9. And it came to pass that they became exceeding rich, both the Lamanites and the Nephites; and they did have an exceeding plenty of gold, and of silver, and of all manner of precious metals, both in the land south, and in the land north.

10. Now the land south was called Lehi, and the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring 'Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the land south.

11. And behold, there was all manner of gold in both these lands, and of silver, and of precious ore of every kind: and there were also curious workmen, who did work all kinds of ore, and did refine it; and thus they did become rich.

12. They did raise grain in abundance, both in the north and in the south; and they did flourish exceedingly, both in the north and in the south. And they did multiply and wax exceeding strong in the land. And they did raise many flocks and herds, yea, many fatlings.

13. Behold their women 'did toil and spin, and did make all manner of cloth, of fine twined linen, and cloth of every kind, to clothe their nakedness. And thus the sixty and fourth year did pass away in peace.

14. And in the sixty and fifth year they did also have great joy and peace; yea, much preaching and many prophecies concerning that which was to come. And thus passed away the sixty and fifth year.

15. And it came to pass that in the sixty and sixth year of the reign of the Judges, behold, mCezoram was murdered by an unknown hand as he sat upon the judgment seat. And it came to pass that in the same year, that his son, who had been appointed by the people in his stead, was also murdered. And thus ended the sixty and sixth year.

16. And in the commencement of the sixty and seventh year, the people began to grow exceeding wicked again.

17. For behold, the Lord had blessed them so long with the riches of the world, that they had not been stirred up to anger, to wars, nor to bloodsheds; therefore they began to set their hearts upon their riches; yea, they began to seek to get gain, that they might be lifted up one above another; therefore they began to "commit secret murders, and to rob and to plunder, that they might get gain.

18. And now behold, those murderers and plunderers were a band who had been formed by Kishkumen and Gadianton. And now it had come to pass that there were many, even among the Nephites, of "Gadianton's band. But behold,

they were more numerous among the more wicked part of the Lamanites. And they were called Gadianton's robbers and murderers;

19. And it was they who did murder the "Chief Judge Cezoram, and his son, while in the judgment seat; and behold, they were not found.

20. And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites found that there were robbers among them, they were exceeding sorrowful; and they did use every means in their power, to destroy them off the face of the earth.

21. But behold, satan did stir up the hearts of the more parts of the Nephites, insomuch that they did unite with those "bands of robbers, and did enter into their covenants, and their oaths, that they would protect and preserve one another, in whatsoever difficult circumstances they should be placed, that they should not suffer for their murders, and their plunderings, and their stealings.

22. And it came to pass that they did have their signs, yea, their secret signs, and their secret words; and this that they might distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant, that whatsoever wickedness his brother should do, he should not be injured by his brother, nor by those who did belong to his band, who had taken this covenant;

23. And thus they might murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms, and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their God;

24. And whosoever of those who belonged to their band, should reveal unto the world of their wickedness and their abominations, should be tried, not according to the laws of their country, but according to the laws of their wickedness, which had been given by Gadianton and Kishkumen.

25. Now behold, it is these 'secret oaths and covenants, which Alma commanded his son should not go forth unto the world, lest they should be a means of bringing down the people unto destruction.

26. Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not come forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered unto Helaman; but behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton, by that "same being who did entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit.

27. Yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel, it should not be known unto the world. And he did "plot with Cain and his followers from that time forth.

28. And also it is that same being who put it into the hearts of the people to "build a tower sufficiently high that

P, ver. 15. 37: 27-32. 11. and III. Gen. Inspired Translation by Joseph Smith, Jun.

q, ver. 15. r, see i, 11. Nep. 10. u, Pearl of Great Price, p. 7.

8, Alma 37: 27. t, Alma v, see Doc. & Cov. p. 11: or w, see Ether 1.

they might get to heaven. And it was that same being who led on the people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to an everlasting hell;

29. Yea, it is that same being who put it into the heart of 2 Gadianton, to still carry on the work of darkness, and of secret murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man, even down to this time.

30. And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to generation, according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men.

31. And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had become exceeding wicked; yea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver.

32. And it came to pass that all these iniquities did come unto them, in the space of not many years, insomuch that a more part of it had come unto them in the sixty and seventh year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi.

33. And they did grow in their iniquities, in the sixty and eighth year also, to the great sorrow and lamentation of the righteous.

34. And thus we see that the Nephites did begin to dwindle in unbelief, and grow in wickedness and abominations, while the Lamanites began to grow exceedingly in the knowledge of their God; yea, they did begin to keep his statutes and commandments, and to walk in truth and uprightness before him.

35. And thus we see that the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw from the Nephites, because of the wickedness and the hardness of their hearts.

36. And thus we see that the Lord began to pour out his Spirit upon the Lamanites, because of their easiness and willingness to believe in his words.

37. And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the band of robbers of Gadianton: and they did preach the word of God among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of robbers was utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites.

38. And it came to pass on the other hand, that the Nephites did build them up and support them, beginning at

x, Book of Ether. y, see latter part of the Book of Ether. k, 1. Nep. 15. 2 a, Hela. 2: 10-15. 2b, see i, II. Nep. 10.

z, see

the more wicked part of them, until they had overspread all the land of the Nephites and had seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works, and partake of their spoils, and to join with them in their secret murders and combinations.

39. And thus they did obtain the sole management of the government, insomuch that they did trample under their feet, and smite, and rend, and turn their backs upon the poor, and the meek, and the humble followers of God.

40. And thus we see that they were in an awful state, and ripening for an everlasting destruction.

41. And it came to pass that thus ended the sixty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

THE PROPHECY OF NEPHI, THE SON OF HELAMAN.-God threatens the people of Nephi, that he will visit them in his anger, to their utter destruction, except they repent of their wickedness. God smiteth the people of Nephi with pestilence; they repent and turn unto him. Samuel, a Lamanite, prophesies unto the Nephites.

CHAPTER 7.

1. BEHOLD, now it came to pass in the sixty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of the Nephites, that Nephi, the son of Helaman returned to the "land of Zarahemla, from the land northward;

2. For he had been forth among the people who were in the land northward, and did preach the word of God unto them, and did prophesy many things unto them;

3. And they did reject all his words, insomuch that he could not stay among them, but returned again unto the land of his nativity:

4. And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those "Gadianton robbers filling the judgment seats; having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of

men;

5. Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished, because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world; and moreover that they might the more easy commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills.

6. Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of not many years; and when Nephi saw it, his

a, see h, Omni 1. b, North America. c, see i, II. Nep. 10,

heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaim in the agony of his soul,

7. Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord;

8. Yea, if my days could have been in them days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren.

9. But behold, I am consigned that these are my days, and that my soul shall be filled with sorrow, because of this the wickedness of my brethren.

10. And behold, now it came to pass that it was upon a tower, which was in the garden of Nephi, which was by the highway which led to the chief market, which was in the city of Zarahemla; therefore Nephi had bowed himself upon the tower which was in his garden, which tower was also near unto the garden gate which led by the highway.

11. And it came to pass that there were certain men passing by and saw Nephi as he was pouring out his soul unto God upon the tower, and they ran and told the people what they had seen, and the people came together in multitudes that they might know the cause of so great mourning for the wickedness of the people.

12. And now when Nephi arose, he beheld the multitudes of people who had gathered together.

13. And it came to pass that he opened his mouth and said unto them, Behold, why have ye gathered yourselves together? That I may tell you of your iniquities?

14. Yea, because I have got upon my tower, that I might pour out my soul unto my God, because of the exceeding sorrow of my heart, which is because of your iniquities?

15. And because of my mourning and lamentation, ye have gathered yourselves together, and do marvel; yea, and ye have great need to marvel; yea, ye had ought to marvel, because ye are given away that the devil has got so great hold upon your hearts;

16. Yea, how could you have given away to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurl away your souls down to everlasting misery and endless wo:

17. O repent ye, repent ye! why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God. Why has he forsaken

you?

18. It is because you have hardened your hearts; yea, ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd; yea, ye have provoked him to anger against you.

d, see a, 1. Nep. 2. e, see h, Omni 1. 2e, Alma 5.