“He Was Taken by the Spirit”

Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet

Nephi, the son of Lehi, attested to having been ministered to by angels and added: “Upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.” (2 Nephi 4:25.)

Moses, we are told, was caught up in a like manner “into an exceedingly high mountain,” where he conversed with God face to face (see Moses 1:1-2). Ezekiel shared similar experiences, having been transported from captivity in Babylon to the temple mount in Jerusalem (see Ezekiel 40:2). The Savior himself was carried by the Spirit to and from the wilderness of Judea to pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and also to “an exceeding high mountain” (JST, Matthew 4:5, 8). Philippians was transported by the Spirit of the Lord in order to fill missionary appointments (Acts 8:39). John the Revelator also testified that an angel of the Lord “carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven” (Revelation 21:10).

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 3

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