As I am resuming activity in this blog, I must remind myself of my intended audience. Most of my friends do not belong to my church. Many are Christian or Jewish, a couple are Muslim and other religions, and several are agnostic. But one thing my friends all have in common: they are not afraid to ask me questions about my religion.
I figure that if you're here, you have curiosity, and you are more than welcome -- I, myself, love to learn about just anything. Sometimes I write to just my Mormon peeps, and sometimes I take time to explain some of the more basic principles -- which can even be good reminders for strong members of the Church as well.
Also, this year, our church, worldwide, is on a reading schedule ... every week we read a selection of the Book of Mormon, and by the end of the year we will have read all the way through. Our Church started this new program last year with the New Testament. Next year we'll read the Doctrine & Covenants (lots of Church history). And the year after that is most likely the Old Testament.
I'd like to emphasize that this week's reading is about the most important event of the whole Book of Mormon: Jesus' visit to the Nephites / Lamanites on the American continent. This time I caught a different angle that I'd like to share today.
At the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Lehi and his family left Jerusalem and sail to the Americas. Along the way, for whatever reason, Lehi and his son, Nephi, received a revelation that the Son of God would be born 600 years in the future. And during the next 600 years, there were several revelations, similar to Isaiah, but with much more precise information. Jesus Christ would be born in Jerusalem, and he would die to save us from our sins.
The faithful always believed this would happen, but many did not. These unbelievers would say, "There's no way you can know this Savior is coming." Or "What is that to us? He's going to be in Jerusalem, not here."
It's easy to imagine the skepticism. "You just made this all up to create a church to control us. 600 years is a long way away, so there's no way to prove your prophecies. Your church is 'safe.' And when 600 years comes and we don't see him, you're just going to say you had a revelation that he was born and that he's already died, and we'll never know because we're over here."
As I discussed last week, there were signs given prior to Jesus' birth. Samuel the Lamanite said in 5 years a night would be as day, and a new star would appear. And then at Jesus' death there would be darkness for 3 days straight.
When the new star appeared, there was a short period of repentance and peace, but then most of the people went back to being wicked, even saying that the new star was a trick of sorcery. During the next couple of decades, there was lots of death and more wickedness.
Then in 33 AD, the sign of the death occurred. There were 3 days of darkness, such that no light could penetrate. Earthquakes changed the land and killed many people. During these 3 days, those who were spared had to endure darkness, uncertainty, remorse, and pain. And then something happened that no one knew was coming.
Jesus, himself, appeared to them, during his 40-day ministry on earth following his resurrection. At first it was just a voice in the darkness, giving the survivors comfort. And then after an announcement from the Father, Jesus descended from the skies and landed among the people. He then ministered unto them, explaining who he was, healing the sick, giving blessings, and so on. (3 Nephi 8-11)
And I don't know why I always seemed to miss this before. The people who believed in Jesus prior to his coming to earth had no idea that He, himself, would visit them in person. As far as they knew, he would only be in Jerusalem, and not anywhere near them. So great is His love for all of us!
In later readings, Jesus will tell the people that he needs to go and visit other sheep that are not of his fold. Which all emphasizes the center of every Christian denomination: Jesus is the one and only Cornerstone of the Church. He is the reason for everything. Without his sacrifice, our sins would make us unworthy to return back to heaven. His teachings help us to become more like him and become better people. And most importantly, he's not just for the Jewish people he lived with during his mortal existence, but he reaches out to all of us, regardless of our position, heritage, or even our beliefs.
Even if our several denominations disagree on certain characteristics of Jesus and other points of doctrine, this is the one aspect of Christianity where we are all united. Jesus is the one way for us to proceed and return to heaven. And he invites all of us to come unto Him.
Edit - 1:45PM: It looks like I did miss a prophecy in there. Alma 16:20 says (around 78 BC): "And many of the people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did hear with great joy and gladness."
Further, 3 Nephi 11:12 (back to 33 AD) says: "... the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven."
So, it seems the prophecy was known to the people, but it seems to have only come back to memory after Jesus had shown himself.
BTW, I found this great classic video depicting Jesus' visit -- very touching, and makes me want to have been there.
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