The Rhythm of the Number Three

By Douglas Stringham

There is rhythm to the number three. It is a rhythm with universal appeal. Although it is a simple rhythm, it makes music come alive. It is a song that has been sung countless times and in countless ways. Almost innately, the beat of three conveys fulfillment. The number two often seems lacking, but three seems instantly sufficient. Consider the number of knocks at the door. Two is hardly enough, while three is most agreeable the world over. So too do we hear the rhythm of three with the blacksmith’s hammer, in the count to start a musical score, and with the cheers in the athletic arena. Often it is the last cheer, the third cheer that is the most emphatic.

Though hardly explainable, the rhythm of the number three governs the events of our lives. We hear the echo of that rhythm whenever we hear expressions such as; “good things come in threes,” “bad things come in threes,” and “three’s a charm.” It is the third try in any endeavor that so often produces the desired result. So frequent are the recurrences of these unexplainable events that we suspect there must be some undefined magic to the rhythm of three.

And it is the rhythm of three that is frequently used to attract our attention. Remember the old sales pitch, “Extra, Extra, Extra?” Scripture also uses the rhythm of three to focus our attention. Prophetic warnings, calls to repentance, and praises to the Most High God often come in threes. These include, “woe, woe, woe” from the angel flying through the midst of heaven; (Revelation 8:13) and, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8)

The ubiquity of the number three suggests an importance of significant proportions, but what might that importance be? What is the meaning of the number three? What does it symbolize? Solving these questions is best accomplished with an appeal to the Bible. The rhythm of three appears repeatedly in scripture. Perhaps most importantly to Judaism, the number three is reverenced for the three patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These are the three of the covenant. They preside over the Hebrew nation. Certainly God did not choose the number of patriarchs at random. It was Albert Einstein who said that God does not play dice. We can safely assume that when God establishes patterns on earth He is simply following an ancient pattern, an unchangeable pattern, even the everlasting pattern of heaven.

The pattern of a presidency of three is most obvious at pivotal periods in the history of the world. In addition to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we see this pattern with Noah, Moses, and the first three kings of Israel. It was through Noah that all humanity was reborn. He had three sons; Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Genesis 6:10) It was through Moses that the children of Israel escaped the bondage of Pharaoh. While they wandered in the wilderness for forty years they were presided by three; Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. (Micah 6:4) And the first three, in fact only kings of all Twelve Tribes of Israel were Saul, David, and Solomon.

Jewish tradition adds further evidence to the importance of the number three with the very letters of its alphabet. The Hebrew alphabet has twenty-two letters. Seven of these letters bear a three-pointed crownlet. Each of the letters in Hebrew carries meaning. The shapes of the letters are symbolic of eternal truths. However, the meaning of the three-pointed crownlet is not known. But its importance is witnessed by the presence of this crownlet on exactly seven letters. According to tradition when God told Moses the meaning of the letters, He did not reveal to Moses the meaning of the crownlet but He did tell Moses that, once learned, the meaning of the three-pointed crownlet would teach man about God.

Genesis chapter eighteen may hold some clues to the meaning of this three-pointed crownlet. This chapter tells a very interesting story about the number three. Although the story receives relatively little attention, it is rather revealing. The story is most significant in that it relates one of the few recorded face-to-face encounters of man with God. In this encounter, the LORD appears to Abraham in a company of three. Abraham then instructs Sarah to make for his guests three cakes. It is during this occasion that the LORD tells Abraham that Sarah though barren will bear a son who would be the son of the covenant. The promises of the covenant and its perpetuation were of utmost importance. So important was the message that the LORD Himself presented the message in a company of three, even a presidency of three.

But the lesson of others in God’s presidency appeared long before Abraham and long before Noah. In the very first chapter of Genesis we read of the plurality of the Creators: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . . So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:26-27)

But even more clearly we learn through Christianity that the very Godhead itself is a Godhead of three. There are “three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word [who is Jesus Christ], and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7-8) Again, not one in substance or person, but one in glory, one in purpose, one in love. In fact, one in all spiritual attributes. Throughout scripture, each member of the Godhead testifies of the other two. Thus it is that the Godhead of three also fulfills the law of witnesses. Remember that it is out of the mouth of two or three witnesses that every matter will be established. (Deuteronomy 19:15). And remember that Christ commanded His apostles to go forth into all the world baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

As not to be confused with the important principle of the oneness of God, it must be emphatically clear that although there are three in the Godhead, the Godhead is one. Although separate in person they are one in mind, one in heart, one in purpose, and one in all spiritual attributes. The Godhead is one God. So unified is the oneness of God that the human mind falters in its attempts to comprehend it.

Following Judaism, Christianity continued the tradition of a presiding body of three. When Christ established God’s kingdom on earth He established that kingdom with a presidency of three. The names of these three were Peter, James, and John. They were the presiding apostles. Remember Christ prayed to the Father, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) The obvious conclusion is that if Christ established a presidency of three on earth, there must also be a presidency of three in heaven.

Now to see more of the pattern to the number three let us put together a few more pieces of the puzzle. Let’s look at the third day of creation, the Ten Commandments, and the Ten Plagues of Moses. On the third day of Creation God created the sun and the moon. (Genesis 1:13-18) The sun is symbolic of God and the moon is symbolic of the prophets of God who reflect the light of God and thus bear witness of Him. Again the number three is a message about God.

The third commandment reads, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) Now this commandment does not merely refer to profanity. It is when we choose to follow God and take His name upon ourselves that we become accountable for that name. We take his name in vain when we fail to live up to our covenant obligations.

The third Plague of Moses was the plague of lice. What a peculiar plague we might think. But this plague also fits the pattern to the number three. Human lice are small wingless insects that attach themselves to hair follicles and feed by sucking blood. They are most commonly associated with unsanitary conditions. The major concern for this human parasite is that it serves as a host for the transmission of pathogens that cause typhus, relapsing fever, or trench fever. Since lice are associated with uncleanliness, the implication of the plague of lice is that we are unclean when we break the third commandment and take the name of the Lord in vain. Remember God will not hold guiltless those who take His name in vain, and “no unclean thing can enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Alma 11:37)

So the number three teaches us about God. It is the rhythm that testifies of God. All of its recurrences are intended to remind us of Him. The number three which recurs so often should always point us to Him. Indeed, Christ has said, “And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.” (Moses 6:63)

As frequent as the recurrences of the number three are in scripture, none is more frequent nor more persuasive than the recurrences of the number three in the life of Jesus. The story of Jesus is a story of threes. No other story in all of history bears the rhythm and echo of the number three as does His story. The number three testifies that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, the promised Messiah, and the Only Begotten of the Father.

God has said, “by the words of three, I will establish my word” (2 Nephi 11:3). Now the Word of God is Jesus Christ. Remember ,“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2). Since Christ is the Word of God and since God said He will establish all of His words by the words of three, it follows that Christ will be established by the words of three. And indeed, the story of Jesus is a story of threes. Here is at least part of that story:

The Story of Jesus is a Story of Threes

Three witnesses before His birth – the only persons specified in the New Testament who knew of His impending birth; Joseph, Mary, and Elisabeth.
Three months – Mary stayed with Elisabeth for three months during which Mary was in her first trimester with Jesus and Elisabeth was in her third trimester with John the Baptist. (Luke 1:56)
Three Signs of His Birth – three signs that would accompany Christ’s birth; great lights in heaven, a day without a night, and a new star. (Helaman 14:3-5)
Three Circumstances of His Birth were fulfilled as prophesied when Christ was born to a virgin, in Bethlehem, and among the poor. (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2)
Three Circumstances of His Life – born with the poor, killed with the wicked, buried with the rich. (Isaiah 53:5)
Three Witness of His Messiahship – shepherds, the temple worker Simeon, and the prophetess Anna. (Luke 2)
Three Wise Men – Although the number is not specified in scripture, according to legend three wise men came from the east to worship the newborn Messiah. (Matthew 2)
Three gifts – wise men gave Christ three gifts; gold, frankincense, myrrh. (Matthew 2)
Three Days in the Temple – After visiting Jerusalem with His parents the boy Christ was missing until He was found after three days in the Temple. (Luke 2)
Three Temptations – Christ was tempted three times of the devil. (Matthew 4)
Three who Fasted – Christ was the third to fast for forty days and forty nights. The only other two to do the same were Moses and Elijah. These are the three who also were together on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Three attributes of His learning – He shall have the tongue of the learned, give His back to the smilers, and He shall not be confounded. (Isaiah 50)
Age Thirty – age Christ began His ministry.
Three Witnesses at Baptism – At Christ’s baptism all three members of the Godhead were present. (Matthew 3)
Three-year ministry – years of Christ’s ministry to the Jews. (D&C 138:25). No other person in all of history has created such an enormous impact on the history of the world. And it was during only three years that He accomplished His mission.
Age Thirty-three – Christ was crucified at age 33, which is the number three twice. This number gives double emphasis to the meaning of the number three.
Third Day – Christ performed his first miracle on the third day. (John 2:1)
Presidency of Three – Christ called Peter, James, and John to the presidency. (Matthew 17)
Three Questions – Christ asked Peter three times, “Lovest thou me?” (John 21)
Three Answers – Christ answers the question “Lovest thou me?” with, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21)
Truth Three Ways – Christ taught that it was by three things that truth is learned; eyes, ears, heart. (Matthew 13:15)
Three Questions – Pharisees and Sadducees try to entangle Christ with three questions. (Matthew 22).
Three receiving woes – Christ gave woes seven times to three saying, “woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites” (Matthew 23).
Three days with multitude – a multitude of people stayed with Christ three days while he taught them. (Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:2)
Three days to build the temple – Christ said He will build the temple in three days. (Matthew 26:61; 27:40,63; Mark 14:58;15:29; John 2:19-20)
Three Ascending Injunctions – taught by Christ; “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7).
Parables – His parables often used the number three
- Three destroying forces – Parable of the Man who Built upon a Rock – those who follow Christ’s teachings are they who build upon a rock and are protected from three destroying forces; rain, floods, and winds. (Matthew 7:24-29)
- Three types of men – Parable of the Good Samaritan identifies three examples of men; a Priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan. (Matthew 10:25-37)
- Three kinds of ground – Parable of the Sower – (Matthew 13:18-23) There are:
  - Three kinds of bad ground …. wayside soil, stony places, among thorns
  - Three kinds of good ground … producing 30, 60, or 100 fold
- Three men who receive talents – Parable of Talents – the Lord gives talents to three men; one five, another two, and another one. (Matthew 25:14-30)
- Parable of Three Measures of meal & leaven. (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21).
- Parable of Three Loaves (Luke 11:5)
- Three years that fig tree was barren – Parable of the Barren Fig Tree – the tree was barren three years, it was given one more year to produce fruit before being destroyed. (Luke 13:7)
- Three servants killed – Parable of the Wicked Husbandman – who killed three servants who were sent before the Lord’s son. (Luke 20)
Three on the Mount of Transfiguration – Christ meets with Moses & Elias making three for which Peter proposes that three tabernacles be created as a memorial. The three, Peter, James, and John were nearby at the time of transfiguration. (Matthew 17)
Christ spoke three times in plainness of his betrayal, trial, scourging death, and resurrection after three days.
Three Hundred Pence – price of oil used to anoint Christ’s feet that Judas states could have been sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor. (Mark 14:5; John 12:5)
Thirty Pieces of Silver – Price for which Judas betrayed Christ. (Matthew 26-27)
Three Prayers in Gethsamane – Christ prayed three times during His great suffering in the Garden when He took upon Himself the burden of all sin for all mankind. (Matthew 26:44; Mark 14:41)
Peter denied Christ three times. (Matthew 26:34,75;Mark 14:30,72;Luke 22:34,61;John 13:38)
Christ brought before three judges – Caiaphas, Pilate, and Herod (John 18-19)
Pilate asked three times, “Why, what evil hath he done?” (Luke 23:22)
Pilate states three times “I find no fault in him at all.” (John 18;19)
Three were crucified on Golgotha. (Matthew 27:38)
Three Hours before His death (Matthew 27:45-46)
- Three hours on Cross – number of hours Christ was on the cross before he died. (Matthew 27:45-46)
- Three hours of Darkness in the Old World. (Matthew 27:45-46)
- Three hours of thunderings, lightnings, tempests, storm, and earthquakes at Christ’s death in New World. (3 Nephi 8:19)
Three Days after His death
- Three days in the tomb – Days that Christ’s body was in the tomb as prophesied. (John 19;20)
- Three days in the Spirit World – Days that Christ was in the Spirit World. (1 Peter 3:18-20)
- Three days of Darkness in the New World. (3 Nephi 8)
- Resurrection on third day – He arose the third day (John 19;20)
Three Days after His Resurrection
- Three days wherein He showed Himself to His Apostles in the Old World. (John 21:14)
Baptism in the name of three – Christ commanded Apostles to teach all nations baptizing them in the name of three, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19)
Three Times a Voice – number of times that the voice of God the Father announces the arrival of Christ in the New World. It was not understood until the third time. (3 Nephi 11:5)
Three days – the number of days that Christ visits those of the New World. (3 Nephi 11-28)
Baptism taught three times – The baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost is mentioned or implied three times by Christ when teaching the people. (3 Nephi 11-28)
Prays Three Times – the number of times Christ prays for the people on the second day of His visit to the New World. (3 Nephi 19)
Holy said three times – Nephi states three times that Christ is holy. (2 Nephi 31:5, 7).
Two or Three – Where two or three are gathered, Christ will be in the midst. (Matthew 18:20)
The Third Article of Faith reads, “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.” This is the only one of the Thirteen Articles of Faith that deals specifically with Christ.
Handel’s Messiah – The “Rejoicing” section is played three times–first by the trumpets, then by the horns, and the third time by the entire orchestra. This triumphal music enjoyed immediate success and ranks with the finest orchestral music of the eighteenth century.
Three are One – The gospels teach that the Father, the Word (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost are one. (1 John 5:7).
Three Hours of Chastening – Christ chastens the brother of Jared for three hours for not having prayed for four years. (Ether 2)

Occurrences of the Number Three

Bad things come in threes

· Thick darkness for three days in Egypt. Exodus 10

· Three plagues offered to David for disobedience: three years’ famine, three months war, three days pestilence. 2 Samuel 24:12; 1 Chronicles 21:10-12

· No rain for three months before harvest. Amos 4:7

· Three arrows – Joab shoots three arrows into the heart of Absalom. 1 Samuel 20

· Three-day fast – No water or bread for three days or nights. 1 Samuel 30:12

· Three unclean spirits to assemble armies for last great battle. Revelation 16:13

· Samson and threes – his inflictions on the Philistines often came in threes. Judges 14-16

· Satan fell with a third of the hosts of heaven. Revelation 12:4

· Three bands of Chaldeans destroy Job’s possessions. Job 1:17

· Isaiah walked naked & barefoot three years as a sign of trouble. Isaiah 20:3

· Famine for three years. 2 Samuel 21:1

· Saul blinded for three days and fasted. Acts 9:9

· Destruction poured out in thirds. Revelation 8,9

· Iniquity visited unto the third and fourth generation. Exodus 20:5;34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9

· Paul and threes – was three times beaten, three times shipwrecked. 2 Corinthians 11:25

· Three-day storm – Ship driven back three days for wickedness. 1 Nephi 18:13

· Alma & Amulek imprisoned three days. Alma 14:18

Good things come in threes

· Moses hid and nourished three months. Acts 7:20; Hebrews 11

· Noah’s ark has three stories. Genesis 6:16

· Husband’s responsibilities – a man owes his wife three things: food, raiment, and duty of marriage. Exodus 21:11

· Three rebels swallowed by Earth. Numbers 16

· Heaven has three degrees of glory. 1 Corinthians 15

· Donkey asks Balaam why Balaam smote him three times. Numbers 22:28,32-33

· Balaam blessed enemies three times. Numbers 24:10

· Ark blesses Obed-edom three months. 1 Chronicles 13:14

· Job has three daughters. Job 1:4

· Job has three friends. Job 2:11

· Job has three more daughters. Job 42:13

· Ships from Tarshish bring gifts every three years. 2 Chronicles 9:21

· Three years of king’s meat offered for Daniel and his three friends. Daniel 1:5

· Celestial Glory – In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees. D&C 131:1

· Three Grand Keys – there are three grand keys to distinguish angels. D&C 129

· Three righteous generations. 1 Nephi 12

· Three hundred years of righteousness. 4 Nephi 1

· Three gates on each side of the Holy City. Revelation 21:13

· Three virtues: Faith, hope, and charity. 1 Corinthians 13:13

· Three repeats often with ornaments and measurements of temple. Ezekiel 41,42

· Three years of peace. 1 Kings 22:1

· Each three of twelve oxen faced a different direction. 1 Kings 7:25; 2 Chronicles 4:4

· Babylon is divided into three. Revelation 16:19

· Three years of peace. Mosiah 6:7; Alma 16:12

· Alma fell to earth for three days. Alma 36:10,16;38:8

Three times

· Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. Exodus 23:14

· Three times a year all males will appear before the Lord. Exodus 23:17

· Men children appear before God three times per year. Exodus 34:23

· Saul sent messengers three times. 1 Samuel 19:21

· David bowed himself three times: 1 Samuel 20:41

· Solomon burnt offerings three times a year. 1 Kings 9:25

· Prayed on child three times. 1 Kings 17:21

· Elijah’s altar drowned three times. 1 Kings 18:34

· Jehoash beaten by Joash three times. 2 Kings 13:25

· Daniel prays three times a day. Daniel 6:10

· God repeats himself three times. Acts 11:10

· God speaks three times. Acts 10:16

· Paul pleads three times for relief from thorn in flesh. 2 Corinthians 12:8

· I am come three times. 2 Corinthians 12:14;13:1

· People of Limhi try to retaliate three times. Mosiah 21:12

· Three Nephites cast into a furnace three times. 3 Nephi 28:21

· Mormon delivers people three times from enemies. Mormon 3:13

Voice of God heard three times

· Samuel Lord calls Samuel three times. 1 Samuel 3:8

· Voice of God came three times. Helaman 5:33

· Voice of God not understood until the third time. 3 Nephi 11:5,6

Three Days

· Abraham sees Mt. Moriah on the third day. Genesis 22:4

· Three days’ journey. Genesis 30:36

· Laban was told Jacob was fled on the third day. Genesis 31:22

· Baker has dream of three branches meaning three days. Genesis 40

· Butler has dream of three baskets meaning three days. Genesis 40

· Butler & baker lifted on third day. Genesis 40:20

· Joseph imprisons brothers three days. Genesis 42:17

· Moses asks for three days journey into wilderness. Exodus 3:18;5:3;8:27

· Israel goes three days into wilderness with no water. Exodus 15:22

· Remainder burnt on third day. Leviticus 7:17;19:6,7

· Peace offering not to be eaten on third day. Leviticus 7:18

· Blood of purifying of woman three and thirty days. Leviticus 12:4

· Lord to appear to people on the third day, be prepared. Exodus 19

· Three days travel – into the wilderness. Numbers 10:33

· Purify oneself on the third day. Numbers 19;31:19

· Three days journey into wilderness. Numbers 33:8

· Three day warning before passing over Jordan. Joshua 1:11

· Hide yourselves three days. Joshua 2

· Officers went through the host after three days. Joshua 3:2

· Made a league after three days. Joshua 9:16

· Three days riddle not expounded. Judges 14:14

· Abode three days. Judges 19:4

· Asses lost three days. 1 Samuel 9:20

· Stayed three days. 1 Samuel 20:19

· Women kept from them three days. 1 Samuel 21:5

· King says return in three days. 2 Samuel 20:4

· One of three is three days’ pestilence. 2 Samuel 24:13

· Depart three days. 1 Kings 12:5

· Sought three days. 2 Kings 2:17

· With David three days. 1 Chronicles 12:39

· Rehoboam says come back in three days. 2 Chronicles 10:5

· Gathered spoil for three days. 2 Chronicles 20:25

· Abode three days in tents. Ezra 8:15

· Abode in Jerusalem three days. Ezra 8:32

· Three days given to gather to Jerusalem. Ezra 10

· Esther asks for fast for three days and nights. Esther 4:16

· Jonah in belly of fish three days & nights. Jonah 1:17

· Nineveh, a city of three days’ journey. Jonah 3:3

· Festus goes to Jerusalem after three days. Acts 25:1

· Publius lodges three days. Acts 28:7

· Paul speaks after three days. Acts 28:17

· Tarried at Syracuse three days. Acts 28:12

· Two prophets to be resurrected after three days. Revelation 11

· Three days’ journey into wilderness. 1 Nephi 2:6

· King Noah counsels with priests for three days. Mosiah 17:6

· Three days’ journey. Alma 8:6

· Served king three days before saving the flocks. Alma 17:26

· Peace after three days. 3 Nephi 10:9

· Shared fought for three days. Ether 13:28

· Shiz fights for three days. Ether 14:26

Three Men

· Adam has only three sons known by name – Cain,Abel,Seth

· Saul & three sons are slain. 1 Samuel 31; 1 Chronicles 10:6

· David had three mighty men. 2 Samuel 23

· Three Mighty. 1 Chronicles 11

· Three keepers of the door. 2 Kings 25:18

· Lord calls three kings. 2 Kings 3:10

· Three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Daniel 3:23

· King Benjamin has three sons. Mosiah 1:2

· Three presidents. Daniel 6:2

· Where two or three are gathered. D&C 6:32

· Three to see how the building to be built. D&C 95:14

· Three Nephites given power over death. 3 Nephi 28

· Three men sent by God seek Peter. Acts 10:19

· Three men came unto the house. Acts 11:11

Three Witnesses

· Three men from each tribe to describe land of inheritance. Joshua 18:4

· Third time I come to you. Two or three witnesses. 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28

· Three that bear witness: spirit, water, blood. 1 John 5:8

· Ammon took three of his brethren to do missionary work. Mosiah 7:6

· All three had sunk to the earth. Alma 19:14

· Three witnesses to Book of Mormon. Ether 5

· Law of three witnesses. Ether 5:4; Moroni 6:7

· God’s word established by three. 2 Nephi 11:3;25:13

· Speak two or three. 1 Corinthians 14:27,29

· Spoke in synagogue for three months. Acts 19:8

· Abode three months. Acts 20:3

· After three months we departed. Acts 28:11

· King Benjamin lives three years after great address. Mosiah 6:5

· Righteous patriarchs blessed by Adam three years before Adam’s death. D&C 107:42

Judaism

Levi was the third son of Israel. It was the tribe of Levi that officiated in the ordinances of the priesthood.
Star of David – The Star of David is formed with two equilateral triangles superimposed on each other. A triangle of course has three points. One of these triangles represents the consciousness of God directed towards man. The other represents the consciousness of man directed towards God. The superimposition of the two triangles represents the unification of man’s consciousness with that of God.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

· Hierarchal structure includes a presidency of three at all levels.

· Statues of three men on Pioneer Memorial Monument in Salt Lake City

· Three witnesses – testify they saw an angel and the Gold Plates from whence was translated the Book of Mormon. D&C 5;6:28;17;128:3; 128:20

Physical World

· Atomic Number Three – Lithium deuteride is the explosive material of the hydrogen bomb and may eventually be the fuel of controlled fusion reactors. There is great power in three.

· Three Primary Colors – using the three primary colors all other colors can be produced including white

· The surface of the earth – is one third land, two thirds water.

· Three stages – the number of stages of a rocket necessary to best achieve orbit for heavy loads.