3 Nephi 19
The Twelve Minister to the Multitude
3 Nephi 19:1–3
1 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had ascended into heaven, the multitude did disperse, and every man did take his wife and his children and did return to his own home.
2 And it was noised abroad among the people immediately, before it was yet dark, that the multitude had seen Jesus, and that he had ministered unto them, and that he would also show himself on the morrow unto the multitude.
3 Yea, and even all the night it was noised abroad concerning Jesus; and insomuch did they send forth unto the people that there were many, yea, an exceedingly great number, did labor exceedingly all that night, that they might be on the morrow in the place where Jesus should show himself unto the multitude.
Comments
The typical ancient city consisted of a central population with a large amount of farmland associated with it. Often, people might live in the city but still go to their fields every day. Many others lived in that farmland. Therefore, when Jesus had appeared to those gathered in the city, those who were in the farmlands would not have been aware of the important event happening in the city.
Such was the joy that was felt that it needed to be shared. Jesus would return on the next day, and there were probably many in the city who were related to those who lived in the farmlands. Therefore, they sent messengers to bring those people in. Since we never hear of any mode of transport, other than walking, in the Book of Mormon, the distance they could go was limited by how far they could walk in the available time. Even though that might be perhaps twenty miles in a day, they had to go and return. The messengers would not want to miss Jesus’s return.
Thus, while many were sent out, they would not have reached a different city. At least in Mesoamerica, even very large cities tended to be a 3-day walk apart. Perhaps there was a small village that was within reach, but if the gathered were “an exceedingly great number,” it would have been less than twice the first day’s crowd of two thousand five hundred (3 Nephi 17:25).
3 Nephi 19:4–6
4 And it came to pass that on the morrow, when the multitude was gathered together, behold, Nephi and his brother whom he had raised from the dead, whose name was Timothy, and also his son, whose name was Jonas, and also Mathoni, and Mathonihah, his brother, and Kumen, and Kumenonhi, and Jeremiah, and Shemnon, and Jonas, and Zedekiah, and Isaiah—now these were the names of the disciples whom Jesus had chosen—and it came to pass that they went forth and stood in the midst of the multitude.
5 And behold, the multitude was so great that they did cause that they should be separated into twelve bodies.
6 And the twelve did teach the multitude; and behold, they did cause that the multitude should kneel down upon the face of the earth, and should pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus.
Comments
Jesus had not said when he would return, save it were “on the morrow.” There were no hourglasses to tell the time of day, and the people were undoubtedly anxious to make sure they missed nothing of the divine visit.
Therefore, the crowd had gathered, but Jesus had not yet come. The twelve divided the people into groups so that each one of the twelve could teach a smaller congregation. One of the things they did was to pray. They were to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus, and that might have been one of the important teachings, as the understanding of the Godhead would have been new to those who had not been there on the previous day.
Verse 1 names the twelve. We don’t hear the names again, save for Nephi. The most interesting name is Timothy, not because of the name, but because we learn that Nephi3 had raised him from the dead, something not otherwise attested to in our text.
3 Nephi 19:7–8
7 And the disciples did pray unto the Father also in the name of Jesus. And it came to pass that they arose and ministered unto the people.
8 And when they had ministered those same words which Jesus had spoken—nothing varying from the words which Jesus had spoken—behold, they knelt again and prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus.
Comments
These verses highlight two prayer events at that time. The disciples pray, and then rise to minister to the people. What they do is teach “those same words which Jesus had spoken.” For many it was a refresher course, but there were many new people who had come in from the outlying areas for whom this was important new information.
Then, they pray again. Once again, there is the emphasis that they pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. The only reason for the frequent repetition of this fact is that it was new information that needed to be learned.
3 Nephi 19:9–14
9 And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.
10 And when they had thus prayed they went down unto the water’s edge, and the multitude followed them.
11 And it came to pass that Nephi went down into the water and was baptized.
12 And he came up out of the water and began to baptize. And he baptized all those whom Jesus had chosen.
13 And it came to pass when they were all baptized and had come up out of the water, the Holy Ghost did fall upon them, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
14 And behold, they were encircled about as if it were by fire; and it came down from heaven, and the multitude did witness it, and did bear record; and angels did come down out of heaven and did minister unto them.
Comments
When they prayed, they prayed “for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.” The result of this desire is that they go to the water and are baptized, after which “they were filled with the Holy Ghost.” Although many were previously baptized, it appears that the baptism was associated with the gift of the Holy Ghost, which was not part of the previous Nephite baptism. In the New Testament, John explained that “the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39).
Modern members of the church are familiar with our practice of only baptizing once. Even in the earlier days of the Church in Utah, there were baptisms performed for spiritual renewal. Questions about why the people would be baptized again stem from a much more recent modern practice that did not apply even in the earlier years of the Church in Utah.
Christ Leads the Multitude in Prayer
3 Nephi 19:15–16
15 And it came to pass that while the angels were ministering unto the disciples, behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.
16 And it came to pass that he spake unto the multitude, and commanded them that they should kneel down again upon the earth, and also that his disciples should kneel down upon the earth.
Comments
After the people had received the Holy Ghost, and while the angels came to minister to the twelve, Jesus arrived. It was an appropriate time, for one of the functions of the Holy Ghost is to testify of Jesus the Christ. If they had not already been fully convinced that the being before them was the anticipated Messiah, the Holy Ghost bore strong witness to that fact as he stood among them.
3 Nephi 19:17–18
17 And it came to pass that when they had all knelt down upon the earth, he commanded his disciples that they should pray.
18 And behold, they began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God.
Comments
Jesus commands the people to pray, and they do. They “did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God.” Why did they pray to Jesus?
The Nephite doctrine of the Messiah was that it would be their God come to earth. Thus, they believed it was Yahweh who stood before them. In the modern Church, we also understand that Jesus is the mortal aspect of Yahweh, so they prayed to their God as they had always done.
The idea that there would be a Father that is different from Yahweh was a new teaching for the people. Even though it had been emphasized multiple times, including that morning, that they were to pray to the Father in Jesus’s name, they had not yet fully understood and internalized that teaching. The glorified being standing before them was rather obviously more than human, and all of their previous teaching said that it was their God who would visit them. He was there. It is hardly surprising that they would pray to him directly.
3 Nephi 19:19–23
19 And it came to pass that Jesus departed out of the midst of them, and went a little way off from them and bowed himself to the earth, and he said:
20 Father, I thank thee that thou hast given the Holy Ghost unto these whom I have chosen; and it is because of their belief in me that I have chosen them out of the world.
21 Father, I pray thee that thou wilt give the Holy Ghost unto all them that shall believe in their words.
22 Father, thou hast given them the Holy Ghost because they believe in me; and thou seest that they believe in me because thou hearest them, and they pray unto me; and they pray unto me because I am with them.
23 And now Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one.
Comments
Jesus departs a little from them. The text does not tell us if all heard what he spoke but since we have a record of it, at least Nephi3 heard. Certainly, others would have.
Two things are important in this prayer. The first is that Jesus thanks the Father for the Gift of the Holy Ghost that has been given to the people and asks that it be given to all who believe.
The second is that Jesus prays to the Father. In the context of the prayer of the people directed to Jesus, he immediately models prayer, a prayer directed to the Father, and not to himself. One of the reasons for this prayer is to emphasize the new teaching about the Father. Thus, we have verse 23: “And now Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one.”
The people may have prayed to Jesus, but Jesus immediately modeled the way to pray to the Father, ending with the important declaration of his relationship with the Father.
3 Nephi 19:24–26
24 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire.
25 And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof.
26 And Jesus said unto them: Pray on; nevertheless they did not cease to pray.
Comments
In spite of the prayer that Jesus had modeled, the disciples continued to pray to him. They too, were learning. Rather than correct them, he blessed them. Then he told them to continue to pray. The experience of being in Christ’s presence was overwhelming, as were attempts to have them fully understand the modeled redirection of their prayers to the Father.
3 Nephi 19:27–30
27 And he turned from them again, and went a little way off and bowed himself to the earth; and he prayed again unto the Father, saying:
28 Father, I thank thee that thou hast purified those whom I have chosen, because of their faith, and I pray for them, and also for them who shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in me, through faith on their words, even as they are purified in me.
29 Father, I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world, because of their faith, that they may be purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them.
30 And when Jesus had spoken these words he came again unto his disciples; and behold they did pray steadfastly, without ceasing, unto him; and he did smile upon them again; and behold they were white, even as Jesus.
Comments
For the second time, Jesus moves “a little way off” to pray to the Father. This prayer is not for instruction, but of gratefulness for the faith of the twelve, as well as those who were gathered. The previous experience describing whiteness (verse 25 in this chapter) indicated that the apostles had been purified, and that is how Jesus speaks of them. He expresses thanks “that [the Father has] purified those whom [He, Jesus, has] chosen.
In verse 29, Jesus says: “I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world, because of their faith, that they may be purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them.” This is a recognition that not all who are in the world will be capable of receiving the purification Jesus spoke of. Nevertheless, Jesus prays for those who do have the ability to understand, keep the commandments, and become purified. When he says that “they may be purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me,” it is a reference to their ultimate exaltation, their presence in the Celestial Kingdom.
3 Nephi 19:31–34
31 And it came to pass that he went again a little way off and prayed unto the Father;
32 And tongue cannot speak the words which he prayed, neither can be written by man the words which he prayed.
33 And the multitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed.
34 Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words which he prayed that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man.
Comments
For a third time Jesus goes “a little way off” to pray. This time, no record is kept. In fact, Nephi3 records that the words were so powerful and sacred that they cannot be written. So powerful were the words, that he repeats the statement, in verses 32 and 34, that they could not be written.
3 Nephi 19:35–36
35 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying he came again to the disciples, and said unto them: So great faith have I never seen among all the Jews; wherefore I could not show unto them so great miracles, because of their unbelief.
36 Verily I say unto you, there are none of them that have seen so great things as ye have seen; neither have they heard so great things as ye have heard.
Comments
When Jesus returns to the people, he declares that they have great faith, and that because of that faith, they have seen great things that others had not. This was a faith strong enough that after Jesus’s departure, these people formed the core of a society that would live in peaceful obedience to the commandments for nearly two hundred years. They would prosper in that time, but not fall to the previous sins of pride that had limited their times of peace to a few years. This faith extended their peace longer than they had ever known, and perhaps longer than the rest of the world has ever known.
This is not the end of a chapter in the 1830 edition.
