New Witnesses for God (Volume 3 of 3)Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
New Witnesses for God (Volume 3 of 3)
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Book of Mormon; Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844
Rosales, in his inedited (i. e. unpublished) History of Chili,
declares that the inhabitants of that extremely southern portion
of America, situated at the distance of so many thousand miles
from New Spain, and who did not employ paintings to record
events, accounted for their knowledge of some of the doctrines of
Christianity by saying, "that in former times, as they had heard
their fathers say, a wonderful man had come to that country,
wearing a long beard, with shoes, and a mantle such as the Indians
carry on their shoulders, who performed many miracles, cured the
sick with water, caused it to rain, and their crops and grain
to grow, kindled fire at a breath, and wrought other marvels,
healing at once the sick, and giving sight to the blind; and that
he spoke with as much propriety and elegance in the language of
their country as if he had always resided in it, addressing them
in words very sweet and new to them, telling them that the Creator
of the universe resided in the highest place of heaven, and that
many men and women who were resplendent as the sun dwelt with him.
They say that he shortly afterwards went to Peru, and that many, in
imitation of the habit and shoes which that man used, introduced
among themselves the fashion of wearing shoes, and the loose mantle
over the shoulders, either fastened with a clasp at the breast, or
knotted at the corners, whence it may be inferred that this man was
some apostle whose name they do not know." [14]
The points of comparison between the character referred to in the
foregoing quotation and the Messiah in his ministry among the Nephites,
are:
First: In personal appearance, if due allowance be made for the
imperfect description in the legend.
Second: In the character of the work performed, especially in
the matter of healing of the sick. While in their midst Jesus is
represented as saying to the Nephites:
Have ye any that are sick among you, bring them hither. Have ye
any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or
that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in
any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have
compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy; for I
perceive that ye desire that I shew unto you what I have done unto
your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient
that I should heal you. And it came to pass that when he had thus
spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their
sick, and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind,
and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any
manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth
unto him. [15]
Third: In relation to the graciousness of his language, the third Nephi
represents the Savior as praying for the Nephites in this manner:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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