RCE Verse Context

166 And thus they did obtain the sole management of the government, Insomuch that they did trample under their feet and smite and rend and turn their backs upon the poor and the meek and humble followers of God.

167 And thus we see that they were in an awful state and ripening for an everlasting destruction.

168 And it came to pass that thus ended the sixty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

Intro: The prophecy of Nephi, the son of Helaman. God threatens the people of Nephi that He will visit them in His anger to their utter destruction, except they repent of their wickedness. God smiteth the people of Nephi with pestilence; they repent and turn unto Him. Samuel, a Lamanite, prophesies unto the Nephites.

1 Behold, now it came to pass in the sixty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of the Nephites that Nephi, the son of Helaman, returned to the Land of Zarahemla from the Land Northward; For he had been forth among the people which were in the Land Northward, And did preach the word of God unto them, And did prophesy many things unto them;

2 And they did reject all his words insomuch that he could not stay among them, but returned again unto the land of his nativity.

3 And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness and those Gaddianton robbers filling the judgment seats, Having usurped the power and authority of the land, Laying aside the commandments of God and not in the least aright before Him, Doing no justice unto the children of men, Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness, Letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money;

4 And moreover, to be held in office at the head of government to rule and to do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world; And moreover, that they might the more easy commit adultery and steal and kill and do according to their own wills -

5 Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites in the space of not many years - And when Nephi saw it, his heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast;

6 And he did exclaim in the agony of his soul: "O that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the Land of Jerusalem! That I could have joyed with him in the Promised Land!

7 Then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God and slow to be led to do iniquity; And they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord;