Talk:3 Ne 17:1-18:39

Verse 18:1-5: "Shall one be ordained"

Kleatham, interesting question. Here are some thoughts:

• It's interesting that we seem the exact same "one be ordained" phrase in Acts 1:22 where Matthias is being chosen as an apostle, I wonder if there's a connect. Is Joseph in his translation pointing us toward that verse for some reason?

• I think this interesting phrasing sort of conjures the image of a prayer circle, one (the high priest) praying as a voice for everyone. Lots of rich things to think about here, I think.

• Mosiah 18:18 seems interesting, how there is "one priest to every fifty" ordained to preach. This reminds me of the judges that Moses calls in Numbers (sorry I don't have the reference to that episode right now). I think there might be reason to think that this sort of structure was present in the Church among the Nephites (and Lamanites). If this were the case, I think it's interesting to think about the Church differed at that time and place compared to now. We like to talk about Joseph Smith restoring the Church in the same form that is was under Peter at the time of Christ, but I think that's too simplistic. Surely there are both interesting similarities and differences--I think the differences are, in many ways, more interesting to think about in that it helps us understand the age that we live in light of past ages....

• The phrasing in D&C 42:11 also seems interesting in light of this question: "except he be ordained by some one who has authority" (my emphasis). Interesting that this was transcribed not as one word ("someone"), but two words ("some one"), which seems to me to emphasize the singularity of the one being given the authority. Not sure what to make of this, but I think it's interesting. Note also D&C 104:61. Reminds me of the "one by one" gathering in Isa 27:12--and where's that verse I'm thinking of with the image of one person in a field or something be caught up to the Lord and one next to him being left behind, or something? Anyway, this is something I've wanted to study a lot more, how this call into the community of God seems to come to us in both a radically individual way, and yet also in a communal way.

Well, that's enough for now. I'd be interested in hearing any follow-up thoughts. --RobertC 19:34, 16 October 2007 (CEST)

Just reading this verse it does seem that Jesus intends to only give one power to bless the sacrament, but when I read this it doesn't strike me that he is saying something like "only one person at a time can have this power" or something like that. So I guess I don't see the problem to begin with.

RobertC, are your citations of the verses above meant to suggest that maybe "one" doesn't mean "only one" even at the time, or in other words, it would be compatible with what Jesus says for him to go and give the power to administer the sacrament to each of the 12? --Matthew Faulconer 07:44, 19 October 2007 (CEST)

I guess my main thought above is that the somewhat awkward--or at least curious--wording is more related to a larger theme that is being emphasized which we might link to temple themes, and the way one represents and serves many. I have less of an opinion as to whether there could be one or more of the 12 being given the power to administer the sacrament (though I did indeed have in mind a reading which allows for there to be more than 1 being given this power). --RobertC 23:16, 19 October 2007 (CEST)

Verse 18:13: More or less

I think Mosiah 18:20 and Mosiah 25:22 will be helpful in uncovering the meaning here. Also, perhaps the "more or less" is only referring to the way the sacrament should be administered. Or, "these" may refer to everything Christ has taught (e.g. the beatitutdes, etc.). Or, a more Joe-like reading would perhaps be that our lives should become a type of sacrament, an incarnation of the Word--everything in our lives should be done in remembrance of Christ (cf. "pray always"). --RobertC 14:51, 8 Nov 2006 (UTC)

Verses 18:31-35: Disputations

I wonder what the disputation were which were among those disciples of Christ because they aren't just mentioned in 3 Nephi 11 but also here in Ch. 18. --User:Kempj