10 And thus ended also the eighty and seventh year
of the reign of the judges [5 B.C.], the more part of the people remaining in
their pride and wickedness, and the lesser part walking more circumspectly
before God. 11 And these were the conditions also, in the eighty
and eighth year of the reign of the judges.
12 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. 13
But it came to pass in the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges [2 B.C.], there were great
signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the prophets began
to be fulfilled.
Helaman 16:10 – 13 (Emphasis mine)
In the years after Samuel departed, there was little change
in Nephite society. “[T]he more part of the people remaining in their pride and wickedness,
and the lesser part walking more circumspectly before God” (v. 10).
Around 2 B.C., there was a change. “[T]here
were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the
prophets began to be fulfilled” (v. 13).
The time of Christ’s birth was at hand.
14 And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and
did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy; thus in this year the
scriptures began to be fulfilled. 15 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:
16 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, of which has been spoken.
17 And they began to reason and to contend among
themselves, saying: 18 That it is not reasonable that such a being
as a Christ shall come; 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 show himself unto
us as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem? 19 Yea,
why will he not show himself in this land as well as in the land of Jerusalem?
Helaman 16:14 – 19 (Emphasis mine)
Angels appeared to wise men.
They declared to them that “in
this year the scriptures began to be fulfilled” (v. 14).
Most ignored the signs being given to them. They relied on their knowledge and
wisdom. Isaiah warned the so-called wise
people, “Woe unto them that are wise in
their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:21).
The prophesies are being fulfilled through dumb luck. They guessed so many things; they had to be
right about something! We who are wise
know these things cannot come to pass! The
ignored Nephi1’s warning: “O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness
of men! When they are learned they think
they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it
aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is
foolishness and it profiteth them not.
And they shall perish.” (2 Nephi 9:28)
Elder Dallin Oaks explains the folly of relying on our
reason.
Human reasoning cannot
place limits on God or dilute the force of divine commandments or revelations.
Persons who allow this to happen identify themselves with the unbelieving
Nephites who rejected the testimony of the prophet Samuel. The Book of Mormon
says, "They began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying: That
it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come" (Helaman
16:17–18). Persons who practice that kind of "reasoning" deny
themselves the choice experience someone has described as our heart telling us
things that our mind does not know.[1]
Richard Williams contrasts reason and faith.
Faith is anchored in
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the knowledge of him is both sure and
possible. The contrast between faith as sure knowledge and the knowledge reason
can provide is evident when we compare Amulek's testimony of Christ as the
anchor to sure knowledge with the conclusion of many Nephites just before His
coming: "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"
(Helaman 16:17–18). Not "reasonable," but nonetheless true.[2]
The wicked dismissed it as unreasonable that someone like
Christ would come. This philosophy
echoes Korihor’s confession. “But behold,
the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel,
and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray
after an unknown God. And he said unto
me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught
them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even
until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true;
and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse
upon me.” (Alma 30:53)
They also dismissed Christ since he was coming only at
Jerusalem. Why won’t he show himself to
us as well? This questioning
conveniently ignores previous prophesies.
For example:
And it came to pass
that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise; and I saw
lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of
tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw
mountains tumbling into pieces; and I saw the plains of the earth, that they
were broken up; and I saw many cities that they were sunk; and I saw many that
they were burned with fire; and I saw many that did tumble to the earth,
because of the quaking thereof.
And it came to pass
after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off
the face of the earth; and behold, I saw multitudes who had not fallen because
of the great and terrible judgments of the Lord.
And I saw the heavens
open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed
himself unto them.
1 Nephi 12:4 - 6
But the Son of
righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall
have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away, and many
of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.
2 Nephi 26:9
And many of the people
did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they
were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the
people did hear with great joy and gladness.
Alma 16:20
The wicked never let truth and the word of God get in the
way of their doubt!
[1] Worthy
of Another Look: The Historicity of the Book of Mormon. Elder Dallin H.
Oaks, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed September 11,
2012.
[2] Faith,
Reason, Knowledge, and Truth, Richard N. Williams, Provo,
Utah: Maxwell Institute, , accessed September 11, 2012.
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