Contention Arises Among the Nephites

Event 131

Reference: Hel. 3:1-18

AND now it came to pass in the forty and third year of thereign of the judges, there was no contention among thepeople of Nephi save it were a little pride which was in thechurch, which did cause some little dissensions among thepeople, which affairs were settled in the ending of the fortyand third year. 2 And there was no contention among thepeople in the forty and fourth year; neither was there muchcontention in the forty and fifth year.MormonNephite landsnear land ofZarahemla49 to 46 B.C.3 And it came to pass in the forty and sixth, yea, there wasmuch contention and many dissensions; in the which therewere an exceedingly great many who departed out of theland of Zarahemla, and went forth unto the land northwardto inherit the land. 4 And they did travel to an exceedinglygreat distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies ofwater and many rivers. 5 Yea, and even they did spreadforth into all parts of the land, into whatever parts it had notbeen rendered desolate and without timber, because of themany inhabitants who had before inherited the land. 6 Andnow no part of the land was desolate, save it were fortimber; but because of the greatness of the destruction ofthe people who had before inhabited the land it was calleddesolate. 7 And there being but little timber upon the face ofthe land, nevertheless the people who went forth becameexceedingly expert in the working of cement; therefore theydid build houses of cement, in the which they did dwell.Land northward45 to 44 B.C.8 And it came to pass that they did multiply and spread, anddid go forth from the land southward to the land northward,and did spread insomuch that they began to cover the faceof the whole earth, from the sea south to the sea north, fromthe sea west to the sea east. 9 And the people who were inthe land northward did dwell in tents, and in houses ofcement, and they did suffer whatsoever tree should springup upon the face of the land that it should grow up, that intime they might have timber to build their houses, yea, theircities, and their temples, and their synagogues, and theirsanctuaries, and all manner of their buildings.10 And it came to pass as timber was exceedingly scarce inthe land northward, they did send forth much by the way of shipping. 11 And thus they did enable the people in the landnorthward that they might build many cities, both of woodand of cement.MormonLand northward45 to 44 B.C.12 And it came to pass that there were many of the people ofAmmon, who were Lamanites by birth, did also go forthinto this land. 13 And now there are many records kept ofthe proceedings of this people, by many of this people,which are particular and very large, concerning them. 14 Butbehold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people,yea, the account of the Lamanites and of the Nephites, andtheir wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and theirpreaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and theirbuilding of ships, and their building of temples, and ofsynagogues and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness,and their wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings,and their plundering, and all manner of abominations andwhoredoms, cannot be contained in this work.15 But behold, there are many books and many records ofevery kind, and they have been kept chiefly by theNephites. 16 And they have been handed down from onegeneration to another by the Nephites, even until they havefallen into transgression and have been murdered,plundered, and hunted, and driven forth, and slain, andscattered upon the face of the earth, and mixed with theLamanites until they are no more called the Nephites,becoming wicked, and wild, and ferocious, yea, evenbecoming Lamanites.17 And now I return again to mine account; therefore, what Ihave spoken had passed after there had been greatcontentions, and disturbances, and wars, and dissensions,among the people of Nephi. 18 The forty and sixth year ofthe reign of the judges ended;