And now it came to pass in the seventy and second year98 of the reign of the judges that the contentions did increase, insomuch that there were wars throughout all the land, among all the people of Nefi. And it was this secret band of robbers who did carry on this work of destruction and wickedness. And this war did last all that year. And in the seventy and third year it did also last.
And it came to pass that in this year Nefi did cry unto yhwh, saying, O yhwh, do not allow that this people shall be destroyed by the sword, but O yhwh, rather let there be a famine in the land to stir them up in remembrance of yhwh their Elohim, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto you. And so it was done according to the words of Nefi, and there was a great famine upon the land, among all the people of Nefi.99 And thus in the seventy and fourth year the famine did continue, and the work of destruction did cease by the sword, but became sore by famine. And this work of destruction did also continue in the seventy and fifth year. For the earth was smitten, that it was dry and did not yield forth grain in the season of grain; and the whole earth was smitten, even among the Lamanites as well as among the Nefites, so that they were afflicted that they did perish by thousands in the more wicked parts of the land.
And it came to pass that the people saw that they were about to perish by famine, and they began to remember yhwh their Elohim, and they began to remember the words of Nefi. And the people began to plead with their chief judges and their leaders, that they would say unto Nefi, Behold, we know that you are a man of Elohim, and therefore cry unto yhwh our Elohim that he turn away from us this famine, for fear that all the words which you have spoken concerning our destruction be fulfilled. And it came to pass that the judges did say unto Nefi according to the words which had been desired. And it came to pass that when Nefi saw that the people had repented and did humble themselves in sackcloth, he cried again unto yhwh, saying, O yhwh, behold, this people repent, and they have swept away the band of Gaddianton from among them, insomuch that they have become extinct and they have concealed their secret plans in the earth. Now, O yhwh, because of this their humility, will you turn away your anger and let your anger be appeased in the destruction of those wicked men whom you have already destroyed? O yhwh, will you turn away your anger, yes, your fierce anger, and cause that this famine may cease in this land? O yhwh, will you hearken unto me and cause that it may be done according to my words, and send forth rain upon the face of the earth that she may bring forth her fruit and her grain in the season of grain? O yhwh, you did hearken unto my words when I said, Let there be a famine, that the pestilence of the sword might cease. And I know that you will even at this time hearken unto my words, for you said that if this people repent, I will spare them. Yes, O yhwh, and you see that they have repented because of the famine, and the pestilence, and destruction which has come unto them. And now, O yhwh, will you turn away your anger and try again if they will serve you? And if so, O yhwh, you can bless them according to your word which you have said.
And it came to pass that in the seventy and sixth year, yhwh did turn away his anger from the people, and caused that rain should fall upon the earth, insomuch that it did bring forth her fruit in the season of her fruit. And it came to pass that it did bring forth her grain in the season of her grain.100 And behold, the people did rejoice and glorify Elohim, and the whole face of the land was filled with rejoicing. And they did no more seek to destroy Nefi, but they did esteem him as a great prophet and a man of Elohim, having great power and s’mikhah given unto him from Elohim. And behold, Lechi, his brother, was not a bit behind him as to things pertaining to righteousness. And thus it did come to pass that the people of Nefi began to prosper again in the land, and began to build up their waste places, and began to multiply and spread, even until they did cover the whole face of the land, both on the northward and on the southward, from the sea west to the sea east. And it came to pass that the seventy and sixth year did end in shalom. And the seventy and seventh year began in shalom, and the assembly did spread throughout the face of all the land, and the more part of the people, both the Nefites and the Lamanites, did belong to the assembly; and they did have exceedingly great shalom in the land. And thus ended the seventy and seventh year. And also, they had shalom in the seventy and eighth year, except it were a few contentions concerning the points of doctrine which had been laid down by the prophets; and in the seventy and ninth year there began to be much strife. But it came to pass that Nefi, and Lechi, and many of their brothers, who knew concerning the true points of doctrine, having many revelations101 daily, therefore they did preach unto the people, insomuch that they did put an end to their strife in that same year.
And it came to pass that in the eightieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi, there were a certain number of the dissenters102 from the people of Nefi, who had some years before gone over unto the Lamanites and took upon themselves the name of Lamanites, and also a certain number who were real descendants of the Lamanites being stirred up to anger by them, or by those dissenters, therefore they commenced a war with their brothers. And they did commit murder and plunder, and then they would retreat back into the mountains, and into the wilderness and secret places, hiding themselves that they could not be discovered, receiving daily an addition to their numbers, inasmuch as there were dissenters that went forth unto them. And thus in time, yes, even in the space of not many years,103 they became an exceedingly great band of robbers; and they did search out all the secret plans of Gaddianton, and thus they became robbers of Gaddianton.
Now behold, these robbers did make great havoc, yes, even great destruction among the people of Nefi, and also among the people of the Lamanites. And it came to pass that it was expedient that there should be a stop put to this work of destruction, therefore they sent an army of strong men into the wilderness and upon the mountains to search out this band of robbers and to destroy them. But behold, it came to pass that in that same year they were driven back, even into their own lands. And thus ended the eightieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi.
And it came to pass in the commencement of the eighty and first year, they did go forth again against this band of robbers and did destroy many; and they were also visited with much destruction. And they were again obliged to return out of the wilderness and out of the mountains unto their own lands, because of the exceeding greatness of the numbers of those robbers who infested the mountains and the wilderness. And it came to pass that thus ended this year.
And the robbers did still increase and grow strong, insomuch that they did defy the whole armies of the Nefites, and also of the Lamanites; and they did cause great fear to come unto the people upon all the face of the land. Yes, for they did visit many parts of the land and did do great destruction unto them, yes, did kill many and did carry away others captive into the wilderness,104 yes, and more especially their women and their children. Now this great evil, which came unto the people because of their iniquity, did stir them up again in remembrance of yhwh their Elohim. And thus ended the eighty and first year of the reign of the judges. And in the eighty and second year they began again to forget yhwh their Elohim. And in the eighty and third year they began to grow strong in iniquity. And in the eighty and fourth year they did not mend their ways. And it came to pass in the eighty and fifth year they did grow stronger and stronger in their pride and in their wickedness; and thus they were ripening again for destruction. And thus ended the eighty and fifth year.
And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men. Yes, we can see that yhwh in his great infinite goodness does bless and prosper those who put their trust in him. Yes, and we may see at the very time when he does prosper his people — yes, in the increase105 of their fields, their flocks, and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies, softening the hearts of their enemies, that they should not declare wars against them, yes, and in short, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people — yes, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget yhwh their Elohim, and do trample106 under their feet HaKodesh, yes, and this because of their ease and their exceedingly great prosperity. And thus we see that except yhwh does chasten his people with many afflictions, yes, except he does visit them with death, and with terror, and with famine, and with all manner of pestilences, they will not remember him. Oh how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and demonic, and how quick to do iniquity,107 and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yes, how quick to hearken unto the words of the Evil One and to set their hearts108 upon the vain things of the world, yes, how quick to be lifted up in pride,109 yes, how quick to boast and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember yhwh their Elohim and to give ear unto his counsels, yes, how slow to walk in wisdom’s paths! Behold, they do not desire that yhwh their Elohim who has created them should rule and reign over them; despite his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they despise his counsels, and they do not want him to be their guide.
Oh how great is the nothingness110 of the children of men, yes, even they are less than the dust of the earth! For behold, the dust of the earth moves hither and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and El Olam. Yes, behold, at his voice do the hills and the mountains tremble and quake, and by the power of his voice they are broken up and become smooth, yes, even like unto a valley. Yes, by the power of his voice does the whole earth shake,111 yes, by the power of his voice do the foundations rock, even to the very center. Yes, and if he says unto the earth, Move — it is moved. Yes, if he says unto the earth, You shall go back, that it lengthens out the day for many hours — and112 it is done. And thus according to his word the earth goes back,113 and it appears unto man that the sun stands still. Yes, and behold, this is so, for surely it is the earth that moves and not the sun. And behold also, if he says unto the waters of the great deep, Be you dried up — and it is done. Behold, if he says unto this mountain,114 Be you raised up, and come over and fall upon that city, that it be buried up — and behold, it is done. And behold, if a man hide up a treasure in the earth, and yhwh shall say, Let it be cursed because of the iniquity of he who has hid it up — behold, it shall be cursed. And if yhwh shall say, Be you cursed that no man shall find you from this time henceforth and for ever — and behold, no man gets it henceforth and for ever.115 And behold, if yhwh shall say unto a man, Because of your iniquities, you shall be cursed for ever — and it shall be done. And if yhwh shall say, Because of your iniquities, you shall be cut off from my presence — and he will cause that it shall be so. And woe unto him to whom he shall say this, for it shall be unto him that will do iniquity, and he cannot be saved; therefore, for this cause, that men might be saved, has repentance been declared.
Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of yhwh their Elohim, for these are they that shall be saved. And may Elohim grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace according to their works. And I would that all men might be saved. But we read that in that great and last day,116 there are some who shall be cast out,117 yes, who shall be cast off from the presence of yhwh, yes, who shall be consigned to a state of Endless misery, fulfilling the words which say: They that have done good shall have Everlasting life, and they that have done evil shall have Everlasting damnation. And thus it is. Amen.