GROWTH OF EVIL AMONGST THE NEPHITES--THE INCREASE OF THE GADIANTON
ROBBERS--NEPHI'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE MURDER OF THE CHIEF JUDGE--THE
DISCOVERY--NEPHI ARRESTED--HE IS PROVEN INNOCENT--GOD'S COVENANT WITH
HIM--INCREASE OF INIQUITY--A TERRIBLE FAMINE--THE WELCOME RAIN--THE
TREND TO DEATH.
(HELAMAN CHAP. 6 to 11.)
The goodly reign of universal peace, to which we referred in our
last chapter, brought stability, stability developed wealth, wealth
engendered pride, pride gave birth to numerous sins, to be followed
by contentions, dissensions, and then wars. These evils begat sorrow,
sorrow softened the hearts of the people to repentance, repentance was
followed by the blessing of God, which again brought peace, prosperity
and, by-and-by, riches. At this era of Nephite national life, this is
the one eternal round which their inspired historians are compelled
to chronicle. Within four short years of the happy time of universal
peace we have just referred to, the riches of the world had induced
stubbornness and rebellion towards God, combined with the insane desire
to rob, plunder and murder their fellow-men. If there ever were a
people swift to do evil, it was the Nephites of this generation. In the
year B. C. 26, Cezoram, the chief judge, was murdered by an unknown
hand, as he sat on the judgment seat, and his son, who succeeded him,
suffered in like manner within the year. The Gadianton robbers grew in
strength, both in numbers and influence, and were actually fostered
amongst the Nephites, while the more righteous Lamanites utterly
destroyed all they found within their borders. The one people dwindled
in unbelief, the other grew in grace and in the power of God's divine
Spirit.
Nephi, who had gone to the northern continent, tarried there until
the year B. C. 23, when, his teachings and prophecies having been
rejected by its inhabitants, he returned in sorrow to Zarahemla; but
he found no comfort there. The Gadianton robbers filled the judgment
seats, and perverted the law to their own avarice and lust. The life,
the property, the liberty, the virtue of righteous men and women were
counted but things of naught, their playthings or their spoil.
Nephi's house in Zarahemla was situated on one of the principal
thoroughfares. It led to the chief market-place. In his garden, near
the highway, he built a tower whither it was his wont to repair for
prayer. On one occasion, shortly after his return from the north, he
became so deeply concerned because of the iniquities of the people,
that in earnest supplication to the Lord he raised his voice so high
that he was heard by the passers by in the street below. A listening
crowd soon gathered, and when the prophet had ended his devotions and
became aware of their presence, he commenced to teach them. His words
were not sugar-coated, to adapt them to the tastes of his congregation.
To the contrary, he boldly rebuked their sins, their murders, and their
secret wickedness; at the same time, in the love of the gospel, he
entreated and plead with them to amend their lives and do better. He
also warned them of the terrible judgments that would fall upon them if
they did not turn from their sinful ways.
Towards the conclusion of his address, Nephi surprised his hearers
by stating that the chief judge, Seezoram, had been murdered by his
brother, Seantum, who was anxious to obtain the chief judgeship
himself. Both these men were members of the vile band who owned
Gadianton as their chief.
The people did not believe Nephi's statement, so five incredulous men
ran to the judgment hall to find out the truth of the matter. When
they reached there they discovered Seezoram lying dead in a pool of
blood near the judgment seat. The five messengers were so overcome with
fear at this awful sight that they fell to the earth.
Soon after, other citizens who had not heard Nephi came in. Finding
the dead judge and the five men all there they concluded that the
latter must be the murderers, who, by some manifestation of the power
of heaven, had been prevented from leaving the scene of their shameful
deed. The officers therefore took the five and cast them into prison.
When the wicked learned that Nephi's words had proven true, they
charged him with being an accomplice. They did not believe in
revelation from God, so argued that Nephi must have had a hand in
the murder or he could not have known anything about it. He was
therefore taken and bound and brought before the multitude. Then they
cross-examined him, abused him, and finally offered him money to
confess that he had employed some one to commit the dreadful crime.
They were anxious to bring reproach and trouble upon him that they
might have an excuse for not believing his words nor heeding his
teachings.
Nephi to establish his innocence sent his accusers to the house of
Seantum, and instructed them what to say. He further told them how the
fratricide would act; how he would acquit him (Nephi) of all complicity
in the murder, assert his own innocence, until shown stains of blood on
his cloak, and then, overwhelmed with terror, he would confess.
The people went and followed Nephi's instructions, and all that he
had told them came to pass; for according to his words Seantum did
at first deny, and according to the words he did afterwards confess;
acknowledging also that Nephi knew nothing of the matter, without it
had been revealed to him of God.
Some of the citizens now acknowledged that Nephi was a prophet, others
declared that he was a god, whilst many remained hardened in their
sins. So violent became the contention that the people gathered in
excited crowds upon the streets, wrangling and disputing about the
events of the past two days, and in their excitement they entirely
forgot Nephi, and left him standing alone in the street.
With a sorrowful heart he wended his way homeward; but before he
reached there, the voice of the Lord came to him with many words of
comfort and commendation. As with others of his servants, the Lord made
a covenant with him, that he would bless him forever; that whatsoever
he bound on earth should be bound in heaven, and whatsoever he loosed
on earth should be loosed in heaven; that he should have power over the
elements to bless and to curse; to smite the earth with famine, and
pestilence, and destruction.
Notwithstanding the many proofs the ungodly Nephites had that Nephi was
a true prophet, they continued to reject his teachings. They persecuted
him, and even went so far as to seek his life. But he was conveyed out
of their midst by the power of God, and ministered among other peoples.
The general character of the Nephites continued to grow worse and
worse. The Gadianton robbers grew stronger and stronger. For a few
years there was increasing commotion, disunion and bloodshed. At last,
wearied at beholding so much misery and contention, Nephi prayed that
the Lord would not suffer the people to be destroyed by the sword, but
rather let a famine desolate the land, and, peradventure, bring the
people to an understanding of their awful condition, and cause them
to humble themselves and repent. The Holy One heard and answered his
petition, the heavens became as brass over the land, the rains ceased,
the earth dried up, the crops failed, the people perished for want of
food.
Two years passed (B. C. 19 and 18) and the third came, and still the
refreshing rain was withheld (B. C. 17). During this year the people,
humbled by their sufferings, turned towards the Lord. They endeavored
to root out iniquity from their midst. They destroyed the Gadianton
robber bands, and established the government on a more righteous
foundation. Nephi, observing the change in their conduct and feelings,
interceded with the Lord in their behalf. His prayers were answered,
the welcome rain descended on the parched-up soil, and a bounteous
harvest once more crowned the labors of the husbandman (B. C. 16).
The repentant people now regarded Nephi in his true light; they revered
him as a great prophet, and for a few short years they listened to
his teachings. While they did so they prospered. But the leaven of
unrighteousness had too thoroughly permeated the national life for
their faithfulness to God to be of long duration. Two, three, or
perhaps half a dozen years they would maintain their integrity, and
then corruption would seethe, the vile would snatch the reins of
government, the good would be oppressed, and contention and war, with
all their horrors, would again reign supreme. Thus it was after the
three years of famine. For two years there was peace, in the third
there began to be much strife (B. C. 13), in the next, the Gadianton
bands reappeared, and carried havoc amongst their more peaceable
fellow-countrymen. Going on, year by year they grew in iniquity and
ripened for destruction. For many years Nephi strove to stem the tide
of vice. At times partial success rewarded his unceasing efforts, and
he had joy in the baptism of some honest souls. But the great bulk
of the people had rejected the gospel, they had no love for its holy
principles, and were unfit for its blessings.