In one story, he carries a loaf of bread from Utah to the southern states in just a few moments.? In addition to traveling fast, the strange visitor often is identified as a Nephite because of his ability to suddenly disappear.

Future legends. What will the future hold for Nephite legends? Schoemaker speculates that the stories will continue to evolve; after all, the Three Nephite stories that once took place in covered wagons now occur in parking lots, on freeways, and in fast-food restaurants.?As technology and the needs of cultures within the West have evolved, so have the Nephite stories.

Schoemaker points out that all individual encounters with the Nephites benefit the storyteller, either physically saving him or affecting his outlook on life and his dealings with others in a positive way.? They also mirror the western and Mormon cultures, revealing a portrait of the people’s needs and concerns and confirming their strivings.

Recently, a man who was assigned to give a talk at a neighboring church in Salt Lake City found the church, gave his speech, and sat down.? As the meeting continued, he realized that the men beside him on the podium were not the men he was told would be there.?He was in the wrong building! He quickly disappeared down the hall, left the building, and found the right church.? Standing at the new pulpit and apologizing for being late, he said, “I wonder if that other congregation thought I was one of the Three Nephites!?

Three Nephite stories have been told for more than a century.?As long as they conform to the technology and concerns of the times, there is every likelihood that the Three Nephites will continue to appear in folklore throughout the world.

Carolyn Campbell is a free-lance writer living in Salt Lake City, Utah.