Poster Article:
Prophets

By Caroline Benzley

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, … whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same (D&C 1:38).

Prophets tell about Jesus Christ, and they tell what He wants us to know and do.

When He lived on the earth, Jesus Christ often spoke of the prophets who had lived before Him. He told the people of His time on earth to “search the scriptures” because the prophets had written about Him.

For example, when Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel and who was the father of the tribes of Israel, blessed his sons, he prophesied that Jesus Christ would descend from the tribe of Judah (see Genesis 49: heading, 24—including footnote a).

Isaiah told of the birth of Jesus Christ, of His being the chief cornerstone of His church, of His teaching and suffering and dying for us, and of His Resurrection (see Isa. 7:14; Isa. 9:6; Isa. 25:9; Isa. 28:16; Isa. 42:7; Isa. 50:6; Isa. 53:5; Isa. 61:1; see also 2 Ne. 17:14; 2 Ne. 19:6; Mosiah 14:5).

Ezekiel told of the Savior’s overcoming death for us (see Ezek. 37:12).

Daniel told of a vision in which the angel Gabriel came to him and spoke of the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see Dan. 9:24).

Hosea told of Jesus returning to the Jews from the land of Egypt, and of His being our Redeemer (see Hosea 11:11; Hosea 13:14).

Micah told of the Baby Jesus being born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2).

Zechariah told of the Savior riding triumphantly into Jerusalem on an ass, and of His being betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (see Zech. 9:9; Zech. 11:13).

Malachi told of Jesus Christ coming suddenly to the temple in the latter days and at His Second Coming (see Mal. 3:1; see also D&C 36:8).

The records we have of Old Testament prophets don’t tell us nearly as much about Jesus Christ as the Book of Mormon does, but you can find out more if you look in the Topical Guide under “Jesus Christ, Prophecies about.”

Lehi told of the birth, baptism, Atonement, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and of other prophets who had taught about Him (see 1 Ne. 10:1–11).

In a vision, Nephi was shown and told of all that his father had seen, of the Savior’s ministry among the people during His time on earth, and of His calling of the Twelve Apostles (see 1 Ne. 11:13–34).

King Benjamin told of the miracles that Jesus would perform; of all that He would suffer, including temptations; of His Atonement for us; and that “he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary” (see Mosiah 3:5–8).

There is much more about Jesus Christ and His teachings in the Book of Mormon. Many of the prophets who wrote it, like the prophets of the Old Testament, lived before the Savior lived on the earth and testified of Him.

Testimony Matchup

Instructions: Cut out the pictures of the Book of Mormon prophets. To match the prophets’ pictures with their testimonies of Christ, read each testimony, look up the scripture reference to find the prophet’s name, then glue the correct picture in place.

Nephi Rebuking His Brothers by Arnold Friberg; Samuel the Lamanite Prophesies by Arnold Friberg; King Benjamin Preaches to the Nephites by Gary L. Kapp; Abinadi Appears before King Noah by Arnold Friberg