Destruction on Land Lasts Three Hours

Event 158

Reference: 3 Ne. 8:5-25

And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the firstmonth, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a greatstorm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.6 And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and therewas terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the wholeearth as if it was about to divide asunder. 7 And there wereexceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had beenknown in all the land. 8 And the city of Zarahemla did takefire. 9 And the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of thesea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned. 10 And theearth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in theplace of the city there became a great mountain.MormonLand northwardand landsouthwardA.D. 3411 And there was a great and terrible destruction in the landsouthward. 12 But behold, there was a more great andterrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, thewhole face of the land was changed, because of the tempestand the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings,and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth; 13And the highways were broken up, and the level roads werespoiled, and many smooth places became rough. 14 Andmany great and notable cities were sunk, and many wereburned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof hadfallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain,and the places were left desolate.15 And there were some cities which remained; but thedamage thereof was exceedingly great, and there weremany in them who were slain. 16 And there were some whowere carried away in the whirlwind; and whither they wentno man knoweth, save they know that they were carriedaway. 17 And thus the face of the whole earth becamedeformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings,and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth. 18 Andbehold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken upupon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they werefound in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks,upon all the face of the land.19 And it came to pass that when the thunderings, and thelightnings, and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakingsof the earth did cease—for behold, they did last for about the space of three hours; and it was said by some that thetime was greater; nevertheless, all these great and terriblethings were done in about the space of three hours—andthen behold, there was darkness upon the face of the land.MormonLand northwardand landsouthwardA.D. 3420 And it came to pass that there was thick darkness uponall the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitantsthereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness;21 And there could be no light, because of the darkness,neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be firekindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so thatthere could not be any light at all; 22 And there was not anylight seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor themoon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darknesswhich were upon the face of the land.23 And it came to pass that it did last for the space of threedays that there was no light seen; and there was greatmourning and howling and weeping among all the peoplecontinually; yea, great were the groanings of the people,because of the darkness and the great destruction which hadcome upon them. 24 And in one place they were heard tocry, saying:O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and thenwould our brethren have been spared, and they would not havebeen burned in that great city Zarahemla.People25 And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn,saying:MormonO that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and hadnot killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then wouldour mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have beenspared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah.PeopleAnd thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible.Mormon