Lehi now specifically starts talking to Jacob. I think the concept that he shares with Jacob here is a very central part of God's plan that we don't talk about very often. We talk a lot about agency, or our freedom to choose, but there is a key point that Lehi makes here: if there was no opposition, our choices and our life experience would be meaningless. If there wasn't ever a "bad choice" that could be made, have we really chosen good? In addition to this, our experience would be limited because we couldn't comprehend the good without the bad.
"And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil." (2 Nephi 2:5)
He starts out by first stating that we (mankind) have been given enough knowledge (from God) to know good from evil. But how do you know good unless you've also been made aware of the evil?
Speaking about the need for opposition, Lehi said:
"If not so, ...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness...Wherefore, all things must be compound in one;" (2 Nephi 2:11)
He then proceeded to explain that if there wasn't opposition, the earth would have been "..created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God" (2 Nephi 2:12)
He goes on to explain that if there is no opposition, there is no God. I think the idea of God creating an earth with no purpose is just ridiculous, and I think Lehi felt that way as well, so he was explaining that without these opposites, there couldn't be a God because of how ridiculous the idea really is. He goes further to explain that "if there is no God we are not, neither the earth" (2 Nephi 2:13)
I think really Lehi is trying to drive home the point of how important this concept really is. He sums it up nicely:
"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)
If there weren't opposition, then our choices would be meaningless. We wouldn't have any real test here on earth, because we couldn't choose wrong because there is no right.
I am grateful to God for the opportunity to experience this life. Sure there are ups and downs, and there are times when life gets kind of hard. But the reality is, I couldn't know the good parts without seeing and experiencing the bad parts at least a little. The joy and the peace that I have experienced wouldn't mean very much if I had not also experienced sorrow and turmoil in my own earthly experience.
I would like to add one caveat. Some people take this concept and twist it a little to justify sin and wickedness because they need that experience to fully enjoy righteousness. I'm not saying that you have to experience turning away and choosing wickedness in order to experience following God and choosing righteousness. It is enough for me to see others who have gone before make those choices and see the results of them. I also can experience more joy when I see other peoples' sorrow. I don't necessarily have to have experienced the opposite myself. Sure, it can be a little more poignant sometimes if I personally experience it, but the fact that this life has opposition doesn't mean I need to experience the full spectrum myself to appreciate the good.
"And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil." (2 Nephi 2:5)
He starts out by first stating that we (mankind) have been given enough knowledge (from God) to know good from evil. But how do you know good unless you've also been made aware of the evil?
Speaking about the need for opposition, Lehi said:
"If not so, ...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness...Wherefore, all things must be compound in one;" (2 Nephi 2:11)
He then proceeded to explain that if there wasn't opposition, the earth would have been "..created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God" (2 Nephi 2:12)
He goes on to explain that if there is no opposition, there is no God. I think the idea of God creating an earth with no purpose is just ridiculous, and I think Lehi felt that way as well, so he was explaining that without these opposites, there couldn't be a God because of how ridiculous the idea really is. He goes further to explain that "if there is no God we are not, neither the earth" (2 Nephi 2:13)
I think really Lehi is trying to drive home the point of how important this concept really is. He sums it up nicely:
"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)
If there weren't opposition, then our choices would be meaningless. We wouldn't have any real test here on earth, because we couldn't choose wrong because there is no right.
I am grateful to God for the opportunity to experience this life. Sure there are ups and downs, and there are times when life gets kind of hard. But the reality is, I couldn't know the good parts without seeing and experiencing the bad parts at least a little. The joy and the peace that I have experienced wouldn't mean very much if I had not also experienced sorrow and turmoil in my own earthly experience.
I would like to add one caveat. Some people take this concept and twist it a little to justify sin and wickedness because they need that experience to fully enjoy righteousness. I'm not saying that you have to experience turning away and choosing wickedness in order to experience following God and choosing righteousness. It is enough for me to see others who have gone before make those choices and see the results of them. I also can experience more joy when I see other peoples' sorrow. I don't necessarily have to have experienced the opposite myself. Sure, it can be a little more poignant sometimes if I personally experience it, but the fact that this life has opposition doesn't mean I need to experience the full spectrum myself to appreciate the good.
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