Blessings to the Believers

After Jesus descended from heaven among the Nephites, he let them each come and touch his wounds showing that he was the Savior, and then he started teaching the multitude.

He chose 12 disciples and gave them authority to baptize. They were to minister unto the rest of the Nephites.

Jesus says: "...blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am.

And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins." (3 Nephi 12: 1-2)

I thought about this for a minute because the people are there, and the Savior is standing right there among them, but people are more blessed if they believe the words of other people, rather than hearing it straight from Christ's mouth. I guess the blessings are a tradeoff, because I think standing or sitting or kneeling at the feet of the Savior would be a pretty big blessing.

That being said, though, it seems to me like it would take less faith to believe Christ, when you watched him descend down from heaven, felt the nail prints in his hands and feet and the spear wound in his side. At that point, you just know. It seems easier to follow something you have knowledge about.

I think we also have to consider the responsibility as well. When we get a message and sure knowledge from the Savior himself, it seems to me we are obligated to share that with others, so they have the opportunity to exercise faith and become more blessed.