3 Nephi 8

The thirty-third year passed; there was no mistake in the calendar. The people began to look for the sign told by the prophet Samuel. He said that when Christ was killed, there would be three days of darkness.

But the people began to have doubts. They argued about it. In the thirty-fourth year, fourth day of the first month, a great storm arose. The storm was more terrible than anyone had ever seen. The winds were so fast and the thunder was so loud that the whole earth shook. There was sharp lightning, worse than had ever been seen.

The city of Zarahemla caught on fire. The city of Moroni sank into the sea and all its people were drowned. The city of Moronihah was covered with a great mountain. There was even more destruction in the north land. The whole face of the land was changed because of the storm, whirlwinds, thunder, lightning and earthquakes.

The highways were broken up. Many great cities were sunk. Many cities were burned. Many cities were shaken until the buildings fell down and the people inside were killed. Many places were left empty.

Some people were carried away in the whirlwind and no one knows where they went. All these terrible things were done across all the land in about three hours.

Then a thick darkness went across the land. The darkness was so thick that people could feel it like a mist. There could be no light, no candles, no torches and no fire even with dry wood. No light was seen: not the sun, not the moon, not the stars. There was no light at all, not even a glimmer.

The mist of total darkness lasted for three days and three nights. Because of the darkness and destruction, the groaning of the people was terrible. There was great sadness and howling and crying.

The cry was heard: O we should have repented before this terrible day. Then our families would have been spared and they would not have been burned in the great city Zarahemla.

In another place they cried, saying: O if we had only repented and not killed the prophets. Then our mothers, our fair daughters and our children would have been spared. They would not have been buried in the great city Moronihah. The howling of the people was terrifying.