Man's lifespan length changed?

Adam, the first man, lived to be 930 years old. Methusalah, in the bible was the son of Enoch, and was the father of Lamech, and the grandfather of Noah, lived to be nine-hundred-sixty-nine years old (969). He was the longest life recorded in the bible. However, in Genesis 6:3 we are told that, "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years" and in the Book of Mormon we read in the book of 2 Nephi, chapter 2, verse 21, "And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation⁠, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men."

Is there a contradiction in that?

If Genesis 6:3 is a countdown to the flood, Methuselah's long life ends right before or when the flood begins (some believe the exact year). After the flood, lifespans significantly shortened. Noah's son, Shem, for example, lived for 600 years, a considerable decrease from his father's 950, Abraham's father, Terah, lived to be 205, and Moses only 120. From Shem (600) to Peleg (239): lifespan is nearly cut in half. By the time of Joseph (who only lived for 110 years!), lifespans are well below 120. Around the time of Eber to Peleg (5–6 generations after the Flood), lifespans fell below 500 years and never rose again. The nine disciples of Jesus Christ, in third Nephi in the Book of Mormom, other than the three Nephites who desired to live on Earth until the Savior returns, lived only to "the life of a tree", or in 3 Nephi 28:3 or seventy two years old. Today, in the year 2025, the life expectancy of man is 73-74 years old. The decline in human lifespans after the Flood is gradual, not immediate.

So, the truth is: each and every man or woman lives until they've been fully tested, that they can then finish preparations in Spirit prison or Paradise (see Alma chapter 42)...

And, there you have it...

JPS

Jesus Christ’s compassion and mercy

It is easy to feel sorry for those that have sinned; they are essentially sick (and who doesn't or can't feel sorry for anyone who's sick?)! No matter what they've done or are even continually choosing to do, they are just choosing or have chosen to be sick/infected... "Bigotry manifests itself, in part, in unwillingness to grant equal freedom of expression to another", Elder Dale G. Renlund. We must understand and emulate our Heavenly Father's eternal separation between the sin and those who commit sin. As we become closer to Jesus Christ, "... we learn to treat others as He does, regardless of any outward characteristic or behavior." Look at Elder Renlund's analogy from April 2017 to Les Miserables: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/04/our-good-shepherd?lang=eng Jean Valjean is the sick/sinner and the Bienvenu Myriel, the bishop of Digne, is Christ. “All the same, should the scabs of the sheep cause the shepherd to recoil?” The bishop asks, metaphorically! "The Savior’s mortal ministry was indeed characterized by love, compassion, and empathy. He did not disdainfully walk the dusty roads of Galilee and Judea, flinching at the sight of sinners. He did not dodge them in abject horror. No, He ate with them. He helped and blessed, lifted and edified, and replaced fear and despair with hope and joy. Like the true shepherd He is, He seeks us and finds us to offer relief and hope. Understanding His compassion and love helps us exercise faith in Him—to repent and be healed." "... our genuine conversion brings 'meekness, and lowliness of heart,' which invites 'the Holy Ghost [and fills us with] perfect love,' an 'unfeigned love' for others." We need to go to those who need help--rest-homes, care-centers, homeless-shelters, soup-kitchens... We need to be willing seek-out missionary opportunities as directed by the Spirit--also need to remember that we're not full-time missionaries or general authorities... Be out-of-comfort-zone!!! Till it becomes our comfort zone... "Understanding His compassion and love helps us exercise faith in Him—to repent and be healed... Our role is also to help and bless, lift and edify, and replace fear and despair with hope and joy." We can motivate people to change by our compassion and mercy, just as the Savior did! "The Savior’s compassion, love, and mercy draw us toward Him... [And] through His Atonement, we are no longer satisfied with our sinful state. As we understand His role, through doing as He has done, we become more like Him and naturally do more of His work, which helps us become more like Him. ... The fastest way to become like our Savior is to do His work--as we do His work, we will repent more and understand Him and our Heavenly Father more... “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” "She was motivated to change because of His compassion and mercy." "And the woman glorified God from that hour, and believed on his name.” JST John 8:11 "God is clear about what is right and acceptable to Him and what is wrong and sinful. This is not because He desires to have mindless, obedient followers. No, our Heavenly Father desires that His children knowingly and willingly choose to become like Him and qualify for the kind of life He enjoys." "Our role is also to help and bless, lift and edify, and replace fear and despair with hope and joy." JPS