all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it
should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life
neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor
misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
2 Nephi 2:12
12 Wherefore, it must needs 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 2:13
13 And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there
is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say
there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness
there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor
happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things
are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not,
neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of
things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all
things must have vanished away.
2 Nephi 2:14
14 And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your
profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all
things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in
them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.
2 Nephi 2:15
15 And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man,
after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the
field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are
created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the
forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being
sweet and the other bitter.
2 Nephi 2:16
16 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 2:17
17 And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must
needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is
written, had fallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a devil,
having sought that which was evil before God.
2 Nephi 2:18
18 And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become
miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind.
Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea, even that old serpent, who is
the devil, who is the father of all lies, wherefore he said:
Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye
shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
2 Nephi 2:19
19 And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit
they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.
2 Nephi 2:20
20 And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of
all the earth.
2 Nephi 2:21
21 And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according
to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh;
wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their
time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord
God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that
all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were
lost, because of the transgression of their parents.
2 Nephi 2:22
22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not
have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden.
And all things which were created must have remained in the same
state in which they were after they were created; and they must
have remained forever, and had no end.
2 Nephi 2:23
23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would
have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they
knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
2 Nephi 2:24
24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him
who knoweth all things.
2 Nephi 2:25
25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might
have joy.
2 Nephi 2:26
26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may
redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they
are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing
good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon,
save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last
day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
2 Nephi 2:27
27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all
things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are
free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great
Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according
to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all
men might be miserable like unto himself.
2 Nephi 2:28
28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great
Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be
faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to
the will of his Holy Spirit;
2 Nephi 2:29
29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the
flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of
the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he
may reign over you in his own kingdom.
2 Nephi 2:30
30 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the
last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part,
according to the words of the prophet. And I have none other
object save it be the everlasting