This post is based on a few axioms that I do not want to spend too much time on, since they should be well established on this blog by now.
Central to the plan of salvation, the scriptures and the gospel contained therein, is the creation. The first 3 chapters of Genesis are extremely dense, chock full of symbolism and set the stage for mankind (Hebr. Adam) and the role of the Savior.
Central to the creation account are trees. They are also full of symbolism (as I will discuss soon), they were created on the third day, and they played a central role in the Garden of Eden
I have written about tree symbolism in the scriptures several times before, like here, here and here. Still, I keep learning. One fascinating aspect of a tree, is the way it symbolizes structure and hierarchy. Consider this picture of a branch below. We recognize it as a branch because it is horizontal. But flip it counterclockwise 90 degrees and it looks like a tree. Similarly, we can take a twig from the branch, place it in an upright position and it will look like a mini-tree. This way, trees symbolize order and a hierarchical structure.
In Zenos' allegory in Jacob 5, we read about branches being cut off and planted as trees. The trees in this allegory symbolize nations and people with the fruit symbolizing their works. The whole earth with its people, various nations of the earth and individuals within a particular nation, all reflect different hierarchical levels, just like the tree. Often the same principles apply on different levels. It is a recurring theme in the scriptures, often related to trees. Here are some examples:
Cut off
This is a theme we have discussed before but not in this context. Those who break the covenant are cut off (Hebr. kareth). Usually, this is in the context of an individual who sins and is being cut off from the covenant people. But it applies on different levels. For instance, in 1 Kings 9:6-7, Israel is cut off from the earth or land. This is from the Hebrew, adamah, which can mean both.
6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:
When the whole nation falls into apostasy and sin, they are cut off collectively, just like an individual who sins can be cut off individually.
But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:20)
This is just one of many examples to illustrate the same principle as in 1 Kings 9, just on a lower hierarchical level. It goes even further than that. These words by Jesus are well-known:
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. (Matthew 18:8)
Here we even get an explanation. Whatever part that sins, may corrupt the whole and is better cut off. Presumably, this applies to all levels. Wicked individuals can corrupt a nation and a wicked nation can corrupt the whole earth.
The fruit and the cup
This example is perhaps not the best one to get my point across, but I find this part of King Benjamin's speech very interesting:
23 And now I have spoken the words which the Lord God hath commanded me.
24 And thus saith the Lord: They shall stand as a bright testimony against this people, at the judgment day; whereof they shall be judged, every man according to his works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil.
25 And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls.
26 Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of God, which justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Adam should fall because of his partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more forever. (Mosiah 3)
The Lord God had commanded Benjamin, through his angel, to say certain things to his people. They would stand as a bright testimony against them. "Bright" is an interesting adjective to use there, but off topic, so I won't go there. The relevant part is the people who, after hearing the words and still choosing bad works, will drink of the cup of the wrath of God. This is compared to Adam eating of the forbidden fruit. The point is that Adam represents mankind, it is even the meaning of his name. What he did personally and the consequences thereof can be applied on the macro level in the hierarchy of the plan of salvation.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Romans 5:12)
I don't know if it is stretching the symbolism too far to interpret the cup of the wrath of God to be made of the bitter fruit from the tree of knowledge?
The tree of life
On to the other tree in the Garden of Eden, the tree of life. This is referenced several times in the Book of Mormon, but the two most detailed references operate on different levels in the hierarchy. In 1 Nephi 8, Lehi sees the tree in a dream. It is a tree accessible for all people who are able to find their way to it. It was standing by a field representing the world (see 1 Nephi 8:20). This is the macro level version. In Alma 32 we find the micro level version. It is a seemingly very different account where the tree of life is grown within your heart instead. There is a tree-man symbiosis. But the two versions are really not that different, they are just applied on different levels. The same principles apply on all levels. The word of God (either represented by the iron rod or the seed planted in our hearts) is what leads us to the tree of life, collectively and individually.
This is related to my previous post. Here is more from Hugh Nibley, who has read a ton of apocryphal literature, taken a lot of notes and sharing some of that in the book, "Temple and Cosmos".
There is the doctrine of the "Sent One" - somebody who is sent. Recently, a great deal of attention is being paid to this doctrine of the "Sent One". Geo Widengren, a Swede, has written a book on the subject of "The One Who Is Sent" - the one who is sent from one world to another with a message and instructions. In fact, the word apostle means "sent one". Instead of personally intervening by direct methods into the affairs of men, God sends his agents to act for him. The purpose of the Sent Ones, all agree, is to help the struggling lower creatures out, by instructing them in what they have to do to survive here and hereafter, and where necessary to show them how to go about following instructions. Their great work is, this, to uplift and to give help to those beneath them. The greatest of the Sent Ones is, of course, the Savior himself. "The Lord brings earth up to Heaven," as 1 Jeu says.
Nibley goes on to say
In the vast majority of accounts, it is three Sent Ones who instruct Adam. There is no conflict, since the Sent Ones are many. They come whenever they are needed. Indeed, according to sources, Adam himself was one of the three great Sent Ones who created the world in the beginning.
We get some obvious temple vibes from this. It is also interesting to note that Adam, who was instructed by Sent Ones also became one himself. This is another example of High Nibley's findings in the apocrypha supporting and supplementing topics that have been discussed on this blog before. It is a topic that has come up frequently in Lord Wilmore's posts. In fact, there are too many to link to but here and here are two examples. More from Nibley on this:
The reason it is so often the Adam of Light, the premortal Adam, who is sent to help suffering humanity (he's our great helper), is that he, as our first Father, was himself thus helped in the beginning
The apocryphal literature apparently uses Adam a lot but this is a general scriptural pattern. Those who have been awakened/helped/instructed/lifted are assigned to help others, whether angels or men. The word malak (Hebrew for messenger) covers both. Here is a quote from another apocryphal source, the Gospel of Truth:
Whoever has this knowledge is a being from on high. When he is called, he hears, answers, and turns toward him who calls and reascends to him. He knows when he is called; he knows whence he has come, and where he is going. He has turned many from error and proceeded unto places which belong to them, but from which they have strayed. Joy to the man who has discovered himself, awakened, and has helped others to wake up.
The last sentence is what I quoted at the end of my previous post as it also addresses the related deep sleep and awakening pattern. King Benjamin is a good example of this pattern. In Mosiah 3, an angel awakens him and instructs him
2 And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God. And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before me.
3 And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy. (Mosiah 3)
The rest of chapter 3 is the message from the angel about the coming of Christ. But this message is not just for king Benjamin. As he has been instructed, he is to instruct his people. In Mosiah 4 we read about their reaction
3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.
4 And king Benjamin again opened his mouth and began to speak unto them, saying: My friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people, I would again call your attention, that ye may hear and understand the remainder of my words which I shall speak unto you.
5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state (Mosiah 4)
Why would I link king Benjamin to an angel of God with my color coding? Because he has taken that role of malak. The king was awakened by an angel, asked to hear his words and prepared for a message of joy. Afterwards, the king likewise instructs the people, and they are filled with joy and awakened too. King Benjamin hears the words of the Sent One and becomes a Sent One.
Alma the younger is another good example. He was so struck by the message of the angel that he fell to the earth and could not use his limb or open his mouth, another version of the deep sleep. His father gathers the other priests to fast and pray for him
And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort: (Mosiah 27:23)
Alma and the Sons of Mosiah immediately start to function in their new role
32 And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them...
37 And how blessed are they! For they did publishpeace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth. (Mosiah 27)
I find the Isaiah quote in verse 37 interesting. It is paraphrasing Isaiah 52:7 about the beautiful feet on the mountain. This is where they now figuratively stand in their new role as malak. Later in Alma 27:4, they are compared to angels by the people that they have been sent to instruct. This pattern is nothing new for long-time readers of this blog, but it is neat to see how this is supported and expanded upon even in the apocrypha.
14 And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seedforever. (2 Nephi 29)
Writing about the miraculous preservation of a remnant of Joseph of Egypt's coat (see here) got me thinking about the verse above.
The preservation of the coat is a symbol of both the promises made by God about His seed and also about His word. Both would be miraculously preserved by the hand of God until the day comes when they shall be gathered in one. We live in the day when that has begun. The covenant people are the ones who make sacred promises to live by the word of God. Both are miraculously preserved by the Word of God, who came into the world to be a light unto it.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1)
In this post, I will review some of the key verses which detail how these promises are written about in the Book of Mormon.
The Words of Jacob/Israel
Here are the words of Jacob as quoted by Moroni as he rallied an army (by covenant) to defend the liberty of the Nephites:
24 Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.
25 Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow; nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because of that part of his seed which shall be taken unto God.
26 Now behold, this was the language of Jacob. (Alma 46)
(The phrase "taken unto himself" in red is interesting and related, but outside the scope of this post, It will be the subject of a post in the next few days.)
Notice how Israel describes the remnant: "preserved and not decayed." He prophesies that the same will happen to a remnant of his son's seed. What will make the difference between decaying and being preserved? The word of God, of course. Having it and "keeping" it. In a magnificent and directly relevant sermon to his son Joseph, Lehi teaches this very clearly:
23 Wherefore, because of this covenant thou art blessed; for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book. (2 Nephi 3)
As I read the words of Joseph of Egypt in Alma 46, I was immediately reminded of two key phrases in the Book of Mormon which revolve around the same theme, which equally apply to the people of God and the word of God and which have been the subject of several previous posts:
Summarizing from the post linked above, we find various contexts in which the phrase "kept and preserved" appears in the Book of Mormon:
the plates of brass (see Mosiah 1:3-5, Mosiah 28:11, Alma 37:3-4 and 14)
the plates of Nephi (see 2 Nephi 25:21, Mosiah 28:11)
righteous leaders (see Mosiah 2:11)
God's people (see Omni 1:6, Mosiah 2:20, Mosiah 7:20, Alma 9:22, Alma 44:4)
the Urim and Thummim (Mosiah 28:14)
The express purpose of the word of God is to bring about covenants (see 1 Nephi 13:40-41), thereby creating a covenant people. Keep in mind that the word of God goes far beyond the written word. It includes all that is necessary to walk to the tree of life.
"Retain their brightness"
Another phrase/symbol that can be applied to the word of God and the people of God is the concept of brightness.
Nephi's brother Jacob knew the things which were written upon plates "must remain" (Jacob 4:1), whereas anything written "upon anything save it be upon plates must perish and vanish away."
Lehi, upon receiving the plates of brass, states: "these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time." (1 Nephi 5:19)
King Benjamin says this about the words he was commanded to deliver to his people by an angel: "They shall stand as a bright testimony against this people, at the judgment day" (Mosiah 3:24)
Alma-2 tells his son Helaman that "if they are kept they must retain their brightness; yea, and they will retain their brightness; yea, and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy writ." (Alma 37:5)
Conclusion
This promise given by God to the ancient patriarchs underscores the intimate connection between God's covenant people and His word. The connection between covenant-making and the scriptures is emphasized in our modern temples, too, in several important ways. I'll close this post with a prophecy of Joseph in Egypt about a Latter-day Joseph who restore this everlasting covenant to the earth and begin the final gathering of Israel:
7 Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers. (2 Nephi 3)
The more I study the scriptures and ponder their meaning, the more I realize how much we underappreciate the significance of the archetypal story of Adam and Eve as presented in the books of Genesis, Moses, and Abraham. I believe the ancient prophets saw themselves as Adam and created intentional parallels in their accounts.
As we continue this series on "endowment patterns" in the Book of Mormon, I hope I'll be able to draw out meaning from our list of twelve recurring details that connect back to Adam and Eve.
For reference, here is the list of details:
Commanded/warned (often in a dream or vision) to depart
The group they leave are involved in secret combinations or intend to kill them.
They seek to bring all who will hearken/listen
The new covenant people passes through a wilderness on their journey
"Many days"
Tents (a symbol of the presence of the Lord)
A list of animals (sometimes "of every kind")
They inherit a land
New names are given (see Genesis 2:20)
They obey the commandments of the Lord
Abundance/Prosper
They are usually led by a righteous patriarch/king/royal family member
I'm planning to take my time going through each of these symbols, so this part will be broken up into multiple sections.
Commanded/warned (often in a dream or vision) to depart
We read about a "deep sleep" that God caused to come upon Adam (see Moses 3:21 and Abraham 5:15). Waking up from that deep sleep is a powerful covenant symbol. Read the following verses from the Book of Mormon with this context in mind (for the sake of not making this post too long, I am only including the key phrases from these passages, but I encourage you to read the full context of each of the following passages to really get the message). I've highlighted references to "awake" in yellow, descriptions of what we are to awake from in aqua, and I've put in bold italics other key terms and phrases.
13 O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.
14 Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent... (2 Nephi 1)
28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. (2 Nephi 4)
9 Awake, awake! Put on strength, O arm of the Lord;awakeas in the ancient days. (2 Nephi 8 quoting Isaiah 51; see also verses 17 & 24, 3 Nephi 20:36, and Moroni 10:31)
11 O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become angels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death. (Jacob 3)
40 ... I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression. (Mosiah 2)
2 And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God. And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before me.
3 And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy. (Mosiah 3)
7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them. (Alma 5)
27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words ... (Alma 32)
I love this "awake from a deep sleep" symbolism. Jeff Lindsay has explored the connection between dust and chains in a series of Interpreter articles which center on the hypothesis that the Book of Moses contains source text known to authors of the Book of Mormon (part 1 here). If this topic interests you, I encourage you to read more about it. It isn't hard to find this same symbolism in our modern temple worship. The endowment is a literal gift from God, and one of the first steps in truly appreciating how sacred and important this gift is involves a spiritual awakening.
The group they leave are involved in secret combinations or intend to kill them.
My appreciation for this symbol increased as I came to understand the connection between secret combinations and the story of Cain. (See here for a detailed explanation.) Once I understood that secret combinations are Satan's mimic of the sacred covenant between God and Adam, a whole lot of seemingly random details suddenly fell into a beautiful pattern.
God's everlasting covenant offers us power and eternal "gain" as long as we are willing to follow God's way and rely upon Jesus Christ as our source of strength. Satan offers a counterfeit to this, but it's a trap which leads to bondage and spiritual death.
Moroni, writing directly to his latter-day Gentile readers, offer us this warning, where he gives us explicit warnings about leaving these evil ways behind. I'll put in bold the descriptions of the secret combinations, and also highlight one use of "awake" as well in this passage. References to Cain will be in orange (with verses inserted for your convenience):
23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it (Genesis 4:10), and also upon those who built it up.
25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.
26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved. (Ether 8)
One major early hurdle we must clear as we seek to fully accept the endowment God desires to give us is to leave Satan and his evil, destructive ways behind. We must cast him out the same way Jesus cast out unclean spirits. This is accomplished by seeing Satan's tactics for what they are and replacing his ways with God's ways (the Gospel of Jesus Christ).
In the stories I outlined in parts 1 and 2 of this series, the new covenant people must leave behind a fallen situation in which some evil people seek their death (or captivity). There is deep symbolic power in striving to identify and leave behind the elements of our current situation which keeps us bound down and subjected to Satan's power.
They seek to bring all who will hearken/listen
The Book of Moses makes it clear that Adam and Eve taught what they had learned from God to their children.
12 And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. (Moses 5)
1 And Adam hearkened unto the voice of God, and called upon his sons to repent. (Moses 6)
This was done in order to keep a commandment from God:
58 And thus the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning, being declared by holyangels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost.
59 And thus all things were confirmed unto Adam, by an holy ordinance, and the Gospel preached, and a decree sent forth, that it should be in the world, until the end thereof; and thus it was. Amen. (Moses 5)
As I noted in the examples in parts 1 and 2, bringing everyone who will "hearken" is an important component of the formation of a new covenant people.
That's it for this post. In the next post (part 3b), we'll continue to find connections between the details in the endowment pattern and the story of Adam and Eve.
