3 Nephi 19

Appearance to the Nephites

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. 3 Nephi 19:1–3

News that the people had seen Jesus spread all night. So many people worked through the night to be where He had promised to appear the next morning.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• fulfils 3 Nephi 17:3 — His promise: prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.

Praying in the name of Jesus

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. 3 Nephi 19:6–8

The twelve do exactly what Jesus taught: they pray to the Father in His name and repeat His words without changing them.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 3 Nephi 18:19 — His command: ye must always pray unto the Father in my name.

Jesus stands in the midst

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. 3 Nephi 19:13–15

Christ had promised to baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost, and it happens to the disciples. While angels minister to them, Jesus Himself comes and stands among them.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils 3 Nephi 9:20 — Him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

Jesus — their Lord and their God

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. 3 Nephi 19:16–18

With Jesus present, the disciples pray directly to Him and call Him their Lord and their God. The Nephites knew Him as the God of Israel.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in John 20:28 — Thomas to the risen Christ: My Lord and my God.

Advocate — intercessory prayer

Advocate — one who pleads another's cause

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: 3 Nephi 19:19–23

Jesus prays for His disciples and for everyone who will believe their words, asking that they be one with Him as He is one with the Father. He explains that they pray to Him because He is with them.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to John 17:20-21 — Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me.

The light of His countenance

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. 3 Nephi 19:24–26

Jesus smiles on the praying disciples, and the light of His face makes them shine as white as He is, whiter than anything on earth. It recalls His transfiguration and the priestly blessing asking that the Lord's face shine upon His people.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Matthew 17:2 — Transfiguration: his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
• alludes to Numbers 6:25-26 — The LORD make his face shine upon thee... The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee.

Advocate — purified in Him

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: 3 Nephi 19:27–34

Jesus thanks the Father that the disciples are purified "in me" through faith and prays that believers will be purified the same way. His third prayer was too great to be written, but the people understood it in their hearts.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to John 17:9-10 — I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me... and I am glorified in them.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 17:15-17 — His prayer on the first day also could not be written.

Ministry — miracles according to faith

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. 3 Nephi 19:35–36

Jesus compares His two ministries. The Nephites' faith let Him show greater miracles than He could show among the Jews, whose unbelief held those miracles back.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Matthew 13:58 — And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.