3 Nephi 2

In the 95th year of elected judges, the people began to forget the signs and wonders that they’d seen and heard, and became dismissive of more signs as they closed their hearts and minds. Some people even suggested that the devil had been responsible for the amazing events. By blinding the people to the truth Satan led many to believe that the doctrine of Jesus Christ was a vain and foolish thing. As the years passed the people’s wickedness and abominations grew ever stronger. With Satan leading their hearts these people disbelieved that any further signs would come, and general sinfulness spread across the land. [AD 3]

In the 100 th year of elected judges, and the 609th year since Lehi had left Jerusalem, 9 years had passed since the night without darkness when Jesus Christ had been born into the world. At this time the Nephite people began to count their years since the birth of Jesus Christ instead of since the time when judges were first elected. [AD 9]

From this point forward the referenced years in The Book of Mormon match today’s dating convention. For example, the Nephites “13th year after the birth of Jesus Christ” is chronologically the same as our AD 13.

Nephi’s father Nephi2 was still missing, and no one knew where he was. In spite of all the preaching and prophesying, most of the people had lapsed back into wickedness.

In the 13 th year after the birth of Jesus Christ, wars and conflicts became widespread. The Gadianton Robbers became so numerous, and their predatory attacks resulted in the deaths of so many people that the Nephites and the Lamanites had to do something. The Lamanites who had converted to Jesus Christ united with the Nephites to arm themselves and defend their lands, rights, church, freedoms, and families against the robbers. If they didn’t, they were faced with complete destruction.

When these converted Lamanites united with the Nephites to jointly defend themselves, an amazing miracle happened. The curse of dark skin was lifted from the Lamanites, and their skin color became as white as the skin of the Nephites. The children of the Lamanites also became fair skinned. These transformed Lamanites were all counted as Nephites and were thereafter called Nephites.

In the 14th year the Nephites drove the Gadianton Robbers from their lands, and back into their secret mountain strongholds.

In the 15th year the robbers came out of the mountains to attack the Nephites yet again. This time, because of the wickedness of the Nephite people, the robbers were able to gain and hold ground against the Nephites. Because of their persistent sinfulness, the sword of destruction hung once again over the Nephite people’s heads.