The Book of Mormon

Ether 12:7

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~AD 401–421

1830 Edition

for it was by faith that Christ shewed himself unto our fathers, after that he had risen from the dead; and he shewed not himself unto them, until after they had faith in him; wherefore it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he shewed himself not unto the world.

Influences

Matthew 28:7 (KJV)
And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
Matthew 18:7 (KJV)
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Changes

fFor it was by faith that Christ sheowed himself unto our fathers, after that he had risen from the dead; and he sheowed not himself unto them, until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he sheowed himself not unto the world.

Simple English

It was by faith that Christ showed himself to our fathers after he rose from the dead. He did not show himself to them until after they had faith in him. So some people had to have faith in him first. He did not show himself to the world.

Paraphrase

It was through faith that Christ revealed himself to our ancestors after he rose from the dead. He didn’t show himself to them until after they had faith in him. That’s why some people had to believe in him first—he didn’t appear to just anyone.