The Twelve Disciples were chosen by the resurrected Jesus during his ministry among the Nephites. Their names were Nephi, his brother Timothy (whom Nephi had raised from the dead), Timothy’s son Jonas, Mathoni, Mathonihah, Kumen, Kumenonhi, Jeremiah, Shemnon, a second Jonas, Zedekiah, and Isaiah (3 Nephi 19:4). Nephi was the son of Nephi, a descendant of Helaman. Jesus gave them power to baptize (3 Nephi 11:18-22), named the twelve he had chosen to minister to the people (3 Nephi 12:1), and touched each one to give them power to confer the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 18:36-37).
Jesus also instituted the sacrament during his first visit, breaking bread, blessing it, and giving it to the disciples and the multitude; he then gave them wine, charging them to do this always in remembrance of his body and blood (3 Nephi 18:1-11). The disciples later administered the sacrament again on his second visit, this time miraculously providing both bread and wine (3 Nephi 20:3-7).
They were charged to testify that they had seen Jesus (3 Nephi 12:2) and were appointed to be judges of the people (3 Nephi 27:27). Mormon records that this remnant would be judged by the twelve whom Jesus chose in this land, as the people at Jerusalem would be judged by the twelve chosen there (Mormon 3:19). The disciples healed the sick, raised the dead, caused the lame to walk, and opened the eyes of the blind, working such miracles only in the name of Jesus (4 Nephi 1:5). They also had authority to ordain priests and teachers by the laying on of hands and are called “the elders of the church” in this capacity; they ordained according to the gifts and callings of God, by the power of the Holy Ghost (Moroni 3:1-4).
Jesus asked each disciple what he desired. Nine asked to come to him in his kingdom after a full life; he told them they would come to him at seventy-two years of age. The other three desired to remain on earth until his Second Coming and were promised they would never taste death but be changed from mortality to immortality at his coming, so that they might bring souls to Christ while the world stands (3 Nephi 28:1-10).
The peace and righteousness among the people lasted for generations after Christ’s visit, until pride began to enter in the two hundred and first year (4 Nephi 1:18, 24).