Nephite lost spirit of repentance
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Book of Mormon readers can get some idea of the extreme state of wickedness to which the Nephites had fallen from Mormon's statement that the Lord withdrew His disciples from the land and the work of miracles and healing ceased. (See Morm. 1:13.)
Also, Mormon endeavored to preach to the people but his "mouth was shut" by the Lord and he was forbidden. (See Morm. 1:16.)The reader learns that the sorrow of the Nephites "was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin." (See Morm. 2:13.)
Mormon writes that "the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritually," indicating that they had lost the power to repent. (See Morm. 2:15.)
Elder James E. Talmage of the Council of the Twelve points out in The Articles of Faith that spiritual gifts such as healing and other miracles are for the benefit of those who love God, believe on His name, and keep His commandments. (See D&C 46:8-9.)
The Book of Mormon student manual, prepared by the Church Educational System, points out that many evils follow in the wake of evil choices. "When people reach a certain level of wickedness and are determined to reject his living prophets, God does not allow the prophets to minister to the people. In modern times the Lord suggested that if his people were faithful he would bless them with commandments. (See D&C 59:4.) Often in our foolishness we think commandments are a burden rather than a blessing.
"Yet through the commandments we are shown the only way to joy and peace."
Rejection of the Lord's servants was reached on a global scale a couple of hundred years after the crucifixion of the Savior.
"The Lord taught Joseph Smith and his associates that it is due to apostasy that these officers with their authority were taken away. . . ." President Joseph Fielding Smith wrote in Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1.
In Vol. 2 of that same work, President Smith wrote: "It is possible for people to get so far in the dark through rebellion and wickedness that the spirit of repentance leaves them. It is a gift of God, and they get beyond the power of repentance."
