1 Nephi Chapter 12 - May 12, 2017

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Discuss

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In verse 8 it talks about the twelve disciples of the Lamb.  Were these 12 also called apostles?  The answer would be no.  This was at a time that there were already 12 apostles and there was no need to have another 12 in the land of Nephi and his descendents.  

Joseph Field Smith had this to say:

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"Question: 'In our class the question was asked if the twelve chosen by the Savior among the Nephites were apostles? At the same time the apostles chosen by Jesus in Palestine were on the earth the Lord chose twelve also on the American continent whom he called disciples. I have felt that there could not be more than one set of apostles on the earth at any given time, but some members of the class thought otherwise, and we have been confused.'

"Answer: The twelve men chosen by our Savior among the Nephites are called disciples in the Book of Mormon...(quotes 1 Ne. 12:8-10)

 

So the difference between a disciple and an apostle:

James E. Talmage explained it this way:

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"Discipleship is general; any follower of a man or devotee to a principle may be called a disciple, The Holy Apostleship is an office and calling belonging to the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood, at once exalted and specific, comprising as a distinguishing function that of personal and special witness to the divinity of Jesus Christ as the one and only Redeemer and Savior of mankind. The apostleship is an individual bestowal, and as such is conferred only through ordination. That the Twelve did constitute a council or  'quorum' having authority in the Church established by Jesus Christ is shown by their ministrations after the Lord's resurrection and ascension.

"....The word 'apostle' is an Anglicized form derived from the Greek apostolos, meaning literally 'one who is sent,' and connoting an envoy or official messenger, who speaks and acts by the authority of one superior to himself." (Jesus the Christ, p. 227-8)

 

I do know that many people have called the 12 that were chosen in the Book of Mormon apostles when in fact they were disciples.

These 24 men and others will judge mankind under the direction of the Savior.