1 NOW behold, I will show unto you [ Or look here, here is what I have learned so take note. ] that they did not establish a king over the land; but in this same year, yea, the thirtieth year, they did destroy upon the judgment-seat, [ No one had respect for the government that existed. ] yea, did murder the chief judge of the land.

2 And the people were divided one against another; and they did separate one from another into tribes, every man according to his family and his kindred and friends; and thus they did destroy the government of the land. [ The government is destroyed the purpose of the government in America was to uphold the Lord's church and to give people the opportunity to embrace The Plan of Salvation and to learn of the ways of the Lord and serve to serve Christ so the government of the land is destroyed and then you have tribalism Anarchy Civil War. So what is the law now? How are disputes settled? Who owns or contols what resources? Remember that the church is already broken up so that is of no real help here 3 Ne 6:14. Next the land is broken up 3 Ne 8:6. ]

3 And every tribe did appoint a chief or a leader over them; and thus they became tribes and leaders of tribes.

4 Now behold, there was no man among them save he had much family and many kindreds and friends; [ If you did not have a big family and alot of friends then you did not survive - you were no more. ] therefore their tribes became exceedingly great.

5 Now all this was done, and there were no wars as yet among them; [ The total undermining of the government was done without war - done behind closed doors, secret combinations to gain power and authority that started back in chapter 6:15. ] and all this iniquity had come upon the people because they did yield themselves unto the power of Satan. [ Who do you yield yourself to Satan or God? Who is the father of the seceret combinations in the first place. This will go on for about 3.5 years. (3 Ne. 8:2) ]

6 And the regulations of the government were destroyed, [ The laws and constitution were destroyed, people on either side lost confifence in the power of the law, as such the government lost all power as different fractions or tribe went off to do their own thing. ] because of the secret combination of the friends and kindreds [ Do we see any of this in our world today? How about the financial markets and how they behave today - good old boys network. Merril Lynch, Leman Brothers, Enron the list goes on - they had the regulations imposed on them changed and they lined each others pockets at the sake of the smaller investors. Do we se a country the divides itself more and more every day. If you do not like that law or this law you just ignore it.What other groups seem to behave above or without regard to the laws? ] of those [ The Gadianton robbers(leaders in the united states government who killed Joseph Smith and others). See The Times in Which We Live by President Hinckley Oct 2001 General Conference. TheTimesinWhichWeLive.html ] who murdered the prophets.

7 And they did cause a great contention in the land, insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked; [ Why do you suppose that the lack of law made most men wicked? Law provides a compass for right and wrong, without law we are left to choose for ourselves and most of us can be pretty persuasive in being able to justify whatever we would like. So we justify our bad intentions as we please until we have essencially lowered our standard, life becomes about what we want, it is not the good of the society but the good of the individual. ] yea, there were but few righteous men among them.

8 And thus six years had not passed away since the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, [ Why do dogs return to their vomit? This behavior may seem bizarre to us but in the dog world it is par for the course and is considered a delightful course indeed. Dogs probably strive too hard to eat their vomit because 1. their mothers regurgitated food for them when they were  puppies and 2. their heightened sense of smell reveals the actual food particles in it, so it smells really good to them. ] or like the sow to her wallowing in the mire. [ To remain stuck in an undesirable or negative situation due to one's unwillingness to do something to change. It is easiler to blame their situtation on someone else, and make everyone else responsible to change their situtation, than it is for them to try to do anything about it. ie: they were born this way, they never had a chance or got a fair shake, therefore they are owed what they want by society. You should take pity on me. ]

9 Now this secret combination, [ To get gain and power by deception by taking from others. ] which had brought so great iniquity upon the people, did gather themselves together, and did place at their head a man whom they did call Jacob; [ So those that organized the disruption of the government so to speak now begin to set up a new organization. Again to get power for those who will rule. ]

10 And they did call him their king; therefore he became a king over this wicked band; and he was one of the chiefest who had given his voice against the prophets who testified of Jesus. [ so what do we know about him? 1) He does not follow the example of Christ; 2) he has been promoting this in a way for a long time. Do you get the idea here? ]

11 And it came to pass that they were not so strong in number as the tribes of the people, who were united together save it were their leaders did establish their laws, every one according to his tribe; [ Every tribe has its own laws. Not united in government. What problems can come from that? Do we see any kind of tribal boundries being drawn in the country today? How about division by race, those that are of one race vote one way verses another race voting another way, How about gender, is there any kind of voting done by gender? How about division along tribal lines regarding gay vs straight? I think that the list of divisions is pretty long. Everyone feels that in their own way they have been slighted and are due and are of the attitude that they want what is theirs at all costs. ] nevertheless they were enemies; notwithstanding they were not a righteous people, yet they were united in the hatred of those who had entered into a covenant to destroy the government.

12 Therefore, Jacob seeing that their enemies were more numerous than they, he being the king of the band, therefore he commanded his people that they should take their flight into the northernmost part of the land, and there build up unto themselves a kingdom, until they were joined by dissenters, (for he flattered them that there would be many dissenters) and they become sufficiently strong to contend with the tribes of the people; and they did so.

13 And so speedy was their march that it could not be impeded until they had gone forth out of the reach of the people. [ Why was it so important that they traveled so quickly to get out of there? See verse 11. The tribes were only united in one thing their hatred for these people who had destroyed the governemnt. So they were fleeing for their own safety and the leader did not want a fight now as they knew that they would most likely be destroyed. Live to fight another day. ] And thus ended the thirtieth year; and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi.

14 And it came to pass in the *thirty and first year that they were divided into tribes, every man according to his family, kindred and friends; nevertheless they had come to an agreement that they would not go to war one with another; but they were not united as to their laws, and their manner of government, for they were established according to the minds of those who were their chiefs and their leaders. [ So in the last days will we see a division of states in that each state will enact its own laws. The law of the country will not be the prevailing law, but rather state law. It is even scary in the state of Utah. SLC is for the most part very different than the rest of the state in opinion, law... What will happen here? ] But they did establish very strict laws that one tribe should not trespass against another, insomuch that in some degree they had peace in the land; nevertheless, their hearts were turned from the Lord their God, and they did stone the prophets and did cast them out from among them.

15 And it came to pass that Nephi—having been visited by angels [ What kind of man is Nephi? see Moroni 7:30-31] and also the voice of the Lord, therefore having seen angels, and being eye-witness, and having had power given unto him that he might know concerning the ministry of Christ, and also being eye-witness to their quick return from righteousness unto their wickedness and abominations; [ Nephi is living in the middle of a nation in the far stages of chaos - and yet he is one of the most righteous men ever as he is visited by angels and ministered to daily. What is the lesson here for us? It does not matter how wicked the world around us is, how corrupt the society around us has become - we can still maintain a spiritual backbone and receive the blessing from God. ]

16 Therefore, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds—went forth among them in that same year, and began to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

17 And he did minister many things unto them; and all of them cannot be written, and a part of them would not suffice, therefore they are not written in this book. And Nephi did minister with power [ comes by righteousness - President Packer ] and with great authority. [ comes by ordination.- President Packer ]

18 And it came to pass that they were angry with him, [ Why were the people so angry with him? because he had greater power than they did and they could see it. ] even because he had greater power than they, for it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words, for so great was his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him daily. [ Wow how righteous is that? ]

19 And in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits; and even his brother did he raise from the dead, after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people.

20 And the people saw it, and did witness of it, and were angry with him because of his power; and he did also do many more miracles, in the sight of the people, in the name of Jesus.

21 And it came to pass that the thirty and first year did pass away, and there were but few who were converted unto the Lord; but as many as were converted did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed.

22 And as many as had devils cast out from them, and were healed of their sicknesses and their infirmities, did truly manifest unto the people that they had been wrought upon by the Spirit of God, and had been healed; and they did show forth signs also and did do some miracles among the people.

23 Thus passed away the *thirty and second year also. And Nephi did cry unto the people in the commencement of the thirty and third year; and he did preach unto them repentance and remission of sins.

24 Now I would have you to remember also, that there were none who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water. [ Or you cannot bring forth repentance without baptism. Why? Because we first need to commit that we want to change our character, and commit to live Gods laws. Then we have to believe in Christ enough to take upon ourselves the name from which forgiveness comes. Even the name of Jesus Christ which is the only source of forgiveness. Baptism is the ordinance through which we covenant to live the law of obedience and take upon ourselves Christs name. ]

25 Therefore, there were ordained of Nephi, [ Given the authority see vs 17. ] men unto this ministry, that all such as should come unto them should be baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before God, and unto the people, that they had repented and received a remission of their sins.

26 And there were many in the commencement of this year that were baptized unto repentance; and thus the more part of the year did pass away.