussion that we started actually a couple, 7 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:44,940 well actually a couple of weeks ago. 8 00:00:44,940 --> 00:00:47,220 You know this whole thing just kind of blends together. 9 00:00:47,220 --> 00:00:52,000 Over the last few episodes we've talked about our identity, who we are, how important that 10 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:53,440 is. 11 00:00:53,440 --> 00:01:00,560 That theme will continue with us probably throughout the absolute entirety of our podcast because 12 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:05,520 knowing who we are is just that important and is such a keystone to our understanding 13 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:10,920 of all of these things that we've talked about and are yet to still talk about in the podcast. 14 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,360 But we talked about a lot who we are. 15 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:14,440 And whose we are. 16 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,360 And whose we are, that's actually. 17 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:21,480 And identity is everything, identity determines eternity. 18 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:31,720 It's so critical Scott that we understand the good and the great about who we are, how 19 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:36,040 valiant and true and faithful we were. 20 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:42,320 It's also really important as we're going to discuss today about who we're not. 21 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:43,320 Yeah. 22 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:51,200 And all of our weakness and failings and the part of the plan that was for us to fail and 23 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:56,000 sin and the need we have for a Redeemer, I think that's just as critical. 24 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:00,760 And knowing Him is actually even more important than knowing who we are. 25 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:06,120 According to scripture, that's life eternal to know Him, Jesus Christ and our Heavenly 26 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:07,120 Father. 27 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:08,120 That's how we know who we are. 28 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:09,120 A hundred percent. 29 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,320 So we've moved into a little bit last week. 30 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:19,040 We began to talk about the fall of Adam and Eve and how that began to take place and how 31 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:23,080 that has effect on us as we're here in our moral existence. 32 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:28,880 So today let's just kind of outline a little bit, maybe give you something to anticipate 33 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:30,400 as we go through this. 34 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,560 And this suggestion to do this actually came from one of our listeners. 35 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:40,840 We want to thank him for giving that suggestion to maybe mention what we're going to talk 36 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:42,920 about each time. 37 00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:44,560 And so we want to tell him thank you. 38 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:51,520 But also invite others through our email address, he redeems us at gmail.com. 39 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:57,480 Please if you have suggestions, we're just a couple of guys here that are trying to the 40 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:01,760 best way we can through the atonement of Jesus Christ and His power and share that. 41 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,000 We're just sinners again, trying to help other sinners. 42 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,920 We're not professionals here, but we're trying to do our best. 43 00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:09,200 Perfectly imperfect. 44 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:11,820 Any suggestions you may have, please send those to us. 45 00:03:11,820 --> 00:03:17,280 So for today we're going to be talking more about the effects of the fall, the fall of 46 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,200 Adam and Eve, how it affects us. 47 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:23,160 The negatives and the blessings. 48 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:24,480 How that shows up in our lives. 49 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,720 And we're going to be using some great examples from the Book of Mormon. 50 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:32,240 We have a great scripture from 1 Peter that is really going to help us. 51 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:38,920 We're going to talk about how God's plan actually includes temptation, our own. 52 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:45,720 We know that through Come Follow Me, we've been studying this year as part of our curriculum 53 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:52,160 the life of Jesus Christ and many actually visited the temptations of Christ over this 54 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:53,840 past week or so. 55 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,040 We're also going to talk about how God gives us weakness. 56 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,440 We shouldn't be surprised by that. 57 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:04,480 And we shouldn't take that as an indictment of our inadequacies or our ineptness in any 58 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:05,720 way. 59 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:06,720 He knew we would sin. 60 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:12,480 And then finally, Dave, and I think for our listeners, this will be something that will 61 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,640 be a great takeaway today as you're listening. 62 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,880 Listen for five blessings. 63 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:23,880 How we can obtain five key blessings from understanding the fall of Adam and Eve. 64 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,520 So Dave, that sets us up for where we're going. 65 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:28,000 Why don't you launch us? 66 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:29,000 Yeah. 67 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:35,960 And as we go through all of this, the temple endowment is such an important part of what 68 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:40,560 we're now talking about, Scott, and kind of today's discussion. 69 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:46,820 It's so critical that we keep in mind that the plan of salvation, the plan of redemption, 70 00:04:46,820 --> 00:04:53,640 the great plan of happiness, whatever you want to call the plan of God, that there are 71 00:04:53,640 --> 00:05:01,160 three pillars that there's the creation, the fall and the atonement. 72 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:09,760 And you know, when we participate in the temple endowment, that's what the whole endowment 73 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:11,260 is centered on. 74 00:05:11,260 --> 00:05:17,020 We spend a good amount of time on the creation, the blessings of the creation. 75 00:05:17,020 --> 00:05:21,800 We spend a lot of time—people, I think, are surprised by how much time we spend—on 76 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:23,480 the fall. 77 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:30,000 And we spend a lot of time on the atonement of Jesus Christ, which isn't kind of a—I 78 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:38,560 don't want to sound sacrilegious, but the atonement is not so evident in the endowment 79 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,200 because it's not part of the movie. 80 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:46,480 Creation in the fall, those are depicted through what we watch. 81 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:53,720 The atonement of Jesus Christ is so sacred that it's a little bit more disguised by 82 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:58,520 signs, tokens, veil, all of that stuff. 83 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:07,760 So anyway, we're kind of talking about the temple in ways that we sometimes don't fully 84 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:12,440 appreciate what we're doing when we participate in that ordinance. 85 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:19,420 I want to begin, though, Scott, by this quote, and it'll kind of maybe keep everything 86 00:06:19,420 --> 00:06:23,080 together today as we talk about the fall. 87 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,440 This is from C.S. Lewis. 88 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:32,400 He wrote—and without the Book of Mormon, I'm not sure how he even came to this understanding. 89 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:38,720 I know Paul talks about the fall, but we're the only Christians in the world that really 90 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:43,900 understand the fall and the blessings that are associated with the fall. 91 00:06:43,900 --> 00:06:47,880 Everybody else is still mad at Adam and Eve because we don't live in a pair of cycle 92 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:57,560 glory and they don't really understand that it wasn't a mistake that Adam and Eve fall. 93 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,160 It was part of their plan. 94 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:00,960 And part of their progress. 95 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:01,960 Yeah, absolutely. 96 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,880 That it was essential to God's plan. 97 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,240 But C.S. Lewis somehow got this. 98 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:16,800 I think he maybe got it from Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul writes, as in, Adam all die, 99 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:20,200 and so in Christ shall all be made alive. 100 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:29,720 I think that's kind of the essence of what C.S. Lewis is trying to say here, but he wrote, 101 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:39,160 God is not merely mending, not simply restoring us to a status quo. 102 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:48,200 Unarmed humanity is to be something more glorious than unfallen humanity would have ever been. 103 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:50,760 I just love that. 104 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:56,840 He understands the essential part of God's plan that we fall. 105 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:02,640 So that's from C.S. Lewis' little book called Miracles, page 162. 106 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:07,480 So let's discuss for a minute, Scott, how that, why is that true? 107 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:13,560 That God is not merely mending, not simply restoring us to a status quo or a paradycycle 108 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:18,160 glory or it's not about going back into the Garden of Eden. 109 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:19,840 That's not what it's about. 110 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:21,560 That wasn't what God wanted us to do. 111 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,560 He didn't want us to stay there. 112 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:34,400 He continues, redeemed humanity is to be something more glorious than unfallen humanity would 113 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:38,120 have or could have ever been. 114 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,680 Yeah, big statement. 115 00:08:40,680 --> 00:08:45,000 But there's a couple of components there that we do need to understand in order for us to 116 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:50,160 really grasp the weight, I think, of what C.S. Lewis is saying there, Dave. 117 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,320 He says redeemed humanity. 118 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,560 We just take sometimes for granted what redeemed means. 119 00:08:56,560 --> 00:09:00,880 And I think it's worthy of discussion for just a second here. 120 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,560 What does that even mean, redeemed humanity? 121 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:11,440 Well, what I think of it means you've got a Redeemer and you can't redeem yourself. 122 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,400 You've been redeemed. 123 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:21,360 That means it's something that God has gifted me, that He has offered me, that He has made 124 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:25,400 available to me through His Son, our Redeemer. 125 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:33,800 And that that is greater, relying upon Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice and the relationship 126 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:37,240 and the blessings that come with that. 127 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:42,240 That's so much greater than if I would have lived in a pair of the cycle glory all of 128 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:46,560 my eternal life and never had a Redeemer. 129 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:48,240 Redeemed literally means purchased. 130 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:49,240 He purchased us. 131 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:50,240 Purchased, ransomed, covered, covered us. 132 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:55,080 He has absolutely purchased, ransomed, covered us. 133 00:09:55,080 --> 00:10:01,120 And without that purchasing, if we would have remained in that pair of the cycle glory, 134 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:06,880 but if that was even possible, that we could have had children there, which obviously, 135 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:08,880 you know, we know that. 136 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:13,440 But even if it were possible, that would have, we would have just been there. 137 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,320 There wasn't, there's no redemption in there. 138 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:19,840 And I think that that's important for us to understand is to understand that we have been 139 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,840 purchased, that we have been covered through. 140 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:29,960 Whether we repent or not, Scott, in, I mean, I know that there are conditions in our redemption, 141 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:37,200 but there are so many parts of our redemption that are unconditional that we have been, 142 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:42,980 I mean, Jesus suffered for us, whether we repent of it or not, whether we recognize 143 00:10:42,980 --> 00:10:44,320 it or not. 144 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:50,580 He, He suffered for that little, that little boy or that little girl or that, that man 145 00:10:50,580 --> 00:10:56,600 or woman in India that has, knows nothing about Him. 146 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:58,200 Jesus is their Redeemer too. 147 00:10:58,200 --> 00:10:59,200 That's correct. 148 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:00,680 And they know nothing about that. 149 00:11:00,680 --> 00:11:06,240 And they will be resurrected and they will have all of the blessings that come from that 150 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,160 part of the atonement of Jesus Christ as well. 151 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:13,160 And they currently enjoy so many blessings because of His redemption that they would 152 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,080 not have enjoyed otherwise. 153 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:24,960 So I think that the fact that we're redeemed, the fact that we have a Redeemer is just so 154 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:33,480 much greater than to have lived in a pair of cycle glory on our own, totally independent 155 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:39,640 of the Son of God or the need for an atoning sacrifice. 156 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:41,360 I don't know. 157 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:48,840 I hope our listeners can just kind of ponder that for a minute and understand the gratitude 158 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:52,080 that we should all feel for God's plan. 159 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,340 And maybe that is a good place to jump into this scripture. 160 00:11:55,340 --> 00:12:01,520 In Peter, I was reading the other day, in Peter chapter 4, 1 Peter chapter 4, and I 161 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,600 think this is what Peter is trying to say, Scott. 162 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:10,220 I think it's what Eve exclaimed when they fell, which is now quoted in the Temple Endowment 163 00:12:10,220 --> 00:12:13,360 from Moses chapter 5, verse 11. 164 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:17,040 But I love these words as I read them the other day. 165 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:20,960 And I see, when I read this, I see temple in this. 166 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:25,360 I think the first verse that we're going to read talks about the fall. 167 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:30,200 And the second verse we're going to read talks about, of course, the atonement and redemption 168 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,340 of Christ. 169 00:12:32,340 --> 00:12:40,320 This is 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 12, Behold, beloved, think it not strange concerning the 170 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:47,620 fiery trial, which is to try you, and a better translation may be to tempt you. 171 00:12:47,620 --> 00:12:52,640 Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to tempt you, as though some 172 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,800 strange thing had happened unto you. 173 00:12:55,800 --> 00:13:00,960 In other words, I think Peter's saying, we should be surprised that things are rough, 174 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:02,640 that things are hard here. 175 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:03,640 That was all part of the plan. 176 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:07,880 You shouldn't be surprised by the fact that you're tempted. 177 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:09,440 That's part of the plan. 178 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:10,720 Jesus was tempted. 179 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:11,720 We're all tempted. 180 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:16,280 It doesn't matter who you are or how great you are or how righteous you think you may 181 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:17,280 be. 182 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:23,820 You shouldn't be surprised by the trials, adversities, and temptations that we all experience 183 00:13:23,820 --> 00:13:24,820 in this life. 184 00:13:24,820 --> 00:13:30,400 It's all part of the fall of mankind. 185 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:40,200 And then he says in verse 13, But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, 186 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:48,000 that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 187 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:55,480 Scott, we wouldn't have had that exceeding joy or that level of gladness had it not been 188 00:13:55,480 --> 00:14:02,480 for the fall of Adam and Eve and the fall of you and me and the atonement and redemption 189 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:04,640 of Jesus Christ. 190 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:13,280 So again, C.S. Lewis's quote here in the words of Peter, and you can see temple in that passage, 191 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:15,200 I hope. 192 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:20,400 Part of that in 13 where it says, Ye are partakers of Christ's suffering. 193 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:22,680 What does that mean, Dave? 194 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:30,200 Man, that's almost painful to think about, but it causes me such humility and gratitude 195 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:36,920 that not only did we kind of enjoy the blessings from his sufferings, but that we, because of 196 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:44,800 our sins and because of the fall, that we have contributed to his sufferings. 197 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:50,200 We're partakers of his sufferings because we contributed to his sufferings, but we also 198 00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:57,440 receive all of the blessings that flow out of his sufferings, which we've talked about, 199 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:03,200 the redemptive enabling compensatory powers that come out of that, and we're partakers 200 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:04,200 of it. 201 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:05,200 I think of the sacrament. 202 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:09,040 I think every Sunday I'm a partaker. 203 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:15,280 I take the piece of bread, his flesh, and I drink the little cup of his blood, and I'm 204 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:22,680 literally being a partaker as he invited us to be. 205 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:23,960 That's where I go with it. 206 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:28,800 I think that for me, when it talks about partakers of Christ's suffering, that I am a partaker 207 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:35,680 every Sunday of Christ's suffering, and if I'm doing that with a I single to his glory, 208 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:40,560 and I've prepared myself and all of those things, that I do become a partaker of his 209 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:46,080 suffering, I recognize it in my life, and then after the semicolon there, it says that 210 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:51,080 when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 211 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:58,640 I feel that I may be glad also with exceeding joy almost every Sunday as I'm participating 212 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,760 in the partaking of his suffering there, David. 213 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:11,520 So we are so blessed as a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to understand 214 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:22,200 the restored doctrine and truth of the fall of Adam and Eve and the fall of all mankind. 215 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:28,880 And it's pretty clear how the Book of Mormon prophets understood this completely, absolutely. 216 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:39,560 I think so many times, Scott, I think it's easy for us to miss the doctrine of the fall 217 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:45,120 and the importance of it in our lives, and for some reason, as we kind of talked about 218 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:50,880 last time, it's not taught very much in the church, really. 219 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:56,920 I mean, it has been, it is, the Scriptures talk about it, but I don't know, we don't 220 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:57,920 like to dwell on it. 221 00:16:57,920 --> 00:16:59,840 We don't like to think of ourselves as fallen. 222 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:04,340 We don't like to think of ourselves as sinners who just keep on trying. 223 00:17:04,340 --> 00:17:09,080 We don't like to think of ourselves as sinners helping sinners. 224 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:14,920 We don't like to think of ourselves as that, and yet that's the reality. 225 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:19,200 And the Book of Mormon prophets certainly didn't shy from it. 226 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:27,880 So I'd like to have us go, if our listeners are able, to these maybe just a few verses 227 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:32,200 of Scripture first, and then we'll look at some examples. 228 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,160 So Scott, if you want to, we'll just do a few of these. 229 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:39,160 I have a long list, but let's just go to a couple. 230 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:45,000 The first place it's taught in the Book of Mormon is 1 Nephi, Scott, chapter 10, verses 231 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,240 5 through 6. 232 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,520 And Lehi is teaching here, really. 233 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:59,480 Nephi is quoting his dad, and Lehi understood the fall and the redemption of mankind. 234 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,040 So verses 5 and 6 of chapter 10. 235 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:07,400 And he also spake concerning the prophets how great a number had testified of these 236 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:13,640 things concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world. 237 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:20,200 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and fallen state, and ever would be, save they 238 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,480 should rely on this Redeemer. 239 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,440 Isn't that awesome? 240 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:26,640 Yeah. 241 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:35,640 Lehi understood that we all had to rely on a Redeemer, and the joy of doing so, the blessing 242 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,880 and joy. 243 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:48,800 Let's go to Benedi, teaches it powerfully to King Noah and his court, and I'm sure they 244 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:57,280 probably hated this, but Mosiah chapter 16, verses 3 and 4, Scott, if you want to go there. 245 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:04,320 Mosiah 16, verses 3 and 4, Benedi. 246 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:09,600 For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them, yea, even that 247 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,880 old serpent that did beguile our first parents. 248 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,640 Which was the cause of their fall? 249 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:21,040 Which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from 250 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:25,240 good, subjecting themselves to the devil? 251 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:31,400 Thus all mankind were lost, and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not 252 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:36,560 that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state. 253 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:44,640 But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature and goes on in the ways 254 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:49,760 of sin and rebellion against God remaineth in his fallen state, and the devil hath all 255 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:51,760 power over him. 256 00:19:51,760 --> 00:20:00,120 Therefore, this as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God, and also is the 257 00:20:00,120 --> 00:20:03,800 devil an enemy to God. 258 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:09,200 And now verse 6, and now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to 259 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:15,400 come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption. 260 00:20:15,400 --> 00:20:20,720 And if Christ had not risen from the dead or have broken the bands of death, that the 261 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:27,360 grave should have no victory and that death should have no sting, there could have been 262 00:20:27,360 --> 00:20:28,360 no resurrection. 263 00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:31,680 Yeah, well, isn't that great? 264 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:34,320 That's pure doctrine taught by Abinadi. 265 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:35,320 I love Abinadi. 266 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:42,000 In fact, we named one of our little boys, one of our stillborn children who died. 267 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:48,800 I love Abinadi so much I gave that little boy the middle name of Abinadi. 268 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:50,600 I think he's one of my favorite prophets. 269 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,960 I mean, he just really tells them the way it is. 270 00:20:54,960 --> 00:21:00,920 And it's just so clear in this chapter 16, I think it's one of the great chapters on 271 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:09,000 the fall and the atonement of Christ, that, wow, we are so dependent upon redemption and 272 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,000 upon a Redeemer. 273 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,040 And he alludes to the negative effects. 274 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:19,120 I think we'll get into this in a little more detail when we talk about what the atonement 275 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:26,920 of Jesus Christ covers, but the negative effects of the atonement of Adam and Eve, the real 276 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:33,720 effects, negative effects, I think there are some positive effects for sure of the fall, 277 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:41,800 but the two major negatives, and there are many minor negatives, but the two major negatives, 278 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,120 of course, are spiritual death and physical death. 279 00:21:45,120 --> 00:21:50,080 In other words, because of the fall, we are cut off from righteousness or we're cut off 280 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:54,040 from God and we will die. 281 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:58,120 There will be a separation of our body and our spirit. 282 00:21:58,120 --> 00:22:04,400 And so death is spiritual and physical are the major negatives. 283 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:09,760 And the atonement of Jesus Christ, we'll talk more about this, so don't sit on the edge 284 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:14,520 of your chairs too long for an answer to this, but I'd like to wait until the next podcast 285 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:27,560 or two to answer how Christ's atonement totally, unconditionally, unconditionally covered those 286 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:33,400 two deaths, spiritual and physical. 287 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:38,200 Physical people understand because we're all going to be resurrected, even the wicked, 288 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:40,120 even sons of perdition. 289 00:22:40,120 --> 00:22:43,600 It's universal, unconditional. 290 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:45,880 All will be resurrected. 291 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:52,840 People don't understand as well how Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice overcomes spiritual 292 00:22:52,840 --> 00:23:02,880 death and how because of his atoning sacrifice that we will all, after we are resurrected, 293 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:11,040 return to the presence of God to be judged. 294 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:18,760 No unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God, but we will return all, including 295 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:24,800 sons of perdition, to the presence of God to be judged. 296 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:29,680 And then there's so many other aspects of the fall that the atonement of Jesus Christ 297 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:36,320 covers, which we'll talk about when we talk in our podcast about the atoning sacrifice. 298 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:44,680 The point is that the Book of Mormon really restores the true doctrine of the universal 299 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:51,400 fall of all mankind and the blessings that are associated with it because it made us 300 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:54,480 dependent upon a Redeemer. 301 00:23:54,480 --> 00:24:01,680 Let's look at some specific examples now of that by going to, I think this is such a powerful 302 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:06,720 example in prayer of the brother of Jared. 303 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:10,480 So let's go to Ether chapter 3, Scott. 304 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:18,240 This is a, you know, he has built some barges and he's wanted to get some air in those barges 305 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,120 and some light. 306 00:24:20,120 --> 00:24:25,480 And God has given him some direction and also invited the brother of Jared to come up with 307 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:35,640 a plan on how to get light, and he prepares those 16 molten stones and he takes them to 308 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:41,000 a mountain and he asks Jesus to touch them. 309 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:50,360 But as he begins this prayer, asking God to touch these stones, look at verse 2, and as 310 00:24:50,360 --> 00:24:57,120 we read verse 2, Scott, let's just really ponder, does the brother of Jared really mean 311 00:24:57,120 --> 00:24:58,120 what he's saying? 312 00:24:58,120 --> 00:25:03,840 I mean, he's talking to God, does he really mean this? 313 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:05,680 Chapter 3 verse 2 of Ether. 314 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:11,720 O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. 315 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:19,120 Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before 316 00:25:19,120 --> 00:25:20,440 thee. 317 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:28,480 For we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before 318 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:33,480 thee because of the fall our natures have become evil continually. 319 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:40,880 Nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that 320 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:46,360 from thee we may receive according to our desires. 321 00:25:46,360 --> 00:25:48,440 What strikes you in that verse, Scott? 322 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:54,880 Well, first off, he's acknowledging here, and I think that we can probably all do this, 323 00:25:54,880 --> 00:26:04,640 that we know that because of the fall, these weaknesses that we have are big. 324 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:12,040 But heavenly father, and this is what the brother of Jared is saying here, but you've 325 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:16,620 commanded us to pray to you and ask for the things that we need. 326 00:26:16,620 --> 00:26:23,040 So even though that we're unworthy before thee and have become evil continually, nevertheless, 327 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:29,060 O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we 328 00:26:29,060 --> 00:26:31,320 may receive according to our desires. 329 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:37,480 So obviously our heavenly father loves us still, even though because of this, we've 330 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:43,800 had this fall and we've had life now become part of our lives, so to speak. 331 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:47,940 And you know, the brother of Jared's acknowledging, hey, I know I'm fallen, but you've given me 332 00:26:47,940 --> 00:26:52,640 a commandment, then you've given me a commandment that I can ask for things that will bring 333 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:54,600 us joy or whatever we need. 334 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:57,160 And that's exactly what he's doing. 335 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,720 He says, according to our desires. 336 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:09,320 Well, Scott, I think this is so precious that we have a prayer offered by a prophet of God 337 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:16,640 who would soon after this prayer see Jesus in his pre-mortal state and that we have the 338 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:18,000 actual words. 339 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:24,520 I'm just so grateful that the brother of Jared somehow wrote this down and that Moroni translated 340 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:29,120 this from the plates and that we have this. 341 00:27:29,120 --> 00:27:37,720 So I love this verse and it just strikes me how he is crying out to God, acknowledging 342 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:46,200 his weakness, which I think Moroni picks up on that actually, and in his commentary later 343 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:54,040 in the book of Ether, chapter 12, verse 27, Moroni says, And if men come unto me, I will 344 00:27:54,040 --> 00:27:57,120 show unto them their weakness. 345 00:27:57,120 --> 00:28:02,120 I give unto men weakness, that they may be humble. 346 00:28:02,120 --> 00:28:05,340 You know, that weakness is the fall. 347 00:28:05,340 --> 00:28:08,680 It's not a bunch of weaknesses or imperfections we have. 348 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:17,280 It's just God gives unto us weakness or a fallen, we're placed in a fallen state. 349 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:23,040 I think that's what the brother of Jared is saying and I think that's what Moroni means. 350 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:29,160 Anyway, and then the brother of Jared, don't, please God, please, please don't be angry 351 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:30,520 because we're unworthy. 352 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:33,960 You know, and he knows it's part of the plan too. 353 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:34,960 Right. 354 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:39,520 But because of the fall, he's acknowledging, I mean, this is one of the great prayers because 355 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:46,800 he's acknowledging his fallen state, which we should all do more often in our prayers. 356 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:52,080 Because of the fall, our natures have become evil continually. 357 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:57,740 You think he really, is he serious that he believes that because of the fall, that his 358 00:28:57,740 --> 00:29:01,080 nature is evil continually, Scott? 359 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:04,800 Do you think that's true? 360 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:07,960 I think we're dealing with semantics here. 361 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:14,280 I think that, yeah, I think by nature we're all evil because of the fall. 362 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:16,280 We are all evil. 363 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:23,240 We're subjected to temptation, we're subjected to the accuser, and many times we listen to 364 00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:25,600 the accuser and all of that. 365 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:28,360 And that is all because of that. 366 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:33,000 However, that's why we have the atonement of Jesus Christ. 367 00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:39,840 And that's where we come into being redeemed by him and through him and because of his 368 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:47,800 atonement wherein he perches us, that gives us the opportunity to kind of negate the effects 369 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:48,800 of the fall. 370 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:52,120 Not maybe today, but through eternity, right? 371 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:53,120 Right. 372 00:29:53,120 --> 00:30:00,280 So let's be clear, Scott, let's not be confused by what St. Augustine taught and what the 373 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:09,160 Catholic Church proposed, that man is totally deprived, that we don't believe in the total 374 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:11,480 depravity of man. 375 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:12,480 Okay? 376 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:13,480 We don't believe in that. 377 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:19,240 We know that we are fallen, and that's because of the fall. 378 00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:24,680 We are in a natural evil state. 379 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:25,680 We get that. 380 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:31,080 In fact, President Brigham Young said, the spirits that live in these tabernacles were 381 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:35,440 as pure as the heavens when they entered them. 382 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:43,720 They came to tabernacles that are contaminated, pertaining to the flesh by the fall of man. 383 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:51,040 The Psalmist says, quoting Psalm 51.5, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my 384 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:53,020 mother conceive me. 385 00:30:53,020 --> 00:30:57,920 The scripture has established in the minds of some the doctrine of total depravity, that 386 00:30:57,920 --> 00:31:05,160 it is impossible for them to have one good thought, that they are altogether sinful, 387 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:09,760 that there is no good, no soundness, no spiritual health in them. 388 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:14,600 Well, this is not correct, yet we have a warfare within us. 389 00:31:14,600 --> 00:31:17,840 And I don't think that ever goes away. 390 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:19,600 He says that in another quote. 391 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:22,440 We're never quite ever totally free of it. 392 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:29,840 We have to contend against evil passions daily, or the seeds of iniquity that are sown into 393 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:32,880 the flesh through the fall. 394 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:38,880 Maybe we are evil continually, the way we're, again, we know that we are sons and daughters 395 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:39,880 of God. 396 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:46,500 Brigham Young also said, in our, this is, I'm sorry, Elder Bednar, in mortality we are 397 00:31:46,500 --> 00:31:48,940 all tempted by the flesh. 398 00:31:48,940 --> 00:31:56,240 The very elements out of which our bodies were created are by nature fallen, and ever, 399 00:31:56,240 --> 00:32:02,040 ever subject to the pull of sin, corruption, and death. 400 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:09,680 But we can increase our capacity to overcome the desires of the flesh and temptations through 401 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:11,880 the atonement of Christ. 402 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:18,160 When we make mistakes as we transgress in sin, we can repent, then become clean through 403 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:22,680 the redeeming power of Jesus Christ. 404 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:26,440 This is kind of my conclusion to this. 405 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:35,520 Because we live in a fallen, telestial world, Scott, it is irrational and irresponsible 406 00:32:35,520 --> 00:32:43,960 to expect any human to live a sinless life, including myself and yourself. 407 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:49,760 Wickedness never was happiness! 408 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:56,960 However, unhappiness, and I think this is so true for, I see this in my own family from 409 00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:03,320 time to time, Scott, and so true for members of the church, I think. 410 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:04,960 So let me start this paragraph over. 411 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:07,440 Wickedness never was happiness. 412 00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:08,440 Got it. 413 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:17,120 However, unhappiness may sometimes be the result of not understanding our fallen nature, 414 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:21,720 which may produce unrealistic expectations of righteousness. 415 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:30,160 I mean, it's just wrong to expect that we're going to be righteous all day, every day, 416 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:37,600 and not sin every day, and make mistakes every day, and feel the pull and the weakness of 417 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:40,400 the flesh every day. 418 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:44,480 And that's not necessarily who I am. 419 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:46,240 We talked about that last week. 420 00:33:46,240 --> 00:33:54,480 You know, our identity is not necessarily our tendencies or our propensities. 421 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:56,680 That's the result of the fall. 422 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:59,620 Not necessarily who I truly am. 423 00:33:59,620 --> 00:34:06,720 And I think that there's so much unhappiness and almost sadness and depression in the church 424 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:08,680 because we're so imperfect. 425 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:11,920 Well, that was all part of the plan. 426 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:18,880 I thought this week, if I were to write a book this week, every week I think, if I wrote 427 00:34:18,880 --> 00:34:21,400 a book this week I would title it, what would be the title? 428 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:27,440 Well, this week I thought, if I wrote a book this week, it would be titled, God's Plan 429 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:36,200 Was That We Would Sin and Be Saved. 430 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:45,040 People are, we have spiritual masochists in this church, Scott, because they will not 431 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:51,080 understand and actually appreciate their fallen nature. 432 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:57,960 Steven Robinson wrote years ago in the little book, which I love, Following Christ, I know 433 00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:03,480 people in the church who beat themselves up for having fallen natures, who take it as 434 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:08,240 a sign that they are not worthy of the kingdom. 435 00:35:08,240 --> 00:35:15,660 For these spiritual masochists, it isn't even enough to control their carnal nature or to 436 00:35:15,660 --> 00:35:21,920 begin diminishing its influence by developing habitual obedience to God. 437 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:29,040 They don't even want to have a carnal nature, which was all part of God's plan. 438 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:35,440 Their mortality, resisting the urges of our carnal thoughts and putting them out of our 439 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:45,440 minds is a reasonable goal, but not ever having a carnal thought is an unreasonable goal. 440 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:50,960 So I just, anyway, I think that's what the brother of Jared is acknowledging, that don't 441 00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:58,800 be angry with thy servant because of the fall, my nature is evil continually. 442 00:35:58,800 --> 00:35:59,800 Yeah. 443 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:08,720 We should embrace that truth and it should lead us immediately to a need for a higher 444 00:36:08,720 --> 00:36:13,760 power, Jesus Christ in His atonement. 445 00:36:13,760 --> 00:36:22,400 This is a big subject and it really has actually a lot of breadth to it too, it's quite broad. 446 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:28,600 We talk about the fall of Adam and Eve and you've made mention that there are two main 447 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:30,160 effects that come from that. 448 00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:35,520 We suffer a spiritual death, which means a separation of our spirit and our heavenly 449 00:36:35,520 --> 00:36:43,160 Father spirit and then we, because of the fall, also eventually suffer a physical death. 450 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:48,800 And Dave, I think that if I look at all the things that are in my life and all the things 451 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:54,360 that I get to be a part of in other people's lives as I trudge the happy road to destiny 452 00:36:54,360 --> 00:37:02,880 with others in recovery groups, et cetera, that we really see the fall show up in all 453 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:05,880 parts of our life that are troubling to us. 454 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:10,680 And because that's the case, we ought to maybe cut ourselves a little slack. 455 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:12,200 We're never free from it. 456 00:37:12,200 --> 00:37:14,960 We ought to cut ourselves a little slack. 457 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:21,760 For example, if somebody's dealing with some sort of organic depression or mental illness 458 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:26,160 or various things that can, that's part of the fall. 459 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:32,140 Difficult sometimes maybe to embrace the challenges that come from that, but to know that, hey, 460 00:37:32,140 --> 00:37:37,160 this was part of Heavenly Father's plan and He has not just created this part of the plan, 461 00:37:37,160 --> 00:37:44,600 but He's also created and because of Him, provided for us a Savior, a Redeemer to pay 462 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:50,560 even the price for this, that eventually all of this will work for our good, that all of 463 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:57,160 this will glorify Him when He returns and we get to experience that resurrection. 464 00:37:57,160 --> 00:38:00,280 And then the spiritual things that we deal with and suffer. 465 00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:04,480 And we talk about this and we'll probably even talk about it a little bit more tonight 466 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:05,920 in the Institute Class at Devon. 467 00:38:05,920 --> 00:38:08,320 I'll be teaching at BYU tonight. 468 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:16,000 This has been a topic that's quite interesting because all of our trials, all of our trials 469 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:21,840 in life can be, I believe, categorized in one or the other and sometimes a combination 470 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:25,160 of both the spiritual and the physical death. 471 00:38:25,160 --> 00:38:29,880 When I'm dealing with trials in my life, if I'm able to just kind of step back and take 472 00:38:29,880 --> 00:38:35,560 a look at where those two things may be playing into it, then it's a lot easier for me to 473 00:38:35,560 --> 00:38:41,360 attach the effects of the atonement of Jesus Christ to those and get some relief. 474 00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:47,920 Even if that relief doesn't come immediately, the hope, even hope can provide a sense of 475 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:51,720 relief to the soul that is just super soothing. 476 00:38:51,720 --> 00:38:57,960 And that can also be something that we get to participate in once we grasp a knowledge 477 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:03,560 of the fall of Adam and Eve and how this is actually part of heavenly, this actually was 478 00:39:03,560 --> 00:39:04,560 Heavenly Father's plan. 479 00:39:04,560 --> 00:39:05,560 Yeah, definitely. 480 00:39:05,560 --> 00:39:13,440 And it can be actually quite, I think, liberating and strengthening when we acknowledge our 481 00:39:13,440 --> 00:39:15,880 worthiness before God at all times. 482 00:39:15,880 --> 00:39:21,680 We talk so much about the desires that we have to be righteous, but the fact is that 483 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:26,760 we are continually and always unworthy before Him, Scott. 484 00:39:26,760 --> 00:39:32,680 I read this cute little story, which I had forgotten about, but I read it recently. 485 00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:37,240 Elder Renlund shared it at a general conference about this missionary whose first name was 486 00:39:37,240 --> 00:39:45,680 Curtis, and he just went on a mission for all the right reasons and was so diligent 487 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:51,040 and faithful and the kind of missionary that every mission president would pray for, Elder 488 00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:52,840 Renlund says. 489 00:39:52,840 --> 00:39:59,160 And he was given a missionary companion soon into his mission who was just really troubled, 490 00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:07,200 totally unenthusiastic about doing any work and quite rebellious and didn't know why he 491 00:40:07,200 --> 00:40:10,360 was there and no motivation. 492 00:40:10,360 --> 00:40:15,440 Anyway, they're riding down the street one day on their bikes and Curtis turns around 493 00:40:15,440 --> 00:40:21,200 and looks kind of over his shoulder to see his companion and his companion's not there. 494 00:40:21,200 --> 00:40:28,240 And he gets off his bike and he sees his companion about two or three blocks back walking, gotten 495 00:40:28,240 --> 00:40:31,440 off his bike and just started to walk. 496 00:40:31,440 --> 00:40:36,160 And Curtis, it was just kind of the straw that broke the camel's back, I think. 497 00:40:36,160 --> 00:40:42,400 And he was so frustrated and in a little silent prayer, he was expressing his frustration 498 00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:44,680 to his Heavenly Father. 499 00:40:44,680 --> 00:40:49,720 Then he said that in that quiet moment, he had this strong impression. 500 00:40:49,720 --> 00:40:54,960 Curtis, he heard a voice come to his mind. 501 00:40:54,960 --> 00:40:59,640 You know, compared to me, the two of you aren't all that different. 502 00:40:59,640 --> 00:41:03,920 Yeah, that's a great story. 503 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:09,700 Kind of just puts it all, rips us all right back into perspective, doesn't it? 504 00:41:09,700 --> 00:41:14,200 We all need the atonement of Jesus Christ. 505 00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:17,200 We're all fallen, we're all lost. 506 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:20,160 Compared to God, there's not a lot of difference. 507 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:23,720 Anyway, I think that's humbling to think about. 508 00:41:23,720 --> 00:41:30,240 And you know, Alma, this is to his good son, Shiblin, in Alma chapter 38. 509 00:41:30,240 --> 00:41:32,600 In Alma chapter 38, he's talking to Shiblin. 510 00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:34,920 This is the good boy, right? 511 00:41:34,920 --> 00:41:38,520 And there's only one chapter for Shiblin because he's such a good kid. 512 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:44,400 I mean, it seems like the troubled ones get most of the verses of Scripture, like Corianton 513 00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:53,200 does, Alma's son, who committed fornication on his mission and gets three great doctrinal 514 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:56,120 chapters, but Shiblin only gets one chapter here. 515 00:41:56,120 --> 00:42:01,920 And then, and then it's kind of sweet, you know, here's this righteous son. 516 00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:06,320 And listen to what Alma tells him in verse 14. 517 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:07,800 Maybe I'll read it. 518 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:16,120 Shiblin, Alma speaking to his son, do not say, oh God, I thank thee that we are better 519 00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:26,960 than our brethren, but rather say, oh Lord, forgive my unworthiness and remember my brethren 520 00:42:26,960 --> 00:42:28,760 in mercy. 521 00:42:28,760 --> 00:42:36,520 Yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. 522 00:42:36,520 --> 00:42:38,840 Wow. 523 00:42:38,840 --> 00:42:42,840 What great counsel from a prophet of God to his good son. 524 00:42:42,840 --> 00:42:43,840 Right. 525 00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:49,280 I mean, Healman was another good son he had, but this is to the good boy, Shiblin, the 526 00:42:49,280 --> 00:42:55,240 kind of the Shiblin syndrome, you know, the good kid doesn't seem to get as much attention. 527 00:42:55,240 --> 00:43:00,880 And yet, what's the one thing in this short chapter that Alma wants Shiblin to know? 528 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:03,920 Hey, you're not as good. 529 00:43:03,920 --> 00:43:06,240 You're not as good as you think you are. 530 00:43:06,240 --> 00:43:13,560 Remember your unworthiness before God at all times. 531 00:43:13,560 --> 00:43:19,760 I hesitate to say this, but every once in a while, and we just had Fast Sunday and it 532 00:43:19,760 --> 00:43:23,680 did not happen in my ward this Sunday, I'm saying that for the record. 533 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:29,880 But you know, sometimes Dave, I hear a testimony and I know we don't mean it, but I think we 534 00:43:29,880 --> 00:43:36,560 need to be careful about it because I hear sometimes people say, express the gratitude 535 00:43:36,560 --> 00:43:40,000 that I'm so glad that we are the ones. 536 00:43:40,000 --> 00:43:41,000 Chosen. 537 00:43:41,000 --> 00:43:42,000 The ones. 538 00:43:42,000 --> 00:43:43,800 The one and only. 539 00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:44,800 Yeah. 540 00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:46,240 And you know, and I appreciate it. 541 00:43:46,240 --> 00:43:47,240 I think that's great. 542 00:43:47,240 --> 00:43:48,240 It's a great doctrine. 543 00:43:48,240 --> 00:43:49,240 It is. 544 00:43:49,240 --> 00:43:53,760 And I think we need to embrace it, but I think we need to maybe heed some counsel. 545 00:43:53,760 --> 00:43:57,960 Every time we say it though, we should remember our unworthiness. 546 00:43:57,960 --> 00:44:02,560 And if we remember our own unworthiness, maybe we're just not as apt to say it as quickly 547 00:44:02,560 --> 00:44:03,560 too. 548 00:44:03,560 --> 00:44:04,560 Yeah. 549 00:44:04,560 --> 00:44:10,000 Well, think about, let's turn to the example of Nephi. 550 00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:18,440 You know, this great son of Lehi and Saraiah who, I love it. 551 00:44:18,440 --> 00:44:23,440 Verse one of chapter one where he knows he's favored by God. 552 00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:28,160 And you know, there's some truth to that for sure. 553 00:44:28,160 --> 00:44:37,200 But later on when his dad dies and his brothers are kind of going to hell and he has to separate 554 00:44:37,200 --> 00:44:42,840 himself from his brother to save his own family and things aren't going well. 555 00:44:42,840 --> 00:44:52,120 I think, I think Nephi teaches us how all prophets and people should feel that we're 556 00:44:52,120 --> 00:44:54,840 all fallen and we're all lost. 557 00:44:54,840 --> 00:45:03,040 I mean, listen to these words of, of Nephi in second Nephi chapter four, verse 17. 558 00:45:03,040 --> 00:45:11,800 Nevertheless, not withstanding the great goodness of the Lord in showing me his great and marvelous 559 00:45:11,800 --> 00:45:13,160 works. 560 00:45:13,160 --> 00:45:18,000 And that would surely include the atonement of Jesus Christ. 561 00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:25,000 My heart exclaimeth, oh wretched man that I am. 562 00:45:25,000 --> 00:45:35,720 Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh and my soul grieve it because of mine iniquities. 563 00:45:35,720 --> 00:45:44,480 I am encompassed about because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. 564 00:45:44,480 --> 00:45:47,120 Wow, Scott. 565 00:45:47,120 --> 00:45:48,480 This is Nephi. 566 00:45:48,480 --> 00:45:50,480 This is Nephi. 567 00:45:50,480 --> 00:45:51,480 Yeah. 568 00:45:51,480 --> 00:45:54,760 A living born of goodly parents and highly favored of God. 569 00:45:54,760 --> 00:45:56,480 This is that guy, David. 570 00:45:56,480 --> 00:45:59,080 Temptation and sins easily beset him. 571 00:45:59,080 --> 00:46:01,520 Oh wretched man, is he serious? 572 00:46:01,520 --> 00:46:03,760 Does he feel wretched? 573 00:46:03,760 --> 00:46:04,760 I think he must. 574 00:46:04,760 --> 00:46:06,760 It's in the scriptures, right? 575 00:46:06,760 --> 00:46:12,280 I, I, which, which, you know, if that's hard for us to understand, and I think it might 576 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:16,480 be, I think it might be difficult for some of us to wrap our minds around that concept 577 00:46:16,480 --> 00:46:18,600 of Nephi, oh wretched man, Nephi. 578 00:46:18,600 --> 00:46:22,200 Well, by comparison, and we've got to stop living by comparison. 579 00:46:22,200 --> 00:46:23,680 Comparison's the thief of joy, right? 580 00:46:23,680 --> 00:46:24,680 Right. 581 00:46:24,680 --> 00:46:26,720 But, but, but, you know, by comparison, how would we feel? 582 00:46:26,720 --> 00:46:31,240 I mean, here, here we know, we know Nephi's righteousness. 583 00:46:31,240 --> 00:46:36,520 We've seen it, just in the, in the few short chapters that we've had in the book so far, 584 00:46:36,520 --> 00:46:40,280 you know, we know of his righteousness, but he's calling himself oh wretched man. 585 00:46:40,280 --> 00:46:45,480 And not only that, but he's confess, confessing in a way that, hey, I have struggles too, you 586 00:46:45,480 --> 00:46:50,520 know, my heart sorrowed because of the, because of my flesh. 587 00:46:50,520 --> 00:46:55,840 Maybe me, Scott, compared to God, there's not that much difference between Laman and 588 00:46:55,840 --> 00:46:56,840 Nephi. 589 00:46:56,840 --> 00:46:57,840 Yeah. 590 00:46:57,840 --> 00:47:05,360 But I, I, I know he's serious and I know the prophets feel this way from time to time, 591 00:47:05,360 --> 00:47:16,320 but we are all, because of the fall, we are beset continually by temptation and sin. 592 00:47:16,320 --> 00:47:23,680 So was Jesus, Jesus was continually beset by temptation, but never gave heed to them. 593 00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:24,680 Right. 594 00:47:24,680 --> 00:47:31,040 We'll talk about the temptations of Jesus and, and the power which, which he was able 595 00:47:31,040 --> 00:47:35,480 to live a sinless life and the importance of that when it comes to the atonement of 596 00:47:35,480 --> 00:47:39,440 Jesus Christ, which is, I think one of the greatest aspects of the atonement of Jesus 597 00:47:39,440 --> 00:47:45,920 Christ, that Jesus could actually pull that off and live a sinless life when he was continually 598 00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:52,280 being tempted, not just in the wilderness for 40 days, but, or after those 40 days that 599 00:47:52,280 --> 00:47:57,560 he went to the wilderness, but that he was continually tempted. 600 00:47:57,560 --> 00:47:58,560 Well. 601 00:47:58,560 --> 00:47:59,560 Never gave heed. 602 00:47:59,560 --> 00:48:02,240 I think that Nephi gives us the answer. 603 00:48:02,240 --> 00:48:03,240 And this is for sure. 604 00:48:03,240 --> 00:48:04,240 Verse 19. 605 00:48:04,240 --> 00:48:05,240 Yeah. 606 00:48:05,240 --> 00:48:06,240 Yeah. 607 00:48:06,240 --> 00:48:07,920 This is the answer, not just for Nephi, but for all of us. 608 00:48:07,920 --> 00:48:08,920 Right. 609 00:48:08,920 --> 00:48:10,480 So here again, here again's the temple. 610 00:48:10,480 --> 00:48:15,760 He brings up the fall and then he hears the atonement verse 19. 611 00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:20,960 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart growneth because of my sins. 612 00:48:20,960 --> 00:48:25,200 Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. 613 00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:27,040 Keep reading. 614 00:48:27,040 --> 00:48:29,200 My God has been my support. 615 00:48:29,200 --> 00:48:33,600 He has led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness and he has preserved me upon 616 00:48:33,600 --> 00:48:35,720 the waters of the great deep. 617 00:48:35,720 --> 00:48:41,240 He has filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. 618 00:48:41,240 --> 00:48:50,280 He has confounded my enemies unto causing of them to quake before me. 619 00:48:50,280 --> 00:48:52,640 What a beautiful testimony, right? 620 00:48:52,640 --> 00:48:53,640 Yeah. 621 00:48:53,640 --> 00:48:54,640 Yeah. 622 00:48:54,640 --> 00:48:55,640 Yeah. 623 00:48:55,640 --> 00:48:57,360 The testimony of a prophet right there. 624 00:48:57,360 --> 00:48:59,640 And he takes care of it. 625 00:48:59,640 --> 00:49:04,240 He encompasses the entirety of the temple drama. 626 00:49:04,240 --> 00:49:05,240 Yeah. 627 00:49:05,240 --> 00:49:06,240 Like you just said, right? 628 00:49:06,240 --> 00:49:07,240 It is. 629 00:49:07,240 --> 00:49:08,240 Yeah. 630 00:49:08,240 --> 00:49:09,240 It is. 631 00:49:09,240 --> 00:49:15,160 And I guess maybe a final, one final example from the Book of Mormon that just astounds 632 00:49:15,160 --> 00:49:23,760 me really, Scott, is the experience of King Benjamin's people after being born again, 633 00:49:23,760 --> 00:49:35,000 forgiven of their sins, received this incredible miraculous cleansing and healing and their 634 00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:36,000 conscience. 635 00:49:36,000 --> 00:49:43,360 Let's turn to Mosiah chapter 4 and just maybe read verse 2 through 3, Scott. 636 00:49:43,360 --> 00:49:50,000 I mean, just to appreciate this spiritual miracle and experience that these individuals 637 00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:59,920 had had because of their repentance as a result of King Benjamin's address. 638 00:49:59,920 --> 00:50:03,320 Maybe I'll read verses 2 and 3. 639 00:50:03,320 --> 00:50:08,840 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the 640 00:50:08,840 --> 00:50:10,160 earth. 641 00:50:10,160 --> 00:50:16,920 And they all cried aloud with one voice saying, Oh, have mercy and apply the atoning blood 642 00:50:16,920 --> 00:50:23,800 of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins and our hearts may be purified. 643 00:50:23,800 --> 00:50:29,720 For we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth and all 644 00:50:29,720 --> 00:50:33,160 things who shall come down among the children of men. 645 00:50:33,160 --> 00:50:35,680 Well, there's two aspects of the temple right there. 646 00:50:35,680 --> 00:50:38,680 He talks about they're grateful for the creation. 647 00:50:38,680 --> 00:50:41,020 They're grateful for the fall. 648 00:50:41,020 --> 00:50:43,520 This address was given at the temple. 649 00:50:43,520 --> 00:50:48,480 It's just interesting how much maybe we don't have recorded in here about what they understood 650 00:50:48,480 --> 00:50:50,560 about the temple and the endowment. 651 00:50:50,560 --> 00:50:51,560 But look at verse 3. 652 00:50:51,560 --> 00:50:57,000 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words, the Spirit of the Lord came upon 653 00:50:57,000 --> 00:51:03,920 them and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins and having 654 00:51:03,920 --> 00:51:11,720 peace of conscience because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ and His 655 00:51:11,720 --> 00:51:17,200 atonement who should come according to the words which King Benjamin had spoken unto 656 00:51:17,200 --> 00:51:18,200 them. 657 00:51:18,200 --> 00:51:25,440 Well, OK, so they have this amazing spiritual experience and they are rejoicing and no doubt 658 00:51:25,440 --> 00:51:28,000 King Benjamin's rejoicing with them. 659 00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:31,600 But look at what he tells them in verse five. 660 00:51:31,600 --> 00:51:34,180 If you want to read that one, Scott. 661 00:51:34,180 --> 00:51:39,200 So King Benjamin, after he hears them, then he opens his mouth and he begins to speak 662 00:51:39,200 --> 00:51:43,580 in them and he says in verse five, For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness 663 00:51:43,580 --> 00:51:48,520 of God, and we could say the goodness of God is really the sacrifice of His son. 664 00:51:48,520 --> 00:51:49,520 Right. 665 00:51:49,520 --> 00:51:55,540 So, for behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God or the sacrifice of His son at this 666 00:51:55,540 --> 00:52:02,280 time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness and your worthless and fallen state. 667 00:52:02,280 --> 00:52:09,080 Isn't that interesting that he says and his whole discourse is pretty much on the atonement 668 00:52:09,080 --> 00:52:13,560 of Jesus Christ and he says, if that has awakened you. 669 00:52:13,560 --> 00:52:21,400 So how do we how do we really come to understand and appreciate our fallen natures and the 670 00:52:21,400 --> 00:52:23,880 doctrine of the fall? 671 00:52:23,880 --> 00:52:30,560 Maybe King Benjamin is teaching us here that to really appreciate our fallen wretchedness 672 00:52:30,560 --> 00:52:36,320 that we need to understand and appreciate more the goodness of God and the atonement 673 00:52:36,320 --> 00:52:37,740 of Jesus Christ. 674 00:52:37,740 --> 00:52:41,540 And then look at verse eleven if you want to read verse eleven, Scott. 675 00:52:41,540 --> 00:52:46,300 And again, I say unto you, as I have said before, that as she come to the knowledge 676 00:52:46,300 --> 00:52:51,600 of the glory of God, or if you have known of His goodness and have tasted of His love 677 00:52:51,600 --> 00:52:58,680 and have received a remission of your sins, which causes such exceeding great joy in your 678 00:52:58,680 --> 00:53:04,720 souls, even so I would that you should remember and always retain in remembrance the greatness 679 00:53:04,720 --> 00:53:12,080 of God and your own nothingness and His goodness and long suffering towards you, unworthy creatures 680 00:53:12,080 --> 00:53:17,560 and humble yourselves even to the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord 681 00:53:17,560 --> 00:53:23,780 daily and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken 682 00:53:23,780 --> 00:53:26,480 by the mouth of the angel. 683 00:53:26,480 --> 00:53:28,680 Wow. 684 00:53:28,680 --> 00:53:34,480 So these people who have just been born again through their exceeding faith in Christ have 685 00:53:34,480 --> 00:53:36,400 been forgiven of their sins. 686 00:53:36,400 --> 00:53:38,320 And what does he tell them? 687 00:53:38,320 --> 00:53:42,600 You better remember your nothingness, you unworthy creatures. 688 00:53:42,600 --> 00:53:45,600 Isn't that amazing? 689 00:53:45,600 --> 00:53:46,600 Yep. 690 00:53:46,600 --> 00:53:55,280 Oh man, King Benjamin, what a prophet that he's not going to glory too long in their 691 00:53:55,280 --> 00:54:04,160 born again righteousness without reminding them of their fallen nature and state. 692 00:54:04,160 --> 00:54:11,360 And that they are continually unworthy before the Lord, especially compared to the goodness 693 00:54:11,360 --> 00:54:14,320 and sacrifice of God. 694 00:54:14,320 --> 00:54:18,760 But he didn't tell them that because of your fallen nature and because of your fallen state 695 00:54:18,760 --> 00:54:20,160 that you're hopeless. 696 00:54:20,160 --> 00:54:21,600 Yeah, no. 697 00:54:21,600 --> 00:54:23,080 Quite the opposite, right? 698 00:54:23,080 --> 00:54:30,120 Yeah, he almost, I don't know if I would use the word normalizes it here, but it is something 699 00:54:30,120 --> 00:54:35,240 that they are made aware of, that they accept, and that even though whatever experiences 700 00:54:35,240 --> 00:54:40,360 they've been through, and we know they've been through some very miraculous experiences 701 00:54:40,360 --> 00:54:45,280 during this period of time, that even though all of that, we do need to remember that without 702 00:54:45,280 --> 00:54:47,440 him we really are nothing. 703 00:54:47,440 --> 00:54:48,440 Yeah. 704 00:54:48,440 --> 00:54:55,720 Well, let us, I'd like to maybe share what I consider to be the five blessings of understanding 705 00:54:55,720 --> 00:54:57,940 the doctrine of the fall. 706 00:54:57,940 --> 00:55:05,680 But as we move into this, let us remember what we started this podcast with, that inspired 707 00:55:05,680 --> 00:55:22,600 statement by C.S. Lewis, redeemed humanity is greater, more glorious than unfallen humanity 708 00:55:22,600 --> 00:55:25,080 could have ever been. 709 00:55:25,080 --> 00:55:36,040 So going back to President Boyd K. Packer's great quote, the true doctrine understood 710 00:55:36,040 --> 00:55:38,600 changes attitudes and behavior. 711 00:55:38,600 --> 00:55:46,560 I would like us to consider how understanding the true doctrine of the fall can change our 712 00:55:46,560 --> 00:55:48,120 lives. 713 00:55:48,120 --> 00:55:58,200 And I've tried to summarize this in five ways that understanding the fall can change us. 714 00:55:58,200 --> 00:56:07,720 Number one, understanding the fall will change us by empowering us with hope, knowing that 715 00:56:07,720 --> 00:56:13,980 we are not as bad or wicked as we thought we were by realizing that our carnal nature 716 00:56:13,980 --> 00:56:23,080 and sensual urges are part of being human, of the flesh, and not who we really are, of 717 00:56:23,080 --> 00:56:25,680 the spirit. 718 00:56:25,680 --> 00:56:36,360 If we understand the fall, we would never allow our sins, failures, temptations, weaknesses, 719 00:56:36,360 --> 00:56:47,360 natural inclinations, tendencies, or propensities to progress from our feelings and actions 720 00:56:47,360 --> 00:56:50,560 to our identity. 721 00:56:50,560 --> 00:57:00,680 We would never associate our identity with the type of intensity of temptation we experience. 722 00:57:00,680 --> 00:57:06,480 That's the first blessing of understanding the fall. 723 00:57:06,480 --> 00:57:15,040 Second, understanding the fall will change us by encouraging us to rely more upon Jesus 724 00:57:15,040 --> 00:57:20,040 Christ and His Atonement than the arm of the flesh. 725 00:57:20,040 --> 00:57:25,660 Knowing the consequences of the fall, our fatal state and helpless condition, should 726 00:57:25,660 --> 00:57:31,300 help us feel greater humility and a desire to develop and strengthen our faith in Jesus 727 00:57:31,300 --> 00:57:35,920 Christ, in the name of Christ, and the plan of redemption. 728 00:57:35,920 --> 00:57:37,600 We will love Him more. 729 00:57:37,600 --> 00:57:39,680 We will trust Him more. 730 00:57:39,680 --> 00:57:44,600 We will be more grateful for Him and His Atonement. 731 00:57:44,600 --> 00:57:51,920 Number three, understanding the fall will change us by strengthening our resolve to 732 00:57:51,920 --> 00:57:59,520 never give up or give in, but to endure to the end, realizing that spiritual growth and 733 00:57:59,520 --> 00:58:07,600 progression in mortality is a process, lifetime process, not an event. 734 00:58:07,600 --> 00:58:12,660 Knowing that we will never be completely from sin in this life should help us to fight the 735 00:58:12,660 --> 00:58:20,760 battle of life daily, with courage, and provide the motivation to not quit. 736 00:58:20,760 --> 00:58:24,200 Pity is not for wimps. 737 00:58:24,200 --> 00:58:30,380 Once we acknowledge, we shouldn't be surprised, as Peter put it, by this fiery trial. 738 00:58:30,380 --> 00:58:36,080 Once we acknowledge, internalize, and accept that truth, that life is difficult, full of 739 00:58:36,080 --> 00:58:41,540 opposition and sin, we will be better prepared to deal with it. 740 00:58:41,540 --> 00:58:46,640 We will more proactively strive to make repentance and the Atonement an essential part of our 741 00:58:46,640 --> 00:58:52,720 daily life, as my sweetheart Chris put it. 742 00:58:52,720 --> 00:58:58,440 When I understood the doctrine of the fall, I felt worthy enough to ask for God's help 743 00:58:58,440 --> 00:59:01,480 and forgiveness. 744 00:59:01,480 --> 00:59:09,200 Number four, understanding the fall will change us by helping us appreciate what a grand opportunity 745 00:59:09,200 --> 00:59:16,120 mortality is to develop and strengthen our divine spirit, self, in ways not possible 746 00:59:16,120 --> 00:59:21,200 in the pre-mortal existence, or even in a paradycyclical glory. 747 00:59:21,200 --> 00:59:28,920 With bodies of flesh and blood, we learn to control the natural urges and carnal tendencies 748 00:59:28,920 --> 00:59:35,000 of being human, and we learn to discipline and restrain ourselves through the enabling 749 00:59:35,000 --> 00:59:37,640 power of Christ's Atonement. 750 00:59:37,640 --> 00:59:43,240 Without opposition, there would never be any progression. 751 00:59:43,240 --> 00:59:53,400 Number five, understanding the fall will change us by increasing our ability to prize the 752 00:59:53,400 --> 01:00:01,640 good and savor the sweet because of encountering the bad and tasting the bitter. 753 01:00:01,640 --> 01:00:09,320 The pain, struggles, and sorrows of mortality enlarge our capacity to experience joy in 754 01:00:09,320 --> 01:00:16,520 this life and receive a fullness of joy when we are resurrected. 755 01:00:16,520 --> 01:00:24,200 Well, so I think those are some of the great lessons and truths, blessings that we can 756 01:00:24,200 --> 01:00:28,560 receive in our lives, Scott, when we really come to understand the doctrine, the true 757 01:00:28,560 --> 01:00:38,600 doctrine, the restored doctrine of the fall of Adam and Eve, and you and me, and all mankind. 758 01:00:38,600 --> 01:00:44,320 I'm able to share this with you today and hope and pray that all of us will give thanks 759 01:00:44,320 --> 01:00:51,720 to God for the fall and our mortal weakness, which He gave us. 760 01:00:51,720 --> 01:00:57,560 I give unto men weakness, that they may be humble, and my grace is sufficient for all 761 01:00:57,560 --> 01:01:01,360 men that humble themselves before me, He said. 762 01:01:01,360 --> 01:01:08,840 For if men will humble themselves before me and have faith in me, then will I make weak 763 01:01:08,840 --> 01:01:12,080 things become strong unto them. 764 01:01:12,080 --> 01:01:15,320 Ether 1227. 765 01:01:15,320 --> 01:01:20,600 In another week or two, we'll be getting into the effects of the atonement of Jesus Christ 766 01:01:20,600 --> 01:01:26,120 and the events of the atonement of Jesus Christ and all of that that really matters, but to 767 01:01:26,120 --> 01:01:32,440 have this understanding of the fall was not a surprise to Heavenly Father, the atonement 768 01:01:32,440 --> 01:01:35,240 of Jesus Christ was not His backup plan. 769 01:01:35,240 --> 01:01:39,560 This was the plan from the very beginning, and now we can see blessings. 770 01:01:39,560 --> 01:01:44,520 David just went through five really important blessings of the fall for us, and I think 771 01:01:44,520 --> 01:01:52,360 many, maybe most, perhaps all of us could even expand on that and provide deeper color, 772 01:01:52,360 --> 01:01:57,480 more intimate to our own lives, to our own experiences, and maybe that would be our invitation 773 01:01:57,480 --> 01:01:59,000 this week. 774 01:01:59,000 --> 01:02:04,800 Let's explore those five blessings that David just went over as part of the blessings that 775 01:02:04,800 --> 01:02:11,400 come or are fruit of the fall, and let's explore those in maybe a more intimate sense in our 776 01:02:11,400 --> 01:02:18,040 own lives, maybe taking even a deeper inventory of how are we seeing ourselves and how are 777 01:02:18,040 --> 01:02:24,560 we sometimes getting our identity confused because we identify with the fall of Adam 778 01:02:24,560 --> 01:02:30,360 and Eve instead of the solution to the fall or the second part of the plan, which was 779 01:02:30,360 --> 01:02:32,880 the atonement of Jesus Christ. 780 01:02:32,880 --> 01:02:40,000 I know that in recovery these things can be so important in all parts of our lives. 781 01:02:40,000 --> 01:02:46,400 Those of us who deal with anything that seems to be a struggle in our lives, if we can understand 782 01:02:46,400 --> 01:02:49,520 it, it is not the struggle that defines us. 783 01:02:49,520 --> 01:02:55,600 It's not even how necessarily because of our own inadequacies and because of our own, I 784 01:02:55,600 --> 01:02:59,880 would even say sometimes ineptness. 785 01:02:59,880 --> 01:03:01,720 We don't identify with that. 786 01:03:01,720 --> 01:03:08,440 We identify with, and this is the second step in a recovery program, came to believe that 787 01:03:08,440 --> 01:03:11,720 a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 788 01:03:11,720 --> 01:03:18,000 That power is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and it is through Him and by Him that the 789 01:03:18,000 --> 01:03:25,400 effects of the fall become strengths unto us, and they do that as we recognize our own 790 01:03:25,400 --> 01:03:26,400 redemption. 791 01:03:26,400 --> 01:03:28,920 I look forward to being again next week. 792 01:03:28,920 --> 01:03:31,880 I hope that your weeks go well. 793 01:03:31,880 --> 01:03:35,760 Hope that you remember all of these things that are so important to us. 794 01:03:35,760 --> 01:03:36,960 Remember who you are. 795 01:03:36,960 --> 01:03:42,680 Remember that you have been redeemed through His blood, and that makes you His. 796 01:03:42,680 --> 01:03:43,680 Thanks for being with us. 797 01:03:43,680 --> 01:04:08,480 I look forward to being together next week.