The Sacred Record says, "The Lord was slow to hear their cries because of their iniquities." Nevertheless, after a time the Lord softened the hearts of the Lamanites so that the burdens they placed upon the backs of the Nephites were not so heavy to bear, but he did not deliver them out of bondage at once. They, however, gradually prospered and raised more grain, flocks, and herds, so that they did not suffer the pangs of hunger.