"He is risen! He is risen! Tell it out with joyful voice. He has burst his three days' prison; Let the whole wide earth rejoice. Death is conquered, man is free. Christ has won the victory." (See Hymn #199.)
In a sacred place near where Jesus was crucified, "there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus." (John 19:41-42.) In this most holy spot the Savior, who had just labored for a short time in the world of spirits (D&C 138:27-28), returned and took up His lifeless body. (See John 10:17.) He was "the firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Cor. 15:20), thereby opening the door for the resurrection of all mankind. (See 1 Cor. 15:21-22.)The holy prophets of all ages have fervently declared that the Messiah, a Son of God, would redeem and resurrect all mankind. Prophets of the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon prophesied of His coming ministry and resurrection. The Book of Mormon prophet, Jacob, announced: "For this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming, and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us." (Jacob 4:4.)
In the Old Testament time period, prophecies of the coming Messiah and of His resurrection undoubtedly brought comfort and hope to the Saints of antiquity. Enoch, who lived in the first millennium of the world's existence, was told by the Lord of "his resurrection from the dead . . . and also the resurrection of all men." (Moses 7:62.) Job clearly stated: "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." (Job 19:25-26.) Isaiah foretold: "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off faces." (Isaiah 25:8.) Ezekiel saw that the dead would literally live again as he beheld in vision a valley of dry bones. He was commanded by the Lord to prophesy concerning these bones: "I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves. . . . And ye shall know that I am the LORD." (Ezek.37:11- 13.)
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is replete with prophecies concerning the Lord's resurrection. Not only does the Book of Mormon prophesy of the resurrection, but it substantially increases our doctrinal understanding of this facet of the Savior's atonement. (See 2 Ne. 2 and 9; Mosiah 13:33-35, etc.) Lehi prophesied that after the Messiah was slain, He would "rise from the dead." (1 Ne. 10:11.)
Later, in giving a blessing to his son Jacob, the elderly Lehi revealed that he knew of the "Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise." (2 Ne. 2:8.)
Nephi, Jacob, Benjamin and Mosiah also testified of the resurrection of Christ. Abinadi, as he faced a martyr's death, declared in language much like the Apostle Paul: "And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ . . . even this mortal shall put on immortality and this corruption shall put on incorruption." (Mosiah 16:7-10.)
Several other prophets such as Alma, Amulek, Helaman and Samuel the Lamanite bore similar testimony of His ministry, death and resurrection.
On the night before He was born, the Lord spoke to Nephi:1 "On the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets." (3 Ne. 1:13.)2 The Savior came and ministered first among His own, the Jews, and spoke to them often of His resurrection. He indicated that He would suffer much and would "be killed, and be raised again the third day." (Matt. 16:21, see also 17:23, 20:19.)
The culmination of the Savior's life was His atonement including His death, burial and resurrection. In that final week prophecy concerning the resurrection was fulfilled. All the prophets had their words vindicated on that glorious morning of the third day when He truly arose and abandoned the tomb with His immortal body.
Early that first Easter Sunday, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James (see Mark 16:1), approached the tomb before it was yet light with precious ointment and spices to complete the preparation of the body. They were concerned about the large stone which had been placed before the tomb; therefore, they were undoubtedly surprised when they found the stone removed and the tomb empty. The first testators of Christ's resurrection were the angels who said to the amazed women, "He is not here: for he is risen." (JST Matt. 28:5.) Quickly they rushed and found the disciples. Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it empty as the women had imparted. (See Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1-4; Luke 24:1-2; John 20:1-2.)
Mary returned again to the tomb confused as to what had occurred. She was questioned by two angels: "Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary." (John 20:13-16.) Her name spoken tenderly by Jesus caused her deep sorrow and grief to blossom into inexplicable joy. She recognized the tender voice of her Master and apparently wanted to embrace Him, for Jesus said: "Hold me not." (JST John 20:17.) Mary was the first mortal to see a resurrected personage.3
According to Paul, the next person to see the resurrected Lord was Peter, the chief apostle.
The account of the resurrection in Matthew reveals that Jesus appeared to other women as they were hurrying to tell the disciples that the tomb was empty. "As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail, And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him." (Matt. 28:9.)4
Luke reveals that the next appearance of the Lord to brethren was to two of His disciples as they were walking on the road to Emmaus. The scriptures said "their eyes were holden that they should not know him." (Luke 24:16.) Not knowing who He was, they told Him of the Lord's visit to the women and of their message that Christ had risen from the dead. Jesus then "expounded" the words of the prophets and writings of Moses that told of Himself. After they had eaten with Him, Luke said: "And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight." (Luke 24:27, 31.)
Luke continues with a detailed account of His appearance to His chosen apostles in a closed room. "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet." (Luke 24:36-40.)
This is one of the clearest passages in all the scriptures concerning the tangible nature of a resurrected personage. To further solidify His material nature, He asked them for food and He ate with them. (See Luke 24:42-43.) The Savior concludes this appearance with the charge: "And ye are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:48.)
Eight days later Jesus appeared again to the apostles in a closed room. He spoke specifically to Thomas, who had not been present at the earlier visit. "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God." (John 20:25-28.) The Savior's words to Thomas following this experience apply to all of us: "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (John 20:29.) These appearances of the risen Master turned doubt into faith and despair into hope.
John also records the appearance of Jesus to Peter and other disciples as they fished on the Sea of Galilee. "This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead." (John 21:14.) After the initial three visits to the apostles, Jesus ministered to them for forty days. He commanded them to be witnesses of Him and His resurrection "unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8.) The Book of Acts illustrates the obedience of the apostles to their charge as witnesses.
This knowledge of the resurrected Lord progressed rapidly, especially among the gentiles, with the conversion and apostolic commission of Paul. Among Paul's epistles, 1 Corinthians is especially rich in references to the resurrection and in explaining its relationship to the fall of Adam. In the 15th chapter, Paul said, ". . . that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once. . . . And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." (1 Cor. 15:4-8.)
Paul reasoned with the saints of Corinth who doubted the truthfulness of the resurrection and the numerous witnesses. "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. . . . If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:12-22.)
Later Paul stood before King Agrippa and recounted his conversion and his vision of Christ. He boldly testified: "I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying . . . that he should be the first that should rise from the dead." (Acts 26:22-23.)
The chief apostles, Peter and John, also left their testimony of the resurrected Lord. Peter taught that God "raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Pet. 1:21.) John, while on the Isle of Patmos, testified "I, John, the faithful witness, bear record of the things which were delivered me of the angel, and from Jesus Christ the first begotten of the dead, and prince of the kings of the earth." (JST Rev. 1:5.) Jesus revealed to John, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen." (JST Rev. 1:18.)
Numerous witnesses of the resurrected Savior are found in 3 Nephi. The testimonies of the risen Lord begin when God the Father Himself introduces His Son: "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name - hear ye him." (3 Ne. 11:7.)
The Savior followed with His own introduction: "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world." (3 Ne. 11:10.) The Lord then commanded the multitude to "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 . . . 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." (3 Ne. 11:14,15.) The scripture reveals that this initial multitude consisted of about 2,500 people. (See 3 Ne. 17:25.)
The next day, after "it was noised abroad concerning Jesus," (3 Ne. 19:3) additional thousands assembled to witness the resurrected Redeemer. Elder Bruce R. McConkie estimated this number to be 30,000. He emphasized that 3 Nephi contains "our most detailed account of His resurrected appearances."5 With all this evidence in view, the Book is Mormon is truly "another testament of Jesus Christ" and of His resurrection from the dead.
The testimonies of President Gordon B. Hinckley, President Howard W. Hunter, and President Ezra Taft Benson are representative of all our modern prophets back to the First Vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. (See JSH 1:16- 17.) President Benson proclaimed that "no event could be more important to individuals or nations than the resurrection of the Master. . . . Nothing in history equals that dramatic announcement: `He is not here, but is risen.' "6
President Hunter declared that "the resurrection is a historical fact amply proved by authenticated documentary evidence and the testimony of competent witnesses."7
President Hinckley stated, " . . . doubters there may be. But is there a more fully attested experience in the history of humankind than the resurrection of Jesus that first Easter morn?"8
All of us will lose someone we love through death. But death is temporary, for Christ brought immortality for all mankind. How comforting and consoling it is to know this. Resurrection is a fact. The witnesses are abundant. But the most profound and personal witness will be when we ourselves experience the reuniting of our body and spirit, without which we "cannot receive a fullness of joy." (D&C 93:34.) How marvelous are the words of Paul: "O grave, where is thy victory? . . . But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 15:55, 57.)
NOTES:
1 This is Nephi the son of Nephi who was the son of Helaman. (See 3. Ne. 1:10.)
2 See Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, Salt Lake City, Deseret Book Co., 1979-81, 1:343-43, 349-50.
3 See James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, Salt Lake City, Deseret Book Co., 1975, pp. 264-65, 680-82.
4 See Bruce R. McConkie, Ensign, December 1980, p. 12.
5 McConkie, The Promised Messiah, Salt Lake City, Deseret Book Co., 1978, p. 609.
6 Ensign, April 1992, p. 2.
7 Improvement Era, June 1963, p. 513.
8 Ensign, May 1994, p. 72.
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