19 And surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God:
20 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God;
21 And how blessed were they, for the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered, until an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no contention in all the land.
22 And it came to pass that Nephi, he that kept the last record, (and he kept it upon the plates of Nephi,) died, and his son Amos kept it in his stead; and he kept it upon the plates of Nephi also;
23 And he kept it eighty and four years, and there was still peace in the land, save it were a small part of the people who had revolted from the church, and took upon them the name of Lamanites; therefore there began to be Lamanites again in the land.
24 And it came to pass that Amos died also, (and it was an hundred and ninety and four years from the coming of Christ,) and his son Amos kept the record in his stead; and he also kept it upon the plates of Nephi; and it was also written in the book of Nephi, which is this book.
25 And it came to pass that two hundred years had passed away, and the second generation had all passed away save it were a few.
26 And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that the people had multiplied, insomuch that they were spread upon all the face of the land, and that they had become exceeding rich, because of their prosperity in Christ.
27 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.
28 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.
29 And it came to pass that when two hundred and ten years had passed away, there were many churches in the land; yea, there were many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they did deny the more part of his gospel, insomuch that they did receive all manner of wickedness, and did administer that which was sacred unto him to whom it had been forbidden, because of unworthiness.
