1 BEHOLD, now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked round about again on the multitude, and he said unto them: Behold, my time is at hand.

2 I perceive that ye are weak, [ It has been a long day, a lot has happened and a lot has been taught to them, such that they are in overload mode. Could be either tired or spiritually drained. He has been with them all day. Maybe in the sun and they are just tired. ] that ye cannot understand [ Jesus recognizes that they are not grasping the scope of his message. He is the master teach as such calls it a day. Remember he has just quoted 3 verses from Isaiah and they are now lost. Probably tired as well. Do we often not understand all that is taught in a great gospel sermon? ] all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time. [ So it is pretty important that they are in a position for them to really hear what he has to say as this is what the Father wants them to know. So in order for them to be in the proper place he suggests that he will tell them to them tomorrow when they are fresh. ]

[ Guide to understanding any message from the Lord including Isaiah…]

3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, [ Where does the Savior teach that they should go for additional instruction and inspiration? The home] and [1] ponder [ So he is suggesting that they each need to be part of the learning experience here. They need to do something more than just listen. They need to go ask the Father and receive their own personal revelation. Elder Bednar said in April Conference 2019 "If all you or I know about Jesus Christ and his restored gospel is what other people teach or tell us, then the foundation or our testimony...is built upon sand. We cannot expect simply to attend Church meetings and participate in programs and thereby receive all the spiritual edification and protection that will enable us to withstand the evil day." To think deeply~ reflect~ reason~~ contemplate~ dwell upon~ or meditate. “Man must take the time to meditate,to sweep the cobwebs from his mind, so that he might get a tighter grip on the truth and spend less time chasing phantoms and dallying in projects of lesser worth” Teaching of Ezra Benson p 390. ] upon the things which I have said, and [2] ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, [ So what is he saying? Ask to understand. Ask for specific answers to each and every question that you do not understand. The Lord will answer each one in an individual way that is how we learn - Line upon line Isa 28:10; D&C 98:12. Much along the lines of President Nelson when he said that we need to Hear Him. ] and [3] prepare your minds [ How do we prepare our minds? ] for the morrow, and I come unto you again.

4 But now I go unto the Father, [ Goes back to Heavenly Father so that man can rest. ] and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they [ The lost ten tribes. ] are not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them. [ After all he was the one that lead them away to the place where they are now. God the Father took them somewhere else, where only he knows, as he did not tell the world. ]

5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.

6 And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you. [ And how does he demonstrate that compassion? He blesses the sick, then the children... ]

7 Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? [ Where does the Savior begin his work? With those who can do the least for themsleves - the lame, the sick the weak, the downtrodden the little children. ] Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy. [ Is this not the Saviors plan in the first place - to heal us from whatever we are afflicted - both physical and spiritual. ]

8 For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you. [ See D&C 46:19 the gift to be healed is one of the gifts of the spirit. ]

9 And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.

10 And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.

11 And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought.

12  So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, [ So that the children were the closest to the Savior. ] and Jesus stood in the midst; [ "In the Midst" referrs to the center. ] and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him. [ The older people backed up until all of the little children could find a place next to the Savior. ]

13 And it came to pass that when they had all been brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, [ Jesus is still in the middle. ] he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground.

14 And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled [ Why would he be troubled with these precious little children around him? Does this demonstrate how great of love he has for each of us? Most likely not those who are present; because he remarks that they have sufficient faith in vs 8,20, and 18:35. So he most likely talking about the scattered and disbelieving condition of Israel as a people. The interesting thing is the timing of the comment. It is made while he is blessing the children; as if to say that children are pure but because of the traditions of their parents how quickly they become corrupt. How quickly the parents lead the children away from him. In verse 20 he does find joy that this generation because none are lost. ] because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.

15 And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, [ Why? the language of man cannot express the language of the spirit. There are no words to convey it. I suppose that he prayed for each of them as individuals and that is not for the world. ] and the multitude did bear record who heard him.

16 And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father; [ And why do you suppose that is? Because they had never been so overcome by the spirit. They heard his prayers for each of them as individuals, they knew of his genuine love for each of them. ]

17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.

18 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome.

19 And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and bade them arise.

20 And they arose from the earth, and he said unto them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full. [ His joy is full because these are not lost to him. ]

21 And when he had said these words, he wept, [ A demonstration of his compassion - an acknowledgement that he does feel joy, pain, sorrow, love. He was overcome with love for them - a tenderness that reflected that they would be with im in the eternities. ] and the multitude bare record of it, [ Not only could they see the compassion and love that the savior had for them but they could feel it as well. ] and he took their little children, [ Symbolic of the pure in heart. ] one by one, [ Symbolic of the relationship that we need with him. The atonement is a one to one experience. We are responsible for our own salvation, we must commit to live our life subject to his command, submit in all things to his will and complete the saving ordinances that he has set forth for us. ] and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

22 And when he had done this he wept again;

23 And he [ Jesus. ] spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them. [ Remember that the children were the ones who were closest to the Savior. The angels come down and encircle the children. So there is kind os an order here. The Savior first, then the children, then the angels, then the rest of the multitude. Jesus’ placement of the children so that they immediately surrounded Him—their proximity exceeding even that of the encircling angels and accompanying fire—conveyed a powerful visual message about their holiness: namely, that “whosoever … shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Hence, Jesus’ instructions to them: “Behold your little ones.” An example that this gospel as taught by Christ is one of compassion, one that is to be lived, to be felt. One that we are to feel a part of and to be immersed in. It is one where we can both see and feel the outpouring of the spirit. ]

25 And the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children.