Sunday, January 5, 2020

Past, Present, Future -- Subtle (and some not-so-subtle) examples

As discussed in my previous post on the topic, one important aspect of the plan of salvation is that it was established before the foundation of the world. One of the many ways this is touched on in the scriptures is through the use of the past/present/future wording.  Many such examples can be found in the Book of Mormon.  Some of these are quite subtle, such as in Alma-2's questioning to the people of Zarahemla:


14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body? (Alma 5)

Others are more overt:

7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world. (Mosiah 4)

It is interesting to note that these phrasing often occur in the context of a discourse on the plan of redemption.

Incidentally, this can be found in scriptures outside of the Book of Mormon, too.

The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth;
But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord. (D&C 130)