As time when on, more and more signs and prophesies were
coming about. Great miracles and signs were given to the people. “But it came
to pass in the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges, there were great
signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the prophets began
to be fulfilled … And notwithstanding the signs and the wonders which were
wrought among the people of the Lord, and the many miracles which they did,
Satan did get great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the face of the
land” (Helaman 16:13, 23).
Satan did keep his hold on the wicked. They began to claim
it was past the time for the prophesies of Samuel to occur. “And behold, he
said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and
behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his
name” (Helaman 14:2).
The wicked mocked those who believe. This is normal behavior for the wicked. “But
they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets,
until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:16).
“Fools make a mock at sin…” (Proverbs 14:9).
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).
“How that they told you there should be mockers in the last
time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts” (Jude 1:18).
“And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other
side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it
were in the air, high above the earth. And it was filled with people, both old
and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly
fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers
towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit” (1 Nephi 8:26-27).
They claimed their faith “hath been in vain” (3 Nephi 1:6).
This caused chaos in the land. The
righteous were saddened by this, “lest by any means those things which had been
spoken might not come to pass” (3 Nephi 1:7).
The faithful continued to watch for the day and night and
day where there would be no night. “And
behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for
behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night
before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto
man as if it was day. Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day,
as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a
sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting;
therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night;
nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before
he is born” (Helaman 14:3-4).
They wanted to know “their faith had not been vain” (3 Nephi
1:8).
“Two observations follow. First, it is significant that joy
is removed from the narrative. Not only has their joy been exchanged for
sorrow— an indication that their temporal orientation has also undergone a
subtle shift—but when the believers turn their attention to the sign for
confirmation of their past faith, joy remains conspicuously absent; they only
wish to know ‘that their faith had not been vain’ … Although their faith
remains, the absence of joy suggests a kind of hopeless anticipation; the
unbelievers’ critique has, in some fashion, struck home. Second, notice how the
unbelievers’ ridicule alters the believers’ relationship with the future. What
had previously been joyful anticipation of the Messiah becomes anxious sign
seeking. Both attitudes are oriented to a future event, but where the former
was characterized by faith, the latter is motivated by desperation.”[1]
[1] Temporality
and Fulfillment in 3 Nephi 1, Kimberly M. Berkey, Journal of Book of Mormon
Studies 24 (2015): 67.
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