The Book of Mormon teaches that Jesus Christ was represented by a serpent:
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. 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 8:14-15; see also Alma 33:19)
This serpent symbolism is also linked to the ancient Mesoamerican god Quetzalcoatl. Richardson, Richardson and Bentley note that William Prescott remarked: "none of the deities of the country (Mexico) suggested such astonishing analogies with Scripture as Quetzalcoatl."
Critics of the Book of Mormon hastily reject the idea that Quetzalcoatl may have been Jesus Christ because they say the Aztec deity was pagan. They claim that the word Quetzalcoatl, which means "feathered serpent," links the ancient American god with Satan--the serpent in Eden (Genesis 3:1-5, 13-14).
What these critics fail to recognize is that the idea of a serpent representing Christ also has a clear biblical precedent. In Old Testament times, Moses was commanded by Jehovah to fashion a brazen serpent, attach it to the end of a pole, and raise it up so the sick and afflicted of his camp could look upon it and be healed (see Numbers 21:9). Jesus compared himself with Moses' serpent, by saying that just as the serpent was lifted up to heal sickness, the "son of man" would be lifted up to heal believers of their sins (John 3:14-15).
Additionally, the ancient Jewish Zohar portrays the Lord as a serpent: "As there is a serpent below which is still at work it he world, so there is a sacred serpent above, which watches over mankind in all the roads and pathways and also restrains the power of the impure serpent." [Allen H. Richardson, David E. Richardson and Anthony E. Bentley, 1000 Evidences for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Part Two-A Voice from the Dust: 500 Evidences in Support of the Book of Mormon, p. 49] [See the commentary on 2 Nephi 25:20]
Helaman 8:15 As many as should look upon that serpent should live ([Illustration]): Quetzalcoatl--The origin and significance of the title "Feathered or Plumed Serpent" (1) Moses lifted the brazen serpent as a "type" or prophetic symbol of the future Messiah, that all who looked upon it might live. (2) The gorgeous plumed Quetzal bird represented the heavenly aspect of the bearded white god. (3) A feathered serpent sculpture from Copan. The coatl (serpent) represented the earthly aspect of the bearded white god. (4) A feathered serpent sculpture from Xochicalco. This symbol combined the heavenly and earthly aspects of their bearded white god as a reminder, just as the symbol of the cross is a reminder of Christ to contemporary Christians. [Glenn A. Scott, Voices from the Dust, p. 206]