Should I Stay or Should I go? That is the Question!

The story in 3rd Nephi 28 of the three Nephites choosing to tarry on the earth until Christ would come in His glory always fascinates many people for several different reasons. The thought of these three (and John the Beloved--see John 21:21-23) still living on the earth for almost 2,000 years is enjoyable to ponder over. Where are they? What do they look like? Do they go two by two? How do they get around? And so forth.

Some may have heard their Uncle Jebediah tell of the time he was driving in a terrible blizzard back in the winter of 1957 and then got a flat tire. As he was changing the tire, three men appeared out of nowhere and offered to help. As Uncle Jebediah was putting the jack back in the trunk, he turned back to thank the men for their assistance and to his utter astonishment, the men had disappeared into thin air. It must have been the three Nephites coming to his rescue. Cool story. Could it be possible? Sure. But should Uncle Jeb's story be taken as gospel truth? Probably not.

Here is a little quote from the Seminary and Institute website to add some authority to the issue of spreading Mormon Urban Legends.

President Harold B. Lee said ―Rumor and gossip . . . when once started, gains momentum as each telling becomes more fanciful, until unwittingly those who wish to dwell on the sensational repeat them in firesides, in classes . . . without first verifying the source before becoming a party to causing speculation and discussions that steal time away from the things that would be profitable and beneficial and enlightening to their souls (in Conference Report, Oct. 1972, 125; or Ensign, Jan. 1973, 105; emphasis added). Quoting spurious material is detrimental to the Spirit and will not bless the lives of the students. As we teach students the gospel, we must reach past their emotions to their spirits and let the Holy Ghost, not the sensational, bring them to Christ.

The main reason for my post is not to speculate about the whereabouts of the three Nephites or any of the particulars that are fun to contemplate, but to highlight some insights I came across while preparing and presenting chapter 28 for a seminary lesson recently.

In verse seven, Jesus says to the three disciples who have desired what John had desired, that "more blessed are ye..." Why would these three be more blessed than the other nine who desired to come back into the Father's presence when their mortal life was over? The answer can be found in verse nine, which says, "...for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me..." It seems that the Savior is confirming his teaching in Doctrine and Covenants 18:15-16 where he states that great shall be your joy if you bring one soul unto Him, but how great shall be your joy if you bring many souls unto Him. It was a great thing the nine disciples desired, but even greater to desire to minister to all mankind until Christ comes a second time. The lesson of the three Nephites seems to be that we are blessed when we seek to bring souls back to our Heavenly Father and the way we can be like these three, is to spread the gospel in every way possible.

One final thought. In verse 17, Mormon says that he doesn't know whether the three Nephites are mortal or not. But, if you look at verse 37, he says that he "inquired of the Lord" to know more about their translated state as opposed to an immortal or resurrected state. The point is that Mormon didn't know and then prayed to know more clearly what their status was. We may do the very same thing. We may not know all things at a certain time, but as we continue in faith, the knowledge we seek is given to us. And until we receive the answer we seek, we move forward in faith until an answer is given.

The three Nephites are cool to think about, but the lessons embedded in this account are meant for us to liken to ourselves and the situations of our time. May we inquire to know the will of the Lord in our lives and may we share with others these pearls of great price we have been blessed to have in our lives.