After the Darkness ~ Light

After the quaking of the earth had ceased and a hazy light began to shine, those who had survived awoke to examine the destruction everywhere about them.  The Book of Mormon tells the extent of the destruction and probable causes:

• Zarahemla burned with fire ~ volcanoes and pyroclastic bombs?
• Moroni, Onihah, Mocum, and Jerusalem sunk in the sea ~ tsunami?
• Moronihah and Gilgah ~ buried in the earth ~ earthquake or volcano?
• Gilgah also sunk into the earth
• Gadiandi, Gadiomnah, and Gimgimno, sunk into the earth ~ earthquake?
• Jacobugath (the most wicked of the Nephite cities because it was the stronghold of the secret combination) completely obliterated by fire ~ volcano?
• Lamanite cities of Laman, Josh, Gad, and Kishkumen burned by fire (see 3 Nephi 9: 3-10)

These cities and their inhabitants were destroyed because of great wickedness.  The influence of the secret combinations was great.  Many of these people practiced human sacrifice and abominations not known since the days of the Olmecs.  Cities that were completely wiped off the face of the earth were, like Sodom, found to have none righteous among them (see vs. 10, 12)

As the Nephites who had survived surveyed the damages around them. they heard a voice that seemed to come from everywhere at once:

 

Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen!

 

O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? (3 Nephi 9: 2, 13)

 

This invitation is given to all who seek Him: come, repent, and be healed. 

A good message for a new year!

 

Text copyright December 2013, Gebara Education

Picture from www.lds.org