3 Nephi 10

All the surviving people everywhere across the land heard the voice in the darkness, and the words that were spoken. The people were so astonished that they stopped their crying, and mourning for their dead relatives. For many hours there was peace and silence.

The voice came again to all the people of the land saying, “You people of these great fallen cities are descendants of Jacob1 and members of the family of Israel. I have gathered you often as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. I have nourished you. Many times I have tried to gather up those who have fallen and been refused. Many more times I will gather up those of you who repent and return to me under my protective wings. Those who do not return to me will find their homes desolate until the covenants to your ancestors are fulfilled.”

After these words the people began to weep and howl once again at the loss of their relatives and friends. In the morning after the third day of darkness the blackness lifted. The earth stopped shaking and the groaning ended. The people’s mourning and wailing gave way to joy and thanksgiving in praise of their redeemer Jesus Christ. The prophets’ scriptures were being fulfilled. Those people who had maintained their righteousness, who had listened to the prophets, and who had not harmed the prophets were spared from being buried, drowned, burned, crushed, and carried away by the storms.

Whoever reads these and other scriptures, wrote Mormon, needs to understand that this destruction and death by fire, smoke, storms, and earthquakes is the fulfillment of the prophecies given by many holy prophets. Many prophets foretold these events at the time of Jesus Christ’s arrival. Many of them were killed for saying so. These prophets who spoke of these things include Zenos and Zenock.

Our ancestor Jacob also testified about the remnant descendants of his son Joseph1, Mormon continued. And are we not those remnant descendants of Joseph? These events are described on the brass plates that Lehi brought with him from Jerusalem.

In the 34th year after the birth of Jesus Christ the Nephites, and the former Lamanites who were spared from destruction, were showered with blessings. Soon after Jesus Christ’s ascension he appeared in person to the surviving Nephite people, and ministered unto them.