Many Means Were Devised to Restore the Lamanites

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

Time now takes us to about 420 B.C. Conflict between Lamanites and Nephites had occurred as early as forty years after the exodus from Jerusalem but generally the Nephites were exceedingly prosperous in their settlement. The same is probably true of the Lamanites. Jacob says that they were in some respects, more righteous than the Nephites, notwithstanding their "filthiness and cursing," and that the Lord was merciful to them. (Jacob 3:5-7) In the year 420 B.C. the Nephites sought diligently to convert the Lamanites. They must have established missionary work among them. This, however, was, in the main, "love's labor lost." Enos, the son of Jacob, says he "saw wars between the Nephites and Lamanites in the course of my days." This was 179 years after the departure of his fathers from Judea, or 139 years from the emigration of Nephi from the settlement in the Land of Lehi, the place where he first made a home.

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

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