Now it came to pass in the sixty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the Nephites, that Nephi, the son of Helaman, returned to the land of Zarahemla from the land northward. For he had been forth among them. And they did reject all his words, insomuch that he returned again unto the land of his nativity.

And Nephi's heart was swollen with sorrow because of the wickedness of this people in Zarahemla.

And Nephi, seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment-seats--having usurped the power and authority of the land; condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, that they might the more easily steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills.

And behold, now it came to pass that it was upon a tower, which was in the garden of Nephi, which was by the highway which led to the chief market, which was in the city of Zarahemla. Therefore, Nephi had bowed himself upon the tower. And it came to pass that there were certain men passing by and saw Nephi as he was pouring out his soul unto God upon the tower. And they ran and told the people what they had seen, and the people came together in multitudes that they might know the cause of so great mourning for the wickedness of the people.

And now, when Nephi arose he beheld the multitudes of people who had gathered together.

Behold, why have ye gathered yourselves together?

That I may tell you of your iniquities?

O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very day that he has delivered you?

But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver.

For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, shall be taken away.

Wo shall come unto you because of that pride which ye have suffered to enter your hearts. Seize upon this man and bring him forth, that he may be condemned according to the crime which he has done. Why do you suffer this man to revile against us? He doth condemn all this people, even unto destruction. And also that these our great cities shall be taken from us. We know that this is impossible, for behold, we are powerful, and our cities great, therefore our enemies can have no power over us.

No, no! Let this man alone, for he is a good man, and those things which he saith will surely come to pass except we repent. All the judgments will come upon us; for we know that he has testified aright unto us concerning our iniquities. And behold they are many.

If he had not been a prophet he could not have testified concerning those things.