Gadianton Period

Nephi’s Son

3 Nephi 1:1–3, 2:9

As man named Lachoneus becomes chief judge, Nephi hands the Nephite records down to his son, also named Nephi, then leaves Zarahemla, and is never heard from again.

Now it came to pass that the ninety and first year had passed away and it was six hundred years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; and it was in the year that Lachoneus was the chief judge and the governor over the land. And Nephi, the son of Helaman, had departed out of the land of Zarahemla, giving charge unto his son Nephi, who was his eldest son, concerning the plates of brass, and all the records which had been kept, and all those things which had been kept sacred from the departure of Lehi out of Jerusalem. Then he departed out of the land, and whither he went, no man knoweth; and his son Nephi did keep the records in his stead, yea, the record of this people.


And Nephi, who was the father of Nephi, who had the charge of the records, did not return to the land of Zarahemla, and could nowhere be found in all the land.

3 Nephi 1:4–6

Many of Samuel’s prophesied signs and miracles come to pass, but even so, some naysayers insist that the believers’ faith is in vain.

And it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninety and second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people. But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite. And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying:

“Behold the time is past,
and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled;
therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing
hath been vain.”

3 Nephi 1:7–8

Controversy spreads through the land—the people become anxious to see the night that will be light as day.

And it came to pass that they did make a great uproar throughout the land; and the people who believed began to be very sorrowful, lest by any means those things which had been spoken might not come to pass. But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain.

3 Nephi 1:9

A day is designated to execute all the believers if Samuel’s sign does not come to pass.

Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.