Monday, March 23, 2020

Internal consistency related to Jacob and Zenos' Allegory -- "Will and Pleasure"

I've noticed a subtle internally consistent detail related to Zenos' Allegory in Jacob 5.

"Will and Pleasure"



This expression shows up several times in the Book of Mormon, but only three times in specific reference to God's will and pleasure -- once in a sermon given by Jacob (2 Nephi 10), once in Jacob's writings (Jacob 4), and once in Jacob recording of Zenos' allegory (Jacob 5). Here are the verses:

22 For behold, the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of Israel, according to his will and pleasure. And now behold, the Lord remembereth all them who have been broken off, wherefore he remembereth us also. (2 Nephi 10)


For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure? (Jacob 4)



14 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and hid the natural branches of the tame olive tree in the nethermost parts of the vineyard, some in one and some in another, according to his will and pleasure. (Jacob 5)


Every other instance of this phrase, which is unique to the Book of Mormon, refers to someone else's "will and pleasure."  That's pretty interesting.