Alma is a master of asking thought-provoking questions. Two of his most decisive questions are these: Have ye “read the scriptures?” And “If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?”
Jesus Is the Son of God
Many in the modern, scholarly world question whether Jesus ever really claimed to be the Son of God. Book of Mormon prophets leave no doubt concerning the matter, plainly and constantly testifying that Jesus announced himself as the Son of God. In addition, Joseph Smith’s translation of the Gospels—called “Testimonies” in that inspired revision of the Bible—contains at least forty declarations beyond those in the King James Version that Jesus is the Son of God. In his mortal ministry Jesus consistently testified that he was sent by his Father and that he spoke the words and did the works of the Father. Some of the Jews believed and accepted his witness; others did not. Those who rejected his claims to divinity labeled as blasphemy Jesus’ claim to have been sent from God or to actually be God, and thus making himself “equal with God” (John 5:18). Some might also have had a problem with Jesus’ claim because they believed in one God only, so his claim of being God’s Son would be blasphemous. For that capital offense against Jewish law, they sought to kill him.
Yet there are numerous testimonies of Jesus as the Son of God. The greatest of all testimonies is the Father’s own testimony, “This is my beloved Son,” at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:17; D&C 93:15); at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5); at the appearance of the resurrected Christ to the Nephites (3 Nephi 11:7); and at Joseph Smith’s First Vision (Joseph Smith–History 1:17). Additional testimonies by the Father include the vision of Moses (Moses 1:33; 2:1, 26); the vision of glories (D&C 76:20–23); and others (1 John 5:9–11; D&C 29:42; 49:5).
To all of the following, Jesus bore his own testimony that he is the Son of God: Adam (Moses 5:9); Moses (Moses 4:2); the Jews (Matthew 27:43; Luke 10:21–22; John 5:18–27; 10:36; 19:7); a blind man (John 9:35–37); the apostles (John 20:21); Caiaphas (Matthew 26:63–64); Nephites and Lamanites (3 Nephi 9:15; 20:31); Latter-day Saints in general (D&C 6:21; 10:57; 45:52; 50:27); Hyrum Smith (D&C 11:28); David Whitmer (D&C 14:9); Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon (D&C 35:2); Edward Partridge (D&C 36:8); elders of the Church (D&C 42:1); William W. Phelps (D&C 55:2); and four men who would later be called as apostles: Orson Hyde, Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson, and William E. McLellin (D&C 68:6, 25).
Others testified that Jesus is the Son of God and the Only Begotten of the Father: Moses (Alma 33:18–19; Helaman 8:13–15); Isaiah and Jeremiah (Helaman 8:20); Zenos and Zenock (Alma 33:13–17; Helaman 8:19–20); the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:32, 35); John the Baptist (John 1:34; D&C 93:14); apostles (Matthew 14:33); Nathanael (John 1:49); Mark (Mark 1:1); Peter (Matthew 16:16; John 6:69; Acts 3:13, 26); Martha (John 11:27); John (John 1:14; 3:16, 35; 20:31; 1 John 3:8, 23; 4:10, 14–15; 5:5, 10–13); a Roman soldier (Matthew 27:54); an Ethiopian officer (Acts 8:37); Paul (Acts 9:20; Romans 1:4; 8:3, 32; 15:6; 2 Corinthians 1:19; Galatians 2:20; 4:4; Ephesians 4:13; Colossians 1:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 1:2; 4:14); Silas and Timothy (2 Corinthians 1:19); Nephi (1 Nephi 10:17; 11:7, 18, 21, 24; 13:40; 2 Nephi 25:12, 16, 19); Jacob (Jacob 4:5, 11); King Benjamin (Mosiah 3:8); Benjamin’s people (Mosiah 4:2); Abinadi (Mosiah 15:2); Amulek (Alma 11:32–35; 34:2, 5); Alma the Elder and Alma the Younger (Alma 36:17–18); Alma the Younger (Alma 5:48; 6:8; 12:33–34; 13:5, 16; 33:14, 22); Samuel the Lamanite (Helaman 14:2, 8, 12); Mormon (Helaman 3:28; 3 Nephi 5:13, 26; Mormon 5:14; 7:5–7); Moroni (Ether 12:18); Joseph Smith (D&C 20:21); and Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon (D&C 76:20–25).
So, to conclude this listing of witnesses that Jesus is the Son of God, we ask again the same questions Alma asked: “Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?” (Alma 33:14).