Most Nephites Unite with Gadiantons

Event 138

Reference: Hel. 6:15-41

And it came to pass that in the sixty and sixth year of thereign of the judges, behold, Cezoram was murdered by anunknown hand as he sat upon the judgment-seat.MormonJudgment-seat inland of Zarahemla26 B.C.And it came to pass that in the same year, that his son, whohad been appointed by the people in his stead, was alsomurdered. And thus ended the sixty and sixth year.16 And in the commencement of the sixty and seventh yearthe people began to grow exceedingly wicked again. 17 Forbehold, the Lord had blessed them so long with the richesof the world that they had not been stirred up to anger, towars, nor to bloodshed; therefore they began to set theirhearts upon their riches; yea, they began to seek to get gainthat they might be lifted up one above another; thereforethey began to commit secret murders, and to rob and toplunder, that they might get gain. 18 And now behold, thosemurderers and plunderers were a band who had beenformed by Kishkumen and Gadianton.Land northwardand landsouthward25 B.C.And now it had come to pass that there were many, evenamong the Nephites, of Gadianton’s band. But behold, theywere more numerous among the more wicked part of theLamanites. And they were called Gadianton’s robbers andmurderers. 19 And it was they who did murder the chiefjudge Cezoram, and his son, while in the judgment-seat;and behold, they were not found.20 And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites foundthat there were robbers among them they were exceedinglysorrowful; and they did use every means in their power todestroy them off the face of the earth. 21 But behold, Satandid stir up the hearts of the more part of the Nephites,insomuch that they did unite with those bands of robbers,and did enter into their covenants and their oaths, that theywould protect and preserve one another in whatsoeverdifficult circumstances they should be placed, that theyshould not suffer for their murders, and their plunderings,and their stealings.22 And it came to pass that they did have their signs, yea,their secret signs, and their secret words; and this that theymight distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant, that whatsoever wickedness his brother should dohe should not be injured by his brother, nor by those whodid belong to his band, who had taken this covenant. 23 Andthus they might murder, and plunder, and steal, and commitwhoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to thelaws of their country and also the laws of their God. 24 Andwhosoever of those who belonged to their band shouldreveal unto the world of their wickedness and theirabominations, should be tried, not according to the laws oftheir country, but according to the laws of their wickedness,which had been given by Gadianton and Kishkumen.MormonLand northwardand landsouthward25 B.C.25 Now behold, it is these secret oaths and covenants whichAlma commanded his son should not go forth unto theworld, lest they should be a means of bringing down thepeople unto destruction. 26 Now behold, those secret oathsand covenants did not come forth unto Gadianton from therecords which were delivered unto Helaman; but behold,they were put into the heart of Gadianton by that samebeing who did entice our first parents to partake of theforbidden fruit— 27 Yea, that same being who did plot withCain, that if he would murder his brother Abel it should notbe known unto the world. And he did plot with Cain and hisfollowers from that time forth. 28 And also it is that samebeing who put it into the hearts of the people to build atower sufficiently high that they might get to heaven. And itwas that same being who led on the people who came fromthat tower into this land; who spread the works of darknessand abominations over all the face of the land, until hedragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to aneverlasting hell. 29 Yea, it is that same being who put it intothe heart of Gadianton to still carry on the work ofdarkness, and of secret murder; and he has brought it forthfrom the beginning of man even down to this time.30 And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. Andbehold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secretmurder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, andtheir covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, fromgeneration to generation according as he can get hold uponthe hearts of the children of men.31 And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts ofthe Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had becomeexceedingly wicked; yea, the more part of them had turnedout of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their ownways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their goldand their silver.MormonLand northwardand landsouthward25 B.C.32 And it came to pass that all these iniquities did come untothem in the space of not many years, insomuch that a morepart of it had come unto them in the sixty and seventh yearof the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.33 And they did grow in their iniquities in the sixty andeighth year also, to the great sorrow and lamentation of therighteous. 34 And thus we see that the Nephites did begin todwindle in unbelief, and grow in wickedness andabominations, while the Lamanites began to growexceedingly in the knowledge of their God; yea, they didbegin to keep his statutes and commandments, and to walkin truth and uprightness before him. 35 And thus we see thatthe Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw from the Nephites,because of the wickedness and the hardness of their hearts.36 And thus we see that the Lord began to pour out hisSpirit upon the Lamanites, because of their easiness andwillingness to believe in his words.24 B.C.37 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the bandof robbers of Gadianton; and they did preach the word ofGod among the more wicked part of them, insomuch thatthis band of robbers was utterly destroyed from among theLamanites.38 And it came to pass on the other hand, that the Nephitesdid build them up and support them, beginning at the morewicked part of them, until they had overspread all the landof the Nephites, and had seduced the more part of therighteous until they had come down to believe in theirworks and partake of their spoils, and to join with them intheir secret murders and combinations. 39 And thus they didobtain the sole management of the government, insomuchthat they did trample under their feet and smite and rendand turn their backs upon the poor and the meek, and thehumble followers of God. 40 And thus we see that they werein an awful state, and ripening for an everlastingdestruction.41 And it came to pass that thus ended the sixty and eighthyear of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.