Arise and Come Forth

3 Nephi 11:14-15

Jesus said,

14 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.

 15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

After Jesus was resurrected, He appeared a few times unto several people in the Old World, Jerusalem. Jesus then appeared to the Nephites in America. A multitude was gathered together and heard a voice that said, "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name--hear ye him."

When they heard this declaration from God the Father, they didn't understand it initially. They heard the same statement two more times and then they understood. Jesus descended out of heaven and stood in the midst of them, and they thought it was an angel. Jesus introduced himself, declared His atonement, and invited each person to come unto Him and feel the sacred wound prints in His hands, wrists, feet, and side. This they did, one-by-one, until they all had felt the sacred marks in His body resulting from His infinite atonement. The Holy Ghost bore record that this was indeed Jesus, the Christ, the one who had atoned for the sins of the world a short while back. As they felt the prints in His hands and feet, the Spirit overcame them such that they knew for a certainty that it was Jesus who had been crucified and resurrected. Jesus became the first fruits of them that slept.

They were humbly overwhelmed. Jesus visited this multitude because of their faith in Him, believing that he would come in fulfillment of prophecy. As they looked at Him, "His eyes were as a flame of fire."

Jesus continues to invite us to "Arise and come forth" unto Him daily and know that He is the Savior and Redeemer of this world and all worlds created without number. He is the Savior and Redeemer of all, due to His infinite atonement. His influence never ceases.

JESUS CHRIST: GOD OF THIS LAND

Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.

--Ether 2:12

Jesus Christ is the God of this land (the Americas), making this land choice above all other lands. If people in this nation obey God and serve Him, then God will bless this nation with freedom, safety, and prosperity; however, if people of this land are evil, God will not and cannot keep His end of the bargain. It is up to us as the people to have faith in Christ, follow Him, and obey all the commandments because God cannot force us to obey and be righteous.

JESUS CHRIST: UNIVERSAL RESURRECTION

Jesus Christ: In America In Me

And behold it shall come to pass that after the Messiah hath risen from the dead, and hath manifested himself unto his people, unto as many as will believe on his name, behold, Jerusalem shall be destroyed again; for wo unto them that fight against God and the people of his church.

--2 Nephi 25:14

Jesus, the Messiah, rose from the dead and appeared to those who believed in Him. He appeared to the believers in Jerusalem area as well as the believers in America in the city of Bountiful. Upon His appearance, they felt the prints of the nails in His hands, wrists, feet. They also thrust their hands into His pierced side where the spear had been jabbed into Him. They believed in Him prior to His appearance, but now, by the power of the Holy Ghost, they knew for a surety that He was Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer of the World, their personal Confidant.

The Resurrected Christ in America

JESUS CHRIST: THE MESSIAH

The Messiah-Savior of the World

Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.

--I Nephi 10:4

Jesus was the Jehovah of the Old Testament. Prophets prophesied that He would come to the earth, and especially 600 years from the time Lehi and his family left Jerusalem to journey across the ocean to the Americas. Jesus was born. He was the Messiah as had been prophesied, even the Savior of the world. Beside Him, there is no other Savior. He brought about the infinite Atonement, the perfect Atonement, making Jesus the Great Atoner.

"I AM JESUS"

Paul Testifies of Christ

Jesus said to Paul: 

"I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks (Acts 9:5)

Paul Testifies:
And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

--Acts 18:5

The Apostle Paul bears his testimony of Jesus, that Jesus was the Christ. Paul was converted to Jesus and became a great member of Christ’s church. Paul was a missionary that would not stop teaching about Christ. Tradition has it that Paul gave his life and his blood defending Christ and His gospel.

Jesus Christ reigns as Savior and Redeemer of the world, as Mediator and Atoner of all living things, including all people and the earth itself. Jesus is the Great Atoner, the Holy One of Israel. Beside Him there is no other. Jesus even bore testimony of himself when he appeared to the Nephite saints in Bountiful after His resurrection when He said, “Behold, I am Jesus Christ whom the prophets testified shall come into the world” (See 3 Nephi 11:11).

Paul: A Chosen Vessel

Jesus Christ: The Resurrected Redeemer

3 Nephi 11:14-15

14 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.

15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared a few times to the people in Jerusalem area. Then He appeared to the Nephites in America. He introduced himself to them, showed them the wound marks in His hands, wrists, feet, and side. One by one, the multitude went unto Jesus and felt His five special wound marks, and the Holy Ghost bore witness that He was indeed Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, the resurrected one. About 2500 people were in attendance and saw and felt His crucifixion marks. They realized that He was truly the Son of God and had been resurrected as was prophesied by all true prophets.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Salvation is found in Him. He Saves. He suffered death in the flesh so that all mankind would have the blessing of being forgiven for their sins predicated upon repentance, and then after death be resurrected with a glorified body of flesh, bone, and spirit with no blood.

Note the inspirational LDS hymn “I Stand All Amazed” by Charles Gabriel

• 1. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
• Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
• I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
• That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.
• (Chorus)
• Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
  Enough to die for me!
• Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!
• 2. I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
• To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
• That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
• Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.
• 3. I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
• Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
• No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
• Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.
• Text and music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1856-1932

Video of “I Stand All Amazed”

Jesus is the great I AM. We all stand amazed at His love and devotion for each of us. May we love Him, praise Him, obey Him, and “come let us adore Him Christ the Lord.”