The Three Nephites Lived Down the Street

Moroni says that when miracles cease–he lists a number of types of miracles in Mormon 9--it is a sign of wickedness and rebellion.  He then segues seamlessly to talking about the 3 Nephites (v. 22).  In fact the miracles he says go with the faithful are the miracles the 3 Nephites are recorded doing.

It occurred to me that this section isn’t abstract for him.  While it certainly applies to us, Moroni was aware of a day when the 3 Nephites were walking about openly performing miracles, and then withdrew from the population due to wickedness.  It happened in his father’s lifetime, when Mormon was 15 according to Mormon 1.

So while Moroni knew the 3 Nephites in a ‘miraculous visitation’ kind of way, Mormon knew them in a ‘they lived down the street’ kind of way.  There very existence was a literal miracle.

Imagine the Church if we had a Quorum of the Twelve and a First Presidency like normal, people being called, serving out their time, and dying.  Except Joseph  Smith, Brigham  Young, and Hyrum Smith were effectively immortal and kept right on doing their work as Apostles and leaders.  You saw them on the screen every conference.  Your parents met Brigham Young a few years ago, he came out to their stake conference.