3 Nephi 1–7

(1.) PROPHETS DISAPPEAR: There are several Book of Mormon prophets who prophesied about the Lord’s rather imminent coming who were not heard of again. This "disappearance" into obscurity refers to an Alma, Samuel the Lamanite and two Nephis. Alma and the Nephis were Nephites with a light skin and Samuel the Lamanite likely had a darker skin.

(2.) WHO ARE THEY? Alma: "And when Alma had done this he departed out of the land of Zarahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek. And it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of." (Alma 45:18) Samuel: "And as they went forth to lay their hands on him, behold, he did cast himself down from the wall, and did flee out of their lands, yea, even unto his own country, and began to preach and to prophesy among his own people. And behold, he was never heard of more among the Nephites; . . ." (Helaman 16:7-8) Nephi: "Then he departed out of the land, and whither he went, no man knoweth; and his son Nephi did keep the records in his stead, yea, the record of this people." (3 Nephi 1:3) Nephi: "And Nephi, who was the father of Nephi, who had the charge of the records, did not return to the land of Zarahemla, and could nowhere be found in all the land." (3 Nephi 2:9)

(3.) THREE "WISE MEN" APPEAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST: The scriptures give us an account of Herod the Great receiving royal visitors and requesting that they return with news of "King of The Jews’" whereabouts. When they did not return, Herod ordered all the children killed in the Bethlehem area who were two years old and under, (Matthew 2:1-16). Somehow, many nativity sets carved from olive wood have the wise men appearing at the birth even though the scriptures indicate a time frame of about two years later.

(4.) LIGHT SKINNED, DARK SKINNED: Additionally, some Christian tradition depicts the wise men as two light-skinned men accompanying another dark-skinned person. For Middle Easterners, it has a pleasant symbolism in that dark skinned and light skinned are worshiping the Messiah of all mankind.

(5.) DEVOUT MEN: "Matthew's account of ‘wise men from the east’ coming to Jerusalem and Bethlehem in search of the Christ Child is sometimes recited as a visit of three Magi. (Matt. 2.) Actually there is no historical basis for the prevailing legend that they were from the apostate Persian cult or that they were three in number. It is much more probable that they were devout men who knew of our Lord's coming advent, including the promise that a new star would arise, and that they came as prophets of any age would have done to worship their King. It is clear that they were in tune with the Lord and were receiving revelation from him, for they were ‘warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod.’ (Matt. 2:12.)" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.462)

(6.) JEWISH EXPECTATION OF "WISE MEN:" Many Jews anticipate a Joseph of latter-days as well as a David of latter-days. To the Jews, these individuals will appear out of obscurity with redemptive powers. One or the other will become either the Messiah or they will be forebearers of the Messiah in the last days.