What's in the Book of Mormon? Part 3 of 4

The subtitle to the Book of Mormon reads "Another Testament of Jesus Christ." Like the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon contains the writings of prophets who saw Christ and wrote down His gospel. The most significant event in the Book of Mormon is the personal visit of Christ to the people in the Americas. He healed their sick, preached his gospel, and established his church among them. This post will highlight some important teachings and events from Christ's ministry, as well as other significant happenings from the books of Helaman, 3 Nephi, and 4 Nephi.

The book of Helaman begins about 52 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Right from the first chapters we see the formation of a criminal organization known as the "Gadianton Robbers," which, in some form and with a few gaps, will be a major problem for the people right until the end of the Book of Mormon. The aim of the Gadianton Robbers was "to murder, and to rob, and to gain power," (Hel. 2:8) and in some cases they were extremely successful in these endeavors. At one point the Robbers gained "the sole management of the government" through treachery and deceit (Hel. 6:39); later, after the Robbers virtually disappeared because of war and famine, they made a comeback and "did defy the whole armies of the Nephites, and also of the Lamanites [the two major divisions of peoples in the Book of Mormon]" (Hel. 11:32); and finally, near the time of Christ's death, the Robbers caused a complete disintegration of the government by fomenting internal divisions and assassinating a top political leader. (3 Nephi 7:1-2)

Paradoxically, the Gadianton Robbers grew fastest and were able to attract the most new recruits in times of relative ease and prosperity, at times when people had least need to steal and commit crime to get what they needed. Prosperity seems to be the one trial which was most likely to lead the people of the Book of Mormon to lose their faith. We read (just in the books covered in this post) that the people were righteous and remembered God when there was a great famine (Hel. 11), when they saw a dramatic sign of God's power (3 Nephi 1), and when they are threatened with destruction by war (3 Nephi 2-5); but within a few years of each of these events the people had forgotten God and returned to their wickedness. Mormon, a prophet who edited the book which bears his name, gave this agonized commentary after the people were saved from a famine: "And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him. Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds . . . and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity." (Hel. 12:1-3) Retaining a change of heart regardless of circumstance is a major challenge for all disciples of Jesus Christ; thus, Alma earlier had taught that "blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble." (Alma 32:16)

A series of natural disasters occurred in the Americas at the time of Jesus' death in Jerusalem. We read that cities were destroyed by fire (3 Nephi 8:8), floods (3 Nephi 8:9), avalanches (3 Nephi 8:10, 3 Nephi 9:2-12), and that other disaster occurred. (3 Nephi 8:5-23) Prophets had foretold that such events would accompany Christ's death. (Hel. 14:20-29) After several months a large group of people was discussing the signs of Christ's death when Christ Himself appeared to them. He introduced Himself in the following words: "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 11:10-11) Chapters 11-29 of 3 Nephi record Jesus' teaching and ministry. Jesus . . .

• invited the people to feel the prints of the nails in His hands, feet, and side, so that they would know He was the "God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth," and had died for their sins. (11:14-15)
• gave power to certain people to baptize and taught them the correct manner of baptism. (11:21-28)
• taught that "he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another." (11:29-30)
• taught his docrine, saying that we must: 1. believe in Christ; 2. repent of our sins; 3. be baptized; and 4. receive the Holy Ghost. (11:31-36)
• said that the people were the "other sheep" He spoke of in the Bible. (15:21-24; see also John 10:16)
• healed the sick and blessed the children one by one. (17)
• instituted the sacrament, as He had done in Jerusalem. (18:1-12)
• quoted scripture from the Bible, including Isaiah 54 (22), and Malachi 3 (24)and 4 (25). He also repeated to the people much of the Sermon on the Mount. (12-14)
• commanded the people to call the church in His name. (27:2-10)

More could be added, and I encourage the reader to read the entire account in chapters 11-29. If you read nothing else, read chapter 11. Here Jesus announces His divinity and teaches His doctrine in a simple yet powerful way. Those who accept Christ's invitation to "come . . . unto me" will find peace and joy beyond anything they have yet experienced. I know this is true by the way God has blessed me as I sincerely try to follow Christ.

4 Nephi is a very brief book that covers nearly 300 years. After Jesus' visit the people were so changed that they and their descendants were righteous for 170 years. During this time "there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people . . . and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God." (1:15-16) Sadly, the people eventually became lifted up in pride (1:24, 43) and became wicked. In part 4 we will see how this pride led to the destruction of most of the people.