3 Nephi Chapter 19 Critique
Setting: The twelve disciples
minister unto the people and pray for the Holy Ghost—The disciples are
baptized and receive the Holy Ghost and the ministering of angels—Jesus
prays using words that cannot be written—He attests to the exceedingly
great faith of these Nephites. About A.D. 34.
Verses 1-3: 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. And it was noised abroad among the people
immediately, before it was yet dark, that the multitude had seen Jesus,
and that he had ministered unto them, and that he would also show
himself on the morrow unto the multitude. Yea, and even all the night
it was noised abroad concerning Jesus; and insomuch did they send forth
unto the people that there were many, yea, an exceedingly great number,
did labor exceedingly all that night, that they might be on the morrow
in the place where Jesus should show himself unto the multitude.
Note: Jesus Christ did not ascend again from pagan Pre-Columbian America.
And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the
same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He
had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand
of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
Hebrews 10:11-13.
Verse 4: And it came to pass
that on the morrow, when the multitude was gathered together, behold,
Nephi and his brother whom he had raised from the dead, whose name was
Timothy, and also his son, whose name was Jonas, and also Mathoni, and
Mathonihah, his brother, and Kumen, and Kumenonhi, and Jeremiah, and
Shemnon, and Jonas, and Zedekiah, and Isaiah—now these were the names
of the disciples whom Jesus had chosen—and it came to pass that they
went forth and stood in the midst of the multitude.
Note: Timothy, Jonas, Jeremiah, Zedekiah, and Isaiah are not Pre-Columbian names.
Maya kings and queens felt obliged to legitimize their claim to power.
One of the ways to do this was to build a temple or pyramid. Tikal
Temple I is a good example. This temple was built during the reign of
Yik'in Chan K'awiil. Another king named K'inich Janaab' Pakal would
later carry out this same show of power when building the Temple of
Inscriptions at Palenque. Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
Verses 5-6: And behold, the
multitude was so great that they did cause that they should be
separated into twelve bodies. 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.
Note: Substance should supersede style for godly prayer.
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn
themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with
braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper
for women professing godliness, with good works. 1 Timothy 2:8-10.
Verses 7-8: And the disciples
did pray unto the Father also in the name of Jesus. And it came to pass
that they arose and ministered unto the people. And when they had
ministered those same words which Jesus had spoken—nothing varying from
the words which Jesus had spoken—behold, they knelt again and prayed to
the Father in the name of Jesus.
Note: Substance should supersede style for godly prayer.
And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You
have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the
people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You
sent Me.” John 11:41-42.
Verses 9-14: And they did pray
for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost
should be given unto them. And when they had thus prayed they went down
unto the water’s edge, and the multitude followed them. And it came to
pass that Nephi went down into the water and was baptized. And he came
up out of the water and began to baptize. And he baptized all those
whom Jesus had chosen. 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. And behold,
they were encircled about as if it were by fire; and it came down from
heaven, and the multitude did witness it, and did bear record; and
angels did come down out of heaven and did minister unto them.
Note: Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit before baptism.
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon
all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who
believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift
of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they
heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have
received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be
baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few
days. Acts 10:44-48.
Note: Sidney Rigdon believed in the baptismal regeneration heresy.
Verse 15: And it came to pass
that while the angels were ministering unto the disciples, behold,
Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.
Note: Jesus Christ did not descend again to pagan Pre-Columbian America.
But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? Hebrews 1:13.
Verses 16-17: 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. And it came to pass that when they
had all knelt down upon the earth, he commanded his disciples that they
should pray.
Note: Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to preach, baptize, and teach.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with
you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:19-20.
Verses 18-23: And behold, they
began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and
their God. 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: Father, I thank thee that thou hast given the Holy
Ghost unto these whom I have chosen; and it is because of their belief
in me that I have chosen them out of the world. Father, I pray thee
that thou wilt give the Holy Ghost unto all them that shall believe in
their words. Father, thou hast given them the Holy Ghost because they
believe in me; and thou seest that they believe in me because thou
hearest them, and they pray unto me; and they pray unto me because I am
with them. And now Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also for all
those who shall believe on 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.
Note: The Holy Spirit was not given until after the ascension of Jesus Christ.
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go
away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if
I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict
the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin,
because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My
Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this
world is judged.” John 16:7-11.
Verse 24: 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.
Note: Jesus Christ taught His disciples.
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was
seated His disciples came to Him. 2Then He opened His mouth and taught
them, saying: Matthew 5:1-2.
Verse 25: And it came to pass
that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance
did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon
them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the
garments of Jesus; and behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the
whiteness, yea, even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the
whiteness thereof.
Note: Sidney Rigdon plagiarized the Holy Bible.
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led
them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2and He was transfigured
before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as
white as the light. Matthew 17:1-2.
Verses 26-29: And Jesus said
unto them: Pray on; nevertheless they did not cease to pray. 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: Father, I thank
thee that thou hast purified those whom I have chosen, because of their
faith, and I pray for them, and also for them who shall believe on
their words, that they may be purified in me, through faith on their
words, even as they are purified in me. Father, I pray not for the
world, but for those whom thou hast 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, Father, art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified
in them.
Note: Sidney Rigdon plagiarized the Holy Bible.
“For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they
have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You;
and they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray
for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are
Yours.” John 17:8-9.
Verse 30: And when Jesus had
spoken these words he came again unto his disciples; and behold they
did pray steadfastly, without ceasing, unto him; and he did smile upon
them again; and behold they were white, even as Jesus.
Note: Sidney Rigdon believed that the “curse of Ham” was racial.
In the past, some people have claimed the "curse of Ham" as a biblical
justification for imposing slavery or racism on Black people, although
this concept is essentially an ideologically driven misnomer. Wikipedia
Encyclopedia.
Verses 31-34: And it came to
pass that he went again a little way off and prayed unto the Father;
And tongue cannot speak the words which he prayed, neither can be
written by man the words which he prayed. And the multitude did hear
and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand
in their hearts the words which he prayed. Nevertheless, so great and
marvelous were the words which he prayed that they cannot be written,
neither can they be uttered by man.
Note: The public prayers of Jesus Christ were recorded.
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may
glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He
should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is
eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have
finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father,
glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You
before the world was.” John 17:1-5.
Verses 35-36: 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. Verily I say unto you, there are none of
them that have seen so great things as ye have seen; neither have they
heard so great things as ye have heard.
Note: Jesus Christ appeared only to those who believed in Him.
And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with
them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and
said, “Peace to you!” 27Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger
here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into
My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and
said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because
you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not
seen and yet have believed.” John 20:26-29.
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