1 Nephi 11:31

31 And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.

It’s interesting and significant to note that healing illness and possession by devils or unclean spirits not only is a trait of Christ’s ministry, but of those who serve Him as well. So powerful is Christ’s influence that through His authority, mere mortals have the same power through His name.

• Mormon 9:24

1 Nephi 11:30

30 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men; and they did minister unto them.

The angels who descended and ministered unto the children of men were most likely charged with preparing them for Christ’s ministry, so that they might have their hearts softened and they might believe in Christ when He ministered to them. I think this was necessary because even miracles can be dismissed by the faithless.

1 Nephi 11:29

29 And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it came to pass that they were carried away in the Spirit from before my face, and I saw them not.

Clearly the organization of the Church is not established on a whim; the twelve apostles were not organized as a last minute idea that Christ came up with during His mortal ministry. This vision of Nephi’s occurred nearly 600 years before that time.

• 1 Nephi 14:20

1 Nephi 11:28

28 And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them.

Christ’s ministry obviously had a polarizing effect on people, which this verse points out. Multitudes gathered together to hear him, and possibly, but not necessarily, the same people cast him out. I don’t think there was much indifference where Christ’s teaching or ministry were concerned. The people either worshipped him or hated him, or were in the process of going one way or the other.

• D&C 138:26

1 Nephi 11:27

27 And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove.

The baptism of Christ begins His mortal ministry, which is itself a form of condescension. To think that God himself would come and live among men, suffering the same hardships, is amazing. On the one hand, this fallen earth life is well beneath Him. On the other hand it is a comfort to know that the rules for one are the rules for all. In other words, in order for Christ to attain all the glory of His potential, He still needed a body. He still needed to keep the commandments, including baptism. That tells me that this ordinance is more than simply washing away sins. Conditions of godhood are the same for everyone, and Christ didn’t exclude himself from meeting those conditions. In fact, He met them perfectly. His is the example we should strive to live up to.

• Matthew 3:13–17
• Matthew 11:10 (7–11)
• 1 Nephi 10:7 (7–10)
• 2 Nephi 31:4 (4–18)