Book of Mormon Images - Page 5

Moroni Hides the Plates in the Hill Cumorah

(Mormon 6:6; Mormon 8:1, Mormon 8:3-4; Moroni 1:1; Moroni 10:2, Moroni 10:4-5)
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. (Moroni 10:4)

The Lord commanded Mormon not to let the sacred records fall into the hands of the Lamanites. Mormon took most of the records that had been handed down from generation to generation and hid them in the Hill Cumorah. Then Mormon gave his son, Moroni, the rest of the plates so he could finish the record. (Mormon 6:6)

After the final battle, the Lamanites killed all the Nephites except Moroni (Mormon 8:3). While Moroni hid from the Lamanites, he abridged the history of the Jaredite people (Moroni 1:1). He also wrote more upon the plates his father had given him (Mormon 8:1).

Moroni wanted those who read the teachings from these records to know how to find out that they are true. He wrote:

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:4-5).

After writing this testimony, Moroni sealed the records and hid them in the Hill Cumorah (Mormon 8:4; Moroni 10:2).

Summary

After Mormon hid most of the sacred Nephite records in the Hill Cumorah, he gave his son, Moroni, the rest of the plates. Moroni finished the record of his father and told of the destruction of the Nephites. He also included a shortened history of the Jaredite people. Near the end of his record, Moroni described how a person who prays with real intent can know through the Holy Ghost that the record is true. Moroni then sealed the plates and hid them in the Hill Cumorah.

Artist, Tom Lovell

Conversion of Alma the Younger

(Mosiah 27)
I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. (Mosiah 27:29)

The first Alma mentioned in the Book of Mormon was a priest of wicked King Noah who later became a prophet and leader of the Church in Zarahemla after hearing the words of Abinadi. Many people believed his words and were baptized. But the four sons of King Mosiah and the son of the prophet Alma, who was also called Alma, were unbelievers; they persecuted those who believed in Christ and tried to destroy the Church through false teachings. Many Church members were deceived by these teachings and led to sin because of the wickedness of Alma the Younger. (Mosiah 27:1-10)

As Alma and the sons of Mosiah continued to rebel against God, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, speaking to them with a voice as loud as thunder, which caused the earth to shake. They were so frightened that they fell to the ground. (Mosiah 27:11-12) The angel "cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God?" (Mosiah 27:13).

The angel told Alma why he had come to him: "Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith" (Mosiah 27:14). Before the angel left, he told Alma to remember the power of God and to quit trying to destroy the Church (Mosiah 27:16).

Alma the Younger and the four sons of Mosiah fell to the earth. They knew that the angel was sent from God and that the power of God had caused the ground to shake and tremble. Alma's astonishment was so great that he could not speak, and he was so weak that he could not move even his hands. The sons of Mosiah carried him to his father. (Mosiah 27:18-19)

When Alma the Elder saw his son, he rejoiced because he knew what the Lord had done for him. Alma and the other Church leaders fasted and prayed for Alma the Younger. After two days and nights Alma regained his strength and was able to stand and speak to the people. He told them, "I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit" (Mosiah 27:24; Mosiah 27:20-23).

From that time forth, Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah traveled throughout the land trying to undo the damage they had done to the Church, confessing their sins, telling what they had seen, and explaining the scriptures to all who wanted to hear them (Mosiah 27:35). Alma spent the rest of his life teaching the principle of repentance and proclaiming the word of God.

Summary

Alma the Younger and the four sons of King Mosiah were trying to destroy the Church, and many people followed them. The prophet Alma and King Mosiah were worried about their sons and prayed for them. So did other members of the Church. The Lord heard their prayers, and one day an angel came to Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah. The angel told them to stop destroying the Church. From that time on Alma the Younger and the four sons of Mosiah repented and spent the rest of their lives teaching the word of God.

Artist, Gary L. Kapp

Jesus Blesses the Nephite Children

(Matthew 18:3; 3 Nephi 17:11-25)
And he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. (3 Nephi 17:21)

During His mortal ministry, Jesus often took time to bless little children. He taught His disciples that one must become like a little child to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).

After His Resurrection, Jesus visited the Nephites to teach and bless them. During this time He asked that the little children be brought to Him (3 Nephi 17:11). When they were gathered about Him, He knelt down and prayed to Heavenly Father for all His people (3 Nephi 17:15). So great was the love and faith of the multitude for their Savior that He declared: "Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full" (3 Nephi 17:20). After saying this, Jesus wept because He had such great love for the people. Then He took the children one by one and blessed them and prayed for them. (3 Nephi 17:21)

Afterward, Jesus wept again and said to the people, "Behold your little ones" (3 Nephi 17:23). Then, as the multitude watched, the heavens opened and angels came in great glory to minister to the children. The children were encircled by this heavenly glory and looked as though they were surrounded by fire. (3 Nephi 17:24) This wonderful event was witnessed by the entire multitude, and they "did see and hear and bear record" (3 Nephi 17:25).

Summary

Jesus wants all children to know He loves them. After His Resurrection, Jesus visited the Nephites to teach and bless them. He asked that the children be brought to Him so He could bless them and pray for them. As the Nephites watched, the heavens opened and angels came down and circled the children; the children looked as if they were being circled by fire.

Artist, Robert T. Barrett

Christ Asks for the Records

(Helaman 14:25; 3 Nephi 23)
How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them? (3 Nephi 23:11)

When Jesus Christ visited the Americas after His Resurrection, He taught the people many things about the gospel. As He delivered His sermons, He commanded the Nephites to search the records that had been kept so they could find the words of the prophets and study them (3 Nephi 23:1, 3 Nephi 23:5).

After Jesus had explained the prophecies and teachings in the records that the Nephites had, He said, "Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have not." He then asked Nephi to "bring forth the record which ye have kept" (3 Nephi 23:6-7).

The Lord explained that He had commanded Samuel the Lamanite to prophesy that at the time of the Resurrection many saints who had died would also rise from the dead and would appear unto the people and minister unto them (3 Nephi 23:9; Helaman 14:25).

Christ reminded the people that the prophecy had been fulfilled and then asked, "How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?" (3 Nephi 23:11). The Savior then commanded that the record be updated so that there would be a witness to the fulfillment of Samuel's prophecy (3 Nephi 23:13).

Summary

When Jesus Christ visited the Nephites after His Resurrection, He explained the meaning of the scriptures and told the people to search the words of the prophets. He asked Nephi to show Him the record the Nephites had kept and pointed out that the fulfillment of one of Samuel the Lamanite's prophecies had not been written about. Jesus commanded Nephi to write about Samuel and the fulfillment of his prophecy.

Artist, Robert T. Barrett

Christ with Three Nephite Disciples

(John 21:21-23; 3 Nephi 28)
And they are as the angels of God, and if they shall pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus they can show themselves unto whatsoever man it seemeth them good. (3 Nephi 28:30)

At the end of His ministry to the people of Nephi, Christ asked His twelve disciples what they desired of Him after He returned to Heavenly Father (3 Nephi 28:1). Three of the disciples did not dare ask for what they wanted most. But Jesus knew their thoughts and told them their desire was the same as that of John the Beloved in Jerusalem. (3 Nephi 28:5-6; John 21:21-23) They wanted to remain on earth until Jesus came again so they could serve others and teach the word of the Lord.

Jesus blessed these three Nephite disciples and promised them they would "live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven" (3 Nephi 28:7). The Savior explained that they would not die during this time and that they would not suffer physical pain. He promised that because of their righteous desire to teach the people, they would receive great fulness of joy in the kingdom of God. (3 Nephi 28:8-10)

As the three disciples served among the people, they were cast into prison, but the prisons could not hold them. They were thrown into a furnace three times but were not harmed. They were twice cast into a den of wild beasts but played with the beasts and were not hurt. (3 Nephi 28:19-22)

These disciples preached the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the land, and many were converted and baptized. Mormon, as he abridged the Nephite record, was going to write the names of the three but was stopped by the Spirit because their identity was to remain hidden. Mormon testified that he had seen these three Nephite disciples and that they had ministered unto him. (3 Nephi 28:25-26) Mormon also testified that "great and marvelous works shall be wrought by them" (3 Nephi 28:31).

Summary

As Jesus was preparing to leave the Nephites, He asked each of His twelve disciples to tell Him what they desired of Him. Three of them did not speak, but Jesus knew their thoughts: they wanted to remain on earth until He came again so they could serve others and teach the gospel. Jesus blessed them that they would not die and would be protected while they remained on the earth.

Artist, Gary L. Kapp