=12. The Atonement Fore-ordained and Fore-told.=--As already shown, the plan of the Father to open a way for the redemption of mankind, then to leave all men free to exercise their own agency, was adopted by the Council in heaven to the rejection of Lucifer's plan of compulsion. Even at that remote period, Christ was thus ordained as a Mediator for all mankind; in fact, "a covenant was entered into between Him and His Father, in which He agreed to atone for the sins of the world, and He thus, as stated, became a 'Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.'"[210] The prophets of old, many of whom lived centuries before the time of Christ's coming in the flesh, testified of Him and of the great work He had been ordained to perform. These men of God had been permitted to behold in prophetic visions many of the scenes incident to the Savior's earthly mission; and they solemnly bore record of the manifestations. Indeed, the testimony of Christ is the spirit of prophecy, and without it no person can rightly claim the distinction of being a prophet of God. Adam's despair, on being driven from Eden, was changed to joy when, through revelation, he learned of the plan of redemption to be wrought by the Son of God in the flesh.[211] Righteous Enoch taught the same truths, which had been declared to him from the heavens.[212] This testimony was borne by Moses,[213] Job,[214] David,[215] Zechariah,[216] Isaiah,[217] and Micah.[218] The same declaration was made by John the Baptist,[219] the prophet of the Highest, designated by the Savior as more than a prophet; he it was who baptized the Christ, and who witnessed the Father's words associated with the visible sign of the Holy Ghost, concerning the mission of the Son. [210] Pres. John Taylor, in Mediation and Atonement, p. 97. [211] See page 71. Moses v, 9-11.--For general treatment see "Jesus the Christ," ch. v. See also Note 6. [212] Pearl of Great Price: Moses vi, 51-68. [213] Deut. xviii, 15, 17-19. [214] Job xix, 25-27. [215] Psalms ii, 1-12. [216] Zech. ix, 9; xii, 10; xiii, 6. [217] Isaiah vii, 14; ix, 6-7. [218] Micah v, 2. [219] Matt. iii, 11.