Jeremiah was one of the twelve disciples chosen by the resurrected Jesus Christ to minister to the Nephites. He is named in the list of the twelve given when they stood before the multitude (3 Nephi 19:4).
The twelve had been called and given power to baptize, and Jesus addressed them at the opening of his sermon to the multitude, telling the people to give heed to the words of the twelve he had chosen (3 Nephi 12:1).
When Jesus later asked each disciple what he desired, Jeremiah was among the nine who asked that, after living to the age of man, their ministry might end so they could come to him in his kingdom. Jesus answered that at seventy-two years old they would come to him (3 Nephi 28:1-3).