The Destruction of the Nephite Cities

After the three hours of destruction among the Nephites at the time of the Savior’s death in Jerusalem, the voice of the Lord came unto them in the darkness as recorded in 3 Nephi 9. The Savior listed sixteen cities that had been destroyed because of their wickedness. Ten of the cities are otherwise unknown locations among the Nephites: Onihah, Mocum, Gadiandi, Gadiomnah, Gimgimno, Jacob, Laman, Josh, Gad, and Kishkumen. The latter was likely a city named after the wicked man who helped found the Gadianton robbers. The city of Moronihah is named only in the preceding chapter and described as a place where the “earth was carried up upon” it and “in the place of the city there became a great mountain” (3 Nephi 8:10). This city was undoubtedly named after the great military leader and son of Captain Moroni. The city Gilgal is also not elsewhere listed among the Nephites, but it was a place among the Jaredites: “And Coriantumr gave Shared battle again in the valley of Gilgal” (Ether 13:30). This may be the same location, and if so it would have been in the land northward. Perhaps what is shown here by this list is simply that the Lord knows all of His people. To list each of these cities along with their methods of destruction gave evidence that He knew perfectly all of the Nephite peoples and had His eyes on them. Even these otherwise unknown locations were important to Him. He lamented that He desired to bless and save them all but could not because of their wickedness: “O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you” (3 Nephi 10:4).

               Of the remaining four cities that He listed, Zarahemla is of course the most prominent as the major Nephite city. This city was burned by fire: “Behold, that great city Zarahemla have I burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof” (v3). This detail helps us see the fulfillment of Samuel the Lamanite’s prophecy who gave the people there these words of the Lord: “Yea, wo unto this great city of Zarahemla; for behold, it is because of those who are righteous that it is saved; yea, wo unto this great city, for I perceive, saith the Lord, that there are many, yea, even the more part of this great city, that will harden their hearts against me, saith the Lord. But blessed are they who will repent, for them will I spare. But behold, if it were not for the righteous who are in this great city, behold, I would cause that fire should come down out of heaven and destroy it” (Helaman 13:12-13). That is, it appears, exactly what happened. Another city listed was Moroni, which the Lord “caused to be sunk in the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned” (v4). This description is not surprising given that “the land of Moroni… was in the borders by the seashore” (Alma 62:25). The city of Jerusalem, which was covered with water, was in the southern land where Aaron and some his brethren had taught the Lamanites (see Alma 21:1). This was one of the cities which had originally converted to the Lord because of their preaching. Finally, the Lord listed Jacobugath, a city not previously mentioned by name but which had been alluded to in the description of the wicked Jacob who tried to set up his own kingdom: “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” (3 Nephi 7:12). The Savior described this city in these unflattering terms: “That great city Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of king Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations” (v9).

What happened to these cities shows indeed that the Lord will not tolerate wickedness forever, and that eventually His judgment will come upon us if we will not repent. His detailed account of these various locations gives evidence that He knows every people, and His call to those who remained is for all of us even today: “O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me” (v13-14). If we will but come unto Him and repent of our sins, He will offer mercy and healing and ultimately eternal life. But if as a society we will continue in our wickedness and evil, His judgment cannot be forever stayed.