16:1 And now, it came to pass that there were many
who heard the words of Samuel, the Lamanite, which he
spake upon the walls of the city. And as many as believed
on his word went forth and sought for Nephi; and when
they had come forth and found him they confessed unto him
their sins and denied not, desiring that they might be baptized unto the Lord. |
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16:2 But as many as there were who did not believe
in the words of Samuel were angry with him; and they cast
stones at him upon the wall, and also many shot arrows at
him as he stood upon the wall; but the Spirit of the Lord
was with him, insomuch that they could not hit him with
their stones neither with their arrows. |
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16:3 Now when they saw that they could not hit him,
there were many more who did believe on his words,
insomuch that they went away unto Nephi to be baptized. |
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16:4 For behold, Nephi was baptizing, and
prophesying, and preaching, crying repentance unto the
people, showing signs and wonders, working miracles among
the people, that they might know that the Christ must shortly come-- |
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16:5 Telling them of things which must shortly come,
that they might know and remember at the time of their
coming that they had been made known unto them
beforehand, to the intent that they might believe;
therefore as many as believed on the words of Samuel went
forth unto him to be baptized, for they
came repenting and confessing their sins. |
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16:6 But the more part of them did not believe in
the words of Samuel; therefore when they saw that they
could not hit him with their stones and their arrows,
they cried unto their captains, saying: Take this fellow
and bind him, for behold he hath a devil; and because of the power of the devil which is
in him we cannot hit him with our stones and our arrows;
therefore take him and bind him, and away with him. |
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16:7 And as they went forth to lay their hands on
him, behold, he did cast himself down from the wall, and
did flee out of their lands, yea, even unto his own
country, and began to preach and to prophesy among his
own people. |
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16:8 And behold, he was never heard of more among
the Nephites; and thus were the affairs of the people. |
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16:9 And thus ended the eighty and sixth year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. |
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16:10 And thus ended also the eighty and seventh year
of the reign of the judges, the more part of the people
remaining in their pride and wickedness, and the lesser
part 1walking more circumspectly before God. |
[1] Ephesians 5:15: See then that ye walk
circumspectly... |
16:11 And these were the conditions also, in the
eighty and eighth year of the reign of the judges. |
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16:12 And there was but little alteration in the
affairs of the people, save it were the people began to
be more hardened in iniquity, and do more and more of
that which was contrary to the commandments of God, in
the eighty and ninth year of the reign of the judges. |
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16:13 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. |
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16:14 And 1angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did
declare unto them glad tidings of great joy; thus in this
year the scriptures began to be fulfilled. |
[1] Luke 2:10: And the angel said unto them, Fear
not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy... |
16:15 Nevertheless, the people began to harden their
hearts, all save it were the most believing part of them,
both of the Nephites and also of the Lamanites, and began
to depend upon their own strength and upon their own
wisdom, saying: |
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16:16 Some things they may have guessed right, among
so many; but behold, we know that all these great and
marvelous works cannot come to pass, of which has been
spoken. |
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16:17 And they began to reason and to contend among
themselves, saying: |
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16:18 That it is not reasonable that such a being as
a Christ shall come; if so, and he be the Son of God,
the Father of heaven and of earth, as it has been spoken,
why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them
who shall be at Jerusalem? |
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16:19 Yea, why will he not show himself in this land
as well as in the land of Jerusalem? |
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16:20 But behold, we know that this is a wicked
tradition, which has been handed down unto us by our
fathers, to cause us that we should believe in some great
and marvelous thing which should come to pass, but not
among us, but in a land which is far distant, a land
which we know not; therefore they can keep us in
ignorance, for we cannot witness with our own eyes that
they are true. |
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16:21 And they will, by the cunning and the
mysterious arts of the evil one, work some great mystery
which we cannot understand, which will keep us down to be
servants to their words, and also servants unto them, for
we depend upon them to teach us the word; and thus will
they keep us in ignorance if we will yield ourselves unto
them, all the days of our lives. |
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16:22 And many more things did the people imagine up
in their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they
were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them up
to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about
spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the
land, that he might harden the hearts of the people
against that which was good and against that which should
come. |
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16:23 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. |
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16:24 And thus ended the ninetieth year of the reign
of the judges over the people of Nephi. |
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16:25 And thus ended the book of Helaman, according
to the record of Helaman and his sons. |
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