Jesus in America

"American Jesus"

Q: Within this book is narrated the visit of Jesus Christ to the people of Nephi. Consider the way this event is presented and write about how it might be received by Americans living in the 19th and 20th centuries. What in their world might be challenged or better understood after reading this. Make sure you cite and comment on at least one passage.



Jesus visits Native Americans



The people of Nephi must be something special for Jesus to make a special trip to America before his ascension in order to bring them his message. Claiming that Jesus made a special trip to America bolsters pride in 19th and 20th century Americans but also creates challenges of proving his presence and the presence of Mormonism after his coming, before the introduction of European settlers. If Jesus came to the Nephites and taught them to baptize one another and gave them the message of Christianity or Mormonism as stated in the Third Book of Nephi

And it came to pass that he [Jesus] spake unto Nephi, (for Nephi was among the multitude) and he commanded him that he should come forth...And the Lord said unto him, I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people, when I am again ascended into heaven. And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize.

  why were the Native peoples of America not Christian or Mormon to begin with when settlers from Europe came over to America? If Jesus had appeared to the Nephites in the promised land there should be some way to prove that ancient Native Americans had at least known Christ even if the Nephite tribe had ultimately died out before the coming of European settlers. If Jesus has been to America this creates a challenge for 19th and 20th century Americans because they have to find an excuse for why Mormonism did not persist in America until the settlers arrived and why there is no evidence of the practice of Mormonism in early American cultures and tribes. It seems as though, if Mormonism or Christianity had been prevalent at some point in America's history before Europeans came, even if the Mormons or Christians had died out, there should have been some evidence in the culture or traditions of the then current Native Americans due to cultural sharing and exchange.

While claiming that Jesus appeared to those living in America allows Mormons to take comfort in the idea that Native Americans had the opportunity to know and believe in God; it also allows them to take pride in the idea that God loved America so much that he sent Jesus to visit America and preach his message to the Nephites after his crucifixion. America can then be viewed by 19th and 20th century Americans as having an intimate connection with Christ, perhaps even seeing them as a chosen people in a "promised land." We have seen this multiple times before, people finding some way to make themselves more connected to their God and apply their religion to their own social context and make themselves into a chosen and elite race in the context of their religion. Having pride as a group that one's God tends especially to the needs of those living in a particular place can bolster up the group because afterall, who wants to believe in a God that likes another group better than them?