The cycle which is repeated over and over again in the Book of Mormon is evident in the events of Alma 3-4. After tens of thousands of deaths in one year, the Nephites finally decide to humble themselves. They correctly remembered the prophecy given to Nephi, They (the Lamanites) shall be a scourge unto thy seed (the Nephites), to stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction (2 Nephi 5:25). Indeed it is a fair conclusion that at those times when the Nephites were warring with the Lamanites, it is because the Nephites were not sufficiently righteous but were in need of repentance. Hugh Nibley, remarks, "The moral is that whenever there is a battle, both sides are guilty." (The Prophetic Book of Mormon, p. 491) The people finally come to the same conclusion determining that it was indeed the judgments of God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their abominations.