Ceremony of Recognition and Witnessing

In 3 Nephi Chapter 11, we have the account when the Father introduces His Son to the Nephites in the land of Bountiful, Jesus Christ appears, and the people are asked to perform a ceremony of recognition and witnessing.

“And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them: Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him. And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them. And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying: Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.” (3 Nephi 11:6-15)

From the Book, “The Second Comforter – Conversing with The Lord Through the Veil” on Pages 170-171 we read:

“He tells them to come, one by one, to feel the wounds in his side, and hands, and feet. One by one is how he directs. No person who is present is to have this witness through another. All of them are to be equally qualified as Witnesses of Him. there is nothing vicarious about this meeting. They are asked to perform a ceremony of recognition and witnessing. They first feel his side. To do this they must embrace the Lord, for you cannot feel his side without embracing Him. Embracing Him is an essential part of the ceremony of recognition. Ceremony and holiness are connected with each other. Recognize you are reading about a ceremony, as all encounters involved with God are in one way or another.

Having embraced the Lord and felt his side, the witnesses are asked to take a step back and feel His hands. Feeling the Lord's hands is also a part of the ceremonial process. At an arm's length, holding his hands, you feel the marks of the nails.

Then, having touched the secret emblems of the Atonement, you are permitted to kneel and feel the prints in His feet. This part of the ceremony is the easiest for men to observe. For kneeling at his feet is the natural position for anyone who has witnessed for themselves the price He paid on their behalf and feels the love within Him.

This is ceremony, and this is ritual, but it employs such rich witnesses in the body of the Lord as to be convincing beyond all doubt that He is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Deliverer, and the Holy One of Israel!

Every person will be given the same experience at some point as the scriptures record in 2 Nephi 9:41: "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.” This statement by Nephi concerns the final judgement. But it needn't be delayed. He is the One through whom salvation comes. And He employs no servant to do these things. This encounter can be here, now, in mortality.”

The scriptures are loaded with testimonies of individuals who actually experience this type of encounter with God ... while still mortal!

In the Book of Mormon, you only need to read 5-6 verses to find the account where Lehi prayed unto the Lord and received an answer. There came a pillar of fire and he did quake and tremble. Lehi was overcome with the spirit, carried away in a vision, saw the heavens open, and saw and heard much.

“Thus I, Abraham, talked with the Lord, face to face, as one man talketh with another; and he told me of the works which his hands had made; And he said unto me: My son, my son (and his hand was stretched out), behold I will show you all these. And he put his hand upon mine eyes, and I saw those things which his hands had made, which were many; and they multiplied before mine eyes, and I could not see the end thereof.” (Abraham 3:11-12)

“And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.” (Ether 3:13-14)

I don't think it is wise to allow another person to stand between you and Christ in any form or fashion, nor to be deceived into believing that this connection, embrace, and ceremony with Christ is merely meant for afterlife. You needn't wait until after death to meet Christ face to face, be redeemed by the Redeemer, and receive the testimony of Jesus, promising you eternal life, by His own voice.