Immortals in the LDS?

SergiusPaulus

SergiusPaulus

Active Member
In my life I have witnessed great judgement within and between denominations. In my lifelong journey of seeking truth and knowledge I have recently revisited the LDS church despite knowing the criticism and judgment by others for doing so. In a recent study with mentors I was asking about verses pertaining to Jesus visiting the Americas. At the end of Jesus time in the Americas he granted 3 individuals with life until he returns. This is AIs description of those verses.
In the Book of Mormon, the story of the Three Nephites asking Jesus if they can remain on the earth until His Second Coming is found in 3 Nephi 28. This chapter takes place after the resurrected Jesus Christ visits the Nephites in the Americas. Here’s a summary of the key verses related to this event:

### 1. The Desire of the Twelve Nephite Disciples (3 Nephi 28:1-4)
- Jesus gathers His twelve chosen disciples in the Americas and asks them what they desire after their ministry is complete. Nine of them express a desire to return to Him in His kingdom after a long life of service. Jesus grants this request, blessing them with a promise that they will have a full, joyful life and be with Him in heaven.

### 2. The Three Nephites' Special Request (3 Nephi 28:5-9)
- Three of the disciples, however, hesitate to speak about their desires because they feel unworthy to ask. Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, asks them if they desire the same thing as the others or something different.
- The Three Nephites express their desire to remain on the earth until Jesus returns in glory at His Second Coming. They wish to continue their work of bringing souls to Christ during this extended period.
- Jesus grants their request, saying, "Ye shall never taste of death... but when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality" (3 Nephi 28:8). They are promised that they will not experience death but will remain in a translated state, a form of immortality where they are free from pain and suffering but can still minister among the people.

### 3. The Role and Mission of the Three Nephites (3 Nephi 28:10-12)
- Jesus blesses the Three Nephites, telling them they will experience great joy and be instrumental in His work of bringing souls to Him. He further promises them, "Ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father" (3 Nephi 28:10), highlighting that their eventual reward will be eternal joy in God’s presence.
- Jesus then ascends to heaven after bestowing His blessings.

### 4. The Powers and Nature of the Three Nephites (3 Nephi 28:13-40)
- The chapter continues to describe how the Three Nephites are granted extraordinary powers. They cannot be harmed by others, and they are immune to death, pain, or imprisonment. They are able to appear and disappear at will, traveling to different places to minister among people.
- Mormon, the prophet who abridges the record, testifies that the Three Nephites continue their work among the people even in his day, centuries after the event. Mormon also states that they will remain on the earth, ministering to the righteous, until the Second Coming of Christ.

### Summary of Key Points:
  • 3 Nephi 28 describes how three of the Nephite disciples ask Jesus Christ for the blessing to remain on earth until His Second Coming so that they can continue preaching the gospel and bringing souls to Him.
  • Jesus grants this wish, promising them immortality in a translated state, where they are free from death and suffering but can still work among people.
  • The Three Nephites are given special powers to fulfill this mission, and according to the Book of Mormon, they continue their work among humanity even to this day.

This story emphasizes the themes of service, selflessness, and the power of the priesthood in the Book of Mormon narrative.
 
There is One reference to Nephites (or other people in general) who are basically the people that Nephi and his family associated with after leaving Israel during the time of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. They escaped as Babylon was capturing Israel. The reference is a quote from Jesus which different people interpret their own way.
AI
There isn’t a specific verse in the New Testament where Jesus explicitly says that He is traveling to other places after His resurrection, as the Book of Mormon suggests. However, some interpret certain passages as potentially leaving room for such events.

The verse most commonly cited is John 10:16, where Jesus says:

"And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd."
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In the context of the New Testament, this verse is often understood to refer to Gentiles—those who were not part of the Jewish fold but would later come to faith in Jesus. However, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) interpret this verse as a possible reference to Jesus' appearance to other peoples, such as those described in the Book of Mormon. According to the Book of Mormon, Jesus appeared to people in the Americas after His resurrection.

This interpretation is specific to the teachings of the LDS Church and does not align with traditional Christian doctrine, but John 10:16 is the verse most often linked to the idea of Jesus visiting other nations or peoples after His resurrection.
 

Matthew 16:28 May be a closer reference to immortals. This is tied to a Jewish immortal story.
AI
The New Testament does not contain any direct support for the legend of the Wandering Jew. The story is a later medieval legend, not found in the Bible. According to the legend, the "Wandering Jew" was cursed to roam the earth until the Second Coming of Christ because he mocked or taunted Jesus on the way to His crucifixion.

While there is no biblical basis for this specific tale, some have tried to connect it to New Testament verses, though these connections are speculative and not supported by Christian doctrine. One verse sometimes loosely associated with the idea is Matthew 16:28, where Jesus says:

"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
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This passage has been interpreted in many ways, but it doesn’t mention a figure like the Wandering Jew and does not suggest an individual cursed to live forever.

The Wandering Jew legend is believed to have originated in medieval Europe, possibly as an allegory or folk tale, and became a popular theme in literature and art, but it is not grounded in the New Testament.
 
SergiusPaulus said:
Matthew 16:28 May be a closer reference to immortals. This is tied to a Jewish immortal story.
AI
The New Testament does not contain any direct support for the legend of the Wandering Jew. The story is a later medieval legend, not found in the Bible. According to the legend, the "Wandering Jew" was cursed to roam the earth until the Second Coming of Christ because he mocked or taunted Jesus on the way to His crucifixion.

While there is no biblical basis for this specific tale, some have tried to connect it to New Testament verses, though these connections are speculative and not supported by Christian doctrine. One verse sometimes loosely associated with the idea is Matthew 16:28, where Jesus says:



This passage has been interpreted in many ways, but it doesn’t mention a figure like the Wandering Jew and does not suggest an individual cursed to live forever.

The Wandering Jew legend is believed to have originated in medieval Europe, possibly as an allegory or folk tale, and became a popular theme in literature and art, but it is not grounded in the New Testament.
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I was looking more into this, and I'm now wondering, how would Jesus have reached South America? I thought all they had were fishing boats, or are they implying Divine intervention? I'm also wondering that if this were true, why wouldn't it have been mentioned a little more explicitly in the Bible? How did Mormons come up with their own version?
 
AI is probably a good source for explaining a lot. I am a topical reader. I rarely read chronologically. Anyway about proving it, the Book of Mormon begins at the time of Jeremiah. Jeremiah prophesied groups that would be spared from Babylonian captivity. I’m not here to proselytize, just share what I learn that seems on the fringe like immortals. John who wrote Revelation is also seen as an immortal. I’m not sure if his body was ever found on Patmos
 
if you only use the Bible to research or draw a picture of society during its time then you won’t know the full truth of that time. Shipping was pretty advanced during the Old Testament so it’s possible for long trips as suggested.
AI
Before the time of Christ, shipping and transportation were primarily driven by human and animal power, along with advancements in sailing technologies. Key developments include:

1. River and Sea Travel: The earliest civilizations like Mesopotamia and Egypt utilized rivers such as the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile for transportation. Small boats made of wood or reeds were used for local transport. For sea travel, Mediterranean cultures such as the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Egyptians used larger ships made of wood, often powered by oarsmen and sails.

2. Sailing Ships: The Phoenicians were particularly known for their shipbuilding skills, using durable cedar wood and employing both oars and sails. They played a crucial role in early maritime trade across the Mediterranean. Ships were also built by the Greeks and Romans, who improved hull design and sailing techniques.

3. Land Transportation: Land transportation primarily involved the use of pack animals (camels, donkeys, oxen) and carts or chariots. Roads were rudimentary in many places, but the Romans, in particular, began to develop more advanced road systems in the later stages before Christ.

4. Trade Routes: Trade networks such as the Silk Road (from China to the Mediterranean) and maritime trade routes in the Indian Ocean existed before Christ. These were used for transporting goods like spices, silk, and other valuable items, often through a combination of overland caravans and sea voyages.

This period saw transportation methods advance with early navigation techniques, ship designs, and trade routes that laid the foundation for later developments.
 

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