17:1 Behold, now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words
he looked round about again on the multitude, and he said unto them:
Behold, my time is at hand.
17:2 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.
17:3 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,
and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.
17:4 But now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the
lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father, for he
knoweth whither he hath taken them.
17:5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his
eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears,
and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a
little longer with them.
17:6 And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with
compassion towards you.
17:7 Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye
any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that
are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner?
Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you;
my bowels are filled with mercy.
17:8 For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I
have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is
sufficient that I should heal you.
17:9 And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the
multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their
afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb,
and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal
them every one as they were brought forth unto him.
17:10 And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were
whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could
come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe
his feet with their tears.
17:11 And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children
should be brought.
17:12 So they brought their little children and set them down upon the
ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude
gave way till they had all been brought unto him.
17:13 And it came to pass that when they had all been brought, and
Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude that they should
kneel down upon the ground.
17:14 And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground,
Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because
of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.
17:15 And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the
earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he
prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard
him.
17:16 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;
17:17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man,
neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as
we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy
which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the
Father.
17:18 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying
unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude
that they were overcome.
17:19 And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them
arise.
17:20 And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are
ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.
17:21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare
record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and
blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.
17:22 And when he had done this he wept again;
17:23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your
little ones.
17:24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven,
and 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.
17:25 And the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know
that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every
man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five
hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children.