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;
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;