“His Countenance Did Smile Upon Them”

Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet

In a more symbolic way, we experience the countenance of the Lord shining upon us, like the Nephites, when we fell of the Savior’s perfect love for us, his compassion, and his approbation. Though we may not literally, in this life, see the smiling face of God, we can nonetheless feel the smile and joy of the Lord as we please him through service and obedience.

“The Light of His Countenance Did Shine Upon Them”

There are two ways in which the Lord’s countenance did “shine upon them”-one literal and the other symbolic. From the context of this verse, we can see that there was a literal transfiguration of the disciples in that they were filled with light and their countenances shone with light like that of the Savior. They were so filled with the Spirit that they shone with a literal light and glory (compare Exodus 34:29; Daniel 3:22-27; Matthew 17:2; Helaman 5:23).

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4

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