Chapter 5
The Nephites repent
and forsake their sins—Mormon writes the history of his people and declares the
everlasting word to them—Israel shall be gathered in from her long dispersion.
About A.D. 22–26
1 AND now behold, there was not a living soul among
all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the
holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they
must be fulfilled. 2 And they knew that
it must be expedient that Christ had come, because of the many signs which had
been given, according to the words of the prophets; and because of the
things which had come to pass already they knew that it must needs be that all
things should come to pass according to that which had been spoken. 3
Therefore they did forsake all their sins, and their abominations, and their
whoredoms, and did serve God with all diligence day and night.
3 Nephi 5:1 – 3 (Emphasis mine)
The Robbers had been defeated and their leader
executed. The Nephites became a
righteous people. Mormon tells us “there was not a living soul among all the
people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy
prophets who had spoken” (v. 1).
Hugh Nibley tells us, “Well, we come to a happy part here now. Everybody
was converted, and we could say, this is going to be wonderful now; everything
is going to go well from now on. Of course, if we know the Book of Mormon,
we'll say, don't fool yourself—or if you know human nature … Now this is going
to be a happy state. Any bets? How long is this going to last. Well, six years
is the outside limit. Within six years they were very wicked people.”[1]
The people also looked forward to the coming of Christ
because of all the signs they had received.
“[T]hey did forsake all their
sins, and their abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve God with all
diligence day and night” (v. 3).
4 And now it came to pass that when they had taken
all the robbers prisoners, insomuch that none did escape who were not slain, they
did cast their prisoners into prison, and did cause the word of God to be
preached unto them; and as many as would repent of their sins and enter into a covenant
that they would murder no more were set at liberty.
5 But as many as there were who did not enter
into a covenant, and who did still continue to have those secret
murders in their hearts, yea, as many as were found breathing out threatenings
against their brethren were condemned and punished according to the law. 6
And
thus they did put an end to all those wicked, and secret, and abominable
combinations, in the which there was so much wickedness, and so many
murders committed.
7 And
thus had the twenty and second year passed away, and the twenty and third year
also, and the twenty and fourth, and the twenty and fifth; and thus had twenty
and five years passed away [21-26 A.D].
3 Nephi 5:4 – 7 (Emphasis mine)
The Robbers that had been taken were cast into prison and
had the gospel preached to them. Those
who repented and covenanted they would cease their murders were set free. This was a common Nephite practice dating
back to Alma2 and Moroni1.
And
it came to pass that the soldier who stood by, who smote off the scalp of
Zerahemnah, took up the scalp from off the ground by the hair, and laid it upon
the point of his sword, and stretched it forth unto them, saying unto them with
a loud voice:
Even
as this scalp has fallen to the earth, which is the scalp of your chief, so
shall ye fall to the earth except ye will deliver up your weapons of war and
depart with a covenant of peace.
Now
there were many, when they heard these words and saw the scalp which was upon
the sword, that were struck with fear; and many came forth and threw down their
weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and entered into a covenant of
peace. And as many as entered into a
covenant they suffered to depart into the wilderness.
Alma 44:13 - 15
And
it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them to enter into a covenant
that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites.
And
when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to dwell with the
people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been
slain.
Alma 62:16 – 17
Those who refused to abandon their evil ways, and continued
to “have those secret murders in their
hearts,” were left in prison , condemned,
and punished according to Nephite law.
Wherefore,
for this cause, that my covenants may be fulfilled which I have made unto the
children of men, that I will do unto them while they are in the flesh, I must
needs destroy the secret works of darkness, and of murders, and of
abominations.
2 Nephi 10:15
They placed an end to the evil and secret combinations “in the which there was so much wickedness,
and so many murders committed.”
[1] Lecture
81: 3 Nephi 3-5, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed October 25, 2012.
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