“How Be It That Ye Have Not Written This Thing”

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

Jesus now turned to Nephi and requested to be shown his records. Observing that the Nephite records did not contain the prophecy of Samuel, the Lamanite, concerning the resurrection of Saints at the time of Christ's rising from the dead, He asked them, "Was it not so?" And they said, "Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to Thy words, and they were all fulfilled." The Savior thereupon instructed Nephi to add that important item to his record.

The doctrine of the Resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith. For, in the language of St. Paul, "If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen, and your faith is also in vain...ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." (Matthew 27:52-53)

The Prophecy of Samuel, the Lamanite, was that Christ would die in order that Salvation might come; "Yea," he said, "it behooveth Him and becometh expedient that He dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord." (Helaman 14:15-17) That His death actually brought about resurrection is a fact attested by eyewitnesses, and not merely a theory.

All men, at some time, must stand in their resurrected bodies before the Judgment Seat of Christ. All nations, too, must be judged at the second advent of our Lord. (Matthew 25:31-46)

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 7

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