In the Book of Mormon, the Three Nephites (also known as the Three Nephite Disciples) are three Nephite disciples of Jesus who were blessed by Jesus to remain alive on the earth, engaged in his ministry and in their apostolic callings until his Second Coming. As described in Third Nephi chapter 28, this change occurred when they were caught up into heaven. Similar to Mormon beliefs about John the Apostle, the Three Nephites were granted immortality in order to carry out their ministering work on the earth. The account in the Book of Mormon reads that they ministered unto all the people in the surrounding lands, bringing many to the church by means of preaching and baptism. In modern times, the Three Nephites and the beliefs surrounding them make up a significant part of Mormon folklore. These stories describe situations in which the Three Nephites have appeared and provided assistance in some way or another to church members, and such stories give insight into the contemporary tests of faith experienced by members of the LDS church. Origin The Three Nephites were chosen from among Christ's twelve disciples on the American continent. Of the twelve, nine expressed their desire to enter speedily into Christ's kingdom once their earthly missions were completed, and Christ granted their wish. The remaining three wanted to remain on the earth laboring in the cause of Christ until his Second Coming, a wish which he granted unto them upon his departure into heaven. He then left them with a blessing that they would not taste of death, and that upon his Second Coming they would be changed from mortality to immortality. Jesus promised them that they would experience no pain or sorrow during their time on earth, wickedness would have no power over them, and they would possess knowledge and wisdom exceeding that of a mortal human perspective. The so-called Three Nephites are referred to only as "disciples", and it is possible that one or more of them were Lamanites by descent. It should be noted, however, that it was standard practice in the Book of Mormon to refer to Lamanites who were converted to the faith as Nephites. Ministry The prophet Mormon, who lived about four hundred years after the Three Nephites, identified a few major groups that the Three Nephites would minister to and recounted his encounter with them. They would first labor among the