When Nephi prophesied destruction, his listeners apparently assumed a military source. The judges asserted that destruction was impossible, “for behold, we are powerful, and our cities great, therefore our enemies can have no power over us” (Hel. 8:6). When the famine intensified in its second year and deaths mounted into the thousands, the people began to realize that destruction was a real possibility. When they truly remembered Nephi’s words, they believed and took action.