Question
Gramps,
I have a Book of Mormon question. In the Book of Mormon Introduction it says On September 21, 1823, the same Moroni, then a glorified, resurrected being – How can this be? Can one be resurrected before the 2nd coming?
Annie
Answer
Annie,
The “morning of the first resurrection” actually began with the resurrection of Jesus Christ Himself and is currently under way. Samuel the Lamanite prophesied of this:
Yea, at the time that he shall yield up the ghost . . .
. . . many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up many of their dead; and many saints shall appear unto many. (Helaman 14:21, 25)
The fulfillment of this prophecy in Jerusalem is recorded in Matthew 27:52-53, and Jesus specifically reminded Nephi (the son of Nephi) that this prophecy had also been fulfilled in the Americas and that its fulfillment needed to be recorded (3 Nephi 23:8-13).
8 And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said:
9 Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so?
Moroni is far from the only (or the first) resurrected person besides Jesus that we know of. John the Baptist was beheaded, yet appeared to Joseph and Oliver in the flesh and with his head apparently in its appropriate place atop his shoulders. Peter, James, and John also appeared to the prophet to lay their hands on his head and confer the Melchizedek Priesthood upon him (and Oliver), even though Peter and James had been put to death.
Gramps
