Lesson 9 - My Soul Delights in the Words of Isaiah

Purpose:

To help explain why the Book of Mormon was organized the way it was.

Describe the purpose of adding Brass Plates revelations to the Book of Mormon.

Provide an understanding for how Lehi, Nephi and Jacob viewed themselves in the context of Brass Plates Revelation.

Identify the power of having Isaiah in the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon Was Intentionally Organized

The Book of Mormon contains two main overarching authors who essentially divide up the book into two parts. The first part is the Small Plates of Nephi. This was mainly written and compiled by Nephi with sections written by Lehi, Jacob, Enos and a few other very minor authors. The second half of the book was written, abridged and compiled by Mormon with some words by Moroni and a very small abridgment of the Brother of Jared’s people.

Both halves of the Book of Mormon were written for our day. The authors were permitted to see our day and organized their messages from what they felt would be beneficial for us to know and remember. Lehi, Nephi and Jacob pulled a lot from the Brass Plates to communicate the events of the latter days. This includes large sections of prophecies by Isaiah, Zenos, Joseph of Egypt and even detailing out their lineage. Using the words of prophets written in the Brass Plates, Lehi, Nephi and Jacob were able to communicate covenants given to the Fathers that would be fulfilled in the latter days and the social, political, moral and spiritual circumstances we find ourselves in today.

Mormon, on the other hand, used traditional Nephite history he was familiar with and turned it into prophetic scripture by marrying circumstances we would encounter in our day to actual events and situations his own people encountered. Essentially, Mormon created a parallel history story-line that mirrored our day. As a result, a typically non-prophetic retelling of history became prophetic in context of it communicating similar events and circumstances we would encounter.

In the Book of Mormon we also get the opportunity to read a fourth gospel of Christ with his post-ascension visit to the people of the Book of Mormon. Contained within this unique gospel is Christ’s words and Christ sharing the words of Isaiah and Malachi. This gospel is special because it briefly parts the veil to some of the things Christ would have done and communicated to his apostles in the New Testament during the time he was with them between his resurrection and ascension. It also shows what the Father’s next focus was through what Christ communicated to the Nephites.   

Lastly, the Book of Mormon provides an incredibly abridged retelling of a civilization's rise and fall. Hand-picked from this executive summary, are a few powerful stories of redemption, Zion and societal wickedness meant for our learning and applying or strongly avoiding.  

The critics of the Book of Mormon believe it is a product of plagiarism, taking scriptures directly from the Bible, with a story-line and language similar to contemporary books, preachers and lecturers of Joseph Smith’s day. While critics intentions usually drive from a sincere desire for truth, their inability to see our day, 2016, in the pages of the book and God’s hand in organizing it, prevents them from using the book as the Urim and Thummim it is intended to be for us.  

What is a powerful insight the Book of Mormon has given you?

Lehi, Nephi, and Jacob’s Additions from the Brass Plates

When Nephi was commanded to make another set of plates, he did not have a lot of space to write a lengthy record. He only had the space for the most important items. So, is it odd that out of 65 chapters in the small plates, roughly a third of them, including 24 chapters, originate from the Brass Plates? What could be more odd is a large portion come directly from Isaiah who we can just read in the Old Testament.

Why would Nephi add so much from other prophet’s, especially from Isaiah?

Did Joseph Smith just get lazy after he lost the 116 pages?

Let’s briefly review all of the revelations from Brass Plates prophet’s contained in the small plates.

• Prophet’s from the tribe of Ephraim prophesied of the scattering of Israel. (1 Nephi 19, Jacob 5) (Zenos, Zenock)
• Ephraim will be found on the isles of the sea and they will have the gospel and they will have the sign of Christ’s death. (1 Nephi 19:10-21) (Zenos, Zenock, Neum)
• God will remember Israel and the covenants He provided them. (1 Nephi 20) (Isaiah)
• Christ will be a light to the Gentiles. (1 Nephi 21) (Isaiah)
• Christ will use the Gentiles to gather Israel. (1 Nephi 22) (Isaiah)
• Joseph of Egypt received a covenant that a seer will restore knowledge of the gospel to his seed. (2 Nephi 3) (Joseph of Egypt)
• Joseph of Egypt received a covenant that a righteous branch of his seed will remain. (2 Nephi 3) (Joseph of Egypt)
• Christ will always remember Israel including the covenants with Israel. (2 Nephi 7) (Isaiah)
• God will remember Zion in the latter-days including the covenants with Israel. (2 Nephi 8) (Isaiah)
• There will be a latter-day temple. (2 Nephi 12) (Isaiah)
• Judah will be punished. (2 Nephi 13) (Isaiah)
• The people who profess to be Zion will be worldly. (2 Nephi 13) (Isaiah)
• The people of Zion will be redeemed and cleansed in the millennium. (2 Nephi 14) (Isaiah)
• Israel will be scattered and desolate. (2 Nephi 15) (Isaiah)
• The Lord will lift up an ensign and gather Israel. (2 Nephi 15) (Isaiah)
• Isaiah ascends to the presence of God. (2 Nephi 16) (Isaiah)
• Christ is the only way to overcome the stumbling block of the world. (2 Nephi 17-19) (Isaiah)
• Great destruction at the second coming. (2 Nephi 20 - 23) (Isaiah)
• Millennial rest. (2 Nephi 24) (Isaiah)
• The scattering and gathering of Israel. (Jacob 5) (Zenos)

Nephi and Jacob’s many and lengthy insertions from the Brass Plates weren’t a result of Joseph Smith getting lazy and plagiarizing the Bible. Interestingly, you do not have lengthy Old Testament/Brass Plate insertions in Mormon’s half of the book except in 3 Nephi from Christ adding words from Isaiah and Malachi. All of Mormon’s stories and doctrinal dissertations are original stories.

So why did Nephi and Jacob decide to go the route of just adding other prophet’s revelations?

Nephi speaking: “Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think they are sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself.”  - 1 Nephi 19:6

Jacob speaking: “And now, the words which I shall read are they which Isaiah spake concerning all the house of Israel; wherefore, they may be likened unto you, for ye are of the house of Israel.” - 2 Nephi 6:6

Remember, the small plates of Nephi, which includes 1 Nephi - Omni, were written for us. Nephi and Jacob used the words of other prophets, like Christ did on the road to Emmaus or Peter did on the day of Pentecost, to communicate the most important content that was applicable to us in our day.

What Brass Plates addition to the Book of Mormon has opened your eyes that you wouldn’t have seen if it was not contained in the Book of Mormon?

Overarching Themes from Brass Plate Additions

What were the overarching themes contained within the addition from other prophets by Nephi, Lehi and Jacob?

• Israel will be scattered (Isaiah chapters and Zenos)
• Christ is the only one to clear up all the stumbling blocks (Isaiah chapters)
• God will remember his covenants with the Fathers (Isaiah chapters, Joseph of Egypt’s covenant, Zenos)
• Israel will be remembered, restored and Zion will come (Isaiah chapters, Joseph of Egypt’s covenant, Zenos)
• Great destruction will come and the millennial rest will follow (Isaiah chapters)

Why didn’t Nephi just add his own revelation that communicated these events? Why did he “plagiarize” from Isaiah and others?

The answer is, he did add his own content, as far as he was permitted. And so did Lehi and so did Jacob.

Lehi’s related content:

• Lehi descended from Joseph of Egypt (from the Brass Plates).

“And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the record.” - 1 Nephi 5:16

• The house of Israel will be scattered, the gentiles in the latter-days will gather, Israel will be restored (from Isaiah and Zenos in the Brass Plates).

“And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the gospel, the natural branches of the olive-tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.” - 1 Nephi 10:14

Nephi’s related content:

• The gentiles will come to the Promised Land and be given a book that overcomes stumbling blocks.

“And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spake unto me, saying: Behold, saith the Lamb of God, after I have visited the remnant of the house of Israel—and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy father—wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment, and smitten them by the hand of the Gentiles, and after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb—I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb.” - 1 Nephi 13:34

• The gentiles must repent or they will be brought into destruction.

“And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, Nephi, saying: Thou hast beheld that if the Gentiles repent it shall be well with them; and thou also knowest concerning the covenants of the Lord unto the house of Israel; and thou also hast heard that whoso repenteth not must perish.

Therefore, wo be unto the Gentiles if it so be that they harden their hearts against the Lamb of God.” - 1 Nephi 14:5-6

Jacob’s related content:

• God will scatter Israel and use the gentiles to restore Israel because of his covenant.

“Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh, and shall not be suffered to perish, because of the prayers of the faithful; they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated; nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance.

And blessed are the Gentiles, they of whom the prophet has written; for behold, if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church, they shall be saved; for the Lord God will fulfil his covenants which he has made unto his children; and for this cause the prophet has written these things.” - 2 Nephi 6:11-12

• God will remember his covenant and Israel will be gathered back to their lands of inheritance.

“And now, my beloved brethren, I have read these things that ye might know concerning the covenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house of Israel—

That he has spoken unto the Jews, by the mouth of his holy prophets, even from the beginning down, from generation to generation, until the time comes that they shall be restored to the true church and fold of God; when they shall be gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise.

Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children.” - 2 Nephi 9: 1-3

• Israel is like an olive tree and after it is gathered the end very near.

“And now, behold, my brethren, as I said unto you that I would prophesy, behold, this is my prophecy—that the things which this prophet Zenos spake, concerning the house of Israel, in the which he likened them unto a tame olive tree, must surely come to pass.

And the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power, to nourish and prune his vineyard; and after that the end soon cometh.” - Jacob 6: 1-2

When reading the Book of Mormon, you really need to group Isaiah in with Zenos, Zenock, Neum and Joseph of Egypt. They all served the same purpose - enhance and expand what Lehi, Nephi and Jacob were discussing about the the scattering and gathering of Israel. They molded the words of these Brass Plates prophets and inserted them where they did to add volume to what they were writing about. Like Jacob said about Zenos' Allegory of the Olive Tree, “And now, behold, my brethren, as I said unto you that I would prophesy, behold, this is my prophecy..." can be said about Lehi and his retelling of Joseph of Egypt's covenant (2 Nephi 3) and all of Isaiah's words contained in the Book of Mormon. The words of Isaiah were the words of Nephi. He saw the same vision as Isaiah, then used Isaiah's words to communicate what he saw.

Lehi’s family purposely left the holy land. The land that God gave Abraham their father. This was not an easy thing to do and it went counter to everything they knew about their religion. The Jews were meant to be in Jerusalem. It was their Promised land. They were meant to worship in the land of their Fathers.

When they received the Brass Plates, they were able to uncover a lot about themselves. They found out that they were from Joseph of Egypt’s lineage (1 Nephi 6). They found out that through Joseph’s lineage there would be a righteous branch broken off (2 Nephi 3). That broken branch, including others, would be scattered upon the earth (Jacob 5). Those branches on the isles of the sea would be shown the signs of the Messiah including His death (1 Nephi 19). All of the Jews would eventually be scattered (2 Nephi 10; 13; 15). The Messiah would be the only one to overcome Israel’s stumbling blocks (2 Nephi 7, 17-19). God will remember Israel through fulfilling His covenants with them (2 Nephi 12; 14; 15). After Israel is gathered in the latter-days, there will be destruction and then millennial peace (2 Nephi 20: 22-24).

The scattering and gathering of Israel dominated the content Lehi, Nephi and Jacob gave us within the small plates of Nephi. And they reinforced the topic by inserting Brass Plates prophesies in a way to emphasize the importance of this topic.

It reminds me of when parents go out on a date for the first time after having a new child. In their anxiety, they’ll write a list down for the babysitter for all the things she needs to do. Then, they’ll add a second list containing the same things on a sticky note for placement on the refrigerator. They’ll text the babysitter before they enter the play. They’ll call her to see how things are going during intermission and then they’ll rush home, skipping dessert, in order to get home as fast as they can.

Lehi exercised great faith in leaving Jerusalem. It would have been like leaving his religion. He, like Nephi and Jacob, were given promises that the gentiles would, in the latter-days, restore their posterity to the truth and the fold of God. They did not want the gentiles to forget their role and they did not want their posterity to skim over covenants directed at them. In their anxiety, they overemphasized the importance of the scattering and gathering of Israel, especially the gathering of a remnant of their seed.

In addition, there were things Nephi was just not allowed to write:

“And behold, the things which this apostle of the Lamb shall write are many things which thou hast seen; and behold, the remainder shalt thou see.

But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God that he should write them.

And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel.

And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel.

And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard; wherefore the things which I have written sufficeth me; and I have written but a small part of the things which I saw.” - 1 Nephi 14: 24-28

Nephi was not allowed to finish his narrative from scattering of Israel to gathering of Israel to the end of the world and millennium. Like Jurassic Park’s Dino DNA, where they used modern reptile DNA to fill in the gaps of prehistoric animals; Nephi used Isaiah’s words to fill in the gaps where he was not permitted to “add unto” or “take away” (Revelation 22: 18-19) from John’s revelation.

Like Lehi used Joseph of Egypt’s words (2 Nephi 3) and Jacob used Zenos’ words (Jacob 5), Nephi used Isaiah’s words to create a more complete picture of future events concerning his people including the gentiles and their responsibilities toward the remnant of his people and the end of the world.

Summary:

The Book of Mormon is written for our day.   

Lehi, Nephi, and Jacob used a disproportionate amount of their writings to communicate the gathering and scattering of Israel.

Using Brass Plates revelations allowed Lehi, Nephi and Jacob to provide a more complete picture of the last days.

Nephi was not permitted to share all of his vision so he used Isaiah’s words to fill in the gaps.

Lesson 6 - Free to Choose Liberty and Eternal Life

Purpose:

Learn the correlation between blessings and penalties.  

Understand what it means to be in a deep sleep.

Learn about Jacob’s experience with God.

Learn the eternal significance of opposition and agency.  

Blessings of the Promise Land and the Penalties

There are over seven billion people on the earth. God works with each of his many children in a variety of fashions. However, with all of his children, whenever he provides a covenant there is a penalty equal in severity to the blessing that is provided. You cannot have a covenant without a penalty.

“...unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed…” 2 Nephi 2:10

Let’s take the covenant and promise given from God to Lehi and his seed. Lehi is covenanted:

• He will be given a “choice land above all other lands.” - 2 Nephi 1:5
• The land will be an “inheritance of my seed...and to my children forever.” - 2 Nephi 1:5
• Only those who are “brought by the hand of the Lord” will come it this land. -  2 Nephi 1:6
• This land will be “a land of liberty.” - 2 Nephi 1:7
• Those on this land will “never be brought into captivity.” - 2 Nephi 1:7
• This land will be “kept as yet from the knowledge of all other lands.” - 1 Nephi 7
• Those on this land will “prosper upon the face of this land… and there shall be none to molest them or to take away their inheritance.” - 2 Nephi 1:9

On the flip side, these are the cursings for breaking the covenant:

• God “will bring other nations” into this land. - 2 Nephi 1:11
• God will “take away their possessions and cause them to be scattered and smitten.” - 2 Nephi 1:12
• There will be “bloodsheds” (wars) among them. - 2 Nephi 1:12
• They will be “cut off and destroyed.” - 2 Nephi 1:17
• They will be “visited by the sword.” - 2 Nephi 1:18
• There will be “famine.” - 2 Nephi 1:18
• They will be “hated.” - 2 Nephi 1:18
• They will be “led according to the will and captivity of the devil.” - 2 Nephi 1:18

If you look at the blessings, all of the inverse of the blessings can be found in the associated penalties for breaking the covenant.

This can be found in every aspect of life. It is risk and reward. When someone gets themselves into tens of thousands of dollars of student loan debt including postponing their life a few years to get an education, they are bringing onto themselves a potential lifetime blessing. Their blessing will consist of higher income, more enjoyable career opportunities and a better lifestyle. However, inherent in their choice is risk. If they do not use the blessing that they have received, then they are at risk of debt and default.

Lehi and his seed are receiving a great blessing. They have come from an environment where Egyptians, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, etc. Have, are, or will be a threat to his people. He, on the other hand, has been promised a land of his own, with prosperity and safety.

All he needs to do is:

“Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.” - 1 Nephi 1:9

One of the blessings of having the sealing authority is to seal a blessing that outlasts generations, millenniums, time and eternity. (Think of the blessing at the veil of the temple.)

Lehi’s promised covenantal land included a penalty. If they forgot the God of this land, Jesus Christ, there would be consequences. However, Joseph of Egypt, Lehi, Nephi, Jacob and Enos were able to seal a blessing that:

“They [Lehi’s seed] shall be remembered again among the house of Israel; they shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the olive-tree, into the true olive-tree.” - 1 Nephi 15:16

This sealed covenantal blessing outlasted the covenant breaking generation. It remembered the promise centuries after the fact. This is the power of the Holy Spirit of Promise and sealed blessings.

It appears that Joseph Smith had the same concern for his people in 1843:

“I told him [Jedediah M Grant] that I saw that Lucifer would exert his influence to destroy the children that I was blessing, and I strove with all faith and spirit that I had to seal upon them a blessing that would secure their lives upon the earth.” TPJS 280-281, March 14, 1843

Why do blessings go hand and hand with cursings and penalties?

Why do sealed blessings outlast the living generation?

Why would Joseph Smith be concerned about leaving a sealed blessing if this dispensation would never fall away?

Awake. Awake from the Deep Sleep

“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.” - 1 Nephi 1:13

What is the deep sleep of hell?

This heartfelt cry from Lehi is directed at Laman and Lemuel. This is nothing new. From his admonitions in the valley of Lemuel, to his descriptions of them in his vision of the tree of life, to the pleadings to them on the waters of the sea, Laman and Lemuel have always been a concern for their father.

In this last heartfelt pleading, Lehi is trying to get them to turn toward God.

“Awake; awake from a deep sleep” - this is a spiritual sleep, even a numbness to the things of God

“...even from the sleep of hell” - hell encompasses the inability to progress

“....shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound” - “I believe all that God ever revealed, and I never hear a man being damned for believing too much; but they are damned for unbelief.” - TPJS 374

The chains of unbelief are the most concerning chains. Unbelief has nothing to do with morality. You can be the most moral person in the world and still be encompassed about with chains of hell because of unbelief.

Unbelief = believing incorrect doctrine or incomplete doctrine

Remember, for salvational faith one must 1) believe in God, 2) believe in his correct character, attributes and perfection, 3) know the course in life you are pursuing is according to his will.

If you do not have those things, you just might be living in unbelief and in “a deep sleep.”

Lamen and Lemuel are unwilling to let go of the traditions that they were raised with.

What are some things in your life you’ve had to let go to know God?   

What are some things that keep you asleep to spiritual things?

Jacob’s Ascent

“Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely with thy brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God. Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men.

And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.” - 2 Nephi 2: 3-4

Jacob, like his father Lehi and brother Nephi, ascended to the throne of God and was brought back into his presence. For Jacob, this occurred in his youth,  just like Nephi.

What is interesting is both Nephi and Jacob pulled faith from the fact that God is “the same yesterday, today and forever.” 1 Nephi 10:18; 2 Nephi 2:4 They knew they could get access to God and behold his “glory” because it had been achieved before. They put their faith in the unchangeableness of God. If others had been brought back into the presence of God, why couldn’t they?

Success breeds success.

Throughout the United States there are leading industries contained in a relatively small geographic area.

• Los Angeles - Entertainment
• San Francisco - Technology, Venture Capital  
• Houston - Oil
• Chicago - Marketing Agencies, Mericalie Trade
• New York - Finance
• Detroit - Automotive
• Nashville - Healthcare, Country Music
• Orlando - Family Entertainment

Within each of these cities there is an abnormally strong ecosystem to support the flagship industry. The ecosystem is a product of earlier successes. For example, HP was one of the first technology companies in Silicon Valley. Once HP became successful, the team within HP suddenly had knowledge capital and financial capital to start new businesses and assist others in achieving the same results. Success breeds additional success. The same is true with all the other cities and their industries listed above.

The same is also true with the gospel. Once one person becomes successful in coming to Christ, those who are around them have a greater chance of achieving the same results. Remember, salvational faith requires the correct understanding of God and the knowledge that the course pursued in live is according to his will.

Going back to the HP example, many people want to start businesses. However, an overwhelming number of businesses fail. HP wasn’t a failure though. Those at HP acquired a correct understanding of what a successful company looked like. They also knew the course that was required to achieve the results of a successful company.

Lehi also had examples of those who exercised salvational faith, these included contemporary “many prophets prophesying”. Lehi’s success breed Nephi’s success. Nephi was able to replicate what his father achieved. Later, Nephi’s success assisted Jacob in his ascent.

One of the other commonalities between Lehi, Nephi and Jacob was what they saw:

• Lehi - “and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of the Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.” - 1 Nephi 1:19
• Nephi - “And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.” - 1 Nephi 11:33
• Jacob - “for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men.” - 2 Nephi 2:3

Lehi, Nephi and Jacob all saw the redemption of man through the Son of God.

Opposition in All things

The eternal destiny of man is to become as God. It is to know God and Jesus Christ and become as they are.

“This is my works and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” - Moses 1:39

God is interested in one family. His family. His sons and his daughters.

“And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.

They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.

They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things

They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;

And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.

Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons [and daughters] of God.” - D&C 76: 53-58

The goal of God is to become apart of His family. Being a part of His family consists of overcoming this world by faith.

There is no way to overcome this world unless there is opposition. Opposition is the key to growth. Opposition is the key to becoming someone new. Opposition is essential for qualifying yourself to be a son or daughter of God.

“For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.” - 2 Nephi 2:11

Righteousness and holiness cannot be brought to pass without wickedness and corruption. One cannot ascend into the throne of God without also having the consequence of descending into the pits of hell.

This is one of the most profound doctrinal declarations contained within the Book of Mormon. In order to have faith in God, we must understand who He is and how he operates. God is a perfected man who ascended into his throne. His ascent required opposition. His Son’s ascent required opposition. Our ascent requires opposition.

Opposition is a primary characteristic of this telestial world. The telestial world is at the bottom of Jacob’s ladder. It is a world perfectly balanced between good and evil. There is just as much reason in this world to believe in God as there is to not to believe in God. For example:

There is a God and everything testifies of Him verse God is fiction made up by man. We can only understand what we observe. God is not observable.

Joseph Smith is a Prophet who restored truth necessary for salvation verse Joseph Smith was a con-man, manipulating his people through their desire of something more divine.  

Commandments teach us how to be holy verse man is not accountable to anyone but his own morality.

Truth is found in God and is eternal. Truth draws you to God verse there is no moral truth. Truth is subject to your surroundings. The only thing that can be true is that which is observed and tested.

There is no better arena to grow, get refined, and ascend then this mortal experience in the telestial realm. It is only in the telestial realm that good and evil are equally balanced.

“Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.” - 2 Nephi 2:16

In order to have complete control over your choices and agency, God has to be unpredictable in his methods of presenting right and wrong. For example, in school there are many test questions which follow a predictable structure. If you are solving for X, it might require a formula that follows a predictable path to get to X. However, if all test questions followed the same path, even if one question called X, X and another called X, M; if they followed the same path then the test would be too easy. Essentially, you would only have to solve the first problem. The subsequent problems would then, by default, already be solved.

The agency of man is affected by predictability. If all you had to do to know if God was speaking was to look at a priesthood position within a hierarchical structure and see what that person or people were saying, it would compromise your agency. Pure agency must encompass choices, which are right, that one would have every reason not to follow.

God is required to add in that darn test question that doesn’t play by the rules, that if you don’t think it through all the way, but apply the same formula as the previous questions you’ll get it wrong. Agency, requires unpredictability.

“Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit.” - 2 Nephi 2: 27-28

Summary:

One cannot have a blessing without a cursing.  

Being in a spiritual sleep is usually caused by unbelief - believing incorrect or incomplete doctrines.  

Jacob learned from the examples of his father and brother how to achieve salvation by being brought back into the presence of God.

Opposition and choice is essential for salvation.