1995
Samuel the Lamanite Tells about Jesus Christ
October 1995

“Samuel the Lamanite Tells about Jesus Christ,” Friend, Oct. 1995, 16

Samuel the Lamanite Tells about Jesus Christ

Lamanites become righteous

The Lamanites obeyed God’s commandments. They became more righteous than the Nephites. Hel. 13:1

Samuel and Lamanite preaches to Nephties

Samuel, a Lamanite prophet, went to Zarahemla to preach to the wicked Nephites. He told them to repent. Hel. 13:2

Nephites threw Samuel out

The Nephites threw Samuel out of Zarahemla. He started to go back to his own land. Hel. 13:2

Samuel returns

The Lord told Samuel to return to Zarahemla and tell the people the things that the Lord would put into his heart. Hel. 13:3

He climbs up on the wall

The Nephites would not let Samuel back into their city, so he climbed up on its wall and spoke loudly to the people. Hel. 13:4

Prophesied the Nephites would be destroyed if they don’t repent

He prophesied that in 400 years the Nephites would be destroyed unless they repented and had faith in Jesus Christ. Hel. 13:5–6

Said Jesus would be born in five years

Samuel told the Nephites that Jesus Christ would be born in five years, that he would save all those who believed in him. Hel. 14:2

Told them of signs of Christ’s birth

Samuel told them the signs of Christ’s birth: There would be a day, a night, and a day with no darkness. And a new star would appear. Hel. 14:3–6

and of his death

Then Samuel told them the signs of Jesus’ death: There would be three days of total darkness. The sun, the moon, and the stars would not shine. Hel. 14:20

Thunder and lightning and destruction

There would be thunder and lightning and earthquakes. Mountains would crumble, and many cities would be destroyed. Hel. 14:21–24

Some Nephites believed Samuel

Some Nephites believed Samuel, repented of their sins, and went to find Nephi, a righteous Nephite, so that he could baptize them. Hel. 16:1

Others did not

Other Nephites did not believe Samuel. They threw rocks and shot arrows at him. Because the Lord protected him, none of the rocks or arrows hit him. Hel. 16:2

The wicked couldn’t hit Samuel with their rocks and arrows

When the people saw that he could not be hit, many more believed his words and went to Nephi to be baptized. Hel. 16:3

Nephi also taught about Jesus

Nephi also taught the Nephites about Jesus. Nephi wanted them to believe in Jesus, to repent, and to be baptized. Hel. 16:4–5

Most did not believe Samuel

Most Nephites, however, did not believe Samuel. When they saw that he could not be hit with their stones and arrows, they tried to capture him. Hel. 16:6

Samuel fled to his own country

Samuel leaped down from the wall and fled to his own country. Hel. 16:7

and taught his own people

Samuel the Lamanite began to teach his own people. He was never again heard of among the Nephites. Hel. 16:8

Illustrated by Jerry Thompson