There are also four signs of Christ’s death predicted by Samuel. The first sign was darkness for three days. The sun, moon, and stars would refuse to give their light. This was fulfilled (see 3 Nephi 8:19–23). What is meant by the sun, moon, and stars refusing to give their light is not known. The fulfillment of the sign was described as a vapor of darkness. Perhaps those heavenly bodies can show their light or withheld it similar to a resurrected being containing his glory or appearing in it (see TPJS, 325).
The second sign was the terrible storm that would break up the rocks, mountains, valleys, highways, and cities (vv. 21–24). The storm lasted for about three hours at the time it was fulfilled (see 3 Nephi 8:19). Cities were destroyed and the whole face of the land was changed (see 3 Nephi 8:5–18). Evidence of the rocks being broken up could be tested today by the sedimentation process of dating now used by scientists. Based upon the rate of materials seeping or falling into a crevice of the earth, it is determined how long the crevice has been there. That should be a challenge for a young LDS scientist to test. Evidence of highways having been broken up and cities having been destroyed has been discovered.
The third sign was the graves being opened and resurrected beings going forth (v. 25). This was also fulfilled, but Nephi had forgotten to record it. Jesus later commanded that it be recorded (see 3 Nephi 23:10–13). There was also a resurrection in Jerusalem.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. [Matthew 27:50–52]
The fourth sign was not specified except that there would be greater signs than the ones listed, which would leave no reason for unbelief (Helaman 14:28). These greater things were not identified in the fulfillment of these signs either, unless it was the voice of Jesus Christ and the message he gave to those who survived the terrible tempest (3 Nephi 9). “All the people of the land did hear these sayings” (3 Nephi 10:1), which was certainly a greater miracle. There was no cause for unbelief.
“Known of the Death of Christ”
In addition to knowing of the birth of Christ, Samuel was to tell the Nephites of Christ’s death. He began by saying he would give a sign of his death, but this sign is not given until verse 20 and will be discussed in the next section of Helaman 14.
Samuel gave two reasons for Christ to die. Christ was to bring salvation, or immortality, by dying and bringing to pass the resurrection of the dead. His death also redeemed all mankind and brought them back into the presence of the Lord (v. 15). This part of his Redemption is often misunderstood. It is often taught that the resurrection is universal but the atonement is conditional, referring to the Atonement which brings us eternal life. As Samuel explains, the resurrection and the redemption of all mankind are unconditional (v. 17). All are brought back into God’s presence. The conditional part is whether we are prepared to remain there, or will be cast out and suffer a second spiritual death (v. 18). Those who are not prepared will be cast out. This casting out may be to a terrestrial degree of habitation, a telestial degree, or a complete second death being cast into outer darkness. The Atonement is infinite and eternal (see Alma 34:10). The doctrine of the Atonement bringing all mankind into God’s presence is taught throughout the Book of Mormon. Father Lehi taught the doctrine to his son Jacob.
And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement— [2 Nephi 2:10]
Alma taught the doctrine to Zeezrom.
12 And Amulek hath spoken plainly concerning death, and being raised from this mortality to a state of immortality, and being brought before the bar of God, to be judged according to our works.
13 Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned. [Alma 12:12–13]
Moroni taught the doctrine during his final days of recording on the plates.
13 And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound; and they shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death.
14 And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy still. [Mormon 9:13–14]
Thus Samuel invited the Nephites to repent (v. 19) after clearly teaching them the doctrine of the infinite (all inclusive) and unconditional (eternal) Atonement.