3 Nephi 7:3 3 And every tribe did appoint a chief or a leader over them; and thus they became tribes and leaders of tribes.
3 Nephi 7:4 4 Now behold, there was no man among them save he had much family and many kindreds and friends; therefore their tribes became exceedingly great.
3 Nephi 7:5 5 Now all this was done, and there were no wars as yet among them; and all this iniquity had come upon the people because they did yield themselves unto the power of Satan.
3 Nephi 7:6 6 And the regulations of the government were destroyed, because of the secret combination of the friends and kindreds of those who murdered the prophets.
3 Nephi 7:7 7 And they did cause a great contention in the land, insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked; yea, there were but few righteous men among them.
3 Nephi 7:8 8 And thus six years had not pa.s.sed away since the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her wallowing in the mire.
3 Nephi 7:9 9 Now this secret combination, which had brought so great iniquity upon the people, did gather themselves together, and did place at their head a man whom they did call Jacob;
3 Nephi 7:10 10 And they did call him their king; therefore he became a king over this wicked band; and he was one of the chiefest who had given his voice against the prophets who testified of Jesus.
3 Nephi 7:11 11 And it came to pa.s.s that they were not so strong in number as the tribes of the people, who were united together save it were their leaders did establish their laws, every one according to his tribe; nevertheless they were enemies; notwithstanding they were not a righteous people, yet they were united in the hatred of those who had entered into a covenant to destroy the government.
3 Nephi 7:12 12 Therefore, Jacob seeing that their enemies were more numerous than they, he being the king of the band, therefore he commanded his people that they should take their flight into the northernmost part of the land, and there build up unto themselves a kingdom, until they were joined by dissenters, (for he flattered them that there would be many dissenters) and they become sufficiently strong to contend with the tribes of the people; and they did so.
3 Nephi 7:13 13 And so speedy was their march that it could not be impeded until they had gone forth out of the reach of the people. And thus ended the thirtieth year; and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi.
3 Nephi 7:14 14 And it came to pa.s.s in the thirty and first year that they were divided into tribes, every man according to his family, kindred and friends; nevertheless they had come to an agreement that they would not go to war one with another; but they were not united as to their laws, and their manner of government, for they were established according to the minds of those who were their chiefs and their leaders. But they did establish very strict laws that one tribe should not trespa.s.s against another, insomuch that in some degree they had peace in the land; nevertheless, their hearts were turned from the Lord their G.o.d, and they did stone the prophets and did cast them out from among them.
3 Nephi 7:15 15 And it came to pa.s.s that Nephi--having been visited by angels and also the voice of the Lord, therefore having seen angels, and being eye-witness, and having had power given unto him that he might know concerning the ministry of Christ, and also being eye-witness to their quick return from righteousness unto their wickedness and abominations;
3 Nephi 7:16 16 Therefore, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds--went forth among them in that same year, and began to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Nephi 7:17 17 And he did minister many things unto them; and all of them cannot be written, and a part of them would not suffice, therefore they are not written in this book. And Nephi did minister with power and with great authority.
3 Nephi 7:18 18 And it came to pa.s.s that they were angry with him, even because he had greater power than they, for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words, for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily.
3 Nephi 7:19 19 And in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits; and even his brother did he raise from the dead, after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people.
3 Nephi 7:20 20 And the people saw it, and did witness of it, and were angry with him because of his power; and he did also do many more miracles, in the sight of the people, in the name of Jesus.
3 Nephi 7:21 21 And it came to pa.s.s that the thirty and first year did pa.s.s away, and there were but few who were converted unto the Lord; but as many as were converted did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of G.o.d, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed.
3 Nephi 7:22 22 And as many as had devils cast out from them, and were healed of their sicknesses and their infirmities, did truly manifest unto the people that they had been wrought upon by the Spirit of G.o.d, and had been healed; and they did show forth signs also and did do some miracles among the people.
3 Nephi 7:23 23 Thus pa.s.sed away the thirty and second year also. And Nephi did cry unto the people in the commencement of the thirty and third year; and he did preach unto them repentance and remission of sins.
3 Nephi 7:24 24 Now I would have you to remember also, that there were none who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water.
3 Nephi 7:25 25 Therefore, there were ordained of Nephi, men unto this ministry, that all such as should come unto them should be baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before G.o.d, and unto the people, that they had repented and received a remission of their sins.
3 Nephi 7:26 26 And there were many in the commencement of this year that were baptized unto repentance; and thus the more part of the year did pa.s.s away.
3 Nephi 8 Chapter 8
3 Nephi 8:1 1 And now it came to pa.s.s that according to our record, and we know our record to be true, for behold, it was a just man who did keep the record--for he truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity--
3 Nephi 8:2 2 And now it came to pa.s.s, if there was no mistake made by this man in the reckoning of our time, the thirty and third year had pa.s.sed away;
3 Nephi 8:3 3 And the people began to look with great earnestness for the sign which had been given by the prophet Samuel, the Lamanite, yea, for the time that there should be darkness for the s.p.a.ce of three days over the face of the land.
3 Nephi 8:4 4 And there began to be great doubtings and disputations among the people, notwithstanding so many signs had been given.
3 Nephi 8:5 5 And it came to pa.s.s in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.
3 Nephi 8:6 6 And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.
3 Nephi 8:7 7 And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land.
3 Nephi 8:8 8 And the city of Zarahemla did take fire.
3 Nephi 8:9 9 And the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned.
3 Nephi 8:10 10 And the earth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah that in the place of the city there became a great mountain.
3 Nephi 8:11 11 And there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward.
3 Nephi 8:12 12 But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, the whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth;
3 Nephi 8:13 13 And the highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough.
3 Nephi 8:14 14 And many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate.
3 Nephi 8:15 15 And there were some cities which remained; but the damage thereof was exceedingly great, and there were many of them who were slain.
3 Nephi 8:16 16 And there were some who were carried away in the whirlwind; and whither they went no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried away.
3 Nephi 8:17 17 And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth.
3 Nephi 8:18 18 And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land.
3 Nephi 8:19 19 And it came to pa.s.s that when the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakings of the earth did cease--for behold, they did last for about the s.p.a.ce of three hours; and it was said by some that the time was greater; nevertheless, all these great and terrible things were done in about the s.p.a.ce of three hours--and then behold, there was darkness upon the face of the land.
3 Nephi 8:20 20 And it came to pa.s.s that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness;
3 Nephi 8:21 21 And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all;
3 Nephi 8:22 22 And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land.
3 Nephi 8:23 23 And it came to pa.s.s that it did last for the s.p.a.ce of three days that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and howling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them.
3 Nephi 8:24 24 And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla.
3 Nephi 8:25 25 And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah. And thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible.