THE CONDESCENSION OF GOD

As we move into our next week's study of chapters 11 to 15 of 1 Nephi, we can learn a lot about the future of the American Continents through the continuations of Nephi's vision.  We also get a panoramic view of the Savior's life and His role in Heavenly Father's Plan.  You will recall that Nephi went to the Lord in prayer and asked to know the meaning of his father, Lehi's, vision of the Tree of Life.  Nephi was not only shown the vision,  but his Spirit Guide led him through the meaning of the symbols his father saw and expanded Nephi's vision of the coming of the Savior and the  future of the America's in terms of the Covenant.

In the 11th chapter of the book, Nephi's is given an amazing vision in answer to his prayers.  As he learns the significance of the Tree as the Love of God and the Rod as the Word of God, he still struggles to understand.  The Angel then opens a vision to his eyes and he sees the small town of Nazareth.  Remembering that Nephi had lived in the area around Jerusalem, he very likely remembered the village of Nazareth. In the village he see a young woman whom he describes as a virgin most beautiful and fair above all other virgins. (1 Nephi 11: 15) The Angel explained that the virgin he saw was the young woman foreordained to be the mother of the Son of God.  He saw her with an infant in her arms and learns about the condescension of God.

To condescend, according to Webster's online dictionary, means to descend to a less dignified level and to waive the privileges of rank. * Using the word in reference to what Jehovah did when He took upon Himself the mantle of mortality is found only in the Book of Mormon.  One non-LDS clergyman, reading the Book, commented to his LDS colleague that condescend was the perfect word to describe Jesus' sacrifice in even coming in the flesh. He was still the Jehovah of the Old Testament, but in the flesh, there was little beauty that men would desire or even recognize Him.**  Nephi's vision validates the fact that God knows the end from the beginning.

Even though the word condescension doesn't appear anywhere in the Bible in relationship to Christ, the concept introduced in the Book of Mormon has spread beyond Nephi to others. Episcopal clergyman, Phillip Brooks, made the observation in this oft-quoted teaching. It amazes me how the Book of Mormon is often reflected in the teaching of others who are not of the Church.  Most amazing is that these people usually don't know from whence the ideas come. God can quantify what He qualifies.

Nephi then saw the baptism of Jesus, His ministry and miracles, and the 12 whom He called to follow Him. Nephi was shown the Savior in Gethsemane and on the cross.  He witnessed His resurrection and, later, His appearance to Lehi's descendants in the promised land.  Because of Jesus Christ, ultimately, the Great and Spacious Building fell. (1 Nephi 11: 27-36)

Nephi's words are a sweeping and epic story that resonates today both inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and outside. Jesus has called a new Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He has also called Three special Apostles and Prophets to preside over His Church in the Last Days.  Nephi saw and recorded it all.  

We are so blessed to be the recipients of the blessing promised to this ancient prophet.  We are also blessed to have his writings in the Book of Mormon to give us many keys to staying on the path to eternal life.

©January 2020, Dr. Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson

* www.mirriam-webster.com
**  Many "Christian" scholars today have tried to differentiate the Jesus of history from the Divine Jesus. BYUTV produced a special to confront this issue, Messiah: Behold the Lamb of God.
The Messiah: Behold, the Lamb of God