“The Lamb of God Ministers Among the Children of Men”

Monte S. Nyman

The ministering of angels (plural) upon the children of men (v. 30) is also a general statement. The New Testament records several specific visits of angels to Jesus and the Lord’s chosen vessels around the time of his birth. “The angel of the Lord appeared unto [Joseph, Mary’s husband] in a dream” (Matthew 1:20). “There appeared unto [Zacharias, father of John the Baptist] an angel of the Lord,” and “the angel came in unto [Mary]” and told her she was “highly favoured” among women (Luke 1:11, 28). “The angel of the Lord came upon [the shepherds]” when Jesus was born (Luke 2:9–12). Prior to Jesus’ making the atonement “there appeared an angel unto him, strengthening him” (Luke 22:43), but there are no accounts of them ministering to the people. However it is assumed that they ministered at the blessing of little children, the miraculous feeding of multitudes, and many other occasions. This assumption is based on verse thirty quoted above, and on what happened among the Nephites when Christ appeared (see 3 Nephi 17 &19). In the Bible either the angels ministered unseen, as they often do, or their ministering was recorded and has been lost through the “ plain and precious things taken away from the book” (1 Nephi 13:28).

Nephi also observed the healing power of the Lamb of God (v. 31). Note the two types of healing: the physically sick, those with all manner of diseases, and the spiritually sick, those having devils and unclean spirits cast out. Both such healings by the power of God are questioned today by the sophisticated intellectual world, but God’s power is superior to that of man.

Book of Mormon Commentary: I Nephi Wrote This Record

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