THE SAVIOR HEALS THE SICK--HE BLESSES THE CHILDREN OF THE
NEPHITES--ANGELS MINISTER UNTO THEM.
(III. NEHI CHAP. 17.)
When the Redeemer had finished these teachings he looked around among
the multitude and perceived that their minds were not prepared, at that
time, to receive any more of the word of the Lord, so he told them to
go to their homes, and prepare their minds for the morrow, when he
would come unto them again. But as he gazed upon them he noticed that
they were in tears, and that they looked beseechingly upon him, as if
they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.
These mute entreaties prevailed with him, his bowels were filled with
compassion towards them; and, we are told, he said:
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:
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.
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
they that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one
as they were brought forth unto him.
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 from the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe
his feet with their tears.
Jesus next commanded that the little children should be brought.
So the people brought their little children and set them down upon the
ground round about him, and the multitude gave way till they had all
been brought to him. And when they had all been brought, and Jesus
stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude to kneel down upon the
ground. And when they had done so, Jesus groaned within himself, and
said, Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of
the house of Israel. And when he had said these words, he himself knelt
and he prayed unto the Father and the things which he prayed could
not be written, but the multitude who heard him bore record: that eye
had never seen, neither had ear heard, before, so great and marvelous
things as they saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father. When Jesus
had made an end of praying, he arose, but so great was the joy of the
multitude that they were overcome. But Jesus bade them arise. Then they
arose, and he said unto them, Blessed are ye because of your faith.
And now behold, my joy is full. And when he had said these words, he
wept; and he took the little children, one by one, and blessed them,
and prayed unto the Father for them. And when he had done this he wept
again. And he said unto the multitude, Behold your little ones.
And as they cast their eyes upward they saw the heavens open, and
angels descending out of the heaven, as it were in the midst of fire,
and they came down and encircled these little ones about, and they were
encircled with fire; and the angels did minister unto the children. And
the multitude, who numbered about 2,500 men, women and children, bore
record of the glorious things which they had seen, heard and partaken
of.
Can we imagine anything more lovely, more touching, and more glorious
than this scene must have been? Can we conceive the joy that must have
filled the hearts of these Nephites as they beheld the angels of heaven
descending from the courts of glory and ministering to their little
ones? How deep must have been their love for the Savior who had brought
these blessings to them? How strong must have grown their faith in him?
We cannot recall a circumstance in recorded history that draws earth
nearer to heaven than this, or that seems to bind the ties so strongly
that unite the powers of eternity with the children of mortality.