of the land, and that they had become exceedingly rich, because
of their prosperity in Christ.
4 Nephi 1:24
24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be
among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing
of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine
things of the world.
4 Nephi 1:25
25 And from that time forth they did have their goods and their
substance no more common among them.
4 Nephi 1:26
26 And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to
build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny
the true church of Christ.
4 Nephi 1:27
27 And it came to pass that when two hundred and ten years had
passed away there were many churches in the land; yea, there were
many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they
did deny the more parts of his gospel, insomuch that they did
receive all manner of wickedness, and did administer that which
was sacred unto him to whom it had been forbidden because of
unworthiness.
4 Nephi 1:28
28 And this church did multiply exceedingly because of iniquity,
and because of the power of Satan who did get hold upon their
hearts.
4 Nephi 1:29
29 And again, there was another church which denied the Christ;
and they did persecute the true church of Christ, because of
their humility and their belief in Christ; and they did despise
them because of the many miracles which were wrought among them.
4 Nephi 1:30
30 Therefore they did exercise power and authority over the
disciples of Jesus who did tarry with them, and they did cast
them into prison; but by the power of the word of God, which was
in them, the prisons were rent in twain, and they went forth
doing mighty miracles among them.
4 Nephi 1:31
31 Nevertheless, and notwithstanding all these miracles, the
people did harden their hearts, and did seek to kill them, even
as the Jews at Jerusalem sought to kill Jesus, according to his
word.
4 Nephi 1:32
32 And they did cast them into furnaces of fire, and they came
forth receiving no harm.
4 Nephi 1:33
33 And they also cast them into dens of wild beasts, and they
did play with the wild beasts even as a child with a lamb; and
they did come forth from among them, receiving no harm.
4 Nephi 1:34
34 Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts, for they
were led by many priests and false prophets to build up many
churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. And they did smite
upon the people of Jesus; but the people of Jesus did not smite
again. And thus they did dwindle in unbelief and wickedness,
from year to year, even until two hundred and thirty years had
passed away.
4 Nephi 1:35
35 And now it came to pass in this year, yea, in the two hundred
and thirty and first year, there was a great division among the
people.
4 Nephi 1:36
36 And it came to pass that in this year there arose a people
who were called the Nephites, and they were true believers in
Christ; and among them there were those who were called by the
Lamanites—Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites;
4 Nephi 1:37
37 Therefore the true believers in Christ, and the true
worshipers of Christ, (among whom were the three disciples of
Jesus who should tarry) were called Nephites, and Jacobites, and
Josephites, and Zoramites.
4 Nephi 1:38
38 And it came to pass that they who rejected the gospel were
called Lamanites, and Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites; and they did
not dwindle in unbelief, but they did wilfully rebel against the
gospel of Christ; and they did teach their children that they
should not believe, even as their fathers, from the beginning,
did dwindle.
4 Nephi 1:39
39 And it was because of the wickedness and abomination of their
fathers, even as it was in the beginning. And they were taught
to hate the children of God, even as the Lamanites were taught to
hate the children of Nephi from the beginning.
4 Nephi 1:40
40 And it came to pass that two hundred and forty and four years
had passed away, and thus were the affairs of the people. And
the more wicked part of the people did wax strong, and became
exceedingly more numerous than were the people of God.
4 Nephi 1:41
41 And they did still continue to build up churches unto
themselves, and adorn them with all manner of precious things.
And thus did two hundred and fifty years pass away, and also two
hundred and sixty years.
4 Nephi 1:42
42 And it came to pass that the wicked part of the people began
again to build up the secret oaths and combinations of Gadianton.
4 Nephi 1:43
43 And also the people who were called the people of Nephi began
to be proud in their hearts, because of their exceeding riches,
and become vain like unto their brethren, the Lamanites.
4 Nephi 1:44
44 And from this time the disciples began to sorrow for the sins
of the world.
4 Nephi 1:45
45 And it came to pass that when three hundred years had passed
away, both the people of Nephi and the Lamanites had become
exceedingly wicked one like unto another.
4 Nephi 1:46
46 And it came to pass that the robbers of Gadianton did spread
over all the face of the land; and there were none