“They Knelt Again and Prayed to the Father in the Name of Jesus”

W. Cleon Skousen

Notice that the twelve disciples were able to repeat the words of the Savior with perfect exactness. This can only be done when the Spirit conveys the words to the mind of each disciple. This same thing occurred when the Apostles in Jerusalem wanted to quote sermons or statements Jesus had made. The Spirit dictated to them the words which had been spoken. This is what Jesus promised to his Apostles when he said: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things , and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you."1

By this time the word had spread among the people that the twelve disciples had been given the authority to confer the Holy Ghost. But of course they could only do this with the consent and approbation of the Savior. Furthermore Nephi knew this would not happen until the disciples had been baptized. It is interesting that the disciples prayed for the Holy Ghost as a prelude to their baptism.

We should mention that all of these disciples as well as the multitude had been baptized by Nephi long before, but that was just for the remission of sins. Apparently Nephi knew that all of them needed to be baptized to become members of the Church of Jesus Christ, which the Savior was now establishing among them.

Treasures from the Book of Mormon

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