Question: Since John the Apostle and the three Nephites did not die, then how could there have been a "complete apostasy" on the earth?

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Question: Since John the Apostle and the three Nephites did not die, then how could there have been a "complete apostasy" on the earth?

Latter-day Saints believe these men were "translated," meaning that their bodies were changed to a higher state, preliminary to the resurrection, and now "they are as the angels of God"

Some have argued that Latter-day Saints do not truly believe that apostolic authority ceased on the earth since they also affirm that John the Beloved and the Three Nephites (who were ordained as members of the Twelve during Jesus's New World ministry) held such apostolic authority.

These men are now translated beings. As Mark L. McConkie explained, "Latter-day Saint scriptures speak of a unique class of beings, persons whom the Lord has 'translated' or changed from a mortal state to one in which they are temporarily not subject to death, and in which they experience neither pain nor sorrow except for the sins of the world. Such beings appear to have much greater power than mortals. All translated beings will eventually experience physical death and resurrection (MD, p. 807-808). Translation is a necessary condition in special instances to further the work of the Lord."

John the Beloved wanted “power over death” so that he could bring souls unto Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 7:2). Christ gave John that power. John was to remain on the earth until Christ’s Second Coming. Until that time, he was to “prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues, and people” (Doctrine and Covenants 7:3). John was made “as a flaming fire and a ministering angel” and was assigned to “minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation who dwell on the earth” (Doctrine and Covenants 7:6). The Savior told Peter that He would make Peter “minister for John and for thy brother James.” Importantly, the Savior said, “and unto you three I will give this power and keys of this ministry until I come” (Doctrine and Covenants 7:7, emphasis added). John then appeared with Peter and James, with apostolic keys "committed" to them, to give those keys to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (Doctrine and Covenants 27:13). Those keys were defined as the keys of Joseph and Oliver’s ministry (Doctrine and Covenants 27:12) and the “keys of [Christ’s] kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:13).

The Three Nephites were made to do a work similar to that of John the Apostle. Before the Great Apostasy, Mormon records that they ministered unto "all the people," uniting and baptizing as many as would believe into the Church (3 Nephi 28:18). They apparently ministered unto Mormon and Moroni (3 Nephi 28:26; Mormon 8:10–11). Three others were ordained as Apostles in their stead after their translation (4 Nephi 1:14). The Lord physically took them away from the Nephites because of the Nephites' prevailing wickedness (Mormon 1:13). Mormon tells us that there would be a moment in the Lord's timetable in which the Three Nephites would again "minister unto all the scattered tribes of Israel, and unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, and shall bring out of them unto Jesus many souls, that their desire may be fulfilled, and also because of the convincing power of God which is in them" (3 Nephi 28:29). By praying to God they can show themselves unto whomever seems good to them (3 Nephi 28:30)

John and the Three Nephites must have retained apostolic authority since John eventually ordained Joseph and Oliver to that authority. However, it is also clear that they did not exercise that authority to administer the Church. This shows that there must be a distinction between priesthood power, priesthood keys or authority, and permission to exercise those keys or bestow them upon others. God did not enact a custodial loss of priesthood authority on the earth, but a practical loss. Even during the Great Apostasy, He has allowed John and the Three Nephites to minister unto specific people(s) and bring them to salvation and exaltation. However, as translated beings, they were not permitted to restore and administer the Church. Allowing beings that cannot taste death to administer the Church may have been an improper use of divine authority. People would notice whether four individuals could never taste death, and that may have taken away the need to exercise faith.

Notes (click to expand)

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