Kumen was one of the twelve disciples Jesus chose among the Nephites after his resurrection. He is named in the list of the twelve, alongside Nephi, Timothy, Jonas, Mathoni, Mathonihah, Kumenonhi, Jeremiah, Shemnon, another Jonas, Zedekiah, and Isaiah, when they went out and stood before the assembled multitude (3 Nephi 19:4).
The twelve were given power and authority to baptize and were appointed to minister to the people (3 Nephi 12:1). After his ministry, Jesus asked the disciples one by one what they desired of him; all but three asked that, after living to the age of man, their ministry would end so they could come to him, and he promised that at seventy-two years old they would come into his kingdom (3 Nephi 28:1-3). The record names Kumen only in the list of disciples and gives no further detail about his life or ministry.