30 And the people had spread again all over the face of the land, and there began again to be an exceeding great wickedness upon the face of the land, and Heth began to embrace the secret plans again of old, to destroy his father.
31 And it came to pass that he did dethrone his father: for he slew him with his own sword: and he did reign in his stead.
32 And there came prophets in the land again, crying repentance unto them; that they must prepare the way of the Lord, or there should come a curse upon the face of the land; yea, even there should be a great famine, in which they should be destroyed, if they did not repent.
33 But the people believed not the words of the prophets, but they cast them out; and some of them they cast into pits, and left them to perish.
34 And it came to pass that they did all these things according to the commandment of the King Heth.
35 And it came to pass that there began to be a great dearth upon the land, and the inhabitants began to be destroyed exceeding fast, because of the dearth, for there was no rain upon the face of the earth; and there came forth poisonous serpents also upon the face of the land, and did poison many people.
36 And it came to pass that their flocks began to flee before the poisonous serpents, towards the land southward, which was called by the Nephites, Zarahemla.
37 And it came to pass that there were many of them which did perish by the way: nevertheless there were some which fled into the land southward.
38 And it came to pass that the Lord did cause the serpents that they should pursue them no more, but that they should hedge up the way, that the people could not pass; that whoso should attempt to pass, might fall by the poisonous serpents.
39 And it came to pass that the people did follow the course of the beasts, and did devour the carcasses of them which fell by the way, until they had devoured them all.
40 Now when the people saw that they must perish, they began to repent of their iniquities, and cry unto the Lord.
