You might be curious to know how and when Three Nephite stories started circulating.  You’ll find the answer in this masters thesis paper by Marilynne Rich Smith called “A Mirror Brought byTruth: A Study and Comparison of the Folklore of the Wandering Jew and the Folklore of the Three Nephites.”  

You can read pages 182-242 of the paper specifically about Three Nephite stories.  In it we find that sermons by church leaders in 1850s, beginning with Parley P. Pratt, started the saints thinking about how they might encounter the Three Nephites.  Parley P. Pratt took passages of scripture from the Book of Mormon about how the Three Nephties could show themselves to whomever they wished and taught that they might be a means of giving miraculous help to the Saints in time of need.  Orson Pratt (an apostle at the time) called the members’ attention to the scripture verses about the Three Nephites and preached that the Three Nephites could come among the Saints once the Saints were prepared and worthy to receive them. (This meant an encounter with the Three Nephites would be considered something desirable and an informal sign of sanctity.) Orson Pratt, in underlining the importance of preaching the gospel, preached that the Three Nephites would prepare the wild tribes of Lamanites around them to receive the gospel.  John W. Taylor preached that the Three Nephites would be sent where the missionaries could not yet go, to prepare the minds of peoples to receive the gospel.   

In short, for over 50 years since 1855, members were reminded of the Three Nephites from time to time by talks (sometimes in conference) given by church leaders (and sometimes apostles).  These statements encouraged the members to look for visits by the Three Nephites, to look for ways that they were given miraculous help by them, and to look for ways that the Indians and other peoples were being prepared to hear the gospel by agents outside the church. The effect was that visits and help received that could not be explained by earthly means were attributed to the Three Nephites. 

One of the things I like about this thesis paper is that it shares some of the stories along with sources.  Incidents of folklore are pointed out, along with stories with actual sources, and analysis of patterns and what they mean for the Mormon people follows. Some of the stories seem a little..odd, but others are genuinely inspiring.

Overall, I like what these stories generally communicate about our beliefs about these mysterious men.  They convey that:

--We believe help comes from God, not just by comfort, intelligence, and help from mortals, but also from extra-mortal beings.

--We believe the promises of God can and do give mortals power over death, pain, and sorrow.

--We believe that God and his angelic messengers engage with the practical parts of our lives and guide others to our church.