And now it came to pass in the forty and third year9 of the reign of the judges, there was no contention among the people of Nefi, except it were a little pride10 which was in the assembly, which did cause some little dissension among the people, which affairs were settled in the ending of the forty and third year. And there was no contention among the people in the forty and fourth year, neither was there much contention in the forty and fifth year. And it came to pass in the forty and sixth year, there were many contentions and many dissensions, in the which there were an exceedingly great many who departed out of the land of Zerach’mla and went forth unto the land northward to inherit the land. And they did travel to an exceedingly great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water and many rivers, yes, and even they did spread forth into all parts of the land, in whatsoever parts had not been rendered desolate and without timber because of the many inhabitants who had before inherited the land. And now no part of the land was desolate except it was for timber, and so forth. But because of the greatness of the destruction of the people who had before inhabited the land, it was called desolate. And there being but little timber upon the face of the land, nevertheless, the people who went forth became exceedingly expert in the working of cement; therefore, they did build houses of cement in the which they did dwell.
And it came to pass that they did multiply and spread, and did go forth from the land southward to the land northward, and did spread insomuch that they began to cover the face of the whole earth,11 from the sea south to the sea north, from the sea west to the sea east. And the people who were in the land northward did dwell in tents and in houses of cement, and they did allow whatsoever tree should spring up upon the face of the land that it should grow up, that in time they might have timber to build their houses, yes, their cities, and their Temples, and their synagogues, and their sanctuaries, and all manner of their buildings.
And it came to pass, as timber was exceedingly scarce in the land northward, they did send forth much by the way of shipping; and thus they did enable the people in the land northward that they might build many cities both of wood and of cement. And it came to pass that there were many of the people of Ammon who were Lamanites by birth that did also go forth into this land.
And now there are many records kept of the proceedings of this people, by many of this people, which are detailed and very large concerning them; but behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people — yes, the account of the Lamanites and of the Nefites, and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping, and their building of ships,12 and their building of Temples and of synagogues, and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their plunderings,13 and all manner of abominations and whoredoms — cannot be contained in this work. But behold, there are many books and many records of every kind,14 and they have been kept chiefly by the Nefites. And they have been handed down from one generation to another by the Nefites, even until they have fallen into transgression and have been murdered, plundered, and hunted, and driven forth, and slain, and scattered upon the face of the earth, and mixed with the Lamanites until they are no more called the Nefites, becoming wicked, and wild, and ferocious, yes, even becoming Lamanites.
And now I return again to my account. Therefore, what I have spoken had passed; after there had been great contentions, and disturbances, and wars, and dissensions among the people of Nefi, the forty and sixth year of the reign of the judges ended. And it came to pass that there were still great contentions in the land, yes, even in the forty and seventh year, and also in the forty and eighth year. Nevertheless, Cheleman did fill the judgment seat with justice and equity, yes, he did observe to keep the statutes, and the judgments, and the mitzvot of Elohim. And he did do that which was right in the sight of Elohim continually, and he did walk after the ways of his father, insomuch that he did prosper in the land.
And it came to pass that he had two sons. He gave unto the eldest the name of Nefi and unto the youngest the name of Lechi. And they began to grow up unto yhwh.15 And it came to pass that the wars and contentions began to cease in a small degree among the people of the Nefites in the latter end of the forty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi. And it came to pass in the forty and ninth year of the reign of the judges, there was continual shalom established in the land, all except it were the secret conspiracies which Gaddianton16 the robber had established in the more settled parts of the land, which at that time were not known unto those who were at the head of government; therefore they were not destroyed out of the land.
And it came to pass that in this same year, there was exceedingly great prosperity in the assembly, insomuch that there were thousands who did join themselves unto the assembly and were immersed17 unto repentance. And so great was the prosperity of the assembly, and so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the Kohanim HaGadolim and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure. And it came to pass that the work of yhwh did prosper, unto the washing by immersion and uniting to the assembly of Elohim, many souls, yes, even tens of thousands. Thus we may see that yhwh is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name. Yes, thus we see that the gate of Heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Yeshua HaMashiach, who is the Son of Elohim; yes, we see that whosoever will lay hold upon the word of Elohim, which is alive and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning, and the snares, and the wiles of HaSatan, and lead the follower of Mashiach in a strait and narrow18 course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked, and land their souls, yes, their immortal souls, at the right hand of Elohim in the kingdom of Heaven, to sit down with Avraham, and Yitz’chak, and with Ya’akov, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out. And in this year, there was continual rejoicing in the land of Zerach’mla and in all the regions round about, even in all the land which was possessed by the Nefites. And it came to pass that there was shalom and exceedingly great joy in the remainder of the forty and ninth year, yes, and also there was continual shalom and great joy in the fiftieth year of the reign of the judges.
And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the judges, there was shalom also, except it were the pride which began to enter into the assembly — not into the assembly of Elohim, but into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the assembly of Elohim; and they were lifted up in pride,19 even to the persecution of many of their brothers. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions and to wade through much affliction. Nevertheless, they did fast and pray20 often, and did grow stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Mashiach, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yes, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification comes because of their yielding their hearts unto Elohim. And it came to pass that the fifty and second year ended in shalom also, except it was the exceedingly great pride which had gotten into the hearts of the people — and it was because of their exceedingly great riches and their prosperity in the land — and it did grow upon them from day to day.
And it came to pass in the fifty and third year of the reign of the judges, Cheleman died and his eldest son Nefi began to reign in his place. And it came to pass that he did fill the judgment seat with justice and equity, yes, he did keep the mitzvot of Elohim and did walk in the ways of his father. And it came to pass in the fifty and fourth year,21 there were many dissensions in the assembly, and there was also a contention among the people, insomuch that there was much bloodshed; and the rebellious part were slain and driven out of the land, and they did go unto the king of the Lamanites.
And it came to pass that they did endeavor to stir up the Lamanites to war against the Nefites; but behold, the Lamanites were exceedingly afraid, insomuch that they would not hearken to the words of those dissenters. But it came to pass in the fifty and sixth year of the reign of the judges, there were dissenters who went up from the Nefites unto the Lamanites, and they succeeded with those others in stirring them up to anger against the Nefites, and they were all that year preparing for war. And in the fifty and seventh year they did come down against the Nefites to battle, and they did commence the work of death; yes, insomuch that in the fifty and eighth year of the reign of the judges, they succeeded in obtaining possession of the land of Zerach’mla, yes, and also all the lands, even unto the land which was near the land Bountiful. And the Nefites and the armies of M’ronihah were driven even into the land of Bountiful; and there they did fortify against the Lamanites, from the west sea even unto the east, it being a day’s journey for a Nefite on the line which they had fortified and stationed their armies to defend their north country. And thus those dissenters of the Nefites, with the help of a numerous army of the Lamanites, had obtained all the possession of the Nefites which was in the land southward. And all this was done in the fifty and eighth and ninth years of the reign of the judges.
And it came to pass in the sixtieth year of the reign of the judges, M’ronihah did succeed with his armies in obtaining many parts of the land, yes, they retained many cities which had fallen into the hands of the Lamanites.
And it came to pass in the sixty and first year of the reign of the judges, they succeeded in retaining even the half of all their possessions. Now this great loss of the Nefites and the great slaughter which was among them would not have happened had it not been for their wickedness and their abomination which was among them. Yes, and it was among those also who professed to belong to the assembly of Elohim. And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yes, it was because of their oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry, withholding their clothing from the naked, and striking their humble brothers upon the cheeks,22 making a mockery of that which was sacred, denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering, plundering, lying, stealing, committing adultery, raising up in great contentions, and dissenting away into the land of Nefi among the Lamanites. And because of this, their great wickedness and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore, they did not prosper, but were afflicted, and slain, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost possession of almost all their lands. But behold, M’ronihah did preach many things unto the people because of their iniquity, and also Nefi and Lechi, who were the sons of Cheleman, did preach many things unto the people, yes, and did prophesy many things unto them concerning their iniquities, and what should come unto them if they did not repent of their sins. And it came to pass that they did repent, and inasmuch as they did repent, they did begin to prosper. For when M’ronihah saw that they did repent, he did venture to lead them forth from place to place and from city to city, even until they had retained the one half of their property and the one half of all their lands. And thus ended the sixty and first year of the reign of the judges.
And it came to pass in the sixty and second year of the reign of the judges that M’ronihah could obtain no more possessions over the Lamanites; therefore, they did abandon their design to obtain the remainder of their lands. For so numerous were the Lamanites that it became impossible for the Nefites to obtain more power over them. Therefore, M’ronihah did employ all his armies in maintaining those parts which he had taken.
And it came to pass, because of the greatness of the number of the Lamanites, the Nefites were in great fear that they would be overpowered, and trampled down, and slain, and destroyed. Yes, they began to remember the prophecies of Alma, and also the words of Moshiyah. And they saw that they had been a stiffnecked people, and that they had despised the mitzvot of Elohim, and that they had altered and trampled under their feet the laws of Moshiyah, or that which yhwh commanded him to give unto the people, and thus seeing that their laws had become corrupt and that they had become a wicked people, insomuch that they were wicked even like unto the Lamanites. And because of their iniquity, the assembly had begun to dwindle. And they began to disbelieve in the spirit of prophecy and in the spirit of revelation,23 and the judgments of Elohim did stare them in the face. And they saw they had become weak like unto their brothers the Lamanites, and that the spirit of yhwh did no more preserve them. Yes, it had withdrawn24 from them because the spirit of yhwh does not dwell in unholy temples. Therefore, yhwh did cease to preserve them by his miraculous and matchless power, for they had fallen into a state of unbelief25 and awful wickedness. And they saw that the Lamanites were exceedingly more numerous than they, and except they should cling unto yhwh their Elohim, they must unavoidably perish. For behold, they saw that the strength of the Lamanites was as great as their strength, even man for man. And thus had they fallen into this great transgression; yes, thus had they become weak because of their transgression in the space of not many years.26
And it came to pass that in this same year, behold, Nefi delivered up the judgment seat27 to a man whose name was Cezoram. For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction. For the laws had become corrupted, yes, and this was not all; they were a stiffnecked people, insomuch that they could not be governed by the law nor justice, except it were to their destruction.
And it came to pass that Nefi had become weary because of their iniquity, and he yielded up the judgment seat, and took it upon himself to preach the word of Elohim all the remainder of his days, and his brother Lechi also, all the remainder of his days. For they remembered the words which their father Cheleman spoke unto them. And these are the words which he spoke: Behold, my sons, I desire that you should remember to keep the mitzvot of Elohim; and I would that you should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents28 who came out of the land of Yerushalayim, and this I have done that when you remember your names, that you may remember them; and when you remember them, you may remember their works; and when you remember their works, you may know how that it is said and also written that they were good. Therefore, my sons, I would that you should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them. And now, my sons, behold, I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is that you may not do these things that you may boast, but that you may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure29 in Heaven, yes, which is eternal and which fades not away; yes, that you may have that precious gift of Eternal life,30 which we have reason to suppose has been given to our fathers.
Oh remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Binyamin spoke unto his people. Yes, remember that there is no other way nor means by which man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Yeshua HaMashiach who shall come; yes, remember that he comes to redeem the world. And remember also the words which Amulek spoke unto Zeezrom in the city of Ammonihah, for he said unto him that yhwh surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins. And he has power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance. Therefore, he has sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which brings unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls. And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Mashiach, the Son of Elohim, that you must build your foundation, that when HaSatan shall send forth his mighty winds, yes, his shafts in the whirlwind, yes, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe because of the rock upon which you are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build, they cannot fall.31
And it came to pass that these were the words which Cheleman taught to his sons; yes, he did teach them many things which are not written, and also many things which are written. And they did remember his words, and therefore they went forth keeping the mitzvot of Elohim to teach the word of Elohim among all the people of Nefi, beginning at the city Bountiful, and from that place to the city of Gid, and from the city of Gid to the city of Mulek, and even from one city to another, until they had gone forth among all the people of Nefi who were in the land southward, and from that place into the land of Zerach’mla among the Lamanites.
And it came to pass that they did preach with great power, insomuch that they did confound many of those dissenters who had gone over from the Nefites, insomuch that they came forth and did confess their sins, and were immersed unto repentance,32 and immediately returned to the Nefites to endeavor to repair unto them the wrongs which they had done. And it came to pass that Nefi and Lechi did preach unto the Lamanites with such great power and authority, for they had power and authority given unto them that they might speak; and they also had what they should speak given unto them. Therefore, they did speak unto the great astonishment of the Lamanites, to the convincing them, insomuch that there were eight thousand of the Lamanites, who were in the land of Zerach’mla and round about, immersed unto repentance, and convinced of the wickedness of the traditions of their fathers.
And it came to pass that Nefi and Lechi did proceed from that place to go to the land of Nefi. And it came to pass that they were taken by an army of the Lamanites and cast into prison, yes, even in that same prison in which Ammon and his brothers were cast by the servants of Limhi. And after they had been cast into prison many days without food, behold, they went forth into the prison to take them, that they might slay them. And it came to pass that Nefi and Lechi were encircled about as if by fire, even insomuch that they dared not lay their hands upon them for fear that they should be burned. Nevertheless, Nefi and Lechi were not burned; and they were as standing in the midst of fire and were not burned. And when they saw that they were encircled about with a pillar of fire33 and that it burned them not, their hearts did take courage, for they saw that the Lamanites dared not lay their hands upon them, neither dared they come near unto them, but stood as if they were struck dumb with amazement.
And it came to pass that Nefi and Lechi did stand forth and began to speak unto them, saying, Fear not, for behold, it is Elohim that has shown unto you this marvelous thing, in which it is shown unto you that you cannot lay your hands on us to slay us.34 And behold, when they had said these words, the earth shook exceedingly and the walls of the prison did shake as if they were about to tumble to the earth; but behold, they did not fall. And behold, they that were in the prison were Lamanites, and Nefites who were dissenters. And it came to pass that they were overshadowed with a cloud of darkness, and an awful solemn fear came upon them. And it came to pass that there came a voice,35 as if it were above the cloud of darkness,36 saying, Repent, repent, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings.
And it came to pass when they heard this voice and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice37 of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul — and despite the mildness of the voice, behold, the earth shook exceedingly. And the walls of the prison trembled again, as if it were about to tumble to the earth; and behold, the cloud of darkness which had overshadowed them did not disperse. And behold, the voice came again, saying, Repent, repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand; and seek no more to destroy my servants. And it came to pass that the earth shook again, and the walls trembled; and also again the third time the voice came and did speak unto them marvelous words which cannot be uttered by man.38 And the walls did tremble again, and the earth shook as if it were about to divide asunder.
And it came to pass that the Lamanites could not flee because of the cloud of darkness which did overshadow them; yes, and also, they were immovable because of the fear which did come upon them. Now there was one among them who was a Nefite by birth, who had once belonged to the assembly of Elohim but had dissented from them. And it came to pass that he turned around, and behold, he saw through the cloud of darkness the faces of Nefi and Lechi; and behold, they did shine exceedingly,39 even as the faces of angels. And he beheld that they did lift up their eyes to Heaven, and they were in the attitude as if talking or lifting their voices to some being whom they beheld.
And it came to pass that this man did cry unto the multitude that they might turn and look. And behold, there was power given unto them that they did turn and look; and they did behold the faces of Nefi and Lechi. And they said unto the man, Behold, what do all these things mean? And who is it with whom these men do converse? Now the man’s name was Aminadab. And Aminadab said unto them, They do converse with the angels of Elohim. And it came to pass that the Lamanites said unto him, What shall we do that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us? And Aminadab said unto them, You must repent and cry unto the voice,40 even until you shall have faith in Mashiach, which was taught unto you by Alma and Amulek, and by Zeezrom; and when you shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you.
And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth, yes, they did cry even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed. And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, and behold, they saw that they were encircled about (yes, every soul) by a pillar of fire.41 And Nefi and Lechi were in the midst of them, yes, they were encircled about, yes, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire, yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold upon the walls of the prison; and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory. And behold, the holy Ruach Elohim did come down from Heaven and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words.
And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yes, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper,42 saying, Shalom, shalom be unto you because of your faith in my Well Beloved,43 who was from the foundation of the world.44 And now when they heard this, they cast up their eyes as if to behold from where the voice came, and behold, they saw the Heavens open, and angels came down out of Heaven45 and ministered unto them. And there were about three hundred souls who saw and heard46 these things, and they were bidden to go forth and marvel not, neither should they doubt. And it came to pass that they did go forth and did minister unto the people, declaring throughout all the regions round about all the things which they had heard and seen, insomuch that the more part of the Lamanites were convinced of them because of the greatness of the evidences which they had received. And as many as were convinced did lay down their weapons of war,47 and also their hatred and the tradition of their fathers. And it came to pass that they did yield up unto the Nefites the lands of their possession.
And it came to pass that when the sixty and second year48 of the reign of the judges had ended, all these things had happened, and the Lamanites had become, the more part of them, a righteous people, insomuch that their righteousness did exceed that of the Nefites, because of their firmness and their steadiness in the faith. For behold, there were many of the Nefites who had become hardened, and impenitent, and enormously wicked, insomuch that they did reject the word of Elohim, and all the preaching and the prophesying which did come among them. Nevertheless, the people of the assembly did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yes, because of the assembly of Elohim which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy. And it came to pass that many of the Lamanites did come down into the land of Zerach’mla and did declare unto the people of the Nefites the manner of their conversion, and did exhort them to faith and repentance. Yes, and many did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers49 of Elohim and the Lamb.
And it came to pass that many of the Lamanites did go into the land northward, and also, Nefi and Lechi went into the land northward, to preach unto the people. And thus ended the sixty and third year. And behold, there was shalom in all the land, insomuch that the Nefites did go into whatsoever part of the land they would, whether among the Nefites or the Lamanites. And it came to pass that the Lamanites did also go wherever they would, whether it were among the Lamanites or among the Nefites. And thus they did have free commerce one with another, to buy, and to sell, and to get gain, according to their desire.
And it came to pass that they became exceedingly rich,50 both the Lamanites and the Nefites; and they did have an exceeding plenty of gold, and of silver, and of all manner of precious metals, both in the land south and in the land north. Now the land south was called Lechi, and the land north was called Muloch, which was after the son of Tzidkiyahu;51 for yhwh did bring Muloch into the land north and Lechi into the land south. And behold, there was all manner of gold in both these lands, and of silver, and of precious ore of every kind; and there were also meticulous workmen who did work all kinds of ore, and did refine it. And thus they did become rich. They did raise grain in abundance, both in the north and in the south, and they did flourish exceedingly, both in the north and in the south. And they did multiply and grow exceedingly strong in the land. And they did raise many flocks and herds, yes, many fatlings. Behold, their women did labor and spin, and did make all manner of cloth of fine twined linen, and cloth of every kind, to clothe their nakedness. And thus the sixty and fourth year did pass away in shalom. And in the sixty and fifth year they did also have great joy and shalom, yes, much preaching and many prophecies concerning that which was to come. And thus passed away the sixty and fifth year.
And it came to pass that in the sixty and sixth year of the reign of the judges, behold, Cezoram was murdered by an unknown hand as he sat upon the judgment seat. And it came to pass that in the same year, that his son, who had been appointed by the people in his place, was also murdered. And thus ended the sixty and sixth year. And in the commencement of the sixty and seventh year, the people began to grow exceedingly wicked again. For behold, yhwh had blessed them so long with the riches of the world that they had not been stirred up to anger, to wars, nor to bloodsheds; therefore, they began to set their hearts upon their riches, yes, they began to seek to get gain that they might be lifted up one above another. Therefore, they began to commit secret murders, and to rob, and to plunder, that they might get gain.52 And now behold, those murderers and plunderers were a band who had been formed by Kishcumen and Gaddianton. And now it had come to pass that there were many, even among the Nefites, of Gaddianton’s band. But behold, they were more numerous among the more wicked part of the Lamanites. And they were called Gaddianton’s robbers and murderers; and it was they who did murder the chief judge Cezoram and his son while in the judgment seat; and behold, they were not found.
And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites found that there were robbers among them, they were exceedingly sorrowful; and they did use every means, whatsoever was in their power, to destroy them off the face of the earth. But behold, HaSatan did stir up the hearts53 of the more part of the Nefites, insomuch that they did unite with those bands of robbers, and did enter into their covenants and their oaths, that they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever difficult circumstances they should be placed in, that they should not suffer for their murders, and their plunderings, and their stealings.
And it came to pass that they did have their signs, yes, their secret signs and their secret words, and this that they might distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant, that whatsoever wickedness his brother should do, he should not be injured by his brother, nor by those who did belong to his band who had taken this covenant. And thus they might murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country, and also the laws of their Elohim. And whosoever of those who belonged to their band should reveal unto the world their wickedness and their abominations should be tried, not according to the laws of their country, but according to the laws of their wickedness, which had been given by Gaddianton and Kishcumen. Now behold, it is these secret oaths and covenants which Alma commanded his son should not go forth unto the world for fear that they should be a means of bringing down the people unto destruction.
Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not come forth unto Gaddianton from the records which were delivered unto Cheleman, but behold, they were put into the heart of Gaddianton by that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit,54 yes, that same being who did plot with Kayin that if he would murder his brother Hevel, it should not be known unto the world. And he did plot with Kayin and his followers from that time forth. And also, it is that same being who put it into the hearts of the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get to Heaven. And it was that same being who led the people who came from that tower into this land who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction and to an everlasting Gehinnom. Yes, it is that same being who put it into the heart of Gaddianton to still carry on the work of darkness and of secret murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man, even down to this time. And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he does carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and does hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to generation, according as he can get hold upon the hearts55 of the children of men. And now behold, he had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the Nefites, yes, insomuch that they had become exceedingly wicked. Yes, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the mitzvot of Elohim, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver.
And it came to pass that all these iniquities did come unto them in the space of not many years,56 insomuch that a more part of it had come unto them in the sixty and seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi. And they did grow in their iniquities in the sixty and eighth year also, to the great sorrow and lamentation of the righteous. And thus we see that the Nefites did begin to dwindle in unbelief, and grow in wickedness and abominations, while the Lamanites began to grow exceedingly in the knowledge of their Elohim;57 yes, they did begin to keep his statutes and mitzvot, and to walk in truth and uprightness before him. And thus we see that the spirit of yhwh began to withdraw58 from the Nefites because of the wickedness and the hardness of their hearts. And thus we see that yhwh began to pour out his spirit59 upon the Lamanites because of their easiness and willingness to believe in his word.
And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the band of robbers of Gaddianton, and they did preach the word of Elohim among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of robbers was utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites. And it came to pass that on the other hand, that the Nefites did build them up and support them, beginning at the more wicked part of them, until they had overspread all the land of the Nefites, and had seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works, and partake of their spoils, and to join with them in their secret murders and conspiracies. And thus they did obtain the sole management of the government, insomuch that they did trample under their feet, and smite, and tear, and turn their backs upon the poor and the meek and humble followers60 of Elohim. And thus we see that they were in an awful state and ripening for an everlasting destruction. And it came to pass that thus ended the sixty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi.