Book of Mormon
THE BOOK OF MORMON
Another Testament of Jesus Christ
An Account Written by
THE HAND OF MORMON
UPON PLATES
TAKEN FROM THE PLATES OF NEPHI
TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, JUN.
Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
AN ACCOUNT WRITTEN BY THE HAND OF MORMON
UPON PLATES TAKEN FROM THE PLATES OF NEPHI
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Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and
also of the Lamanites--Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the
house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile--Written by way of
commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation--Written
and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed--
To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation
thereof--Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come
forth in due time by way of the Gentile--The interpretation thereof by the
gift of God.
An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the
people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the
language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven--
Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things
the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants
of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever--And also to the convincing
of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD,
manifesting himself unto all nations--And now, if there are faults they are
the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may
be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.
THE TESTIMONY OF THREE WITNESSES
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Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom
this work shall come: That we, through the grace of God the Father, and our
Lord Jesus Christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is
a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren,
and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been
spoken. And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and
power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us; wherefore we know of
a surety that the work is true. And we also testify that we have seen the
engravings which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by
the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness,
that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before
our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon;
and we know that it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus
Christ, that we beheld and bear record that these things are true. And it
is marvelous in our eyes. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord commanded us
that we should bear record of it; wherefore, to be obedient unto the
commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that
if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all
men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall
dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
OLIVER COWDERY
DAVID WHITMER
MARTIN HARRIS
THE TESTIMONY OF EIGHT WITNESSES
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Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom
this work shall come: That Joseph Smith, Jun., the translator of this work,
has shown unto us the plates of which hath been spoken, which have the
appearance of gold; and as many of the leaves as the said Smith has
translated we did handle with our hands; and we also saw the engravings
thereon, all of which has the appearance of ancient work, and of curious
workmanship. And this we bear record with words of soberness, that the
said Smith has shown unto us, for we have seen and hefted, and know of a
surety that the said Smith has got the plates of which we have spoken. And
we give our names unto the world, to witness unto the world that which we
have seen. And we lie not, God bearing witness of it.
CHRISTIAN WHITMER HIRAM PAGE
JACOB WHITMER JOSEPH SMITH, SEN.
PETER WHITMER, JUN. HYRUM SMITH
JOHN WHITMER SAMUEL H. SMITH
TESTIMONY OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH
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The Prophet Joseph Smith's own words about the coming forth of the Book
of Mormon are:
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"On the evening of the...twenty-first of September [1823]...I betook
myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God....
"While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light
appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was
lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my
bedside, standing in the air, for his feet did not touch the floor.
"He had on a loose robe of most exquisite whiteness. It was a whiteness
beyond anything earthly I had ever seen; nor do I believe that any earthly
thing could be made to appear so exceedingly white and brilliant. His
hands were naked, and his arms also, a little above the wrists; so, also,
were his feet naked, as were his legs, a little above the ankles. His head
and neck were also bare. I could discover that he had no other clothing on
but this robe, as it was open, so that I could see into his bosom.
"Not only was his robe exceedingly white, but his whole person was
glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning. The
room was exceedingly light, but not so very bright as immediately around
his person. When I first looked upon him, I was afraid; but the fear soon
left me.
"He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from
the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a
work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among
all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil
spoken of among all people.
"He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an
account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from
whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting
Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient
inhabitants;
"Also, that there were two stones in silver bows--and these stones,
fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and
Thummim--deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these
stones were what constituted Seers in ancient or former times; and that
God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book.
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* * * * * * *
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"Again, he told me, that when I got those plates of which he had spoken--
for the time that they should be obtained was not yet fulfilled--I should
not show them to any person; neither the breastplate with the Urim and
Thummim; only to those to whom I should be commanded to show them; if I did
I should be destroyed. While he was conversing with me about the plates,
the vision was opened to my mind that I could see the place where the
plates were deposited, and that so clearly and distinctly that I knew the
place again when I visited it.
"After this communication, I saw the light in the room begin to gather
immediately around the person of him who had been speaking to me, and it
continued to do so, until the room was again left dark, except just around
him, when instantly I saw, as it were, a conduit open right up into heaven,
and he ascended until he entirely disappeared, and the room was left as it
had been before this heavenly light had made its appearance.
"I lay musing on the singularity of the scene, and marveling greatly at
what had been told to me by this extraordinary messenger; when, in the
midst of my meditation, I suddenly discovered that my room was again
beginning to get lighted, and in an instant, as it were, the same heavenly
messenger was again by my bedside.
"He commenced, and again related the very same things which he had done
at his first visit, without the least variation; which having done, he
informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth, with great
desolations by famine, sword, and pestilence; and that these grievous
judgments would come on the earth in this generation. Having related these
things, he again ascended as he had done before.
"By this time, so deep were the impressions made on my mind, that sleep
had fled from my eyes, and I lay overwhelmed in astonishment at what I had
both seen and heard. But what was my surprise when again I beheld the same
messenger at my bedside, and heard him rehearse or repeat over again to me
the same things as before; and added a caution to me, telling me that Satan
would try to tempt me (in consequence of the indigent circumstances of my
father's family), to get the plates for the purpose of getting rich. This
he forbade me, saying that I must have no other object in view in getting
the plates but to glorify God, and must not be influenced by any other
motive than that of building His kingdom; otherwise I could not get them.
"After this third visit, he again ascended into heaven as before, and I
was again left to ponder on the strangeness of what I had just experienced;
when almost immediately after the heavenly messenger had ascended from me
the third time, the cock crowed, and I found that day was approaching, so
that our interviews must have occupied the whole of that night.
"I shortly after arose from my bed, and, as usual, went to the necessary
labors of the day; but, in attempting to work as at other times, I found my
strength so exhausted as to render me entirely unable. My father, who was
laboring along with me, discovered something to be wrong with me, and told
me to go home. I started with the intention of going to the house; but, in
attempting to cross the fence out of the field where we were, my strength
entirely failed me, and I fell helpless on the ground, and for a time was
quite unconscious of anything.
"The first thing that I can recollect was a voice speaking unto me,
calling me by name. I looked up, and beheld the same messenger standing
over my head, surrounded by light as before. He then again related unto me
all that he had related to me the previous night, and commanded me to go to
my father and tell him of the vision and commandments which I had received.
"I obeyed; I returned to my father in the field, and rehearsed the whole
matter to him. He replied to me that it was of God, and told me to go and
do as commanded by the messenger. I left the field, and went to the place
where the messenger had told me the plates were deposited; and owing to the
distinctness of the vision which I had had concerning it, I knew the place
the instant that I arrived there.
"Convenient to the village of Manchester, Ontario county, New York,
stands a hill of considerable size, and the most elevated of any in the
neighborhood. On the west side of this hill, not far from the top, under a
stone of considerable size, lay the plates, deposited in a stone box. This
stone was thick and rounding in the middle on the upper side, and thinner
towards the edges, so that the middle part of it was visible above the
ground, but the edge all around was covered with earth.
"Having removed the earth, I obtained a lever, which I got fixed under
the edge of the stone, and with a little exertion raised it up. I looked
in, and there indeed did I behold the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the
breastplate, as stated by the messenger. The box in which they lay was
formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom of
the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay
the plates and the other things with them.
"I made an attempt to take them out, but was forbidden by the messenger,
and was again informed that the time for bringing them forth had not yet
arrived, neither would it, until four years from that time; but he told me
that I should come to that place precisely in one year from that time, and
that he would there meet with me, and that I should continue to do so until
the time should come for obtaining the plates.
"Accordingly, as I had been commanded, I went at the end of each year,
and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction
and intelligence from him at each of our interviews, respecting what the
Lord was going to do, and how and in what manner His kingdom was to be
conducted in the last days.
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"At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and
Thummim, and the breastplate. On the twenty-second day of September, one
thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, having gone as usual at the end of
another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly
messenger delivered them up to me with this charge: That I should be
responsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through
any neglect of mine, I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my
endeavors to preserve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them,
they should be protected.
"I soon found out the reason why I received such strict charges to keep
them safe, and why it was that the messenger had said that when I had done
what was required at my hand, he would call for them. For no sooner was it
known that I had them, than the most strenuous exertions were used to get
them from me. Every stratagem that could be invented was resorted to for
that purpose. The persecution became more bitter and severe than before,
and multitudes were on the alert continually to get them from me if
possible. But by the wisdom of God, they remained safe in my hands, until
I had accomplished by them what was required at my hand. When, according
to arrangements, the messenger called for them, I delivered them up to him;
and he has them in his charge until this day, being the second day of May,
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight."
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For the complete record, see Joseph Smith--History, in the Pearl of
Great Price, and History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, volume 1, chapters 1 through 6.
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The ancient record, thus brought forth from the earth as the voice of a
people speaking from the dust, and translated into modern speech by the
gift and power of God as attested by Divine affirmation, was first
published to the world in the year 1830 as THE BOOK OF MORMON.
A BRIEF EXPLANATION ABOUT THE BOOK OF MORMON
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The Book of Mormon is a sacred record of peoples in ancient America, and
was engraved upon sheets of metal. Four kinds of metal record plates are
spoken of in the book itself:
1. The Plates of Nephi, which were of two kinds: the Small Plates and the
Large Plates. The former were more particularly devoted to the spiritual
matters and the ministry and teachings of the prophets, while the latter
were occupied mostly by a secular history of the peoples concerned (1 Nephi
9:2-4). From the time of Mosiah, however, the large plates also included
items of major spiritual importance.
2. The Plates of Mormon, which consist of an abridgment by Mormon from
the Large Plates of Nephi, with many commentaries. These plates also
contained a continuation of the history by Mormon and additions by his son
Moroni.
3. The Plates of Ether, which present a history of the Jaredites. This
record was abridged by Moroni, who inserted comments of his own and
incorporated the record with the general history under the title "Book of
Ether."
4. The Plates of Brass brought by the people of Lehi from Jerusalem in
600 B.C. These contained "the five books of Moses,...And also a record of
the Jews from the beginning,...down to the commencement of the reign of
Zedekiah, king of Judah; And also the prophecies of the holy prophets"
(Nephi 5:11-13). Many quotations from these plates, citing Isaiah and
other biblical and nonbiblical prophets, appear in the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon comprises fifteen main parts or divisions, known, with
one exception, as books, each designated by the name of its principal
author. The first portion (the first six books, ending with Omni) is a
translation from the Small Plates of Nephi. Between books of Omni and
Mosiah is an insert called The Words of Mormon. This insert connects the
record engraved on the Small Plates with Mormon's abridgment of the Large
Plates.
The longest portion, from Mosiah to Mormon, chapter 7, inclusive, is a
translation of Mormon's abridgment of the Large Plates of Nephi. The
concluding portion, from Mormon, chapter 8, to the end to the volume, was
engraved by Mormon's son Moroni, who, after finishing the record of his
father's life, made an abridgment of the Jaredite record (as the Book of
Ether) and later added the parts known as the Book of Moroni.
In or about the year A.D. 421, Moroni, the last of the Nephite prophet-
historians, sealed the sacred record and hid it up unto the Lord, to be
brought forth in the latter days, as predicted by the voice of God through
his ancient prophets. In A.D. 1823, this same Moroni, then a resurrected
personage, visited the Prophet Joseph Smith and subsequently delivered the
engraved plates to him.
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About this edition: Some minor errors in the text have been perpetuated
in past editions of the Book of Mormon. This edition contains corrections
that seem appropriate to bring the material into conformity with
prepublication manuscripts and early editions edited by the Prophet Joseph
Smith.
THE FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI
HIS REIGN AND MINISTRY
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An account of Lehi and his wife Sariah and his four sons, being called,
(beginning at the eldest) Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. The Lord warns
Lehi to depart out of the land of Jerusalem, because he prophesieth unto
the people concerning their iniquity and they seek to destroy his life. He
taketh three days' journey into the wilderness with his family. Nephi
taketh his brethren and returneth to the land of Jerusalem after the record
of the Jews. The account of their sufferings. They take the daughters of
Ishmael to wife. They take their families and depart into the wilderness.
Their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness. The course of their
travels. They come to the large waters. Nephi's brethren rebel against
him. He confoundeth them, and buildeth a ship. They call the name of the
place Bountiful. They cross the large waters into the promised land, and
so forth. This is according to the account of Nephi; or in other words, I,
Nephi, wrote this record.
CHAPTER 1
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1 NEPHI|1:1. I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I
was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many
afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly
favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of
the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my
proceedings in my days.
1 NEPHI|1:2. Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which
consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.
1 NEPHI|1:3. And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make
it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.
1 NEPHI|1:4. For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year
of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at
Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets,
prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city
Jerusalem must be destroyed.
1 NEPHI|1:5. Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went
forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his
people.
1 NEPHI|1:6. 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.
1 NEPHI|1:7. 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.
1 NEPHI|1:8. And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried
away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw
God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of
angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God.
1 NEPHI|1:9. And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of the
midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at
noon-day.
1 NEPHI|1:10. And he also saw twelve others following him, and their
brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament.
1 NEPHI|1:11. And they came down and went forth upon the face of the
earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a
book, and bade him that he should read.
1 NEPHI|1:12. And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled with
the Spirit of the Lord.
1 NEPHI|1:13. And he read, saying: Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have
seen thine abominations! Yea, and many things did my father read
concerning Jerusalem--that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants
thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away
captive into Babylon.
1 NEPHI|1:14. 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!
1 NEPHI|1:15. 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|1:16. And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things
which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw
in visions and in dreams; and he also hath written many things which he
prophesied and spake unto his children, of which I shall not make a full
account.
1 NEPHI|1:17. But I shall make an account of my proceedings in my days.
Behold, I make an abridgment of the record of my father, upon plates which
I have made with mine own hands; wherefore, after I have abridged the
record of my father then will I make an account of mine own life.
1 NEPHI|1:18. Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the
Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea,
concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the
people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the
things which he had both seen and heard.
1 NEPHI|1:19. And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of
the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their
wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which
he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested
plainly of the coming of the Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.
1 NEPHI|1:20. And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with
him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and
stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it
away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of
the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to
make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.
CHAPTER 2
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1 NEPHI|2:1. For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my
father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi,
because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been
faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee,
behold, they seek to take away thy life.
1 NEPHI|2:2. And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even
in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.
1 NEPHI|2:3. And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of
the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.
1 NEPHI|2:4. And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness.
And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and
his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it
were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the
wilderness.
1 NEPHI|2:5. And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red
Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the
Red Sea; and he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which
consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman,
Lemuel, and Sam.
1 NEPHI|2:6. And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in
the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of
water.
1 NEPHI|2:7. And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and
made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.
1 NEPHI|2:8. And it came to pass that he called the name of the river,
Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders
near the mouth thereof.
1 NEPHI|2:9. And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied
into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou
mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of
all righteousness!
1 NEPHI|2:10. And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be
like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the
commandments of the Lord!
1 NEPHI|2:11. Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman
and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father,
because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of
Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and
their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And
this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his
heart.
1 NEPHI|2:12. And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur
against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the
dealings of that God who had created them.
1 NEPHI|2:13. Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city,
could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were
like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life
of my father.
1 NEPHI|2:14. And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in
the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their
frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not
utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them.
1 NEPHI|2:15. And my father dwelt in a tent.
1 NEPHI|2:16. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly
young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires
to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and
behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the
words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel
against him like unto my brothers.
1 NEPHI|2:17. And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things
which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to
pass that he believed in my words.
1 NEPHI|2:18. But, behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my
words; and being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried
unto the Lord for them.
1 NEPHI|2:19. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying:
Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me
diligently, with lowliness of heart.
1 NEPHI|2:20. And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall
prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I
have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.
1 NEPHI|2:21. And inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee,
they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.
1 NEPHI|2:22. And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou
shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren.
1 NEPHI|2:23. For behold, in that day that they shall rebel against me,
I will curse them even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over
thy seed except they shall rebel against me also.
1 NEPHI|2:24. And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be
a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance.
CHAPTER 3
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1 NEPHI|3:1. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, returned from speaking
with the Lord, to the tent of my father.
1 NEPHI|3:2. And it came to pass that he spake unto me, saying: Behold
I have dreamed a dream, in the which the Lord hath commanded me that thou
and thy brethren shall return to Jerusalem.
1 NEPHI|3:3. For behold, Laban hath the record of the Jews and also a
genealogy of my forefathers, and they are engraven upon plates of brass.
1 NEPHI|3:4. Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me that thou and thy
brothers should go unto the house of Laban, and seek the records, and bring
them down hither into the wilderness.
1 NEPHI|3:5. And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard
thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of
them, but it is a commandment of the Lord.
1 NEPHI|3:6. Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the
Lord, because thou hast not murmured.
1 NEPHI|3:7. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I
will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that
the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall
prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he
commandeth them.
1 NEPHI|3:8. And it came to pass that when my father had heard these
words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the
Lord.
1 NEPHI|3:9. And I, Nephi, and my brethren took our journey in the
wilderness, with our tents, to go up to the land of Jerusalem.
1 NEPHI|3:10. And it came to pass that when we had gone up to the land
of Jerusalem, I and my brethren did consult one with another.
1 NEPHI|3:11. And we cast lots--who of us should go in unto the house of
Laban. And it came to pass that the lot fell upon Laman; and Laman went in
unto the house of Laban, and he talked with him as he sat in his house.
1 NEPHI|3:12. And he desired of Laban the records which were engraven
upon the plates of brass, which contained the genealogy of my father.
1 NEPHI|3:13. And behold, it came to pass that Laban was angry, and
thrust him out from his presence; and he would not that he should have the
records. Wherefore, he said unto him: Behold thou art a robber, and I will
slay thee.
1 NEPHI|3:14. But Laman fled out of his presence, and told the things
which Laban had done, unto us. And we began to be exceedingly sorrowful,
and my brethren were about to return unto my father in the wilderness.
1 NEPHI|3:15. But behold I said unto them that: As the Lord liveth, and
as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we
have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.
1 NEPHI|3:16. Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments
of the Lord; therefore let us go down to the land of our father's
inheritance, for behold he left gold and silver, and all manner of riches.
And all this he hath done because of the commandments of the Lord.
1 NEPHI|3:17. For he knew that Jerusalem must be destroyed, because of
the wickedness of the people.
1 NEPHI|3:18. For behold, they have rejected the words of the prophets.
Wherefore, if my father should dwell in the land after he hath been
commanded to flee out of the land, behold, he would also perish.
Wherefore, it must needs be that he flee out of the land.
1 NEPHI|3:19. And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain
these records, that we may preserve unto our children the language of our
fathers;
1 NEPHI|3:20. And also that we may preserve unto them the words which
have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been
delivered unto them by the Spirit and power of God, since the world began,
even down unto this present time.
1 NEPHI|3:21. And it came to pass that after this manner of language did
I persuade my brethren, that they might be faithful in keeping the
commandments of God.
1 NEPHI|3:22. And it came to pass that we went down to the land of our
inheritance, and we did gather together our gold, and our silver, and our
precious things.
1 NEPHI|3:23. And after we had gathered these things together, we went
up again unto the house of Laban.
1 NEPHI|3:24. And it came to pass that we went in unto Laban, and
desired him that he would give unto us the records which were engraven upon
the plates of brass, for which we would give unto him our gold, and our
silver, and all our precious things.
1 NEPHI|3:25. And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and
that it was exceedingly great, he did lust after it, insomuch that he
thrust us out, and sent his servants to slay us, that he might obtain our
property.
1 NEPHI|3:26. And it came to pass that we did flee before the servants
of Laban, and we were obliged to leave behind our property, and it fell
into the hands of Laban.
1 NEPHI|3:27. And it came to pass that we fled into the wilderness, and
the servants of Laban did not overtake us, and we hid ourselves in the
cavity of a rock.
1 NEPHI|3:28. And it came to pass that Laman was angry with me, and also
with my father; and also was Lemuel, for he hearkened unto the words
of Laman. Wherefore Laman and Lemuel did speak many hard words unto us,
their younger brothers, and they did smite us even with a rod.
1 NEPHI|3:29. And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold,
an angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto them,
saying: Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that
the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your
iniquities? Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will
deliver Laban into your hands.
1 NEPHI|3:30. And after the angel had spoken unto us, he departed.
1 NEPHI|3:31. And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again
began to murmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lord will deliver
Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command
fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?
CHAPTER 4
-
1 NEPHI|4:1. And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren, saying:
Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the
commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth,
then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens
of thousands?
1 NEPHI|4:2. Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like unto Moses;
for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither
and thither, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground,
and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the
Red Sea.
1 NEPHI|4:3. Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that
an angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt? Let us go up; the
Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even
as the Egyptians.
1 NEPHI|4:4. Now when I had spoken these words, they were yet wroth and
did still continue to murmur; nevertheless they did follow me up until we
came without the walls of Jerusalem.
1 NEPHI|4:5. And it was by night; and I caused that they should hide
themselves without the walls. And after they had hid themselves, I, Nephi,
crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Laban.
1 NEPHI|4:6. And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the
things which I should do.
1 NEPHI|4:7. Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the
house of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me,
for he was drunken with wine.
1 NEPHI|4:8. And when I came to him I found that it was Laban.
1 NEPHI|4:9. And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath
thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof
was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most
precious steel.
1 NEPHI|4:10. And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit
that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I
shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.
1 NEPHI|4:11. And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath
delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to
take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the
commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property.
1 NEPHI|4:12. And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again:
Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;
1 NEPHI|4:13. Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his
righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a
nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.
1 NEPHI|4:14. And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I
remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness,
saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall
prosper in the land of promise.
1 NEPHI|4:15. Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the
commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should
have the law.
1 NEPHI|4:16. And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates
of brass.
1 NEPHI|4:17. And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into
my hands for this cause--that I might obtain the records according to his
commandments.
1 NEPHI|4:18. Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took
Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword.
1 NEPHI|4:19. And after I had smitten off his head with his own sword,
I took the garments of Laban and put them upon mine own body; yea, even
every whit; and I did gird on his armor about my loins.
1 NEPHI|4:20. And after I had done this, I went forth unto the treasury
of Laban. And as I went forth towards the treasury of Laban, behold, I saw
the servant of Laban who had the keys of the treasury. And I commanded him
in the voice of Laban, that he should go with me into the treasury.
1 NEPHI|4:21. And he supposed me to be his master, Laban, for he beheld
the garments and also the sword girded about my loins.
1 NEPHI|4:22. And he spake unto me concerning the elders of the Jews, he
knowing that his master, Laban, had been out by night among them.
1 NEPHI|4:23. And I spake unto him as if it had been Laban.
1 NEPHI|4:24. And I also spake unto him that I should carry the
engravings, which were upon the plates of brass, to my elder brethren, who
were without the walls.
1 NEPHI|4:25. And I also bade him that he should follow me.
1 NEPHI|4:26. And he, supposing that I spake of the brethren of the
church, and that I was truly that Laban whom I had slain, wherefore he did
follow me.
1 NEPHI|4:27. And he spake unto me many times concerning the elders of
the Jews, as I went forth unto my brethren, who were without the walls.
1 NEPHI|4:28. And it came to pass that when Laman saw me he was
exceedingly frightened, and also Lemuel and Sam. And they fled from before
my presence; for they supposed it was Laban, and that he had slain me and
had sought to take away their lives also.
1 NEPHI|4:29. And it came to pass that I called after them, and they did
hear me; wherefore they did cease to flee from my presence.
1 NEPHI|4:30. And it came to pass that when the servant of Laban beheld
my brethren he began to tremble, and was about to flee from before me and
return to the city of Jerusalem.
1 NEPHI|4:31. And now I, Nephi, being a man large in stature, and also
having received much strength of the Lord, therefore I did seize upon the
servant of Laban, and held him, that he should not flee.
1 NEPHI|4:32. And it came to pass that I spake with him, that if he
would hearken unto my words, as the Lord liveth, and as I live, even so
that if he would hearken unto our words, we would spare his life.
1 NEPHI|4:33. And I spake unto him, even with an oath, that he need not
fear; that he should be a free man like unto us if he would go down in the
wilderness with us.
1 NEPHI|4:34. And I also spake unto him, saying: Surely the Lord hath
commanded us to do this thing; and shall we not be diligent in keeping the
commandments of the Lord? Therefore, if thou wilt go down into the
wilderness to my father thou shalt have place with us.
1 NEPHI|4:35. And it came to pass that Zoram did take courage at the
words which I spake. Now Zoram was the name of the servant; and he
promised that he would go down into the wilderness unto our father. Yea,
and he also made an oath unto us that he would tarry with us from that time
forth.
1 NEPHI|4:36. Now we were desirous that he should tarry with us for this
cause, that the Jews might not know concerning our flight into the
wilderness, lest they should pursue us and destroy us.
1 NEPHI|4:37. And it came to pass that when Zoram had made an oath unto
us, our fears did cease concerning him.
1 NEPHI|4:38. And it came to pass that we took the plates of brass and
the servant of Laban, and departed into the wilderness, and journeyed unto
the tent of our father.
CHAPTER 5
-
1 NEPHI|5:1. And it came to pass that after we had come down into the
wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my
mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of
us.
1 NEPHI|5:2. For she had supposed that we had perished in the
wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that
he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land
of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the
wilderness.
1 NEPHI|5:3. And after this manner of language had my mother complained
against my father.
1 NEPHI|5:4. And it had come to pass that my father spake unto her,
saying: I know that I am a visionary man; for if I had not seen the things
of God in a vision I should not have known the goodness of God, but had
tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren.
1 NEPHI|5:5. But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which
things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out
of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness.
1 NEPHI|5:6. And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi,
comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed in the
wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.
1 NEPHI|5:7. And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold
their joy was full, and my mother was comforted.
1 NEPHI|5:8. And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord
hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know
of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of
the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the
thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of
language did she speak.
1 NEPHI|5:9. And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and
did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks
unto the God of Israel.
1 NEPHI|5:10. And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my
father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of
brass, and he did search them from the beginning.
1 NEPHI|5:11. And he beheld that they did contain the five books of
Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world, and also of Adam
and Eve, who were our first parents;
1 NEPHI|5:12. And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even
down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah;
1 NEPHI|5:13. And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the
beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also
many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.
1 NEPHI|5:14. And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon
the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he
was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob,
who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord,
that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from
perishing with famine.
1 NEPHI|5:15. And they were also led out of captivity and out of the
land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.
1 NEPHI|5:16. And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of
his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and
his fathers had kept the records.
1 NEPHI|5:17. And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled
with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed--
1 NEPHI|5:18. That these plates of brass should go forth unto all
nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed.
1 NEPHI|5:19. Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never
perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied
many things concerning his seed.
1 NEPHI|5:20. And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept
the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us.
1 NEPHI|5:21. And we had obtained the records which the Lord had
commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea,
even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the
commandments of the Lord unto our children.
1 NEPHI|5:22. Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry
them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of
promise.
CHAPTER 6
-
1 NEPHI|6:1. And now I, Nephi, do not give the genealogy of my fathers
in this part of my record; neither at any time shall I give it after upon
these plates which I am writing; for it is given in the record which has
been kept by my father; wherefore, I do not write it in this work.
1 NEPHI|6:2. For it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of
Joseph.
1 NEPHI|6:3. And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a
full account of all the things of my father, for they cannot be written
upon these plates, for I desire the room that I may write of the things of
God.
1 NEPHI|6:4. For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men
to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob, and be saved.
1 NEPHI|6:5. Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I
do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who
are not of the world.
1 NEPHI|6:6. Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they
shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the
children of men.
CHAPTER 7
-
1 NEPHI|7:1. And now I would that ye might know, that after my father,
Lehi, had made an end of prophesying concerning his seed, it came to pass
that the Lord spake unto him again, saying that it was not meet for him,
Lehi, that he should take his family into the wilderness alone; but that
his sons should take daughters to wife, that they might raise up seed unto
the Lord in the land of promise.
1 NEPHI|7:2. And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that I,
Nephi, and my brethren, should again return unto the land of Jerusalem, and
bring down Ishmael and his family into the wilderness.
1 NEPHI|7:3. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did again, with my
brethren, go forth into the wilderness to go up to Jerusalem.
1 NEPHI|7:4. And it came to pass that we went up unto the house of
Ishmael, and we did gain favor in the sight of Ishmael, insomuch that we
did speak unto him the words of the Lord.
1 NEPHI|7:5. And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of
Ishmael, and also his household, insomuch that they took their journey with
us down into the wilderness to the tent of our father.
1 NEPHI|7:6. And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness,
behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two
sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us; yea, against me,
Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three
other daughters.
1 NEPHI|7:7. And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they were
desirous to return unto the land of Jerusalem.
1 NEPHI|7:8. And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their
hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Laman and unto
Lemuel: Behold ye are mine elder brethren, and how is it that ye are so
hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that ye have need that I,
your younger brother, should speak unto you, yea, and set an example for
you?
1 NEPHI|7:9. How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the
Lord?
1 NEPHI|7:10. How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an
angel of the Lord?
1 NEPHI|7:11. Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great
things the Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of
Laban, and also that we should obtain the record?
1 NEPHI|7:12. Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is
able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it
so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to
him.
1 NEPHI|7:13. And if it so be that we are faithful to him, we shall
obtain the land of promise; and ye shall know at some future period that
the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled concerning the destruction of
Jerusalem; for all things which the Lord hath spoken concerning the
destruction of Jerusalem must be fulfilled.
1 NEPHI|7:14. For behold, the Spirit of the Lord ceaseth soon to strive
with them; for behold, they have rejected the prophets, and Jeremiah have
they cast into prison. And they have sought to take away the life of my
father, insomuch that they have driven him out of the land.
1 NEPHI|7:15. Now behold, I say unto you that if ye will return unto
Jerusalem ye shall also perish with them. And now, if ye have choice, go
up to the land, and remember the words which I speak unto you, that if ye
go ye will also perish; for thus the Spirit of the Lord constraineth me
that I should speak.
1 NEPHI|7:16. And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these
words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that
they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth,
and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that
they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.
1 NEPHI|7:17. But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying:
O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from
the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these
bands with which I am bound.
1 NEPHI|7:18. And it came to pass that when I had said these words,
behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood
before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.
1 NEPHI|7:19. And it came to pass that they were angry with me again,
and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of the daughters of
Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, did
plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did soften their hearts; and
they did cease striving to take away my life.
1 NEPHI|7:20. And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of
their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before me, and did plead
with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against
me.
1 NEPHI|7:21. And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all
that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the
Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so. And
after they had done praying unto the Lord we did again travel on our
journey towards the tent of our father.
1 NEPHI|7:22. And it came to pass that we did come down unto the tent of
our father. And after I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had
come down unto the tent of my father, they did give thanks unto the Lord
their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him.
CHAPTER 8
-
1 NEPHI|8:1. And it came to pass that we had gathered together all
manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the
seeds of fruit of every kind.
1 NEPHI|8:2. And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the
wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in
other words, I have seen a vision.
1 NEPHI|8:3. And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have
reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of Sam; for I have
reason to suppose that they, and also many of their seed, will be saved.
1 NEPHI|8:4. But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of
you; for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.
1 NEPHI|8:5. And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in
a white robe; and he came and stood before me.
1 NEPHI|8:6. And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me
follow him.
1 NEPHI|8:7. And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself
that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
1 NEPHI|8:8. And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in
darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me,
according to the multitude of his tender mercies.
1 NEPHI|8:9. And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I
beheld a large and spacious field.
1 NEPHI|8:10. And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was
desirable to make one happy.
1 NEPHI|8:11. And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the
fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever
before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to
exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
1 NEPHI|8:12. And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul
with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my
family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above
all other fruit.
1 NEPHI|8:13. And as I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I might
discover my family also, I beheld a river of water; and it ran along, and
it was near the tree of which I was partaking the fruit.
1 NEPHI|8:14. And I looked to behold from whence it came; and I saw the
head thereof a little way off; and at the head thereof I beheld your mother
Sariah, and Sam, and Nephi; and they stood as if they knew not whither they
should go.
1 NEPHI|8:15. And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also
did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and
partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit.
1 NEPHI|8:16. And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake
of the fruit also.
1 NEPHI|8:17. And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and
Lemuel should come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine
eyes towards the head of the river, that perhaps I might see them.
1 NEPHI|8:18. And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not
come unto me and partake of the fruit.
1 NEPHI|8:19. And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank
of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
1 NEPHI|8:20. And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came
along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also
led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it
had been a world.
1 NEPHI|8:21. And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom
were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the
tree by which I stood.
1 NEPHI|8:22. And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence
in the path which led to the tree.
1 NEPHI|8:23. And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness;
yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had
commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were
lost.
1 NEPHI|8:24. And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward,
and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they
did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of
iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.
1 NEPHI|8:25. And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they
did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
1 NEPHI|8:26. And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the
other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it
stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.
1 NEPHI|8:27. And it was filled with people, both old and young, both
male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they
were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those
who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
1 NEPHI|8:28. And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed,
because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into
forbidden paths and were lost.
1 NEPHI|8:29. And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.
1 NEPHI|8:30. But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other
multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of
the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding
fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of
the fruit of the tree.
1 NEPHI|8:31. And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards
that great and spacious building.
1 NEPHI|8:32. And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths
of the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange
roads.
1 NEPHI|8:33. And great was the multitude that did enter into that
strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did
point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit
also; but we heeded them not.
1 NEPHI|8:34. These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded
them, had fallen away.
1 NEPHI|8:35. And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my
father.
1 NEPHI|8:36. And it came to pass after my father had spoken all the
words of his dream or vision, which were many, he said unto us, because of
these things which he saw in a vision, he exceedingly feared for Laman and
Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be cast off from the presence of
the Lord.
1 NEPHI|8:37. And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a
tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the Lord
would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my father did preach
unto them.
1 NEPHI|8:38. And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied
unto them of many things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the
Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them.
CHAPTER 9
-
1 NEPHI|9:1. And all these things did my father see, and hear, and
speak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel, and also a great
many more things, which cannot be written upon these plates.
1 NEPHI|9:2. And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold
they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of
my people; for the plates upon which I make a full account of my people I
have given the name of Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates of
Nephi, after mine own name; and these plates also are called the plates of
Nephi.
1 NEPHI|9:3. Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord
that I should make these plates, for the special purpose that there should
be an account engraven of the ministry of my people.
1 NEPHI|9:4. Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the
reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people; wherefore
these plates are for the more part of the ministry; and the other plates
are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and
contentions of my people.
1 NEPHI|9:5. Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates
for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.
1 NEPHI|9:6. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning;
wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the
children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all
his words. And thus it is. Amen.
CHAPTER 10
-
1 NEPHI|10:1. And now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon these
plates of my proceedings, and my reign and ministry; wherefore, to proceed
with mine account, I must speak somewhat of the things of my father, and
also of my brethren.
1 NEPHI|10:2. For behold, it came to pass after my father had made an
end of speaking the words of his dream, and also of exhorting them to all
diligence, he spake unto them concerning the Jews--
1 NEPHI|10:3. That after they should be destroyed, even that great city
Jerusalem, and many be carried away captive into Babylon, according to the
own due time of the Lord, they should return again, yea, even be brought
back out of captivity; and after they should be brought back out of
captivity they should possess again the land of their inheritance.
1 NEPHI|10:4. Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father
left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews--even
a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.
1 NEPHI|10:5. And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a
number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he
had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world.
1 NEPHI|10:6. Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen
state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.
1 NEPHI|10:7. And he spake also concerning a prophet who should come
before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord--
1 NEPHI|10:8. Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness:
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there
standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose
shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father
concerning this thing.
1 NEPHI|10:9. And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, beyond
Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even that he should
baptize the Messiah with water.
1 NEPHI|10:10. And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he
should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who
should take away the sins of the world.
1 NEPHI|10:11. And it came to pass after my father had spoken these
words he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be
preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in
unbelief. And after they had slain the Messiah, who should come, and after
he had been slain he should rise from the dead, and should make himself
manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.
1 NEPHI|10:12. Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles,
and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like
unto an olive-tree, whose branches should be broken off and should be
scattered upon all the face of the earth.
1 NEPHI|10:13. Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led
with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word
of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.
1 NEPHI|10:14. And after the house of Israel should be scattered they
should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had
received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive-tree,
or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to
the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.
1 NEPHI|10:15. And after this manner of language did my father prophesy
and speak unto my brethren, and also many more things which I do not write
in this book; for I have written as many of them as were expedient for me
in mine other book.
1 NEPHI|10:16. And all these things, of which I have spoken, were done
as my father dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel.
1 NEPHI|10:17. And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the
words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and
also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power
he received by faith on the Son of God--and the Son of God was the Messiah
who should come--I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear,
and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift
of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as
in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.
1 NEPHI|10:18. For he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; and
the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so
be that they repent and come unto him.
1 NEPHI|10:19. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the
mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy
Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of
old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal
round.
1 NEPHI|10:20. Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt
be brought into judgment.
1 NEPHI|10:21. Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days
of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of
God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast
off forever.
1 NEPHI|10:22. And the Holy Ghost giveth authority that I should speak
these things, and deny them not.
CHAPTER 11
-
1 NEPHI|11:1. For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things
that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them
known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the
Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never
had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.
1 NEPHI|11:2. And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?
1 NEPHI|11:3. And I said: I desire to behold the things which my father
saw.
1 NEPHI|11:4. And the Spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy
father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?
1 NEPHI|11:5. And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words
of my father.
1 NEPHI|11:6. And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with
a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God
over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi,
because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou
shalt behold the things which thou hast desired.
1 NEPHI|11:7. And behold this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign,
that after thou hast beheld the tree which bore the fruit which thy father
tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of heaven, and him
shall ye witness; and after ye have witnessed him ye shall bear record that
it is the Son of God.
1 NEPHI|11:8. And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me: Look!
And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my
father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of
all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the
driven snow.
1 NEPHI|11:9. And it came to pass after I had seen the tree, I said unto
the Spirit: I behold thou hast shown unto me the tree which is precious
above all.
1 NEPHI|11:10. And he said unto me: What desirest thou?
1 NEPHI|11:11. And I said unto him: To know the interpretation thereof--
for I spake unto him as a man speaketh; for I beheld that he was in the
form of a man; yet nevertheless, I knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord;
and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another.
1 NEPHI|11:12. And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look! And I
looked as if to look upon him, and I saw him not; for he had gone from
before my presence.
1 NEPHI|11:13. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great
city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of
Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was
exceedingly fair and white.
1 NEPHI|11:14. And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an
angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what
beholdest thou?
1 NEPHI|11:15. And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair
above all other virgins.
1 NEPHI|11:16. And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of
God?
ST NEPHI|11:17. And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children;
nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
1 NEPHI|11:18. And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest
is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.
1 NEPHI|11:19. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried
away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for
the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
1 NEPHI|11:20. And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child
in her arms.
1 NEPHI|11:21. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea,
even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree
which thy father saw?
1 NEPHI|11:22. And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God,
which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men;
wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
1 NEPHI|11:23. And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to
the soul.
1 NEPHI|11:24. And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look!
And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of
men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.
1 NEPHI|11:25. And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron,
which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain
of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation
of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a
representation of the love of God.
1 NEPHI|11:26. And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the
condescension of God!
1 NEPHI|11:27. And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of
whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare
the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of
him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy
Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove.
1 NEPHI|11:28. And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the
people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together
to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them.
1 NEPHI|11:29. And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it
came to pass that they were carried away in the Spirit from before my face,
and I saw them not.
1 NEPHI|11:30. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again,
saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw
angels descending upon the children of men; and they did minister unto
them.
1 NEPHI|11:31. And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked,
and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I
beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all
manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel
spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the
power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast
out.
1 NEPHI|11:32. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again,
saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by
the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world;
and I saw and bear record.
1 NEPHI|11:33. And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross
and slain for the sins of the world.
1 NEPHI|11:34. And after he was slain I saw the multitudes of the earth,
that they were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Lamb;
for thus were the twelve called by the angel of the Lord.
1 NEPHI|11:35. And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and
I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the
building which my father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me
again, saying: Behold the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the
house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles
of the Lamb.
1 NEPHI|11:36. And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the
great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and
the fall thereof was exceedingly great. And the angel of the Lord spake
unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations,
kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles
of the Lamb.
CHAPTER 12
-
1 NEPHI|12:1. And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Look, and
behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren. And I looked and
beheld the land of promise; and I beheld multitudes of people, yea, even as
it were in number as many as the sand of the sea.
1 NEPHI|12:2. And it came to pass that I beheld multitudes gathered
together to battle, one against the other; and I beheld wars, and rumors of
wars, and great slaughters with the sword among my people.
1 NEPHI|12:3. And it came to pass that I beheld many generations pass
away, after the manner of wars and contentions in the land; and I beheld
many cities, yea, even that I did not number them.
1 NEPHI|12:4. And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the
face of the land of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings,
and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth
and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces;
and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up; and I saw many
cities that they were sunk; and I saw many that they were burned with fire;
and I saw many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking
thereof.
1 NEPHI|12:5. And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the
vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth; and
behold, I saw multitudes who had not fallen because of the great and
terrible judgments of the Lord.
1 NEPHI|12:6. And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending
out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them.
1 NEPHI|12:7. And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost fell
upon twelve others; and they were ordained of God, and chosen.
1 NEPHI|12:8. And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve
disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed.
1 NEPHI|12:9. And he said unto me: Thou rememberest the twelve apostles
of the Lamb? Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of
Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of
them; for ye are of the house of Israel.
1 NEPHI|12:10. And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall
judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of
their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood.
1 NEPHI|12:11. And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and
beheld three generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments
were white even like unto the Lamb of God. And the angel said unto me:
These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in
him.
1 NEPHI|12:12. And I, Nephi, also saw many of the fourth generation who
passed away in righteousness.
1 NEPHI|12:13. And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the
earth gathered together.
1 NEPHI|12:14. And the angel said unto me: Behold thy seed, and also the
seed of thy brethren.
1 NEPHI|12:15. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the people
of my seed gathered together in multitudes against the seed of my brethren;
and they were gathered together to battle.
1 NEPHI|12:16. And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the fountain
of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he
spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell.
1 NEPHI|12:17. And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the
devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of
men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost.
1 NEPHI|12:18. And the large and spacious building, which thy father
saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a
great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice
of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the
Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time,
and from this time henceforth and forever.
1 NEPHI|12:19. And while the angel spake these words, I beheld and saw
that the seed of my brethren did contend against my seed, according to the
word of the angel; and because of the pride of my seed, and the temptations
of the devil, I beheld that the seed of my brethren did overpower the
people of my seed.
1 NEPHI|12:20. And it came to pass that I beheld, and saw the people of
the seed of my brethren that they had overcome my seed; and they went forth
in multitudes upon the face of the land.
1 NEPHI|12:21. And I saw them gathered together in multitudes; and I saw
wars and rumors of wars among them; and in wars and rumors of wars I saw
many generations pass away.
1 NEPHI|12:22. And the angel said unto me: Behold these shall dwindle in
unbelief.
1 NEPHI|12:23. And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had
dwindled in unbelief they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy
people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.
CHAPTER 13
-
1 NEPHI|13:1. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying:
Look! And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.
1 NEPHI|13:2. And the angel said unto me: What beholdest thou? And I
said: I behold many nations and kingdoms.
1 NEPHI|13:3. And he said unto me: These are the nations and kingdoms of
the Gentiles.
1 NEPHI|13:4. And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the
Gentiles the formation of a great church.
1 NEPHI|13:5. And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a
church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the
saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh
them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.
1 NEPHI|13:6. And it came to pass that I beheld this great and
abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it.
1 NEPHI|13:7. And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets,
and fine-twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many
harlots.
1 NEPHI|13:8. And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the gold, and
the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and
the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and
abominable church.
1 NEPHI|13:9. And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the
saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.
1 NEPHI|13:10. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld many waters;
and they divided the Gentiles from the seed of my brethren.
1 NEPHI|13:11. And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Behold
the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren.
1 NEPHI|13:12. And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was
separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the
Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went
forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in
the promised land.
1 NEPHI|13:13. And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that
it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon
the many waters.
1 NEPHI|13:14. And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the
Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it
was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the
Gentiles and were smitten.
1 NEPHI|13:15. And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the
Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance;
and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like
unto my people before they were slain.
1 NEPHI|13:16. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the
Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before
the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.
1 NEPHI|13:17. And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered
together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.
1 NEPHI|13:18. And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and
also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together
against them to battle.
1 NEPHI|13:19. And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out
of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all
other nations.
1 NEPHI|13:20. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they did
prosper in the land; and I beheld a book, and it was carried forth among
them.
1 NEPHI|13:21. And the angel said unto me: Knowest thou the meaning of
the book?
1 NEPHI|13:22. And I said unto him: I know not.
1 NEPHI|13:23. And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a
Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou
beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the
Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth
many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto
the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so
many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath
made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the
Gentiles.
1 NEPHI|13:24. And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld
that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it
proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the
gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear
record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God.
1 NEPHI|13:25. Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity
unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God.
1 NEPHI|13:26. And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the
formation of a great and abominable church, which is most abominable above
all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the
Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants
of the Lord have they taken away.
1 NEPHI|13:27. And all this have they done that they might pervert the
right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the
hearts of the children of men.
1 NEPHI|13:28. Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth
through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many
plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of
the Lamb of God.
1 NEPHI|13:29. And after these plain and precious things were taken away
it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth
forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many
waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of
captivity, thou seest--because of the many plain and precious things which
have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of
the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of
God--because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the
Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath
great power over them.
1 NEPHI|13:30. Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have
gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God
above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above
all other lands, which is the land that the Lord God hath covenanted with
thy father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance;
wherefore, thou seest that the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles
will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren.
1 NEPHI|13:31. Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy
the seed of thy brethren.
1 NEPHI|13:32. Neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall
forever remain in that awful state of blindness, which thou beholdest they
are in, because of the plain and most precious parts of the gospel of the
Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, whose formation
thou hast seen.
1 NEPHI|13:33. Wherefore saith the Lamb of God: I will be merciful unto
the Gentiles, unto the visiting of the remnant of the house of Israel in
great judgment.
1 NEPHI|13:34. And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spake unto
me, saying: Behold, saith the Lamb of God, after I have visited the remnant
of the house of Israel--and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy
father--wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment, and smitten them
by the hand of the Gentiles, and after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly,
because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb
which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of
harlots, saith the Lamb--I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day,
insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my
gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb.
1 NEPHI|13:35. For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto
thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto
them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be
destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren,
behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by
the gift and power of the Lamb.
1 NEPHI|13:36. And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb,
and my rock and my salvation.
1 NEPHI|13:37. And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my
Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy
Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last
day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso
shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the
mountains shall they be.
1 NEPHI|13:38. And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed
of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded
forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles unto
the remnant of the seed of my brethren.
1 NEPHI|13:39. And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other
books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto
them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my
brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the
earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the
Lamb are true.
1 NEPHI|13:40. And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records,
which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the
first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known
the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and
shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God
is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all
men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.
1 NEPHI|13:41. And they must come according to the words which shall be
established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be
made known in the records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in
one; for there is one God and one Shepherd over all the earth.
1 NEPHI|13:42. And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto
all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he
has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he
shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the
last shall be first, and the first shall be last.
CHAPTER 14
-
1 NEPHI|14:1. And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall
hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself
unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of
their stumbling blocks--
1 NEPHI|14:2. And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they
shall be numbered among the seed of thy father; yea, they shall be numbered
among the house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the
promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity;
and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded.
1 NEPHI|14:3. And that great pit, which hath been digged for them by
that great and abominable church, which was founded by the devil and his
children, that he might lead away the souls of men down to hell--yea, that
great pit which hath been digged for the destruction of men shall be filled
by those who digged it, unto their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of
God; not the destruction of the soul, save it be the casting of it into
that hell which hath no end.
1 NEPHI|14:4. For behold, this is according to the captivity of the
devil, and also according to the justice of God, upon all those who will
work wickedness and abomination before him.
1 NEPHI|14:5. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, Nephi,
saying: Thou hast beheld that if the Gentiles repent it shall be well with
them; and thou also knowest concerning the covenants of the Lord unto the
house of Israel; and thou also hast heard that whoso repenteth not must
perish.
1 NEPHI|14:6. Therefore, wo be unto the Gentiles if it so be that they
harden their hearts against the Lamb of God.
1 NEPHI|14:7. For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will
work a great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a work which
shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other--either to the
convincing of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of
them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto
their being brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both
temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of
which I have spoken.
1 NEPHI|14:8. And it came to pass that when the angel had spoken these
words, he said unto me: Rememberest thou the covenants of the Father unto
the house of Israel? I said unto him, Yea.
1 NEPHI|14:9. And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look, and behold
that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations,
whose founder is the devil.
1 NEPHI|14:10. And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches
only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church
of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of
God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations;
and she is the whore of all the earth.
1 NEPHI|14:11. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of
all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all
the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.
1 NEPHI|14:12. And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb
of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and
abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld
that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all
the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were
small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.
1 NEPHI|14:13. And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother
of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the
earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of
God.
1 NEPHI|14:14. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of
the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the
Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all
the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the
power of God in great glory.
1 NEPHI|14:15. And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God
was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there
were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the
earth.
1 NEPHI|14:16. And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among
all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel
spake unto me, saying: Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of
harlots; and behold, thou seest all these things--
1 NEPHI|14:17. And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured
out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of
all the earth, whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of
the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his
covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel.
1 NEPHI|14:18. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying:
Look!
1 NEPHI|14:19. And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a
white robe.
1 NEPHI|14:20. And the angel said unto me: Behold one of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb.
1 NEPHI|14:21. Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these
things; yea, and also many things which have been.
1 NEPHI|14:22. And he shall also write concerning the end of the world.
1 NEPHI|14:23. Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just and
true; and behold they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding
out of the mouth of the Jew; and at the time they proceeded out of the
mouth of the Jew, or, at the time the book proceeded out of the mouth of
the Jew, the things which were written were plain and pure, and most
precious and easy to the understanding of all men.
1 NEPHI|14:24. And behold, the things which this apostle of the Lamb
shall write are many things which thou hast seen; and behold, the remainder
shalt thou see.
1 NEPHI|14:25. But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt
not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God
that he should write them.
1 NEPHI|14:26. And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all
things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in
their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due
time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel.
1 NEPHI|14:27. And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the
apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel.
1 NEPHI|14:28. And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write
the remainder of the things which I saw and heard; wherefore the things
which I have written sufficeth me; and I have written but a small part of
the things which I saw.
1 NEPHI|14:29. And I bear record that I saw the things which my father
saw, and the angel of the Lord did make them known unto me.
1 NEPHI|14:30. And now I make an end of speaking concerning the things
which I saw while I was carried away in the spirit; and if all the things
which I saw are not written, the things which I have written are true. And
thus it is. Amen.
CHAPTER 15
-
1 NEPHI|15:1. And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been carried
away in the spirit, and seen all these things, I returned to the tent of my
father.
1 NEPHI|15:2. And it came to pass that I beheld my brethren, and they
were disputing one with another concerning the things which my father had
spoken unto them.
1 NEPHI|15:3. For he truly spake many great things unto them, which were
hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord; and they
being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto the Lord as
they ought.
1 NEPHI|15:4. And now I, Nephi, was grieved because of the hardness of
their hearts, and also, because of the things which I had seen, and knew
they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great wickedness of the
children of men.
1 NEPHI|15:5. And it came to pass that I was overcome because of my
afflictions, for I considered that mine afflictions were great above all,
because of the destruction of my people, for I had beheld their fall.
1 NEPHI|15:6. And it came to pass that after I had received strength
I spake unto my brethren, desiring to know of them the cause of their
disputations.
1 NEPHI|15:7. And they said: Behold, we cannot understand the words
which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive-
tree, and also concerning the Gentiles.
1 NEPHI|15:8. And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?
1 NEPHI|15:9. And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no
such thing known unto us.
1 NEPHI|15:10. Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep
the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of
the hardness of your hearts?
1 NEPHI|15:11. Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?--
If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye
shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these
things shall be made known unto you.
1 NEPHI|15:12. Behold, I say unto you, that the house of Israel was
compared unto an olive-tree, by the Spirit of the Lord which was in our
father; and behold are we not broken off from the house of Israel, and are
we not a branch of the house of Israel?
1 NEPHI|15:13. And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning
the grafting in of the natural branches through the fulness of the
Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in
unbelief, yea, for the space of many years, and many generations after the
Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall
the fulness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from
the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed--
1 NEPHI|15:14. And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that
they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the covenant people of
the Lord; and then shall they know and come to the knowledge of their
forefathers, and also to the knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer,
which was ministered unto their fathers by him; wherefore, they shall come
to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine,
that they may know how to come unto him and be saved.
1 NEPHI|15:15. And then at that day will they not rejoice and give
praise unto their everlasting God, their rock and their salvation? Yea, at
that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true
vine? Yea, will they not come unto the true fold of God?
1 NEPHI|15:16. Behold, I say unto you, Yea; they shall be remembered
again among the house of Israel; they shall be grafted in, being a natural
branch of the olive-tree, into the true olive-tree.
1 NEPHI|15:17. And this is what our father meaneth; and he meaneth that
it will not come to pass until after they are scattered by the Gentiles;
and he meaneth that it shall come by way of the Gentiles, that the Lord may
show his power unto the Gentiles, for the very cause that he shall be
rejected of the Jews, or of the house of Israel.
1 NEPHI|15:18. Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone,
but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should
be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant the Lord made to our father
Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be
blessed.
1 NEPHI|15:19. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake much unto them
concerning these things; yea, I spake unto them concerning the restoration
of the Jews in the latter days.
1 NEPHI|15:20. And I did rehearse unto them the words of Isaiah, who
spake concerning the restoration of the Jews, or of the house of Israel;
and after they were restored they should no more be confounded, neither
should they be scattered again. And it came to pass that I did speak many
words unto my brethren, that they were pacified and did humble themselves
before the Lord.
1 NEPHI|15:21. And it came to pass that they did speak unto me again,
saying: What meaneth this thing which our father saw in a dream? What
meaneth the tree which he saw?
1 NEPHI|15:22. And I said unto them: it was a representation of the tree
of life.
1 NEPHI|15:23. And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which
our father saw, that led to the tree?
1 NEPHI|15:24. And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and
whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they
would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of
the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to
destruction.
1 NEPHI|15:25. Wherefore, I, Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto
the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my
soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed
to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all
things.
1 NEPHI|15:26. And they said unto me: What meaneth the river of water
which our father saw?
1 NEPHI|15:27. And I said unto them that the water which my father saw
was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that
he beheld not the filthiness of the water.
1 NEPHI|15:28. And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which
separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of
God.
1 NEPHI|15:29. And I said unto them that it was a representation of that
awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked.
1 NEPHI|15:30. And I said unto them that our father also saw that the
justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the
brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which
ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end.
1 NEPHI|15:31. And they said unto me: Doth this thing mean the torment
of the body in the days of probation, or doth it mean the final state of
the soul after the death of the temporal body, or doth it speak of the
things which are temporal?
1 NEPHI|15:32. And it came to pass that I said unto them that it was a
representation of things both temporal and spiritual; for the day should
come that they must be judged of their works, yea, even the works which
were done by the temporal body in their days of probation.
1 NEPHI|15:33. Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they
must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are
pertaining to righteousness; wherefore, they must be brought to stand
before God, to be judged of their works; and if their works have been
filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs
be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God
must be filthy also.
1 NEPHI|15:34. But behold, I say unto you, the kingdom of God is not
filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God;
wherefore there must needs be a place of filthiness prepared for that which
is filthy.
1 NEPHI|15:35. And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful hell
of which I have spoken, and the devil is the preparator of it; wherefore
the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or
to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken.
1 NEPHI|15:36. Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous,
and also from that tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most
desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the
gifts of God. And thus I spake unto my brethren. Amen.
CHAPTER 16
-
1 NEPHI|16:1. And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an
end of speaking to my brethren, behold they said unto me: Thou hast
declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear.
1 NEPHI|16:2. And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that
I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and
the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up
at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it
cutteth them to the very center.
1 NEPHI|16:3. And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing
to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk
uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and
say: Thou speakest hard things against us.
1 NEPHI|16:4. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did exhort my brethren,
with all diligence, to keep the commandments of the Lord.
1 NEPHI|16:5. And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before
the Lord; insomuch that I had joy and great hopes of them, that they would
walk in the paths of righteousness.
1 NEPHI|16:6. Now, all these things were said and done as my father
dwelt in a tent in the valley which he called Lemuel.
1 NEPHI|16:7. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, took one of the
daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also, my brethren took of the daughters
of Ishmael to wife; and also Zoram took the eldest daughter of Ishmael to
wife.
1 NEPHI|16:8. And thus my father had fulfilled all the commandments of
the Lord which had been given unto him. And also, I, Nephi, had been
blessed of the Lord exceedingly.
1 NEPHI|16:9. And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord spake unto
my father by night, and commanded him that on the morrow he should take his
journey into the wilderness.
1 NEPHI|16:10. And it came to pass that as my father arose in the
morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he
beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of
fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the
way whither we should go into the wilderness.
1 NEPHI|16:11. And it came to pass that we did gather together
whatsoever things we should carry into the wilderness, and all the
remainder of our provisions which the Lord had given unto us; and we did
take seed of every kind that we might carry into the wilderness.
1 NEPHI|16:12. And it came to pass that we did take our tents and depart
into the wilderness, across the river Laman.
1 NEPHI|16:13. And it came to pass that we traveled for the space of
four days, nearly a south-southeast direction, and we did pitch our tents
again; and we did call the name of the place Shazer.
1 NEPHI|16:14. And it came to pass that we did take our bows and our
arrows, and go forth into the wilderness to slay food for our families; and
after we had slain food for our families we did return again to our
families in the wilderness, to the place of Shazer. And we did go forth
again in the wilderness, following the same direction, keeping in the most
fertile parts of the wilderness, which were in the borders near the Red
Sea.
1 NEPHI|16:15. And it came to pass that we did travel for the space of
many days, slaying food by the way, with our bows and our arrows and our
stones and our slings.
1 NEPHI|16:16. And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led
us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.
1 NEPHI|16:17. And after we had traveled for the space of many days, we
did pitch our tents for the space of a time, that we might again rest
ourselves and obtain food for our families.
1 NEPHI|16:18. And it came to pass that as I, Nephi, went forth to slay
food, behold, I did break my bow, which was made of fine steel; and after
I did break my bow, behold, my brethren were angry with me because of the
loss of my bow, for we did obtain no food.
1 NEPHI|16:19. And it came to pass that we did return without food to
our families, and being much fatigued, because of their journeying, they
did suffer much for the want of food.
1 NEPHI|16:20. And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel and the sons of
Ishmael did begin to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and
afflictions in the wilderness; and also my father began to murmur against
the Lord his God; yea, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that
they did murmur against the Lord.
1 NEPHI|16:21. Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, having been afflicted
with my brethren because of the loss of my bow, and their bows having lost
their springs, it began to be exceedingly difficult, yea, insomuch that we
could obtain no food.
1 NEPHI|16:22. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did speak much unto my
brethren, because they had hardened their hearts again, even unto
complaining against the Lord their God.
1 NEPHI|16:23. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make out of wood
a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore, I did arm myself
with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones. And I said unto my
father: Whither shall I go to obtain food?
1 NEPHI|16:24. And it came to pass that he did inquire of the Lord, for
they had humbled themselves because of my words; for I did say many things
unto them in the energy of my soul.
1 NEPHI|16:25. And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto
my father; and he was truly chastened because of his murmuring against the
Lord, insomuch that he was brought down into the depths of sorrow.
1 NEPHI|16:26. And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said unto
him: Look upon the ball, and behold the things which are written.
1 NEPHI|16:27. And it came to pass that when my father beheld the things
which were written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble exceedingly, and
also my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our wives.
1 NEPHI|16:28. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers
which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith |
