The prophet Nephi (the son of Helaman) apparently believes in the sayings that “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” and “the good old days are best.” After he and his teachings are rejected by the people, Nephi laments:
Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord—Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren. (Helaman 7:7-8.)
However, students of the Book of Mormon probably remember that all things were not perfect during this early time period. This was the time of bitter hatred between the Lamanites and Nephites when they finally broke away from each other. In fact, Jacob (the brother of Nephi, who had grown up during this period) expressed his feelings concerning this same period as follows: “… we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.” (Jacob 7:26.)