Key: normal styled text is text which matches, strikeout text is text in the 1830 edition but missing from the 1981 edition and bold text is text added to the 1981 edition.
1:1I, 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;.1:2yeaYea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.1:3And I know that the record which I make, to be is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.
1:4For 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.
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1:5Wherefore 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.
1:6And 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.
1:7And 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 Spirit and the things which he had seen;.1:8andAnd being thus overcome with the spirit Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the Heavens 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.
1:9And it came to pass that he saw one One descending out of the midst of Heaven heaven, and he beheld that his lustre luster was above that of the sun at noon-day;.1:10andAnd he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament;.1:11andAnd 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 book, and bade him that he should read.
1:12And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled with the spirit Spirit of the Lord,.1:13andAnd he read, saying,: Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem!, for I have seen thine abominations; yea! Yea, and many things did my father read concerning Jerusalem -- that-that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof,; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon.
1:14And it came to pass that when my father had read and saw seen many great and marvellous marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as,: Great and marvellous marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the Heavens heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy is 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!1:15And 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 shewn shown unto him.1:16And 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
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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;.1:17butBut I will 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 that I have abridged the record of my father, then will I make an account of mine own life.
1:18Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shewn shown so many marvellous 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.
1:19And 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 book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.
1:20And 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 shew show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord is are over all them those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.
2:1For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and sayeth 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.
2:2And 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.2:3And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.
2:4And 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 he departed into the wilderness;.2:5andAnd he came down by the
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borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he travelled traveled in the wilderness, in the borders, which was 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, which who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.
2:6And it came to pass that when he had travelled traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley beside by the side of a river of water.2:7And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and he made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.2:8And 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.2:9And 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.!2:10And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm, and steadfast, and immoveable immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord.!2:11Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold; they did murmur in many things against their father, because that he was a visionary man, and that he 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, and to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart.2:12And 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.2:13Neither 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, which who were at Jerusalem, which who sought to take away the life of my father.
2:14And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the spirit Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did do as he commanded them.2:15And my father dwelt in a tent.
2:16And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceeding 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
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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.2:17And 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;.2:18butBut, behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my words: And; and being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, I cried unto the Lord for them.
2:19And 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.2:20And 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.2:21And inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.2:22And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren.2:23For 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.2:24And 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.
3:1And it came to pass that I, Nephi, returned from speaking with the Lord, to the tent of my father.3:2And 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.3:3For behold, Laban hath the record of the Jews, and also a genealogy of my forefathers, and they are engraven upon the plates of brass.3:4Wherefore, 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.3:5And now, behold, thy brothers murmur, saying: It 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.3:6Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured.
3:7And 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
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children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
3:8And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words, he was exceeding exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord.3:9And I, Nephi, and my brethren, took our journey in the wilderness, with our tents, to go up to the land of Jerusalem.
3:10And it came to pass that when we had come gone up to the land of Jerusalem, I and my brethren did consult one with another;.3:11andAnd we cast lots, which--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.3:12And he desired of Laban the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, which contained the genealogy of my father.
3:13And 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: Behold thou art a robber, and I will slay thee.3:14But Laman fled out of his presence, and told the things which Laban had done, unto us. And we began to be exceeding exceedingly sorrowful, and my brethren were about to return unto my father in the wilderness.3:15But behold I said unto them, that as: 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.3:16Wherefore, 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:.3:17forFor he knowing knew that Jerusalem must be destroyed, because of the wickedness of the people.
3:18For behold, they have rejected the words of the prophets. -- Wherefore, if my father should dwell in the land after that 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.3:19And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records, that we might may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers;3:20andAnd 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 Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down unto this present time.
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3:21And 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.3:22And 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.3:23And after that we had gathered these things together, we went up again unto the house of Laban.
3:24And 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.
3:25And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and that it was exceeding 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.3:26And 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.
3:27And 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.3:28And 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.
3:29And 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 thou shalt ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands.3:30And after that the angel had spoken unto us, he departed.3:31And after that the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur, saying, how: 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?
4:1And 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.?4:2Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like unto Moses: For; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea, and they divided
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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.4:3Now 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.
4:4Now when I had spoken these words, they were yet wroth, and did still continue to murmur; Nevertheless nevertheless they did follow me up until we came without the walls of Jerusalem.4:5And it was by night; and I caused that they should hide themselves without the walls. And after that they had hid themselves, I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Laban.4:6And I was led by the spirit Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.4:7Nevertheless 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.4:8And when I came to him, I found that it was Laban.4:9And 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 exceeding exceedingly fine;, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.
4:10And it came to pass that I was constrained by the spirit Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart, never: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man, and. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.4:11And the spirit saith Spirit said unto me again, behold: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands; yea. 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.
4:12And it came to pass that the spirit Spirit said unto me again, slay: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands.;4:13Behold 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.
4:14And 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: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise. --4:15Yea, 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.4:16And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass.4:17And again --, I knew that
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the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands, for this cause: that--that I might obtain the records according to his commandments.4:18Therefore I did obey the voice of the spirit Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword.
4:19And after that 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 armour armor about my loins.4:20And after that 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 which 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;.4:21andAnd he supposed me to be his master, Laban, for he beheld the garments, and also the sword girted girded about my loins.4:22And he spake unto me concerning the elders of the Jews, he knowing that his master, Laban, had been out by night among them.4:23And I spake unto him as if it had been Laban.4:24And I also spake unto him that I should carry the engravings, which were upon the plates of brass, to my elder brethren, which who were without the walls.4:25And I also bade him that he should follow me.4:26And 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.4:27And he spake unto me many times concerning the elders of the Jews, as I went forth unto my brethren, which who were without the walls.
4:28And 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.
4:29And it came to pass that I called after them, and they did hear me; wherefore they did cease to flee from my presence.4:30And 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.
4:31And 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.
4:32And 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
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his life.4:33And 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.4:34And I also spake unto him, saying, surely: Surely the Lord hath commanded us to do this thing. And; 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.
4:35And 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. And Yea, and he also made an oath unto us, that he would tarry with us from that time forth.4:36Now 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.
4:37And it came to pass that when Zoram had made an oath unto us, our fears did cease concerning him.4:38And it came to pass that we took the plates of brass and the servant of Laban, and departed into the wilderness, and journied journeyed unto the tent of our father.
5:1And it came to pass that after we had came come down into the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceeding exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us;.5:2forFor 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: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.5:3And after this manner of language had my mother complained against my father.
5:4And it had came 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 bretheren brethren.5:5But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which thing 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.5:6And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi, comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journied journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.
5:7And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold
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their joy was full, and my mother was comforted;.5:8andAnd 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 gave given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.
5:9And 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.5:10And after that 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.5:11And 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, which was who were our first parents;5:12andAnd also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, King king of Judah;5:13andAnd also the prophecies of the Holy 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.
5:14And 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 which who was the son of Jacob, which who was sold into Egypt, and which who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.5:15And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.5:16And 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.
5:17And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the spirit Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed;--5:18thatThat these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people which who were of his seed.5:19Wherefore, 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.
5:20And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us.5:21And we had obtained the record records which the Lord had commanded
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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.5:22Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journied journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.
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CHAPTER II.
6:1And 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.6:2For it sufficeth me to say, that we are a descendant descendants of Joseph.6:3And 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.6:4For the fullness 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.6:5Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world, I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto them which those who are not of the world.6:6Wherefore, 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.7:1And 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 mete 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.
7:2And 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.
7:3And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did again, with my brethren, go forth into the wilderness to go up to Jerusalem.7:4And 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.
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7:5And 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.7:6And it came to pass that as we journied 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 I me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters.
7:7And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they were desirous to return unto the land of Jerusalem.7:8And 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, thou art: 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?7:9How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord?7:10How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?7:11Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten how 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?7:12Yea, 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? Wherefore, let us be faithful in to him.7:13And if it so be that we are faithful in 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.7:14For, behold, the spirit 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.
7:15Now 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 Spirit of the Lord constraineth me that I should speak.
7:16And 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 exceeding exceedingly wroth;, and they did bind me with cords,
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for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness, to be devoured by wild beasts.
7:17But 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.
7:18And 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.7:19And 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.
7:20And 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.
7:21And 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 that they had done praying unto the Lord, we did again travel on our journey toward towards the tent of our father.
7:22And it came to pass that we did come down unto the tent of our father. And after that 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.
8:1And 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 fruits fruit of every kind.8:2And 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.8:3And 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. --8:4But, behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly, because of you; for, behold, me thought methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.
FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI. 19
8:5And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.8:6And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.8:7And it came to pass that as I followed him, and after I had followed him, I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.8:8And after that I had travelled 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.
8:9And it came to pass that after I had prayed unto the Lord, I beheld a large and spacious field.8:10And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable, to make one happy.
8:11And 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 had before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.8:12And as I partook of the fruit thereof, it filled my soul with exceeding exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirous desirable above all other fruit.8:13And 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.8:14And 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.
8:15And 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.
8:16And it came to pass that they did come unto me, and partake of the fruit also.8:17And 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.
8:18And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come unto me and partake of the fruit.8:19And I beheld a rod of iron;, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.8:20And I also beheld a straight 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;.8:21andAnd I saw numberless
20 FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI.
concourses of people;, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.
8:22And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.8:23And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceeding exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they which who had commenced in the path, did lose their way, that they wandered off, and were lost.
8:24And 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.8:25And after that they had partaken of the fruit of the tree, they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.8:26And 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;.8:27andAnd it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceeding exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those which who had come at, and were partaking of the fruit.8:28And after that 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.
8:29And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.8:30But, to be short in writing: Behold, 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.8:31And he also saw other multitudes, feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.
8:32And 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.8:33And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after that 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.8:34These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen away.8:35And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, saith said my father.
8:36And it came to pass that after my father had spoken all the
FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI. 21
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;.8:37andAnd he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, in that, perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my father did preach unto them.
8:38And 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.9:1And 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.9:2And 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.
9:3Nevertheless, 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.9:4Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the Kings 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, kings and the wars, and contentions of my people.9:5Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates, for a wise purpose in him;, which purpose, I know not.9:6But 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.
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CHAPTER III.
10:1And 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.
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10:2For behold, it came to pass that 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:--10:3How thatThat after they were should be destroyed, yea, even that great city Jerusalem;, and that many were be carried away captive into Babylon; that, according to the own due time of the Lord, they should return again;, yea, even be brought back out of captivity; and after they are should be brought back out of captivity, to they should possess again the land of their inheritance.
10:4Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a Prophet prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews; yea, even--even a Messiah;, or, in other words, a Saviour Savior of the world.10:5And he also spake concerning the prophets: How, how great a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of which whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world.10:6Wherefore, all mankind was were in a lost and in a fallen state;, and ever would be, save they should rely on this Redeemer.
10:7And he spake also, concerning a prophet, which who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord;--10:8yeaYea, 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.
10:9And my father saith that said he should baptise baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also spake, that said he should baptise baptize with water; yea, even that he should baptise baptize the Messiah with water.10:10And after that he had baptised baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record, that he had baptised baptized the Lamb of God, which who should take away the sins of the world.
10:11And it came to pass that after my father had spoken these words, he spake unto my brethren concerning the Gospel, gospel which should be preached among the Jews;, and also, concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief. And after that they had slain the Messiah which, who should come, and after that he had been slain, he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.
10:12Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the House house of Israel:, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree-tree, whose branches should be broken off, and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.10:13Wherefore, he said, it must needs be that we should
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be led with one accord, into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord: That, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.10:14And after that the House house of Israel should be scattered, they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, that after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree-tree, or the remnants of the House house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.10:15And 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.10:16And all these things, of which I have spoken, was were done, as my father dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel.
10:17And it came to pass that 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--and the Son of God was the Messiah, which who should come.-
And it came to pass that I-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;.10:18forFor 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;.10:19forFor 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 as in times of old, as in times to come; wherefore, the courses course of the Lord is one eternal round.10:20Therefore, remember, O man, for all thy doings, thou shalt be brought into judgment.10:21Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment seat-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.10:22And the Holy Ghost giveth authority that I should speak these things, and deny them not.
11:1For it came to pass that 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; wherefore, as I sat
24 FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI.
pondering in mine heart, I was caught away in the spirit Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceeding exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before sat set my foot.11:2And the spirit saith Spirit said unto me,: Behold, what desirest thou?11:3And I saith, said: I desire to behold the things which my father saw.11:4And the spirit saith Spirit said unto me,: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?11:5And I said yea;: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.
11:6And when I had spoken these words, the spirit 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. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the Most High most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired.11:7And 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 heaven, and him shall ye witness; and after that ye have witnessed him, ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God.
11:8And it came to pass that the spirit saith Spirit said unto me, look: Look! and And I looked and beheld the a tree; and it was like unto a 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.
11:9And it came to pass that after that I had seen the tree, I said unto the spirit, Spirit: I behold thou hast shewn shown unto me the tree which is precious above all.11:10And he saith said unto me,: What desirest thou?11:11And I said unto him, to: To know the interpretation thereof; for--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 Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another.
11:12And it came to pass that he said unto me, look: Look! And I looked as if to look upon him, and I saw him not; for he had gone from before my presence.
11:13And 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 exceeding exceedingly fair and white.
11:14And it came to pass that I saw the Heavens heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he saith said unto me,: Nephi, what beholdest thou?11:15And I saith said unto him, a: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.11:16And he saithAnd he said
FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI. 25
unto me,: Knowest thou the condescention condescension of God?11:17And I said unto him,: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.11:18And he said unto me,: Behold, the virgin which whom thou seest, is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.
11:19And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the spirit Spirit; and after that she had been carried away in the spirit Spirit for the space of a time, the angel spake unto me, saying, look: Look!11:20And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.11:21And the angel said unto me, behold: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?11:22And 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.11:23And he spake unto me, saying,: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.11:24And after that he had said these words, he said unto me, look: 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.
11:25And 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.11:26And the angel said unto me again,: Look and behold the condescention condescension of God!11:27And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of which whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet, which who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth, and was baptised baptized of him; and after that he was baptised baptized, I beheld the Heavens heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of Heaven heaven and abode abide upon him in the form of a dove.11:28And 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.11:29And I also beheld twelve others following him.
And it came to pass that they were carried away in the spirit, Spirit from before my face, that and I saw them not.11:30And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying, look: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Heavens heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men; and they did minister unto them.11:31And he spake unto me again, saying. look: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among
26 FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI.
the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people which who were sick, and which who were afflicted of with all manner of diseases, and with devils, and unclean spirits; and the angel spake, and shewed 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.
11:32And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying, look: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Everlasting Son of the everlasting God, was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.11:33And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross, and slain for the sins of the world.11:34And after that 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.11:35And 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 house of Israel hath gathered together, to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
11:36And 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 exceeding 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.
12:1And 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.
12:2And 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.
12:3And 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.
12:4And 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
FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI. 27
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 and I saw many, that they did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof.
12:5And it came to pass that 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 which who had not fallen, because of the great and terrible judgments of the Lord.12:6And I saw the Heavens heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of Heaven heaven; and he came down and shewed showed himself unto them.12:7And I also saw and bear record, that the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve others; and they were ordained of God, and chosen.
12:8And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, which who are chosen to minister unto thy seed.12:9And he saith said unto me,: Thou remembereth rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Behold, they are they which 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;.12:10andAnd these twelve ministers which 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.
12:11And the angel saith said unto me, look: Look! And I looked, and beheld three generations did 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.12:12And I, Nephi, also saw many of the fourth generation, which did pass who passed away in righteousness.
12:13And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the earth gathered together.12:14And the angel said unto me,: Behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren!.12:15And 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.
12:16And 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;.12:17andAnd 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
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they may perish, and are lost;.12:18andAnd 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 Jesus Christ, which 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.12:19And while the angel spoke 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.
12:20And 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.12:21And 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.12:22And the angel said unto me, behold,: Behold these shall dwindle in unbelief.
12:23And it came to pass that I beheld that, after they had dwindled in unbelief, they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.
13:1And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying, look: Look! And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.13:2And the angel saith said unto me, what: What beholdest thou? And I said: I behold many nations and kingdoms.13:3And he saith said unto me, these: These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles.
13:4And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles, the foundation formation of a great church.13:5And the angel said unto me,: Behold the foundation formation of a church, which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the Saints 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.
13:6And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil, that he was the founder of it.13:7And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine twined-twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlots.13:8And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine twined-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church:.
FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI. 29
13:9andAnd also for the praise of the world, do they destroy the Saints saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.
13:10And it came to pass that I looked and beheld many waters; and they divided the Gentiles from the seed of my brethren.13:11And it came to pass that the angel said unto me,: Behold, the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren!.13:12And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, which who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the spirit 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, which who were in the promised land.
13:13And it came to pass that I beheld the spirit Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.
13:14And 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 they were smitten.13:15And I beheld the spirit Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles; that, and they did prosper, and obtain the land of for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceeding exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people, before they were slain.
13:16And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles which who had gone forth out of captivity, did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them;.13:17andAnd I beheld that their mother Gentiles was were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them,.13:18andAnd I beheld that the power of God was with them;, and also, that the wrath of God was upon them, all those that were gathered together against them to battle.13:19And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles which that had gone out of captivity, were delivered by the power of God, out of the hands of all other nations.
13:20And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they did prosper in the land,; and I beheld a Book; book, and it was carried forth among them.13:21And the angel saith said unto me,: Knowest thou the meaning of the Book book?13:22And I saith said unto him,: I know not.13:23And he saith, 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 house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies and I, Nephi, beheld it; and he saith unto me, The Book which thou beholdest, is a record of the Jews, which contains of the Holy Prophets holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many;
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nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the House house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles.
13:24And the angel of the Lord said unto me,: Thou hast beheld that the Book book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew, it contained the plainness fulness of the Gospel 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;.13:25whereforeWherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity, unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God;.13:26andAnd after that they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles; behold, after this, thou seest the foundation formation of a that great and abominable church, which is the most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the Gospel gospel of the Lamb, many parts which are plain and most precious; and also, many Covenants covenants of the Lord have they taken away;.13:27andAnd 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;.13:28whereforeWherefore, thou seest that after the Book 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 book, which is the Book book of the Lamb of God;.13:29andAnd after that 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; and, thou seest because--because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the Book book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God; and because--because of these things which were are taken away out of the Gospel gospel of the Lamb, an exceeding exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them;.13:30neverthelessNevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles which 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, land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land which 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 is are among thy brethren;.13:31neitherNeither
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will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy brethren;.13:32neitherNeither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain in that awful state of awful woundedness blindness, which thou beholdest that they are in, because of the plain and most precious parts of the Gospel gospel of the Lamb which hath have been kept back by the that abominable church, whose formation thou hast seen;.13:33wherefore,Wherefore saith the Lamb of God,: I will be merciful unto the Gentiles, unto the visiting of the remnant of the House house of Israel in great judgment.
13:34And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spake unto me, saying: Behold, saith the Lamb of God, after that I have visited the remnant of the House house of Israel, and--and this remnant of which whom I speak, is the seed of thy father; wherefore--wherefore, after that I have visited them in judgment, and smitten them by the hand of the Gentiles;, and after that the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and precious parts of the Gospel gospel of the Lamb which hath have been kept back, by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb; wherefore, I--I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, saith the Lamb, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my Gospel gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb;.13:35forFor, 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 that 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;.13:36andAnd in them shall be written my Gospel gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation;.13:37andAnd blessed are they which 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 everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; yea, and whoso shall publish peace, that shall publish yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.
13:38And 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; and I beheld, that it came forth from the Gentiles, unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren;.13:39andAnd after it had come forth unto them, I beheld other Books books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles, unto them, unto the convincing of the
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Gentiles, and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also to the Jews, which 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.
13:40And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which is 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 Saviour Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto Him him, or they cannot be saved;.13:41andAnd 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;.13:42andAnd the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews, and also unto the Gentiles; and after that he hath 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.
14:1And 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, if it so be that they harden not their hearts against the Lamb;--14:2and if it so be that theyAnd 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 house of Israel; and they shall be a blest blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity; and the House house of Israel shall no more be confounded;.14:3andAnd that great pit, which hath been digged for them, by that great and abominable church, which was founded by the Devil devil and his children, that he might lead away the souls of men down to Hell; yea hell--yea, the 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 hell which hath no end;.14:4forFor behold, this is according to the captivity of the
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Devildevil, and also according to the justice of God, upon all those who will work wickedness and abomination before him.
14:5And 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 house of Israel; and thou also hast heard, that whoso repenteth not, must perish;.14:6thereforeTherefore, wo be unto the Gentiles, if it so be that they harden their hearts against the Lamb of God:.14:7forFor the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a marvellous marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other; either--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 unto into destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the Devil devil, of which I have spoken.
14:8And it came to pass that when the angel had spoken these words, he saith said unto me, Remember: Rememberest thou the covenants of the Father unto the House house of Israel? I saith said unto him,him, yea Yea.14:9And it came to pass that he saith said unto me,: Look, and beheld behold that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations, whose foundation founder is the devil.14:10And he saith said unto me,: Behold, there is, are save it be, two churches: only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the Devil 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.
14:11And 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.
14:12And 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 which who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, which who were the Saints saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominion dominions upon the face of the earth was were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore which whom I saw.
14:13And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of
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theall the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.
14:14And 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, which who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were warned armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.
14:15And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon the that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth;.14:16andAnd as there began to be wars and rumors of war wars among all the nations which belongeth 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!--14:17And 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 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, which who are of the House house of Israel.
14:18And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying,: Look!14:19And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe;.14:20andAnd the angel said unto me,: Behold one of the twelve Apostles apostles of the Lamb!.14:21Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and also many things which have been;.14:22andAnd he shall also write concerning the end of the world;.14:23whereforeWherefore, 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.14:24And, behold, the things which the Apostle this apostle of the Lamb shall write, are many things which thou hast seen; and, behold, the remainder shalt thou see;.14:25butBut the things which thou shalt see hereafter, thou shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the Apostle apostle of the Lamb of God, that he should write them.14:26And also, others which 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
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in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the House house of Israel.
14:27And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the Apostle apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel.14:28And, 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 not written but a small part of the things which I saw.14:29And I bear record, that I saw the things which my father saw, and the angel of the Lord did make them known unto me. --14:30And 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.
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CHAPTER IV.
15:1And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been carried away in the spirit, and seen all these things, I returned to the ten tent of my father.15:2And 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;.15:3forFor he truly spake many great things unto them, which was 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 had ought.15:4And 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.
15:5And 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.
15:6And 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.15:7And they said,: Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree-tree, and also, concerning the Gentiles.15:8And I said unto them,: Have ye inquired of the Lord?15:9And they said unto me, we: We have not; for the Lord maketh no
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such thing known unto us.15:10Behold, 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?15:11Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said: If?--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?.
15:12Behold, I say unto you, that the House house of Israel was compared unto an olive tree-tree, by the spirit Spirit of the Lord which was in our fathers father; and, behold, are we not broken off from the House house of Israel;, and are we not a branch of the House house of Israel?15:13And 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 that the Messiah hath shall be manifested himself in body unto the children of men, then shall the fullness fulness of the Gospel gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed;--15:14andAnd at that day, shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the House 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 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.15:15And 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?15:16Behold, I say unto you, Yea,; they shall be remembered again among the House house of Israel; they shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the olive tree-tree, into the true olive tree;-tree.15:17andAnd this is what our father meaneth; and he meaneth that it will not come to pass, until after that they are scattered by the Gentiles; and he meaneth that it shall come by way of the Gentiles, that the Lord may shew show his power unto the Gentiles, for the very cause that he shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the House house of Israel;.15:18whereforeWherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the House house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant
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the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying: In they thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
15:19And 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;.15:20andAnd I did rehearse unto them the words of Isaiah, which who spake concerning the restoration of the Jews, or of the House house of Israel; and after that 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.
15:21And it came to pass that they did speak unto me again, saying: What meaneth the this thing which our father saw in a dream? What meaneth the tree which he saw?15:22And I said unto them, it: It was a representation of the tree of life.15:23And they said unto me,: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?15:24And 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 firy fiery darts of the adversary, overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.15:25Wherefore, 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. --15:26And they said unto me,: What meaneth the river of water which our father saw?15:27And 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;.15:28andAnd I said unto them, that it was an awful gulf, which separateth separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the Saints saints of God;.15:29andAnd I said unto them, that it was a representation of that awful Hell hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked.15:30And 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.
15:31And 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
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it speak of the things which are temporal?15:32And it came to pass that I said unto them, That 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;.15:33whereforeWherefore, 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 the kingdom of God must be filthy also.15:34But behold, I say unto you, The 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.15:35And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful Hell hell of which I have spoken, and the Devil 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;.15:36whereforeWherefore, 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.
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CHAPTER V.
16:1And 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 that which we are able to bear.
16:2And it came to pass that I said unto them, That 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 centre center.16:3And 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 speaketh: Thou speakest hard things against us.
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16:4And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did exhort my brethren, with all diligence, to keep the commandments of the Lord.16:5And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord; insomuch, that I had joy and great hopes for of them, that they would walk in the paths of righteousness.16:6Now, all these things were said and done, as my father dwelt in a tent in the valley which he called Lemuel.
16:7And 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 daghter daughter of Ishmael to wife.16:8And 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.
16:9And 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.16:10And 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.
16:11And 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.
16:12And it came to pass that we did take our tents, and depart into the wilderness, across the river Laman.16:13And it came to pass that we travelled traveled for the space of four days, nearly a south, southeast-southeast direction, and we did pitch our tents again; and we did call the name of the place Shazer.
16:14And 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 that 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 was were in the borders near the Red Sea,.16:15And 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;.16:16andAnd we did follow the directions
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of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.16:17And after that we had travelled 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.
16:18And 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 that 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.16:19And it came to pass that we did return without food to our families. And, and being much fatigued, because of their journeying, they did suffer much for the want of food.
16:20And 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 exceeding exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did murmur against the Lord.
16:21Now 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 exceeding exceedingly difficult, yea, insomuch, that we could obtain no food.16:22And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did speak much unto my brethren, because that they had hardened their hearts again, even unto complaining against the Lord their God.
16:23And 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?16:24And it came to pass that he did inquire of the Lord, for they had humbled themselves because of my word words; for I did say many things unto them in the energy of my soul.
16:25And 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.16:26And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said unto him,: Look on upon the ball, and behold the things which are written!.16:27And 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.
16:28And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith, and diligence, and heed, which we did give unto them.
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16:29And there was also written upon them, a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it:. And thus we see, that by small means, the Lord can bring about great things.
16:30And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball.16:31And it came to pass that I did slay wild beasts, insomuch, that I did obtain food for our families. --16:32And it came to pass that I did return to our tents, bearing the beasts which I had slain; and now, when they beheld that I had obtained food, how great was their joy.! And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord, and did give thanks unto him.
16:33And it came to pass that we did again take our journey, travelling traveling nearly the same course as in the beginning; and after that we had travelled traveled for the space of many days, we did pitch our tents again, that we might tarry for the space of a time.
16:34And it came to pass that Ishmael died, and was buried in the place which was called Nahom.16:35And it came to pass that the daughters of Ishmael did mourn exceedingly, because of the loss of their father, and because of their afflictions in the wilderness; and they did murmur against my father, because he had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, saying: Our father is dead; yea, and we have wandered much in the wilderness, and we have suffered much afflictions affliction, hunger, thirst, and fatigue; and after all these sufferings, we must perish in the wilderness with hunger.16:36And thus they did murmur against my father, and also against me; and they were desirous to return again to Jerusalem.16:37And Laman saith said unto Lemuel, and also unto the sons of Ishmael,: Behold, let us slay our father, and also our brother Nephi, who hath has taken it upon him to be our ruler and our teacher, who are his elder brethren.16:38Now, he saith says that the Lord hath has talked with him, and also, that angels hath have ministered unto him!. But behold, we know that he lieth lies unto us; and he telleth tells us these things, and he worketh many things by his cunning arts, that he may deceive our eyes, thinking, perhaps, that he may lead us away into some strange wilderness; and after that he hath has led us away, he hath has thought to make himself a King king and a ruler over us, that he may do with us according to his will and pleasure.
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And after this manner, did my brother Laman stir up their hearts to anger.
16:39And it came to pass that the Lord was with us;, yea, even the voice of the Lord came and did speak many words unto them, and did chasten them exceedingly; and after that they were chastened by the voice of the Lord, they did turn away their anger, and did repent of their sins, insomuch, that the Lord did bless us again with food, that we did not perish.
17:1And it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward, from that time forth. And we did travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women did bear children in the wilderness.17:2And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon the raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear the their journeyings without murmurings.17:3And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God, he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he hath has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.17:4And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness.17:5And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much fruit, and also, wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord, that we might not perish. -- And we beheld the Sea sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is, many waters.
17:6And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents by the seashore; and notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the seashore; and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit.
17:7And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountains mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.
17:8And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall shew show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.
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17:9And I saith, said: Lord, whither shall I go. that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship, after the manner which thou hast shewn shown unto me?17:10And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools.
17:11And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make bellowses a bellows wherewith to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after that I had made bellowses a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together, that I might make fire;.17:12forFor the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire, as we journied journeyed in the wilderness; for he saith, said: I will make that thy food shall become sweet, that ye cook it not;17:13andAnd I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.17:14Yea, and the Lord said also, that after: After ye have arrived to in the promised land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem;.17:15whereforeWherefore, I, Nephi, did strive to keep the commandments of the Lord, and I did exhort my brethren to faithfulness and diligence.
17:16And it came to pass that I did make the tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock.17:17And when my brethren saw that I was about to build a ship, they began to murmur against me, saying: Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters.17:18And thus my brethren did complain against me, and were desirous that they might not labor, for they did not believe that I could build a ship; neither would they believe that I was instructed of the Lord.
17:19And now it came to pass that I, Nephi, was exceeding exceedingly sorrowful, because of the hardness of their hearts; and now when they saw that I began to be sorrowful, they were glad in their hearts, insomuch, that they did rejoice over me, saying: We knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work;.17:20andAnd thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem;, and we have wandered, in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the
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wilderness, and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died, before they came out of Jerusalem, than to have suffered these afflictions.17:21Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions, and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy;.17:22andAnd we know that the people which who were in the land of Jerusalem, were a righteous people; for they kept the statues statutes and the judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us.
17:23And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake unto them, saying: Do ye believe that our fathers, which who were the children of Israel, would have been led away out of the hands of the Egyptians, if they had not hearkened unto the words of the Lord?17:24Yea, do ye suppose that they would have been led out of bondage, if the Lord had not commanded Moses that he should lead them out of bondage?17:25Now ye know that the children of Israel were in bondage; and ye know that they were laden with tasks, which were grievous to be borne; wherefore, ye know that it must needs be a good thing for them, that they should be brought out of bondage.17:26Now ye know that Moses was commanded of the Lord to do that great work; and ye know that by his word, the waters of the Red Sea were divided hither and thither, and they passed through on dry ground.17:27But ye know that the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, which who were the armies of Pharaoh;.17:28andAnd ye also know that they were fed with manna, in the wilderness;.17:29yeaYea, and ye also know that Moses, by his word, according to the power of God which was in him, smote the rock, and there came forth water, that the children of Israel might quench their thirst;.17:30andAnd notwithstanding they being led, the Lord their God, their Redeemer, going before them, leading them by day, and giving light unto them by night, and doing all things for them which was were expedient for man to receive, they hardened their hearts, and blinded their minds, and prevailed reviled against Moses and against the true and living God.
17:31And it came to pass that according to his word, he did destroy them; and according to his word, he did lead them; and according to his word, he did do all things for them; and
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there was not any thing done, save it were by his word.17:32And after they had crossed the river Jordan, he did make them mighty, unto the driving out of the children of the land, yea, unto the scattering them to destruction.17:33And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, which who were in the land of promise, which who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, nay Nay.17:34Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they, if they had been righteous? I say unto you, nay, Nay.17:35beholdBehold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one: He; he that is righteous, is favored of God. But, behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and the they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction;, and he did bless it unto our fathers, unto their obtaining power over it.17:36Behold, the Lord hath created the earth, that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children, that they should possess it.17:37And he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked.17:38And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes.17:39He ruleth high in the Heavens heavens, for it is his throne, and the this earth is his footstool.17:40And he loveth them which those who will have him to be their God. Behold, he loveth loved our fathers;, and he covenanted with them, yea, even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and he remembered the covenants which he had made; wherefore, he did bring them out of the land of Egypt,.17:41andAnd he did straighten straiten them in the wilderness with his rod,; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straightened straitened them, because of their iniquity. He sent firy-flying fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten, he prepared a way, that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform, was to look!; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many which who perished.17:42And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did revile against Moses, and also against God; nevertheless, ye know that they were led forth by his matchless power, into the land of promise. --17:43And now, after all these things, the time has come that they have become wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I know not but they are at this day about to be destroyed,; for I know that the day must surely come, that they must be destroyed, save a few only, which who shall be led away into captivity.
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17:44whereforeWherefore, the Lord commanded my father that he should depart into the wilderness; and the Jews also sought to take away his life; yea, and ye also have sought to take away his life; wherefore, ye are murderers in your hearts, and ye are like unto they: them.17:45Ye are swift to do iniquity, but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen the an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still, small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he hath has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.17:46And ye also know, that by the power of his almighty word, he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye know that by his word, he can cause the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts?17:47Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained:; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever. Behold, I am full of the spirit Spirit of God, insomuch as if that my frame had has no strength.
17:48And now it came to pass that when I had spoken these words, they were angry with me, and were desirous to throw me into the depths of the Sea sea; and as they came forth to lay their hands upon me, I spake unto them, saying: In the name of the Almighty God, I command you that ye touch me not, for I am filled with the power of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay their his hands upon me, shall wither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as nought naught before the power of God, for God shall smite him.
17:49And it came to pass that I, Nephi, saith said unto them, That that they should murmur no more against their father; neither should they withhold their labor from me, for God had commanded me that I should build a ship.17:50And I saith said unto them,: If God had commanded me to do all things, I could do it them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, Be be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.17:51And now, if the Lord hath has such great power, and hath has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?
17:52And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said many things unto my brethren, insomuch that they were confounded, and could not contend against me; neither durst they lay their hands upon
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me, nor touch me with their fingers, even for the space of many days. Now they durst not do this, lest they should wither before me, so powerful was the spirit Spirit of God; and thus it had wrought upon them.
17:53And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me,: Stretch forth thine hand again unto thy brethren, and they shall not wither before thee, but I will shock them, saith the Lord;, and this will I do, that they may know that I am the Lord their God.
17:54And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord did shake them, even according to the word which he had spoken.17:55And now, they said,: We know of a surety, that the Lord is with thee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that hath has shaken us. And they fell down before me, and were about to worship me, but I would not suffer them, saying: I am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee.
18:1And it came to pass that they did worship the Lord, and did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did shew show me from time to time, after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.18:2Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shewn shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.
18:3And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore, the Lord shewed showed unto me great things.
18:4And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceeding exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord.
18:5And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father, that we should arise and go down into the ship. --18:6And it came to pass that on the morrow, after that we had prepared all things, much fruits and meat from the wilderness, and honey in abundance, and provisions, according to that which the Lord had commanded us, we did go down into the ship, with all our loading and our seeds, and whatsoever
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thing we had brought with us, every one according to his age; wherefore, we did all go down into the ship, with our wives and our children.
18:7And now, my father had begat two sons, in the wilderness: The eldest; the elder was called Jacob, and the younger, Joseph.18:8And it came to pass that after we had all gone down into the ship, and had taken with us our provisions and things which had been commanded us, we did put forth into the sea, and were driven forth before the wind, towards the promised land;.18:9andAnd after that we had been driven forth before the wind, for the space of many days, behold, my brethren, and the sons of Ishmael, and also their wives, began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, even to that they did forget by what power they had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness.18:10And I, Nephi, began to fear exceedingly, lest the Lord should be angry with us, and smite us, because of our iniquity, that we should be swallowed up in the depths of the Sea sea; wherefore, I, Nephi, began to speak to them with much soberness; but, behold they were angry with me, saying: We will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us.
18:11And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless, the Lord did suffer it, that he might shew show forth his power, unto the fulfilling of his word which he hath had spoken, concerning the wicked.
18:12And it came to pass that after they had bound me, insomuch that I could not move, the compass, which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to work;.18:13whereforeWherefore, they knew not whither they should steer the ship, insomuch, that there arose a great storm, yea, a great and terrible tempest;, and we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three days; and they began to be frightened exceedingly, lest they should be drowned in the Sea sea; nevertheless, they did not loose me not. --18:14And on the fourth day, which we had been driven back, the tempest began to be exceeding exceedingly sore.
18:15And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the Sea sea. And after that we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to see that the judgment judgments of God was were upon them, and that they must perish, save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands
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which was were upon my wrists, and behold, they had much swollen, exceedingly; and also, mine ancles ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof.18:16Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord, because of mine afflictions.
18:17Now, my father, Lehi, had said many things unto them, and also unto the sons of Ishmael; but, behold, they did breathe out much threatnings threatenings against any one anyone that should speak for me; and my parents being stricken in years, and having suffered much grief because of their children, they were brought down, yea, even unto upon their sick beds-beds.18:18Because of their grief, and much sorrow, and the iniquity of my brethren, they were brought near even to be carried out of this time, to meet their God; yea, their gray grey hairs were about to be brought down to lie low in the dust; Yea yea, even they were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave.18:19And Jacob and Joseph also, being young, having need of much nourishment, were grieved because of the afflictions of their mother; and also my wife, with her tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of my brethren, that they would loose me;.18:20andAnd there was nothing, save it were the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea, they repented to of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me.
18:21And it came to pass that after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after that I had prayed, the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm.
18:22And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we sailed again toward towards the promised land.18:23And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days, we did arrive to at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land.
18:24And it came to pass that we did begin to till the earth, and we began to plant seeds; yea, we did put all our seeds into the earth, which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we were blessed in abundance.
18:25And it came to pass that we did find upon the Land land of Promise promise, as we journied journeyed in the wilderness, that there were beasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow, and the ox, and the
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ass, and the horse, and the goat, and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were used for the use of men. And we did find all manner of ore, both of gold, and of silver, and of copper.
19:1And it came to pass that the Lord commanded me, wherefore I did make plates of ore, that I might engraven upon them the record of my people. And upon the plates which I made, I did engraven the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and also, many of mine own prophecies have I engraven upon them.19:2And I knew not at that the time when I made them, that I should be commanded of the Lord to make these plates; wherefore, the record of my father, and the genealogy of his fathers, and the more part of all our proceedings in the wilderness, are engraven upon those first plates of which I have spoken; wherefore, the things which transpired before that I made these plates are, are of a truth, more particularly made mention upon the first plates.
19:3And after that I had made these plates by way of commandment, I, Nephi, received a commandment, that the ministry, and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates; and that the things which were written, should be kept for the instruction of my people, which who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes, are known unto the Lord;.19:4whereforeWherefore, I, Nephi, did make a record upon the other plates, which gives an account, or which gives a greater account, of the wars, and contentions, and destructions of my people. And this have I have done, and commanded my people that what they should do, after that I was gone,; and that these plates should be handed down from one generation to another, or from one prophet to another, until further commandments of the Lord.19:5And an account of my making these plates shall be given hereafter; and then, behold, I proceed according to that which I have spoken; and this I do, that the more sacred things may be kept for the knowledge of my people.19:6Nevertheless, I do not write any thing anything upon the plates, save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old. Not; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself.19:7For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at nought, naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the
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very God of Israel, do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet; but I would speak in other words: They do--they set him at nought naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels;.19:8andAnd behold, he cometh, according to the words of the angel, in six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem:.19:9And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of nought naught; wherefore, they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long suffering-suffering towards the children of men.19:10And the God of our fathers, which who were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by him;, yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, and according to the words of Zenos, which he spake, concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death, unto them those who should inhabit the isles of the sea;, more especially given unto them which those who are of the House house of Israel.19:11For thus spake the Prophet prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the House house of Israel at that day:, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation;, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapour vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up;.19:12andAnd all these things must surely come, saith the Prophet prophet Zenos. And the rocks of the earth must rend; and because of the groanings of the earth, many of the Kings kings of the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon by the spirit Spirit of God, to exclaim,: The God of nature suffers.19:13And as for they which those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, saith the prophet, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turned turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs, and wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel;.19:14andAnd because they turned turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy one One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a by-word byword, and be hated among all nations;.19:15neverthelessNevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy one One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers;.19:16yea,Yea,
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then will he remember the isles of the sea; yea, and all the people which who are of the House house of Israel, will I gather in, saith the Lord, according to the words of the Prophet prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth;.19:17yeaYea, and all the earth shall see the salvation of the Lord, saith the prophet; every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, shall be blessed.
19:18And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer;.19:19whereforeWherefore, I speak unto all the House house of Israel, if it so be that they should obtain these things.19:20For behold, I have workings in the spirit, which doth weary me, even that all my joints are weak, for they which those who are at Jerusalem; for had not the Lord been merciful, to shew show unto me concerning them, even as he had prophets of old;, I should have perished also.19:21forAnd he surely did shew show unto the prophets of old, all things concerning them; and also, he did shew show unto many, concerning us; wherefore, it must needs be, that we know concerning them, for they are written upon the plates of brass.
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CHAPTER VI.
19:22Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my brethren these things. And; and it came to pass that I did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old.19:23And I did read many things unto them, which were written in the Book books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer, wherefore I did read unto them that which was written by the Prophet prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all the scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.19:24Wherefore, I spake unto them, saying: Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye which who are a remnant of the House house of Israel, a branch of which who have been broken off; hear ye the words of the prophet, which was were written unto all the House house of Israel, and liken it them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren, from whom ye have been broken off. For; for after this manner hath has the prophet written:.20:1Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, which who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which or out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God
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of Israel;, yet they swear not in truth, nor in righteousness. --20:2Nevertheless, they call themselves of the Holy holy city, but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel, which who is the Lord of hosts Hosts; yea, the Lord of hosts Hosts is his name.20:3Behold, I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed showed them;. I did shew show them suddenly.20:4And I did it because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck was is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;20:5andAnd I have, even from the beginning, declared to thee; before it came to pass I shewed showed them thee; and I shewed showed them for fear lest thou shouldst say, Mine--Mine idol hath done them;, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.20:6Thou hast seen and heard all this; and will ye not declare them? And that I have shewed showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.20:7They are created now, and not from the beginning;, even before the day when thou heardest them not, they were declared unto thee, lest thou shouldst say, Behold,--Behold I knew them.20:8Yea, and thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time, thine ear was not opened:; for I know knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
20:9Nevertheless, for my name's sake will I will defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off.20:10For, behold, I have refined thee;, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.20:11For mine own sake, yea, for mine own sake, will I do this;, for I will not suffer my name to be polluted, and I will not give my glory unto another.
20:12Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel, my called;, for I am he; and I am the first, and I am also the last.20:13Mine hand hath also laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: and. I called call unto them, and they stand up together.20:14All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which who among them hath declared these things unto them? The Lord hath loved him:; yea, and he will fulfill fulfil his word which he hath declared by them; and he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall come upon the Chaldeans.20:15Also, saith the Lord:; I the Lord, yea, I have spoken,; yea, I have called him, to declare, I have brought him;, and he shall make his way prosperous.
20:16Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken in secret; from the beginning;, from the time that it was declared, have I spoken; and the Lord God, and his spirit Spirit, hath sent me.20:17And
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thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God, which who teacheth thee to profit, which who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done it.20:18O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then--then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea;.20:19thyThy seed also had been as the sand; the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
20:20Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter to the end of the earth; say ye,: The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob. --20:21And they thirsted not; he led them through the deserts:; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them:; he cleaved clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.20:22And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and greater also, There there is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.
21:1And again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken off and are driven out, because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people; yea, all ye that are broken off, that are scattered abroad, which who are of my people, O house of Israel. Listen, O isles, unto me;, and hearken, ye people, from far; The the Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.21:2And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;21:3andAnd said unto me,: Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.21:4Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, naught and in vain; surely, my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.
21:5And now, saith the Lord, that--that formed me from the womb that I should be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though--though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.21:6And he said,: It is a light thing that thou shouldest shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel:. I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth. --21:7Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nations abhorreth, to servants servant of rulers,: Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful.21:8Thus saith the Lord,: In an acceptable time have I heard thee, O
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isles of the sea, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee:; and I will preserve thee, and give thee my servant for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages:;21:9thatThat thou mayest say to the prisoners,: Go forth; to them that sit in darkness, Shew: Show yourselves. -- They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.21:10They shall not hunger or nor thirst, neither shall the heat or nor the sun smite them:; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.21:11And I will make all my mountains away a way, and my highways shall be exalted.21:12And then, O house of Israel, behold, these shall come from far; and lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
21:13Sing, O Heavens heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of them which those who are in the east shall be established; and break forth into singing, O mountains:; for they shall be smitten no more:; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.21:14But, behold, Zion hath said,: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me; but--but he will shew show that he hath not.21:15For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.21:16Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.21:17Thy children shall make haste against thy destroyers; and they that made thee waste, shall go forth of thee.
21:18Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold:; all these gather themselves together, and they shall come to thee. And as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on even as a bride.21:19For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants; and they that swallowed thee up, shall be far away.21:20The children which whom thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other first, shall again in thine ears say,: The place is too straight strait for me:; give place to me that I may dwell.21:21Then shalt thou say in thine heart,: Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and And who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where have they been?21:22Thus saith the Lord God.: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people:; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be
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carried upon their shoulders.21:23And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and thy their queens thy nursing mothers:; they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord:; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.21:24For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives delivered?21:25But thus saith the Lord, Even even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered:; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.21:26And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine:; and all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am thy Saviour Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty one Mighty One of Jacob.
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CHAPTER VII.
22:1And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, after that I had read these things which were engraven upon the plates of brass, my brethren came unto me and said unto me,: What meaneth these things which ye have read? Behold, are they to be understood according to things which are spiritual, which shall come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh?22:2And I, Nephi, sayeth said unto them,: Behold, they were made manifest unto the prophet, by the voice of the spirit: Spirit; for by the spirit Spirit are all things made known unto the prophet prophets, which shall come upon the children of men, according to the flesh.22:3Wherefore, the things of which I have read, are things pertaining to things both temporal and spiritual:; for it appears that the House house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations,.22:4and beforeAnd behold, there are many which who are already lost from the knowledge of they which those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea:; and wither whither they are, none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away. --22:5And since that they have been led away, these things have been prophesied concerning them, and also concerning all they which those who shall hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel:; for against him will they harden their hearts:; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations,
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and shall be hated by of all men.22:6Nevertheless, after that they have been shall be nursed by the Gentiles, and the Lord hath has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and set them up for a standard, and their children shall be have been carried in their arms, and their daughters shall be have been carried upon their shoulders, behold, these things of which are spoken, are temporal:; for thus is are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers; and it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren which who are of the House house of Israel.22:7And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the House house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be scattered.22:8And after that our seed is scattered, the Lord God will proceed to do a marvellous marvelous work among the gentiles Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto the their being nourished by the Gentiles, and being carried in their arms, and upon their shoulders.22:9And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles, but unto all the House house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of Heaven heaven unto Abraham, saying,: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.22:10And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed, unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations.22:11Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his Gospel, gospel unto they which those who are of the House house of Israel.22:12Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity, and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Saviour Savior and their Redeemer, the mighty one Mighty One of Israel.22:13And the blood of that great and abominable church, which is the whore of all the earth, shall turn upon their own heads:; for they shall war among themselves, and the sword of their own hands shall fall upon their own heads, and they shall be drunken with their own blood.22:14And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another, and they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all that fight against Zion, shall be destroyed. And, and that great whore, which who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord;, yea, that great and abominable church, shall stumble tumble to the dust, and great shall be the fall of it.22:15For behold, saith the prophet, that the time
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cometh speedily, that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men: forthe; for the day soon cometh, that all the proud and they which who do wickedly, shall be as stubble; and the day cometh that they must be burned.22:16For the time soon cometh, that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men:; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous.22:17Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear:; for thus saith the prophet, They they shall be saved, even if it so be so as by fire.22:18Behold, my brethren, I say unto you, that these things must shortly come; yea, even blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke must come; and it must needs be upon the face of this earth; and it cometh unto men according to the flesh, if it so be that they will harden their hearts against the Holy One of Israel:.22:19forFor behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come, that all they which who fight against Zion, shall be cut off.22:20And the Lord will surely prepare a way for his people, unto the fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that all they which those who will not hear that prophet, shall be cut off from among the people.22:21And now I, Nephi, declare unto you, that this prophet of whom Moses spake, was the Holy One of Israel; wherefore, he shall execute judgment in righteousness;.22:22andAnd the righteous need not fear, for it is they which are those who shall not be confounded. But it is the kingdom of the Devil devil, which shall be built up among the children of men, which kingdom is established among them which are in the flesh:--22:23forFor the time speedily shall come, that all churches which are built up to get gain, and they which all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and they which those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and they which those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all they which those who belong to the kingdom of the Devil, it is devil are they which who need fear, and tremble, and quake; it is they which are those who must be brought low in the dust; it is they which are those who must be consumed as stubble:; and this is according to the words of the prophet.22:24And the time cometh speedily, that the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall, and the Holy One of
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Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great glory.22:25And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture. --22:26And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan, hath has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years:; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.22:27And now behold, I, Nephi, say unto you, that all these things must come, according to the flesh.22:28But, behold, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, shall dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel, if it so be that they will repent.
22:29And now I, Nephi, make an end; for I durst not speak further as yet, concerning these things.22:30Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass, are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God.22:31Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified, and also taught them. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen.