2:1 - "...and the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven..."
Great signs do not create conversion - but can definitely strengthen conversion.
The testimony must be there, or it is easy to be "less and less astonished" until we are desensitized.
2:1-2 - "...they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen — Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil..."
You can convince yourself and justify yourself into removing faith.
When we receive more faith, it is a gift. We can open ourselves up to receive more of the gift of faith, but it isn't something that we can give ourselves. However, we can remove faith from ourselves through wickedness.
If we want to increase our faith, we must be putting ourselves continually in the position of being open to receive more. This is done through keeping the commandments.
2:14-16 - "...those Lamanites who had united with the Nephites were numbered among the Nephites; And their curse was taken from them..."
In a sense, the Lamanites at this point "became" Nephites (Alma 43:4).
It appears that it is more a matter of belief than a matter of lineage. We show whose name we are taking upon ourselves through our actions, thoughts, and words.
The Lord is not racist - he will bless all people if they come unto Him and keep the commandments.
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