The “ pillar of fire” (v. 43) was the baptism or immersion of the Lamanites by the Holy Ghost. When Jesus spoke to the Nephites after his resurrection, he referred to the baptism and conversion of the Lamanites. “And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not” (3 Nephi 9:20). The Lamanites did not know it was a baptism of the Holy Ghost but they certainly knew something marvelous had happened to them. The dispersion of the cloud of darkness (Helaman 5:42) was also accompanied by the cleansing or remission of the sins of the Lamanites (see Moroni 6:4; 8:25). The unspeakable joy that followed, and the Holy Spirit that entered into their hearts (Helaman 5:44–45), was what Mormon later described to his son Moroni as “the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love” (Moroni 8:26). Their experience of speaking “marvelous words” (Helaman 5:45) could also be equated with King Benjamin’s description of the born again person having “great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophecy of all things” (Mosiah 5:3). The experience was great in quality and quantity. They had great faith in Christ (Helaman 5:47) and a marvelous experience individually. There were three hundred souls converted at the same time (v. 49), an amazing quantity as well.