Christ In America

1. The Book of Mormon tells us of the visit of Jesus Christ to the people of this portion of the unknown world.

2. The Book of Mormon bears witness of the universal nature of Christ’s plan of salvation.

3. The purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince all men that Jesus is the Christ.

4. The Book of Mormon comes as a second witness for Christ and bears testimony of the truthfulness of the things written in the New Testament by the apostles.

5. The Book of Mormon is evidence of the fact that God has set his hand the second time to gather his people together.

CM 1. Head of Christ.

I would like to reaffirm our belief in Christ and the importance of his teaching within the church.

CM 2. The Church, complete.

Our belief is in the importance of Christ’s church as an instrument in his hands for the building up of the kingdom.

CM 3. Broken-down Church.

Many evidences of the falling away from Christ that took place in the centuries following his death. Departure from Christ and his teachings seperates the church and its people from the source of their strength.

CM 4. Angel Flying.

We can bear witness of the hope that is found in the angel mesage. The flying of the angel was God’s way of restoring the church and gospel lost in the darkness of man’s departure from truth.

CM 5. Church History.

This refers to the Book of Mormon.

CM 6. Kingsborough.

History now bears witness that a record was kept by the ancient inhabitants of this continent.

CM 7. Bancroft.

In the previous lecture we found many evidences pointing to the fact that the Book of Mormon is that record.

CM 8. Continued.

CM 9. Christ in White Robe.

We have thus far clearly established from biblical and archaeological evidences that the Book of Mormon:

a. was divinely revealed.

b. is true record of some of the ancient civilizations of America.

It is more than a history. It is a second witness for Christ. It contains the record of the visit of Christ to America.

CM 10. John 10:16.

Did Jesus say anything about coming to the continents of America? This is a question frequently asked, and logically so. His statement in John and Matthew is the answer.

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

He had other sheep of another fold that he must bring also. They were to hear his voice. These sheep, then, were in a place other than the known world of that day. We believe his reference to the lost sheep of the house of Israel pointed to the early people of America who were part of the house of Israel. If Jesus came here as the Book of Mormon says, there should be evidence of a knowledge of him and his taechings among the people who were here prior to the coming of Columbus.

CM 11. Kingsborough.

This historian makes clear his belief that Christianity was here before Columbus.

CM 12. Encylopdaedia Britannica.

Such conclusions as these arise because of many legends, and ruins in stone, some of which will now be examined from photographs and scientific statements.

CM 13. Quetzalcoatl’s Birth.

Note the amazing similarities of events connected with the birth of Quetzalcoatal and those surrounding the birth of Christ.

CM 14. Legendary Facts Concerning Quetzalcoatl.

This slide shows some of the legendary facts concerning Quetzalcoatl. Note the similarity of these and those attributed to Christ, but this one different point: He descended in a cloud. This agrees with the Book of Mormon.

CM 15. Names of Bearded White God.

Because of different dialets and languages among various peoples in America before Columbus, different names were given to the bearded white God, but they all refer to the same being and have the same meaning when translated literally.

CM 16. Bancroft.

Here Bancroft further describes the bearded white God. You will find his description in agreement with others previously mentioned.

CM 17. Bancroft.

This is Bancroft’s description of some of the activities of the bearded white God. The Book of Mormon story of Christ and his work among these people is in agreement with this statement which was made years after the publication of the Book of Mormon.

CM 18. Window in Palace of Cortez, Cuernavaca, Mexico.

The legend of Quetalcoatl is still vivid and real. This window, for example, was made in modern times. It commemorates this bearded white leader of pre-Cortesian civilizations. (Grancenio means genius, protection, power of men, places and things.)

CM 19. Landing of Cortez in Mexico.

The landing of Cortez and also so strong was the legend of Quetzalcoatl in the minds of the Aztecs that when they saw him, they beleived it to be Quetzalcoatl returning as he had promised.

CM 20. Mural on the Wall of the National Palace in Mexico City.

Here is another indication of the importance currently accorded to Quetzalcoatl.

CM 21. Temple of Bearded White God.

This building is located at one end of the ball court at Chichen Itza, Yucatan. It is called by some the Temple of the Bearded White God because of an engraving on the back wall. Many temples such as this were erected for the worship of Quetzalcoatl or Kukulcan.

CM 22. Sculptured profile of Breaded White God.

Note that his facial features, nose, etc. are distinctly different from those of the American Indian.

CM 22a. El Castillo at Chicken Itza.

CM 23. Baldwin.

Another evidence of the fact that these people knew the story of Jesus is the common presence of the cross in religious ruins.

CM 24. Cruiform Tomb at Monte Alban.

Here at Monte Alban near Oaxaca in southern Mexico is a cruciform tomb, or a tomb in the shape of a Christian cross.

CM 24a. Monte Alban.

CM 25. Temple of Quetzalcoatl in Taxchilan.

Deep in the jungle of Yaxchilan, State of Chiapas, Mexico, is the ancient temple. On the lintel above the doorway is found the picture shown in the next slide.

CM 26. Priests Bearing Crosses.

A careful study of this picture will let you see in detail the priests and their crosses. It is interesting to note that to each cross is attached a quetzal bird. It was from this beautiful bird that the people formulated part of the name Quetzalcoatl, for he was a deity, God of the air. Thus, the cross here is definitely associated with Quetzalcoatl.

CM 27. Temple of the Cross.

This building is located at Palenque in Central America. It is thought by some that this was the place from which the Bearded White God departed. The next two slides explain the name of this temple.

CM 28. Outline Sketch of Cross.

This sketch will help you see the cross in the next slide.

CM 29.Tablet of the Cross.

On the back wall of the Temple of the Cross was found a great tablet of stone. The cross here is plainly associated with Quetzalcoatl, and the priests in the picture evidently connect this with their religious practice. This with the other slides we have shown is evidence that the cross is common emblem in the ruins. Remember that Jesus himself indicated that he had sheep other than those in Palestine and that he would personally visit them. Also that the Book of Mormon indicates that the people of ancient America knew of the birth of Christ and of his crucifixion. It futher indicates that he came to America after his resurrection and that he descended out of a cloud. He lived with thwe people for a period of time, organizing his church upon this continent and taeching the people the same principles of the Christian life that he had taught while in Palestine and with the same promise that one day he would return.

Notice the parallel of the legendary accounts Quetzalcoatl to the Book of Mormon account of the ministry in America. Many of the legends of Quetzalcoatl indicate that he was a great bearded white man, who appeared mysteriously to the ancestors of these people and dewlt in their midst, teaching them to love one another and to live together in peace. After this, he departed from them, disappearing into the land of the sunrise with a promise that one day he would return. Recall again that this promise to return was so strong in their minds that the Aztecs cordially received Cortez, beleiving him to be the returning Quetzalcoatl. The Book of Mormon stands as a second witness to the divinity of Jesus Christ. This being true, we believe divine approval is placed not only upon the Book of Mormon but upon the work of Joseph Smith and the church which, under divine direction, he founded.

CM 29a. Another Scene at Palenque.

CM 30. Good Shepard.

Yes, Christ is the good shepard. His sheep will hear his voice. He calls to all men inviting them and offereing them the way of salvation. In him there is no east nor west, no north nor south. His invitation goes to all mankind.

At this point we should look at the Book of Mormon itself following the suggestions in "Suggested Readings from the Book of Mormon".

1. The purpose of the Book of Mormon is "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ.... (Page iii, Preface).

2. Some of the teachings about God are -

a. That we should believe in him ( page 220, Mosiah 2:13-17)

b. That we should pray to him (pages 429,430, Alma 16:218-222)

c. That all which is good comes from him (pg 764, Moroni 7:10-13)

3. Regarding Jesus Christ the Book of Mormon tells:

a. As among the Hebrews in Palestine, so here among the ancient Americans the coming of Jesus was foretold in prophecy (page 216, Mosiah 1:97-105). (Compare with Isaiah 7:14;9:6,7)

b. Wondrous signs were given at the time of his birth (page 601, 602, lll Nephi 1:16-24). (Compare with Luke 2:6-14; Matthew 2:1,2,9,10).

c. Strange happenings took place at the time of the death of Jesus (page 625 lllNephi 4:14-20). (Compare with Matthew 27:50-54; Luke 23:44,45).

d. After his ascension from Palistine, Jesus appeared to the inhabitants of this hemisphere (pages 631-633, lll Nephi 4:74; 5:1-16).

e. He ministered among the people with great power, healing their sick (page 648, lll Nephi 8:6,7,9). (Compare with Matthew 8:16).

f. He served the Lord’s supper (page 650, lll Nephi 8:30-36). (Compare with Mark 14:22-24).

g. After his ministry among these people, the entire population was converted to his church, obeyed his commandments, and a great period of peace and prosperity followewd (pages 681-683, IV Nephi 1:3,4-7, 17-21). (Compare with Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-35).

4. Other religious teachings of the Book of Mormon include the following:

a. Polygamy is an"abomination" to God (pages 171, 172, Jacob 2: 32-36). (Compare with Matthew 19:5,6).

b. Everyone should strive to be righteous (page 441, Alma 17:65-67)

c. Jesus sets the example for us to follow (pg. 161 ll Nephi 13:7-13).

d. Christ is the only way of salvation (page 217, Mosiah 1:116).

e. God through his son Jesus Christ atoned for the sins of the world, making him a God of justice and mercy (page 453, Alma 19:92-97).

f. We must repent and become as a little child (page 634, lll Nephi 5:40). (Compare with Luke 18:15-17).

g. We should believe and be baptized (page 634, lll Nephi 5:34, 35).

h. Infants do not need to be baptized (page 769, 770, Moroni 8:12-14, 20, 21).

i. The "first-fruits of repentance is Baptsm" (pg. 771, Moroni 8:29).

5. The Book of Mormon teaches that everyone can know of the truth of the Book of Mormon (page 775, Moroni 10:3-5)