spiritual leaders who have been awarded the privilege to never taste of death. The folklore and beliefs about the Three Nephite stem from a larger church-wide folklore generated by belief in a personal, loving God who actively intervenes in people’s lives, often by the means of others. In her 1968 thesis, Merilynne Rich Smith wrote the following about Three Nephite folklore:In addition, [the stories have] become a type of history of the life of Mormons. During times of famine, the stories stressed the need for food; during times of danger, they revealed the problems the Saints faced; and at the same time they provide inspiration for those facing future problems of a similar nature. They offer evidence of divine concern for men here on earth. They provide a testimony for those who are weak in faith. They provide a way to explain the things which are sometimes inexplicable.Folklorist William A. Wilson collected Three Nephites stories and organized them into three categories. In family history or genealogy stories, one of the Three Nephites guides a family history researcher to missing information or encourages them to do their temple work and miraculously disappears. In the missionary work category of stories, one of the Three Nephites saves a missionary companionship from danger or helps with their proselytizing work. In the individual category, one of the Three Nephites saves a person from spiritual or physical danger or despair. Three Nephites stories have not stopped, even though the perils of pioneer life have. The Three Nephites stories mirror the changing physical and social environments in which LDS church members have met their tests of faith. As with other types of religious folklore, these stories continue to provide understanding of the hearts and minds of LDS church members and of the beliefs that compel them to action. They have a flexibility that allows them to be adapted to situations and circumstances, which has allowed them to persist throughout the years. They can be used and customized to prove any number of points, whether religious or not. Common themes A common theme in Mormon folklore is when spirits return to help the living in some way. The Three Nephites tale fits into this story type, and it was not uncommon of early church members to share their own experiences, or those of others, of appearances of the Three Nephites. In these modern sighting stories, one or more