Nephite Destruction Pattern

[durangout]

Recently while reading 3 Ne, somthing jumped out at me:

3 Ne 8:5 And it came to pass in the *thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.

The destructions immediately prior to The Savior's visit began in the very begining of the year.

Additionally
3 Ne 10:18 And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them--

It is very clear that it was almost a full year between the time the destructions took place and The Savior came to them. I think everyone will agree that the BoM profetically shows the patten for the events leading up and including the 2nd Coming. What's my point? My point is that here is scriptural backing for the absolute need for 1 year's worth of physical preps. I'm not saying there is no need for more than this but I'm saying that the worst of the worst times will last about 1 year. I'm guessing that means total societal breakdown for 1 year immediately prior to the time He will come again in His glory, power and vengence for the final battle to deliver the Jews--and us.

[Henmasher]

Great find. The answers are definitlely in the sacred writ and this is no coincidence. Thanks for the insight!

[Nan]

I think it is also important to note that those that saw Christ first were at the Temple.

[oneClimbs]

I was in the mission field when I noticed the same thing. I always assumed that Christ came right on or after the third day of darkness, but it was, in fact, a whole year! Imagine the patience after what they had just experienced. They had time to recover a little and think about those events and then one day...a still, small voice.

[durangout]

I think it is also important to note that those that saw Christ first were at the Temple.

Yes; it is very significant that they were at the temple. To be able to "stand in holy places" IS the most important prep that there is.

[NoGreaterLove]

Read it a little slower and pray about it. Think about the discussion the Saints were having. This was addressed by an apostle or prophet. I have the quote somewhere. He says the theory that it was one year later is not true. That Christ appeared three days after his crucifixion.

They were marveling at the changes that had taken place. One year later!? A lot of rebuilding would have taken place one year later.

Here is the quote:

When Did Jesus Appear to the Nephites?

Question: "Several years ago I was asked to make a talk on the events which took place on the American continent at the first Easter. In studying for the talk I discovered that it was almost a year from the time that Christ was crucified until he showed himself to the Nephite multitude at the temple in the land Bountiful. 'And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, there arose a great storm,' (3 Nephi 8:5.) 'And it came to pass in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared. . . . ' (Ibid., 10:18.)

"There is still a misconception of the event—or these events—in the minds of many of our members. Perhaps it doesn't really matter. Will you please discuss it?"

Answer: It is true that there has been a misconception in the minds of many members of the Church, but a careful reading of the account will clear up these misconceptions. It is true that a hasty examination will leave the impression that there was a delay of about a year after the resurrection of the Lord before he visited the Nephites and Lamanites who were spared; but more attention to what is written shows that it was but a very short time after his resurrection that the Lord appeared to the people who were assembled near the temple in Bountiful. This false conclusion that practically a year had passed from the time of the resurrection until the Lord appeared on this hemisphere has been published and circulated throughout the Church. Therefore we are justified in asking our brethren and sisters, and all who read the Book of Mormon, to pay close attention to the details of the story.

DESTRUCTION AT THE TIME OF THE CRUCIFIXION

In 3 Nephi 8:5, we discovered that in the "thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land." The succeeding verses give much of the detail of the destruction which followed. This, evidently was at the time when Jesus was on the cross. Chapter 9 continues this story of destruction, and during this storm the voice of Jesus was heard in which he gave reasons for the great destruction, and he said:

O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? . . .

Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning, I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name. (3 Nephi 9:13, 15.)

All of this was while the great darkness covered the earth, and Mormon then through the ninth and tenth chapters commented upon the terrible destructions which had taken place. He closes the tenth chapter in these words:

And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them—

Showing his body unto them, and ministering unto them; and an account of his ministry shall be given hereafter. Therefore for this time I make an end of my sayings. (3 Nephi 10:18-19; italics added.)

CHRIST APPEARED TO NEPHITES SOON AFTER ASCENSION

Here he declares that it was soon after the Savior's ascension into heaven that he appeared to the Nephites and Lamanites on this continent. And his ascension was the day of his resurrection after his appearance to Mary at the tomb, and before his appearance to the disciples that same day.

The reason why Mormon discontinued his account at this point is not stated. Evidently he was writing during the days of the great struggle with the Lamanites for the Nephite existence, and it is very possible that some sudden emergency had arisen so that he had temporarily to close his record. However, he continued his story where he broke off and states that there was a great multitude gathered together round about the temple in Bountiful. It seems perfectly clear that this great gathering was immediately after the close of the dreadful period of darkness. We read that the people were "marveling and wondering one with another," and "were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place." (3 Nephi 11:1.) While they were marveling and pointing out to each other these changes, and conversing, they heard a voice.

. . . it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn. (3 Nephi 11:3.)

And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them. (3 Nephi 11:8.)

EVIDENCES FOR APPEARANCES FOLLOWING RESURRECTION

The fact that the multitude had gathered at the temple and were pointing out to each other the great changes that had occurred is evidence that this was an event immediately following the resurrection of our Lord. If this event had occurred one year later, the multitude would have been perfectly familiar with these great changes, and they would not have been so awed by them. It was in great astonishment and wonder that they had gathered and were pointing out to each other what had occurred.

Moreover it is contrary to reason that Jesus would make the Nephites and Lamanites, who had been faithful, wait for one whole year before he would make his appearance and give them instruction in relation to the closing of the period in which the law of Moses was in force, and the period when the fulness of the gospel was ushered in.


(Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957-1966], 4: 27.)