[Publius6961]

...and this is critically important in your life at this point in time because...?

[jdm]

"Mormons believe that there are three people still alive from the days of Jesus, who walk the Earth this very day."

[Publius6961]

If you have a sudden inexplicable need to bash a religion, and enjoy excitement, try:

ISLAM!

[philman_36]

Judge for yourself..
THIRD NEPHI CHAPTER 28
Nine of the Twelve 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. Between A.D. 34 and 35

[elizabetty]

I don't know about this but chances are if it is not on Google it is made up.

If they do believe this, what does it matter? Do we REALLY want to start bringing RELIGIOUS dogma into the POLITICAL realm?

If so, there is not a religion that will pass the giggle test concerning at least one of its dogmas.

[Logophile]

Try the LDS Church web site: www.lds.org. Search for "three Nephites."

[philman_36]

An aside...I’m not Mormon, I’m just familiar with many of the beliefs of the world.

[org.whodat]

www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1503115/posts - 50k

You could also try Calpso Louie and the mother ship. :)

[BenLurkin]

Try googling “magic underwear”.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

LAZARUS LONG

[nowandlater]

Actually there is at least 4.

1st one is John the Revelator from the New Testament.

The three other are the Apostolic Nephites mentioned in the Book of Mormon.

[tantiboh]

Titans, I’m sorry that this threat degenerated so quickly with reactionary responses.

It’s an interesting question you ask; I hope this answer is helpful.

The following passage, from the Book of Mormon, relates the conversation held between the Savior, when He visited His people in the Americas, and His Apostles that He chose there at that time: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/3_ne/28

***
1 And it came to pass when Jesus had said these words, he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?
2 And they all spake, save it were three, saying: We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our ministry, wherein thou hast called us, may have an end, that we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom.
3 And he said unto them: Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me; therefore, after that ye are seventy and two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest.
4 And when he had spoken unto them, he turned himself unto the three, and said unto them: What will ye that I should do unto you, when I am gone unto the Father?
5 And they sorrowed in their hearts, for they durst not speak unto him the thing which they desired.
6 And he said unto them: Behold, I know your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me.
7 Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven.
8 And ye shall never endure the pains of death; but when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality; and then shall ye be blessed in the kingdom of my Father.
9 And again, ye shall not have pain while ye shall dwell in the flesh, neither sorrow save it be for the sins of the world; and all this will I do because of the thing which ye have desired of me, for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand.
***

So, like John in the New Testament, the “Three Nephites,” as they have come to be known in LDS culture, were promised that they would not die until Christ’s second coming; in the meantime, they would labor to bring souls to Him.

Of course, numerous urban legends have arisen in the LDS community regarding the supposed works of these three; but they have evidently never announced themselves to the modern world. Probably a wise decision.

Interestingly, Mormon, the author of most of the Book of Mormon, later in the same chapter expounded on the condition of these three:

***
36 And now behold, as I spake concerning those whom the Lord hath chosen, yea, even three who were caught up into the heavens, that I knew not whether they were cleansed from mortality to immortality—
37 But behold, since I wrote, I have inquired of the Lord, and he hath made it manifest unto me that there must needs be a change wrought upon their bodies, or else it needs be that they must taste of death;
38 Therefore, that they might not taste of death there was a change wrought upon their bodies, that they might not suffer pain nor sorrow save it were for the sins of the world.
39 Now this change was not equal to that which shall take place at the last day; but there was a change wrought upon them, insomuch that Satan could have no power over them, that he could not tempt them; and they were sanctified in the flesh, that they were holy, and that the powers of the earth could not hold them.
40 And in this state they were to remain until the judgment day of Christ; and at that day they were to receive a greater change, and to be received into the kingdom of the Father to go no more out, but to dwell with God eternally in the heavens.
***

I hope this answers your question. In the LDS Church, we do believe that the three men you cite exist.