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Book of Mormon Central / Archive / KnoWhy #505 - What Makes Mankind an Enemy to God? (Mosiah 3:19)

KnoWhy #505 - What Makes Mankind an Enemy to God? (Mosiah 3:19)

TitleKnoWhy #505 - What Makes Mankind an Enemy to God? (Mosiah 3:19)
Publication TypeKnoWhy
Year of Publication2019
Corporate AuthorsBook of Mormon Central Staff
PublisherBook of Mormon Central
Place PublishedSpringville, UT
KeywordsAdam (Prophet); Atonement; Chiasmus; Eve; Fall of Adam; Jesus Christ; King Benjamin; Natural Man
Abstract

When speaking to his people, King Benjamin stated that “the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever” (Mosiah 3:19). One might initially assume from this statement that the Book of Mormon is suggesting that humankind is somehow naturally and inherently evil from birth. However, when this statement is read in context, it becomes clear that King Benjamin meant exactly the opposite: that our relying on Christ allows us to return to our child-like state of innocence.
URLhttps://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/what-makes-mankind-an-enemy-to-god
Citation Key5174

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Scripture Reference

Mosiah 3:19