At last, when they were about to despair, the counsel of the righteous among them began to prevail. They remembered how in times past the Lord had delivered the Children of Israel from similar oppression. They read the words of Job (they possessed a copy of the Prophet's words) and remembered also his sufferings. They read of Job's reply to the reproof of his friends, of God's almighty power, and that nothing can stand against Him.
And Job answered and said.... I am as one mocked of his neighbor, who calleth upon God, and he answereth:
The Hebrew Scriptures told King Limhi's people that Job asked his tormentors if, ever they denied that his condition was the will, or the purpose of God. The Nephites were not slow in believing that this conclusion was true, neither was it lost in the maze of their transgressions. If they doubted that the anger of the Lord was shown in their tribulations, they were also told by this same prophet,
Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? [their sufferings]
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind,
They were further told,
With him is strength and wisdom: He looseth the bond of kings.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them.
He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander where there is no way.
Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood.
(See Job 12)
They also remembered the Prophet Abinadi and the words he had spoken against them.
The Nephites repented of their sins, and besought the Lord to deliver them "out of their afflictions." All day long, and even when night came, they did not cease to cry unto Him for forgiveness.