“And it came to pass when Jesus had said these words, he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?” (3 Nephi 28:1)

There are two types of questions: closed, which only requires a yes or no answer, and open-ended, which requires a descriptive answer.

This was the most open-ended question that anyone could ask, and it was presented to the twelve disciples on this land. I often wonder what answer I would give Jesus if He asked me such an open-ended question.

(You might want to ponder what your answer would be.)

Remember, Jesus did not put restrictions on their answers, nor did He give them any direction.

God asked Solomon an open-ended question in Gibeon: “Ask what I shall give thee.”  

Again, an open-ended question with no stipulations. Soloman’s answer was simple. God had blessed his father David with mercy and allowed him to be King of Israel. And now God had placed Solomon on the throne.

Solomon’s answer was simple: “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1 Kings 3:9)

God said it pleased him to hear this answer. God also said that Solomon could have asked for anything—long life, riches, and victory over his enemies—and God would have given it to him. But because Solomon was unselfish and asked for something that would benefit his people, not only did God bless Solomon with wisdom, but he also received long life, riches, and power over his enemies. His reputation for wisdom spread near and far. The Queen of Sheba, after listening to Solomon, said the half had not been told her (1 Kings 10:7).

When Jesus asked His twelve disciples this question, nine of them spoke up and desired that when their work was done on earth that they would speedily come into His kingdom. Jesus said they were blessed for what they desired and that it would be granted.

Then Jesus turned to the quiet three and changed the question somewhat: “What will ye that I should do unto you, when I am gone unto the Father?” (3 Nephi 28:4)

Not “What is your desire” but “What can I do for you?”

They were afraid and sorrowed in their hearts and thought, “We better not tell Jesus what we really want.” Then Jesus said unto them “Behold I know your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before I was lifted up by the Jews desired of me” (3 Nephi 28:6).

Their desire was to live to see all that God had in store for the children of men until Jesus would come again. Because of this desire, they did not taste of death, and it brought them as close to Jesus as John was when he was found leaning on Jesus’s breast.

These three men could not be stopped. They preached, they taught, and they ministered. They could not be harmed. They tarried until wickedness in the land was so great that the Lord removed them some 350 years later. (See Mormon 8:10.) But their work continued. Mormon and Moroni said they saw the three Nephites, who ministered unto them. (See Mormon 8:11.) They have been seen many times since that day. The testimonies of many has been “We have seen them. They have ministered unto us.” They have been in person, in vision, and in power even until now.

All because of their desire to see souls come to Christ while the world shall stand.

This all because Jesus knew their thoughts.

What are your thoughts that Jesus knows that you have never spoken to anyone?

Someday those thoughts may come to pass.

God bless you,