Nephi Confronts Corrupt Judges

Hearing Nephi, some of the Gadianton judges became angry. They cried out to the people, “Why don’t you seize this man and bring him forward to be condemned for his crime?

“Why do you do nothing when you have seen and heard this man revile against us and our law?” Nephi had spoken about their corrupt laws. He had also said many other things, but nothing contrary to God’s commandments. Those judges were angry because Nephi had spoken so plainly to them about their secret works of darkness. But they dared not lay their hands upon him, fearing that the people might cry out against them. This is why they cried to the people, “Why do you allow this man to revile against us? He condemns our people to destruction, saying that our great cities will be taken from us and that we will have no place in them. We know this is impossible because we are so powerful. Our cities are so great that our enemies could never overpower us.”

The judges stirred up some of the people to become angry with Nephi, and the people started to argue among themselves. Some said, “Leave this man alone. He is a good man, and what he says will surely come to pass unless we repent. We know that all the judgments of which he has testified will come upon us because he has correctly testified of our many sins. If he were not a prophet, he could not have testified of our sins so accurately.”

The judges were too afraid to lay their hands on Nephi, and he continued to speak, having gained favor with some of the people. Nephi said, “Have you not read that God gave power to one man, even Moses, to strike the waters of the Red Sea? After the waters parted, and after our forefathers, the Israelites, walked through on dry ground, the waters closed up over the Egyptian armies. If God gave this much power to one man, then why should you argue whether or not He has given me the power to know of the judgments that will come upon you unless you repent? But rather than repent, you will deny my words. You also deny all of our forefathers’ words. You deny the words of Moses, who had great power given to him, and who spoke about the coming of the Messiah. Didn’t Moses testify that the Son of God would come? As Moses lifted up the brass snake in the wilderness, the Messiah will also be lifted up. Just as those who looked upon that snake lived, all who humbly look to the Son of God with faith will have eternal life.

“All the holy prophets since Adam have also testified of the Son of God. Abraham saw His coming and was filled with gladness and joy. Like many before him, Abraham was called to the order of the Son of God (Melchizedek priesthood), so that thousands of years beforehand, his people would know that the Son of God was coming to redeem them. And since Abraham, there have been many prophets who have continued to testify of these things. Because Zenos testified so boldly, he was killed. Zenock, Ezias, Isaiah, and Jeremiah all testified that the Son of God would come. Jeremiah also testified that Jerusalem would be destroyed. And you know that Jerusalem was destroyed. You also know that Zedekiah’s sons were killed, except Mulek, whose descendants are now among us. And there is more—

“Our forefather, Lehi, was driven out of Jerusalem because he testified of these things. Nephi and almost all of our forefathers have also testified of these things, even down to this time. They have testified of Christ’s coming, looking forward and rejoicing in it.

“Our forefathers are now with Christ. He showed Himself to them while they lived and redeemed them spiritually. Because they knew He would yet redeem them physically through the resurrection, they praised Him. Seeing that you know these things, if you deny them, you are liars, and you reject the many witnesses from heaven and earth that testify that these things are true. Even now you have rejected the truth, rebelling against your holy God. Instead of securing a place for yourselves in heaven, where no unclean being may enter, you are inviting God’s anger on judgment day. You are becoming ripe for an eternal destruction because of your immorality, murder, and sinfulness. Unless you repent, this destruction will soon come to you. This destruction is very near, for as I speak, your judge has been murdered by his brother who wants the judgment-seat for himself. These two brothers both belong to your secret band, which Gadianton organized as he was inspired by the devil who seeks to destroy everyone’s soul.”