43. Resurrection

CHAPTER 43

RESURRECTION

Their hearts began to burn.

Again they heard the voice and didn’t understand it.  But the third time they heard the voice, they opened their ears to it.  They looked steadfastly towards heaven where the voice was heard.  This time they understood the voice.

“Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name --- hear ye Him.”

Nephi again looked upwards into heaven.  He saw a Man clothed in a white robe descending out of heaven.  The man came down and stood next to Nephi and the others around him.  The Man stretched forth His hand and introduced Himself.

“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.”

Nephi fell to the earth.  He remembered how Samuel and other prophets had testified of Jesus Christ, and that He would show Himself to his people after His ascension into heaven.  Everyone around Nephi was fallen before the Lord.

Jesus spoke again.  “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 world.”

Nephi and others went forward, one by one, and did as directed.  Nephi saw with his own eyes, and felt with his own hands, and knew for himself that it was the Savior.

After everyone had gone forward to witness for themselves, Nephi shouted with the others, “Hosanna!  Blessed be the name of the Most High God!”

Then Jesus spoke directly to Nephi alone and commanded him to come forward.  Nephi went forward again and bowed himself before the Lord and kissed His feet.  The Lord commanded Nephi to arise.  He arose and stood before Him.  The Lord said, “I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.”

Jesus called eleven others forward.  They were Timothy, Nephi’s brother whom he had raised from the dead, and also his son, whose name was Jonas, and also Mathoni, and Mathonihah, his brother, and Kumen, and Kumenonhi, and Jeremiah, and Shemnon, and Jonas, and Zedekiah, and Isaiah.  Jesus also gave them power to baptize. 

Jesus gave all the people additional instructions and specific teachings about His doctrine.  He told them to have no disputations or contentions among them concerning His doctrine.

Jesus stretched forth His hand to the multitude and said, “Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am.”

Jesus taught the multitude many more things.  He taught them that they were among His other sheep.  He taught them to pray; and He prayed for them.  He instituted the sacrament among them.  Jesus directed the people to ponder His words and to pray for understanding. 

         

The people looked and saw the heavens opened and angels descended out of heaven as if in the midst of fire.  The angels encircled their little ones and ministered unto them.

Jesus gave Nephi and his chosen disciples other commandments before telling them, “And now I go unto the Father, because it is expedient that I should go unto the Father for your sakes.”

When he said this, Jesus touched Nephi with His hand.  He spoke to Nephi as He touched him.  Others could not hear the words that Jesus said to Nephi.  Nephi fell to his knees before the Lord and sobbed.

A cloud came and overshadowed the multitude so that they could not see Jesus.  While they were overshadowed, He departed from them and ascended into heaven.

The next day, an even larger multitude than before was gathered together because the news about the appearance of Jesus had been told during the night to many others.  The multitude was so great that they separated into twelve different groups.

Nephi taught the group over which he ministered.  Nephi had them kneel down upon the face of the earth, and told them to pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus.  He told them the words which Jesus had spoken --- nothing varying from the day before.  Then they knelt and again prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus.  They prayed for what they desired most.  They prayed that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.

Nephi went down to the water’s edge and the multitude followed him.  Nephi began to baptize all who desired baptism.

He'·Lives was the first person to join Nephi in the water for baptism.

When all were baptized with water, the Holy Ghost fell upon them.  They were filled with the Holy Ghost and encircled about as if it were by fire.

And angels came down out of heaven and ministered unto them.  Many of the angels were people who had risen from the dead.  Mothers and fathers, once dead, had joyous reunions with their sons and daughters who remained on earth.

While the angels ministered to them, Jesus came and stood again with Nephi and His chosen disciples.

Nephi and the other disciples knelt down upon the earth and prayed without ceasing.  And Jesus also prayed for them and blessed His disciples as they prayed unto Him.  And the countenance of Jesus did smile upon them, and the light of His countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus.

Jesus again ministered to Nephi and His chosen disciples.  He taught them from the scriptures and expounded all things unto them, both great and small.  He said unto them, “Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have not.”  And Jesus said to Nephi, “Bring forth the record which ye have kept.”

Nephi brought his records, and laid them before Jesus.  Jesus cast His eyes upon them and said, “Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify His name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them: Was it not so?”

The disciples, including Nephi, answered Jesus.  “Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to Thy words, and they were all fulfilled.”

Jesus then said, “How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?”

Nephi was horrified!  But it was true.  He had not yet written that Samuel’s prophecy had been fulfilled.