As Though They Had Already Come

Jarom recorded the doings of his people this way: “Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was” (Jarom 1:11).Similarly, King Benjamin taught, “And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them” (Mosiah 3:13). In both cases they taught of and looked forward to the coming of the Savior as if it had already taken place. This is also how Abinadi spoke to the priests of Noah: “And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption. And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection” (Mosiah 16:6-7). He was able to speak of the atonement and resurrection of Christ as if it had already taken place because he knew that the prophecies were sure. This is perhaps how the faithful were able, in the premortal existence, to “[overcome the accuser] by the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:11). The atonement of the Savior had power to help those who believed in Him before He even came to the earth and before any of His precious blood was spilt. Since “time only is measured unto me,” the reality of the great atoning sacrifice of the Savior somehow has always existed and has power for the past, present, and future (Alma 40:8).

                Yesterday the missionaries in our area shared some of these verses and suggested from this that we can pray in gratitude for that which is sure but has not yet happened. We see this in the example of Lehi who, barely outside of Jerusalem, said, “if I had not seen the things of God in a vision I should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren. But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice” (1 Nephi 5:4-5). He was so sure of the promise of reaching the promised land, something that would take another decade to realize, that he expressed gratitude for it. In another example, the Savior interestingly said this to the Father before raising Lazarus from the dead: “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 11:41-42). He was sure that Lazarus would come forth and thus could thank the Father before the miracle even occurred. In an opposite sense, Nephi sorrowed because of what the Lord had shown him would happen to his people a thousand years in the future. Having seen their destruction he said, “And now I, Nephi, was grieved because… of the things which I had seen, and knew they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great wickedness of the children of men. And it came to pass that I was overcome because of my afflictions, for I considered that mine afflictions were great above all, because of the destruction of my people, for I had beheld their fall” (1 Nephi 15:4-5). So sure was he of the word of the Lord that he wept for what was yet to come as if it had already come. Similarly, as Moroni wrote to his modern-day audience, he said this: “Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you. Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.” So sure he was of what he saw in the future that he could speak of it as if it were in the past, lamenting: “Why have ye polluted the holy church of God?” (Mormon 8:34-35,38) Like many other prophets he “beheld with an eye of faith” what was about to come, and the past, present, and future all blended together in the sure promises of the Lord (Ether 12:19). As we receive and come to know of the “exceeding great and precious promises” from the Lord of the future, we too can understand and be grateful for things to come as though they had already come, knowing that “the words of the Lord, which have been spoken by the holy prophets, shall all be fulfilled” (2 Peter 4:1, 3 Nephi 29:2).