Questions from the Field

QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD

Did Jesus appear to the people on the American continent before or after His Ascension?

The “Ascension” of Jesus usually refers to the final ascension of Christ in Palestine, forty (lays after His resurrection. (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51).

There may have been other ascensions, for, although he said to Mary in the garden: “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father” which is in heaven, He was touched by several of His followers. (John 20:20, 27). This has led to the belief, and a very probable one, that Jesus met with His disciples after having ascended to His Father in heaven immediately following His resurrection to report the completion of His mission. There may have been several such ascensions, but the Ascension is always understood to mean His final disappearance from the physical view of His disciples in Judea.

The Book of Mormon predicts clearly that Jesus would visit the American continent after the ascension.

“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.” (3 Nephi 11:12; see also 3 Nephi 10:18).

Unless the Book of Mormon refers to an ascension preceding the final one, which is not likely, it may be held that Jesus appeared to the people of the American continent after His final ascension in Palestine.