Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
Joseph Smith: “The … happiness of any community goes hand in hand with the knowledge possessed by the people.” (“Knowledge Is Power,” an editorial published in Times and Seasons, Aug. 15, 1842, pp. 889–90).
President Dallin H. Oaks: "Whatever the outcome and no matter how difficult your experiences, you have the promise that you will not be denied the blessings of eternal family relationships if you love the Lord, keep His commandments, and just do the best you can. When young Jacob "suffered afflictions and much sorrow" from the actions of other family members, Father Lehi assured him, "Thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain" (2 Nephi 2:1 2). Similarly, the Apostle Paul assured us that "all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28)" (Ensign, May 2006, 73).
President Ezra Taft Benson: “Just as man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ. No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind.” (Teachings of President Benson, 28)
Understanding the Fall will change us by:
Empowering us with hope, knowing that we are not as bad or wicked as we thought we were by realizing that our carnal nature and sensual urges are part of being human (of the flesh) and not who we really are (of the spirit). If we understand the Fall we would never allow our sins, failures, weaknesses, and natural inclinations or tendencies to progress from our feelings and actions to our identity. We would never associate our identity with the type or intensity of temptation we experience. (paraphrasing Elder Robbins, quoting Carol Dweck, Apr. 2011 Conf.)
President Jeffery R. Holland: “Because this doctrine [of the Fall] is so basic to the plan of salvation and also because it is so susceptible to misunderstanding, we must note that these references to "natural" evil emphatically do not mean that men and women are "inherently" evil. There is a crucial difference. As spirit sons and daughters of God, all mortal men and women are divine in origin and divine in their potential destiny. . . . But it is also true that as a result of the Fall they are now in a "natural" (fallen) world where the devil "taketh away light" and where some elements of nature—including temporal human nature—need discipline, restraint, and refinement.” (Christ and the New Covenant, p.207)
Stephen Robinson: “I know people in the Church who beat themselves up for having fallen natures, who take it as a sign that they are not worthy of the kingdom. For these spiritual masochists it isn’t enough to control their carnal nature or to begin diminishing its influence by developing habitual obedience to God – they don’t even want to have a carnal nature. . . . In mortality, resisting the urges of our carnal thoughts and putting them out of our minds is a reasonable goal and expectation. But not ever having a carnal thought is an unreasonable goal and expectation.” (Following Christ, p. 62)
Elder Neil L. Anderson: “The Fall [and everything that comes with it] does not define you; it helps to refine you.” (The Divine Gift Forgiveness, p. 69)
WHAT MUST EXIST (for agency)
1.POWER TO CHOOSE- 16, 26-27
2.OPPOSITION-10-11
3.LAW- 5 & 13
4.KNOWLEDGE- 18
= Agency (P.O.L.K.A.)
2 Nephi 2 – “isms” of the World Exposed
Lehi exposes each “isms” in 2 Nephi 2:
Two additional ways to look at 2 Nephi 2
First way:
President Thomas S. Monson: Bad habits also can be such pitfalls. At first we could break them if we would. Later, we would break them if we could. John Dryden, an influential English poet and playwright of the 17th century, wrote:
Ill habits gather by unseen degrees,
As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas.7
“Good habits, on the other hand, are the soul’s muscles. The more you use them, the stronger they grow. (https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/thomas-s-monson/great-expectation)
Bishop Richard C. Edgley:
12 prophecies about Joseph Smith: 2 Nephi 3:6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 13, 14, 15, 15, 17 (Yes there are two in verses 10 and 15).
Brigham Young: “It was decreed in the counsels of eternity, long before the foundations of the earth were laid, that he, Joseph Smith, should be the man, in the last dispensation of this world, to bring forth the word of God to the people, and receive the fulness of the keys and power of the Priesthood of the Son of God.
“The Lord had his eyes upon him, and upon his father, and upon his father’s father, and upon their progenitors clear back … to Adam. He has watched that family and that blood as it has circulated from its fountain to the birth of that man.
“He was fore-ordained in eternity to preside over this last dispensation” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 96, 243).
Marlin K. Jensen: “Certain unchanging principles and truths bring happiness to our lives. This subject has been of interest to me for many years because although I am richly blessed and have every reason to be happy, I sometimes struggle and do not always have the natural inclination toward happiness and a cheerful disposition that some people seem to enjoy.
“For that reason, several years ago a Book of Mormon passage caught my attention. … Nephi established a society founded on gospel truths; and of that society he says, ‘And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness’ (2 Ne. 5:27). The passage deeply impressed me. …
“I wondered … what the individual elements of a truly happy society and life might be, and I began to search Nephi’s writings for clues. I … invite you to conduct your own personal search. It could be a lifelong and worthwhile pursuit. …
“… The same patterns and elements of daily life that enabled Nephi and his people to be happy 560 years before Christ work equally well today” (Marlin K. Jensen, “Living after the Manner of Happiness,” Ensign, Dec. 2002, 56, 61).
Ideas for teaching 2 Nephi 1-5:
President Dallin H. Oaks: "Whatever the outcome and no matter how difficult your experiences, you have the promise that you will not be denied the blessings of eternal family relationships if you love the Lord, keep His commandments, and just do the best you can. When young Jacob "suffered afflictions and much sorrow" from the actions of other family members, Father Lehi assured him, "Thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain" (2 Nephi 2:1 2). Similarly, the Apostle Paul assured us that "all things work together for good to them that love God" (Romans 8:28)" (Ensign, May 2006, 73).
President Ezra Taft Benson: “Just as man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ. No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind.” (Teachings of President Benson, 28)
Understanding the Fall will change us by:
Empowering us with hope, knowing that we are not as bad or wicked as we thought we were by realizing that our carnal nature and sensual urges are part of being human (of the flesh) and not who we really are (of the spirit). If we understand the Fall we would never allow our sins, failures, weaknesses, and natural inclinations or tendencies to progress from our feelings and actions to our identity. We would never associate our identity with the type or intensity of temptation we experience. (paraphrasing Elder Robbins, quoting Carol Dweck, Apr. 2011 Conf.)
President Jeffery R. Holland: “Because this doctrine [of the Fall] is so basic to the plan of salvation and also because it is so susceptible to misunderstanding, we must note that these references to "natural" evil emphatically do not mean that men and women are "inherently" evil. There is a crucial difference. As spirit sons and daughters of God, all mortal men and women are divine in origin and divine in their potential destiny. . . . But it is also true that as a result of the Fall they are now in a "natural" (fallen) world where the devil "taketh away light" and where some elements of nature—including temporal human nature—need discipline, restraint, and refinement.” (Christ and the New Covenant, p.207)
Stephen Robinson: “I know people in the Church who beat themselves up for having fallen natures, who take it as a sign that they are not worthy of the kingdom. For these spiritual masochists it isn’t enough to control their carnal nature or to begin diminishing its influence by developing habitual obedience to God – they don’t even want to have a carnal nature. . . . In mortality, resisting the urges of our carnal thoughts and putting them out of our minds is a reasonable goal and expectation. But not ever having a carnal thought is an unreasonable goal and expectation.” (Following Christ, p. 62)
Elder Neil L. Anderson: “The Fall [and everything that comes with it] does not define you; it helps to refine you.” (The Divine Gift Forgiveness, p. 69)
WHAT MUST EXIST (for agency)
1.POWER TO CHOOSE- 16, 26-27
2.OPPOSITION-10-11
3.LAW- 5 & 13
4.KNOWLEDGE- 18
= Agency (P.O.L.K.A.)
2 Nephi 2 – “isms” of the World Exposed
- Existentialism – no purpose but exist
- Hedonism – comfort and pleasure only
- Relativism – everything is relative. There is no law and no absolute truth.
- Determinism – we are a product of our environment and genetics and therefore not responsible for our actions.
Lehi exposes each “isms” in 2 Nephi 2:
- God has a purpose for life – exaltation and happiness
- Happiness is a result of righteousness
- There is law, and righteousness is obedience to the law
- We are free to act for ourselves not to be acted upon.
Two additional ways to look at 2 Nephi 2
First way:
- God is a being that Acts, and is not acted on
- God’s purpose is to make men gods
- In order to be a God, men must act, and not be acted upon
- This necessitates agency, law and opposition
- The Fall brought about such a work
- Man is now free to choose
- The Atonement overcomes the Fall
- God’s purpose is to make men happy
- Happiness = righteousness
- Righteousness = obedience to law
- Obedience to law is valueless without agency and opposition
- The Fall brought a world of opposition
- Man is free to choose
- The Atonement overcomes the fall
President Thomas S. Monson: Bad habits also can be such pitfalls. At first we could break them if we would. Later, we would break them if we could. John Dryden, an influential English poet and playwright of the 17th century, wrote:
Ill habits gather by unseen degrees,
As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas.7
“Good habits, on the other hand, are the soul’s muscles. The more you use them, the stronger they grow. (https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/thomas-s-monson/great-expectation)
Bishop Richard C. Edgley:
- A true man is strong enough to withstand the wiles of Satan.
- A true man is humble enough to submit himself to the redemptive powers of the Savior. (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1999/10/behold-the-man?lang=eng)
12 prophecies about Joseph Smith: 2 Nephi 3:6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10, 13, 14, 15, 15, 17 (Yes there are two in verses 10 and 15).
Brigham Young: “It was decreed in the counsels of eternity, long before the foundations of the earth were laid, that he, Joseph Smith, should be the man, in the last dispensation of this world, to bring forth the word of God to the people, and receive the fulness of the keys and power of the Priesthood of the Son of God.
“The Lord had his eyes upon him, and upon his father, and upon his father’s father, and upon their progenitors clear back … to Adam. He has watched that family and that blood as it has circulated from its fountain to the birth of that man.
“He was fore-ordained in eternity to preside over this last dispensation” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 96, 243).
Marlin K. Jensen: “Certain unchanging principles and truths bring happiness to our lives. This subject has been of interest to me for many years because although I am richly blessed and have every reason to be happy, I sometimes struggle and do not always have the natural inclination toward happiness and a cheerful disposition that some people seem to enjoy.
“For that reason, several years ago a Book of Mormon passage caught my attention. … Nephi established a society founded on gospel truths; and of that society he says, ‘And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness’ (2 Ne. 5:27). The passage deeply impressed me. …
“I wondered … what the individual elements of a truly happy society and life might be, and I began to search Nephi’s writings for clues. I … invite you to conduct your own personal search. It could be a lifelong and worthwhile pursuit. …
“… The same patterns and elements of daily life that enabled Nephi and his people to be happy 560 years before Christ work equally well today” (Marlin K. Jensen, “Living after the Manner of Happiness,” Ensign, Dec. 2002, 56, 61).
Ideas for teaching 2 Nephi 1-5:
- Define “real man/woman.”
- What is a “true friend.”
- Why do bad things happen to good people?
- What doctrine can you teach to help someone who is having something bad happen to them?
- What can you do to live after the manner of happiness today?