The first examples were all of men who lived before the Messiah’s visit. Moroni now generalizes the principle to those “before Christ and also those who were after,” using as an example the Three Nephites, who lived at the time of the Messiah’s visit and “obtained a promise that they should not taste of death.” Moroni was well acquainted with their faith, for they had ministered to him and his father (Morm. 8:11).