Nephi Takes the Records
The ninety-first year came and went—six hundred years since Lehi left Jerusalem. Lachoneus was now Chief Judge and governor of the land. Nephi son of Helaman left Zarahemla, putting his oldest son Nephi in charge of the brass plates and all the sacred records that had been kept since Lehi’s departure from Jerusalem. Then he left, and no one knows where he went. His son Nephi took over keeping the records—the history of our people.
The Prophecy Under Attack
As the ninety-second year began, the prophecies started coming true in bigger ways. Greater signs and miracles began happening among the people.
But some started saying, 'The time has passed. ' They mocked the believers: 'See? The time is up. Samuel’s prophecy failed. ' They stirred up a huge commotion across the land. The believers grew deeply worried that maybe the prophecies wouldn’t come to pass after all. But they kept watching faithfully for that promised day and night—the day that would be like one continuous day without darkness—so they’d know their faith hadn’t been wasted.
A Death Sentence
The unbelievers set a date: if the sign Samuel predicted didn’t appear by then, all believers would be executed.
When Nephi saw this evil rising in his people, his heart broke. He went out, threw himself on the ground, and cried out desperately to God for his people—for those who were about to be killed because they believed in their ancestors' teachings. He pleaded with the Lord all day long.
The Lord’s Promise
'Lift your head. Take courage. The time has come. Tonight the sign will appear, and tomorrow I enter the world. I’m coming to show everyone that I’ll fulfill everything I’ve promised through my holy prophets. I’m coming to my own people to complete everything I’ve revealed since the world began—to do the will of the Father and the Son, because of me in the flesh. The time is here.
The Night Without Darkness
Everything the Lord told Nephi came true. As the sun set, darkness never came. People were stunned—night arrived, but there was no darkness. Many who hadn’t believed the prophets collapsed as if dead. They realized their plot to destroy the believers had failed—the sign was already happening. They began to understand that the Son of God would appear soon. In fact, people everywhere—from west to east, in the northern lands and southern lands—were so overwhelmed they fell to the ground. They remembered the prophets had been testifying about these things for years. The sign was here. And they began to fear because of their wickedness and unbelief. All through that night there was no darkness—it was as bright as midday. When the sun rose the next morning right on schedule, they knew this was the day the Lord would be born, just as the sign had promised. Everything happened exactly as the prophets had said—down to the smallest detail. A new star also appeared, just as predicted.
Peace and New Challenges
But from that point on, Satan began spreading lies among the people, trying to harden their hearts so they wouldn’t believe the signs and wonders they’d witnessed. Despite these lies and deceptions, most people believed and turned to the Lord. Nephi and many others went out baptizing people who wanted to turn from their sins. Many found forgiveness, and peace returned to the land.
There were no conflicts, except for a few people who started teaching that the law of Moses was no longer needed. They tried to prove it from scripture, but they were misreading what it said. Before long though, they came around. They realized their mistake when they learned the law hadn’t been fulfilled yet—it had to be completed entirely. Not one tiny piece could be left undone. That same year they recognized their error and admitted they’d been wrong. So the ninety-second year ended, bringing good news to the people because the signs came exactly as all the holy prophets had foretold.
The Gadianton Threat Grows
The ninety-third year also passed peacefully, except for the Gadianton robbers living in the mountain strongholds who terrorized the land. Their hideouts and secret places were so well fortified that the people couldn’t defeat them. They committed many murders and slaughtered many people. In the ninety-fourth year, the robbers' numbers grew dramatically because many Nephite deserters fled to join them. This caused great grief among the Nephites who stayed faithful. The Lamanites also had reason to grieve. Many of their children grew up and were led away by Zoramites who used lies and smooth talk to recruit them into the Gadianton robbers. So the Lamanites suffered too. Their faith and righteousness began declining because of the wickedness spreading through the younger generation.
Influences
- 1:5 — Luke 24:44 (KJV)And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
- 1:6 — Luke 19:37 (KJV)And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
- 1:9 — 1 Corinthians 6:6 (KJV)But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
- 1:11 — Revelation 18:2 (KJV)And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
- 1:12 — Acts 7:31 (KJV)When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
- 1:13 — Matthew 9:2 (KJV)And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
- 1:13 — Revelation 22:10 (KJV)And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
- 1:13 — Luke 11:29 (KJV)And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
- 1:14 — John 4:34 (KJV)Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
- 1:14 — Revelation 22:10 (KJV)And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
- 1:19 — Acts 3:10 (KJV)And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
- 1:23 — Matthew 26:28 (KJV)For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
- 1:24 — Romans 16:26 (KJV)But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
- 1:25 — Luke 24:44 (KJV)And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
- 1:25 — Matthew 5:18 (KJV)For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
- 1:26 — 2 Peter 3:2 (KJV)That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: