1 Nephi 11:16, 26 - "condescension"

Early in the Book of Mormon, we develop the utmost admiration for Nephi. He is young, but he is bold and courageous in seeking truth and developing his spiritual capacities. One of the qualities I admire is that he doesn't just blindly accept the experiences and counsels of his father Lehi; he wants to share them, to experience them for himself. In doing so, he is able to add greatly to our understanding of the instruction and further bless us.

Nephi's Vision of the Virgin Mary
by Judith A. Mehr

As Nephi shares that confirmatory experience with a spiritual guide, we learn that he is being carefully tutored (as recorded in 1 Nephi 11). He has an initial "test of faith" and then is shown the precious tree that his father saw. He expresses a desire to understand its meaning, and is shown a beautiful and fair virgin in a city he recognizes as Nazareth.  His guide then asks him a curious question:

And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

Nephi's response:

I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

To understand the depth of that reply, we need to explore the word condescension. In our contemporary usage, it's generally not a positive thing. Dictionary definitions include "an attitude of patronizing superiority; disdain" or "to do something in a haughty way, as though it is below one's dignity or level of importance; a manner of behaving toward others in an outwardly polite way that nevertheless implies one’s own superiority to the others; patronizing courtesy toward inferiors." Reading these words might make us question the angel's sincerity when he talks about "the condescension of God."

However, the Webster's 1828 dictionary, which shows us more about word meanings in the time of Joseph Smith's translation of the Book of Mormon, provides a more clear meaning.

CONDESCENSION, noun Voluntary descent from rank, dignity or just claims; relinquishment of strict right; submission to inferiors in granting requests or performing acts which strict justice does not require. Hence, courtesy....

CONDESCEND, verb intransitive [Latin See Descend.]
1. To descend from the privileges of superior rank or dignity, to do some act to an inferior, which strict justice or the ordinary rules of civility do not require. Hence, to submit or yield, as to an inferior, implying an occasional relinquishment of distinction....
2. To recede from ones rights in negotiation, or common intercourse, to do some act, which strict justice does not require....
3. To stoop or descend; to yield; to submit; implying a relinquishment of rank, or dignity of character, and sometimes a sinking into debasement.

1 Nephi 11:26
26 And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of God!
Jacob 4:7
7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.
2 Nephi 4:26
26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
2 Nephi 9:53
53 And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, and how great his condescensions unto the children of men; and because of his greatness, and his grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall not utterly be destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would preserve them; and in future generations they shall become a righteous branch unto the house of Israel.

Romans 12:16
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.