7 For behold, I say unto you there be many things to
come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they
all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among
his people. 8 Behold, I do
not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal
tabernacle; for behold, the Spirit hath not said unto me that this
should be the case. Now as to
this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power
to do all things which are according to his word. 9 But behold,
the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—
Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord,
and walk in his paths,
which are straight;
for behold, the kingdom of heaven
is at hand,
and the Son of God
cometh upon
the face of the earth.
Alma 7:7-9 (Emphasis mine)
Alma(2) tells them “there be many things to come … there is
one thing which is of more importance than they all.” The day is coming that the Lord “liveth and
come among his people.”
He will not come among the Nephites during his mortal
ministry. But, “the Spirit hath said
this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people” telling them to repent, “walk
in his path … for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
John Tvedtnes discusses the importance of the coming of
Christ was to the Nephites.
“Throughout their history, the Nephite faithful looked
forward to the coming of Christ. Alma spoke of ‘that which was to come,’
meaning the atonement of Christ (Mosiah 18:2). Indeed, the advent of Christ
became his principal message whenever he preached. He told the people
of Zarahemla of Christ ‘who should come to redeem his people from their sins’
(Alma 5:21, 27, 44, 48). He used the same terminology when speaking
to the people of the city of Gideon (Alma 6:8). In that discourse, Alma
spoke of the atonement ‘which is to come’ (Alma 7:6) in terms that stressed the
importance he placed on the coming of Christ: ‘For behold, I say unto you there
be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more
importance than they all —for behold, the time is not far distant that the
Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people’ (Alma 7:7; see also 7:8). He used
similar terminology in other discourses (Alma 9:20, 26; 33:22; 39:15 –16), as
did his missionary companion, Amulek (Alma 10:12; 11:35, 40; 34:8 –9).” [1]
(Emphasis mine)
10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which
is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and
chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy
Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God. 11 And he
shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind;
and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the
pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose
the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him
their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the
flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people
according to their infirmities. 13
Now the
Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to
the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might
blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance;
and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
Alma 7:10-13 (Emphasis mine)
Alma(2) tells the people Christ “shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem
which is the land of our forefathers.”
This (Alma 7:10) is one of the most misinterpreted scriptures in the Book of Mormon
by its critics. I’ve addressed this
issue previously (see August 28, 2011 post).
No, it doesn’t say that Christ will be born in the city of
Jerusalem. It says He will be born “at
Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers.” If you actually read the Book of
Mormon, you will know that, when “land” is used, the author means an area. For example, in Alma 2, we have Alma(2)’s account
of troop movements.
"Behold, we followed
the camp of the Amlicites, and to our great astonishment, in the land of Minon, above the land of Zarahemla, in the course of
the land of Nephi, we saw a numerous host of the Lamanites; and behold, the
Amlicites have joined them;
And they are upon our
brethren in that land; and they are fleeing before them with their flocks, and
their wives, and their children, towards our city; and except we make haste
they obtain possession of our city, and our fathers, and our wives, and our
children be slain.
And it came to pass that
the people of Nephi took their tents,
and departed out of the valley of Gideon towards their city, which was the city
of Zarahemla."
(Alma 2:24-26 – Emphasis mine)
Alma(2) clearly distinguishes between the “land of Zarahemla” with
the “city
of Zarahemla.” So, the statement, "at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers" means in the area around Jerusalem, not the city of Jerusalem. There is no basis
to this critique.
Alma(2) tells them about the pain, afflictions, and
temptations that He will suffer. Isaiah prophesied
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief: and we hid as it were our
faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried
our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was
wounded for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3-5).
The day will come when He “will take upon him death.” Christ will voluntarily sacrifice His life so
that “he may loose the bands of death which bind his people.” He will do this “that he might take upon him
the sins of his people.” Through Him and
this sacrifice, we will be able to repent and obtain a forgiveness of our sins.
Alma(2) ends this part of his prophecy saying “this is the
testimony which is in me.”
[1] That
Which Is to Come, John A. Tvedtnes, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
March 19, 2012.
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