Alma 16:20 – Did They Know Christ Would Appear to Them?
Yes—they knew, and they rejoiced in it. Alma 16:20 shows that the Nephites were explicitly taught that the Son of God would appear unto them after His resurrection. This was not vague hope; it was covenant expectation.
1. What Alma 16:20 actually tells us
“And many of the people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did hear with great joy and gladness.”
We learn:
- They were asking real questions—not “if,” but where He would come.
- They were taught plainly that Christ would appear unto them.
- They knew the timing—after His resurrection.
- Their reaction was joy—because this meant their covenant story included His literal presence.
Alma 16:20 lets us see a people who already lived with the expectation of a resurrected Christ entering their world. Their doctrine included not only His atoning work in Jerusalem, but His personal appearance among them.
2. “He will appear”
the promise and its fulfillment
Nephi foresaw His appearance
“But the Son of Righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away, and many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.”
Nephi prophesies that after the resurrection, Christ will visit the remnant. This is centuries before Alma, showing that the expectation of His appearance was deeply rooted in Nephite prophetic tradition.
The moment Alma 16:20 was pointing toward
“Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.”
π€“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.”
This is the moment Alma 16:20 was pointing toward. The resurrected Christ descends, and the people “saw a Man descending out of heaven.” This is the fulfillment of the promise that He would appear unto them.
The Father’s voice introduces the Son, and Christ invites the people to come forward one by one. This is the literal realization of the doctrine Alma’s generation had been taught.
What this teaches us:
We see a consistent prophetic chain:
- Nephi foresaw it.
- Alma taught it.
- Christ fulfilled it.
So yes—our people knew. They lived in anticipation of a resurrected Christ who would stand among them.
3. “After his resurrection”
the timing they understood
Nephi’s vision of destruction, darkness, and then the Lamb
“And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces; and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up; and I saw many cities that they were sunk; and I saw many that were burned with fire; and I saw many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof.”
“And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth; and behold, I saw multitudes who had not fallen because of the great and terrible judgments of the Lord.”
π€“And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them.”
“And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve others; and they were ordained of God, and chosen.”
“And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed.”
Nephi sees the Lamb of God ministering to his descendants after His resurrection². This is the earliest prophetic confirmation that the timing of Christ’s appearance would be post‑resurrection. His sweeping vision moves from destruction and darkness to the appearance of the resurrected Christ, aligning perfectly with Alma 16:20’s teaching about timing.
Alma’s clarity about where and how He would come
“Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the Spirit hath not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power to do all things which are according to his word.”
Alma teaches that the Son of God will be born at Jerusalem, but that He will come among the Nephites in His own way. This reinforces that they expected a post‑resurrection ministry on their side of the world.
What this teaches us:
The Nephites did not just know Christ would appear—they knew when. Their prophets consistently taught a post‑resurrection visitation, and Alma 16:20 confirms that the people understood and rejoiced in this doctrine.
4. What this means for us
Alma 16:20 is not just historical—it is devotional.
- God does not leave covenant people in the dark.
He teaches us what we need to know, in the timing we need it. - Faith precedes revelation, but revelation is real.
The Nephites believed—and then Christ came. - We, too, are a people who live in expectation.
Just as they awaited His appearance, we await His return. - Joy comes when we understand Christ’s nearness.
The Nephites rejoiced because they knew He would come to them.
We rejoice because we know He will come to us.
5. Summary for teaching
Did the people in the Book of Mormon know Christ would appear to them?
Yes. Alma 16:20 shows that:
- They inquired about His coming.
- They were taught He would appear unto them.
- They knew it would be after His resurrection.
- They received this doctrine with joy.
- Prophets from Nephi to Alma confirmed it.
- Christ fulfilled it in 3 Nephi 11.
This is a doctrine of certainty, not speculation.
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