Question
Gramps,
Being translated beings means the 3 Nephites are here on earth today as well as John the beloved. Can they come and go across the veil?
Natalie
Answer
Hello Natalie,
When I read your question, I discussed this answer with other friends in order to determine how best to answer your question. Well, needless to say, we have found common ground on some points and on other points we have been trying to determine the correlation between “the 3 Nephites here on earth today” and “come and go across the veil.”
In light of this, we will first share what we know about translated beings. Then we will provide some thoughts regarding “here on earth today” correlated with “can they come and go across the veil.”
From the Church’s website, lds.org, we find the following information regarding translated beings:
1) These are individuals who have received a permanent change to their physical body that prevents them from feeling physical pain or death
2) This permanent change allows some to be removed from this earth (i.e Moses, Enoch (his whole city), Elijah)
3) This permanent change can take place while the individuals remain upon the earth, ministers upon the earth (i.e. 3 Nephits and John the Beloved)
4) They never taste death, as to the original sense of mortal death
5) Translated beings are able to endure the presence of God
Now, when we think upon translated beings who are here on earth, and whether or not they are able to come and go across the veil here are our thoughts. The question appears to potentially address two options: 1) That the three Nephites and John the Beloved have a home base of some sorts here on this earth where they come and go from, and 2) The Brother of Jared and his experience with not being kept within the veil.
What we know is that the three Nephites and John the Beloved do not technically have a home base. They are ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ being sent here or there according to the will of the Lord, their master. They are able to reveal themselves to whomever they want according to the will of the Lord. As the three Nephites desired to tarry, this would mean they are the majority of the time here upon this earth.
They are probably ministered to by angels, and probably ministered to by Jesus himself. As they are in a sense – perfect in Christ – it would seem accurate then to say they are able to come and go across the veil as they wish. I assume a proper question would be, “How is one who is perfect in Christ, as witnessed by their translated state, not able to cross the veil”? I would think the knowledge of their state would not inhibit them from crossing the veil and coming back.
The other option would be the Brother of Jared and his experience of not being kept within the veil. In this sense, due to the faith of the Brother of Jared, the veil was removed for a short period of time and then restored. For translated beings, their permanent state is also due to their faith, and there is no reason to disbelieve their ability to come and go across the veil. Because of their faith and knowledge of Christ, they are not kept within the veil, but can cross it as their master is able to.
We hope that these thoughts address your question thoroughly, if not you are always welcome to ask another question that will provide more clarity as to what you were meaning to ask.
Gramps
