Helaman 16
1 And now, it came to pass that there were many who heard the words of
Samuel, the Lamanite, which he spake upon the walls of the city. And as
many as believed on his word went forth and sought for Nephi; and when
they had come forth and found him they confessed unto him their sins and
denied not, desiring that they might be baptized unto the Lord.
2 But as many as there were who did not believe in the words of Samuel
were angry with him; and they cast stones at him upon the wall, and also
many shot arrows at him as he stood upon the wall; but the Spirit of the Lord
was with him, insomuch that they could not hit him with their stones neither
with their arrows.
3 Now when they saw that they could not hit him, there were many more
who did believe on his words, insomuch that they went away unto Nephi to
be baptized.
4 For behold, Nephi was baptizing, and prophesying, and preaching, crying
repentance unto the people, showing signs and wonders, working miracles
among the people, that they might know that the Christ must shortly come —
5 Telling them of things which must shortly come, that they might know and
remember at the time of their coming that they had been made known unto
them beforehand, to the intent that they might believe; therefore as many as
believed on the words of Samuel went forth unto him to be baptized, for they
came repenting and confessing their sins.
6 But the more part of them did not believe in the words of Samuel;
therefore when they saw that they could not hit him with their stones and
their arrows, they cried unto their captains, saying: Take this fellow and bind
him, for behold he hath a devil; and because of the power of the devil which
is in him we cannot hit him with our stones and our arrows; therefore take
him and bind him, and away with him.
7 And as they went forth to lay their hands on him, behold, he did cast
himself down from the wall, and did flee out of their lands, yea, even unto his
own country, and began to preach and to prophesy among his own people.
8 And behold, he was never heard of more among the Nephites; and thus
were the affairs of the people.
9 And thus ended the eighty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over
the people of Nephi.
10 And thus ended also the eighty and seventh year of the reign of the
judges, the more part of the people remaining in their pride and wickedness,
and the lesser part walking more circumspectly before God.
11 And these were the conditions also, in the eighty and eighth year of the
reign of the judges.
12 And there was but little alteration in the affairs of the people, save it were
the people began to be more hardened in iniquity, and do more and more of
that which was contrary to the commandments of God, in the eighty and
ninth year of the reign of the judges.
13 But it came to pass in the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges, there
were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the
prophets began to be fulfilled.
14 And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare unto them
glad tidings of great joy; thus in this year the scriptures began to be fulfilled.
15 Nevertheless, the people began to harden their hearts, all save it were the
most believing part of them, both of the Nephites and also of the Lamanites,
and began to depend upon their own strength and upon their own wisdom,
saying:
16 Some things they may have guessed right, among so many; but behold,
we know that all these great and marvelous works cannot come to pass, of
which has been spoken.
17 And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying:
18 That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come; if so,
and he be the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, as it has been
spoken, why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them who shall
be at Jerusalem?
19 Yea, why will he not show himself in this land as well as in the land of
Jerusalem?
20 But behold, we know that this is a wicked tradition, which has been
handed down unto us by our fathers, to cause us that we should believe in
some great and marvelous thing which should come to pass, but not among
us, but in a land which is far distant, a land which we know not; therefore
they can keep us in ignorance, for we cannot witness with our own eyes that
they are true.
21 And they will, by the cunning and the mysterious arts of the evil one,
work some great mystery which we cannot understand, which will keep us
down to be servants to their words, and also servants unto them, for we
depend upon them to teach us the word; and thus will they keep us in
ignorance if we will yield ourselves unto them, all the days of our lives.
22 And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which
were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them
up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and
contentions upon all the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of
the people against that which was good and against that which should come.
23 And notwithstanding the signs and the wonders which were wrought
among the people of the Lord, and the many miracles which they did, Satan
did get great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the face of the land.
24 And thus ended the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges over the
people of Nephi.
25 And thus ended the book of Helaman, according to the record of
Helaman and his sons.