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' Atonement: Conditional and Unconditional Blessings

The Resurrection of the body is a free and universal gift, a result of the Savior’s victory over death. It is one of the unconditional blessings available through the grace of Christ.

Other aspects of Christ’s atoning gift are conditional. They depend on one’s diligence in keeping God’s commandments. For example, while all members of the human family are freely given a reprieve from Adam’s sin through no effort of their own, they are not given a reprieve from their own sins unless they pledge faith in Christ, repent of those sins, are baptized in His name, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and confirmation into Christ’s Church, and press forward in faithful endurance the remainder of life’s journey. Of this personal challenge, Christ said,

“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

“But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I.”

Jeffrey R. Holland

Gethsemane-Crucifixion-Resurrection

Scott Grow, regarding the Atonement of Jesus Christ, said, “His Atonement began in Gethsemane and continued on the cross and culminated with the Resurrection.”

Click here for the entire discourse on "The Miracle of the Atonement," by Scott Grow

"BEHOLD, I AM JESUS CHRIST"

Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name (3 Nephi 9:15).

And it came to pass that 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 (3 Nephi 11:10).

Jesus literally introduces himself when He said, ‘Behold, I am Jesus Christ.” You can get any more clear than this. He wanted the people to know who He was, and that He was indeed Christ, the Son of God. He even invited the people to come unto Him, feel the prints of the nails in His hands, wrists, feet, and to thrust their hands into His side to know for a more surety that He was who He said He was. During this time, the Holy Ghost bore witness to the people that it truly was Jesus Christ as He had introduced himself.

JESUS CHRIST: GLORY and HONOR

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

--Hebrews 2:9

Jesus suffered death, even death of the cross. He finished the infinite Atonement for all, and in doing so, He was crowned with glory and honor. His atonement made it possible for everyone capable of sinning to repent and receive forgiveness of sins. His perfect atonement suffered pain, agony, and sorrows for all. He suffered for the sins, sicknesses, diseases, and afflictions of people everywhere. His atonement is infinite and eternal.

JESUS CHRIST: FIRSTFRUITS OF THE RESURRECTION

“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel.”

--2 Timothy 2:8

The Apostle Paul testifies that Jesus, the Christ, rose from the dead. This doctrine was contained in the gospel of Jesus Christ, within the church that Jesus established during his mortal ministry. The doctrine of Jesus’ resurrection is universal, for it is true. Jesus became the firstfruits of them that slept. “For as in Adam, all die; even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (see 1 Cor. 15:21-22) Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (see John 11:25). Jesus bore His own testimony about His resurrection. Resurrection is when one’s spirit and body unite once again into a resurrected body, a body of flesh, bone, and spirit, having no blood. Blood is only for a mortal body and means life.

JESUS CHRIST: NEWNESS OF LIFE

Jesus provides us another birth, a new beginning

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

--Romans 6:3-4

When we are baptized unto repentance, it is like our being buried unto death. Coming up out of the water immediately following our baptism is like being resurrected, obtain a newness of life. Christ bring a newness of life to our souls  because through Him we are born again.

CHRIST IN AMERICA

Jesus Christ in Western Hemisphere

 

1 And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place.

2 And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death.

3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

4 And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.

5 And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

6 And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

7 Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

8 And it came to pass, as they understood 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; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

9 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

11 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.

12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

13 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:

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.

16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:

17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him.

Click to Learn about Christ’s Second Coming

JESUS CHRIST: ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN

Jesus Christ on Right Hand of God

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

--Mark 16:19-20

Following Jesus’ resurrection and His appearance on a few occasions to several people and groups of people, He ascended up into heaven and sat on the right side of God the Father, His Father and our Father. Jesus Christ and God the Father are two separate, distinct individuals each with a resurrected body,  having their own mind, spirit, flesh and bones. They are one in the sense that they are united as one like a husband and wife are united as one. Jesus’ apostles preached the gospel everywhere they were, and Jesus worked with them. Come unto Christ and be saved in Him.

JESUS CHRIST: SHILOH

Jesus Christ Lift Our Burdens

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh

come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

--Genesis 49:10

Jesus is Shiloh that would come, and He came to fulfill this and many other prophecies pertaining to His coming to the earth to rule and reign and Savior and Redeemer of the world. People would gather unto Him to be healed of their afflictions and to receive from Him guidance and direction. Jesus came and fulfilled His Father’s will by performing the infinite atonement, the perfect atonement, the only atonement that would satisfy the Father’s will and plan the salvation and exaltation of His children.

Jesus suffered in Gethsemane for the sins of all people, suffered death on the cross, and resurrected himself, becoming the firstfruits of them that slept. Because of His resurrection, all will be resurrected to a newness of life to inherit mansions in the heavens predicated upon their lifestyles here in mortality.

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: MANIFESTATIONS THEREOF

February 25, 2014 Tuesday

The Messiah in Body and Spirit

And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fulness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years, and many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fulness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed.

--I Nephi 15:13

Jesus, the Messiah, shall be manifested in body and spirit unto the world. He will come in the meridian of time. All salvation points toward Him for He is the author and finisher of our salvation. Because of Him, all will be resurrected and live forever in the eternal home that they have earned and merited. Jesus, when He came, taught His everlasting gospel. His gospel and church have been restored here in the latter days; namely, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jesus’ gospel will be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. He is the Messiah of the world.

"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 ANOINTED ONE

God anoints Jesus with the Holy Ghost and with Power

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

--Acts 10:38

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He was anointed by God the Father and received the Holy Ghost and power. He had power over the resurrection, for He had power to lay down His life and power to take it again. He had power over sickness and disease, the elements, and the devil. All things were and are subject to Him and His all-powerful being. There is none other like Him. He is the anointed ONE.

JESUS CHRIST: GAVE HIS OWN LIFE

The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord

1. Behold what I, the Lord God, shall say unto you, even Jesus Christ your Redeemer;

2 The light and the life of the world, a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not;

3 Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God. Wherefore you are my son;

4 And blessed are you because you have believed;

5 And more blessed are you because you are called of me to preach my gospel—

6 To lift up your voice as with the sound of a trump, both long and loud, and cry repentance unto a crooked and perverse generation, preparing the way of the Lord for his second coming.

--Doctrine and Covenants 34:3

Jesus,  the Son of God:
Jesus, the Son of God, suffered, bled, and gave His own life to death to answer the ends of the Father’s will and purposes for an infinite atonement. Jesus is the light and life of the world. He shines in darkness, but evil and proud people do not see Him, nor do they desire to see and know Him except when they find themselves in extreme difficult situations, in dire need situations.

Preach My Gospel:
We are instructed to preach His gospel with the sound of a trumpet, loudly and boldly. Happy is the man or woman who believes in Christ, lives His gospel, and preaches His gospel, even the Good News of Life, preparing the way for the Savior’s Second Coming which will be a great and dreadful day-Great for those persons prepared for it through their righteous living, and dreadful for those not prepared to see Christ.

Jesus’ Resurrection:
Jesus resurrected himself. He received this power from His father. He is the firstfruits of the resurrection, and by so doing, everyone will have the blessing of being resurrected, all those that had a physical body in mortality.

CHRIST'S ATONEMENT IS SUPREME

Jesus Christ's Atonement: The Single Most Important Event

President Joseph F. Smith testified: "On the third of October, in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen, I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures; and reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption of the world; and the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world; that through his atonement, and by obedience to the principles of the gospel, mankind might be saved."

--Doctrine and Covenants 138:1-4

God the Father demonstrated His deepest love for us by sending to us His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins and the sins of the world, to enable us with a resurrection of body and spirit. Jesus’s great atoning sacrifice marked the single most important event to ever occur throughout history. His atonement brought redemption to the world and affects all eternity. His atonement makes salvation possible, for without Christ’s atonement, no one could gain forgiveness of sins and inherit eternal life predicated upon our obedience to gospel principles. Christ’s atonement is supreme.

JESUS CHRIST: REDEEMER OF ALL MANKIND

The Resurrection of Christ

Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death—that spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual.

But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.

--Book of Mormon Helaman 14:16-17

The resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ redeems all mankind, and brings them back into the presence of the Lord. Our sins separate us from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost due to our unworthiness, but their love is still there for us and they are desirous for us to repent and come unto them. As we do so, then we draw nearer to them and they to us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, through the shedding of His atoning blood.

JESUS CHRIST: LOOSING THE BANDS OF DEATH

Remission-Redemption-Resurrection

Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death; for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have

eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.

--Book of Mormon Alma 11:40-41

Elder Richard G. Scott said, "Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, each of us can become clean and the burden of our rebellion will be lifted. Look here how to receive personal strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ as delivered by Elder Scott, Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus came into the world to remit our sins and redeem the people.  By so doing, He took upon himself the sins and transgressions of the people that believed in Him. Believers repented and received a forgiveness of their wrongs and opened the gate for them to gain eternal life if they endure; however, the wicked will be resurrected, but will not be redeemed unless they do repent. God knows all things. We will all be judged on Judgment Day and all truth will surface at that time. Those who live in secret and think they are getting away with it will be surprised when they stand before their Maker. Here is the time of reckoning and they will be accountable for every action here in mortality. It will be a rude awakening for lots of people because satan deceives them into thinking they can sin, hurt others, be dishonest and never get caught. God will not be mocked; therefore, their time will come.

Jesus made the resurrection possible. He is the Redeemer and purifier of souls. He is the center of all true religion. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is supreme to all other events and doctrines. The Atonement does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We stand all amazed at the Atonement of Jesus Christ, His infinite and eternal sacrifice.

JESUS CHRIST: THE RESURRECTED LORD

22 And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection.

Mosiah 15:22-24 (Book of Mormon)

23 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death.

24 And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord.

Jesus made possible both the first and second resurrections. The first resurrection is for the righteous, and the second resurrection is for the wicked and evil people. Jesus redeemed all humankind, but it is up to each individual to choose the life he/she will live, and they will be rewarded accordingly. Those resurrected in the morning of the first resurrection will inherit a Celestial Glory in the Celestial Kingdom living with God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ, God the Holy Ghost, family members and others who also qualify for Celestial glory. Jesus removed the bands of death and opened the door for eternal life for the righteous to enter therein and dwell in a state of neverending happiness.

JESUS CHRIST: POWER OVER LIFE AND DEATH

Revelation 1:5-6

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus Christ is the Prince of the Kings of the earth. Because of His great love for us, He sacrificed His own blood for our sins. He suffered for sins so that we might not suffer if we would repent and obey Him. If we don’t repent, then we must suffer ourselves. Blood means life. The children of Israel made blood sacrifices in similitude of the blood that Jesus would sacrifice, His own blood. Jesus made the choice. He chose to shed His blood for our wrongdoings, our misdeeds, our misbehaviors, our violation of God’s laws and statutes.

Jesus was the first fruits of the dead to be resurrected. He had power to resurrect himself and obtain a resurrected body of flesh, bone, spirit, but no blood. He Jesus opened the way for us to become Kings and Priests in the hereafter unto God the Father; therefore, we must be humble and glorify Him forever and forever.