When the servants who had fled at the murder bring in others to view the corpse, the crowd finds the prostrate five and conclude that they are the murderers. The five are implicated by their location, even if the scene does not match the servants’ report.
Culture: We get a glimpse into the ancient mind when Mormon tells us that the response of the people to the five who are overcome with the Spirit is to conclude: “God has smitten them that they could not flee from us.” While this conclusion was the direct opposite of the facts, it reveals that the people expect God to intervene in human affairs. The next reaction of some will be to claim Nephi as a god—one who can interfere in human affairs (Hel. 9:41).