“The Intercession for All”

Brant Gardner

Once again Lehi's "intercession" is Christ's atonement rather than a pleading before God. Because of the atonement/intercession, "all men come unto God." When we arrive before God, it is he who judges us "according to the truth and holiness which is in him." His judgements are not based upon Christ pleading our case. Once we are able to stand before God, judgement is now based on our own merits.

Lehi now very briefly touches on the effect of the atonement on the concept of justice. As with other topics, this one is abbreviated and compacted in this sermon. The sole information here is that the ultimate judgement by law may now be resolved. In Lehi's quick exposition, once Christ leads us back to the judgement bar, justice may now be fairly administered, and therefore the "ends of the law" are answered. His point is that judgement by law while on the earth would not have been possible, for the law served only to condemn us (verse 5) without Christ's redeeming sacrifice.

Lehi's next phrase develops the wonderful artistry of this sermon. While synopsizing some of the most important and complex doctrines, Lehi neatly and quickly shifts focus once again. The transition is perfectly clean and logical, but sets up another very important lesson that he is trying to teach. Having brought us to the judgement bar, Lehi is able to discuss the concept of reward/punishment which is presumed to be part of a judgement. As he introduces this concept, however, he is less interested in rewards or punishments than he is in the conceptual distance between the two concepts. These are concepts in contrast. These are opposites. The judgement becomes a transition from the Atonement to Lehi's doctrine of opposition.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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