124 And there was but little alteration in the affairs of the people, Save it were the people began to be more hardened in iniquity and do more and more of that which was contrary to the commandments of God in the eighty and ninth year of the reign of the judges.
125 But behold, it came to pass in the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges, there were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; And the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled;
126 And angels did appear unto men - wise men - and did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy; And thus in this year the scriptures began to be fulfilled.
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 cannot come to pass which hath 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 hath been spoken, Why will He not show Himself unto us, as well as unto they which shall be at Jerusalem?
131 Yea, why will He not show 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 cannot 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 cannot understand, which will keep us down to be servants to their words, and also servants unto them, For we depend upon them for to teach us the word;