I believe deep symbolism can be found in each mention of shaking, quaking, trembling, and tumbling in the Book of Mormon. This symbolizes a part of the conversion process. Each of us will inevitably shake, quake, tremble, or tumble, whether it be during mortality or at the judgment day.
In this post I outlined a temple pattern that can be found all over the Book of Mormon. One major component of that pattern is the fall -- initiated by Adam and Eve to bring about God's eternal purposes for mortality. Alma teaches that the fall to earth enabled a "a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God." (See Alma 42:4.) It was necessary for us to be "cut off both temporally and spiritually from the presence of the Lord" during this phase so that we could become "subjects to follow after [our] own will." (See Alma 42:7.) That was certainly part of "the fall."
I believe there is another aspect of the inevitable fall that comes to each of us by way of conversion through the voice of the Spirit. To the extent that we have built a great and spacious building in our heart, that edifice must come tumbling down as we humble ourselves and repent.
These words from Nephi have been ringing in my ears for weeks now:
14 And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another, and they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed, and that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord, yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the dust and great shall be the fall of it.
15 For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh speedily that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud and they who do wickedly shall be as stubble; and the day cometh that they must be burned. (1 Nephi 22)
If this "tumble" can happen to a nation, certainly it also happens on some level to each individual who wars against the house of Israel or perverts the right way of the Lord.
Perhaps this explains why there are so many accounts in the Book of Mormon of individuals shaking, quaking, trembling, and falling to the earth.
Here is one such example from 1 Nephi 17, after Nephi confounds his brothers:
53 And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth thine hand again unto thy brethren, and they shall not wither before thee, but I will shock them, saith the Lord, and this will I do, that they may know that I am the Lord their God.
54 And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord did shake them, even according to the word which he had spoken.
55 And now, they said: We know of a surety that the Lord is with thee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us. And they fell down before me, and were about to worship me, but I would not suffer them, saying: I am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee.
Note that the purpose of the shaking was not to destroy them, but to convince them of God's power. They fell as a result, humbled.
In some cases, these accounts of shaking and falling are accompanied by covenant symbols. Notice this example from 1 Nephi 1. Lehi's vision (the one that follows verse 7) includes a vision of God's throne, Jesus Christ descending followed by twelve others, and a book filled with prophecies. Verses 14 and 15 are overflowing with praise of God and covenant symbols.
6 And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.
7 And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen. ...
14 And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!
15 And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen, yea, which the Lord had shown unto him. (1 Nephi 1)
Notice also how Alma-2, who experienced another notable example of shaking by the power of God, falling, and then arising as a new creature (see Mosiah 27:11-18), references 1 Nephi 1:8 when he recounts his conversion experience to his son Helaman. See Alma 36:22.
The deeper lesson is clear: a focus on covenants allows us to overcome the power Satan has over our hearts, so that we can eliminate his influence from our lives and continue unhindered on our ascension to the tree of life.
The first invitation is the voice of God speaking to our hearts, which shakes us and humbles us (if we heed it), allowing us to fall from the great and spacious building (as needed) back down to earth and begin our ascent on the covenant path.
In Helaman 12, Mormon dispenses with any ambiguity or narrative symbolism and speaks of these things directly.
4 O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!
5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom’s paths!
6 Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide.
7 O how great is the nothingness of the children of men; yea, even they are less than the dust of the earth.
8 For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God.
9 Yea, behold at his voice do the hills and the mountains tremble and quake. ...
11 Yea, by the power of his voice doth the whole earth shake;
12 Yea, by the power of his voice, do the foundations rock, even to the very center. ...
21 And if the Lord shall say—Because of thine iniquities thou shalt be cut off from my presence—he will cause that it shall be so.
22 And wo unto him to whom he shall say this, for it shall be unto him that will do iniquity, and he cannot be saved; therefore, for this cause, that men might be saved, hath repentance been declared.
23 Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved.
24 And may God grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works.
