Lesson 39 Behold My Joy Is Full
Read, ponder, and pray about the following scriptures:
 3 Nephi 17. After teaching the Nephites, Jesus commands them to return to
their homes to ponder, pray, and prepare for His return the following day.
Perceiving the people’s desire for Him to stay, He remains for a time and heals
the sick, blesses the children, and prays for the people.
 3 Nephi 18. Jesus institutes the Sacrament among the Nephites and gives them
additional counsel before ascending into heaven.
 3 Nephi 19. The Nephites spread the news of Jesus’ visit, and a large multitude
gathers in anticipation of His return. The Savior’s 12 disciples teach and minister
to the multitude. The disciples are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost and the
ministering of angels. The Savior returns to teach the people and pray for them.
Chapter 17
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After completing the Sermon at the Temple, Christ told the people, “Behold, my
time is at hand [IE to return to the Father]” (v. 1).
The people are weak and don’t understand all the words He has spoken to them.
o During His earthly ministry, He told the Jews, “I have yet many things to
say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” (John 16:12).
o In this dispensation, the Lord told Joseph Smith:
 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as
yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands
and prepared for you;
 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer,
for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings
thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.
D&C 78:17 - 18
The Savior sent the people to their homes.
He told them to ponder His words.
o [A]sk of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your
minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again. (v3)
When the Lord revealed the concept of eternal marriage, He told the Church,
o Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I
am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto
them must obey the same.
D&C 132:3
pg. 1
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See Quote #1
See Quote #2
See Quote #3 (must read!)
He tells the multitude He is leaving to go the Father.
o He will also ”show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not
lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them” (v. 4)
He cast his eyes around the multitude and saw they were in tears.
o They wanted Him to stay longer with them.
Christ became filled with compassion towards the people.
o He asked them to bring forth the sick and afflicted.
o He will heal them as he did in Jerusalem.
They will be healed because of their faith.
o Christ taught faith in Him is an essential part of salvation.
 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a
centurion, beseeching him,
 And saying, Lord, my servant [GR child, servant, son]; lieth at home
sick of the palsy [GR paralysis], grievously tormented.
 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy [GR fit,
qualified] that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the
word only, and my servant shall be healed.
 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say
to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh;
and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
 [JST Matt. 8:9 And when they that followed him, heard this, they
marveled, and] When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them
that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith,
no, not in Israel.
Matthew 8:5 - 10
o Nephi1 wrote the word of the Lord:
 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show
unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever;
and I work not among the children of men save it be according to
their faith.
2 Nephi 27:23
o Moroni2 wrote:
 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no
miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after
their faith.
pg. 2
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Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison
to tumble to the earth.
Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change
upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the
Holy Ghost.
Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so
great a miracle among the Lamanites.
Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith,
even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.
And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that
they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise
until after their faith.
And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their
faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.
(Book of Mormon | Ether 12:12 - 18)
The people brought forth their sick and afflicted to Christ.
He healed each person.
o Here we see the importance of faith.
And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him:
and Jesus saith unto them, Believe [GR Do you have faith that] ye
that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it
unto you.
And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged [GR warned
them sternly] them, saying, See that no man know it.
(New Testament | Matthew 9:28 - 30)
 The words of King Benjamin:
 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with
power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is
from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven
among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of
clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles,
such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to
walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear,
and curing all manner of diseases.
Mosiah 3:5
All who had been healed bowed down at his fee and worshipped him.
o And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he
went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
pg. 3
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And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that
Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of
ointment,
And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with
tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet,
and anointed them with the ointment.
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within
himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and
what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto
thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
o There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five
hundred pence [GR denarii; one denarius was a workman's daily wage], and
the other fifty.
And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me
therefore, which of them will love him most?
Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And
he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman?
I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she
hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her
head.
Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not
ceased to kiss my feet.
My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my
feet with ointment.
Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she
loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is
this that forgiveth sins also?
And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Luke 7:36 - 50
See Quote #4
Having healed their sick and afflicted, He commanded they bring their children to
Him.
o Christ showed his love of the children during his mortal ministry.
 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them:
and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
pg. 4
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But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them,
Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for
of such is the kingdom of God.
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of
God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and
blessed them.
Mark 10:13 - 16
The children were brought and set in a circle around Him.
He commanded they all should kneel.
He began to looked around and said He was troubled because of the wickedness
of Israel.
o The scriptures record when the righteous were “troubled” by the wicked
ness of the people.
 The sons of Mosiah2 wanted were motivated by concern when they
asked to preach to the Lamanites.
 Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to
every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul
should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should
endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.
Mosiah 28:3
 Alma2 resigned the judgment seat to preach to the people.
 For it was the cause of great sorrow to Alma to know of
iniquity among his people; therefore his heart was exceedingly
sorrowful because of the separation of the Zoramites from
the Nephites.
Alma 31:2
 Enoch wept because of the wickedness of men.
 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Enoch, and told
Enoch all the doings of the children of men; wherefore Enoch
knew, and looked upon their wickedness, and their misery, and
wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide
as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook.
Moses 7:41
Christ then knelt and began to pray.
o “[T]he things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did
bear record who heard him” (v. 15).
pg. 5
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o “And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen,
neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we
saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father” (v. 16).
 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor
perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God,
beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for
him.
Isaiah 64:4
 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him.
1 Corinthians 2:9
 This is the end of the vision which we saw, which we were
commanded to write while we were yet in the Spirit.
But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the
mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which
surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in
dominion;
Which he commanded us we should not write while we were yet
in the Spirit, and are not lawful for man to utter;
Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only
to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit,
which God bestows on those who love him, and purify
themselves before him;
To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for
themselves;
 That through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while
in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the
world of glory.
 And to God and the Lamb be glory, and honor, and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.
D&C 76:113 - 119
In the Book of Mormon, Mormon and Moroni2 mention that much was left out of
the Book of Mormon.
o Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which
remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot
write the hundredth part of the things of my people. (Words of Mormon
1:5)
o (See also Helaman 3:14, 3 Nephi 26:6, Ether 15:33).
pg. 6
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This even was left out because it was a sacred and holy moment, the type that is
not to be discussed freely because we do not “Give not that which is holy unto the
dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under
their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7:6).
Paul wrote about a sacred experience.
o I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago [GR I know a man in Christ
who fourteen years ago], (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether
out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the
third heaven.
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot
tell: God knoweth;)
How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable [GR
ineffable] words, which it is not lawful [GR possible, permitted] for a man
to utter.
2 Corinthians 12:2 - 4
When the Savior finished his prayer, the multitude was overcome with joy.
He commanded they arise and blessed them for their faith.
After saying these words, Jesus wept.
o Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where
Martha met him.
The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when
they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying,
She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at
his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had
not died.
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which
came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
Jesus wept.
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
John 11:30 - 36
He then took the children and blessed each one.
o He again prayed to the Father for them.
o He again wept.
Christ told the multitude, “Behold your little ones” (v. 23).
See Quote #5
See Quote #6
pg. 7
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When the people looked towards heaven, “they saw the heavens open, and they
saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they
came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about
with fire; and the angels did minister unto them” (v. 24).
o Nephi2 and Lehi2 had a similar experience.
 23 And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi were encircled about as
if by fire, even insomuch that they durst not lay their hands upon
them for fear lest they should be burned. Nevertheless, Nephi and
Lehi were not burned; and they were as standing in the midst of fire
and were not burned.
And when they saw that they were encircled about with a pillar of
fire, and that it burned them not, their hearts did take courage…
And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about, and saw
that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them,
behold, they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a
pillar of fire.
 And Nephi and Lehi were in the midst of them; yea, they were
encircled about; yea, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire,
yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold upon the walls of
the prison; and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable
and full of glory.
 And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and
did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and
they could speak forth marvelous words.
Helaman 5:23 – 24; 43 – 45
The multitude saw and heard and give testimony that our record is true.
There were around 2,500 men, women, and children in the multitude.
Chapter 18
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The Savior asked His Disciples to bring bread and wine to Him.
o While they were getting these things, He told the people to sit.
When His Disciples returned, He took the bread, broke it, and commanded his
Disciples they should eat.
o “And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should
give unto the multitude” (v. 4).
o See Quote #7.
When the multitude had eaten and were filled, He told the Disciples:
pg. 8
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o “[T]here shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that
he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church,
unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name” (v. 5).
The Disciples were told to “do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread
and blessed it and given it unto you” (v. 6).
o They were commanded to do this in remembrance of His body, “which I
have shown unto you” (v. 7).
o This will be a testimony to the Father that they do always remember Him.
 If they, they will always have His Spirit to be with them.
o See Quote #8
After He had said these things, His Disciples took the cup of wine and drank it.
o They gave the multitude the cup so they might also drink of it.
o They drank until they were filled.
The Savior told them, “Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this
is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are
willing to do that which I have commanded you” (v. 10).
They were commanded to drink in remembrance of His blood, that He shed for
them.
o This will be a testimony to the Father that they do always remember Him.
 If they, they will always have His Spirit to be with them.
If they do these things, they will be blessed as they have built upon His rock.
o Any who do more or less than this are built on a sandy foundation.
The people are to always watch and pray.
This will help them overcome temptation of the devil.
They are to repent and be baptized in His name.
He is the light; he has set an example for them.
He stopped talking to His Disciples and turned to the multitude.
They must watch and pray always.
o If they don’t, they will be led into temptation.
o And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose
that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from
heaven; wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil
before God.
And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever,
he sought also the misery of all mankind. Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea,
even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies,
wherefore he said: Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but
ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
2 Nephi 2:17 - 18
pg. 9
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They must always pray to the Father in His name.
Whatever they ask of the Father, “which is right, believing that ye shall receive,
behold it shall be given unto you” (v. 20).
o Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mark 11:24
o And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I
will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in
faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee
according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my
will.
Helaman 10:5
o Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing,
whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be
granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.
Mormon 9:21
o And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by
faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake
these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the
Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive,
behold, it shall be done unto you.
Moroni 7:26
The people were to pray in their families unto the Father in His name.
o Their wives and children will be blessed.
They are to meet together frequently.
o Never forbid anyone to come to the meeting.
o Pray for them, don’t cast them out.
 Pray for them unto the Father in Christ’s name.
We are to hold up our light that it might shine to the world.
Christ is the light we are to hold up.
o Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
o And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or
under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
o For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any
thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
Mark 4:21 - 22
o See Quote #9
pg. 10
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o See Quote #10
The people were commanded to come unto Christ and feel and see.
Anyone who breaks a commandment will allow themselves to be led into
temptation.
o Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are
extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.
Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of
life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;
Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not
be hewn down and cast into the fire—
For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good
fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have
cause to wail and mourn.
Alma 5:33 - 36
o And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus
the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his
arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name.
Alma 19:36
Christ began talking to His Disciples again.
He gave the another commandment.
Then He must go to the Father to fulfill other commandments given Him by the
Father.
All who partake of the Sacrament must do so worthily.
o Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord,
unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink
of that cup.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation
to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
1 Corinthians 11:27 – 30
*
o And it came to pass that when two hundred and ten years had passed away
there were many churches in the land; yea, there were many churches
which professed to know the Christ, and yet they did deny the more parts
of his gospel, insomuch that they did receive all manner of wickedness, and
did administer that which was sacred unto him to whom it had been
forbidden because of unworthiness.
4 Nephi 1:27
pg. 11
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Whoever partakes of the Sacrament unworthily does so to the damnation of his
soul.
o If you know someone is unworthy, they should be forbidden from partaking
of the Sacrament.
They are not to be cast out.
o The church should minister unto this person and pray for him unto the
Father in Christ’s name.
If he repents, he may partake of the Sacrament.
o Nevertheless ye are commanded never to cast any one out from your public
meetings, which are held before the world.
D&C 46:3
Christ knows His sheep.
o I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
John 10:14
If they keep His sayings, which He has commanded them, they will not come under
commendation.
These commandments are given because of disputations among the people.
o “[B]lessed are ye if ye have no disputations among you” (v. 34).
The time has come for Him to go to the Father.
o It is expedient that He should go to the Father for their sakes.
 Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make
intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him
shall be saved.
2 Nephi 2:9
 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because
Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right
hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he
hath upon the children of men?
For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those
who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto
every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children
of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.
Moroni 7:27 - 28
 Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your
advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the
kingdom.
D&C 29:5
pg. 12
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The Savior made an end of his sayings.
He then touched each of the twelve Disciples he had chosen, one-by-one.
o He spoke to each as they were touched.
The multitude did not hear the words He spoke.
o The Disciples bore record that He gave them the power to give the Holy
Ghost.
 Mormon tells us he “will show unto you hereafter that this record is
true” (v. 37).
 It is shown in Moroni 2.
o THE words of Christ, which he spake unto his disciples,
the twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands
upon them—
And he called them by name, saying: Ye shall call on the
Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have
done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye
shall lay your hands, ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in
my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles.
Now Christ spake these words unto them at the time of
his first appearing; and the multitude heard it not, but
the disciples heard it; and on as many as they laid their
hands, fell the Holy Ghost.
Moroni 2:1 - 3
 Now it came to pass that when Alma had said these words, that he
clapped his hands upon all them who were with him. And behold, as
he clapped his hands upon them, they were filled with the Holy
Spirit.
Alma 31:36
Having touched His Disciples, a cloud overshadowed the multitude.
They could not see Christ.
While they were overshadowed, He ascended again into heaven.
Chapter 19
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After Jesus ascended into heaven, all the families returned to their homes.
o They made it known all around the Jesus would return the next day at the
temple.
 Many travelled that evening to be at the Temple when Jesus
appeared the next day.
The twelve Disciples were named:
pg. 13
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o “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” (v.4).
The multitude was so large they had to separate the people into twelve different
groups.
This was similar to what had to be done when King Benjamin gave his sermon.
o And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his
tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might
remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak
unto them;
For the multitude being so great that king Benjamin could not teach them
all within the walls of the temple, therefore he caused a tower to be
erected, that thereby his people might hear the words which he should
speak unto them.
And it came to pass that he began to speak to his people from the tower;
and they could not all hear his words because of the greatness of the
multitude; therefore he caused that the words which he spake should be
written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his
voice, that they might also receive his words.
Mosiah 2:6 - 8
The twelve taught the multitude.
o They had the multitude kneel and pray to the Father in Jesus’s name.
The Disciples also prayed.
o They ministered and taught the people the same words Jesus taught the
previous day, “nothing varying from the words which Jesus had spoken” (v.
8).
They again kneeled and prayed to the Father in the name of the Son.
They prayed and asked that the Holy Ghost be given them.
They took the people down to the water’s edge.
Nephi3 was baptized.
o Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of
him.
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and
comest thou to me?
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Matthew 3:13 - 15
pg. 14
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He then baptized the remaining Disciples.
o When they came up out of the water, they Holy Ghost fell upon them.
 They were filled with the Holy Ghost and fire.
Approaching the end of Nephite society, Mormon “invites the Lamanites of the
latter days to believe in Christ, accept his gospel, and be saved” (Mormon
7:Heading)
o And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob;
therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if
it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then
with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior,
according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in
the day of judgment. Amen.
(Book of Mormon | Mormon 7:10)
They were encircled by fire and ministered to by angels.
o While this occurred, the Savior came and stood in their midst and
ministered to them.
He commanded the people to kneel and he commanded the Disciples to pray.
o They began to pray to Jesus, “calling him their Lord and their God” (v. 18).
The Savior departed a little way off, bowed Himself, and prayed
o He gave thanks that they had received the Holy Ghost.
o He chose His Disciples “because of their belief in me” (v. 20).
o He asked that all who believe their words received the Holy Ghost.
o He prayed for those that believe their words and believe in Him.
o He asked that they “may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou,
Father, art in me, that we may be one” (v. 23).
After His prayer, He returned to the Disciples.
They were still praying.
They did not use many words as it was given to them what they should pray for.
o But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they
think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matthew 6:7
Jesus blessed them as they prayed.
o His countenance did smile and shine upon them.
o They became as white as His countenance and garments.
 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou
up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Psalms 4:6
He again went off and prayed.
pg. 15
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He gave thanks to the Father that he had purified His Disciples because of their
faith.
He prayed for those who would believe their words, that they may be purified in
Him.
o Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy
of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon
all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the
sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see
him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as
he is pure. Amen.
Moroni 7:48
o But no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed
from all sin.
And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall cask whatsoever
you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done.
D&C 50:28 - 29)
o And I give unto you, who are the first laborers in this last kingdom, a
commandment that you assemble yourselves together, and organize
yourselves, and prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves; yea, purify
your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may
make you clean;
That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you
are clean from the blood of this wicked generation; that I may fulfil this
promise, this great and last promise, which I have made unto you, when I
will.
D&C 88:74 - 75
The Savior prayed for those His Father had given Him, out of the world, because
of their faith.
He prayed they may be purified in Him.
o I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the
world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy
word.
John 17:6
He ended His prayer and returned to His Disciples who were still praying.
When He smiled upon them, they were white, even as Jesus.
o And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and
his raiment was white as the light.
Matthew 17:2
He again when off and prayed.
pg. 16
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Mormon records:
o “And tongue cannot speak the words which he prayed, neither can be
written by man the words which he prayed” (v. 32).
o The multitude did bear record and their hearts were opened.
o They understood the words He prayed.
 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to
understanding;
Proverbs 2:2
 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an
understanding heart.
Proverbs 8:5
 And these are the words which he spake and caused to be written,
saying: My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together,
you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for
I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words
which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open
your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand,
and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your
view.
Mosiah 2:9
When He ended His praying, He went to the Disciples.
o “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” (v. 35).
pg. 17
Quote #1
John Welch writes:
The first instruction, 3 Nephi 17:1, is that the people, if they are going to comprehend
what he has said, must ponder, must go home and think about the things that have been
said and done. I think that's an important instruction that tells us that there are deep
meanings in what Jesus has given—just as the temple for us is something that is never
exhausted, that you must always ponder and think and pray about. So Jesus instructs
his people that that's what he wants them to do with this text. It's not just a matter
of doing, listening, and remembering, but also pondering and internalizing and thinking
about very deeply.1
Quote #2
John Welch explains:
Turning again to the multitude, who now sat or stood "round about" Jesus (3 Nephi 17:1),
he told them to go home and "ponder upon the things which [he had] said" (3 Nephi
17:3), for he knew they were weak and could not yet understand the full import and
meaning of what he had said. This is such a typical reaction to the temple or other
sacred teachings: They appear simple at first, and we think we understand—but we do
not. Only through experience and diligent, prayerful contemplation over time are the
mysteries of God unfolded to us (see Alma 12:9).2
1
Lecture 100: 3 Nephi 15-18, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed September 15,
2012.
2
Toward an Understanding of the Sermon as a Temple Text, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed September 15, 2012.
pg. 18
Quote #3
Dennis Packard and Sandra Packard explain the importance of pondering the scriptures.
Why do many active members of the church not love the scriptures? We believe it is
because they haven't learned to ponder them. To ponder, according to Webster, means
"to weigh in the mind; to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply." After
a lengthy discourse, the Savior told the Nephites they needed time to ponder and pray
about what he was saying: "I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all
my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.
Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask
of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand" (3 Nephi 17:2–3). He has repeated
this counsel in our time: "My friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your
hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I
am near—Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye
shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (D&C
88:62–63). So when we don't understand and appreciate the scriptures, the Lord's
counsel is to ponder and pray about them. More specifically, we are to ponder first and
then to pray. As the Lord says, "You must study it out in your mind; then you must ask
me if it be right" (D&C 9:8).3
Quote #4
John Welch writes:
Jesus was about to leave, but when he saw the tears in the eyes of the people looking
steadfastly upon him and longing for him to tarry longer with them, Jesus invited the
people to bring forward any who were sick, and he healed them (see 3 Nephi 17:5—9).
They all bowed down around Jesus and worshipped him, and some went forward to wash
his feet with their tears (see 3 Nephi 17:10). These reciprocal spiritual outpourings set
other temple precedents for the Nephites: the prayer roll for the sick and the washing
of feet are at home in the modern temple as well.4
3
Pondering the Word, Dennis Packard, and Sandra Packard, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
September 15, 2012.
4
Toward an Understanding of the Sermon as a Temple Text, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed September 15, 2012.
pg. 19
Quote #5
Elder M. Russell Ballard points to a broader and deeper lesson in the account of Jesus
calling upon the multitude to behold their children:
He said to behold them [children, in reference to 3 Nephi 17:23]. To me that means that
we should embrace them with our eyes and with our hearts; we should see and
appreciate them for who they really are: spirit children of our Heavenly Father, with
divine attributes. When we truly behold our little ones, we behold the glory, wonder, and
majesty of God, our Eternal Father. . . . They are receptive to the truth because they
have no preconceived notions; everything is real to children. . . . Their souls are endowed
naturally with divine potential that is infinite and eternal.5
Quote #6
John Welch writes:
In the end, Jesus turned to the parents and said, "Behold your little ones" (3 Nephi
17:23). It seems to me that Jesus is not just inviting the parents to look at their
children and admire them. Although that simple reading is possible, I would suggest that
he is saying, "Behold, your little ones"—they are yours. While it cannot be said exactly
what transpired that afternoon, the children apparently now somehow belonged to the
parents in a way they had not belonged before.6
5
The Savior and the Children in 3 Nephi, M. Gawain Wells, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
September 15, 2012.
6
Toward an Understanding of the Sermon as a Temple Text, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed September 15, 2012.
pg. 20
Quote #7
Richard Rust wrote:
The Book of Mormon is itself the word of God, meant to be feasted on. Just as the
Nephite disciples ate the bread Jesus broke and blessed and "were filled" (3 Nephi
18:4), so all who "hunger and thirst after righteousness" shall "be filled with the Holy
Ghost" (3 Nephi 12:6). Through the Book of Mormon, including through its literary
elements that engage the senses, Jesus bids his disciples to "come unto me, that ye
might feel and see" (3 Nephi 18:25). The book that is a testament of him and by him
calls to those who approach it, "Taste and feast."7
Quote #8
Richard Lloyd Anderson observes:
"Remember" is the purpose in Christ's prayer on the bread in Luke, and Paul's earlier
account says that Christ used "in remembrance of me" in giving both bread and wine (1
Corinthians 11:23-25). And at the first Sacrament in America, Jesus emphasized
"remember/remembrance" a half dozen times, in reference to both bread and wine (3
Nephi 18:7-11). "Remember" is also intense in the Nephite prayers—it appears in each
consecration preface, followed by the solemn promise to "always remember him" in each
covenant closing. This stress is deeply supported by a close look at the Savior's use of
the term in the upper room.8
7
"At the Judgment-Seat of Christ" - Larger Perspectives, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed September 16, 2012.
8
The Modern-Text Theory, Richard Lloyd Anderson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
September 16, 2012.
pg. 21
Quote #9
Richard Rust writes:
At the stage of childhood, it may be sufficient to know that Jesus wants me for a
sunbeam. As I later read in the Sermon on the Mount, I think of my light as being an
influence for good and a means of glorifying my Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). A
more expansive understanding comes when I read the Savior's progressive teachings to
the Nephites about light. At first, Jesus repeats the same commandment given in the
Old World, but he provides a new and challenging dimension when he says, "Therefore,
hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall
hold up—that which ye have seen me do" (3 Nephi 18: 24).9
Quote #10
Robert Millet explains:
When you think back at "Let your light so shine before men," what is it that we are
supposed to let people see then? How does the rest of that sentence go? "Let your light
so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is
in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Thus, the concept of holding up the light is not me as the
light. I am at best a dim lamp. He (Christ) is the light. Look over in 3 Nephi 18:24:
"Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light
which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do."10
9
Light: A Masterful Symbol, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
September 16, 2012.
10
The Doctrine of the Risen Christ, Part 2, Robert L. Millet, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed
September 16, 2012.
pg. 22