Recently while we were reading in the Book of Mormon together, a certain scripture stood out, the phrasing of it feeling more poignant than usual. Mormon 1:15: "And I, being fifteen years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus." At 15, with the world falling apart around him, Mormon had tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus.
A few things hit me, 1- What is the goodness of Jesus that Mormon is talking of? 2- Why did he use the word taste?
Mormon grew up in a wicked time. There were wars and evil abundant during his time. It was bad enough he was told to not preach to the people there, "but I was forbidden to preach unto them, because of the hardness of their hearts" (Mormon 1:17). If you look even before that verse you'll see that he states there are no gifts of the spirit, the Lord had taken away the disciples; yet Mormon remained to lead these people to war, his people that remained. And he states that he has been visited by the Lord and tasted of His goodness.
As alone as Mormon had to feel at times, being the one "left behind," Heavenly Father made sure Mormon knew he was loved, that He was aware of Mormon's circumstances and that Mormon would be taken care of. Mormon had tasted of the goodness of God.
Yet, that goodness, and tasting of that goodness is offered to all. When I think of tasting of the goodness of Jesus, I think of the Tree of Life, and Nephi's vision. In 1 Nephi 8:10-11:
"10: And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
11: And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen."
In 1 Nephi 11: 21 and 22 Nephi is told what that tree signifies: "...Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? 22: And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things." The Tree is the Love of God, and God so loved the world that he gave His Son to us, to provide the fruit to partake of that's sweet above all other fruits. The fruit being Christ's Atonement and Resurrection.
So when Mormon states he had tasted of the goodness of God, to me it states that he has partaken of Christ's Atonement. It's why he could remain strong during a tumultuous time. It's how we can find the strength to endure the misery this life will offer, that can leave a bitter taste in our mouths. The bitter helps us recognize the sweet, knowing that through Christ all things will be overcome
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