Lehi’s story, as recorded in the Book of Mormon, begins in 600 B.C., long before the Savior’s birth. However, this great prophet learned of the Savior and his son, Nephi, recorded the vision so it could be kept for our day. When the Savior came to the Nephites, it was no surprise to them that He existed. They knew of Him and of His birth, life, and death, even though it happened an ocean away. They knew He was coming to them, also.
1 Nephi 10: 4 Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the cJews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.
5 And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world.
6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.
Lehi and his family had not yet crossed the waters. They were still in their own lands when this vision occurred and Lehi taught them about the purpose of the Savior’s life—to save all mankind. They took this knowledge with them to their new home and it was handed down through the coming generations. The Nephites knew of the Savior.
In this vision, Lehi saw John the Baptist, not by name, but as the man who would baptize the Savior, and also prepare the people for the Savior’s ministry. Then he saw the Savior Himself, his ministry, His rejection by some of the people, and His crucifixion. Finally, He saw the resurrection.
This part of the vision sets forth the primary message of the Book of Mormon. It is to be a testimony of the Savior.
Some years ago, the church created its own version of the Bible. The text remained the same—the King James Version. However, footnotes, chapter summaries, concordance, and other ancillary tools were redone in a tremendous project requiring many years of work. Of this work, Elder Boyd K. Packer, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said,
“Some of them [critics] say that we have lost our way, that we are not Christians. Should they turn to that one thing in which they show the least interest and in which they have the least knowledge, the scriptures and the revelations, they would find in the Topical Guide fifty-eight categories of information about Jesus Christ; eighteen pages of small print, single-spaced, list literally thousands of scriptural references on the subject.
These references from the four volumes of scripture constitute the most comprehensive compilation of scriptural information on the mission and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ that has ever been assembled in the history of the world.
The work affirms an acceptance of, a reverence for, and a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. Follow those references and you will open the door to whose church this is, what it teaches and by whose authority—all anchored to the sacred name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Redeemer, our Lord.”
As you read the Book of Mormon, mark each reference to the Savior in a specific color. When you’ve completed your reading, look through your book and notice how many markings there are. You will quickly discover the Book of Mormon spends the majority of its time talking about the Savior. It truly is another testimony of Christ.
The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.
