In response to the question about the atonement fulfilling the ends of the law, I have given some thought as to what the law spoken of here is. In the context of what Lehi is teaching it can be none other law than the law of justice. This requires that s recompense be made in order for mercy to be available to mortal men.

There has to be opposition to all things. Therefore there must be opposition to the fall of man through Adam. Justice (the law) demands this. The Atonement stands in opposition to the fall and fulfills the ends of the law by satisfying justice. As a result mercy is possible.

There is a longer discussion of these principles in Alma 34.

The aspect I’ve recently thought a lot about is time. What does it mean to consecrate my time as opposed to my land/possessions (which I also have little of)? Similar to possessions we can take an attitude of giving all of our time to God and he will return to us according to our wants and our needs. So, my 24 hours each day and 7 days each week suddenly become God’s because I make the choice to give it to him. He knows that I am young and not established in the world and have a young family and recognizes the need for me to work to support my family and gives me back the 40-80 hours a week for work as well as study time to learn and keep up on the material I am to use in my work. I also need to sleep, so another 6-8 hours a night is given back to me for rest and rejuvenation. I’m now left with only a few hours of each day that are no longer mine. What does God want to do with that time. He definitely wants me to strengthen my family, but in his way. I can’t simply be a presence in the home, I need some interaction, positive interaction. My family needs to grow in the gospel, and God is going to use my dedicated time for that purpose. I also have callings, home teaching, etc. With this change in attitude I no longer have “me time”, but it’s all “God’s time” that I am a steward of, and he knows what I need to do to strengthen the kingdom (including personal, family, community, and church based activities). If I learn how to consecrate my individual time, I can lead my family to do the same, and then we can be prepared to join the community practices of consecration as they are organized. I don’t think I need to fear for an inheritance if I have given the few things that I have.

What about us? My bank owns my house, because it loaned me the money to purchase it. I do not have an inheritance, or land of inheritance, because we do not live the full law of consecration.

We tend to read 1 Ne 1 as if we have inherited the promised land because our ancestors came over here and deposed the Native Americans who are somehow remnant Israel. But we merely possess the land, and have not received it as a covenanted inheritance.

What does that mean? Are we on shaky ground? By not living the law of consecration, are we denied a true inheritance? Do we not then find ourselves in the same boat as the descendants of Lehi–without an inheritance?

As to the temporal law it seems that there is a real obstacle to us changing/repenting. Perhaps it is our own conscious, perhaps our own demand for punishment, or something. regardless, it seem that the whole intent of the atonement is as Amulek says to bring about the means that men might have faith unto repentance. It gives us the ability to change where we did not have it before. The temporal law is just that temporal. It is to help get us moving in the repentance direction so that when the full weight of the law of harvest or restitution comes we will be beings of light rather than darkness.

And Lisa, thanks also for the tidbit about the “most quoted” in #2.

and I put “the Jews” in parenthesis because most likely this refers to leaders and teachers of religion and the law, not to every single person in Israel.

In fact, Jim, your study questions regarding chapter 2 are absolutely great.

I’ve typed out my friend Mack Stirling’s notes on these two chapters. They are rather complete and I want to get his permission before posting – but I think they will be a significant addition to this mix.

Regarding one of the questions in your post, I think to prosper in the [promised] land is to enjoy the presence of God (see Deut. 28:9 – what is an “holy” people?, also see Deut. 29:9)

Lisa, thanks for your kind words!

I do think it is important to know that from time to time we all struggle with teaching, for various reasons, personal and institutional. Every Sunday is different – it is important to go back the next week and make the attempt again, even if we feel personally inadequate.

Regarding the law of God, Mack suggests that 2:11 is a summary of reality, or the LAW of GOD. I hope I’m able to post his notes.

Lisa F—It is very encouraging to hear that people find my notes useful. I like what you suggest about two ends to the law—like a two-edged sword?

The ends of the law — I have been thinking of that as well. I wonder, since it is plural, if a law has two ends (at least). The one extreme is the result of keeping that law. The other end of the law is the result if we break it.

Equating “purpose” with “end of” makes sense to me as well.

Cherylem — Your handouts and understanding are remarkable (I loved every single New Testament post — thanks!) and have made a difference in how I examine what I am reading. Lesson 5 was huge. We barely got out of 16. I just try to read, ask for guidance about what will be most useful this week, and pick a very narrow piece of what is available. 2 Nephi 2 was quoted more often in General Conference (since 1945) than any other chapter (!). (www.scriptures.byu.edu)

I guess I’ll take this opportunity to remind all of us GD teachers and other teachers – including myself – that we are are the teacher of the moment, called and set apart. Sometimes when the lessons don’t “work” like we want them to, we have to rely on that foundation.

And for all of us also, including myself, it served as a reminder to me to cut all teachers some slack. We all do the best we can. We won’t be everyone’s idea of the ideal, but when we walk away feeling we’re so far from that ideal as to be in another universe, it really helps when our class members can just cut us some slack.

Sorry for this threadjack, and thanks for these great notes. But I was really glad you included the “harrowing” comment, to which I can relate only too well.