only Name by which the Church could be appropriately known is cogent and
convincing. It was not the church of Lehi or Nephi, of Mosiah or Alma,
of Samuel or Helaman; else it should have been called by the name of the
man whose church it was, even as today there are churches named after
men;[1493] but being the Church established by Jesus Christ, it could
properly bear none other name than His.

Jesus then reiterated to the Nephite Twelve many of the cardinal
principles He had before enunciated to them and to the people at large;
and commanded that His words be written, excepting certain exalted
communications which He forbade them to write. The importance of
preserving as a priceless treasure the new scriptures He had given was
shown, with assurance that in heaven records were kept of all things
done by divine direction. The Twelve were told that they were to be the
judges of their people; and in view of such investiture they were
admonished to diligence and godliness.[1494] The Lord was made glad by
the faith and ready obedience of the Nephites amongst whom He had
ministered; and to the twelve special witnesses He said: "And now
behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you, and also
this generation; yea, and even the Father rejoiceth, and also all the
holy angels, because of you and this generation; for none of them are
lost. Behold, I would that ye should understand; for I mean them who are
now alive of this generation; and none of them are lost; and in them I
have fulness of joy." His joy, however, was mingled with sorrow because
of the apostasy into which the later generations would fall; this He
foresaw as a dire condition that would attain its climax in the fourth
generation from that time.[1495]

THE THREE NEPHITES.

In loving compassion the Lord spoke unto the twelve disciples, one by
one, asking: "What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to
the Father?"[1496] All but three expressed the desire that they might
continue in the ministry until they had reached a goodly age, and then
in due time be received by the Lord into His kingdom. To them Jesus gave
blessed assurance, saying: "After that ye are seventy and two years old,
ye shall come unto me in my kingdom, and with me ye shall find rest." He
turned to the three who had reserved the request they ventured not to
express;

"And he said unto them, Behold, I know your thoughts, and ye
have desired the thing which John, my b