“They Were Filled with Desire”

Brant Gardner

The twelve are apparently gathered in a single area so that Jesus can approach them specifically. Once again we see the twelve as examples of those who are praying directly to their Messiah. The twelve continue to pray. The interesting part of the verse is that “they did not multiply many words.” This does not appear to refer to “vain repetations” or “much words” against which the multitude had been counseled in the Sermon (3 Nephi 13:7). The point here is not to teach a contrasting order of prayer as it was in the Sermon, but rather simply to point out that: “it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire.” It is that desire that becomes the focus of their prayers, not words. This is precisely what Paul tried to teach to the Romans:

Romans 8:26

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

These twelve do not have “many words,” but they do have a tremendous desire that forms the perhaps unutterable part of their prayer.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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