The sons of Levi are the descendants of Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, set apart in ancient Israel for priestly duties. In the Nephite record they appear in a prophecy of Malachi that the resurrected Jesus Christ commanded the Nephites to write down and then expounded to them (3 Nephi 24:1). The prophecy describes the Lord coming like a refiner’s fire: “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” (3 Nephi 24:3). After this purifying, the sons of Levi are to offer the Lord an offering in righteousness.