Changes to the Face of the Land

I’ve always thought of the destructions that came upon the Americas at the death of Christ as a major change to the geography of the land.  I think in the back of my mind I’ve supposed that most of the mountain ranges and features of the land that we see today were created at this time in 34 AD when the sign of Christ’s death was given via terrible destructions.  One of the commentators, Paul Hoskisson, on the BYU series Discussions on the Book of Mormon suggested that this was not in fact the case.  In particular he pointed out that the chapter uses the words “face of the land” to describe the change.  In other words, what changed was some features on top of the earth, not a fundamental movement of tectonic plates or a complete altering of every geological aspect of the land. 

We read that “the whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and whirlwinds” and the “the face of the whole earth became deformed” (3 Nephi 8:12, 17). The rocks “were broken up upon the face of the whole earth”; the record does not say that underneath the earth there were major changes.  We do read that “the earth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in the place of the city there became a great mountain” (3 Nephi 8:10).  But that’s the only mountain mentioned that was created; there’s no evidence that lots of mountain ranges came into being in this one day.  “The city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea” and there were also “many great and notable cities” which “were sunk” in addition to cities burned and other greatly affected by the earthquakes, but again that happened on top of the earth, but for the most part these were not changes that put in place permanent new geological features (3 Nephi 8:9, 14).  Everything certainly looked different on the face of the land; but the descriptions to me imply that if a Nephite from 30 AD and a Nephite from 40 AD described the geography of the land they would have given about the same description.  I wonder if there is not a bit of symbolism in this relating to the Law of Moses.  With this destruction came the announcement of the Savior: “Behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the Law of Moses fulfilled” (3 Nephi 9:17).  The Nephites were going to be taught the law of the gospel to replace the law of the Moses, and on the surface everything would change.  There would be no more animal sacrifices, no more dietary restrictions, no more Passovers or ritual feasts or other burnt offerings.  The visible aspect of their worship would change significantly.  But ultimately the core of their faith would not be altered at all.  They preached the atonement and Resurrection of Christ both before and after.  They were baptized for the remission of sins both before and after.  They were to have a “broken heart and a contrite spirit” both before and after (3 Nephi 9:20, Psalms 34:18).  The fulfillment of the Law of Moses certainly changed the face of the religion; but the heart of their worship would always be centered in Jesus Christ and His redemption.