“The People Remained in Wickedness”

Monte S. Nyman

The third generation of one hundred years each had now passed, and the prophecies are now fulfilled. All of both peoples are now wicked except the disciples of Jesus (v. 45). Nephi had “beheld three generations pass away in righteousness” and “many of the fourth generation who passed away in righteousness” (1 Nephi 12:11–12). Therefore, the only ones righteous of the fourth generation were the disciples of Jesus (4 Nephi 1:46). As mentioned above, the disciples of Jesus may be used in the broader sense.

The Gadianton band becoming universal throughout the land shows again the wickedness of both cultures. To traffic means to extend or to travel (v. 46). Today we refer to drug traffic or other cultural tendencies becoming widespread.

As referred to earlier, Amos, son of Amos, had kept the record on the plates of Nephi for one hundred and eleven years (v. 47). There is no further description of the people in the next fifteen years, A.D. 306–320, except the people did continue in wickedness (v. 47).

Book of Mormon Commentary: Divine Ministry, the First Gospel

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