Teaching, Baptism, Holy Ghost, Prayer

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the multitude dispersed and went home with their families. The multitude who had seen Jesus immediately told everyone who had not been with them that Jesus had spoken to them, and that He would show Himself again the next day.

All that night the people spread the word to many others who had not seen Jesus. Those who were told traveled all night so they could be where Jesus would show Himself the next day. By morning, a very large multitude had gathered. The twelve disciples whom Jesus had chosen stood in the middle of the multitude. They were Nephi, his brother, Timothy, whom he had raised from the dead, Timothy’s son, Jonas, Mathoni and his brother, Mathonihah, Kumen, Kumenonhi, Jeremiah, Shemnon, Jonas, Zedekiah, and Isaiah.

Because the multitude was so large, the disciples divided them into twelve groups. Each of the twelve groups was instructed by a disciple to kneel and pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. Each disciple also prayed in the same manner and taught his group of people. After the disciples had taught the very same words that Jesus had spoken to them, they knelt again and prayed. They all prayed for what they desired most—the gift of the Holy Ghost. After they had all prayed, they led the people down to the edge of the water.

First, Nephi went down into the water and was baptized. Then Nephi baptized the eleven other disciples. After the twelve had all been baptized, the Holy Ghost fell upon them, and they were filled with fire and the Holy Ghost. The twelve were surrounded with what appeared to be fire, which came down from heaven, and angels also came down and spoke to the twelve, and the large multitude witnessed all of this.

As the angels were teaching the disciples, Jesus came and stood in the middle of the large multitude and began speaking to them. Jesus told the multitude and His disciples to kneel upon the ground. He told His disciples to pray, and they began to pray to Jesus, calling Him their Lord and God.

Jesus went a short distance from them, knelt on the ground, and prayed, “Father, I thank Thee that Thou has given the Holy Ghost to these whom I have chosen. Because of their belief in me, I have chosen them out of the world. Father, I pray Thee that Thou will give the Holy Ghost to all who believe their words. Father, Thou has given them the Holy Ghost because they believe in me, and Thou sees that they believe in me, and they pray to me because I am with them. I pray for my disciples and also for those who will believe in 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.”

After Jesus prayed, He went over to His disciples, who were still praying to Him. They were not repeating the same words, for the Holy Ghost gave them their words and the desire to continue praying. Jesus blessed them as they prayed, and His smile and His light shone upon them. The disciples became as white and pure as Jesus’s light. Nothing on earth could be as white and pure as this light. Jesus told them to keep praying. Then went a short way off again, knelt, and prayed, “Father, I thank Thee that Thou has purified the twelve whom I have chosen because of their faith, and I pray for my disciples, and for those who will believe their words, that they all may be purified in me, through their faith. I do not pray for the world, but only for those whom Thou has 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 art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them.”

Then Jesus came back over to His disciples who were still praying to Him. He smiled upon them again, and they were as bright as He. Then Jesus went off a third time to pray. And it is impossible for humans to speak or write the marvelous words that Jesus prayed. Yet the large multitude heard, and their hearts were open so they understood His words. After Jesus finished praying, He went to His disciples, and said, “I have never seen such great faith among all the Jews. Because of their unbelief, I could not show them such great miracles. None of the Jews saw or heard such great things as you have seen and heard.”