Nephites Swept Down and Destroyed

Event 185

Reference: Morm. 5:1-24

AND it came to pass that I did go forth among the Nephites,and did repent of the oath which I had made that I would nomore assist them; and they gave me command again of theirarmies, for they looked upon me as though I could deliverthem from their afflictions. 2 But behold, I was withouthope, for I knew the judgments of the Lord which shouldcome upon them; for they repented not of their iniquities,but did struggle for their lives without calling upon thatBeing who created them.MormonLand northwardA.D. 375 to 3793 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come againstus as we had fled to the city of Jordan; but behold, theywere driven back that they did not take the city at that time.City of Jordan4 And it came to pass that they came against us again, andwe did maintain the city.And there were also other cities which were maintained bythe Nephites, which strongholds did cut them off that theycould not get into the country which lay before us, todestroy the inhabitants of our land.Land northward5 But it came to pass that whatsoever lands we had passedby, and the inhabitants thereof were not gathered in, weredestroyed by the Lamanites, and their towns, and villages,and cities were burned with fire; and thus three hundred andseventy and nine years passed away.6 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and eightiethyear the Lamanites did come again against us to battle, andwe did stand against them boldly; but it was all in vain, forso great were their numbers that they did tread the people ofthe Nephites under their feet.A.D. 380 to 3847 And it came to pass that we did again take to flight, andthose whose flight was swifter than the Lamanites’ didescape, and those whose flight did not exceed theLamanites’ were swept down and destroyed. 8 And nowbehold, I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up the souls ofmen in casting before them such an awful scene of bloodand carnage as was laid before mine eyes; but I, knowingthat these things must surely be made known, and that allthings which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops—North of land ofDesolation 9 And also that a knowledge of these things must come untothe remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles,who the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and thispeople should be counted as naught among them—thereforeI write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full accountof the things which I have seen, because of thecommandment which I have received, and also that yemight not have too great sorrow because of the wickednessof this people.MormonNorth of land ofDesolationA.D. 380 to 38410 And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also tothe Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, thatrealize and know from whence their blessings come. 11 ForI know that such will sorrow for the calamity of the houseof Israel; yea, they will sorrow for the destruction of thispeople; they will sorrow that this people had not repentedthat they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus.12 Now these things are written unto the remnant of thehouse of Jacob; and they are written after this manner,because it is known of God that wickedness will not bringthem forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto theLord that they may come forth in his own due time. 13 Andthis is the commandment which I have received; andbehold, they shall come forth according to thecommandment of the Lord, when he shall see fit, in hiswisdom.14 And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of theJews; and for this intent shall they go—that they may bepersuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the livingGod; that the Father may bring about, through his mostBeloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring theJews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of theirinheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, untothe fulfilling of his covenant; 15 And also that the seed ofthis people may more fully believe his gospel, which shallgo forth unto them from the Gentiles; for this people shallbe scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and aloathsome people, beyond the description of that whichever hath been amongst us, yea, even that which hath beenamong the Lamanites, and this because of their unbelief andidolatry.16 For behold, the Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased tostrive with their fathers; and they are without Christ andGod in the world; and they are driven about as chaff before the wind. 17 They were once a delightsome people, and theyhad Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even byGod the Father. 18 But now, behold, they are led about bySatan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vesselis tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, orwithout anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is,so are they.MormonNorth of land ofDesolationA.D. 380 to 38419 And behold, the Lord hath reserved their blessings,which they might have received in the land, for the Gentileswho shall possess the land. 20 But behold, it shall come topass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles;and after they have been driven and scattered by theGentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenantwhich he made unto Abraham and unto all the house ofIsrael. 21 And also the Lord will remember the prayers ofthe righteous, which have been put up unto him for them.22 And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before thepower of God, except ye shall repent and turn from yourevil ways? 23 Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his greatcommand the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll? 24Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him,lest he shall come out in justice against you—lest a remnantof the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, andtear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver.