and sixth year.
Helaman 6:16
16 And in the commencement of the sixty and seventh year the
people began to grow exceedingly wicked again.
Helaman 6:17
17 For behold, the Lord had blessed them so long with the riches
of the world that they had not been stirred up to anger, to wars,
nor to bloodshed; therefore they began to set their hearts upon
their riches; yea, they began to seek to get gain that they might
be lifted up one above another; therefore they began to commit
secret murders, and to rob and to plunder, that they might get
gain.
Helaman 6:18
18 And now behold, those murderers and plunderers were a band
who had been formed by Kishkumen and Gadianton. And now it had
come to pass that there were many, even among the Nephites, of
Gadianton's band. But behold, they were more numerous among the
more wicked part of the Lamanites. And they were called
Gadianton's robbers and murderers.
Helaman 6:19
19 And it was they who did murder the chief judge Cezoram, and
his son, while in the judgment-seat; and behold, they were not
found.
Helaman 6:20
20 And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites found that
there were robbers among them they were exceedingly sorrowful;
and they did use every means in their power to destroy them off
the face of the earth.
Helaman 6:21
21 But behold, Satan did stir up the hearts of the more part of
the Nephites, insomuch that they did unite with those bands of
robbers, and did enter into their covenants and their oaths, that
they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever
difficult circumstances they should be placed, that they should
not suffer for their murders, and their plunderings, and their
stealings.
Helaman 6:22
22 And it came to pass that they did have their signs, yea,
their secret signs, and their secret words; and this that they
might distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant,
that whatsoever wickedness his brother should do he should not be
injured by his brother, nor by those who did belong to his band,
who had taken this covenant.
Helaman 6:23
23 And thus they might murder, and plunder, and steal, and
commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the
laws of their country and also the laws of their God.
Helaman 6:24
24 And whosoever of those who belonged to their band should
reveal unto the world of their wickedness and their abominations,
should be tried, not according to the laws of their country, but
according to the laws of their wickedness, which had been given
by Gadianton and Kishkumen.
Helaman 6:25
25 Now behold, it is these secret oaths and covenants which Alma
commanded his son should not go forth unto the world, lest they
should be a means of bringing down the people unto destruction.
Helaman 6:26
26 Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not come
forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered unto
Helaman; but behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton by
that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of
the forbidden fruit—
Helaman 6:27
27 Yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would
murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the world.
And he did plot with Cain and his followers from that time forth.
Helaman 6:28
28 And also it is that same being who put it into the hearts of
the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get
to heaven. And it was that same being who led on the people who
came from that tower into this land; who spread the works of
darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he
dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to an
everlasting hell.
Helaman 6:29
29 Yea, it is that same being who put it into the heart of
Gadianton to still carry on the work of darkness, and of secret
murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man
even down to this time.
Helaman 6:30
30 And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And
behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder,
and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their
covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation
to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the
children of men.
Helaman 6:31
31 And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the
Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had become exceedingly wicked;
yea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of
righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments
of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto
themselves idols of their gold and their silver.
Helaman 6:32
32 And it came to pass that all these iniquities did come unto
them in the space of not many years, insomuch that a more part of
it had come unto them in the sixty and seventh year of the reign
of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Helaman 6:33
33 And they did grow in their iniquities in the sixty and eighth
year also.
Helaman 6:34
34 And thus we see that the Nephites did begin to dwindle in
unbelief, and grow in wickedness and abominations, while the
Lamanites began to grow exceedingly in the knowledge of their
God; yea, they did begin to keep his statutes and commandments,
and to walk in truth and uprightness before him.
Helaman