And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. (Surely Christ's twelve apostles were among his closest friends. Friendship is an important gospel principle (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/friendship-a-gospel-principle). Christ taught, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:12). Friendship with others is the result of obedience to Christ's commandment to "love one another, as [Christ has] loved you" (John 15:12).
Matthew (also known as Levi) had a very different background than the other apostles. Matthew was a tax collector, or publican, for the Roman government. Publicans were generally considered social outcasts. "He it was who gave a feast, for attending which Jesus and the disciples were severely criticized by the Pharisees, on the charge that it was unseemly for Him to eat with publicans and sinners" (https://www.lds.org/manual/jesus-the-christ/chapter-16). Simon (Peter), was a prosperous fisherman. "In temperament Peter was impulsive and stern, and, until trained by severe experience, was lacking in firmness. He had many human weaknesses, yet in spite of them all he eventually overcame the temptations of Satan and the frailties of the flesh, and served his Lord as the appointed and acknowledged leader of the Twelve" (https://www.lds.org/manual/jesus-the-christ/chapter-16). The brothers James and John were also fishermen. "With Peter these two brothers were witnesses of many of the most important incidents in the life of Jesus; thus, the three were the only apostles admitted to witness the raising of the daughter of Jairus from death to life; they were the only members of the Twelve present at the transfiguration of Christ; they were nearest the Lord during the period of His mortal agony in Gethsemane; and, as heretofore told, they have ministered in these modern days in the restoration of the Holy Apostleship with all its ancient authority and power of blessing" (https://www.lds.org/manual/jesus-the-christ/chapter-16).
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