Testimonies of Christ's Resurrection
Christ's death and resurrection is part of the plan
Christ made it possible for us to be resurrected
We usually don't think of it, but the first testimony of the resurrection of Christ comes from the guards that were set at the tomb, Matthew 28:2-4. They probably didn't see the resurrected Christ, but they sure knew that something supernatural had occurred and that they weren't going to be able to guard the body of Jesus. It is interesting that the chief priests probably also believed the testimony of the guards, or at least they believed that most people including the Roman officials would believe them. Otherwise they would have accused the guards of incompetence instead of bribing them to tell their version of the story, Matthew 28:11-15. Harsh discipline was applied to Roman soldiers, if the guards really had slept and let the disciples steal the body of Jesus they would have probably been executed.
Next comes the testimony of the empty tomb and the appearance of the angles to the women. An account appears in all the gospels, Matthew 28:5-7, Mark 16:5-6, Luke 24:3-7, and John 20:1-3. It is interesting that John always refers to himself as the disciple "whom Jesus loved." It is evident that John felt the love of the Savior, but may not have relized that Jesus had the same love for the other disciples as well.
The first person to see the resurrected Lord was Mary Magdalene. John talks about the empty tomb, but doesn't mention the angles appearing to the women, only to Mary Magdalene just before she sees the risen Lord, John 20:11-18. Mark also tells about the Lord first appearing to Mary Magdaline, Mark 16:9-11.
Jesus latter appeared to the 11 Apostles, Matthew 28:16-17, Luke 24:36-48, and John 20:19-21. The account in Matthew about doubting must have referred to the 500 brethren, because the apostles didn't doubt (except for Tomas). Also it talks about a mountain in Galilee. The disciples on the road to Emmaus also saw the resurrected Lord, Luke 24:13-35. This incident also shows us that a resurrected and glorified being can appear as an ordinary person. Later the Lord appears to Thomas, John 20:24-29. The Apostles left Judea and went to Galilee, there Christ appears to them after they had been fishing. John tells us that this is the 3rd time that Christ appeared to them after being resurrected. John 21:12-14. Part of the Apostles callings was to be witnesses of Jesus' resurrection, Acts 2:32-3, Acts 4:33, and 1 Corinthians 15:12-17.
Another thought about the resurrection is that Christ first appeared to a number of people of "lesser" stature than Peter and the apostles. This made it easier for the people in genearal to believe that the resurrection was for real and not just something the Apostles made up to give them authority over the new Church. When people heard the women's testimony they wondered and thought about it. That way they were able to prepare their minds to later accept the testimony of the apostles. An alternative explanation is that Christ appeared first to the women because they were more prepared to believe.
In Acts 1:1-3 Luke tells us that Christ spent 40 days with the Apostles before being taken back into heaven. Even after the 40 days, Christ has appeared to many, In 1 Corinthians 15:4-8 Paul tells of the different appearance of the resurrected Lord, ending with Christ's appearance to himself. Christ appeared unto the Nephites after he was resurrected, 3 Nephi 11:8-11. The appearance of Christ to the modern prophets is an other testimony of the resurrection of Christ, JS History 1:17 and D&C 76:22-24.
Isaiah fortold of the resurrection, Isaiah 25:8 and Isaiah 26:19.
The resurrection is one of the basic doctrines of the Church, Moses 7:62.
Many times Christ fortold His death and resurrection, for example in John 16:19-25 Jesus says "and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me." However, most of the time he talked in proverbs, but in verse 25 He tells them the time will come when He will no longer speak in proverbs.
The account in Luke of when Christ appeared to the apostles points out that Christ explained the scriptures to them so that they would know that contrary to their expectations, the crucifixion was necessary and part of the plan from the beginning, Luke 24:44-48. Luke also relates the incident of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) which the Lord used as an opportunity to teach the disciples that the crucifixion was fulfilment of the prophesices.
Christ broke the bands of death, Mosiah 15:9 and Mosiah 16:7-11. Christ "will swallow up death in victory," Job 19:25. It isn't possible that death could hold Christ, Acts 2:24.
Christ was the first to be resurrected, Acts 26:23, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, Colossians 1:18, and Revelation 1:5.
All shall be resurrected, Alma 40:2-4. Acts 24:15 shows us that both the just and the unjust will be resurrected. After we have been resurrected we will stand before God to be judged, Alma 11:41-45. The body and the spirit will be reunited never to be separated again. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive," 1 Corinthians 15:22.
Job asks the question "If a man die, shall he live again?" Job 14:14-15. He then goes on to answer the question. It is a little difficult to follow, but I think that he is saying that he will wait patiently in the grave until his "appointed time", then the Lord will call him and he will answer and then the "change come" and he will live again. Later Job testifies of the resurrection and in his body he will see Christ, Job 19:25-27. Nephi also talks about seeing God in the flesh even though we all die, 2 Nephi 9:4.
When Moroni explains faith, hope and charity he tells us that the hope that he is talking about is hope in the atonement and resurrection of Christ, Moroni 7:41.