The Miracles of the Nephite Disciples

After the Savior’s visits to the Nephites, they entered into a period of peace and righteousness unparalleled in Nephite history. Interestingly, though, it didn’t happen right away after His departure for we read this about the twelve disciples: “They did go forth upon the face of the land, and did minister unto all the people, uniting as many to the church as would believe in their preaching; baptizing them, and as many as were baptized did receive the Holy Ghost.” There were still many not yet converted for the disciples “were cast into prison by them who did not belong to the church. And the prisons could not hold them, for they were rent in twain. And they were cast down into the earth; but they did smite the earth with the word of God, insomuch that by his power they were delivered out of the depths of the earth; and therefore they could not dig pits sufficient to hold them. And thrice they were cast into a furnace and received no harm. And twice were they cast into a den of wild beasts; and behold they did play with the beasts as a child with a suckling lamb, and received no harm” (3 Nephi 28:18-22). Clearly there were some wicked people among the Nephites trying to persecute and kill the disciples in the months following the Savior’s departure, but the disciples showed that the Savior truly had given unto them a portion of His power to work miracles.

               The diligent efforts of these disciples to preach the gospel, though, ultimately paid off and helped bring about the period of peace. The account continues, “And it came to pass that thus they did go forth among all the people of Nephi, and did preach the gospel of Christ unto all people upon the face of the land; and they were converted unto the Lord, and were united unto the church of Christ, and thus the people of that generation were blessed, according to the word of Jesus” (3 Nephi 28:23). This took about two years to get all the people converted as recorded in this verse: “And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites” (4 Nephi 1:2). These disciples labored diligently from the 34^th to the 36^th year, similar to how many missionaries today serve for two years, and they were able to help bring peace to the whole land through their missionary efforts and service to the people. Surely part of the convincing power that they had came through their service to bless the people through the power of Jesus Christ: “And there were great and marvelous works wrought by the disciples of Jesus, insomuch that they did heal the sick, and raise the dead, and cause the lame to walk, and the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear; and all manner of miracles did they work among the children of men; and in nothing did they work miracles save it were in the name of Jesus” (4 Nephi 1:5). What an incredible experience it would have been to dwell among this people at this time as all were being converted to the Lord and as these disciples were doing the same works that Jesus had done.   

                But of course, this account does highlight the fact that miracles alone are not enough for conversion. As the period of peace came to an end and the people turned to wickedness, Mormon recounted the disciples again performed miracles: “Therefore they did exercise power and authority over the disciples of Jesus who did tarry with them, and they did cast them into prison; but by the power of the word of God, which was in them, the prisons were rent in twain, and they went forth doing mighty miracles among them. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding all these miracles, the people did harden their hearts, and did seek to kill them, even as the Jews at Jerusalem sought to kill Jesus, according to his word. And they did cast them into furnaces of fire, and they came forth receiving no harm. And they also cast them into dens of wild beasts, and they did play with the wild beasts even as a child with a lamb; and they did come forth from among them, receiving no harm. Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts” (4 Nephi 1:30-34). Though the disciples demonstrated over and over that the Lord was with them and that He would miraculously preserve them, the people still hardened their hearts and rejected them. Clearly it wasn’t the miracles that had converted the people at the beginning of the period; the miracles only served to help soften the hearts of the people but they still had to choose to turn to the Lord. But when they chose to keep their hearts hardened, even the miracles of remaining unharmed when cast into the fire or into a den of beasts was not enough to convert them. And so it is with us; we will only be converted as we choose to soften our hearts before the Lord so that “the love of God” can “dwell” there within us (4 Nephi 1:15).