There are other references in the Book of Mormon verifying the brazen serpent. Later Nephi states that the Lord God “gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast there eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them” (2 Nephi 25:20). Alma also testified of Moses and the serpent:
19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.
20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them. [Alma 33:19–20]
Nephi, son of Helaman, tells us that Moses had “spoken concerning the Messiah”:
14 Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.
15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal. [Helaman 8:13–15]
In the New Testament, Jesus himself taught the symbolism of the serpent being lifted up: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14–15). There is another symbol that should be considered. Just as the serpent looked like a serpent, it was made of brass, and Jesus looked like a man, but was really the Son of God. He had the power to give eternal life to those who believed just as the healing power was given to the Israelites who would look upon the brazen serpent with faith on the Son of God.
Nephi says the people who refused to look were not healed “because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it” (v. 40). We face a similar challenge today. We live in a world of sophisticated medical discoveries that can heal many things. God has given us these sources of healing just as he had given the “excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases” among the Nephites (Alma 46:40). He has also given us promises of healing by faith.
43 And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy.
44 And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me. [D&C 42:43–44]
Do some feel this is too simple a way in light of modern technology? The New Testament taught those people the same procedure for blessing the sick.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. [James 5:14–15]
Laying hands on the sick is probably an eternal procedure also, one based on doing the will of the Father. “If they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me” (D&C 42:44). When we place our lives in the hands of God the outcome doesn’t really matter.