Fwd: Worlds Without End: A Mormon Studies Roundtable
Clair Barrus
In a previous post, I proposed the Sodom and Gomorrah story was carefully constructed to parallel the story of the Lord telling Abraham and Sarah that despite their age, they would be able to conceive a child. The thwarted sexual intents of the people of Sodom parallel the discussion of Abraham and Sarah’s inability to conceive. But God intervenes in both stories by promising Abraham and Sarah a child, and preventing the people of Sodom from carrying out their intents.
Angels and Humans
The Sodom and Gomorrah story was also influenced by the older story of Noah and the flood. The story of Noah begins with these curious verses.
… the divine beings saw how beautiful the daughters of men were and took wives from among those that pleased them. … It was then, and later too, that the Nephilim appeared on earth – when the divine beings cohabited with the daughters of men, who bore them offspring. They were the heros of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw how great was man’s wickedness on earth. … (Gen 6:2-5, JSB)
