2 Nephi 24:12-17

[pam]

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and shall consider thee, and shall say: Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?

17 And made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof, and opened not the house of his prisoners?

Quotes for Discussion

Lucifer. “And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning” (D&C 76:26).

The name Lucifer (Hebrew helel) means “shining one.” If the name is given different vowels (helal), it signifies the crescent of the moon, having a possible meaning that Lucifer had less light (symbolically) than the full moon, or Lucifer’s light waned as does the light of the moon during its cycle. Further, Lucifer’s light was far less than the light of Jesus Christ, whose light is the sun (Ps. 84:11; D&C 88:7-9). Isaiah may also be using a play on words, for Lucifer’s name (helel) sounds like a word Isaiah uses in 13:6 where he commands those of Babylon to “Howl!” (Hebrew helili).

son of the morning. In Hebrew this means ‘son of the dawning light.” Doctrine and Covenants 76:26 recalls Isaiah’s words: “And was called perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.” The title son of the morning recalls the phrase morning stars (Job 38:7; D&C 128:23) and refers to eminent persons from the premortal existence. Christ, we recall, is the “bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16) and the “morning star” (Rev. 2:28), the most eminent of all stars.

Parry, Parry, Peterson, Understanding Isaiah, p. 146

The only places in the Bible and the Book of Mormon where the title Lucifer is used are Isaiah 14:12 and 2 Nephi 24:12. In Doctrine and Covenants 76:25-28 we learn that Lucifer (which means “light bearer”) was the premortal name of Satan. Because of his rebellion against God he fell from his position of “authority in the presence of God” (v. 25) and “was called Perdition” (v. 26), which means “destruction.”

Book of Mormon student Manual, Religion 121 and 122 [salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1989], 34

Now, in this world, mankind are naturally selfish, ambitious and striving to excel one above another; yet some are willing to build up others as well as themselves. So in the other world there are a variety of spirits. Some seek to excel. And this was the case with Lucifer when he fell. He sought for things which were unlawful. Hence he was sent down, and it is said he drew many away with him; and the greatness of his punishment is that he shall not have a tabernacle. This is his punishment. So the devil, thinking to thwart the decree of God, by going up and down in the earth, seeking whom he may destroy—any person that he can find that will yield to him, he will bind him, and take possession of the body and reign there, glorying in it mightily, not caring that he had got merely a stolen body; and by and by someone having authority will come along and cast him out and restore the tabernacle to its rightful owner. The devil steals a tabernacle because he has not one of his own: but if he steals one, he is always liable to be turned out of doors.

Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1976], 297-98

As people fill their hearts with the Spirit of God, there will be no room in their hearts for Satan’s influence. Isaiah delighted in the future binding of Satan to outer darkness following the Millennium.

In teaching this concept Isaiah employed a satirical song. He portrayed the ancient king of Babylon as a type for Lucifer. Similar to the king of Babylon, Lucifer has ruled over an empire built upon tyranny and oppression… (Isa. 14:13-14). Isaiah prophesied that the day will come when Lucifer will “be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isa. 14:15). John the Revelator was shown an angel who had the key of a bottomless pit. “He laid hold on…that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled” (Rev. 20:2-3). Satan will be held in such low regard that people will mock him, saying, “Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;…that opened not the house of his prisoners?” (Isa. 14:16-17). Truly, during the Millennium Lucifer will be bound and will “not have power to tempt any man” (D&C 101:28). Therefore, he will “have no place in the hearts of the children of men” (D&C 45:55).

Craig J. Ostler, Voices of Old Testament Prophets: The 26th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1997], 75-76

Salvation is nothing more nor less than to triumph over all our enemies and put them under our feet. And when we have power to put all enemies under our feet in this world, and a knowledge to triumph over all evil spirits in the world to come, then we are saved, as in the case of Jesus, who was to reign until He had put all enemies under His feet, and the last enemy was death.

Perhaps there are principles here that few men have thought of. No person can have this salvation except through a tabernacle.

Now, in this world, mankind are naturally selfish, ambitious and striving to excel one above another; yet some are willing to build up others as well as themselves. So in the other world there are a variety of spirits. Some seek to excel. And this was the case with Lucifer when he fell. He sought for things which were unlawful. Hence he was sent down, and it is said he drew many away with him; and the greatness of his punishment is that he shall not have a tabernacle. This is his punishment. So the devil, thinking to thwart the decree of God, by going up and down in the earth, seeking whom he may destroy—any person that he can find that will yield to him, he will bind him, and take possession of the body and reign there, glorying in it mightily, not caring that he had got merely a stolen body; and by and by someone having authority will come along and cast him out and restore the tabernacle to the rightful owner. The devil steals a tabernacle because he has not one of his own: but if he steals one, he is always liable to be turned out of doors.

Joseph Smith, TPJS, 297-98

Edited May 9, 2010 by pam