Three Nephites Banned From Sunday School Class

[consiglieri]

Lesson 42 in the Gospel Doctrine teacher's manual deals with the origins of the famous "three Nephites," but at the end of that particular section is an interesting note:

Note: Stories often circulate about the three Nephites who were translated. Members of the Church should be careful about accepting or retelling these stories. You should not discuss them in class.

I had a number of thoughts about these three sentences.

First, I wondered if critics would think this good that the Church is apparently trying to limit the number of "faith promoting rumors" promulgated in Church meetings, such as Sunday school.

Second, all members are admonished to be careful about accepting or retelling these stories, though no reason is set forth for the prohibition, and I am left to conclude that the tacit reason behind it is because they are likely a bunch of B.S.

Third, this blanket proscription would include stories about the three Nephites that are generally considered to come from reliable sources (and here I am thinking about some temple president in Manti, though the recollection is hazy).

Mormon says in the Book of Mormon that the three Nephites have appeared to him from time to time. On its face, this "note" would forbid us from talking about that, but I doubt that is what it is supposed to mean.

Any thoughts?

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[thesometimesaint]

consiglieri:

Most Sunday School teachers have a hard enough time just fitting some the stuff in the manual on any given subject. To waste valuable, and limited class time on unaccepted "stories" does a disservice not only to the teacher, but the students, and the Church.

[ERayR]

Lesson 42 in the Gospel Doctrine teacher's manual deals with the origins of the famous "three Nephites," but at the end of that particular section is an interesting note:

I had a number of thoughts about these three sentences.

First, I wondered if critics would think this good that the Church is apparently trying to limit the number of "faith promoting rumors" promulgated in Church meetings, such as Sunday school.

Second, all members are admonished to be careful about accepting or retelling these stories, though no reason is set forth for the prohibition, and I am left to conclude that the tacit reason behind it is because they are likely a bunch of B.S.

Third, this blanket proscription would include stories about the three Nephites that are generally considered to come from reliable sources (and here I am thinking about some temple president in Manti, though the recollection is hazy).

Mormon says in the Book of Mormon that the three Nephites have appeared to him from time to time. On its face, this "note" would forbid us from talking about that, but I doubt that is what it is supposed to mean.

Any thoughts?

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

My own thoughts are that the first and second reasons are most likly and that even telling the reliable ones would encourage the other kind. My own family has a three nephite story in our history but we don't tell it in a church class setting. It is personal and important to our family

[consiglieri]

My own family has a three nephite story in our history but we don't tell it in a church class setting. It is personal and important to our family

Cool! Would you mind sharing it with the board?

[emeliza]

First, I wondered if critics would think this good that the Church is apparently trying to limit the number of "faith promoting rumors" promulgated in Church meetings, such as Sunday school.

Second, all members are admonished to be careful about accepting or retelling these stories, though no reason is set forth for the prohibition, and I am left to conclude that the tacit reason behind it is because they are likely a bunch of B.S.

These two are probably the reasons. If you allowed these stories to be told it would definitely take away from more important things. What or where the 3 Nephites are at (doing) really has no relation to what we need to be doing.

[The Nehor]

I for one have no desire to teach a class and having to listen to several stories about how someone's grandmother got stuck on the side of the road and the 3 Nephites came to help her change her tire.

[consiglieri]

I for one have no desire to teach a class and having to listen to several stories about how someone's grandmother got stuck on the side of the road and the 3 Nephites came to help her change her tire.

Neither do I.

What I think is interesting is that these stories have proliferated to the point where a prohibition warning has been placed in the teacher's manual.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri (Italian for "The One")

[The Nehor]

I also doubt most of these stories because of the Three Nephites' mandate. Their job is to bring souls unto Christ not perform random acts of kindness or appear and speak to someone and then vanish. Not to say they couldn't perform an act of changing a tire on P-Day but I doubt they're based in Utah, Idaho, or Arizona.

[consiglieri]

My recollection of most of these types of stories is that the appearing/vanishing individual rarely identifies himself as one of the three Nephites, but that conclusion is reached by the storyteller.

My guess is that these types of stories are not limited to LDS circles, but it is within the LDS Church that such instances are attributed to the "three Nephites," even though it is usually only one person who appears.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[Scott Lloyd]

One of the most memorable Three Nephite stories I've heard pertains to a newspaper that carried an account of three men from Nephi, Utah, who died in an airplane accident. As I recall the story, the newspaper started some readers with its headline: "3 Nephites Killed in Plane Crash."

[Jason]

Urban legends can be fun, but a Gospel Doctrine class is not the place for them, and that's what 3 Nephite stories typically amount to. They always seemed to have happened to someone's friend in some unidentified location.

[consiglieri]

Upon further reflection, it occurs to me that the inclusion of this prohibition in the teacher's manual may amount to a tacit recognition by the LDS Church that its members tend toward gullibility and/or prevaracation.

I hope that isn't putting too fine a point on it.

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

[Lightbearer]

Lesson 42 in the Gospel Doctrine teacher's manual deals with the origins of the famous "three Nephites," but at the end of that particular section is an interesting note:

I had a number of thoughts about these three sentences.

First, I wondered if critics would think this good that the Church is apparently trying to limit the number of "faith promoting rumors" promulgated in Church meetings, such as Sunday school.

Second, all members are admonished to be careful about accepting or retelling these stories, though no reason is set forth for the prohibition, and I am left to conclude that the tacit reason behind it is because they are likely a bunch of B.S.

Third, this blanket proscription would include stories about the three Nephites that are generally considered to come from reliable sources (and here I am thinking about some temple president in Manti, though the recollection is hazy).

Mormon says in the Book of Mormon that the three Nephites have appeared to him from time to time. On its face, this "note" would forbid us from talking about that, but I doubt that is what it is supposed to mean.

Any thoughts?

All the Best!

--Consiglieri

Actually I think it has more to do with how people react rather than the validity of the three nephite stories. When someone tells such a story in such a setting it does a couple of things, first it divides the class: some believe the story and others think it is bull. It invites the possibility of contention and more so it invites envy. Some who have never had such an experience may wonder why they have never had such an experience. Also usually (if valid) these experiences are for the benefit of the person who has them not for public consumption unless they are directed to share the experience with a limited number according as the spirit of the Lord directs. Another question is why would someone want to tell such an experience? Would it edify? Is it really faith promoting? Or would it just serve to gratify the pride of those telling the story. There can be a lot of factors in play here other than the truth or validity of the story itself. Any story of this type that tends to edify all the hearers and encourage faithfulness and bring out important points of the lesson would be of God. But it should not be done to be a "sign" of sorts. We do not have spiritual experiences to "gratify our pride" or "consume it upon our lusts" but to help strengthen our faith, and it is more particularly a blessing as a result of faith. That is why if I had such an experience I would be cautious in sharing it unless directed by the spirit of the Lord.

[Thinking]

Upon further reflection, it occurs to me that the inclusion of this prohibition in the teacher's manual may amount to a tacit recognition by the LDS Church that its members tend toward gullibility and/or prevaracation.

Did I just hear multi-level marketing?

On a lighter note. I wonder if any of these good samaritans who have been mistaken for the three nephites was actually an LDS critic just helping out somebody in need? To be fair, I wonder how many times a TBM has helped out an LDS critic who was in need.

[Scottie]

Upon further reflection, it occurs to me that the inclusion of this prohibition in the teacher's manual may amount to a tacit recognition by the LDS Church that its members tend toward gullibility and/or prevaracation.

This is something that fascinates me. This proclivity of people to accept FPR's that adhere to whatever their belief system is without a shred of evidence, but requiring unrealistic and absolute proof about any bad stories against their belief. This goes well beyond Mormonism.

As a developer, I work in Microsoft technologies. It's hilarious to me how many Unix developers tell me completely unfounded tales about how horrible MS software is and how perfect Unix is. If someone tries to tell them how a Unix system can be vulnerable to attack, well, there is just NO WAY that can be true!!

This is why I try and be a skeptic in ALL aspects of my life.

[The Nehor]

In case the Three Nephites are reading this thread and misunderstood the title I want to make it clear that the 3 Nephites are invited to my Sunday School Class and if they want to tell stories I'll make an exception to this rule. It is only other people's stories I won't want to discuss.

[hagoth7]

...Any thoughts?

Just a personal experience to confirm all that you've said.

Four years ago, when this same lesson was being taught in my brother-in-law's ward, the teacher started rambling on with her opinions about the ministry of the three Nephites. Suddenly, three gentlemen at the back of the class stood up, asked her to move on with the lesson, and promptly left, without another word.

[/FPR]

[/irony]

[Scottie]

Just a personal experience to confirm all that you've said.

Four years ago, when this same lesson was being taught in my brother-in-law's ward, the teacher started rambling on with her opinions about the ministry of the three Nephites. Suddenly, three gentlemen at the back of the class stood up, asked her to move on with the lesson, and promptly left, without another word.

[/FPR]

[/irony]

The spirit has borne witness to me that what you say is true!!

[bluebell]

As a developer, I work in Microsoft technologies. It's hilarious to me how many Unix developers tell me completely unfounded tales about how horrible MS software is and how perfect Unix is. If someone tries to tell them how a Unix system can be vulnerable to attack, well, there is just NO WAY that can be true!!

Sounds like my husband and his hero worship of all things firefox.

[hagoth7]

Just a personal experience to confirm all that you've said.

Four years ago, when this same lesson was being taught in my brother-in-law's ward, the teacher started rambling on with her opinions about the ministry of the three Nephites. Suddenly, three gentlemen at the back of the class stood up, asked her to move on with the lesson, and promptly left, without another word.

[/FPR]

[/irony]

I apparently neglected to mention that the three gentlemen were the Stake Sunday School presidency.

Sorry for any confusion.

[/FPRcorrection]

[emeliza]

I apparently neglected to mention that the three gentlemen were the Stake Sunday School presidency.

So the three Nephites are members of your Stake Sunday School presidency?

Awesome.

[LifeOnaPlate]

In case the Three Nephites are reading this thread and misunderstood the title I want to make it clear that the 3 Nephites are invited to my Sunday School Class and if they want to tell stories I'll make an exception to this rule. It is only other people's stories I won't want to discuss.

hahaha awesome.

Anyway, here is a page visited quite often on my blog. I get someone showing almost every other day after googling "nephites".

http://www.lifeongoldplates.com/2007/08/wh...3-nephites.html

[toon]

I think it's part of the Church's scheme to weed out discussion of anything even semi-interesting is SS/RS/Priesthood.

[BCSpace]

Some antis argue against there being an apostasy because of John and the Three Nephites holding the priesthood and being on the earth. I'd have no problem discussing that in class.

[Jigglysaint]

Wait, now I know why my Sunday School teacher often has to cut me short. Is there a part in the manual that forbids talking about werewolves in class by any chance?