Those with the Gospel Seek for Power

Now I will continue the Nephite history. All the Nephite families took their flocks, horses, cattle, and all their possessions, and returned to their own lands in 26. They had not eaten all their grain, so they took it back with them. They also took their gold, silver, and precious things to their own lands and homes in the northern and southern lands.

They gave lands to the robbers who had repented, yet who still wanted to be called Lamanites. By doing this, all the people were able to work the land and feed themselves, and they established peace.

By 27, the Nephites prospered greatly. There was great order in the land, and they made fair and just laws. As long as the people did not become sinful, there was nothing to keep them from continual prosperity. This great peace was established by Gidgiddoni, by Lachoneus, the judge, and by the appointed leaders.

Many new cities were built and many old ones repaired. Many highways and roads were built to connect the cities and lands, and peace continued throughout 28.

But in 29, some disputes started among the more proud people, who boasted because of their riches and greatly persecuted those who had less.

There were many merchants, lawyers, and officers in the land. The people began to be distinguished into upper and lower classes according to their wealth and education. The rich received more opportunities for learning, while the poor were denied an education.

Yet, while some people were lifted up in pride, others were very humble. Some fought, while others refused to fight, even while being persecuted and afflicted.

As this great inequality spread throughout the land, the church began to break up. In just one year the church was broken up, except among a few converted Lamanites, who would not depart from the true faith and who diligently kept the Lord’s commandments.

This sinful condition was caused by Satan’s great power, which increased as the people yielded to his temptations, seeking power, authority, riches, and the vain things of the world. Satan led them away to commit all types of sins, so their peace lasted only a few years.

By 30, the people were being completely controlled by the devil’s desires, for they were in a state of awful wickedness. These people did not sin ignorantly, for they had been taught God’s will. They chose to willfully rebel against God.

In 30, Lachoneus, son of Lachoneus, filled his father’s position as governor of the people. That year, men began to be inspired from heaven and were sent forth to stand among the people all over the land, preaching and testifying boldly of the people’s sins. They testified about the redemption and resurrection, which the Lord would bring to pass for His people after His death and suffering.

Many people (mostly the chief judges, those who had been high priests and lawyers, and those who were lawyers) became very angry with those who testified, but the wicked men could not condemn anyone to death without the governor’s signature.

However, many of those who boldly testified of Christ were secretly put to death by the judges. The governor did not know about these murders until a complaint came to him against the corrupt judges.

Then the corrupt judges were brought before the governor to be judged for their crimes, according to the law that had been given by the people. But the corrupt judges’ friends and relatives conspired with nearly every lawyer and high priest. Together, they made a covenant—even that same covenant given by them of old, administered by the devil, to combine against all righteousness.

They secretly combined against the Lord’s people, entering into a covenant to destroy them and to assist those guilty of murder to escape the grasp of justice. They defied the laws of their country, covenanting with one another to kill the governor, to destroy liberty, and to establish a king over the land, so that instead of being free, the people would be subject to kings.