Objective:

In this week’s discussion we will explore the mystery of Hod (Glory / Splendor) which was mentioned a couple of weeks ago, but today we will dive a bit deeper into that.

Beads:

Section 6, the Eighth Bead:

The Mystery of the Prefect Splendor: For YHVH shall descend below all things, and shall overcome all things, and shall rise above all things, having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father

Passages to Ponder

Neum 1:12

12. YHVH shall descend below all things and shall overcome all things and shall rise above all things.

1 Nephi 3:56-58 [11:16-18]

3:56 [11:16]. And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

3:57 [11:17]. And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

3:58 [11:18]. And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

Mosiah 8:28-37 [15:1-9]

8:28 [15:1]. ¶ And now, Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men and shall redeem his people;

8:29 [15:2a]. And because he dwelleth in flesh, he shall be called the Son of God;

8:30a [15:2b]. And having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son;

8:30b [15:3]. The Father because he was conceived by the power of God, and the Son because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son.

8:31 [15:4]. And they are one God, yea, the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth.

8:32 [15:5]. And thus the flesh, becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation and yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people.

8:33 [15:6]. And after all this, and after working many mighty miracles among the children of men, he shall be led, yea, even as Isaiah said: As a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.

8:34 [15:7]. Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father;

8:35 [15:8]. And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death, giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men;

8:36 [15:9a]. Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy, being filled with compassion toward the children of men,

8:37 [15:9b]. Standing betwixt them and justice, having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them and satisfied the demands of justice.

Questions of Knowledge (What it says at the surface)

• What is the “Condescension of God”?
• What does it say he did that would break the bands of death?

Questions of Wisdom (What it means below the surface)

Questions of Understanding (Likening it to Ourselves)

• Is there any justice that you are owed, but that He stands in compassion between you and justice?

Questions of Mystery (What deeper meaning can be harvested)

• As the Creator, YHVH already had dominion over all things, what was it about descending below all things that was necessary for him to rise above all things? Or why did he need to be subjected to all things before all things would be subjected to Him?