Book of Mormon Primary Lessons

“Lesson 45: The Book of Mormon Is a Witness of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Easter),” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, 160

The Book of Mormon is another scriptural witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When we are born, the spirit and the body are temporarily joined together, and the spirit gives the body life. The body cannot move by itself. When we die, the spirit separates from the body. After we die, the spirit is still alive and can it move. At the time of the Resurrection the body and spirit will be reunited. Everyone who lives on the earth will be resurrected after death. Jesus Christ was the only one who could make resurrection possible for us.

Read Alma 11:40–45; 40; and 3 Nephi 11:1–17.

Jesus Christ died a terrible death. (see: Luke 23:33; 2 Nephi 10:3). Because of his great love for us, Jesus Christ volunteered in pre-mortality to be our Savior. He knew he had to die for Heavenly Father’s plan to work for us.On the third day after he died, Jesus Christ "rose again" (1 Corinthians 15:4; Mosiah 3:10). For those three days his spirit "went and preached unto the spirits in [spirit] prison" (1 Peter 3:18–19; D&C 138:11–12, 18 - some people call this place "Hell").

". . . the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow" (Alma 40:12 - some people call this place "Heaven").

Resurrection is when "the spirit and the body [are] reunited again in its perfect form" (Alma 11:43; 40:18). Resurrection is when the spirit reunites with the body and will never leave the body again.

People in Jerusalem knew Jesus Christ was resurrected because ". . . he was seen [by many]" (1 Corinthians 15:5–7). The Nephites, who lived in America, know Jesus Christ was resurrected, because "they saw [Jesus] descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them" (3 Nephi 11:8–10). Jesus wanted the Nephites to touch the prints of the nails in his hands and feet that they "may know that [he is] the God of the whole earth, and [had] been slain for the sins of the world" (3 Nephi 11:14–15).

How would you have felt if you had been among those who saw the resurrected Christ? Even though you weren't there, you can know Jesus Christ was resurrected by seeking and gaining a testimony.

Becuase of Jesus, we will all be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:20–22; Alma 40:4). Any disabilities or infirmities we might have will be for this earth life only. We will be made whole and perfect in the Resurrection.

The Book of Mormon, just like The Bible, is a scriptural witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. ". . . the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also" (2 Nephi 29:8).

Since most of us have not seen the resurrected Jesus Christ as the Apostles and the Nephites did, we can gain knowledge of the Resurrection from the scriptures and the Holy Ghost. "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost" (Moroni 10:4–5).

Labels: Alma, Book of Mormon, Corinthians, D and C, Easter, Jesus Christ, Lesson 45, Luke, Mosiah, Nephi, Peter