Jesus Christ Appearances Unto Men



Jesus has appeared to His prophets

Old Testament Times

Enoch saw the Lord and walked with him, D&C 107:48-49. The Lord talked with Enoch and showed him what would happen in future generations, Moses 7:2-4. Enoch saw the coming of the Son of Man in vision, Moses 7:47.

Jesus appeared to Abram and told him that he would inherit the land, Genesis 12:7. God appeared to Abram and gave him the covenant of circumcision. Also the Lord changes Abram and Sarai's names to Abraham and Sarah, Genesis 17:1-22. On one occasion when the Lord appeared unto Abraham, he saw three men. Apparently one was the Lord, Genesis 18:1. All the families of the earth will be blessed through the seed of Abraham, Abraham 2:6-11.

The Lord appeared unto Isaac and repeated the blessing of Abraham, Genesis 26:1-5. The Lord also appeared unto him at Beer-sheba, Genesis 26:23-25.

Jacob saw God face to face, Genesis 32:30.

Moses talked with God face to face. It says it slightly different in different scriptures. The Lord talked with Moses face to face, Moses 1:1-6. The Lord spoke mouth to mouth with Moses, Numbers 12:4-9. The Lord knew Moses face to face, Deuteronomy 34:10-12.

"The Lord spake unto Moses face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend," Exodus 33:10-11. Yet, in the same chapter it says no man can see the face of God and live, Exodus 33:18-23. In verse 18 Moses asks to see the glory of God. In Moses 1:11, he tells us that he saw God not with his physical but with his spiritual eyes.

Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on a throne in the temple, Isaiah 6:1-5 and 2 Nephi 16:1-5. Esaias (Isaiah) saw the glory of the Lord, John 12:41.

Ezekiel saw the Lord in vision, Ezekiel 1:26-28.

Amos saw the Lord standing upon the altar, Amos 9:1.

Book of Mormon

The Lord showed the body of his spirit unto the brother of Jared, Ether 3:13-16.

Jacob beheld the glory of the Lord in his youth, 2 Nephi 2:4.

Nephi and Jacob both saw the Lord, 2 Nephi 11:2-3

The Lord appeared unto Nephi just before his birth, 3 Nephi 1:11-14.

The Lord appeared unto Mormon when he was fifteen years old, Mormon 1:15.

Moroni saw the Lord and talked with Him face to face, Ether 12:38-40.

Our Time

Joseph Smith saw God the Father and the Son in The First Vision, Joseph Smith History 1:16-17.

Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery are told to "Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet," D&C 6:37.

Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God, D&C 76:22-24 and bear testimony of it to the world.

Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery saw the Lord in the Kirtland temple, D&C 110:1-4.


Jesus appeared to many people in the Holy Land after his resurrection

Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, Mark 16:9 and John 20:11-18. Jesus appeared to the women as they went to tell the Apostles that the tomb was empty, Matthew 28:8-9. Jesus appeared to two of the disciples as they walked to Emmaus, Mark 16:12, Luke 24:13-16 and Luke 24:30-32. Jesus appeared to Peter, Luke 24:34. In the evening of the resurrection day, Jesus appeared to the disciples as they were gathered together and instructed them, Luke 24:36-45 and John 20:19-20. The next week Thomas was with the other disciples when Jesus again appeared unto them, John 20:26-29.

Peter and other disciples went fishing and Jesus appeared unto them, John 21:3-14.

Jesus appeared to the disciples on a mountain in Galilee, Matthew 28:16-18.

In the 40 days after His resurrection Jesus appeared numerous times to his disciples, Acts 1:3-4, Acts 10:39-43 and Acts 13:30-33.

Stephen saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and was stoned for declaring it, Acts 7:54-56.

Paul sees a vision of the Lord on his way to Damascus to persecute the saints, Acts 9:3-6. He later relates the experience to King Agrippa, Acts 26:13-18.

Ananias sees Jesus in a vision and is told to go heal Paul, Acts 9:10-15. When Paul went to Jerusalem at first the disciples were afraid of him and didn't believe he had seen Jesus, Acts 9:26-27.

Paul tells how he saw a vision in the temple where the Lord, called him to preach unto the gentiles, Acts 22:17-21.

The Lord appeared unto Paul in a night vision and told him to "Be not afraid," Acts 18:9-11. The Lord reassures Paul that he will go to Rome and testify of Christ, Acts 23:10-11.

Paul tells of different appearances of Jesus after his resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15:4-8.

The Lord appeared unto John in His glory, Revelation 1:13-18.


Jesus has appeared to His people

Moses and seventy of the elders of Israel saw God, Exodus 24:9-11. The children of Israel saw the glory of the Lord on the mountain and were afraid and wanted Moses to talk with the Lord for them, Deuteronomy 5:22-27.

Jesus will appear to the Jews and they will see the wounds in his hands and feet, D&C 45:51-52.


Righteous people can see God

Lamoni saw the Lord, Alma 19:12-13.

Emer, a righteous Jaradite king, saw the Lord, Ether 9:21-22.

The Lord appeared unto Abraham when he was about to be offered up as a human sacrifice, Abraham 1:15-16.

After the great destruction of the Nephites, Jesus's voice is heard across the whole land, 3 Nephi 9:14-15.

Jesus appeared unto the Nephites, 3 Nephi 11:8-10. The multitude fell to the earth when they realized that it was Jesus Christ that had appeared unto them, 3 Nephi 11:11-13. All the people came forth and did feel His wounds of the nails and sword, 3 Nephi 11:14-17. Jesus commanded all to come forth and see and feel, 3 Nephi 18:25. "All the multitude did see and hear and bear record ... every man for himself," 3 Nephi 17:25. Jesus appeared again unto the multitudes on the second day, 3 Nephi 19:13-15.

The Nephite disciples prayed to know the name of the Church, and Jesus appeared unto them, 3 Nephi 27:1-3.

The righteous can see God. The Church leaders are told that if they will prepare themselves they can see the Lord, D&C 67:10-13. Those that come unto the Lord can see His face, D&C 93:1-4. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God," Matthew 5:8 and 3 Nephi 12:8. The Lord stands at the door and knocks, Revelation 3:20-21. We don't have to literally see God to see His works in our life.

Jesus appeared unto the lost tribes of Israel, 3 Nephi 17:4.


Miscellaneous Scriptures that relate to the appearances of Jesus

Abraham asked the Lord not to destroy the righteous with the wicked in Sodom, Genesis 18:22-24.

Before Abraham was "I am," John 8:56-59.

The Lord has a body like unto man, D&C 130:1.

The Lord appeared to the righteous spirits in the spirit world, D&C 138:18-19 and 1 Peter 3:18-20.