Isaiah 56

In Isaiah's day as is very similar in our day, there were individuals that did not necessarily meet the typical standard of the people and were seemingly persecuted such as strangers (gentiles) and eunuchs.  Isaiah made it clear that in the Lord's eyes, that did not matter as long as they kept the commandments, where Isaiah wrote -

"THUS saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil."  (Old Testament | Isaiah 56:1 - 2)

He follows -

"Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 56:3 - 4)

To these and those that are different, the promises are -

"Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
8 The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him."  (Old Testament | Isaiah 56:5 - 8)

I recently gave the following talk in several wards that is much on the same topic:

In a great revelation, Abraham learned that in our pre-mortal existence –

"…there stood one among [us] that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell…"

And of the making of this earth, Lehi taught his sons that in order –

"…to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man…[of] all things which [were] created, it must needs be that there was an opposition…" (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:15)

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:11)

Thus in the planning and creation of this world, to fulfill its purpose, opposition was necessary and essential in all things. That means there must be opposites such as virtue and vice, health and sickness, pleasure and pain…even opposites such as rich and poor, tall and short, large and small, beautiful and ugly… there must be opposites in all thing. This would also suggest there would be opposition in our abilities, talents, interests, and even in attractions.

We could go on and on with lists of oppositions. Obviously then, with "opposition in all things", life would not be and never was intended to be fair. And under these opposing and unfair conditions, the Lord made it clear -

"…we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon…and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever." (Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 3:24 - 26)

Therefore, knowing that there would be the opposition of good and evil, giving mankind their agency, their capacity to choose good and evil, which would allow individuals to transgress and sin –

"…the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And another answered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I will send the first." (Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 3:27)

We understand that -

"…the second was angry, and kept not his first estate; and, at that day, many followed after him." (Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 3:28)

Why was he so angry?

"…because…[He], Satan …sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power…" (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 4:3)

In other words, Satan desired to take away the very plan of "opposition in all things", providing a world where all things would be "fair" and so-called "equal" and thus allowing no agency or choice.

And because of that desire to destroy the agency of man –

"…there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:" (New Testament | Revelation 12:7 - 9)

The fallacy that is sometimes taught in Church lessons is that the Savior presented His plan and then Satan presented his plan. The Savior did not present His own plan. The plan of salvation and exaltation has always existed before the foundations of the earth and throughout the eternities. That plan is eternal. The Savior, knowing his obligation as the Firstborn, stepped forward to accept His role as Savior of the world. It was Satan’s desire and objective to destroy that eternal plan for his own personal gain.

I am sure we understood in this pre-mortal existence, that entering into this second estate that this world would be a world of opposites. We even understood that in order to have opposition in all things that each of us might therefore acquire weaknesses. The Savior even told Moroni –

"…I give unto men weakness…" (Book of Mormon | Ether 12:27)

…Suggesting that opposites or our weaknesses are God given. With opposition in all things, obviously these weaknesses would not necessarily be the same, equal or fair. Yet, even knowing this, we looked forward to the opportunity for –

"…the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy…" (Old Testament | Job 38:7)

Let me reiterate again that even living in a world of opposites, weaknesses, and unfairness, it was still made clear –

"…we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them…" (Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 3:25)

These words suggest individual responsibility in this second estate, no matter what our weaknesses or conditions might be.

Equality is an interesting word. It is used quite often in the scriptures. The question is – what is the difference between the Lord’s definition of equality and that of Satan’s. Obviously, Satan would have all things the same, equal, fair, which would limit agency, choice and differentiation. But king Mosiah taught the Lord’s definition of equality teaching –

"…that there should be an equality among all men…" (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 27:3)

And –

"…that every man should have an equal chance throughout all the land…" (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 29:38)

Where –

"…every man [would] express a willingness to answer for his own sins." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 29:38)

Or as we read in modern revelation –

"…that every man may have an equal privilege…" (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:122)

We see this in the parable of the talents where –

"…unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability..." (New Testament | Matthew 25:15)

Yet each had an equal opportunity or privilege in how they used those talents.

It is apparent then that the Lord’s definition of equality is then equality in agency, choice, chances, privileges and individual responsibility in keeping the commandments. It has never been an issue or plan of fairness in all things.

I find it interesting that even in the United Order or law of consecration given in the early days of the Church, equality is defined as –

"…every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 51:3)

Which again suggests an issue of agency and individual responsibility not necessarily fairness. Which also suggests, that though God’s commandments are equal, they may not seem necessarily fair?

To Cain and Abel, the Lord commanded -

"that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord." (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:5)

It was even taught to them why, for –

"This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth." (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:7)

We also know that –

"…Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground." (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:17)

Obviously for Abel, being a keeper of sheep, it must have been much easier for him to sacrifice the firstling of the flocks than it was for Cain, he being a tiller of the ground. Obviously, Cain would then have to trade his "fruit" for flocks to keep this commandment.

It may have even appeared to some that a keeper of the sheep may have seemed more prestigious than that of a tiller of the ground because the Lord specifically chose the offering of the flock not fruit of the ground.

We now clearly understand why the Lord commanded a sacrifice of the firstling of the flock, for it was literally to be a sacrifice of blood, a similitude of the Savior’s atonement with –

"…every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice…[of] the Son of God…" (Book of Mormon | Alma 34:14)

But this commandment may not have seemed necessarily fair for Satan suggested or put it in the heart of Cain to –

"…Make an offering unto the Lord.

19 And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord." (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:18 - 19)

And thus we read that –

"…the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering;
21 But unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect…" (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:20 - 21)

Now I want to speak a little bit more directly to the youth who sometimes are mislead with arguments of fairness by society. As you hear this story, you may be thinking, "Hey, wait a minute, that’s not fair". And you may justify in your own mind that Cain should have been treated just the same as Abel…for that would only be fair! You may reason "Hey, Abel got to sacrifice his own source of livelihood, why couldn’t Cain?" But to you young people, I want you to listen very carefully what the Lord said concerning the matter –

"… we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them…" (Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 3:25)

Cain’s sacrifice of the fruit of the ground, which was not blood, was a mockery to God and to the remembering ordinance of the excruciating sacrifice of the Son of God. The fact that the Lord did not respect Cain was because it was an issue about obedience not fairness…individual responsibility, not that which is popular or fair. Fairness was always Satan’s plan to lead Cain away from obedience to God’s commandments for we read –

"…Now Satan knew this, and it pleased him." (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:21)

"…for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:27)

And as a result of his disobedience, because it may not have been necessarily fair –

"…Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 5:21)

And even worse, because of his anger, we know that it eventually lead to murder and perdition.

This story has great application in our day. Society is constantly promoting doctrines of fairness, equal rights, and tolerance that are in direct violation to the commandments of God concerning all that which is holy and sacred.

Understanding that, I would like to look back at another Old Testament story. While in the wilderness –

"…Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;
24 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence…" (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 84:23 - 24)

For, while communicating with the Lord on the mount for forty days, as –

"…the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us…" (Old Testament | Exodus 32:1)

These are the very same people that had not long before covenanted where –

"…all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do…" (Old Testament | Exodus 19:8)

Sounds like the covenant we made at baptism and in partaking of the sacrament.

But then, while their spiritual leader was absent, the people, because of their weaknesses, lacking faith, returned again to the gods of pleasure they had come to know so well in Egypt.

As members of the Church, we always seem to express amazement how quickly these people resorted back to this worldly worship. It doesn’t quite make sense. But don’t we see much the same reasoning today…and how quickly we begin to rationalize the commandments of God in lieu of fairness and tolerance.

But what I think what was more egregious in the event was that Aaron, one that should have known better, a priesthood leader, chose to follow the pressure of the people and –

"…Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which
are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me…
4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." (Old Testament | Exodus 32:2 - 4)

As parents and leaders, do we change, or justify our attitudes to the opinions of the world in much the same quick manner as did Aaron and his people.

I find it interesting that after Moses’s return, Aaron tries to excuse himself by blaming society by saying, but –

"…they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us…" (Old Testament | Exodus 32:23)

Really? Just because society "said this unto me"…so I quickly followed?

Is this not the same way today as the world tells what is and is not fair and that we should follow the philosophies of the world?

Saul did the same thing when failed to obey the commandments of the Lord in destroying all the livestock of the Amalekites, saving the best for his personal use. When approached by the prophet Samuel, the best excuse he could come up with was that he saved the sheep and oxen to sacrifice to the Lord. To which Samuel famously chastised–

"…Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…" (Old Testament | 1 Samuel 15:22)

President Joseph Fielding Smith said –

"It is so easy for humankind to blame somebody else for their own mistakes, and so easy for us, because of our human nature, to take credit when the thing that is accomplished is something that pleases and benefits. But we never want to shoulder a responsibility for our mistakes that do not please, and so we endeavor to place that kind of responsibility somewhere else and on others. … Let us shoulder our own responsibilities, and not endeavor to place them somewhere else." (Conference Report, Oct. 1932, 88)

We learn the importance of individual responsibility when after the Lord threatened to destroy the Israelites that Moses returned to the mount and plead on behalf of his people, pleading –

"Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin— (in other words, please forgive them); and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." (Old Testament | Exodus 32:32)

Moses loved his people enough that he was even willing to be blotted out of the Book of the Lamb for their sake. It was to his pleadings –

"…the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book." (Old Testament | Exodus 32:33)

…which falls in line with our 2nd Article of Faith –?

"We believe that men will be punished for their own sins…" (Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:2)

The Lord made it clear, it is all about individual responsibility and keeping his commandments, no matter what weaknesses, conditions, tribulations, oppositions, unfairness that we experience in our lives.

The Lord said to Isaiah –

"Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever..." (Old Testament | Isaiah 30:8)

What was so important that Isaiah was to write it down to be had forever and ever? The Lord followed –

"…this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." (Old Testament | Isaiah 30:9 - 11)

The Lord saw the day that the world would challenge His Prophets, Seers, and Revelators desiring that which was smooth, easy, and false, all in the name of tolerance and fairness.

Though we may strive to teach fairness in this life, which in many cases is a good thing, we must understand that all things are not fair nor should they be, emphasizing again, the Lord said –

"…we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them…" (Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 3:25)

I would like to conclude with the final words of Moses as he was about to leave the Israelites on the banks of the Jordan Rivers. As he recounts concerning the oppositions and tribulations that they had experienced in the wilderness, and how it applied to their life, which also has great application in our lives, he said –

"...thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no." (Old Testament | Deuteronomy 8:2)

In my mind, Moses taught the true purpose of oppositions and unfairness of this life. The whole purpose is to come to know what is in our hearts and if we will keep his commandments.

Thus wise king Solomon taught -

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this
is the whole duty of man." (Old Testament | Ecclesiastes 12:13)