Le déclin et la chute des Néphites

Déconstruction de la société

4 Nephi 35–37

Les gens commencent à se diviser en groupes étiquetés comme les sociétés des siècles précédents ; les croyants assument l’identité des Néphites, des Lamanites, des Jacobites, des Joséphites et des Zoramites.

And now it came to pass in this year, yea, in the two hundred and thirty and first year, there was a great division among the people. And it came to pass that in this year there arose a people who were called the Nephites, and they were true believers in Christ; and among them there were those who were called by the Lamanites—Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites;

Therefore the true believers in Christ, and the true worshipers of Christ, (among whom were the three disciples of Jesus who should tarry) were called Nephites, and Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites.

4 Nephi 38–39

Les incroyants prennent les noms des Lamanites, des Lemuélites, et des Ismaélites ; ils se révoltent contre l’évangile et sont enseignés à haïr les croyants.

And it came to pass that they who rejected the gospel were called Lamanites, and Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites; and they did not dwindle in unbelief, but they did wilfully rebel against the gospel of Christ; and they did teach their children that they should not believe, even as their fathers, from the beginning, did dwindle.

And it was because of the wickedness and abomination of their fathers, even as it was in the beginning. And they were taught to hate the children of God, even as the Lamanites were taught to hate the children of Nephi from the beginning.

4 Nephi 40–41

La population des incroyants grandit bientôt plus que le groupe des croyants.

And it came to pass that two hundred and forty and four years had passed away, and thus were the affairs of the people. And the more wicked part of the people did wax strong, and became exceedingly more numerous than were the people of God.

And they did still continue to build up churches unto themselves, and adorn them with all manner of precious things. And thus did two hundred and fifty years pass away, and also two hundred and sixty years.

4 Nephi 42–44

Les organisations secrètes des Gadianton sont ravivées, et l’orgueil corrompt le cœur des gens—les trois disciples de Jésus commencent à s’affliger pour les péchés du monde.

And it came to pass that the wicked part of the people began again to build up the secret oaths and combinations of Gadianton.

And also 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. And from this time the disciples began to sorrow for the sins of the world.

4 Nephi 45–46

L’influence des Gadianton s’étend au point où tous les groupes deviennent également mauvais et corrompus.

And it came to pass that when three hundred years had passed away, both the people of Nephi and the Lamanites had become exceedingly wicked one like unto another.

And it came to pass that the robbers of Gadianton did spread over all the face of the land; and there were none that were righteous save it were the disciples of Jesus. And gold and silver did they lay up in store in abundance, and did traffic in all manner of traffic.