“The ash from a volcano can rise to great heights (many thousands of feet) and then spread out in the stratosphere to cover a large region with an impenetrable cloud of dust. … Volcanic ash, smoke, and gases, along with dust and debris rising into the air from a large earthquake, could have produced the ‘vapor of darkness’ spoken of in 3 Nephi 8:20 and 10:13. … Furthermore, volcanic ash and lava can be carried up to bury cities … and Nephi records that the earth was carried up on the city Moronihah (3 Nephi 8:10) and not down, as one would expect in a landslide” (Benson, “Geological Upheaval and Darkness,” 64).
“In the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the Second Coming. A major portion of the book centers on the few decades just prior to Christ’s coming to America. By careful study of that time period, we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that preceded His coming and what brought others to stand at the temple in the land of Bountiful and thrust their hands into the wounds of His hands and feet” (Benson, “Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” 6–7).
| Christ’s Visit to the Nephites | Events | Christ’s Future Coming |
| 3 Nephi 6:17, 18; 7:7 | Wickedness increases among the people. | Joseph Smith–Matthew 1:30 |
| 3 Nephi 7:14 | People reject the prophets. | D&C 1:14 |
| 3 Nephi 8:4 | Skepticism increases concerning Christ’s coming. | D&C 45:26 |
| 3 Nephi 8:6, 10–19 | Earthquakes and other disturbances accompany His coming. | D&C 45:48 |
| 3 Nephi 8:20–23 | Darkness covers the earth. | D&C 45:42 |
| 3 Nephi 8:24, 25 | Christ comes as a thief in the night. | 2 Peter 3:10 |
| 3 Nephi 9:1–13; 10:12 | The wicked are destroyed at His coming; the righteous are preserved. | D&C 29:11 |
(Adapted from Book of Mormon Student Manual [2009], 395.)