Other Sheep
As I explained in my last post, The Book Of Mormon is a story about a family who leaves Jerusalem around 600 BC, travels to the coast of the Arabian peninsula, builds a ship, and is led by the Lord to the Americas. Within a few years of arriving this family divides themselves into two peoples who eventually become two nations. One the "Nephites" who believe in the revelations of God, and Two the "Lamanites" who believe that their fathers were tricked into leaving Jerusalem and were robbed by their brother of their rights and their property. Over the next 600 years we have recorded stories of wars, secret crime organizations, temples, kings, missionaries, prophets, famines, plagues, miracles, industry, etc.
The climax of The Book Of Mormon is when Christ appears to the Nephites in America after his ascension into heaven in Jerusalem. In about 34 AD he teaches this piece of scattered Israel many of the same teachings he taught to his followers in Jerusalem including the sermon on the mount. In the Bible, Christ teaches
"16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."
(John 10:16)
In The Book Of Mormon Christ teaches
"21 And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." (3 Nephi 15:21)
Jesus then goes on to teach that he loves all of God's children and he had even more people to visit around the earth.
I believe that Jesus did appear to the people in ancient America and that he isn't limited in what he can do just because we are limited in our knowledge of it. I know that Christ is our shepherd and that he will keep us safe from the dangers around us if we follow him.
After Christ's brief appearance to this nation the Nephites lived in complete peace for over 100 years.
"and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God." (4 Nephi 1:16)
