Prophets Testify of Christ

One of the major themes in the Book of Mormon is the necessity and importance of prophets.  One thing that we learn about prophets is their essential role to testify of Jesus Christ, both those who came before and after the Savior’s mortal ministry.  This is not as evident when reading the Old Testament because the references to Christ are much fewer and much less direct: arguably the most important teaching about Christ comes in Isaiah 53’s prophecy about Christ’s atonement, and yet even in that chapter the Savior isn’t even named.  It’s in the Book of Mormon that we learn the true role of prophets to teach of Christ. 

                To show how universal teachings about Christ are by Book of Mormon prophets, here’s a brief and incomplete list of those who testified of Christ:

·         Lehi: “And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world. Therefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer” (1 Nephi 10:5-6).

·         Nephi: “Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God….  He manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith” (2 Nephi 26:12-13).

·         Jacob: “It must needs be expedient that Christ… should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God” (2 Nephi 10:3)

·         Enos: “I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world.  And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer” (Enos 1:26-27).

·         Amaleki: “And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye shouldcome unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him” (Omni 1:26).

·         King Benjamin: “And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent” (Mosiah 3:17).

·         Alma: “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people” (Alma 7:11).

·         Ammon: “He expounded unto them the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; and he also made known unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and all the works of the Lord did he make known unto them” (Alma 18:39).

·         Aaron: “Since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death” (Alma 22:14).

·         Helaman: “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation” (Helaman 5:12).

·         Samuel the Lamanite: “But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord” (Helaman 14:17).

·         The Brother of Jared: “Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters” (Ether 3:14).

·         Mormon: “Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise” (Moroni 7:41).

·         Moroni: “ And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever” (Ether 12:41).

The above list helps us to see both the comprehensiveness of the teachings of the prophets about Christ as well as the universality of the prophets’ message.  Again and again and again in the Book of Mormon we see prophets teaching of and prophesying about the Savior.  As Jacob said, prophets before his time “believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name” (Jacob 4:5).  This is true of prophets past and present, modern and ancient, and this weekend as we listen to the addresses of prophets and apostles, we will no doubt be taught again about the Savior and be invited to follow Him.