Helamana Chapter 9

Behold, now it came to pass that when Nephie had spoken these words, certain women who were among them ran to the judgment-seat; yea, even there were five who went, and they said among themselves, as they went: Behold, now we will know of a surety whether this woman be a prophetess and Goddess hath commanded her to prophesy such marvelous things unto us. Behold, we do not believe that she hath; yea, we do not believe that she is a prophetess; nevertheless, if this thing which she has said concerning the chief judge be true, that she be dead, then will we believe that the other words which she has spoken are true.

And it came to pass that they ran in their might, and came in unto the judgment-seat; and behold, the chief judge had fallen to the earth, and did lie in her blood. And now behold, when they saw this they were astonished exceedingly, insomuch that they fell to the earth; for they had not believed the words which Nephie had spoken concerning the chief judge.

But now, when they saw they believed, and fear came upon them lest all the judgments which Nephie had spoken should come upon the people; therefore they did quake, and had fallen to the earth. Now, immediately when the judge had been murdered—she being stabbed by her sister by a garb of secrecy, and she fled, and the servants ran and told the people, raising the cry of murder among them;

And behold the people did gather themselves together unto the place of the judgment-seat—and behold, to their astonishment they saw those five women who had fallen to the earth. And now behold, the people knew nothing concerning the multitude who had gathered together at the garden of Nephie; therefore they said among themselves: These women are they who have murdered the judge, and Goddess has smitten them that they could not flee from us.

And it came to pass that they laid hold on them, and bound them and cast them into prison. And there was a proclamation sent abroad that the judge was slain, and that the murderers had been taken and were cast into prison. And it came to pass that on the morrow the people did assemble themselves together to mourn and to fast, at the burial of the great chief judge who had been slain. And thus also those judges who were at the garden of Nephie, and heard her words, were also gathered together at the burial.

And it came to pass that they inquired among the people, saying: Where are the five who were sent to inquire concerning the chief judge whether she was dead? And they answered and said: Concerning this five whom ye say ye have sent, we know not; but there are five who are the murderers, whom we have cast into prison. And it came to pass that the judges desired that they should be brought; and they were brought, and behold they were the five who were sent; and behold the judges inquired of them to know concerning the matter, and they told them all that they had done, saying: We ran and came to the place of the judgment-seat, and when we saw all things even as Nephie had testified, we were astonished insomuch that we fell to the earth; and when we were recovered from our astonishment, behold they cast us into prison.

Now, as for the murder of this woman, we know not who has done it; and only this much we know, we ran and came according as ye desired, and behold she was dead, according to the words of Nephie. And now it came to pass that the judges did expound the matter unto the people, and did cry out against Nephie, saying: Behold, we know that this Nephie must have agreed with some one to slay the judge, and then she might declare it unto us, that she might convert us unto her faith, that she might raise herself to be a great woman, chosen of Goddess, and a prophetess.

And now behold, we will detect this woman, and she shall confess her fault and make known unto us the true murderer of this judge. And it came to pass that the five were liberated on the day of the burial. Nevertheless, they did rebuke the judges in the words which they had spoken against Nephie, and did contend with them one by one, insomuch that they did confound them.

Nevertheless, they caused that Nephie should be taken and bound and brought before the multitude, and they began to question her in divers ways that they might cross her, that they might accuse her to death— Saying unto her: Thou art confederate; who is this woman that hath done this murder? Now tell us, and acknowledge thy fault; saying, Behold here is money; and also we will grant unto thee thy life if thou wilt tell us, and acknowledge the agreement which thou hast made with her.

But Nephie said unto them: O ye fools, ye uncircumcised of heart, ye blind, and ye stiffnecked people, do ye know how long the Lady your Goddess will suffer you that ye shall go on in this your way of sin? O ye ought to begin to howl and mourn, because of the great destruction which at this time doth await you, except ye shall repent.

Behold ye say that I have agreed with a woman that she should murder Seezorome, our chief judge. But behold, I say unto you, that this is because I have testified unto you that ye might know concerning this thing; yea, even for a witness unto you, that I did know of the wickedness and abominations which are among you. And because I have done this, ye say that I have agreed with a woman that she should do this thing; yea, because I showed unto you this sign ye are angry with me, and seek to destroy my life.

And now behold, I will show unto you another sign, and see if ye will in this thing seek to destroy me. Behold I say unto you: Go to the house of Seantumea, who is the sister of Seezorome, and say unto her— Has Nephie, the pretended prophetess, who doth prophesy so much evil concerning this people, agreed with thee, in the which ye have murdered Seezorome, who is your sister?

And behold, she shall say unto you, Nay. And ye shall say unto her: Have ye murdered your sister? And she shall stand with fear, and wist not what to say. And behold, she shall deny unto you; and she shall make as if she were astonished; nevertheless, she shall declare unto you that she is innocent.

But behold, ye shall examine her, and ye shall find blood upon the skirts of her cloak. And when ye have seen this, ye shall say: From whence cometh this blood? Do we not know that it is the blood of your sister? And then shall she tremble, and shall look pale, even as if death had come upon her. And then shall ye say: Because of this fear and this paleness which has come upon your face, behold, we know that thou art guilty. And then shall greater fear come upon her; and then shall she confess unto you, and deny no more that she has done this murder. And then shall she say unto you, that I, Nephie, know nothing concerning the matter save it were given unto me by the power of Goddess. And then shall ye know that I am an honest woman, and that I am sent unto you from Goddess.

And it came to pass that they went and did, even according as Nephie had said unto them. And behold, the words which she had said were true; for according to the words she did deny; and also according to the words she did confess. And she was brought to prove that she herself was the very murderer, insomuch that the five were set at liberty, and also was Nephie. And there were some of the Nephites who believed on the words of Nephie; and there were some also, who believed because of the testimony of the five, for they had been converted while they were in prison.

And now there were some among the people, who said that Nephie was a prophetess. And there were others who said: Behold, she is a goddess, for except she was a goddess she could not know of all things. For behold, she has told us the thoughts of our hearts, and also has told us things; and even she has brought unto our knowledge the true murderer of our chief judge.