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

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Third ney Phi, Chapters five through eight. Third ney Phi, Chapter five.
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And now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people
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of the Nephiites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy
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prophets who had spoken. For they knew that it must needs be that they
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must be fulfilled. And they knew that it must be expedient that Christ had
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come. Because of many signs which had been given according to the words of
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the prophets, and because of the things which had come to pass already,
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they knew that it must needs be that all things should come to pass according
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to that which had been spoken. Therefore they did forsake all their sins and
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their abominations, and their hortoms, and would serve God with all diligence,
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day and night. And now it came to pass that when they had taken
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all the robbers prisoners in so much that none did escape who were not slain,
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they did cast their prisoners into prison, and did cause the word of
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God to be preached unto them. And as many as would repent their sins
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and enter into a covenant that they would murder, no more were set at
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liberty. But as many as there were who did not enter into a covenant,
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and who did still continue to have those secret murders in their hearts.
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Yea, as many as were found breathing out threatenings against their brethren were condemned
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and punished according to the law. And thus they did put an end to
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all those wicked and secret and abominable combinations in the which there was so much
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wickedness and so many murders committed. And thus had the twenty and second year
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passed away, and the twenty and third year, also in the twenty and
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fourth and the twenty and fifth, and thus had twenty and five years passed
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away, And there had many things transpired, which, in the eyes of
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some would be great and marvelous. Nevertheless, they cannot all be written in
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this book. Yea, this book cannot contain even a hundredth part of what
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was done among so many people in the space of twenty and five years.
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But behold, there are records which do contain all the proceedings of this people,
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and a shorter but true account was given by Nephi. Therefore, or
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I have made my record of these things according to the record of Nephi,
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which was engraven on the plates which were called the plates of Nephi. And
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behold, I do make the record on plates which I have made with mine
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own hands. And behold, I am called Mormon, being called after the
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land of Mormon, the land of which Almon did establish the church among the
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people yea, the first church which was established among them after their transgression.
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Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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I have been called of Him to declare this word among his people, that
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they might have everlasting life. And it hath become expedient that I, according
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to the will of God, that the prayers of those who have gone hence
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who were the holy ones, should be fulfilled according to their faith, should
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make a record of these things which had been done, YEA, a small
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record of that which hath taken place from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem,
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even down until the present time. Therefore, I do make my record from
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the accounts which have been given by those who were before me and till the
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commencement of my day. And then I do make a record of the things
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which I have seen with mine own eyes. And I know the record which
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I make to be a just and a true record. Nevertheless, there are
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many things which, according to our language we are not able to write.
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And now I make an end of my saying, which is of myself,
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and proceed to give my account of the things which have been before me.
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I am Mormon and a pure descendant of Lehi. I have reason to bless
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my God and my Savior, Jesus Christ. That he brought our fathers out
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of the land of Jerusalem, and no one knew it save it word himself,
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and those whom he brought out of that land. And that he hath
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given me and my people so much knowledge unto the salvation of our souls.
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Surely he hath blessed the house of Jacob, and hath been merciful unto the
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seed of Joseph. And insomuch as the children of Lehi have kept his commandments,
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he hath blessed them and prospered them according to his word. Yea,
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and surely shall he again bring a remnant the seed of Joseph to the knowledge
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of the Lord their God. And as surely as the Lord liveth, will
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he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the
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seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth.
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And as he hath covenanted with all the House of Jacob, even so
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shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the House of Jacob, be fulfilled
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in his own due time unto the restoring of all the House of Jacob,
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unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them. And then
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shall they know their redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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And then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth
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unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed. Yea, as
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the Lord liveth, so shall it be namen. Third Nephi Chapter six.
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And now it came to pass that the people of the Nephites did all return
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to their own lands in the twenty and sixth year, every man with his
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family, his flocks, and his herds, his horses, and in his
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cattle, and all things whatsoever did belong unto them. And it came to
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pass that they had not eaten up all their provisions. Therefore they did take
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with them all that they had not devoured, of all their grain of every
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kind, and their gold, and their silver and all their precious things.
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And they did return to their own lands and their possessions, both on the
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north and on the south, both on the land northward and on the land
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southward. And they granted unto those robbers who had entered into a covenant to
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keep the peace of the land, who were desirous to remain Lamanites lands according
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to their numbers, that they might have with their labors wherewith to subsist upon.
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And thus they did establish peace in all the land, and they began
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again to prosper and to wax great. And the twenty and sixth and seventh
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years passed away, and there was great order in the land, and they
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had formed their laws according to equity and justice. And now there was nothing
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in all the land to hinder the people from prospers continually, except they should
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fall into transgression. And now it was Gidgadona and the Judge Laconius, and
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those who had been appointed leaders, who had established this great peace in the
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land. And it came to pass that there were many cities built anew,
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and there were many old cities repaired, and there were many highways cast up,
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and many roads made which led from city to city, and from land
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to land, and from place to place, And thus passed away the twenty
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and eighth year, and the people had continual peace. But it came to
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pass in the twenty and ninth year. There began to be some disputings among
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the people, and some were lifted up unto pride and boastings because of their
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exceedingly great riches. Yea, even unto great persecutions. For there were many
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merchants in the land, and also many lawyers, and many officers. And
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the people began to be distinguished by ranks according to their riches and their chances
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for learning. Yea. Some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others
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did receive great learning because of their riches. Some were lifted up in pride,
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and others were exceedingly humble. Some did return railing for railing, while
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others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not
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turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God. And thus
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there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began
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to be broken up. Yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church
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was broken up in all the land save it. Were among a few of
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the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith, and they would not depart
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from it, for they were firm and steadfast and immovable, willing with all
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diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord. Now the cause of this iniquity
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of the people was this Satan had great power unto the stirring up of the
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people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with
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pride, tempting them to seek for power and authority, and riches and the
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vain things of the world. And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of
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the people to do all manner of iniquity. Therefore they had enjoyed peace but
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a few years. And thus in the commencement of the thirtieth year, the
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people having been delivered up for the space of a long time, to be
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carried about by the temptations of the devil, whithersoever he desired to carry them,
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and to do whatsoever iniquity he desired they should. And thus in the
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commencement of this the thirtieth year, they were in a state of awful wickedness.
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Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God
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concerning them, for it had been taught unto them. Therefore they did wilfully
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rebel against God. And now it was in the days of Laconius, the
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son of Laconius, for Laconius to fill the seat of his father and govern
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the people that year, and there began to be men inspired from heaven and
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sent forth standing among the people in all the land, preaching and testifying boldly
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of the sins and iniquities of the people, and testifying unto them concerning the
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redemption which the Lord would make for his people, or in other words,
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the resurrection of Christ. And they did testify boldly of his death and sufferings.
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Now there were many of the people who were exceedingly angry because of those
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who testified of these things. And those who were angry were chiefly the chief
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priests, and they who had been high priests and lawyers. Yea, all
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those who were lawyers were angry with those who testified of these things. NEI,
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there was no lawyer, nor judge, nor high priest that could have
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power to condemn any one to death, save their condemnation was signed by the
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governor of the land. Now there were many of those who testified of the
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things pertaining to Christ, who testified boldly, who were taken and put to
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death secretly by the judges, that the knowledge of their death came not unto
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the governor of the land until after their death. Now behold, this was
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contrary to the laws of the land, that any man should be put to
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death except they had power from the governor of the land. Therefore, a
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complaint came up unto the land of Zarahemla, to the governor of the land
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against these judges who had condemned the prophets of the Lord, and to death
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not according to the law. Now it came to pass that they were taken
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and brought up for the judge to be judged of the crime which they had
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done according to the law which had been given by the people. Now it
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came to pass that those judges had many friends and kindreds, and the remainder
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yea, even almost all the lawyers and the high priests did gather themselves together
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and unite with the kindreds of those judges who were to be tried according to
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the law. And they did enter into a covenant one with another, Yea,
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even into that covenant which was given by them of old, which covenant
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was given and administered by the devil, to combine against all righteousness. Therefore
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they did combine against the people of the Lord, and enter into a covenant
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to destroy them, and to deliver those who were givety of murder from the
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grasp of justice which was about to be administered according to the law. And
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they did set at defiance the law and the rights of their country. And
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they did covenant one with another to destroy the governor and to establish a king
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over the land, that the land should no more be at liberty, but
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should be subject unto kings. Third Nephive, Chapter seven. Now behold,
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I will show unto you that they did not establish a king over the land.
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But in this same year, Yea, the thirtieth year, they did
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destroy upon the judgment seat. Yea did murder the chief judge of the land.
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And the people were divided one against another, and they did separate one
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from another into tribes, every man according to his family and his kindred and
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friends. And thus they did destroy the government of the land. And every
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tribe did appoint a chief or a leader over them, and thus they became
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tribes and leaders of tribes. Now behold, there was no man among them
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save he had much family, many kindreds, and friends. Therefore their tribes
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became exceedingly great. Now all this was done, and there were no wars
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as yet among them. And all this iniquity had come upon the people because
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they did yield themselves unto the power of Satan. And the regulations of the
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government were destroyed because of the secret combinations of the friends and kindreds of those
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who murdered the prophets. And they did cause a great contention in the land,
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insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked.
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Yea, there were but few righteous men among them. And thus six
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years had not passed away, since the more part of the people had turned
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from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the soal
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to her wallowing in the mire. Now, this secret combination, which had
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brought so great iniquity upon the people, did gather themselves together, and did
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place at their head a man whom they did call Jacob, and they did
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call him their king. Therefore he became a king over this wicked band,
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and he was one of the chiefest who had given his voice against the prophets
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who testified of Jesus. And it came to pass that they were not so
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strong in number as the tribes of the people, who were united together,
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save it were their leaders to establish their laws, every one according to his
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tribe. Nevertheless, they were enemies. Notwithstanding they were not a righteous people.
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Yet they were united in the hatred of those who had entered into a
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covenant to destroy the government. Therefore, a Jacob, seeing that their enemies
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were more numerous than they, he being the king of the band, therefore
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he commanded his people that they should take their flight into the northernmost part of
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the land, and there build up unto themselves a kingdom until they were joined
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by dissenters. For he flattered them that there would be many dissenters. And
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they became sufficiently strong to contend with the tribes of the people. And they
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did so, and so speedy was their march that it could not be impeded
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until they had gone forth out of the reach of the people. And thus
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ended the thirtieth year. And thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi,
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And it came to pass in the thirty and first year that they were
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divided into tribes, every man according to his family, kindred and friends.
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Nevertheless, they had come to an agreement that they would not go to war
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one with another. But they were not united as to their laws and their
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manner of government, for they were established according to the minds of those who
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were their chiefs and their leaders. But they did establish very strict laws,
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that one tribe should not trespass against another, insomuch that in some degree they
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had peace in the land. Nevertheless, their hearts were turned from the Lord
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their God, and they did stone the prophets, and had cast them out
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from among them. And it came to pass that Nephi, having been visited
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by angels and also the voice of the Lord, therefore having seen angels,
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and being eye witness, and having had power given unto him that he might
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know concerning the ministry of Christ, and also being eye witness to their quick
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return from righteousness unto their wickedness and abominations. Therefore, being grieved for the
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hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds, went forth among them
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in that same year, and began to testify boldly repentance and remission of sins
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through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. And he didminister many things unto them,
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and all of them cannot be written, and a part of them would
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not suffice. Therefore they are not written in this book. And Nephi did
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minister with power and with great authority. And it came to pass that they
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were angry with him, even because he had a greater power than they,
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for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words. For so great
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was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, that angels did minister unto him
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daily. And in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean
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spirits. And even his brother did he raise from the dead after he had
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been stoned and suffered death by the people. And the people saw it and
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did witness of it, and were angry with him because of his power.
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And he did also do many more miracles in the sight of the people in
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the name of Jesus. And it came to pass that the thirty and first
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year did pass away, And there were but few who were converted unto the
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Lord. But as many as were converted, did truly signify unto the people
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that they had been visited by the power and spirit of God, which was
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in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed. And as many as had devils
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cast out of them and were healed of their sicknesses and their infirmities, did
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truly manifest unto the people that they had been wrought upon by the spirit of
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God and had been healed. And they did chof forth signs also, and
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did do some miracles among the people. Thus passed away the thirty and second
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year also, and Nephi did cry unto the people in the commencement of the
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thirty and third year, and he did preach unto them repentance and remission of
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sins. Now, I would have you to remember also that there were none
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who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water. Therefore, there
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were ordained of Nephi men unto this ministry, that all such as should come
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unto them should be baptized with water. And this as a witness and a
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testimony before God and unto the people, that they had repented and received a
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remission of their sins. And there were many in the commencement of this year,
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that were baptized unto repentance. And thus the more part of the year
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did pass away. Third Nephi, Chapter eight. And now it came to
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pass that according to our record, and we know our record to be true.
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For behold, it was a just man who did keep the record,
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for he truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus. And there was
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not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus, save
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he were clan whit from his iniquity. And now it came to pass,
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if there was no mistake made by this man in the reckoning of our time.
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The thirty and third year had passed away, and the people began to
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look with great earnestness for the sign which had been given by the prophet Samuel
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the Lamanite Yea for the time that there should be darkness for the space of
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three days over the face of the land. And there began to be great
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doubtings and disputations among the people, notwithstanding so many signs had been given.
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And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first
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month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm,
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such an one as never had been known in all the land. And
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there was also a great and terrible tempest, and there was terrible thunder insomuch
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that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.
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And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings such as never had been known in all
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the land. And the city of Zarahemla did take fire, and the city
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of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof
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were drowned, and the earth was carried up upon the city of Moroniha that
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in the place of the city there became a great mountain. And there was
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a great and terrible destruction in the land southward. But behold, there was
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a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward. For behold, the
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whole face of the land was changed because of the tempest and the whirl winds,
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and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the
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whole earth. And the highways were broken up, the level roads were spoiled,
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and many smooth places became rough, and many great and notable cities were
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sunk, and many were burned, and many were shaken, till the buildings
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thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and
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the places were left desolate. And there were some cities which remained, but
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the damage thereof was exceedingly great. And there were many of them who were
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slain. And there were some who were carried away in the whirl wind,
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And whither they went no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried
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away. And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed because of the
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tempests and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth.
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And behold, the rocks were rent and twain, and they were broken
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up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in
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broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks upon all the face of the
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land. And it came to pass that when the thunderings and the lightnings,
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and the storm, and the tempest and the quakings of the earth did cease,
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for behold, they did last for about the space of three hours,
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and it was said by some that the time was greater. Nevertheless, all
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these great and terrible things were done in about the space of three hours.
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And then behold, there was darkness upon the face of the land. And
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it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the
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land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen, could feel the
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vapor of darkness. And there could be no light because of the darkness.
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Neither case candles, neither torches, neither could there be fire kindled with their
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fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at
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all. And there was not any light scene, neither fire nor glimmer,
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neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars. For so great
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were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land. And
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it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days that
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there was no light seen, and there was great mourning and howling and weeping
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among all the people continually. Yea great were the groanings of the people because
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of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them. And in
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one place they were heard to cry, saying, oh, that we had
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repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been
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spared that they would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla. And
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in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying, oh,
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that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed
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and stoned the prophets and cast them out, Then would our mothers and our
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fair daughters and our children have been spared and not have been buried up in
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that great city Moroniha. And thus were the howlings of the people great and
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terrible. End of Third Nephi, chapters five through eight,