8 And there are many among us which have many revelations, for they are not all stiff-necked;
9 And as many as are not stiff-necked and have faith have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men according to their faith.
10 And now behold, two hundred years had passed away and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land;
11 They had observed to keep the law of Moses and the Sabbath day holy unto the Lord;
12 And they profaned not, neither did they blaspheme;
13 And the laws of the land were exceeding strict;
14 And they were scattered upon much of the face of the land, and the Lamanites also;
15 And they were exceeding more numerous than were they of the Nephites; And they loved murder and would drink the blood of beasts.
16 And it came to pass that they came many times against us, the Nephites, to battle,
17 But our kings and our leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord, And they taught the people the ways of the Lord.
18 Wherefore, we withstood the Lamanites and swept them away out of our lands and began to fortify our cities, or whatsoever place of our inheritance;