In the
following, a former Latter-day Saint who reverted to Protestantism and then
wrote a book attempting to “refute” the Church, admits that the New Testament
supports, at least in part, LDS theology about the translation of John the Beloved:
In Mormon anthology, Enoch and Elijah weren’t
the only ones to overcome death. The Book of Mormon relates the story of “the three Nephite disciples” who asked
for and received this “gift of being
translated.” So their bodies too were transformed from corruptible to
incorruptible without ever tasting of death. (3 Nephi Ch. 28) This same passage
also teaches that John the Beloved of the New Testament was another who
underwent this victory-over-death experience. (D&C 7:1-4)
Even our
Bible whispers a subtle hint of this possibility. “Peter
asked Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord [pointing to John]? What sort of death will he dies?’ Jesus replied, ‘If I want him to live
until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.’ So the rumor spread among the brotherhood that that disciple wouldn’t die! (Jn 21:23 TLB) And in view of one of Christ’s promises, it’s likely that, not only
John the Beloved, but possibly other New Testament believers may have also been
“translated.” “I tell you the truth,
some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man
coming in his kingdom.” (Mt. 16:18 NIV) (Dan Carlson, The Ins and Outs of Mormonism [Chino
Valley, Ariz.: Don Carlson Publishing, 1999], 95, emphasis in bold added)
For more on the translation of John and ancient manuscripts teaching such, see:
The Doctrine and Covenants vs. the Gospel of John?