127 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,
128 Some things they may have guessed right, among so many; but behold, we know that all these great and marvelous works can not come to pass, of which has been spoken.
129 And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying, that it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come;
130 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 shew himself unto us, as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem?
131 Yea, why will he not shew himself in this land, as well as in the land of Jerusalem?
132 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;
133 Therefore they can keep us in ignorance, for we can not witness with our own eyes that they are true.
134 And they will, by the cunning and the mysterious arts of the evil one, work some great mystery, which we can not 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;
135 And thus will they keep us in ignorance, if we will yield ourselves unto them all the days of our lives.
136 And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain;
137 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;
