JESUS RETURNS AND RENEWS HIS TEACHINGS--HE ADMINISTERS THE
SACRAMENT--HE EXPLAINS THE TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHETS--THE WORDS OF
MALACHI.
(III. NEPHI CHAP. 19 TO 26.)
When Jesus had ascended into heaven the multitudes dispersed, every one
returning home.
All that evening and all that night was the news spread from mouth to
mouth that Jesus had come. Many were too excited to sleep, and labored
diligently spreading the news far and wide, so that when the morning
came the whole people were astir, wending their way to the place where
Jesus was expected.
When the multitude had gathered together their number was found to be
so great that the disciples divided them into twelve congregations, and
one of them taught each of these bodies.
After they had prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus the whole
people, led by the disciples, went down to the water's edge. First,
Nephi went into the water and was baptized; then he baptized those whom
Jesus had chosen. After these had been baptized the Holy Ghost fell
upon them, and they were filled therewith also with fire. And the fire
encircled them about, and angels came down from heaven and ministered
to them.
By and by Jesus himself came, and stood in the midst of his disciples
and taught them. He commanded them all, the people and the Twelve, to
again kneel upon the earth, and the disciples he instructed to pray.
And they prayed unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God.
When Jesus heard these prayers he went a little way off, bowed himself
to the earth and said:
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.
Father, I pray thee that thou wilt give the Holy Ghost unto all them
that shall believe in their words.
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.
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.
When our Savior had ended this prayer he returned to his disciples. He
found them still praying. Then he blessed them, and smiled upon them.
When he smiled the light of his countenance shone upon them, and in
reflection of his brightness they became as white as the face or the
garments of Jesus;--a whiteness like unto which there was nothing upon
this earth.
Jesus, in joy, once more retired a short distance to commune with his
Father in heaven. He prayed:
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.
Father, I pray not for the world, but 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.
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.
And it came to pass that he went again a little way off and prayed unto
the Father;
And tongue cannot speak the words which he prayed, neither can be
written by man the words which he prayed.
And the multitude did hear, and do bear record, and their hearts were
opened, and they did understand in their hearts the words which he
prayed.
Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words which he prayed,
that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man.
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.
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.
The Lord Jesus then commanded all to cease from praying, but he also
told them they must not cease to pray in their hearts. He next directed
them to arise; and at this word they stood upon their feet. Then he
administered unto them bread and wine, the emblems of his body and
blood given as a ransom for their sins and the sins of the whole world.
Where he obtained this bread and wine no one knew, for neither the
disciples nor the people had brought any with them.
When the multitudes had eaten and drank, they were filled with the
Spirit, and with one voice gave glory to Jesus, whom they both saw and
heard.
The Savior then commenced to explain to the multitudes many of the
sayings of the ancient prophets, more especially those of Isaiah. He
dwelt on the great events of the latter days that should precede his
second coming; drawing particular attention to those that would concern
and be connected with the remnants of the house of Lehi, and in which
they would take part. From his words we learn that in the latter times
the everlasting gospel will be preached in their midst; that many will
receive it; that they will take a prominent part in the building of
the New Jerusalem, and in many of the other momentous events that will
herald the near approach of that blessed day when the reign of Christ
and the triumph of truth and righteousness shall extend from pole to
pole, over the whole of this habitable globe.
The Savior also recited to them many of the words which his Father had
inspired the Prophet Malachi to utter. Now the Nephites knew nothing of
Malachi, as he lived and prophesied to the Jews long after Lehi left
Jerusalem. So, for the comfort and instruction of the Nephites, Jesus
rehearsed to them the important things which he had revealed. In fact,
to use the words of Mormon: And he did expound all things, even from
the beginning until the time that he should come in his glory; yea,
even all things which should come upon the face of the earth, even
until the elements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth should
be wrapt together as a scroll, and the heavens and the earth should
pass away; and even unto the great and last day, when all people and
all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall stand before God, to be
judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil; If
they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be
evil, to the resurrection of damnation, being on a parallel, the one on
the one hand, and the other on the other hand, according to the mercy,
and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ, who was before
the world began.
And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of
the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people.