Monthly Message, June 2023
This one is really a no-brainer. It is, of course, the visit of Jesus Christ to the Nephites in the land Bountiful during the year after his resurrection. His teachings there were similar to his messages to the people of Judea during his mortal ministry. But there are certain important changes in the record of those teachings as compared with the record of the same Sermon on the Mount as recorded in the Bible. For example, the New Testament says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” the Book of Mormon account says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The Bible account seems to laud being poor in spirit, and there are many guesses as to what that meant. But the Book of Mormon account is clear as to what is meant by being poor in spirit. It means not to have the Holy Spirit with one. But if one who does not have the Holy Spirit with them will come unto Christ through the ordinance path of faith, repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, that person will become rich in the Holy Spirit, which will make it possible for them to inherit the Celestial Kingdom, heaven.
And the Savior gave the Nephites important prophecies about the future of their own nation and the restoration of his Gospel and Church in the latter days.
Thus the most important event recorded in the Book of Mormon is Christ’s visit to the Nephites.
But what might be some of the other important events recorded in the Book of Mormon? Please make your own list. But do consider the importance of the following seven events.
- Lehi’s departure into the wilderness. This event is important because it is the record of Lehi and his family being blessed because of Lehi’s bold willingness to testify of Christ to the people of Jerusalem at a time of their great wickedness. The miraculous journey they made under the Lord’s direction to inherit the special promised land which Lehi and his descendants would inherit is specially instructive to all who would receive a blessing at the Lord’s hand.
- The story of Abinadi. This prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ is a powerful witness of the life and mission of the Savior. He tells of the relationship of the Ten Commandments to the Gospel and delineates the relationship of the Father to the Son. He sealed his testimony with his life blood in his martyrdom. He had at least one convert: Alma, who led a group of his converts back to the main body of the Nephites, then became the leader of the church in Zarahemla.
- The conversion of Alma the Younger. Alma, the son of Alma, was a persecutor of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ, along with the sons of the King Mosiah, and did great damage to the church. His father and other faithful members fasted and prayed for him, and he was converted back to Christ. He succeeded his father as leader of the Church and did great good for the Nephite people over many years.
- The Destructions at the Death of Christ. As foretold by Samuel the Lamanite, there was darkness, great storms, and great destruction in the promised land at the time of the Savior’s death in Jerusalem. This cataclysm destroyed the more wicked part of the people and ravaged the face of the land. Those persons who survived this period of no light and destruction were the more righteous of the Nephites. This cataclysm helped to prepare them to meet the Savior later that year.
- Two Hundred Years of Zion. After the visit of the Savior to the Nephites, the apostles sent by the Savior converted all of the Nephites and Lamanites to the Gospel, but more importantly, got them to actually live the Gospel. Thus they were able to establish a Zion, a people who were of one heart, of one mine, who kept the commandments of Christ and had no poor among them. A Zion has been established on this earth since the Fall of Adam only a few precious times. This was a most noteworthy achievement. We today must establish a Zion before the Savior returns in his Second Coming.
- The Destruction of the Nephites at the Battle of Cumorah. The Nephites had been warned since their arrival in the promised land that if they were not righteous, they would be scourged by the Lamanites. They finally became so wicked that they were more wicked than the Lamanites. Then, as promised and prophesied, they were utterly destroyed. Even so it will be in these latter days: The Gospel of Christ will be preached to every person on earth, and those who will not heed and repent will be destroyed, burned at the Second Coming of Christ.
- The Vision of the Brother of Jared. The Brother of Jared was raised up as a prophet at the time of the tower of Babel and was given a special dispensation of the Gospel of Christ. One of the ways that Christ prepared him was to give him a vision of what would happen in the future of the peoples of the earth. This vision shows several things: That the future is foreknown to God, that full righteousness is a rare thing, and that God’s purposes are always fulfilled.
What do you think are the most noteworthy events recorded in the Book of Mormon?