How Quickly We Forget

Thus was the promise fulfilled the sign was given and the believers were saved.  Nephi was able to preach the gospel of Christ, for now He had come, and baptized many.  But in the very next breath, the prophet tells us that many of the wicked people chose to remain wicked in spite of what they witnessed with their own eyes.  People who are enjoying their favorite sins don't want to give them up even in the face of evidence to the contrary.  

It is amazing what the human mind can rationalize when it wants to do so.  The scriptures tells us that by the fifth year from the coming of the signs in the heaven, the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen— Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing.

And it came to pass that the people began to wax strong in wickedness and abominations; and they did not believe that there should be any more signs or wonders given; and Satan did go about, leading away the hearts of the people, tempting them and causing them that they should do great wickedness in the land.  (3 Nephi 2: 1-3)

 

Just as the Nephites were feeling complacent in their wickedness, a new threat arose.  They began to be harassed by a band of guerilla warriors called the Gadiaton Robbers.  The Lord had told them since the days of Lehi that He would protect and bless them and preserve their freedom if they would believe in Him and keep His commandments.  If the fell into wickedness, however, He would withdraw His protective hand and they would be left to their own devices.  This is exactly what happened.

 

Text copyright December 2013, Gebara Education

 

Picture from www.itsamadmadmadmadworld.blogspot.com