THE PROPHECIES REGARDING THE SAVIOR—THEIR COMPLETENESS AND DETAIL—NAMES AND TITLES GIVEN TO CHRIST. ONE of the most noteworthy things connected with the ancient Nephite church was the great plainness and detail with which the incidents of the birth, life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ were understood and prophesied of by the servants of God who dwelt on the earth before he tabernacled in mortality. Among other things it was declared of him that: God himself should come down from heaven among the children of men and should redeem his people. He should take upon him flesh and blood. He should be born in the land of Jerusalem, the name given by the Nephites to the land of their forefathers, whence they came. His mother's name should be Mary. She should be a virgin of the city of Nazareth; very fair and beautiful, a precious and chosen vessel. She should be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost. He should be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God. At his birth a new star should appear in the heavens. He should be baptized by John at Bethabara, beyond Jordan. John should testify that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world. After his baptism the Holy Ghost should come down upon him out of heaven, and abide upon him in the form of a dove. He should call twelve men as his special witnesses, to minister in his name. He should go forth among the people, ministering in power and great glory, casting out devils, healing the sick, raising the dead, and performing many mighty miracles. He should take upon him the infirmities of his people. He should suffer temptation, pain of body, hunger, thirst and fatigue; blood should come from every pore of his body by reason of his anguish because of the abominations of his people. He should be cast out and rejected by the Jews; be taken and scourged, and be judged of the world. He should be lifted upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world. He should be buried in a selpuchre, where he should remain three days. After he was slain he should rise from the dead and should make himself manifest by the Holy Ghost unto the Gentiles. He should lay down his life according to the flesh and take it up again by the power of the Spirit, that he might bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. At his resurrection many graves should be opened and should yield up their dead; and many of the saints, who had beforetime passed away, should appear unto the living. He should redeem all mankind who would believe on his name. In the above list we have not inserted those prophecies with regard to the Savior that related to this continent and Among the names and titles given to Christ in the Book of Mormon are: Savior, Mediator, Messiah, Redeemer, Shepherd, Great and True Shepherd, Lamb, Lamb of God, Son of Righteousness, Son of the Eternal Father, Only Begotten of the Father, Creator, The Eternal Father of Heaven and Earth, King, King of Heaven, Heavenly King, King of all the Earth, God of Israel, God of the whole Earth, Most High God, Lord Omnipotent, Lord God Omnipotent, Mighty God, Holy One, Holy One of Israel, Mighty One of Jacob, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, and several others. |