Christ in America (1980)

CHRIST

f

-i

P u b l i s h e d by T h e C h u r c h of J e s u s C h r i s t of L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t s Salt L a k e City, U t a h , U.S.A.

CHRIST AMERICA

By Elder Mark E. Petersen Of the C o u n c i l of the T w e l v e

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H E G r e a t W h i t e G o d of a n c i e n t A m e r i c a still lives! T h e d i v i n e p e r s o n a g e t h a t e m e r g e s f r o m t h e d i s c o v e r i e s a n d w r i t i n g s of a r c h a e o l o g i s t s a n d h i s t o r i a n s n o w s t a n d s o u t as a n u n a s s a i l a b l e reality. T h e m y s t e r y that s o l o n g v e i l e d t h e p u z z l i n g t r a d i t i o n s of t h e n a t i v e s is s w e p t a s i d e by n e w l y f o u n d but c e n t u r i e s o l d r e c o r d s t h a t o p e n a w i d e l y e x p a n d e d v i e w of t h i s d i v i n i t y a n d his l a b o r s in t h e Western Hemisphere.

There was such a God! A c c o r d i n g t o t h e f i n d i n g s of s c h o l a r s , he c a m e t o A m e r i c a l o n g b e f o r e t h e t i m e of C o l u m b u s .

He t a u g h t t h e a n c i e n t s his t r u e r e l i g i o n , r a i s e d s o m e of t h e i r d e a d , h e a l e d m a n y of t h e i r s i c k , t a u g h t n e w a n d m o r e p r o d u c t i v e m e t h o d s of a g r i c u l t u r e , a n d e s t a b l i s h e d a g o v e r n m e n t of e q u a l i t y a n d peace.

He c a m e s u d d e n l y a n d left s u d d e n l y in a s u p e r natural manner.

The ancients regarded him as the Creator, c o m e t o e a r t h in b o d i l y f o r m .

Tradition A N Y n o w r e a d i l y a d m i t t h a t his t e a c h i n g s w e r e a k i n t o t h o s e of t h e B i b l e .

A n d t h a t he p r o m i s e d t o r e t u r n in a s e c o n d c o m i n g is a n a c k n o w l e d g e d f a c t , w e l l a t t e s t e d by h i s t o r i c a l a c c o u n t s .

1

T h e t r a d i t i o n of a W h i t e G o d in a n c i e n t A m e r i c a w a s p r e s e r v e d t h r o u g h g e n e r a t i o n s of I n d i a n s f r o m C h i l e to A l a s k a , a n d has b e e n s i g n i f i c a n t l y p e r s i s t e n t likewise a m o n g the Polynesians f r o m Hawaii to N e w Zealand.

In t h e i r m a i n d e t a i l s all s u c h t r a d i t i o n s a g r e e .

T h e y differ in n a m e a n d m i n o r d e t a i l s f r o m i s l a n d t o i s l a n d a n d f r o m c o u n t r y t o c o u n t r y , but t h e o v e r a l l outline remains the same—there was a Great White G o d . He c a m e a m o n g t h e i r f o r e f a t h e r s , m i n i s t e r e d for a w h i l e , a n d t h e n left a g a i n . S o m e s a y he a s c e n d e d to h e a v e n .

Known by Many Names O c o n v i n c i n g is t h e i n f o r m a t i o n n o w a v a i l a b l e ^1 c o n c e r n i n g t h e W h i t e G o d as he a p p e a r s in t h e * l e g e n d s of t h e A z t e c s t h a t Paul H e r r m a n n w a s i n d u c e d t o s a y in his b o o k Conquest

by Man: "Carefully considered this leaves no c o n c l u s i o n o p e n t h a n that t h e L i g h t G o d Q u e t z a l c o a t I w a s a real p e r s o n , that he w a s n e i t h e r a n i n v e n t i o n of S p a n i s h p r o p a g a n d a n o r a l e g e n d a r y f i g m e n t of I n d i a n i m a g i n a t i o n " (p. 172).

This b e i n g , k n o w n a s Q u e t z a l c o a t I In p a r t s of M e x i c o , p r i m a r i l y in t h e C h o l u l a a r e a , w a s k n o w n a s V o t a n in C h i a p a s a n d W i x e p e c h o c h a in Q a x a c a , a s G u c u m a t z in G u a t e m a l a , as V i r a c o c h a a n d H y u s t u s in P e r u , as S u m e in B r a z i l , a n d as B o c h i c a in Colombia.

T o t h e P e r u v i a n s he w a s a l s o k n o w n a s C o n - t l c l or llla-Tici, Tici m e a n i n g b o t h C r e a t o r a n d t h e L i g h t .

T o t h e M a y a n s he w a s p r i n c i p a l l y k n o w n as Kukulcan.

In t h e P o l y n e s i a n i s l a n d s he w a s L o n o , K a n a , K a n e , or K o n , a n d s o m e t i m e s K a n a l o a — t h e G r e a t Light or G r e a t B r i g h t n e s s . He a l s o w a s k n o w n as K a n e - A k e a , t h e G r e a t P r o g e n i t o r , or T o n g a - r o a , t h e g o d o f the ocean sun.

His Personage

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H A T d i d he l o o k like, t h i s G r e a t W h i t e God? He w a s f r e q u e n t l y d e s c r i b e d a s a tall w h i t e m a n , b e a r d e d a n d w i t h b i u e e y e s . He w o r e l o o s e , f l o w i n g r o b e s . He c a m e f r o m t h e h e a v e n s a n d went back to the heavens.

He h e a l e d t h e s i c k , g a v e s i g h t t o t h e b l i n d , c u r e d t h e l a m e , a n d r a i s e d s o m e of t h e d e a d . H e t a u g h t a 2

b e t t e r life, t e l l i n g t h e p e o p l e t o d o u n t o o t h e r s as t h e y w o u l d be d o n e b y , t o l o v e t h e i r n e i g h b o r s as themselves, and to always s h o w kindness and charity.

He s e e m e d t o b e a p e r s o n of g r e a t a u t h o r i t y a n d u n m e a s u r e d k i n d n e s s . He h a d p o w e r t o m a k e hills i n t o p l a i n s a n d p l a i n s i n t o h i g h m o u n t a i n s . He c o u l d b r i n g f o u n t a i n s of w a t e r f r o m t h e s o l i d r o c k .

In a d d i t i o n t o g i v i n g t h e m r u l e s o n h o w t o live p e a c e f u l l y t o g e t h e r , he u r g e d t h e m t o g r e a t e r l e a r n i n g , a n d a l s o t a u g h t t h e m i m p r o v e d m e t h o d s of agriculture.

Promised Second Coming

(

N E of t h e r e m a r k a b l e t h i n g s a b o u t his c o m i n g w a s t h a t he a p p e a r e d after a p e r i o d of d a r k n e s s in all t h e l a n d , d u r i n g w h i c h t h e p e o p l e h a d p r a y e d for a r e t u r n of t h e s u n . W h i l e t h e d a r k n e s s yet p r e v a i l e d , " t h e y s u f f e r e d g r e a t hardship . . . and . . . made great prayers and vows t o t h o s e t h e y h e l d t o b e t h e i r g o d s , i m p l o r i n g of t h e m t h e light t h a t h a d f a i l e d . " A f t e r t h e light h a d r e t u r n e d , t h e n c a m e a " w h i t e m a n , of l a r g e s t a t u r e , w h o s e air a n d p e r s o n a r o u s e d g r e a t r e s p e c t a n d v e n e r a t i o n . . . . A n d w h e n t h e y s a w his p o w e r , t h e y c a l l e d h i m t h e M a k e r of all t h i n g s , t h e i r B e g i n n i n g , F a t h e r of t h e s u n . " ( S e e P e d r o d e C i e z a d e L e o n , The Incas, t r a n s , b y H a r r i e t d e O n i s , p p . 2 7 - 2 8 . )

T h i s p e r s o n a g e , as he t a u g h t his r e l i g i o n , a l s o u r g e d t h e p e o p l e t o b u i l d g r e a t t e m p l e s for w o r s h i p .

A s h e left t h e m , h e p r o m i s e d his s e c o n d c o m i n g , w h i c h c a u s e d t h e n a t i v e s t o l o o k for his r e t u r n e v e n a s t h e J e w s l o o k for t h e i r p r o m i s e d M e s s i a h . ( S e e P i e r r e H o n o r e , In Quest of the White God, pp. 1 6 - 1 7 . )

Spanish Conquistadores I UE t o t h e a n x i o u s n e s s w i t h w h i c h t h e y w e r e I a w a i t i n g t h e r e t u r n of this W h i t e G o d , t h e ^ natives mistakenly s u p p o s e d that with the a r r i v a l of t h e S p a n i a r d s in A m e r i c a , this p r o m i s e w a s f u l f i l l e d ( s e e H o n o r e , p. 1 7 ) . A similar e v e n t t o o k p l a c e in t h e H a w a i i a n I s l a n d s w i t h t h e arrival of Captain J a m e s Cook. These historical events serve t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e e v i d e n c e s u p p o r t i n g t h e reality of the White God. W h e n the Spanish Conquistadores reached S o u t h A m e r i c a , o n e of P i z z a r o ' s l i e u t e n a n t s s t r o d e 3

a s h o r e w e a r i n g his h e l m e t a n d b r e a s t p l a t e a n d carrying a shining musket. He m a d e an impressive appearance.

N a t i v e s o n t h e s h o r e w a t c h e d h i m in a m a z e m e n t .

He w a s a w h i t e m a n i A s P e d r o d e C a n d i a s t r o d e t o w a r d t h e m , t h e y knelt b e f o r e h i m a n d b e g a n t o s a y " V i r a c o c h a , V i r a c o c h a . " It p u z z l e d t h e g a l l a n t Pedro. The natives drew nearer, s u r r o u n d i n g h i m .

S o m e w h a t f e a r f u l himself, h e f i r e d his g u n i n t o t h e air, e x p e c t i n g t o f r i g h t e n t h e n a t i v e s a w a y . B u t t h e y d i d n o t m o v e . I n s t e a d t h e y w h i s p e r e d , "Ilia Tiki, Ilia Tiki," m e a n i n g " t h e g o d of l i g h t n i n g . " T h e I n d i a n s thought he w a s their returning white g o d V i r a c o c h a , a n d that w i t h his g u n h e c o n t r o l i e d b o t h t h u n d e r a n d l i g h t n i n g . ( S e e Paul H e r r m a n n , Conquest

by Man, pp. 1 8 1 - 8 2 . )

Cortez

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E R N A N D O Cortez w a s likewise believed to be the returning White G o d as he c a m e to M e x i c o in 1 5 2 0 . W h e n t h e c o a s t a l n a t i v e s s a w t h a t h e w a s w h i t e , a leader a m o n g his m e n , a n d t h a t h e c a m e in a l a r g e s h i p w i t h w h i t e s a i l s , t h e y conjectured that the Great White G o d had arrived.

M o n t e z u m a , t h e A z t e c ruler, r e m e m b e r e d t h a t w h e n he w a s c r o w n e d a s e m p e r o r , t h e p r i e s t s of t h e A z t e c c u l t r e m i n d e d h i m : " T h i s is not y o u r t h r o n e , . . . it is o n l y lent t o y o u a n d will o n e d a y b e r e t u r n e d t o t h e o n e t o w h o m it is d u e . " ( H o n o r e , p. 6 6 . ) M o n t e z u m a m a d e p l a n s t o g r e e t C o r t e z w i t h all t h e r e s p e c t he o w e d t o t h e W h i t e G o d w h o m his Aztec religion had taught him to expect. Precious gifts w e r e b r o u g h t t o C o r t e z ; t h e r i c h e s of t h e r e a l m w e r e o p e n e d t o h i m . He w a s h o n o r e d a s a d e i t y i n d e e d . ( S e e W i l l i a m H. P r e s c o t t , History of the Conquest of Mexico.)

Captain Cook

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HEN Captain J a m e s C o o k sailed into t h e p e a c e f u l w a t e r s of t h e H a w a i i a n I s l a n d s , he t o o w a s m i s t a k e n f o r t h e W h i t e G o d .

T h e n a t i v e s t h e r e , like t h e i r r e l a t i v e s in A m e r i c a , h a d l o n g e x p e c t e d t h e s e c o n d c o m i n g of t h e i r G r e a t White G o d .

S e e i n g C a p t a i n C o o k , a w h i t e m a n of h i g h c o m m a n d , s a i l i n g in a l a r g e s h i p w i t h g r e a t w h i t e

4

Montezuma honors Hernondo Cortez OS o returning God

5

sails s u c h as t h e n a t i v e s h a d n e v e r b e f o r e s e e n , t h e H a w a i i a n s r e c e i v e d a n d w o r s h i p e d h i m as t h e i r l o n g looked-for golden-haired god Lono.

Remarkably, Captain C o o k had landed during the makahiki f e s t i v a l , t h e c e l e b r a t i o n t h a t k e p t alive t h e t r a d i t i o n s of t h e w h i t e g o d L o n o . K i n g K a l a n i o p u u w e l c o m e d h i m a n d his p a r t y , a n d t h e n a t i v e p r i e s t s led h i m w i t h h i g h c e r e m o n y t o t h e g r e a t s t o n e t r u n c a t e d p y r a m i d t h a t w a s L o n o ' s t e m p l e . In amazement, the redoubtable British explorer a c c e p t e d their obeisance, quite willing to receive any honors they were willing to bestow upon him. ( S e e J . C . B e a g l e h o l e , The Life of Captain Cook, pp. 6 4 8 - 6 0 . )

Drifted from Moses

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O T o n l y h a v e t h e o f t - t o l d s t o r i e s of t h e W h i t e G o d c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h t h e a g e s , but his t e a c h i n g s a r e a l s o still d e a r t o t h e h e a r t s of the natives.

O n e of t h e r e m a r k a b l e s u r v i v a l s is t h a t r e c o u n t e d in S t e p h e n ' s Incidents of Travel in Central America.

T h e a u t h o r q u o t e s w h a t F u e n t e s , c h r o n i c l e r of t h e a n c i e n t k i n g d o m of G u a t e m a l a a n d of t h e T o l t e c a n I n d i a n s , s a i d of t h e o r i g i n of t h e s e p e o p l e . F u e n t e s said t h a t , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e g r a n d s o n of t h e last k i n g of t h e O u i c h e s , t h e T o l t e c s w e r e Israelites, r e l e a s e d

by M o s e s f r o m t h e t y r a n n y of P h a r a o h . A f t e r crossing the Red Sea, they b e c a m e idolaters. To e s c a p e t h e r e p r o o f s of M o s e s , t h e y s t r a y e d a w a y .

U n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p of a m a n n a m e d T a n u b , t h e y d r i f t e d f r o m c o n t i n e n t t o c o n t i n e n t until f i n a l l y t h e y came to a place they called the seven caverns, a part of t h e k i n g d o m of M e x i c o , w h e r e t h e y f o u n d e d t h e c i t y of T u l a . T h e s t o r y r e c o u n t s t h a t f r o m T a n u b , t h e i r l e a d e r , s p r a n g t h e f a m i l i e s of t h e T u l a a n d t h e Quiche.

O t h e r t r a d i t i o n s tell of f o u r b r o t h e r s w h o l e d t h e i r families f r o m far d i s t a n t l a n d s t o t h e east, o v e r t h e oceans, to the new world w h e r e they settled a n d built c i t i e s .

Mayan Beliefs \OPOL

Vuh, t h e s a c r e d b o o k of t h e a n c i e n t

Q u i c h e Maya, reveals that the early A m e r i c a n s b e l i e v e d in a trinity of d e i t i e s . T h e y b e l i e v e d a l s o In a h e a v e n l y f a t h e r a n d a h e a v e n l y m o t h e r , a n d t h a t t h e E t e r n a l F a t h e r a n d his B e l o v e d S o n w e r e t h e 6

Hawaiians welcome Coptoin Jomes Cook OS o God

c r e a t o r s of h e a v e n a n d e a r t h . IVIembers of t h e t r i n i t y w e r e k n o w n as C a c u i h a , H u r a c a n , C h i p i - C a c u i h a , a n d R a x a - C a c u l h a . T h e y w e r e c a l l e d t h e " H e a r t of H e a v e n . " ( S e e Popol Vuh, t r a n s , b y D e l i a G o e t z a n d S y l v a n u s G. M o r l e y , p p . 8 1 - 8 2 . ) Popol Vuh also s p e a k s of t h e c r e a t i o n a s h a v i n g b e e n a c c o m p l i s h e d by this t r i n i t y — t h r e e d e i t i e s — c r e a t o r s a n d m a k e r s of all ( p p . 8 1 - 9 2 ) .

T h e s e early A m e r i c a n s d i d not b e l i e v e in a n y sexless, formless, phantom-like g o d . To t h e m the trinity w e r e real p e r s o n s , w h o h a d s e x a n d personality.

T h e s e early A m e r i c a n s , as s h o w n in this s a m e v o l u m e , b e l i e v e d in a p e r s o n m u c h like t h e devil w h o b o a s t e d of his b r i l l i a n c e a n d p o w e r , s a y i n g " m y e y e s a r e of silver, b r i g h t , r e s p l e n d e n t a s p r e c i o u s s t o n e s , as e m e r a l d s ; m y t e e t h s h i n e like p e r f e c t s t o n e s , like t h e f a c e of t h e sky. . . . S o t h e n I a m t h e s u n , I a m t h e m o o n , for all m a n k i n d " (Popol Vuh, p. 9 3 ) .

This evil b e i n g s o u g h t t o u s u r p t h e g l o r y of G o d but f a i l e d . " H i s o n l y a m b i t i o n w a s t o exalt h i m s e l f a n d to d o m i n a t e " (Popol Vuh, p. 9 4 ) .

The manuscript from ancient Indian s o u r c e s e x p l a i n s t h a t at t h a t t i m e " n e i t h e r o u r first m o t h e r n o r o u r first f a t h e r h a d yet b e e n c r e a t e d " (Popol Vuh. p. 9 6 ) .

T h e r e is a l s o t h e s t o r y of t h e w o m a n b e i n g t e m p t e d to eat t h e fruit of a t r e e a n d a s k i n g , " M u s t I d i e , shall I be lost, if I p i c k o n e of t h i s f r u i t ? " (Popol Vuh, p. 1 1 9 ) .

T h e s t o r y of a g r e a t f l o o d is r e c o u n t e d a m o n g t h e e a r l y A m e r i c a n s (Popol Vuh, p. 9 0 ) .

Christ Came to America HO was this Great White God? A s J e s u s C h r i s t m i n i s t e r e d in m o r t a l i t y a m o n g t h e J e w s , he s p o k e of a n o t h e r b o d y of b e l i e v e r s — h i s o t h e r s h e e p . ( S e e J o h n 1 0 : 1 6 . ) He p r o m i s e d t o g o t o t h e m a n d m i n i s t e r a m o n g t h e m . T h i s he d i d — i n A m e r i c a .

P r o p h e t s a l s o m i n i s t e r e d in a n c i e n t A m e r i c a ; e v e n as o t h e r s d i d in P a l e s t i n e , a n d d u r i n g t h e s a m e p e r i o d of t i m e .

These Western prophets w r o t e their s a c r e d history, as d i d t h e i r P a l e s t i n i a n c o u n t e r p a r t s . In t h i s m a n n e r a n o t h e r v o l u m e of s c r i p t u r e w a s p r e p a r e d .

K n o w n as t h e B o o k of M o r m o n , it telis of G o d ' s d e a l i n g s w i t h a n c i e n t A m e r i c a , as t h e B i b l e r e l a t e s t h e s a c r e d h i s t o r y of t h e E a s t e r n H e m i s p h e r e .

8

•1

T h e B o o k of Ivlormon tells t h e f a c t s a b o u t t h e c o m i n g of t h e W h i t e G o d , a n e v e n t t h a t o c c u r r e d in A m e r i c a f o l l o w i n g C h r i s t ' s r e s u r r e c t i o n in P a l e s t i n e .

M i l l i o n s of p e o p l e lived in A m e r i c a t h e n . S o m e b e l i e v e d in t h e c o m i n g of C h r i s t t o t h e i r l a n d . O t h e r s scoffed. The believers served the Lord; the scoffers f o l l o w e d e v e r y evil p a t h .

W h e n the Crucifixion took place and the earthquakes s h o o k Palestine, even w o r s e quakes, tempests, and conflagrations swept over the W e s t e r n H e m i s p h e r e . T h e B o o k of M o r m o n tells t h e story: " A n d it c a m e to p a s s in t h e t h i r t y a n d f o u r t h y e a r , in t h e first m o n t h , o n t h e f o u r t h d a y of t h e m o n t h , t h e r e a r o s e a g r e a t s t o r m , s u c h a n o n e as never h a d b e e n k n o w n in all t h e l a n d . " A n d there w a s also a great a n d terrible tempest; a n d t h e r e w a s t e r r i b l e t h u n d e r , i n s o m u c h t h a t it d i d s h a k e t h e w h o l e e a r t h as if it w a s a b o u t t o d i v i d e asunder. " A n d there were exceeding sharp lightnings, s u c h a s n e v e r h a d b e e n k n o w n in all t h e l a n d . " A n d t h e c i t y of Z a r a h e m l a d i d t a k e f i r e " ( 3 Nephi 8:5-8).

A c c o r d i n g to the a c c o u n t , the d a m a g e was i m m e n s e . H i g h w a y s w e r e b r o k e n up, cities w e r e sunk, m a n y persons w e r e slain, and the w h o l e face of t h e l a n d w a s c h a n g e d — a l l t h i s in t h e s p a c e of about three hours.

Then, "it c a m e to pass that there w a s thick d a r k n e s s u p o n all t h e f a c e of t h e l a n d , i n s o m u c h t h a t t h e i n h a b i t a n t s t h e r e o f w h o h a d not fallen c o u l d feel t h e v a p o r of d a r k n e s s " ( 3 N e p h i 8 : 2 0 ) .

After this condition, w h i c h lasted for three days, t h e r e c a m e a v o i c e , " a n d all t h e p e o p l e d i d hear, a n d d i d w i t n e s s of it, s a y i n g : " O y e p e o p l e of t h e s e g r e a t c i t i e s w h i c h h a v e f a l l e n , w h o a r e d e s c e n d a n t s of J a c o b , y e a , w h o a r e of t h e h o u s e of Israel, h o w oft h a v e I g a t h e r e d y o u as a h e n g a t h e r e t h her c h i c k e n s u n d e r her w i n g s , a n d have nourished you. " . . . h o w oft w o u l d i h a v e g a t h e r e d y o u as a h e n g a t h e r e t h her c h i c k e n s , a n d y e w o u l d n o t " ( 3 N e p h i 10:3-5).

S o m e d a y s later a g r e a t m u l t i t u d e g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r a b o u t t h e t e m p l e in t h e l a n d B o u n t i f u l , a n d there c a m e a voice three times: " A n d b e h o l d , the third time they did understand t h e v o i c e w h i c h t h e y h e a r d ; a n d it s a i d u n t o t h e m :

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" B e h o l d m y B e l o v e d S o n , in w h o m I a m w e l l p l e a s e d , in w h o m I h a v e g l o r i f i e d m y n a m e — h e a r y e him. " A n d it c a m e t o p a s s , as t h e y u n d e r s t o o d t h e y cast their eyes up again t o w a r d s h e a v e n ; a n d b e h o l d , t h e y s a w a M a n d e s c e n d i n g o u t of h e a v e n ; a n d he w a s c l o t h e d in a w h i t e r o b e ; a n d h e c a m e d o w n a n d s t o o d in t h e m i d s t of t h e m ; a n d t h e e y e s of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they d u r s t not o p e n t h e i r m o u t h s , e v e n o n e t o a n o t h e r , a n d w i s t not w h a t it m e a n t , for t h e y t h o u g h t it w a s a n angel that had appeared unto t h e m . " A n d It c a m e t o p a s s t h a t he s t r e t c h e d f o r t h his hand and spake unto the people, saying: " B e h o l d , I am Jesus Christ, w h o m the prophets t e s t i f i e d s h a l l c o m e Into t h e w o r l d . " A n d b e h o l d , I a m t h e light a n d t h e life of t h e w o r l d ; a n d I h a v e d r u n k o u t of t h a t b i t t e r c u p w h i c h the Father hath given me, a n d have giorified the Father in t a k i n g u p o n m e t h e s i n s of t h e w o r l d . In t h e w h i c h I h a v e s u f f e r e d t h e will of t h e F a t h e r in all things from the beginning. " A n d it c a m e to p a s s t h a t w h e n J e s u s h a d s p o k e n t h e s e w o r d s t h e w h o l e m u l t i t u d e fell t o t h e e a r t h ; for t h e y r e m e m b e r e d t h a t It h a d b e e n prophesied a m o n g t h e m that Christ should s h o w himself u n t o t h e m after his a s c e n s i o n i n t o h e a v e n . " A n d it c a m e t o p a s s t h a t t h e L o r d s p a k e u n t o them saying: " A r i s e and c o m e forth unto me, that ye may t h r u s t y o u r h a n d s into m y s i d e , a n d a l s o that y e m a y feel t h e p r i n t s of t h e nails in m y h a n d s a n d in m y feet, t h a t y e m a y k n o w t h a t I a m t h e G o d of I s r a e l , a n d t h e G o d of t h e w h o l e e a r t h , a n d h a v e b e e n s l a i n for t h e s i n s of t h e w o r l d . " A n d it c a m e t o p a s s t h a t t h e m u l t i t u d e w e n t f o r t h , a n d t h r u s t t h e i r h a n d s into his s i d e , a n d d i d feel t h e p r i n t s of t h e nails In his h a n d s a n d in his f e e t ; a n d this t h e y d i d d o , g o i n g f o r t h o n e by o n e until t h e y h a d all g o n e f o r t h , a n d d i d s e e w i t h t h e i r e y e s a n d d i d feel w i t h t h e i r h a n d s , a n d d i d k n o w of a s u r e t y a n d d i d b e a r r e c o r d , t h a t it w a s he, of w h o m it w a s w r i t t e n by t h e p r o p h e t s , t h a t s h o u l d c o m e . " A n d w h e n t h e y h a d all g o n e f o r t h a n d h a d w i t n e s s e d for t h e m s e l v e s , t h e y d i d c r y o u t w i t h o n e accord, saying: " H o s a n n a l B l e s s e d be t h e n a m e of t h e M o s t H i g h G o d ! A n d t h e y d i d fall d o w n at t h e feet of J e s u s , a n d did worship h i m " (3 Nephi 1 1 : 6 - 1 7 ) .

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In t h e d a y s that f o l l o w e d , t h e s a m e d i v i n e visitor i n t r o d u c e d t h e b l e s s i n g of t h e b r e a d a n d w i n e as a s a c r a m e n t ; h e c a l l e d f o r t h all t h e i r s i c k , a f f l i c t e d , l a m e , b l i n d , a n d d u m b , a n d h e a l e d t h e m ; he o r g a n i z e d a n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t o t e a c h a n d b a p t i z e in his n a m e , a n d he c o u n s e l e d t h e s e l e a d e r s a n d t h e m u l t i t u d e s a b o u t his d o c t r i n e . A n d after m a n y d a y s , "there c a m e a cloud and overshadowed the m u l t i t u d e t h a t t h e y c o u l d not s e e J e s u s . " A n d w h i l e t h e y w e r e o v e r s h a d o w e d he d e p a r t e d from t h e m , a n d a s c e n d e d into heaven. A n d the d i s c i p l e s s a w a n d d i d b e a r r e c o r d that he a s c e n d e d again into h e a v e n " (3 Nephi 1 8 : 3 8 - 3 9 ) .

T h i s is t h e t r u e s t o r y of t h e G r e a t W h i t e G o d . He is J e s u s t h e C h r i s t , t h e S a v i o r of all m a n k i n d .

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Mission Addresses Mission offices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are located worldwide. Some are listed below. You can learn more about the Church and about the gospel of Jesus Christ by contacting the office nearest you.

Argentina Buenos Aires Soutti Mission Casilia de Correo 147 Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires Argentina Australia Sydney Mission 5 Russell Street. Woilstonecratt Sydney. N S W,. 2065, Australia Brazil Sao Paulo Nortti Mission Caixa Postal 20809 Sao Paulo. SP. Brazil California Los Angeles Mission 1591 East Temple Way. P 0 Box 24889 Los Angeles, California 90024

Japan Tokyo Mission 5-8-10 Minami Azabu Minato-Ku, Tokyo 106. Japan Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission 11764 Soutti HarrelLs Ferry Road Baton Rouge. Louisiana 70816 Mexico Mexico City Mission Monte Caucaso 1110 Lomas de Ctiapultepec Mexico 10, D,F Missouri Independence Mission 306 Soutti Pleasant Street, Box 455 Independence. Missouri 64051

Canada Toronto Mission 338 Queen Street East. Suite 205 Brampton. Ontario. Canada LBV ICS

Nettierlands Amsterdam Mission Waldecklaan 3 Hiiversum, Netherlands

Denmark Copentiagen Mission 164 Dalgas Boulevard • K 2000 Copentiagen F. Denmark

New York New York City Mission Two Lincoln Sguare 125 Columbus Avenue New York City, New York 10023

England London Mission 64 68 Exhibition Road London SW7 2PA, England France Pans Mission 23. rue du 11 novembre 1918 78110 Le Vesinet. France Germany Frankturt Mission 6 Frankfurt Main 90 Ditmarstrasse 9. Germany Hong Kong Mission No. 2 Cornwall Street. Kowloon Tong Kowloon. Hong Kong Italy Rome Mission Via Cimone 95 00141 Rome, Italy

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Philippines Manila Mission Commercial Center. P.O Box 801 Makati. Rizai. D-708 Philippines Salt Lake City Missionary Department 50 East North Temple Salt Lake City. Utah 84150 Samoa Apia Mission P O Box 197 Apia. Western Samoa South Atrica Johannesburg Mission Cumorah. ' N o 4 Fitth Avenue Lower Houghton. Johannesburg Transvaal. South Africa Spain Madrid Mission Calle San Teimo 26 Madrid 16. Spam

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