!372 A Plain English Reference to traditions would be killed unless The Third Book of Nephi Samuel's signs came to pass. Signs of Christ’s birth are given When Nephi heard this wicked plan his See 3 Nephi, Chapter 1 heart was filled with sorrow. He went The year was 1 BC when Lachoneus out and bowed himself down upon the was Chief Judge and Governor over earth and cried mightily to his God on the land. Helaman's son Nephi had left behalf of his people --those who were Zarahemla, putting his oldest son about to be killed because of their faith Nephi in charge of the brass plates and in their forefathers' words. all the records that had been kept, and After Nephi had cried mightily to the all of those sacred things that had been Lord all that day, the Lord's voice said handed down for 600 years. to him, After Nephi left no one heard of him "Lift up your head and be of good again, and his son Nephi continued to cheer, for the time has come. Tonight keep a record of the people. the sign will be given, and tomorrow I In the beginning of the 92nd year of will come into the world, to show the the judges' reign (1 AD), more world I will fulfill all I have told my prophecies were fulfilled, for the holy prophets to say. people began to see greater signs and I will come to my own to fulfill all miracles. things I have made known to the But some said the time was past for people from the beginning of the Samuel's words to be fulfilled. They world, and to do the will of both the began to celebrate over their brethren, Father and the Son. Of the Father saying, "The time is past and Samuel's because of my spirit, and of the Son words are not fulfilled, so your joy and because of my flesh. faith in those things has been in vain." These words that came to Nephi were They made a great uproar throughout fulfilled, for when the sun went down it the land, causing sorrow among the did not get dark, and the people were believers, who thought maybe the astonished. promised signs might not come. Even Many who had not believed the so, they continued to watch for the day, prophets fell to the earth as if dead, for the night, and the day that would be they knew their great plan of like one long day, so their faith would destruction for the believers had been not be in vain. frustrated. They knew the Son of God Then the unbelievers set a date when would soon appear. all those who believed in those !373 All the people from the west to the And the people began to have peace in east, both in the northern and the land again. southern lands, were so astonished There was no contention, except for they fell to the earth. They knew the some arguing among a few who had prophets had testified of these things begun to preach, who were trying to for many years and that the sign had prove by the scriptures that it was not come. They were afraid because of necessary to continue to observe the their sins and unbelief. law of Moses. There was no darkness all that night. It They were mistaken in this preaching was as light as mid-day. The sun rose because they did not understand the in the morning as usual, and everyone scriptures. But soon they were knew it was the day that the Lord convinced of their error and confessed would be born. All things happened their faults, for it was made known to down to the last detail according to the them that the law was not yet prophets' words. Even a new star fulfilled, and that it must be fulfilled appeared. down to the last detail. From this time on, Satan sent lies The year 1 AD passed, bringing good among the people to harden their hearts news to the people, for the signs came against believing in the signs and according to the words of all the holy wonders they had seen. In spite of prophets. these lies, most of the people believed Two AD was also a peaceful year, and were converted to the Lord. except for the strife caused by the Gadianton robbers. They lived in the mountains, infesting the land. Their hiding places in the mountains were so hard to attack that the Nephi and many others went among people could not overpower them. So the people, baptizing them unto the Gadiantons continued to commit repentance, which took away their sins. many murders among the people. !374 In 3 AD the Gadiantons began to and wonders would be given. Satan increase their numbers greatly as continued to lead away people, many Nephite dissenters joined tempting them to do more wicked them. This caused much sorrow things. This continued through 9 AD. among the Nephites who stayed in And now 100 years had passed since their lands. the days of the Mosiah the Nephite This also caused many Lamanites to King. 609 years had passed since Lehi sorrow, for many of their young men had left Jerusalem, and 9 years had and women were led away by some of passed since the sign of Christ's birth the Gadiantons who were Zoramites. had been given. (The Nephites had These young Lamanites were seduced begun to count their years from the into joining the Gadiantons through time Christ was born). lies and flattery. Now Nephi was in charge of all the Because their rising generation was plates and sacred things. His father becoming wicked, the Lamanites began Nephi did not return to Zarahemla and to decrease in faith and righteousness. could not be found anywhere in the Signs are explained away land. See 3 Nephi, Chapter 2 In spite of all the preaching and By 4 AD, the people started to forget prophesying among them, the people the signs and wonders they had heard remained wicked throughout 10 and 11 from heaven, and they were less and AD. less impressed by new signs. They By 13 AD, wars broke out everywhere became more stubborn and blind to the because so many Gadianton robbers truth, no longer believing what they killing people and destroying their had seen and heard. cities. People made up reasons to explain the All the Lamanite converts united with great wonders they had witnessed, the Nephites, and they were compelled saying they were made by men and by to take up arms to defend their women, the devil's power to deceive them. children and right to live and worship This is how Satan got hold of the freely. people's hearts once again, leading Before the end of 13 AD, the Nephites' them away to believe Christ was a situation became desperate, for they product of foolish and vain were threatened with utter destruction. imaginations. The Lamanite converts who had united As the people became more and more with the Nephites were considered to wicked, they didn't believe more signs be Nephites. Their curse was taken !375 from them, and their skin became lighter like the Nephites'. Their children also became very fair and were also called Nephites. By 14 AD, the fighting was terrible, but the Nephites managed to drive the robbers back into their hiding places in the mountains. In 15 AD, the Gadiantons again came against the Nephites. The Nephites in general had become wicked, and they had so many arguments and dissensions that they lost their battles, and the robbers gained more power over them. By the end of 15 AD, the Nephites were suffering greatly, and the sword of destruction hung over them because of their sinful ways. Kishkuman killed, Nephites fight Gadiantons See 3 Nephi, Chapter 3 In 16 AD, Lachoneus, Governor of the brave and well armed men, who land, received the following letter from anxiously wait for my command to Giddianhi, the Gadianton leader, destroy you. "Lachoneus, most noble and chief I know of their unconquerable spirit governor of the land, I write this letter and eternal hatred toward you for the to praise your people's determination to many wrongs you have committed maintain what they think are their against them. I have proven my men in rights. You put up a good fight, as if battle and know that if I were to you were supported by a god, while command them to attack, you would be defending what you call your liberty, completely destroyed. property and country. Because I know you are determined to It is a pity, most noble Lachoneus, that fight for what you believe to be right, you should be so foolish and vain as to and because I respect your noble spirit, think you can stand against so many I have written this letter for your sake. !376 I would rather see you give up your Lachoneus had his people pray to the cities, lands and possessions to my Lord for strength to defend people than see you be destroyed. themselves against the robbers' attack. We don’t want you to be our slaves, He sent a proclamation among all the but our brethren. Surrender and people to gather their women, become acquainted with our secret children, flocks, herds and all their works, and we will share what we have things into one place.