After being accused of being part of a conspiracy to
assassinate the chief-judge, Nephi responded.
He begins by calling them fools. “I said unto the fools,
Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn” (Psalms 75:4).
“And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him,
Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people” (Luke 24:19).
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do
always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye” (Acts
7:51).
He calls them “uncircumcised of heart” (verse 21). What does
this mean?
“Being ‘uncircumcised of heart’
(2 Nephi
9:33). In ancient Israel, a man who was uncircumcised was breaking a
covenant with God (Genesis
17:11, 14). With this understanding, what does it mean to be ‘uncircumcised
of heart’? Lying and committing murders and whoredoms (2 Nephi
9:34–36).”[1]
They are a blind and stiffnecked people. How long do they
think the Lord will tolerate their sins? They should mourn because of the
destruction that waits them because of their sins. “And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes
upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your
iniquities, and mourn one toward another” (Ezekiel 24:23).
“Yea, I say unto you, great are the reasons which we have to
mourn; for behold how many of our brethren have been slain, and their blood has
been spilt in vain, and all because of iniquity” (Mosiah 7:24).
You claim, Nephi continued, I agreed with someone he should
murder the chief judge. He testified to what had happened as a witness he knew
of their wickedness and abominations.
They were angry with Nephi because he gave them a sign and
want him dead. Well, he said, I will give you another sign. Let’s see if you
will still want me dead. “Signs appear only rarely in the narrative action of
the Book of Mormon, and when they do occur they are generally punitive, given
to demonstrate the falsity of an anti-Christ (Jacob 7:14–15; Alma 30:43–50) or
to convict an unbelieving audience of a prophet’s credentials (Helaman
9:24–25).”[2]
Go to the house of Seantum, Seezoram’s brother. Ask him, has
Nephi, who claims to be a prophet, has told us you are your brother’s assassin.
He will deny it. Ask him directly if he assassinated his
brother.
He won’t know how to answer the question. Eventually, he
will pretend to be surprised at the question and declare his innocence.
Next, demand to inspect his clothing. You will find blood on
his cloak.
Ask him how it got there. He will go pale, like death had
come over him.
Based on his reaction, tell him you know he’s guilty. He will
eventually confess to the assassination. He will also tell you not only did I
have nothing to do with the assassination, the only way he could know is
through the power of God.
They followed Nephi’s instructions. Everything he said would
happen happened.
After the confession, Nephi, as well as the five who were
sent to verify Nephi’s prophecy, were set free.
Other claimed Nephi was a god. That is the only way he could
know all things. We know the source of Nephi’s knowledge – the Lord. “Shall not
God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart” (Psalms 44:21).
“The eyes of the LORD are
in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).
“O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not
anything save he knows it” (2 Nephi 9:20).
“But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning;
wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of
men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And
thus it is.” (1 Nephi 9:6).
[2] Temporality
and Fulfillment in 3 Nephi 1, Kimberly M. Berkey, Journal of Book of Mormon
Studies 24 (2015): 71.
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