Chapter 28
Nine of the twelve
disciples desire and are promised an inheritance in Christ’s kingdom when they
die—The Three Nephites desire and are given power over death so as to remain on
the earth until Jesus comes again—They are translated and see things not lawful
to utter, and they are now ministering among men. About A.D. 34–35.
Christ next asks the twelve what they desired from Him after
he returned to the Father. The Lord has asked others this same question.
“In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him,
Ask what I shall give thee…
“Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and
come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so
great?
“And God said to Solomon …
“Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give
thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that
have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like” (2
Chronicles 1:7, 10-12).
“And the Lord said unto me: John, my beloved, what desirest
thou? For if you shall ask what you will, it shall be granted unto you.
“And I said unto him: Lord, give unto me power over death,
that I may live and bring souls unto thee.
“And the Lord said unto me: Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
because thou desirest this thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt
prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people…” (D&C 7:1-3).
Nine of the twelve told Him after they had lived a full
life, they would return into His presence in His kingdom; however, three were
silent.
He granted the desire of the nine. He told them they would
live to the age of seventy-two and return to His presence. “And it came to pass
that the seventy and first year passed away, and also the seventy and second
year, yea, and in fine, till the seventy and ninth year had passed away; yea,
even an hundred years had passed away, and the disciples of Jesus, whom he had
chosen, had all gone to the paradise of God … and there were other disciples
ordained in their stead; and also many of that generation had passed away” (4
Nephi 1:14).
He then turned to the three who were silent and asked them
what they desired. They were saddened because they dared not to tell Him what
they desired.
The Lord told them He knew what they desired. When Ammon was
teaching King Lamoni about God, he told him, “And Ammon said: Yea, and he
looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and
intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning”
(Alma 18:32).
Christ told them they had the same desire as did John, the
Beloved. He also desired to remain on Earth until He returned in glory.
Christ told them they would never experience death. They will
live to behold all of God’s work with His children and will remained until His
second coming. “Therefore the true believers in Christ, and the true worshipers
of Christ, (among whom were the three disciples of Jesus who should tarry) were
called Nephites, and Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites” (4 Nephi 1:37).
“And there are none that do know the true God save it be the
disciples of Jesus, who did tarry in the land until the wickedness of the
people was so great that the Lord would not suffer them to remain with the
people; and whether they be upon the face of the land no man knoweth.
“But behold, my father and I have seen them, and they have
ministered unto us” (Mormon 8:10-11).
“And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a
promise that they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise
until after their faith” (Ether 12:17).
“Persons who are changed so that they do not experience pain
or death until their resurrection to immortality” (Guide to the Scriptures,
Translated Beings entry).
“Most academic discussions of the Three Nephites are
discussions of them as folklore—stories of strangers who appear from nowhere to
help those in need. Sometimes they change a flat tire. Sometimes they deliver
food. They often appear as hitchhikers. And as soon as they’ve done their good
deed, they disappear.
“The folklore is an expansion of the promised blessing.
Jesus says nothing to the three disciples about fixing flat tires. Rather than
ordinary good deeds, he says they will work to bring souls to Christ. In spite
of that, the folklore is what most people think of when they think of the Three
Nephites, and I wouldn’t want to deny that ordinary good deeds can be a large
part of what bringing souls to Christ involves.”[1]
Back when I took the Book of Mormon in seminary (1968-69
school year), we were told stories about the Three Nephites that were more
folklore. In some ways, the Three Nephites have become a part of Mormon urban
legends. I remember hearing an urban legend telling about three unknown people
who were a part of the Continental Congress in 1776, and no one knew who they
three were.
I have wondered what it would be like to meet one or more of
the Three. It would be exciting to
discuss things like daily life in their times; ask about earlier parts of the
record, etc. That would be a marvelous spiritual experience. And, I would never
be able to talk about it because it was such a sacred and holy spiritual
experience.
[1] Forthcoming book
focuses on Mormonism, Islam, Buddhism, James Faulconer, Maxwell Institute website.
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