1 Nephi 10

Chapter 10. I like it a lot. Though, I like all of the chapters. So it's not really a unique statement. This is the chapter where our Savior, Jesus Christ is mentioned.

Verse 4 reads:

Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.

I began wondering why they referred to Jesus Christ a prophet. Growing up in the gospel, I haven't often heard the Savior referred to as a prophet, except in the scriptures or learning that's how the Jews view him. I decided to look up what a prophet is in the Bible Dictionary. In summary, a prophet:

1. Acts as God's messenger and makes known God's will.
2. Taught men about God's character
3. Preserves and edit the records
4. Denounces sin and foretell its punishment (redress public and private wrongs)
5. Preacher of righteousness
6. Tries to restore faith and remove false views about the character of God and the nature of Divine requirement
7. Predicted future events
8. General sense: anyone who has a testimony of Jesus Christ by the Holy Ghost

In that sense, Jesus Christ is definitely a prophet. He makes known God's will. He teaches men about God. He has, throughout history, had prophets keep records and even studied and organized them himself (3 Nephi 23:6-14). He definitely denounces sin, preaches righteousness, restores faith, predicts future events and has a testimony of who he is. I guess He really is a prophet then.

Lehi then informs us of John the Baptist who would prepare the way for the Savior and baptise Him (1 Nephi 10:7-10). How the Savior would be killed by the Jews and rise again then make himself known to the Gentiles (1 Nephi 10:11). He spoke of the Jews being scattered across the world and the Gentiles will receive the fullness of the gospel and gather Israel together (1 Nephi 10:12-14).

Before any of this had actually occurred, it would take a lot of faith to know that these things are true. I know that it is true because it has happened and is happening. But I admire Nephi who had a desire to "see, and hear, and know of these things" (1 Nephi 10:17).

Verse 19 then explains how one goes about knowing of these things, or any things really:

For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

You have to be diligent in your search. You have to have the Holy Ghost. That's pretty much it. It always has been and always will be. Life's pretty fantastic that way. Some further instruction comes from Elder Russell M. Nelson:

Living the Lord’s standards requires that we cultivate the gift of the Holy Ghost. That gift helps us understand doctrine and apply it personally. Because truth that is given by revelation can be understood only by revelation, our studies need to be prayerful (in Conference Report, Oct. 2000, 19; or Ensign, Nov. 2000, 17).

The key to understanding is our own effort and having the Holy Ghost in our lives.