“The People Did Harden Their Hearts”

“What should these people have done when they witnessed the miracles? They should have done the same thing their ancestors did in reaction to the miracle of Jesus’ visit, the same thing we should do in response to a miracle­—repent. But these people did not repent; instead, they despised the righteous because of the miracles that were wrought among them. The record states that ’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’ (4 Nephi 1:34). Mormon emphasized, ’they did not dwindle in unbelief, but they did willfully rebel against the gospel of Christ’ (v 38). He further states that even ’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’ (v 43). Thus we can trace the sad consequences of failure to repent and to stay close to the Lord. The Nephites lost the Spirit that had provided them with unity and glorious feelings of charity.” (Alvin C. Rencher, Book of Mormon Symposium Series, 4 Nephi - Moroni, edited by PR Cheesman, MS Nyman, and CD Tate, Jr., 1988, p. 272)