During the years of Christ's public ministry, the first disciples were associated closely with him, that they might be trained for the work that as his representatives they must carry forward when he should be no longer with them. For three years they labored with him, hearing his words of comfort and hope to the weary and desponding, beholding his miracles in behalf of the suffering. When Christ returned to the Father, he bade the disciples continue the work he had begun. They were given power to heal "all manner of sickness and all manner of disease." By healing in his name the diseases of the body, they would testify to his power for the healing of the soul. Through ministry such as Christ had performed, they were to carry to all nations the gospel of his grace.

I de år Kristus havde offentlig virksomhed, var de første disciple tæt knyttet til ham, så de kunne oplæres i det arbejde, som hans repræsentanter måtte frembære, når han ikke længere skulle være hos dem. I tre år arbejdede de sammen med ham, hørte hans trøstende og håbefulde ord til trætte og nedtrykte, beskue hans mirakler for dem som led. Da Kristus vendt tilbage til Faderen bad han sine disciple at fortsætte det arbejde han havde påbegyndt. De fik kraft til at helbrede ”alle slags sygdomme og al slags skrøbeligheder.” Ved at helbrede kroppens sygdomme i hans navn, ville de bevidne hans kraft sjælens helbredelse. Ved en forkyndertjeneste som dem Kristus udrettede, skulle de føre hans nådes evangelium til alle nationerne.