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SearchThe Body as a Communication Device
"I have manifested you to the men whom you chose from the world and gave to me. They are
yours--as all life is in your hands--you gave them to me, and I have lived among them, teaching
them the way of life, and they have believed. These men are learning that all I have comes from
you, and that the life I live in the flesh is to make known my Father to the worlds. The truth
which you have given to me I have revealed to them. These, my friends and ambassadors, have
sincerely willed to receive your word. I have told them that I came forth from you, that you sent
me into this world, and that I am about to return to you. Father, I do pray for these chosen men.
And I pray for them not as I would pray for the world, but as for those whom I have chosen out
of the world to represent me to the world after I have returned to your work, even as I have
represented you in this world during my sojourn in the flesh. These men are mine; you gave them
to me; but all things which are mine are ever yours, and all that which was yours you have now
caused to be mine. You have been exalted in me, and I now pray that I may be honored in these
men. I can no longer be in this world; I am about to return to the work you have given me to do. I
must leave these men behind to represent us and our kingdom among men. Father, keep these
men faithful as I prepare to yield up my life in the flesh. Help these, my friends, to be one in
spirit, even as we are one. As long as I could be with them, I could watch over them and guide
them, but now am I about to go away. Be near them, Father, until we can send the new teacher to
comfort and strengthen them.
"You gave me twelve men, and I have kept them all save one, the son of revenge, who would not
have further fellowship with us. These men are weak and frail, but I know we can trust them; I
have proved them; they love me, even as they reverence you. While they must suffer much for
my sake, I desire that they should also be filled with the joy of the assurance of sonship in the
heavenly kingdom. I have given these men your word and have taught them the truth. The world
may hate them, even as it has hated me, but I do not ask that you take them out of the world, only
that you keep them from the evil in the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. And
as you sent me into this world, even so am I about to send these men into the world. For their
sakes I have lived among men and have consecrated my life to your service that I might inspire
them to be purified through the truth I have taught them and the love I have revealed to them. I
well know, my Father, that there is no need for me to ask you to watch over these brethren after I
have gone; I know you love them even as I, but I do this that they may the better realize the
Father loves mortal men even as does the Son.
"And now, my Father, I would pray not only for these eleven men but also for all others who
now believe, or who may hereafter believe the gospel of the kingdom through the word of their
future ministry. I want them all to be one, even as you and I are one. You are in me and I am in
you, and I desire that these believers likewise be in us; that both of our spirits indwell them. If
my children are one as we are one, and if they love one another as I have loved them, all men
will then believe that I came forth from you and be willing to receive the revelation of truth and
glory which I have made. The glory which you gave me I have revealed to these believers. As
you have lived with me in spirit, so have I lived with them in the flesh. As you have been one
with me, so have I been one with them, and so will the new teacher ever be one with them and in
them. And all this have I done that my brethren in the flesh may know that the Father loves them
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even as does the Son, and that you love them even as you love me. Father, work with me to save
these believers that they may presently come to be with me in glory and then go on to join you in
the Paradise embrace. Those who serve with me in humiliation, I would have with me in glory so
that they may see all you have given into my hands as the eternal harvest of the seed sowing of
time in the likeness of mortal flesh. I long to show my earthly brethren the glory I had with you
before the founding of this world. This world knows very little of you, righteous Father, but I
know you, and I have made you known to these believers, and they will make known your name
to other generations. And now I promise them that you will be with them in the world even as
you have been with me."
The eleven remained kneeling in this circle about Jesus for several minutes before they arose and
in silence made their way back to the near-by camp.