“Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon,” Liahona, Jan. 2024.
Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon
How many times is the Lord mentioned in the Book of Mormon?
Who would you say is the main figure in the Book of Mormon? While some might suggest Nephi, Alma, or Mormon, the real main figure is Jesus Christ. Nephi wrote:
“We labor diligently to write, to persuade our children … to believe in Christ. …
“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ” (2 Nephi 25:23, 26).
In 1978, Susan Ward Easton published a landmark article, numerically demonstrating that Jesus Christ is the main figure in the Book of Mormon. She identified the different titles of Jesus Christ and showed that He was mentioned by name or title 3,925 times in the Book of Mormon, which averages out to be once every 1.7 verses.1
This valuable study highlights the centrality of the Savior in the Book of Mormon; however, it significantly undercounts the frequency with which Christ is mentioned by excluding pronouns that refer to Him.
Ultimately, the number of references to Jesus Christ is not the most important detail to learn from the Book of Mormon; however, each reference to Him can teach us about His divine nature and mission. We carefully examined the Book of Mormon, looking for all mentions of Jesus Christ, including titles and pronouns. We identified 7,452 total references—an average of more than one reference per verse.2 Titles of Christ account for roughly 50 percent of references to Christ in the Book of Mormon, with the remainder coming from pronouns.
Looking for Jesus Christ provides a unique way to learn about Him. Consider how the following verse emphasizes Him: “Begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works” (Alma 33:22; emphasis added).
In Sister Easton’s original study, this verse would have counted as one reference to Christ from the title “Son of God.” However, the Savior is mentioned five additional times. This verse emphasizes not only that Jesus Christ is the Son of God but also that He is the one to redeem us through His everlasting Atonement and Resurrection and will be our judge.
Perhaps most powerfully, Christ refers to Himself in the Book of Mormon. For example, we read the Savior say, “If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27; emphasis added). Although Christ’s name does not appear in this verse, the Savior refers to Himself eight times. His role is highlighted as we look for the Savior in this passage.
The following verses show the personal connection the Savior felt with each individual and what they felt toward Him:
“Come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.
“… The multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet” (3 Nephi 11:14–15; emphasis added).
Although we cannot yet physically feel His marks, through the Book of Mormon we can deepen our personal witness of Jesus Christ.
The frequent references to the Lord in the Book of Mormon help us see His centrality in this sacred work. Identifying the Savior in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is a powerful way to draw closer to Him.