Twenty-Three (1828)choose to do? Would they do what the Nephite and Lamanite people did when they heard
the words of Christ? Or, would they do exactly what “the words which Jesus had spoken”
told them to do? The choice was theirs to make.
In the course of the Book of Mormon narrative, the two choices were given and the
text clearly showed the reaction of the ancient people to Christ’s message, which he
explained in plainness. After receiving Christ’s explanation of real truth, the people were
then posed with options: would they desire their traditions, a religion, a church,
ordinances, and rituals, or would they strictly observe only the “words which Jesus had
spoken”? The first reaction of almost all men is to appeal to what they already know—
religions created from the philosophies of men mingled with scripture. Well does their
own “word of God” (Bible) speak to them of the manner in which the Book of Mormon was
written for them as a parable, “Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing
see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”^42
Nevertheless, the presentation of the Book of Mormon story is as plain as “the luster
above that of the sun at noon-day.”^43 Jesus finished teaching the people all that they needed
to do, even the “fullness of the everlasting Gospel”^44 (the eternal code of humanity). He
explained to them “the things which I taught before I ascended to my Father.”^45 He even
counseled them to remember “these sayings of mine and doeth them.”^46 Nevertheless, even
after all of this, the people still “marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the
Law of Moses.”^47 The people “marveled, and wondered” about their traditions, their
religion, their church, their ordinances and rituals! In patience, Jesus tried to explain that
they didn’t need to do anything more than simply look to him—“the law, and the light.
Look unto me, and endure to the end. ...Behold, I have given unto you the commandments;
therefore keep my commandments: And this is the law and the prophets.”^48
When Jesus had finished, it was time to leave the people and fulfill the rest of his
Father’s commandments and “go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes
of Israel.”^49 Just like John reports of Jesus’ comments to his Father concerning the people who
lived in the Eastern Hemisphere of the earth—“I have glorified thee on the earth: I have
finished the work which thou gavest me to do”^50 —Jesus had finished the same work he was
sent to do in the Western Hemisphere for the Nephites and Lamanites. He told the people that
he had to go, that “my time is at hand”;^51 but then he “perceived that the people were weak,
that they could not understand all his words which he was commanded of the Father to speak
unto you at this time.”^52 He told the people he had to go but he would come tomorrow and
try to help them understand. BUT THE PEOPLE WOULD NOT LET HIM GO!
With compassion, therefore, Jesus changed his plans and told the people to “kneel
down upon the ground.”^53 Then, before he catered to their “wickedness and abominations,”
all of which were a direct result of their traditions and religious beliefs, Jesus “groaned
within himself,” not aloud, but “within himself,” and said (within himself): Father, I am
troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.”^54
The people wanted religion, a church, ordinances, and something to take the place of
the Law of Moses. So, Christ, following the protocol required by the eternal laws of free
agency afforded to all human beings, gave them what they wanted.^55 It was not too long
after he was gone that the people became more corrupt than they had ever been before he
visited them. Why? Because the people were following a religious code, requiring
leadership, authority, ordinances, and rituals, all of which are easily transformed and
changed according to the whims and “revelation” of religious leaders.