Preparing the way from the beginning

Yesterday's post about feet and the preparatory gospel got me thinking about the idea of preparation in general.

Like so many scriptural terms, "prepare" (and the variations on this word) gets used in many interesting ways in the Book of Mormon.  I believe we can learn a lot about the plan of salvation in general by thinking about this word.

In this post, we'll look at the "preparation" associated with the plan of salvation from several different points of view:

1. What was done from the beginning to prepare the way for us.
2. What Christ accomplished to prepare the way for us.
3. What is expected of us to embrace "the way" that was prepared for us.
4. What is expected of us once we have embraced "the way" in order to prepare others to embrace it.

I love the complex interplay between these various facets -- on the one hand, "a way" was prepared for us from the beginning. On the other hand, embracing "the way" requires us to commit to engaging in the work of salvation and preparing the way for others.

Not surprisingly, the Book of Mormon teaches us a lot about each of these aspects of preparation.

1. What was done from the beginning to prepare the way for us.

The plan of redemption was prepared from the foundation of the world. This doctrine is taught very clearly in several sermons in the Book of Mormon.  

18 For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. (1 Nephi 10)

24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. (2 Nephi 2)

This is important, in that it reminds us that we are not cast off forever -- that was never God's intention -- there was always a way prepared for us to return to live with Him.

2. What Christ accomplished to prepare the way for us.

7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law... (2 Nephi 2)

32 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.
33 And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world. (1 Nephi 11)

14 Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. (Ether 3)

If you want to find additional examples of this doctrine in the Book of Mormon, it isn't hard.  Almost every sermon contains this same teaching, underscoring its central importance in the plan of salvation.

3. What is expected of us to embrace "the way" that was prepared for us.

King Benjamin teaches this doctrine very beautifully.

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—
6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
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.
8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you. (Mosiah 4)

18 Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name.
19 And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I that hath spoken it. Amen. (Ether 4)

I love this passage because it reminds me that not only was a way prepared for the faithful believer, a joyful destination was prepared "for him" from the beginning as well. Here is another similar verse, from Jacob's sermon:

18 But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever. (2 Nephi 9)

4. What is expected of us once we have embraced "the way" in order to prepare others to embrace it.

Notice the words of the Nephite baptismal prayer:

13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world. (Mosiah 18)

Alma-2 expounds on what it means to be called to the holy order of the Priesthood:

3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. (Alma 13)

Notice this point--those who are called to the holy order were prepared from the beginning to assist in this work while on the earth!

Conclusion

Christ rightfully refers to Himself as "the way" (John 14:6). When we embrace Him as "the way," we simultaneously promise to become His helpers. Just as He prepared "the way," each of us promises to help prepare "a way" for others to receive of His goodness.  No, we are not worthy to adjust his footwear, but we can use our own feet to go about preparing a way for His light to shine forth into the hearts of all of God's children. He is THE SAVIOR, but in a small way each of us can become a savior on Mount Zion by engaging in this work and publishing the glad tidings.

When we truly understand the importance of the plan of salvation, our desires naturally turn to "mak[ing] these things known until all the inhabitants of the earth." (2 Nephi 2:8).

Joseph Smith said:

But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah. ... I would advise all the Saints to go to with their might and gather together all their living relatives to [the temple], that they may be sealed and saved, that they may be prepared against the day that the destroying angel goes forth... (source)

The "Christ and Covenants" theme discussed recently by Stisa flows right into this concept, too. Both were prepared before the creation of this earth to serve as "the way" back to our Father in Heaven.

"Before the foundation of the world" in the Book of Enoch

One very important aspect of the plan of salvation is that it was prepared from the beginning, before the foundation of the world. Recently I've begun to appreciate how significant this doctrine really is. The great plan of redemption is not a backup plan, it is the plan. The entire purpose of creation centers around this plan.

This truth is taught plainly in the Book of Mormon.

King Benjamin taught it:

6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
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)

Alma-1 referenced it in his baptismal prayer:

13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world. (Mosiah 18)

Alma-2 taught it:

25 Now, if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, of which has been spoken.
...
30 And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works. (Alma 12)

There are other examples, too.

In the Book of Enoch, we get a description of Enoch's vision of "the Son of Man" being prepared before the foundation of the world to be "a fountain of righteousness" and "the light of nations."

1. In that place I beheld a fountain of righteousness, which never failed, encircled by many springs of wisdom. Of these all the thirsty drank, and were filled with wisdom, having their habitation with the righteous, the elect, and the holy.
2. In that hour was this Son of man invoked before the Lord of spirits, and his name in the presence of the Ancient of days.
3. Before the sun and the signs were created, before the stars of heaven were formed, his name was invoked in the presence of the Lord of spirits. A support shall he be for the righteous and the holy to lean upon, without falling; and he shall be the light of nations.
4. He shall be the hope of those whose hearts are troubled. All, who dwell on earth, shall fall down and worship before him; shall bless and glorify him, and sing praises to the name of the Lord of spirits.
5. Therefore the Elect and the Concealed One existed in his presence, before the world was created, and for ever. (1 Enoch 48)

Here we have yet another connection between the Book of Enoch and the Book of Mormon, supporting the idea that some version of this text was present on the Brass Plates, and that the priesthood tradition of the Nephites more closely followed the High Priest/prophetic tradition than the Deuteronomic tradition we find in the Old Testament.