The Nephites and Lamanites are in a state of total peace,
“and they began again to prosper and to wax great… and there was great order in
the land” (v4).
Mormon (the background narrator/summarizer) makes an
interesting comment that “there was nothing in all the land to hinder the
people from prospering continually, except they should fall into transgression.”
(v5) How often are we the cause of our own destruction?
Within just a few short years, the people start being
“lifted up unto pride and boastings because of their exceedingly great riches”
(vs. 10) and they start being jerks about it and persecuting the people who are
not rich. Not everyone was that way… but tragically many people within the
church were that way.
13 Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.14 And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.15 Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.18 Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did willfully rebel against God.
This makes me sad – sad that the people had experienced so
many blessings and so much help from God, and within a few short years chose to
ignore it. It particularly makes me sad because this could so easily happen to
anyone. I think this happens a lot.
And to follow sad news with really sad news, some of the
people who are seeking power start up the “secret combinations” that brought on
the awful war with the robbers that just recently ended. This secret
brotherhood begins to kill the men of God who preach of Christ, and their
ultimate objective is to destroy the government and establish one of their men
as king over the land.
The new band of secret brethren succeeds in murdering the
chief judge, but instead of one of their men becoming king as they hoped, the government
dissolves completely and the people fraction into various tribes. Whoa!
The majority of the people have become wicked now, when less
than 10 years ago almost everyone believed faithfully in God. Nearly everyone
rejects the prophets, but that doesn’t keep Nephi from trying!
17…Nephi did minister with power and with great authority.18 And it came to pass 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.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.
I think these verses teach us that it isn’t enough to
believe – you have to change because of your beliefs. These people couldn’t
help but believe because Nephi’s faith and miracles were so strong, but it just
made them angry because they had chosen to live contrary to what they knew.
That reminds me of James 2:19 in the Bible: “Thou
believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble.” So I guess the first question for each of us is “What do I believe?”
but an even more important question is “How do my beliefs change me or direct my choices?"
