he sermon, little distinction is made between
the precepts addressed to the multitude in general, and the instructions
given particularly to the Twelve. Thus, Matt. 6:25-34 was spoken
inferentially to the apostles; for they and not the people were to lay
aside all worldly pursuits; in the sermon delivered to the Nephites the
distinction is thus made clear: "And now it came to pass that when Jesus
had spoken these words, he looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen,
and said unto them, Remember the words which I have spoken. For behold,
ye are they whom I have chosen to minister unto this people. Therefore I
say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what
ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the
life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" etc. (See 3 Nephi
13:25-34). Matt 7 opens with "Judge not that ye be not judged," without
intimation as to its general or special application; 3 Nephi 14 begins
"And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he
turned again to the multitude, and did open his mouth unto them again,
saying, Verily, verily, I say unto you, judge not, that ye be not
judged." A careful, verse-by-verse comparison between the Sermon on the
Mount as recorded by Matthew, and the risen Lord's discourse to His
people on the western continent is earnestly recommended to every
student.

3. Baptisms Among the Nephites After the Lord's Visitation.--We read
that before the second appearing of Christ to the Nephites, the chosen
Twelve were baptized (3 Nephi 19:10-13). These men had doubtless been
baptized before, for Nephi had been empowered not only to baptize but to
ordain others to the requisite authority for administering baptism (3
Nephi 7:23-26). The baptism of the disciples on the morn of the Savior's
second visit, was in the nature of a rebaptism, involving a renewal of
covenants, and confession of faith in the Lord Jesus.

It is possible that in the earlier Nephite baptisms some irregularity in
mode or impropriety in the spirit of administering the ordinance may
have arisen; for, as we have seen the Lord enjoined upon the people in
connection with the instructions concerning baptism that disputations
must cease. (3 Nephi 11:28-33.)

As to second or later baptisms, the author has written elsewhere (see
_The Articles of Faith_, vii:12-17) practically as follows. Rebaptisms
recorded in scripture are few, and in each instance the specia