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“Whosoever
Will Come,
Him Will I Receive”
3 Nephi 1–7
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Lesson
37
Summary |
Scripture
Summary: |
Tempests, earthquakes, fires, whirlwinds, and physical upheavals attest the crucifixion of Christ—Many people are destroyed—Darkness covers the land for
three days—Those who remain bemoan their fate. [A.D. 34]
In the darkness the voice of Christ proclaims the destruction of many people and cities for their wickedness—He also proclaims his divinity,
announces that the law of Moses is fulfilled, and invites men to come unto him and be saved. [A.D. 34] |
There is silence in the land for many hours—The voice of Christ promises to gather his people as a hen gathereth her chickens—The
more righteous part of the people had been preserved. [A.D. 34]
The Father testifies of his Beloved Son—Christ appears and proclaims his atonement—The people feel the wound marks in his hands and feet and side—They cry Hosanna—He sets forth the mode
and manner of baptism—The spirit of contention is of the devil—Christ’s doctrine is that men should believe and be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. [A.D. 34] |
Supplemental
Holy Land
and Jewish
insights:
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Similar Recognizable Signs: On both sides of the earth, eastern and western, the signs given of the Savior’s death and atonement agony had already been
foreshadowed in ancient Israel. In the Book of Mormon, terrible storms and an unusual darkness fulfilled their prophets’ predictions. Examples of similar signs are contained in the plagues of Egypt
when the Children of Israel sought deliverance from the cruel Pharaoh. The plagues included storms and darkness. These were signs to assist in recognizing the Messiah, The Deliverer, one who would
provide salvation in the future.
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Weather:
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and
upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and
the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a
nation. And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the
field." (Exodus 9:22-25)
Darkness:
"But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go. And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward
heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land
of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." (Exodus
10:20-23)
Signs in Both Holy Lands: In the Land of Israel, physical phenomena also occurred that parallels signs given to
ancient Israel as well as what occurred in the Book of Mormon lands.
"Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli,
Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one
of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he
had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;" (Matthew
27:45-51)
The Lesson of Threes: The number of times that the number "three" is used is also a powerful metaphor. As mentioned in previous lesson
supplements, the term "three days and three nights" is used often as a lesson of salvation. Most of the ninety-one scriptural references Latter-day Saints use are a type or sign of
being saved. In Judaism, the holiest day of the year is Yom Kippur. It is preceded by ten days of repenting which are followed by a day of fasting. The entire country shuts down. This
includes radio and television. All shops are closed. All private and public transportation is discontinued. Most significantly, the Book of Jonah is read. He is told to go north (up) to
Nineveh, instead he goes south (down) to Jaffa where his boat journey ends in a terrible storm. He is thrown overboard, goes down and spends three days and three nights in the belly of a
great fish before he comes up and is delivered. Hundreds of years later, Jesus used that experience as the only sign he would give the Pharisees of his Messianic role.
Jonah, Three Days and Nights:
". . . he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of
the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew
12:39-40)
Meaning of Jesus’ Name: Jonah knew that "Salvation is of the Lord," (Jonah 2:9). A Hebrew way of
saying that would be "Jeho" (shortened version of Jehovah - The Lord) and "Shua" (shortened version of salvation). Together they make "Jehoshua." That name has
been derived into Greek and Latin and eventually into English as "Jesus." He identified himself to the Nephites.
Lord Declares His Identity:
"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. 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. 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. 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." ( Nephi 11:8-12)
www.HolyLandsRevealed.com
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