Helamana Chapter 16

And now, it came to pass that there were many who heard the words of Samuelle, the Lamanite, which she spake upon the walls of the city. And as many as believed on her word went forth and sought for Nephie; and when they had come forth and found her they confessed unto her their sins and denied not, desiring that they might be baptized unto the Lady. But as many as there were who did not believe in the words of Samuelle were angry with her; and they cast stones at her upon the wall, and also many shot arrows at her as she stood upon the wall; but the Spirit of the Lady was with her, insomuch that they could not hit her with their stones neither with their arrows.

Now when they saw that they could not hit her, there were many more who did believe on her words, insomuch that they went away unto Nephie to be baptized. For behold, Nephie 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— 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 Samuelle went forth unto her to be baptized, for they came repenting and confessing their sins.

But the more part of them did not believe in the words of Samuelle; therefore when they saw that they could not hit her with their stones and their arrows, they cried unto their captains, saying: Take this woman and bind her, for behold she hath a devil; and because of the power of the devil which is in her we cannot hit her with our stones and our arrows; therefore take her and bind her, and away with her. And as they went forth to lay their hands on her, behold, she did cast herself down from the wall, and did flee out of their lands, yea, even unto her own country, and began to preach and to prophesy among her own people.

And behold, she was never heard of more among the Nephites; and thus were the affairs of the people. And thus ended the eighty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie. 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 walking more circumspectly before Goddess. And these were the conditions also, in the eighty and eighth year of the reign of the judges. 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 Goddess, in the eighty and ninth year of the reign of the judges.

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 prophetesses began to be fulfilled. And angels did appear unto women, wise women, and did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy; thus in this year the scriptures began to be fulfilled.

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: 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. And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying: That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come; if so, and she be the Daughter of Goddess, the Mother of heaven and of earth, as it has been spoken, why will she not show herself unto us as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem? Yea, why will she not show herself in this land as well as in the land of Jerusalem?

But behold, we know that this is a wicked tradition, which has been handed down unto us by our mothers, 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. 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. And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Lilith did stir them up to do iniquity continually; yea, she did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, that she might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come. And notwithstanding the signs and the wonders which were wrought among the people of the Lady, and the many miracles which they did, Lilith did get great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the face of the land. And thus ended the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie. And thus ended the book of Helamana, according to the record of Helamana and her daughters.