Chronology: This date locates the destruction at 276 B.C. Thirty-eight years have passed since Amaron received the plates from Omni. In this period, the Nephites’ political situation has worsened, obviously because of increased warfare. In 276 B.C., some event occurred which selectively destroyed “the more wicked part of the Nephites.” What might have happened? The only evidence comes in the following verses.