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45 - Book of Mormon - Joseph Smith Jr · Sacred Texts Archive

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Helimann chapter eight. And now I came to pass that when Nephi had said
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these words, behold, there were men who were judges, who also belonged
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to the secret band of Gadienton, And they were angry, and they cried
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out against him, saying, unto the people, why do ye not seize
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upon this man and bring him forth, that he may be condemned according to
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the crime which he has done. Why seest thou this man and hearest him
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revile against this people and against our law. For behold, Nephi had spoken
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unto them concerning the corruptness of their law. Yea. Many things did Nephi
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speak which cannot be written, And nothing did he speak which was contrary to
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the commandments of God. And those judges were angry with him, because he
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spake plainly unto them concerning their secret works of darkness. Nevertheless, they durst
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not lay their own hands upon him, for they feared the people, lest
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they should cry out against them. Therefore they did cry unto the people,
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saying, why do you suffer this man to revile against us? For behold,
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he doth condemn all this people, even unto destruction. Yea. And
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also that these are great cities shall be taken from us, that we shall
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have no place in them. And now we know that this is impossible.
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For behold, we are powerful and our cities great. Therefore our enemies can
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have no power over us. And it came to pass that thus they did
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stir up the people to anger against Nephi, and raised contentions among them.
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For there were some who did cry out, let this man alone, for
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he is a good man, and those things which he saith will surely come
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to pass except we repent. Yea. Behold, all the judgments will come
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upon us which he has testified unto us. For we know that he has
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testified a right unto us concerning our iniquities. And behold, they are many.
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And he knoweth as well all things which shall befall us, as he
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knoweth of our iniquities. Yea, and behold, if he had not been
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prophet, he could not have testified concerning those things. And it came to
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pass that those people who sought to destroy Nephi were compelled because of their fear,
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that they did not lay their hands on him. Therefore he began again
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to speak unto them, seeing that he had gained favor in the eyes of
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some, insomuch that the remainder of them did fear. Therefore he was constrained
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to speak more unto them, saying, behold, my brethren, have you
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not read that God gave power unto one man, even Moses, to smite
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upon the waters of the Red Sea, and they parted hither and thither insomuch
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that the Israelites, who were our fathers, came through upon dry ground,
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and the waters closed upon the armies of the Egyptians and swallowed them up.
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And now, behold, if God gave unto this man such power, then
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why should ye dispute among yourselves and say that He hath given unto me no
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power, whereby I may know concerning the judgments that sh come upon you,
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Except ye repent. But behold, ye not only deny my words, but
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ye also deny all the words which have been spoken by our fathers, and
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also the words which were spoken by this man, Moses, who had such
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great power given unto him. Yea, the words which he hath spoken concerning
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the coming of the Messiah? Yea, did he not bear record that the
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Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in
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the wilderness. Even so shall he be lifted up, who should come,
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And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as
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many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite
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spirit, might live even unto that life which is eternal. And now behold,
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Moses did not only testify of these things, but also all the holy
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prophets from his days, even to the days of Abraham. Yea, and
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behold, Abraham saw of his coming and was filled with gladness, and did
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rejoice. Yea, and behold, I say unto you that Abraham not only
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knew of these things, but there were many before the days of Abraham who
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were called by the order of God. Yea, even after the order of
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his son. And this that it should be shown unto the people a great
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many thousand years before his coming, that even redemption should come unto them.
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And now why would that? Ye should know that even since the days of
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Abraham, there have been many prophets that have testified these things. Yea,
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Behold, the prophet Zenas did testify boldly for the which he was slain.
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And behold also Zenik, and also Isias, and also Isaiah, and Jeremiah.
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Jeremiah being that same prophet who testified of the destruction of Jerusalem. And
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now we know that Jerusalem was destroyed according to the words of Jeremiah. Oh,
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then why not the Son of God come according to his prophecy. And
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now will ye dispute that Jerusalem was destroyed? Will ye say that the sons
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of Zedekiah were not slain all except were Mulik yea. And do ye not
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behold that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out
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of the land of Jerusalem. But behold, this is not all. Our
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father Lehi was driven out of Jerusalem because he testified of these things. Nephi
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also testified of these things, and also almost all of our fathers, even
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down to this time. Yea, they have testified of the coming of Christ
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and have looked forward and have rejoiced in his day which is to come.
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And behold, he is God, and he is with them. And He
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did manifest himself unto them, that they were redeemed by him, and they
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gave unto him glory because of that which is to come. And now,
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seeing ye know these things and cannot deny them, except ye shall lie Therefore
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in this ye have sinned, for ye have rejected all these things, notwithstanding
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so many evidences which ye have received. Yea, even ye have received all
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things, both things in heaven and all things which are in the earth,
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as a witness that they are true. But behold, ye have rejected the
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truth and rebelled against your Holy God. And even at this time, instead
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of laying up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where nothing doth corrupt, and
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where nothing can come which is unclean, ye are heaping up for yourselves wrath
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against the day of judgment. Yea. Even at this time ye are ripening
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because of your murders and your fornication and wickedness for everlasting destruction. Yea.
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And except ye repent, it will come unto you soon. Yea. Behold,
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it is now even at your doors. Yea. Go ye in unto
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the judgment seat and search. And behold, your judge is murdered, and
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he lieth in his blood, and he hath been murdered by his brother,
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who seeketh to sit in the judgment seat. And behold, they both belong
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to your secret band, whose author is Gadyantin, and the evil one who
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seeketh to destroy the souls of men he lamon chapter nine. Behold, now
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it came to pass that when Nephi had spoken these words, certain men who
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were among them, ran to the judgment seat. Yea, even there were
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five who went, and they said among themselves as they went, behold,
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and now we will know of assured whether this man be a prophet, and
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God hath commanded him to prophesie such marvelous things unto us. Behold, we
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do not believe that he hath. Yea, we do not believe that he
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is a prophet. Nevertheless, if this thing which he has said concerning the
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Chief Judge be true, that he be dead, then will we believe that
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the other words which he has spoken are true. And it came to pass
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that they ran in their mind and came in unto the judgment seat. And
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behold, the Chief Judge had fallen to the earth and did lie in his
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blood. And now behold, when they saw this, they were astonished exceedingly
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insomuch that they fell to the earth. For they had not believed the words
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which Nephi had spoken concerning the Chief Judge. But now when they saw that,
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they believed, and fear came upon them, lest all the judgments which
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Nephi had spoken should come upon the people. Therefore they did quake and had
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fallen to the earth. Now immediately when the judge been murdered, he being
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stabbed by his brother by a garb of secrecy, and he fled, and
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the servants ran and told the people, raising the cry of murder among them.
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And behold, the people did gather themselves together unto the place of the
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judgment seat. And behold, to their astonishment they saw those five men who
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had fallen to the earth. And now behold that people knew nothing concerning the
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multitude who had gathered together at the garden of Nephi. Therefore they set among
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themselves these men are they who have murdered the judge. And God has smitten
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them, that they could not flee from us. And it came to pass
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that they laid hold on them and bound them and cast them into prison.
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And there was a proclamation sent abroad that the judge was slain, and that
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the murderers had been taken and were cast into prison. And it came to
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pass that on the morrow the people did assemble themselves together to mourn and to
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fast at the burial of the great Chief Judge who had been slain. And
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thus also those judges who were at the garden of Nephi and heard his words,
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were also gathered together at the burial. And it came to pass that
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they inquired among the people, saying, where are the five who were sent
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to inquire concerning the chief judge whether he was dead? And they answered and
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said, concerning this five whom ye say ye have sent, we know not,
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but there are five who are the murderers whom we have cast into prison.
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And it came to pass that the judges desired that they should be brought,
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and they were brought, and behold they were the five who were sent.
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And to behold, the judges inquired of them to know concerning the matter,
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And they told them all that they had done, saying, we ran
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and came to the place of the judgment seat. And when we saw all
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things, even as nie if I had testified, we were astonished, insomuch
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that we fell to the earth. And when we were recovered from our astonishment,
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behold they cast us into prison. Now, as for the murder of
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this man, we know not who has done it, And only this much
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we know. We ran and came according as ye desired, and behold,
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he was dead, according to the words of Nephi. And now it came
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to pass that the judges did expound the matter unto the people, and did
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cry against Nephi, saying, behold, we know that this Nephi must have
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agreed with some one to slay the judge, and then he might declare it
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unto us, that he might convert us unto his faith, that he might
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raise himself to be a great man, chosen of God and a prophet.
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And now behold, we will detect this man, and he shall confess his
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fault and make known unto us the true murderer of this judge. And it
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came to pass that the five were liberated on the day of the burial.
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Nevertheless, they did rebuke the judges and the words which they had spoken against
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Nephi, and did contend with them one by one, insomuch that they did
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confound them. Nevertheless, they caused that Nephi should be taken and bound and
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brought before the multitude, and they began to question him in divers ways,
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that they might cross him, that they might accuse him to death, saying,
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unto him, thou art confederate. Who is this man that hath done
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this murder? Now tell us and acknowledge thy fault, saying, behold,
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here is money, and also we will grant unto thee thy life if thou
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wilt tell us and acknowledge the agreement which thou hast made with him. But
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Nephi said unto them, O, ye fools, ye uncircumcised of heart,
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ye blind, and ye stiff naked people. Do ye know how long the
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Lord your God will suffer you that ye shall go on in this your way
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of sin? O? Ye ought to begin to howl and mourn because of
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the great destruction which at this time doth await you, except ye shall repent.
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Behold, ye say that I have agreed with a man that he should
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murder Caesorum, our chief judge. But behold, I say unto you that
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this is because I have testified unto you that ye might know concerning this thing.
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Yea, even for a witness unto you, that I did know of
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the wickedness and abominations which are among you. And because I have done this,
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ye say that I have agreed with a man that he should do this
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thing. YEA, because I shewed unto you this sign, ye are angry
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with me and seek to destroy my life. And now behold, I will
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show unto you another sign, and see if ye will, in this thing
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seek to destroy me. Behold, I say unto you, go to the
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house of Sciantum, who is the brother of Caesorum, and say unto him,
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has Nephi the pretended prophet who doth prophesy so much ye concerning this people
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agreed with thee in the which ye have murdered Caesorum, who is your brother.
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And behold, he shall say unto you, nay, And ye shall
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say unto him, have ye murdered your brother? And he shall stand with
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fear and wist not what to say. And behold, he shall deny unto
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you, and he shall make as if he were astonished. Nevertheless, he
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shall declare unto you that he is innocent. But behold, ye shall examine
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him, and ye shall find blood upon the skirts of his cloak. And
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when ye have seen this, ye shall say, from whence cometh this blood?
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Do we not know that it is the blood of your brother? And
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then shall he tremble and shall look pale, even as if death had come
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upon him, And then shall ye say, because of this fear and this
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paleness which has come upon your face, behold, we know that thou art
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guilty. And then shalt the greater fear come upon him? And then shall
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he confess unto you and deny no more that he has done this murder.
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And then shall he say unto you, that I, neph I know nothing
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concerning the matter, save it were given unto me by the power of God.
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And then shall ye know that I am an honest man, and that
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I am sent unto you from God. And it came to pass that they
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went and did even according as Nephi had said unto them. And behold,
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the words which he had said were true. For according to the words he
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did deny, and also according to the words he did confess. And he
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was brought to prove that he himself was the very murderer, insomuch that the
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five were set at liberty, and also was Nephi. And there were some
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of the Nephites who believed on the words of Nephi. And there were some
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also who believed because of the testimony of the five, for they had been
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converted while they were in prison. And now there were some among the people
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who said that Nephi was a prophet, and there were others who said,
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behold, he is a god. For except he was a god, he
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could not know of all things. For behold, he has told us the
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thoughts of our hearts, and also has told us things. And even he
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has brought unto our knowledge the true murderer of our chief, Judge Helimann chapter
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ten. And it came to pass that there arose a division among the people,
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insomuch that they divided hither and thither, and went their ways, leaving
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Nephi alone, as he was standing in the midst of them. And it
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came to pass that Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon
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the things which the Lord had shown unto him. And it came to pass
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as he was thus pondering, being much cast down because of the wickedness of
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the people of the Nephites, their secret works of darkness, and their murderings,
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and their plunderings, and all manner of iniquities. And it came to
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pass, as he was thus pondering in his heart, behold a voice came
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unto him, saying, blessed art thou Nephi, for those things which thou
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hast done, for I have beheld, how thou hast, with unwearyingness,
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declared the word which I have given unto THEE, unto this people. And
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thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but
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hast sought my will and to keep my commandments. And now because thou hast
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done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless THEE forever, and
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I will make THEE mighty in word and indeed in faith and in works.
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Yea even that all things shall be done unto THEE according to thy word,
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For thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to My will. Behold,
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Thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto
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THEE in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this
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people and shall smite the earth with famine and with pestilence and destruction according to
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the wickedness of this people. Behold, I give unto you power that whatsoever
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ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven. And whatsoever ye shall
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loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. And thus shall ye have power
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among this people. And thus, if ye shall say unto this temple,
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it shall be rent in twain it shall be done. And if ye shall
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say unto this mountain, be thou cast down and become smooth, it shall
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be done. And behold, if ye shall say that God shall smite this
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people, it shall come to pass. And now behold, I command you
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that ye shall go and declare unto this people that thus saith the Lord God,
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who is the Almighty. Except ye repent, ye shall be smitten,
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even unto destruction. And behold, now it came to pass that when the
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Lord had spoken these words unto Nephi, he did stop and did not go
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unto his own house, but did return unto the multitudes who were scattered about
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upon the face of the land, and began to declare unto them the word
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of the Lord which had been spoken unto him, concerning their destruction. If
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they did not repent, now behold, notwithstanding that great miracle which Nephi had
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done in telling them concerning the death of the chief judge, they did harden
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their hearts and did not hearken unto the words of the Lord. Therefore,
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Nephi did declare unto them the word of the Lord, saying, except ye
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repent thus saith the Lord, ye shall be smitten, even unto destruction.
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And it came to pass that when Nephi had declared unto them the word,
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Behold, they did still harden their hearts and would not hearken unto his words.
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Therefore they did revile against him, and did seek to lay their hands
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upon him, that they might cast him into prison. But behold, the
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power of God was with him, and they could not take him to cast
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him into prison, for he was taken by the spirit and conveyed away out
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of the midst of them. And it came to pass that thus he did
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go fourth in the spirit, from multitude to multitude, declaring the word of
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God, even until he had declared it unto them all, or sent it
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forth among all the people. And it came to pass that they would not
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hearken unto his words. And there began to be contentions insomuch that they were
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divided against themselves and began to slay one another with the sword. And thus
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ended the seventy and first year of the reign of the Judges over the people
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of Nephi Helimann chapter eleven. And now it came to pass in the seventy
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and second year of the reign of the Judges, that the contentions did increase,
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insomuch that there were wars throughout all the land among all the people of
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Nephi. And it was this secret band of robbers who did carry on this
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work of destruction and wickedness. And this war did last all that year.
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And in the seventy and third year it did also last. And it came
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to pass that in this year Nephi did cry, and the Lord saying,
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O Lord, do not suffer that this people shall be destroyed by the sword.
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But O Lord, rather, let there be a famine in the land
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to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they
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will repent and turn unto thee. And so it was done according to the
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words of Nephi, and there was a great famine upon the land among all
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the people of Nephi. And thus in the seventy and fourth year the famine
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did continue, and the work of destruction did cease by the sword, but
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became sore by famine. And this work of destruction did also continue in the
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seventy and fifth year, for the earth was smitten, that it was dry
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and did not yield forth grain in the season of grain. And the whole
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earth was smitten, even among the Lamanites as well as among the Nephites,
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so that they were smitten, that they did perish by thousands in the more
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wicked parts of the land. And it came to pass that the people saw
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that they were about to perish by famine, and they began to remember the
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Lord, their God, and they began to remember the words of Nephi.
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And the people began to plead with their chief judges and their leaders that they
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would say unto Nephi, behold, we know that thou art a man of
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God. And therefore cry unto the Lord, our God, that he turn
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away from us this famine, lest all the words which thou hast spoken concerning
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our destruction be fulfilled. And it came to pass that the judges did say
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unto Nephi according to the words which had been desired. And it came to
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pass that when Nephi saw that the people had repented and had humble themselves in
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sacloth, he cried again unto the Lord, saying O Lord, behold,
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this people repenteth, and they have swept away the band of Geddyentin from amongst
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them, insomuch that they have become extinct, and they have concealed their secret
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plans in the earth. Now, O Lord, because of this their humility,
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wilt thou turn away thine anger, and let thine anger be appeased in
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the destruction of those wicked men whom thou hast already destroyed. O Lord,
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Wilt thou turn away thine anger, yea, thy fierce anger, and cause
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that this famine may cease in this land? O Lord, Wilt thou hearken
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unto me, and cause that it may be done according to my words,
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and send forth rain upon the face of the earth, that she may bring
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forth her fruit and her grain in the season of grain. O Lord,
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Thou didst hearken unto my words when I said, let there be a famine,
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that the pestilence of the sword might cease. And I know that thou
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wilt even at this time hearken unto my words. For thou say'st that if
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this people repent, I will spare them, yea, O Lord, And
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thou seest that they have repented because of the famine and the pestilence and destruction
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which has come unto them. And now, O Lord, wilt thou turn
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away thine anger and try again if they will serve thee. And if so,
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o Lord, thou canst bless them according to thy words which thou hast
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said. And it came to pass that in the seventy and sixth year,
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the Lord did turn away his anger from the people and caused that rain should
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fall upon the earth insomuch that it did bring forth her fruit in the season
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of her fruit. And it came to pass that it did bring forth her
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grain in the season of her grain. And behold, the people did rejoice
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and glorify God, and the whole face of the land was filled with rejoicing.
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And they did no more seek to destroy Nephi. But they did esteem
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him as a great prophet and a man of God, having great power and
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authority given unto him from God. And to behold, Lehi his brother,
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was not a whit behind him as to things pertaining to righteousness. And thus
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it did come to pass that the people of Nephi began to prosper again in
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the land, and began to build up their waste places, and began to
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multiply and spread even until they did cover the whole face of the land,
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both on the northward and on the southward, from the sea west to the
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sea east. And it came to pass that the seventy and sixth year did
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end in peace, and the seventy and seventh year began in peace, and
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the Church did spread throughout the face of all the land, and the more
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part of the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites did belong to the
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Church, and they did have exceedingly great peace in the land, and thus
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ended the seventy and seventh year. And also they had peace in the seventy
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and eighth year, save it were a few contentions concerning the points of doctrine
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which had been laid down by the prophets, And in the seventy and ninth
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year there began to be much strife. But it came to pass that Nephi
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and Lehi, and many of their brethren, who knew concerning the true points
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of doctrine, having many revelations daily. Therefore they did preach unto the people,
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insomuch that they did put an end to their strife in that same year.
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And it came to pass that in the eightieth year of the reign of
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the Judges over the people of Nephi, there were a certain number of the
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dissenters from the people of Nephi, who had some years before gone over unto
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the Lamanites and taken upon themselves the name of Lamanites, and also a certain
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number who were real descendants of the Lamanites. Being stirred up to anger by
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them or by those dissenters, therefore they commenced a war with their brethren,
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and they did commit murder and plunder, and then they would retreat back into
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the mountains and into the wilderness and secret places, hiding themselves that they could
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not be discovered, receiving daily an addition to their numbers, inasmuch as there
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were dissenters that went forth among them. And thus in time, yea,
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even in the space of not many years, they became an exceedingly great band
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of robbers, and they did search out all the secret plans of Gerdyantin,
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and thus they became robbers of Garyantin. Now behold, these robbers did make
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great havoc yea, even great destruction among the people of Nephi, and also
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among the people of the Lamanites. And it came to pass that it was
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expedient that there should be a stop put to this work of destruction. Therefore
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they sent an army of strong men into the wilderness and upon the mountains to
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search out this band of robbers and to destroy them. But to behold,
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it came to pass that in that same year they were driven back even into
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their own lands. And thus and the eightieth year of the reign of the
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judges over the people of Nephi, and it came to pass in the commencement
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of the eighty and first year, they did go forth again against this band
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of robbers, and did destroy many, and they were also visited with much
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destruction. And they were again obliged to return out of the wilderness and out
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of the mountains unto their own lands, because of the exceeding greatness of the
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numbers of those robbers who infested the mountains in the wilderness. And it came
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to pass that thus ended this year, and the robbers did still increase and
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wax strong, insomuch that they did defy the whole armies of the Nephites,
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and also of the Lamanites, and they did cause great fear to come unto
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the people upon all the face of the land. Yea. For they did
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visit many parts of the land, and did do great destruction unto them,
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Yea, did kill many, and did carry away others captive into the wilderness.
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Yea, and more especially their women and their children. Now, this
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great evil which came unto the people because of their iniquity, did stir them
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up again in remembrance of the Lord their God. And thus ended the Adian
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first year of the reign of the Judges. And in the Adean second year
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they began again to forget the Lord their God. And in the Adean third
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year they began to whack strong in iniquity. And in the Adean fourth year
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they did not mend their ways, and it came to pass in the eighty
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and fifth year they did whack stronger and stronger in their pride and in their
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wickedness. And thus they were ripening again for destruction, and thus ended the
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eighty and fifth year of Helimann Chapters eight through eleven