Helaman 16

After having delivered the message that the Lord desired of him, being protected from the stones and arrows of the Nephites, Samuel the Lamanite is able to escape and return to preaching amongst his own people. There are some that believe his words and there are many that don't. Mormon records of those that did believe that -

"...there were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled.
14 And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy..." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 16:13 - 14)

I think that the scriptures in both continents reflect that those that were "wise" were those that believed and kept the commandments of God...thus they were wise and angels did appear unto them.

But Satan seem to have power over those that they that did not believe seemed to begin to justify their behavior -

"...And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying:
18 That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come; if so, and he be the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, as it has been spoken, why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem?
19 Yea, why will he not show himself in this land as well as in the land of Jerusalem?
20 But behold, we know that this is a wicked tradition, which has been handed down unto us by our fathers, to cause us that we should believe in some great and marvelous thing which should come to pass, but not among us, but in a land which is far distant, a land which we know not; therefore they can keep us in ignorance, for we cannot witness with our own eyes that they are true.
21 And they will, by the cunning and the mysterious arts of the evil one, work some great mystery which we cannot understand, which will keep us down to be servants to their words, and also servants unto them, for we depend upon them to teach us the word; and thus will they keep us in ignorance if we will yield ourselves unto them, all the days of our lives.
22 And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 16:17 - 22)

For -

"...Satan did get great hold upon the hearts of the people..." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 16:23)

May we be wise.