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LISA - Can you explain the "Son of Righteousness" found in both 2 Ne. 26:9 and Ether 9:22? And who is the "Sun" of righteousness found in Malachi?

JOEL - Here is what Nephi said:
"But the Son of righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away, and many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness." (2 Nephi 26:9)

Righteousness is ultimately synonymous with holiness or godliness. Both the Father and the Son are called Righteousness(Moses 7:45, 47). The Son is designated "The Lord our Righteousness" by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 23:6) The "Son of Righteousness" also refers to Jesus Christ. In the above scripture Nephi is prophesying about the future visitation of Christ to his decendants 600 years in the future.
In Ether 9:22 the prophet Emer mentions that he also saw Christ in a vision and rejoiced in His future ministry.

"And after he(Emer) had anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead he lived four years, and he saw peace in the land; yea, and he even saw the Son of Righteousness, and did rejoice and glory in his day; and he died in peace." (Ether 9:22)

"Sun of Righteousness" also refers to Jesus. In the scriptures, stars are commonly used symbolically to denote men. But the star nearest to the earth, known as the sun, represents the Son of God. Malachi referred to the Lord as "the Sun of righteousness" (Mal. 4:2). Interesting to note that when this scripture is quoted in 3 Nephi 25: 2, the word "Son" is used instead of "Sun".
When the Prophet dictated to his scribe, "shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings," Oliver, or whoever it was, wrote down "Son," which would have been a quite natural error, but with no consequences since both words refer to Jesus.
The Psalmist stated, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield" (Ps. 84:11). Matthew and John wrote that "his face did shine as the sun" (Matt. 17:2), and that "his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength" (Rev. 1:16). Both the Apostle Paul and the Prophet Joseph Smith, after seeing the resurrected, glorified Lord, described his appearance as being "above the brightness of the sun" (Acts 26:13; JS 1:16). Lehi saw Jesus "descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noonday" (1 Ne. 1:9).

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