In the course of experiencing a dream led by an angel, Nephi was asked if he understood God’s condescension. To condescend is to be reduced from a fullness of what you are to something less. One definition from the American Heritage Dictionary offers the following explanation:
“To stoop or descend; to let one's self down; to submit; to waive the privilege of rank or dignity; to accommodate one's self to an inferior”
After Nephi says he knows God loves His children, Nephi confesses his inability to answer the angels question.
“ . . . Then I saw the heavens open, and an Angel came down and stood in front of me. He asked me: Nephi, what do you see? I replied: The most beautiful, pure virgin. He asked me: Do you understand God’s condescension? I replied: I know that He loves His children, but I don’t understand everything. Then He said to me: The virgin you see is the Mother of the Son of God when He becomes a mortal. I saw She was carried away in the spirit.
After She had been carried away in the spirit for some time, the Angel told me: Look! Then I looked and saw the virgin again, now carrying a child in Her arms. The Angel told me: Behold the Lamb of God, even the Son of the Eternal Father. Do you know the meaning of the tree your father saw? I replied: Yes, it’s God’s love, which inspires the souls of mankind; so it’s the most valuable of all things. Then He told me: Yes, and the greatest joy for mankind’s soul” (CofC, 1 Nephi 3:8, emphasis added).
In the vision, Nephi see’s the birth of the Son of God, or the condescension of Christ as He entered mortality. The Lord addressed His condescension in a revelation to Joseph Smith.
“ . . . This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the Celestial Kingdom, which glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son, he that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth, which truth shines . . .” (RE T&C 86:1, emphasis added).
The Savior ascended on high and from His exalted state condescended to earth and mortality to teach and suffer for mankind. His descent from being “on high” to “below all things” was an act of love for the Father and mankind. Jesus came to earth as a proxy for the Father and example of what is required to ascend.
“If the Son sets you free from sin, you are free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you conspire to kill me because my teachings have no place within you. I teach you what the Father has shown to me while I was in his presence, and you follow the teaching of your father. They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father. Jesus replied to them, If you were really Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But instead you plan to kill me. And why do you plan to kill me: I am a man that has only told you the truth that I have heard from the Most High God; Abraham would never do such a thing. You follow the example of your real father. Then they said to him, You are the product of extramarital fornication involving an unknown number of men, and we are not. We have one Father, even God. Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me, for I am sent by and represent God. I am not speaking my own words or pursuing my own agenda, but the Father’s words and agenda. Why do you fail to comprehend my words? Your refusal to hearken and submit to my teachings makes you deaf indeed. Your father is the accuser, and you share the envy and rebellion of your father. He was a rebellious destroyer from the beginning, and fought against the truth, because he prefers lies. When he spreads a lie, he advances his agenda. He is the source of deceit in this fallen world. And because I am the Source of truth, you are unable to believe me. Which of you can truthfully show that I have missed the mark? And if I teach the truth, why do you refuse to believe me? Everyone who follows the Most High God hearkens to God’s words. Because you do not follow the Most High God, you cannot hear him” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of St. John 6:19, emphasis added).
The Savior condescended to earth to do what the Father had done before Him. He came as a proxy for the Father to pay the toll of justice for our sins and teach us how to cross the bridge from mortality to immortality. There is a way to accomplish all of this. It is “the Way” and the only way mankind may cross the bridge to return to the Father’s presence.
“Now, therefore, know that Jesus is the Messiah, the Walker in the Path who has proven for evermore that Father Ahman sent Him into the world to prove His Father’s path” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of St. John 12:21, emphasis added).
John the Beloved refers to the Savior as the “Walker in the Path” and then clarifies exactly the “Path” Christ walked was the “Father’s path.” If the Savior’s path was the same path the Father tread, we must conclude the Father endured condescension possibly multiple times on the pathway of His ascent. It was a path we attempt walking throughout various cycles hopefully with an upward trend.
The path the Savior walked was the path of the Father. We know that path included Jesus condescending from a godly standing to a mortal existence. We know that if Christ ascended “on high” and then descended “below all things” the Father has done the same.
Often overlooked is the condescension of Mary, the Father’s wife and Mother to the Son of God. When Nephi was asked if he understood the condescension of God, the angel showed Nephi Mary, before he saw the Savior following his birth. The condescension of God involved more than the Son alone. Who other than the Father’s wife would be trusted with overseeing and nurturing of their Son? The title and image of “God” is the man and woman. Adam and Eve were created in God’s image. The condescension of God involves the condescension of both spouses for mankind to achieve immortality and Eternal Life.
The Condescension of Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Mary was the bridge between the mortality of mankind and immortality in the Father’s presence. She provided the means for the Son of God’s condescension and the physical body through which he entered mortality. Mary was reminded of Her condescension when Gabriel appeared to her and delivered her earthly ministry.
“When Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and told Her ministry to bear the Messiah, She responded, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word (Luke 1:6). The term handmaid includes the possible meanings: wife, female partner, or consort. Mary was all of these to God the Father. When Mary said the words, He has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden (Luke 1:8), the condescension of God seems to apply particularly for Her. She laid aside glory to be here, and the Father still held “regard” for His “handmaiden” in this “low estate.” What a great work our Heavenly Parents have undertaken for their children!” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, second edition, Handmaid, pp.139-140, emphasis added).
The Father’s work and glory of bringing to pass the immortality and Eternal Life of man requires those who ascend “on high” to sacrifice their high standing and condescend to mortality. They are sent to assist in mentoring their children through their walk on “the Father’s Path.” Those who have done so in mortality are adopted into the Father's family and into the Holy Order. Having done so through the grace of Christ, the husbands and wives forming the Holy Order obtained promises from God extending covenant blessings to their posterity. They become their posterity by doing as the Savior said to the Jewish leaders. “If you were really Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.” Those who do the works of Abraham become his seed and heirs of the promises God made to him.
Abraham’s acts of righteousness began prior to earth’s creation qualifying him to be numbered among the “noble and great.”
“Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was, and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones. And God saw these souls, that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them and he said, These I will make my rulers. For he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good. And he said unto me, Abraham, you are one of them; you were chosen before you were born” (RE T&C 145, Abraham 6:1, emphasis added).
When the Lord showed Abraham the intelligences before the world’s creation, He told Abraham God saw they were good and made them His rulers. Because Abraham and others were “good” prior to the creation and became “rulers” in mortality, it is presumed they were all prophets and righteous Patriarchs. That may be a misunderstanding of the Lord’s definition of “ruler.” A Glossary of Gospel Terms provides a clearer understanding of the Lord’s rulers.
“A teacher of truth. “We were spirits before we were born (Abraham 6:1-3). We were all there when some were chosen to be rulers, or in other words, teachers.” To rule is to be responsible for instructing others (see 1 Nephi 1:9). The account in Genesis explains that Eve (and by extension her daughters) was put under Adam’s “rule” in the fallen world. All the mistakes, mismanagements, failings, wars, and difficulties of mortality are the responsibility of the appointed “ruler.” Adam would not have been accountable for Eve unless she was made subject to his “rule.” Once under Adam’s rule, the redemption of Adam became also the redemption of Eve. Therefore, Adam (and the sons of Adam) and Eve (and the daughters of Eve) were all rescued through Christ’s atonement for mankind. In the Book of Mormon, the term ruler was synonymous with teacher (see e.g., Jacob 1:2). In Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews, the use of the word rule in context means the assigned role to teach. Remember them who have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God (Hebrews 1:59). He repeats it twice: Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls as they who must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief (Hebrews 1:61); Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints (Hebrews 1:64).” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, second edition, Ruler, p.287).
The broader interpretation of “ruler” suggests a broadened application in mortality. Rather than limit the meaning of ruler to a king, prophet, apostle or disciple, the broadened application could apply to anyone sent by God to teach by precept, example or both. When Abraham witnessed “one like unto God” descend among the noble and great, the works they would accomplish are noteworthy.
“And there stood one among them that was like unto God [Christ], and he said unto those who were with him [noble and great], We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials and we will make an earth whereon these [those who are not noble and great] may dwell. And we will prove them herewith to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them. And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon, and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever” (RE T&C 145, Abraham 6:2, emphasis added).
The proposed plan by the Savior to the noble and great was to create an earth for those who were not noble and great to dwell. Following earth’s creation the Savior and “noble and great” condescend to earth and try those who have yet to become “noble and great.” We learn later in Abraham’s vision the condescension for the “noble and great” was a great sacrifice they willingly made for the Heavenly Father’s will and “those” for whom earth was created.
“And then the Lord said, Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning and they organized and formed (that is, the Gods) the heavens and the earth. And the earth, after it was formed, was empty and desolate because they had not formed anything but the earth. And darkness reigned upon the face of the deep, and the spirit of the Gods was brooding upon the faces of the water” (RE T&C 145, Abraham 7:1, emphasis added).
In addition to becoming “noble and great,” we learn they attained another title with honors. They became “Gods.” Following earth’s creation, the first husband and wife to be created and first “son of God” to condescend to the newly created earth was Adam and Eve. They were created in God’s image, man and woman, husband and wife, the first parents. All of these terms represent “God.” Adam and Eve were the first initiates into the Holy Order after the Son of God and introduced the Patriarchal [Father’s] government of God.
They and a number of their posterity came to earth to “rule” or teach their children that God would send His Son to suffer and atone for their sins if they repent. Thereafter they begin ascending to Heavenly Father’s presence.
The process of ascension for mortal man was to be taught by the Lord’s rulers both in word and deed.[1] When Abraham was shown the vision of the “noble and great,” he learned they would assist in trying mankind “to see if they would do all things whatsoever the Lord their God should command them.” Like the Lord who is their God walked in the path of the Father, “those” who had yet to become “noble and great” would be taught by word and example or “proven” to see how well they walk the same path.
There are two estates mentioned in Abraham’s vision that have differing results depending on their choices. There is a misunderstanding about the definition of the “first estate.” We learn from the Glossary a clearer explanation of the “first estate.”
“This is not our first estate nor will it be our last. Creation is endless and God has declared that His works [including mankind] are without end . . . . for they never cease (Genesis 1:1).” We have a partial account of events before this cycle of creation . . . . Because it happened prior to this cycle of creation, it is referred to as the ‘first estate’ but might as well be called an ‘earlier estate’ or ‘prior estate.’” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, second edition, First Estate, p.108, emphasis added).
When the Glossary states “Creation is endless,” it may have more than one meaning. God is endlessly creating earth’s, millions of them thus far.[2] But it may also mean the process of creation is endless, or ongoing, even beyond mortality. Recall Joseph Smith’s remarks on this subject.
“ . . . We are called to hold the keys of the mysteries of those things that have been kept hid from the foundation of the world until now. Some have tasted a little of these things, many of which are to be poured down from heaven upon the heads of babes; yea, upon the weak, obscure and despised ones of the earth. Therefore we beseech of you, brethren, that you bear with those who do not feel themselves more worthy than yourselves, while we exhort one another to a reformation with one and all, both old and young, teachers and taught, both high and low, rich and poor, bond and free, male and female; let honesty, and sobriety, and candor, and solemnity, and virtue, and pureness, and meekness, and simplicity crown our heads in every place; and in fine, become as little children, without malice, guile or hypocrisy” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 154, emphasis added). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition).
The earliest saints were offered keys of the mysteries of our pre-mortality that were hidden, but only a few tasted “a little” of the hidden knowledge. The same may be true of our day. The Spirit of God is poured out on those who hear God’s voice because they repent and receive His instruction. They diligently seek after it and allow it to inform them in their daily walk. We have a steep climb ahead, not limited to mortality but continues after we pass from this life.
“When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 398, emphasis added). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition).
Joseph Smith’s remarks support the idea that when we are told the process of creation is endless, the process is not limited to starting new earth’s. It implies man’s progression is not complete in this life. The determining factor between what constitutes the end of creation is contingent on the original objective. In the case of mortal man, the “plan of salvation” is not complete until all the effects of Adam’s fall are reversed. The endpoint is not complete until mankind is returned to the “image of God” and restored to God’s presence. Moroni offered a description of those who are restored to God’s image.
“If a person is meek and humble in heart and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, they must have charity. Because if they don’t have charity, they’re nothing; so they must have charity. Charity is long-suffering and kind; it doesn’t envy or brag; it doesn’t insist on its own way; it isn’t easily angered; it doesn’t keep track of wrongs; it takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth; it patiently bears all things, always believes, always hopes, and always endures. So, my dear people, if you don’t have charity, you’re nothing, since charity never fails. Therefore hold firmly to charity, which is the greatest of all. Because everything will pass away; but charity is Christ’s pure love, and it endures forever. Those who are found to possess it on the last day, it will go well with them. So, my dear people, pray earnestly to the Father so you can be filled with this love that He’s freely given to all who are true followers of His Son Jesus Christ, so you can become the sons and daughters of God, so when He appears, we’ll be like Him and we’ll see and comprehend Him, so we can have this hope, so we can be purified, just as He is pure. Amen” (CofC, Moroni 7:9, emphasis added).
According to Joseph Smith, our arrival at this purified state and becoming “like Him” will not likely be complete in this cycle of our Eternal lives. It isn’t that it isn’t impossible, because there are those who accomplish this in mortality. The Savior being the chief example of the possibility along with others of the noble and great. For the majority of the people in this realm of our eternal existence, we are here to be added upon in our quest to return to the Father’s presence.
Added Upon
What does it mean to be “added upon?” Accurately defining the meaning of this term holds the key to understanding our purpose in this life and provides context for understanding the relevance of this existence.
“A term in scripture that means the Lord blesses all of His children in each cycle of existence {which are many} in their eternal progression . . . We’re here [in this life] to be added upon and every day there are new opportunities to add. We are eternal. Right now we’re in a place of constant change, filled with beauty and contradiction, challenging and rewarding, with truth and error competing alongside each other.” If men and women will receive what is offered now, they will be added upon for ever and ever. In other words, each person moves up the ladder by his or her heed and diligence in this cycle of creation. As they do, they will have so much the advantage in the next cycle. They can choose to move upward and be added upon or choose to remain as they are, worlds without end. Now is part of eternity. If “we” are somehow special to God, so is the rest of mankind. His plan is for the advancement of all mankind, to add upon everyone who comes to live and die here. Mankind is learning to distinguish between good and evil by the experiences they have. “Even if we think our religious understanding [is] superior to others, the others are also being added upon as well.” “I think the purpose of this creation is to be added upon, and I don’t care where you go or what you do . . . everywhere you look, you are going to be added upon. Even if you live a short, wretched life, you’re still being added upon by the experience that you get down here.” Men are not here to “get exalted.” They are here to continue progression that began a long time before their current birth. At the moment, all are being added upon by what they experience here. “At some point, you will have received what you need in this sphere and can move on to the next stage of development.” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, second edition, Added Upon, pp.5-7, emphasis added).
The concept of the “first estate” is not limited to pre-mortality transitioning to mortality. The “first estate” are many cycles we pass through gaining knowledge through experience, good and bad. As we learn to discern between good and evil and apply our new found knowledge it prepares us for the “second estate” which begins when we choose to repent and turn to God.
“Being added upon is the whole purpose of the second estate. The adding upon process and the grace-for-grace process is intended to be an actively unfolding event in the life of every person who has faith unto repentance. It is true that all who come here in mortality will be added upon for the experience. But in the truest sense, being added upon involves “faith unto repentance.” Early on, Joseph Smith reiterated a list given by Peter that culminated in making one’s calling and election sure (see JSH 13:5-7), which means the individual has arrived at a certain point in the same journey that the Savior took, along the same path, and He’s inviting you to Come, follow me. It will work for everyone; one’s flaws don’t matter. The Savior has knowledge of how to fix whatever it is that is broken in all of His children, and He has the power and the ability to succor them. What He does not have the power to do is abrogate [repeal or do away with] one’s freedom to choose nor live one’s life for them. “You must choose. He can succor you and He can guide you, but you’re the one that has to live it. You’re the one who has to have faith unto repentance-because repentance means change . . . The light at some point will become the perfect day . . . when there aren’t any more shadows. When you see as you are seen; when you get it-when finally, it dawns on you-‘Oh, now I get it.’ You then know what we’re here to do and what the objective of our life is. And that perfect day leads in turn to the final perfect day in which you rejoin Him, in that day where there is no shadow.” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Added Upon, pp.6-7, emphasis added).
Beginning the second estate is linked to when our experiences of being added upon lead us to conclude and desire a better way. In the first estate we move from experience to experience learning from both good and bad until we choose good over evil. After many experiences of banging our heads against the wall we begin to appreciate how good it feels not to subject ourselves to self-inflicted suffering. Having made numerous mistakes and suffering for each one, we learn to have faith in Christ and surrender our “natural man” for the “spiritual man.” The contrast is illustrated in the Testimony of Saint John when the Lord prepares His disciples to follow the same path walked by the Savior.
“As for you, when the Comforter comes (or in other words the Spirit of truth emanating from my Father), that spirit will testify of me. Then you have the ability to also testify of me. This is because you have followed me from the beginning or before the world was organized.
Now I tell you beforehand what to expect to come upon you so you are not surprised, nor will you stumble and fall. They will excommunicate you. The time will even come that the self-righteous who kill you will think that they speak for God. And they will do these things because they cannot do what the Father and I have done [walked the path of the Father]. I warn you beforehand that you will face this opposition so that when it happens you will remember and be strengthened. When I first taught, the anger and opposition was directed at me, and because of that, you were not their focus. But now I will return to the one who sent me and they will turn their anger at you.
I said that I return to the one who sent me and none of you asked me to explain what I meant by that. Instead you have become saddened and downhearted. Understand this truth from me: It is for your benefit that I ascend to the Father. If I do not take up my position there I cannot send the spirit of truth, the record of Heaven, the peaceable things of immortal glory to lead you upward. Once I ascend to the Father, I will send the Comforter to guide you on the upward path. The light is given to shine upon the pathway, to expose wrongdoing, and let you decide matters correctly. Those who refused to become devoted to me will not receive this. Because I will ascend to the Father, you will be guided, and they who follow the adversary will be rejected with the adversary they follow. He has already been rejected by the Father.
There are many things I still have to teach you, but you are not able to understand it all as yet. When I am the Spirit of Truth, I can then reveal to you the record of Heaven and knowledge will be poured into you. The spirit is the means to communicate my words, and my words will lead you on the upward path. The knowledge poured in to you will come from me. I will depart, but only briefly because when I ascend back to the Head of the Household of Heaven, I will also be by your side to guide you by my voice from Heaven” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 10:22-25, emphasis added).
When the Savior ascended to the Father’s presence, He, as the “Spirit of Truth” will reveal to His disciples their “record of Heaven” and knowledge will be poured into them. The Spirit is the medium by which the Son guides His disciples in their journey back to the Father’s presence. Through this medium the Lord’s voice will be by their side to guide them in their Heavenly ascent.
[1] “In addition, my people, I would remind you of the moment the Lord God gave His children these commandments. Remember the Lord God ordained priests according to His Holy Order, which was according to the Order of His Son, to teach the people these things. Such priests were ordained to the Order of His Son in such a way, so that by it the people would recognize how to look forward to His Son for redemption. And this is how they were ordained: they were called and prepared from the foundation of creation according to God’s foreknowledge, because of their great faith and good works. In the first place [pre-mortality], since they were permitted to choose good or evil, they chose to do good and exercised great faith. As a result, they’re called with a holy calling that had been prepared with and according to the planned redemption for those who qualified. Therefore they were and are called to this holy calling because of their faith, while others chose to reject the Spirit of God because of their hard hearts and blind minds, and if it hadn’t been for this, they could have had the same status as their brothers. Or to be brief: in the first place they had the same opportunity as the others and this holy calling was available from the beginning of creation for any who chose not to harden their hearts. It was made available by the Only Begotten Son who was prepared to provide the atonement. So they’re called by this holy calling and ordained to the High Priesthood of the Holy Order of God to teach His commandments to mankind, so they also could enter His rest. This High Priesthood is according to the Order of His Son, which Order existed from the foundation of creation. In other words, it is without beginning of days or end of years, having been prepared from eternity to all eternity according to His foreknowledge of all things. Now this is how they were ordained: having qualified to receive a holy calling, they were ordained with a holy ordinance which confers upon them the High Priesthood of the Holy Order — which calling, ordinance, and High Priesthood has no beginning or end. So they become high priests forever conforming to the Order of the Son, the Father’s Only Begotten, who has no beginning of days or end of years, and who’s full of grace, fairness, and truth. And so it is. Amen” (CofC, Alma 9:10, emphasis added).
[2] “And it came to pass that Enoch looked upon the residue of the people and he wept. And he beheld, and lo, the Heavens wept also, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains. And Enoch said unto the Heavens, How is it that you can weep, seeing you are holy and from all eternity to all eternity? And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, and millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of your creations. And your curtains are stretched out still, and you are there and your presence is there. And also you are just, you are merciful and kind for ever. You have taken Zion to your own bosom from all your creations. From all eternity to all eternity, naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of your throne, and mercy shall go before your face and have no end. How is it that you can weep? (RE Genesis 4:16, emphasis added).
Scott Roderick
1/12/2025
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