The Two Ways -- Introduction to the concept and notes from the Book of Mormon Title Page

As I read through the Book of Mormon this year, I am specifically trying to notice a few things. One of these goals involves looking for "The Two Ways" in each verse.

I believe the Book of Mormon writers had a worldview that was unique in a few keys ways, shared by modern day prophets as well.  In essence, there is a Way of Life, which comes through the Plan of Redemption and Jesus Christ, and the Way of Death, which is authored by Satan in an effort to blind our eyes, harden our hearts, and lead us into captivity.

Each week as I read, I'll be asking myself this question:

What does this passage teach me about the Way of Life (or the Way of Death)?

The Two Ways in the Title Page

Here are the notes I took from the Title Page with this question in mind:

The Way of Life

• Has nothing to do with what group you were born to ("Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile"), the audience is everyone on earth
• Accepting the Book of Mormon requires an acceptance of "spirit of prophecy and of revelation"/"the gift of God"
• Written by commandment (the Nephite prophets were playing as much of a role in the latter-day gathering as the modern day gatherers -- all are following the commandment of the Lord)
• Written:
• "to show [us] what great things the Lord hath done for [our] fathers"
• "that [we] may know the covenants of the Lord, that [we] are not cast off forever"
• "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself to all nations."
• Implied: If we "condemn not the things of God" we can be "found spotless at the judgment seat of Christ."

To summarize, the Lord is unfolding a grand design, prepared from the beginning, to allow us to accept Jesus Christ. By reading this book we will see that the same covenants made with our fathers can be ours today if we receive the gifts of God as given directly to us and through the words of His prophetic messengers, current and past. Accepting these words and receiving the covenants of the Lord will allow us to be found spotless at the judgement seat of Christ.

The Way of Death

• "When they were building a tower to get to heaven," the Lord "confounded the language of the people" and "scattered" them.
• Implied: If we do not know the covenants we will not be found spotless
• Warning to "condemn not the things of God" due to the "mistakes of men."
• Implied: Condemning the "things of God" will lead us to not being found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.

Summary: Condemning the "things of God" will lead us to not being found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ, perhaps due to rejecting the covenant mediated by Jesus Christ. Man-made efforts lead to "confounding" and "scattering"