Ministry of the Disciples • Book of Mormon Online

3 Nephi 28:13

The disciples are briefly taken to heaven, where they see and hear marvelous things.

And behold, the heavens were opened, and they were caught up into heaven, and saw and heard unspeakable things.

3 Nephi 28:14

The disciples are forbidden from writing down their experiences.

And it was forbidden them that they should utter; neither was it given unto them power that they could utter the things which they saw and heard;

3 Nephi 28:15

The disciples are unable to determine whether their visit to heaven was literal and physical, or whether it was a spiritual vision, or an out-of-body experience.

And whether they were in the body or out of the body, they could not tell; for it did seem unto them like a transfiguration of them, that they were changed from this body of flesh into an immortal state, that they could behold the things of God.

3 Nephi 28:16

The disciples minister among the people.

But it came to pass that they did again minister upon the face of the earth; nevertheless they did not minister of the things which they had heard and seen, because of the commandment which was given them in heaven.

3 Nephi 28:17–18

The disciples preach, baptize, and confer the Holy Ghost among the people, but the physical status of the three immortal disciples is undetermined.

And now, whether they were mortal or immortal, from the day of their transfiguration, I know not; But this much I know, according to the record which hath been given—they did go forth upon the face of the land, and did minister unto all the people, uniting as many to the church as would believe in their preaching; baptizing them, and as many as were baptized did receive the Holy Ghost.

3 Nephi 28:19–20

Non–believers futilely attempt to imprison and exile the disciples, but the disciples are unstoppable: they destroy the prisons, and defy all traps.

And they were cast into prison by them who did not belong to the church. And the prisons could not hold them, for they were rent in twain. And they were cast down into the earth; but they did smite the earth with the word of God, insomuch that by his power they were delivered out of the depths of the earth; and therefore they could not dig pits sufficient to hold them.

3 Nephi 28:21–22

They survive being cast in burning furnaces and dens of wild beasts.

And thrice they were cast into a furnace and received no harm. And twice were they cast into a den of wild beasts; and behold they did play with the beasts as a child with a suckling lamb, and received no harm.

3 Nephi 28:23

The disciples do all they can to teach the gospel to the people, and bring the Jesus’ followers into unison.

And it came to pass that thus they did go forth among all the people of Nephi, and did preach the gospel of Christ unto all people upon the face of the land; and they were converted unto the Lord, and were united unto the church of Christ, and thus the people of that generation were blessed, according to the word of Jesus.