3 Nephi 2:7-16

⁷ And nine years had passed away from the time when the sign was given, which was spoken of by the prophets, that Christ should come into the world.  ⁸ Now the Nephites began to reckon their time from this period when the sign was given, or from the coming of Christ; therefore, nine years had passed away.

⁹ And Nephi, who was the father of Nephi, who had the charge of the records, did not return to the land of Zarahemla, and could nowhere be found in all the land.

   3 Nephi 2:7 – 9 (Emphasis mine)

We read that the Nephites changed how they reckoned time.  They began to reckon their time from the time of Christ’s birth.  We are now nine years from the time of that event.

Nephi₃ was given charge or the records.  Nephi₂ leaves and “could nowhere be found in all the land” (v. 9).

And Nephi, the son of Helaman, had departed out of the land of Zarahemla, giving charge unto his son Nephi, who was his eldest son, concerning the plates of brass, and all the records which had been kept, and all those things which had been kept sacred from the departure of Lehi out of Jerusalem.

Then he departed out of the land, and whither he went, no man knoweth; and his son Nephi did keep the records in his stead, yea, the record of this people.

3 Nephi 1:2 - 3

¹⁰ And it came to pass that the people did still remain in wickedness, notwithstanding the much preaching and prophesying which was sent among them; and thus passed away the tenth year also; and the eleventh year also passed away in iniquity.  ¹¹ And it came to pass in the thirteenth year [13 A.D.] there began to be wars and contentions throughout all the land; for the Gadianton robbers had become so numerous, and did slay so many of the people, and did lay waste so many cities, and did spread so much death and carnage throughout the land, that it became expedient that all the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites, should take up arms against them.

¹² Therefore, all the Lamanites who had become converted unto the Lord did unite with their brethren, the Nephites, and were compelled, for the safety of their lives and their women and their children, to take up arms against those Gadianton robbers, yea, and also to maintain their rights, and the privileges of their church and of their worship, and their freedom and their liberty.

3 Nephi 2:10 – 12 (Emphasis mine)

The gospel was being preached to the people.  They refused to accept the word preached to them and remained in their wickedness.

For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

Alma 34:35

There began to be contentions and wars throughout the land.  The Gadianton robbers gained in strength and numbers.  They killed many and laid waste to cities.  Because of the death and carnage, the righteous Lamanites and Nephites took up arms against the Robbers.

¹³ And it came to pass that before this thirteenth year had passed away the Nephites were threatened with utter destruction because of this war, which had become exceedingly sore.  ¹⁴ And it came to pass that those Lamanites who had united with the Nephites were numbered among the Nephites;

¹⁵ And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites; ¹⁶ And their young men and their daughters became exceedingly fair, and they were numbered among the Nephites, and were called Nephites.  And thus ended the thirteenth year.

3 Nephi 2:13 – 16 (Emphasis mine)

As time passed, the war and destruction became “exceedingly sore.”  The Lamanites who had united with the Nephites in the war became numbered among the Nephites.

At this time, the Lamanites’ curse was taken from them.  “And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity.  For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them” (2 Nephi 5:21).  “Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship idols, and the curse of God had fallen upon them because of the traditions of their fathers; notwithstanding the promises of the Lord were extended unto them on the conditions of repentance” (Alma 17:15).

When the Lamanites repented the curse was lifted.  “And they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they did open a correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow them” (Alma 23:18).  “And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people” (2 Nephi 30:6).

John Tvedtnes writes:

Only in one instance in the entire Nephite record did Nephite prophets report any change in the darkness of the skin of the Lamanites (3 Nephi 2:12—16), but this, significantly, was after these Lamanites had been converted and had united with the Nephites. Whether this change occurred through intermarriage or by some other process, the Nephites apparently considered it unique and unprecedented. Within the context of Nephite society and culture, this exceptional event would no doubt have been viewed as a sign from God that such distinctions as skin color were irrelevant for those numbered with Christ. After this, there are no further references to Lamanite skins becoming dark, nor any indication that skin color was a significant factor in Nephite belief or society.[1]

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[1] The Charge of 'Racism' in the Book of Mormon, John A. Tvedtnes, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed October 4, 2012.