Alma told his son Helaman that God prepared his servant “Gazelem, a stone,” for an important work. in the Book of Mormon, Alma states a prophecy, which reads, “And the Lord said: I will prepare unto my servant Gazelem, a stone, which shall shine forth in darkness,” (Alma 37:23).
Because this is the only time Gazelem is mentioned in the Book of Mormon, the important reference has raised some questions. Is Gazelem a person? Or is Gazelem the stone? Or, a seer stone?
Interpreting this as a prophecy adds yet another layer to the debate—could Gazelem be a prophetic reference to Joseph Smith?
The fact that Joseph Smith used a seer stone and the Urim and Thummim in translating makes for a clear connection because it connects Joseph’s divine gift and inspired work of translation with those practices from ancient times.
Either way, Alma’s prophecy about Gazelem teaches us that God worked the same in ancient times as he does in Latter-days to accomplish his work.
For more information on Joseph Smith Seer Stones, visit josephsmithseerstones.com.
By Todd Noall, Source Expert
Todd Noall is an author and religious scholar at Mormonism Explained with a focus on the history and theology of religion.
About Mormonism Explained
Mormonism Explained is a resource that was designed to provide objective and factual information about Mormonism, its history, doctrines, and policies. Our team of researchers consults experts and primary sources to present factual information on a variety of topics relevant to the Mormon Church.
Tags