3 Nephi 18
People in this chapter
The day has been long: the voice of the Father, the wounds in His hands and feet, a sermon, the healing of every sick person, the blessing of the children. Before He leaves, Jesus does one more thing. He sends His disciples for bread and wine (v. 1).
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
3 Nephi 18:1-7In Remembrance of My Body
1And it came to pass that Jesus commanded his disciples that they should bring forth some bread and wine unto him. 2And while they were gone for bread and wine, he commanded the multitude that they should sit themselves down upon the earth. 3And when the disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the disciples and commanded that they should eat. 4And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude.
Jesus sends the disciples for bread and wine. He breaks the bread, blesses it, and gives it to the twelve, and then they give it to the multitude.
5And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the disciples: Behold there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name. 6And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it unto you. 7And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.
Jesus says one will be ordained with power to bless the bread and give it to the members of His Church. They are to do this always, as He did.
3 Nephi 18:8-14Ye Are Built upon My Rock
8And it came to pass that when he said these words, he commanded his disciples that they should take of the wine of the cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the multitude that they might drink of it. 9And it came to pass that they did so, and did drink of it and were filled; and they gave unto the multitude, and they did drink, and they were filled. 10And when the disciples had done this, Jesus said unto them: Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you. 11And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.
The disciples drink the wine and give it to the multitude. Jesus says this shows the Father that they are willing to keep His commandments, and that they always remember Him.
The sacrament prayers the Church uses today, found in Moroni 4-5 and D&C 20, follow the words Jesus spoke here.
12And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things. And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock. 13But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the gates of hell are ready open to receive them. 14Therefore blessed are ye if ye shall keep my commandments, which the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you.
If they always do these things, they are built on Christ's rock. Anyone who adds to it or takes away from it builds on sand and will fall.
3 Nephi 18:15-25Watch and Pray Always
15Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him. 16And as I have prayed among you even so shall ye pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name. Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you. 17And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto his disciples, he turned again unto the multitude and said unto them: 18Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
Jesus tells the twelve, and then the multitude, to watch and pray always. Satan wants to sift them like wheat. Jesus has prayed among them as an example to follow.
19Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name; 20And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you. 21Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.
We pray to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. If we ask for what is right, believing, it will be given. Jesus commands families to pray together so that wives and children are blessed.
22And behold, ye shall meet together oft; and ye shall not forbid any man from coming unto you when ye shall meet together, but suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not; 23But ye shall pray for them, and shall not cast them out; and if it so be that they come unto you oft ye shall pray for them unto the Father, in my name. 24Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed. 25And ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world; and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation.
Jesus tells them to meet together often and not to keep anyone away. They should pray for those who come, not cast them out. He is the light they hold up, and as He invited everyone to come and feel, they should invite the world.
3 Nephi 18:26-34Ye Shall Not Cast Him Out
26And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he turned his eyes again upon the disciples whom he had chosen, and said unto them: 27Behold verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you another commandment, and then I must go unto my Father that I may fulfil other commandments which he hath given me. 28And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily, when ye shall minister it; 29For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood ye shall forbid him.
Jesus tells the twelve not to let anyone knowingly take the sacrament unworthily, because doing so brings condemnation. If they know a person is unworthy, they should not let him partake.
30Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood. 31But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered. 32Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.
Even when someone is not allowed to take the sacrament, they are not to be cast out. The disciples should keep ministering to that person and praying for him. If he repents and is baptized, they should receive him.
33Therefore, keep these sayings which I have commanded you that ye come not under condemnation; for wo unto him whom the Father condemneth. 34And I give you these commandments because of the disputations which have been among you. And blessed are ye if ye have no disputations among you.
Jesus explains that He gave these commandments because there had been arguments among them. They are blessed if they have no disputations.
3 Nephi 18:35-39He Gave Them Power to Give the Holy Ghost
35And now I go unto the Father, because it is expedient that I should go unto the Father for your sakes. 36And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of these sayings, he touched with his hand the disciples whom he had chosen, one by one, even until he had touched them all, and spake unto them as he touched them. 37And the multitude heard not the words which he spake, therefore they did not bear record; but the disciples bare record that he gave them power to give the Holy Ghost. And I will show unto you hereafter that this record is true.
Before leaving, Jesus touches each of the twelve and speaks to them. The disciples testified that He gave them power to give the Holy Ghost.
38And it came to pass that when Jesus had touched them all, there came a cloud and overshadowed the multitude that they could not see Jesus. 39And while they were overshadowed he departed from them, and ascended into heaven. And the disciples saw and did bear record that he ascended again into heaven.
A cloud covers the multitude, and Jesus ascends into heaven. The disciples see Him go and testify of it.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- SacramentScriptures on the sacrament in the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants (vv. 1-14).
- PrayerScriptures on praying always, praying to the Father in the name of Christ, and family prayer (vv. 15-21).
- FellowshipScriptures on receiving and caring for one another in the Church (vv. 22-32).
- Holy GhostScriptures on the promise of the Spirit in verses 7 and 11, and the power to give the Holy Ghost in verse 37.
Where this echoes in Scripture
In Remembrance of My Body
- Luke 22:19This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
- Matthew 26:26Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples.
- 3 Nephi 11:15Did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet.The body the bread recalls.
- D&C 20:76The elder or priest shall administer it.
Ye Are Built upon My Rock
- Moroni 4:3That they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee... that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son.
- Moroni 5:2That they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them.
- D&C 20:77That they may always have his Spirit to be with them.The same bread prayer, revealed again in this dispensation.
- 3 Nephi 11:39-40Whoso shall declare more or less than this... is not built upon my rock.
- 1 Corinthians 11:26As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
Watch and Pray Always
- Luke 22:31-32Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee.
- Matthew 26:41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.
- Alma 34:21Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.Amulek on prayer in the home.
- D&C 19:38Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you.
- Moroni 6:5-6The church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray.
Ye Shall Not Cast Him Out
- 1 Corinthians 11:27-29Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
- Moroni 6:7-8As oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.
- Matthew 9:12They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
- Luke 15:4Go after that which is lost, until he find it.
- D&C 46:4-5Ye are commanded never to cast any one out from your public meetings, which are held before the world.
He Gave Them Power to Give the Holy Ghost
- Moroni 2:1-3The words of Christ, which he spake unto his disciples, the twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands upon them.The words promised in verse 37.
- John 16:7It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.
- Acts 1:9While they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
- Acts 8:17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.