The matchless gift of God’s Son

“He is not here, but He is risen” (Matt 28:6). This truth has changed the world forever. After Jesus Christ's resurrection, He ministered to the women who were His faithful disciples. He showed his immortal body to his apostles and bore witness of himself. “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt 28:18-19). “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,” he instructed. The power of resurrection changes our eternal destiny. And the power to repent changes our hearts forever.

Jesus taught his apostles that "other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice" (John 10:16).

As resurrected Lord, Jesus did visit his "other sheep," and this visit is recorded. On the American continent, the earth experienced great upheaval at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Thick darkness covered the land for three days. A voice was heard from heaven as God the Father testified of His Son, and the resurrected and glorified Lord appeared. Jesus ministered to His disciples on the American continent, as recorded in “The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.”

"While [the people] were…conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; …and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice…and it said unto them: Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him….

“They cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them;

“He stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning” (3 Nephi 11:3-11).

Jesus invited all who were present, around 2000 people, to witness his resurrected body, saying, “Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world” (3 Nephi 11:14).

Every person in the multitude came to Jesus and felt the wounds in His hands and feet, so they would know for sure that He was the resurrected Lord.

Jesus taught the people, healed them, and blessed them. He instituted the Sacrament, which replaced animal sacrifice from the law of Moses. He taught them the higher law, as he taught in the New Testament.

After Jesus's ministry in America, the people followed his teachings and became a civilization filled with joy and peace.“There was no contention in the land because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people…. Surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God” (4 Nephi 3, 15-16). Faith in Jesus Christ had changed their nation by changing their hearts.

The Book of Mormon is filled with witnesses of Jesus Christ in ancient America spanning approximately 2,600 years.

The prophet Nephi wrote of a vision around 600 BC, "And I beheld the Lamb of God…, yea, the Son of the Everlasting God was judged of the world…. And I…saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world” (1 Nephi 14-33).

The prophet-king, Mosiah, taught around 124 BC, “the time cometh…that with power, the Lord Omnipotent shall…go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles… He shall suffer temptations, and pain of body…behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness…of his people. And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary (Mosiah 3:5-13).

The prophet Alma taught about 83 BC, “And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities…. He [will] take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance” (Alma 7:10-13).

In 74 BC the prophet Amulek taught, “There is nothing short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world. Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice…. and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name” (Alma 34:12-15).

The prophet-historian Moroni, in AD 421, invites us to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness…. Then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ” (Moroni 10:32). It is Moroni, along with his father, the prophet Mormon, who abridged thousands of years of records into one volume, a witness of Jesus Christ in ancient America.

We rejoice with the Christian world at this Easter season. Jesus Christ “is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son” (“The Living Christ: The testimony of the apostles”).

Beth Wright has lived, worked, and raised her family in the valley for over 30 years. She loves being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.