Samuel had predicted the times for the birth and death of the mortal Messiah. Just as there were some who looked for the signs of his birth, there were others who doubted. The same conditions occur with the prophecy of the Messiah’s mortal death. There were some who looked forward for the signs, and others who doubted. Mormon makes certain to write these two incidents in parallel. While the first sign was light, this will be darkness; both appropriate images associated with the birth and death of the Messiah. Mormon’s point is that both were miraculous signs, and that the conditions of belief among the Nephites were also similar.