“Behold There Shall One Be Ordained Among You”

Alan C. Miner

According to Richardson, Richardson and Bentley, historical findings support the Book of Mormon claim that Christ personally chose twelve from among the Nephites to serve as his apostles on the American continent (3 Nephi 12:1-2; 13:25-26; 15:11-12), and that He not only organized his priesthood among the Nephites, but that his priesthood continued among them with new priests being ordained in the name of Jesus (3 Nephi 18:5; Moroni 3:1-4). The name of this priesthood was “the Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God” (Alma 5:44, 49; 13:1-16; D&C 107:1-4). The members of this priesthood were required to “take upon [themselves] the name of Christ” (Mosiah 5:7-15; 3 Nephi 27:5).

Ancient Aztec traditions relate that Quetzalcoatl also founded a priesthood and that priests were named after him. Torquemada says: “He (Quetzalcoatl) had priests whom were called quequetzalcohus, that is to say ’priests of the order of Quetzalcoatl.’” Other sources indicated that these priests “took upon themselves his name.” (Harris, Book of Mormon Message and Evidences, p. 146.) [Allen H. Richardson, David E. Richardson and Anthony E. Bentley, 1000 Evidences for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Part Two-A Voice from the Dust: 500 Evidences in Support of the Book of Mormon, p. 62]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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