The book of 4 Nephi is only one chapter long, but it covers
the space of 286 years. It’s already pretty abbreviated, but here is my summary
of these incredibly beautiful and then incredibly tragic years.
A
generation passes, and another generation. The people are very rich and
prosperous… and that leads to pride, which leads to trouble. “And now, in
this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were
lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of
fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world. And from that time forth they
did have their goods and their substance no more common among them. And they
began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto
themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ (vs.
24-26).”
And
this is where the bubble bursts.
And the downward-spiral begins. By 231 years after Christ came, there is a clear
divide between the Nephites (who still follow Jesus), and the Lamanites who
actively rebel against Jesus and teach their children not to believe and to
hate the Nephites. And within another 13 years, the non-believers had become “exceedingly
more numerous than the people of God (v. 40).”
But
then the worst two developments of all: First, the Lamanites begin to build up
the secret oaths of
Gadianton (if you remember from the book of Helaman, which
almost destroyed everyone), and second, the Nephites (who are supposed to be
the followers of Christ) begin to be proud and vain and focused on their
riches. That always leads to downfall and destruction.
This
is the point at which “the disciples (the 3 Nephites who are still alive) began to sorrow
for the sins of the world (v. 44).”
By
the time 300 years has passed since Jesus came, there is pretty much no one
left who follows Jesus, and the Gadianton robbers have spread all over the
land. In a handful of generations, the people have gone from ultimate peace,
happiness, and faith, to complete rebellion and corruption.
And
on that happy note, the “keeper of the records,” whose name is Ammoron, hides
the gold plates so they won’t get destroyed during this time of total
wickedness.
I’ll
be honest – I usually just like to read the first half of 4 Nephi and stop
there, so I’m inspired and uplifted, and don’t end depressed and upset. But
Mormon included all this depressing stuff for a reason. The Book of Mormon was
written and saved for our days, and there are important lessons and parallels
we are supposed to learn from them. Are there any that stand out to
you?
