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.
16:2 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.
16:3 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.
16:4 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—
16:5 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.
16:6 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.
16:7 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.
16:8 And behold, he was never heard of more among the Nephites; and
thus were the affairs of the people.
16:9 And thus ended the eighty and sixth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi.
16:10 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.
16:11 And these were the conditions also, in the eighty and eighth year
of the reign of the judges.
16:12 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.
16:13 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.
16:14 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.
16:15 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:
16:16 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.
16:17 And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying:
16:18 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?
16:19 Yea, why will he not show himself in this land as well as in the
land of Jerusalem?
16:20 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.
16:21 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.
16:22 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.
16:23 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.
16:24 And thus ended the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges over
the people of Nephi.
16:25 And thus ended the book of Helaman, according to the record of
Helaman and his sons.