1 Nephi 1:1
I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored by the Lord in all my days; indeed, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.
1 Nephi 1:2
Indeed, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.
1 Nephi 1:3
And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with my own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.
1 Nephi 1:4
For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year, many prophets came prophesying to the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.
1 Nephi 1:5
Therefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed to the Lord, indeed, even with all his heart, on behalf of his people.
1 Nephi 1:6
And it came to pass as he prayed to the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.
1 Nephi 1:7
And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the [Holy] Spirit and the things which he had seen.
1 Nephi 1:8
And being thus overcome with the [Holy] Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon His Throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God.
1 Nephi 1:9
And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day.
1 Nephi 1:10
And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament.
1 Nephi 1:11
And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave to him a book, and bade him that he should read.
1 Nephi 1:12
And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled with the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord.
1 Nephi 1:13
And he read, saying, "Woe, woe, to Jerusalem, for I have seen your abominations!" Indeed, and many things did my father read concerning Jerusalem - that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon.
1 Nephi 1:14
And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things to the Lord; such as, "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Your Throne is high in the heavens, and Your power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because You are Merciful, You will not allow those who come to You that they should perish!"
1 Nephi 1:15
And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen, indeed, which the Lord had shown to him.
1 Nephi 1:16
And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father has written, for he has written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams; and he also has written many things which he prophesied and spoke to his children, of which I will not make a full account.
1 Nephi 1:17
But I will make an account of my proceedings in my days. Behold, I make an abridgement of the record of my father, upon plates which I have made with my own hands; therefore, after I have abridged the record of my father then I will make an account of my own life.
1 Nephi 1:18
Therefore, I will that you should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things to my father, Lehi, indeed, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare to them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.
1 Nephi 1:19
And it came to pass that the Jews mocked him because of the things which he testified concerning them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the Book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.
1 Nephi 1:20
And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; indeed, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show to you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom He has chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even to the power of deliverance.
1 Nephi 2:1
For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to my father, indeed, even in a dream, and said to him, "You are blessed, Lehi, because of the things which you have done; and because you have been faithful and declared to this people the things which I commanded you, behold, they seek to take away your life."
1 Nephi 2:2
And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 2:3
And it came to pass that he was obedient to the word of the Lord, therefore he did as the Lord commanded him.
1 Nephi 2:4
And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, except if it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 2:5
And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.
1 Nephi 2:6
And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water.
1 Nephi 2:7
And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering to the Lord, and gave thanks to the Lord our God.
1 Nephi 2:8
And it came to pass that he called the name of the river, Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders near the mouth thereof.
1 Nephi 2:9
And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spoke to Laman, saying, "O that you might be like this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!"
1 Nephi 2:10
And he also spoke to Lemuel, "O that you might be like this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!"
1 Nephi 2:11
Now this he spoke because of the stiff-neckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they murmured in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And they said he had done this because of the foolish imaginations of his heart.
1 Nephi 2:12
And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, murmured against their father. And they murmured because they did not know the dealings of God who had created them.
1 Nephi 2:13
Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father.
1 Nephi 2:14
And it came to pass that my father spoke to them in the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the [Holy] Spirit, until their frames shook before him. And he confounded them, so that they did not utter against him; therefore, they did as he commanded them.
1 Nephi 2:15
And my father dwelt in a tent.
1 Nephi 2:16
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, therefore, I cried to the Lord; and behold, He visited me, and softened my heart so that I believed all the words which had been spoken by my father; therefore, I did not rebel against him like my brothers.
1 Nephi 2:17
And I spoke to Sam, making known to him the things which the Lord had manifested to me by His [Holy] Spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words.
1 Nephi 2:18
But behold, Laman and Lemuel would not listen to my words; and being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, I cried to the Lord for them.
1 Nephi 2:19
And it came to pass that the Lord spoke to me, saying, "You are blessed, Nephi, because of your faith, for you have sought Me diligently, with lowliness of heart.
1 Nephi 2:20
And inasmuch as you will keep My commandments, you will prosper, and will be led to a land of promise; indeed, even a land which I have prepared for you; indeed, a land which is choice above all other lands.
1 Nephi 2:21
And inasmuch as your brethren will rebel against you, they will be cut off from the presence of the Lord.
1 Nephi 2:22
And inasmuch as you will keep My commandments, you will be made a ruler and a teacher over your brethren.
1 Nephi 2:23
For behold, on that day that they will rebel against Me, I will curse them even with a sore curse, and they will have no power over your seed except they will rebel against Me also.
1 Nephi 2:24
And if it so is that they rebel against Me, they will be a scourge to your seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance."
1 Nephi 3:1
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, returned from speaking with the Lord, to the tent of my father.
1 Nephi 3:2
And it came to pass that he spoke to me, saying, "Behold, I have dreamed a dream, in which the Lord has commanded me that you and your brethren will return to Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 3:3
For behold, Laban has the record of the Jews and also a genealogy of my forefathers, and they are engraved upon plates of brass.
1 Nephi 3:4
Therefore, the Lord has commanded me that you and your brothers should go to the house of Laban, and seek the records, and bring them down here into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 3:5
And now, behold, your brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold, I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord.
1 Nephi 3:6
Therefore go, my son, and you will be favored by the Lord, because you have not murmured."
1 Nephi 3:7
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said to my father, "I will go and do the things which the Lord has commanded, for I know that the Lord gives no commandments to the children of men, except he will prepare a way for them so that they may accomplish the thing which He commands them."
1 Nephi 3:8
And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words, he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed by the Lord.
1 Nephi 3:9
And I, Nephi, and my brethren, took our journey in the wilderness, with our tents, to go up to the land of Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 3:10
And it came to pass that when we had gone up to the land of Jerusalem, I and my brethren consulted with one another.
1 Nephi 3:11
And we cast lots - who of us should go into the house of Laban. And it came to pass that the lot fell upon Laman; and Laman went into the house of Laban, and he talked with him as he sat in his house.
1 Nephi 3:12
And he desired of Laban the records which were engraved upon the plates of brass, which contained the genealogy of my father.
1 Nephi 3:13
And behold, it came to pass that Laban was angry, and thrust him out from his presence; and he did not will that he should have the records. Therefore, he said to him, "Behold, you are a robber, and I will slay you."
1 Nephi 3:14
But Laman fled out of his presence, and told the things which Laban had done to us. And we began to be exceedingly sorrowful, and my brethren were about to return to my father in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 3:15
But behold, I said to them that, "As the Lord lives, and as we live, we will not go down to our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord has commanded us.
1 Nephi 3:16
Therefore, 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 he has done all this because of the commandments of the Lord.
1 Nephi 3:17
For he knew that Jerusalem must be destroyed, because of the wickedness of the people.
1 Nephi 3:18
For behold, they have rejected the words of the prophets. Therefore, if my father should dwell in the land after he has been commanded to flee out of the land, behold, he would also perish. Therefore, it must be that he flees out of the land.
1 Nephi 3:19
And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records, so that we may preserve the language of our fathers to our children;
1 Nephi 3:20
And also so that we may preserve to them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered to them by the [Holy] Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down to this present time."
1 Nephi 3:21
And it came to pass that after this manner of language, I persuaded my brethren, that they might be faithful in keeping the commandments of God.
1 Nephi 3:22
And it came to pass that we went down to the land of our inheritance, and we gathered our gold, and our silver, and our precious things together.
1 Nephi 3:23
And after we had gathered these things together, we went up again to the house of Laban.
1 Nephi 3:24
And it came to pass that we went into Laban, and desired that he would give the records to us which were engraved upon the plates of brass, for which we would give our gold to him, and our silver, and all our precious things.
1 Nephi 3:25
And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and that it was exceedingly great, he did lust after it, insomuch that he thrust us out, and sent his servants to slay us, so that he might obtain our property.
1 Nephi 3:26
And it came to pass that we fled before the servants of Laban, and we were obliged to leave our property behind, and it fell into the hands of Laban.
1 Nephi 3:27
And it came to pass that we fled into the wilderness, and the servants of Laban did not overtake us, and we hid ourselves in the cavity of a rock.
1 Nephi 3:28
And it came to pass that Laman was angry with me, and also with my father; and Lemuel also was, for he listened to the words of Laman. Therefore Laman and Lemuel spoke many hard words to us, their younger brothers, and they struck us even with a rod.
1 Nephi 3:29
And it came to pass as they struck us with a rod, behold, an angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spoke to them, saying, "Why do you strike your younger brother with a rod? Do you not know that the Lord has chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities? Behold, you will go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands."
1 Nephi 3:30
And after the angel had spoken to us, he departed.
1 Nephi 3:31
And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur, saying, "How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, indeed, he can even slay fifty; then why not us?"
1 Nephi 4:1
And it came to pass that I spoke to my brethren, saying, "Let us go up again to 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, indeed, or even than his tens of thousands?
1 Nephi 4:2
Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like Moses; for he truly spoke to the waters of the Red Sea and they divided here and there, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh followed and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea.
1 Nephi 4:3
Now behold, you know that this is true; and you also know that an angel has spoken to you; therefore can you doubt? Let us go up; the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians."
1 Nephi 4:4
Now when I had spoken these words, they were still angry, and still continued to murmur; nevertheless they did follow me up until we came outside the walls of Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 4:5
And it was by night; and I caused them to hide themselves outside the walls. And after they had hidden themselves, I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards the house of Laban.
1 Nephi 4:6
And I was led by the [Holy] Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.
1 Nephi 4:7
Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near to the house of Laban, I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was drunk with wine.
1 Nephi 4:8
And when I came to him, I found that it was Laban.
1 Nephi 4:9
And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath; and the hilt was of pure gold, and the workmanship was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade was of the most precious steel.
1 Nephi 4:10
And it came to pass that I was constrained by the [Holy] Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart, "Never at any time have I shed the blood of man." And I shrunk and willed that I might not slay him.
1 Nephi 4:11
And the [Holy] Spirit said to me again, "Behold, the Lord has delivered him into your hands." Indeed, and I also knew that he had sought to take away my own life; indeed, and he would not listen to the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property.
1 Nephi 4:12
And it came to pass that the [Holy] Spirit said to me again, "Slay him, for the Lord has delivered him into your hands;
1 Nephi 4:13
Behold, the Lord slays 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 disbelief."
1 Nephi 4:14
And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which He spoke to me in the wilderness, saying that, "Inasmuch as your seed will keep My commandments, they will prosper in the land of promise."
1 Nephi 4:15
Indeed, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, except they should have the law.
1 Nephi 4:16
And I also knew that the law was engraved upon the plates of brass.
1 Nephi 4:17
And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands for this cause - that I might obtain the records according to His commandments.
1 Nephi 4:18
Therefore I did obey the voice of the [Holy] Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I struck off his head with his own sword.
1 Nephi 4:19
And after I had struck off his head with his own sword, I took the garments of Laban and put them upon my own body; indeed, even every whit; and I girded on his armor about my loins.
1 Nephi 4:20
And after I had done this, I went forth to the treasury of Laban. And as I went forth towards the treasury of Laban, behold, I saw the servant of Laban who had the keys of the treasury. And I commanded him in the voice of Laban, that he should go with me into the treasury.
1 Nephi 4:21
And he supposed me to be his master, Laban, for he beheld the garments and also the sword girded about my loins.
1 Nephi 4:22
And he spoke to me concerning the elders of the Jews, he, knowing that his master, Laban, had been out by night among them.
1 Nephi 4:23
And I spoke to him as if it had been Laban.
1 Nephi 4:24
And I also spoke to him that I should carry the engravings, which were upon the plates of brass, to my elder brethren, who were outside the walls.
1 Nephi 4:25
And I also commanded him that he should follow me.
1 Nephi 4:26
And he, supposing that I spoke of the brethren of the church, and that I was truly that Laban whom I had slain, therefore he followed me.
1 Nephi 4:27
And he spoke to me many times concerning the elders of the Jews, as I went forth to my brethren, who were outside the walls.
1 Nephi 4:28
And it came to pass that when Laman saw me, he was exceedingly frightened, and also Lemuel and Sam. And they fled from before my presence; for they supposed it was Laban, and that he had slain me and had sought to take away their lives also.
1 Nephi 4:29
And it came to pass that I called after them, and they heard me; therefore they ceased to flee from my presence.
1 Nephi 4:30
And it came to pass that when the servant of Laban beheld my brethren, he began to tremble, and was about to flee from before me and return to the city of Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 4:31
And now I, Nephi, being a man large in stature, and also having received much strength from the Lord, therefore I seized the servant of Laban, and held him, so that he should not flee.
1 Nephi 4:32
And it came to pass that I spoke with him, that if he would listen to my words, as the Lord lives, and as I live, even so that if he would listen to our words, we would spare his life.
1 Nephi 4:33
And I spoke to him, even with an oath, that he does not need to fear; that he should be a free man like us if he would go down in the wilderness with us.
1 Nephi 4:34
And I also spoke to him, saying, "Surely the Lord has commanded us to do this thing; and will we not be diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord? Therefore, if you will go down into the wilderness to my father you will have a place with us."
1 Nephi 4:35
And it came to pass that Zoram took courage at the words which I spoke. Now Zoram was the name of the servant; and he promised that he would go down into the wilderness to our father. Indeed, and he also made an oath to us that he would stay with us from that time forth.
1 Nephi 4:36
Now we were desirous that he should stay with us for this cause, so that the Jews might not know concerning our flight into the wilderness, in case they should pursue us and destroy us.
1 Nephi 4:37
And it came to pass that when Zoram had made an oath to us, our fears ceased concerning him.
1 Nephi 4:38
And it came to pass that we took the plates of brass and the servant of Laban, and departed into the wilderness, and journeyed to the tent of our father.
1 Nephi 5:1
And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness to our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us.
1 Nephi 5:2
For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying, "Behold, you have led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness."
1 Nephi 5:3
And my mother had complained against my father in this manner of language.
1 Nephi 5:4
And it had come to pass that my father spoke to 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 stayed at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren.
1 Nephi 5:5
But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in which things I rejoice; indeed, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again to us in the wilderness."
1 Nephi 5:6
And in this manner of language, my father, Lehi, comforted my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.
1 Nephi 5:7
And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold, their joy was full, and my mother was comforted.
1 Nephi 5:8
And she spoke, saying, "Now I know of a surety that the Lord has commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; indeed, and I also know of a surety that the Lord has protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord has commanded them." And she spoke in this manner of language.
1 Nephi 5:9
And it came to pass that they rejoiced exceedingly and offered sacrifice and burnt offerings to the Lord; and they gave thanks to the God of Israel.
1 Nephi 5:10
And after they had given thanks to the God of Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were engraved upon the plates of brass, and he searched for them from the beginning.
1 Nephi 5:11
And he beheld that they contained the five Books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents;
1 Nephi 5:12
And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah;
1 Nephi 5:13
And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.
1 Nephi 5:14
And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found a genealogy of his fathers upon the plates of brass; therefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; indeed, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, so that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.
1 Nephi 5:15
And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.
1 Nephi 5:16
And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, therefore he and his fathers had kept the records.
1 Nephi 5:17
And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the [Holy] Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed -
1 Nephi 5:18
That these plates of brass should go forth to all nations, kindred, tongues, and people who were of his seed.
1 Nephi 5:19
Therefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed.
1 Nephi 5:20
And it came to pass that thus far, I and my father had kept the commandments whereby the Lord had commanded us.
1 Nephi 5:21
And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; indeed, even of great worth to us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord to our children.
1 Nephi 5:22
Therefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.
1 Nephi 6:1
And now I, Nephi, do not give the genealogy of my fathers in this part of my record; neither at any time will 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; therefore, I do not write it in this work.
1 Nephi 6:2
For it suffices me to say that we are descendants of Joseph.
1 Nephi 6:3
And it does not matter to me that I am particular to give a full account of all the things of my father, for they cannot be written upon these plates, for I desire the room that I may write of the things of God.
1 Nephi 6:4
For the fullness of my intent is that I may persuade men to come to the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.
1 Nephi 6:5
Therefore, the things which are pleasing to the world, I do not write, but the things which are pleasing to God and to those who are not of the world.
1 Nephi 6:6
Therefore, I will give commandment to my seed, so that they will not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth to the children of men.
1 Nephi 7:1
And now I will that you might know, that after my father Lehi had made an end of prophesying concerning his seed, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to him again, saying that it was not meet for him, Lehi, that he should take his family into the wilderness alone; but that his sons should take daughters to wife, so that they might raise up seed to the Lord in the land of promise.
1 Nephi 7:2
And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that I, Nephi, and my brethren, should again return to the land of Jerusalem, and bring down Ishmael and his family into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 7:3
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did again, with my brethren, go forth into the wilderness to go up to Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 7:4
And it came to pass that we went up to the house of Ishmael, and we gained favor in the sight of Ishmael, insomuch that we spoke the words of the Lord to him.
1 Nephi 7:5
And it came to pass that the Lord softened the heart of Ishmael, and also his household, insomuch that they took their journey with us down into the wilderness to the tent of our father.
1 Nephi 7:6
And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold, Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, rebelled against us; indeed, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters.
1 Nephi 7:7
And it came to pass in the rebellion, they were desirous to return to the land of Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 7:8
And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, therefore spoke to them, saying, "indeed, even to Laman and to Lemuel, "Behold, you are my elder brethren, and how is it that you are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that you have need that I, your younger brother, should speak to you, indeed, and set an example for you?
1 Nephi 7:9
How is it that you have not listened to the word of the Lord?
1 Nephi 7:10
How is it that you have forgotten that you have seen an angel of the Lord?
1 Nephi 7:11
Indeed, and how is it that you have forgotten what great things the Lord has done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we should obtain the record?
1 Nephi 7:12
Indeed, and how is it that you have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to His will, for the children of men, if it so is that they exercise faith in Him? Therefore, let us be faithful to Him.
1 Nephi 7:13
And if it so is that we are faithful to Him, we will obtain the land of promise; and you will know at some future period that the word of the Lord will be fulfilled concerning the destruction of Jerusalem; for all things which the Lord has spoken concerning the destruction of Jerusalem must be fulfilled.
1 Nephi 7:14
For behold, the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord soon ceases to strive with them; for behold, they have rejected the prophets, and they have cast Jeremiah into prison. And they have sought to take away the life of my father, insomuch that they have driven him out of the land.
1 Nephi 7:15
Now behold, I say to you that if you will return to Jerusalem, you will also perish with them. And now, if you have a choice, go up to the land, and remember the words which I speak to you, that if you go, you will also perish; for thus the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord constrains me that I should speak."
1 Nephi 7:16
And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words to my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they laid their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly angry, and they bound me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, so that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.
1 Nephi 7:17
But it came to pass that I prayed to the Lord, saying, "O Lord, according to my faith which is in You, will You deliver me from the hands of my brethren; indeed, even give me strength so that I may burst these bands with which I am bound."
1 Nephi 7:18
And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosened from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spoke to them again.
1 Nephi 7:19
And it came to pass that they were angry with me again, and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of the daughters of Ishmael, indeed, and also her mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, pleaded with my brethren, insomuch that they softened their hearts; and they ceased striving to take away my life.
1 Nephi 7:20
And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of their wickedness, insomuch that they bowed down before me, and pleaded with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against me.
1 Nephi 7:21
And it came to pass that I frankly forgave them all that they had done, and I exhorted them that they would pray to the Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so. And after they had finished praying to the Lord, we again traveled on our journey towards the tent of our father.
1 Nephi 7:22
And it came to pass that we came down to the tent of our father. And after I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had come down to the tent of my father, they gave thanks to the Lord their God; and they offered sacrifice and burnt offerings to Him.
1 Nephi 8:1
And it came to pass that we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.
1 Nephi 8:2
And it came to pass that while my father stayed in the wilderness, he spoke to us, saying, "Behold, I have dreamed a dream;" or, in other words, I have seen a vision.
1 Nephi 8:3
And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of their seed, will be saved.
1 Nephi 8:4
But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for behold, I thought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.
1 Nephi 8:5
And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.
1 Nephi 8:6
And it came to pass that he spoke to me, and commanded me to follow him.
1 Nephi 8:7
And it came to pass that as I followed him, I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
1 Nephi 8:8
And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray to the Lord that He would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of His tender mercies.
1 Nephi 8:9
And it came to pass after I had prayed to the Lord, I beheld a large and spacious field.
1 Nephi 8:10
And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
1 Nephi 8:11
And it came to pass that I went forth and partook of the fruit; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever tasted before. Indeed, and I beheld that the fruit was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
1 Nephi 8:12
And as I partook of the fruit, it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; therefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.
1 Nephi 8:13
And as I cast my eyes round about, so that perhaps I might discover my family also, I beheld a river of water; and it ran along, and it was near the tree of which I was partaking the fruit.
1 Nephi 8:14
And I looked to behold from where it came; and I saw the head a little way off; and at the head I beheld your mother Sariah, and Sam, and Nephi; and they stood as if they did not know where they should go.
1 Nephi 8:15
And it came to pass that I beckoned to them; and I also said to them with a loud voice that they should come to me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit.
1 Nephi 8:16
And it came to pass that they came to me and partook of the fruit also.
1 Nephi 8:17
And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come and partake of the fruit also; therefore, I cast my eyes towards the head of the river, so that perhaps I might see them.
1 Nephi 8:18
And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come to me and partake of the fruit.
1 Nephi 8:19
And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
1 Nephi 8:20
And I also beheld a straight 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, to a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.
1 Nephi 8:21
And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward so that they might obtain the path which led to the tree by which I stood.
1 Nephi 8:22
And it came to pass that they came forth and commenced in the path which led to the tree.
1 Nephi 8:23
And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; indeed, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path lost their way, so that they wandered off and were lost.
1 Nephi 8:24
And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they pressed forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they came forth and partook of the fruit of the tree.
1 Nephi 8:25
And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree, they cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
1 Nephi 8:26
And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.
1 Nephi 8:27
And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
1 Nephi 8:28
And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
1 Nephi 8:29
And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.
1 Nephi 8:30
But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they pressed their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
1 Nephi 8:31
And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.
1 Nephi 8:32
And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.
1 Nephi 8:33
And the multitude that entered into that strange building was great. And after they did enter into that building, they pointed the finger of scorn at me and those who were partaking of the fruit also; but we did not heed them.
1 Nephi 8:34
These are the words of my father, "For as many who heeded them had fallen away."
1 Nephi 8:35
And Laman and Lemuel did not partake of the fruit," my father said.
1 Nephi 8:36
And it came to pass after my father had spoken all the words of his dream or vision, which were many, he said to us, because of these things which he saw in a vision, he exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel; indeed, he feared in case they should be cast off from the presence of the Lord.
1 Nephi 8:37
And he exhorted them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, so that they would listen to his words, so that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; indeed, my father preached to them.
1 Nephi 8:38
And after he had preached to them, and also prophesied to them of many things, he commanded them to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he ceased speaking to them.
1 Nephi 9:1
And my father saw all these things, and heard, and spoke, as he dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel, and also a great many more things, which cannot be written upon these plates.
1 Nephi 9:2
And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold, they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people; for the plates upon which I make a full account of my people, I have given the name of Nephi; therefore, they are called the plates of Nephi, after my own name; and these plates also are called the plates of Nephi.
1 Nephi 9:3
Nevertheless, I have received a commandment from the Lord that I should make these plates for the special purpose that there should be an account engraved of the ministry of my people.
1 Nephi 9:4
Upon the other plates, an account of the reign of the kings should be engraved, and the wars and contentions of my people; therefore, these plates are more for the part of the ministry; and the other plates are more for the part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people.
1 Nephi 9:5
Therefore, the Lord has commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in Him, which purpose, I do not know.
1 Nephi 9:6
But the Lord knows all things from the beginning; therefore, He prepares a way to accomplish all His works among the children of men; for behold, He has all power to the fulfilling of all His words. And thus it is. Amen.
1 Nephi 10:1
And now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon these plates of my proceedings, and my reign and ministry; therefore, to proceed with my account, I must speak somewhat of the things of my father, and also of my brethren.
1 Nephi 10:2
For behold, it came to pass after my father had made an end of speaking the words of his dream, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, he spoke to them concerning the Jews -
1 Nephi 10:3
That after they should be destroyed, even that great city Jerusalem, and many be carried away captive into Babylon, according to the own due time of the Lord, they should return again, indeed, even be brought back out of captivity; and after they should be brought back out of captivity, they should possess the land of their inheritance again.
1 Nephi 10:4
Indeed, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, the Lord God would raise up a prophet among the Jews - even a Messiah, or, in other words, a savior of the world.
1 Nephi 10:5
And he also spoke concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this redeemer of the world.
1 Nephi 10:6
Therefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be saved, should they rely on this redeemer.
1 Nephi 10:7
And he spoke also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah to prepare the way of the Lord -
1 Nephi 10:8
Indeed, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there stands one among you whom you do not know; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose." And my father spoke much concerning this thing.
1 Nephi 10:9
And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.
1 Nephi 10:10
And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world.
1 Nephi 10:11
And it came to pass after my father had spoken these words, he spoke to my brethren concerning the Gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in disbelief. And after they had slain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain, he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the [Holy] Spirit, to the Gentiles.
1 Nephi 10:12
Indeed, my father even spoke much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like an olive tree, whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.
1 Nephi 10:13
Therefore, he said it must be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, to the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, so that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.
1 Nephi 10:14
And after the house of Israel should be scattered, they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fullness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their lord and their redeemer.
1 Nephi 10:15
And after this manner of language, my father prophesied and spoke to 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 my other Book.
1 Nephi 10:16
And all these things of which I have spoken, were done as my father dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel.
1 Nephi 10:17
And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spoke by the power of the [Holy] Spirit, which power he received by faith on the son of God - and the son of God was the Messiah who should come - I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the [Holy] Spirit, which is the gift of God to all those who diligently seek Him, as well in times of old as in the time that He should manifest Himself to the children of men.
1 Nephi 10:18
For He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so is that they repent and come to Him.
1 Nephi 10:19
For he who diligently seeks will find; and the mysteries of God will be unfolded to them, by the power of the [Holy] Spirit, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; therefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.
1 Nephi 10:20
Therefore remember, O man, for all your doings, you will be brought into Judgement.
1 Nephi 10:21
Therefore, if you have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then you are found unclean before the Judgement seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; therefore, you must be cast off forever.
1 Nephi 10:22
And the [Holy] Spirit gives authority that I should speak these things, and not deny them.
1 Nephi 11:1
For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known to me, as I sat pondering in my heart I was caught away by the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord, indeed, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I had never seen before, and upon which I had never before set my foot.
1 Nephi 11:2
And the [Holy] Spirit said to me, "Behold, what do you desire?"
1 Nephi 11:3
And I said, "I desire to behold the things which my father saw."
1 Nephi 11:4
And the [Holy] Spirit said to me, "Do you believe that your father saw the tree of which he has spoken?"
1 Nephi 11:5
And I said, "Indeed, you know that I believe all the words of my father."
1 Nephi 11:6
And when I had spoken these words, the [Holy] Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying, "Hosanna to the Lord, the Most High God; for He is God over all the earth, indeed, even above all. And you are blessed, Nephi, because you believe in the son of the Most High God; therefore, you will behold the things which you have desired.
1 Nephi 11:7
And behold this thing will be given to you for a sign, so that after you have beheld the tree which bore the fruit which your father tasted, you will also behold a man descending out of heaven, and you will witness him; and after you have witnessed him, you will bear record that it is the son of God."
1 Nephi 11:8
And it came to pass that the [Holy] Spirit said to me, "Look!" And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like the tree which my father had seen; and the beauty was far beyond, indeed, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness exceeded the whiteness of the driven snow.
1 Nephi 11:9
And it came to pass after I had seen the tree, I said to the [Holy] Spirit, "I behold you have shown to me the tree which is precious above all."
1 Nephi 11:10
And he said to me, "What do you desire?"
1 Nephi 11:11
And I said to him, "To know the interpretation" - for I spoke to him as a man speaks; for I beheld that he was in the form of a man; still nevertheless, I knew that it was the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord; and he spoke to me as a man speaks with another.
1 Nephi 11:12
And it came to pass that he said to me, "Look!" And I looked as if to look upon him, and I did not see him; for he had gone from before my presence.
1 Nephi 11:13
And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth, I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.
1 Nephi 11:14
And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said to me, "Nephi, what do you behold?"
1 Nephi 11:15
And I said to him, "A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins."
1 Nephi 11:16
And he said to me, "Do you know the condescension of God?"
1 Nephi 11:17
And I said to him, "I know that He loves His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."
1 Nephi 11:18
And he said to me, "Behold, the virgin whom you see is the mother of the son of God, after the manner of the flesh."
1 Nephi 11:19
And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away by the [Holy] Spirit; and after she had been carried away by the [Holy] Spirit for the space of a time, the angel spoke to me, saying, "Look!"
1 Nephi 11:20
And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
1 Nephi 11:21
And the angel said to me, "Behold the lamb of God, indeed, even the son of the Eternal Father! Do you know the meaning of the tree which your father saw?"
1 Nephi 11:22
And I answered him, saying, "Indeed, it is the love of God, which sheds itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; therefore, it is the most desirable above all things."
1 Nephi 11:23
And he spoke to me, saying, "Indeed, and the most joyous to the soul."
1 Nephi 11:24
And after he had said these words, he said to me, "Look!" And I looked, and I beheld the son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and serve him.
1 Nephi 11:25
And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the Tree of Life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the Tree of Life was a representation of the love of God.
1 Nephi 11:26
And the angel said to me again, "Look and behold the condescension of God!"
1 Nephi 11:27
And I looked and beheld the redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the lamb of God went forth and was baptized by him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the [Holy] Spirit came down out of heaven and abided upon him in the form of a dove.
1 Nephi 11:28
And I beheld that he went forth ministering to the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them.
1 Nephi 11:29
And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it came to pass that they were carried away by the [Holy] Spirit from before my face, and I did not see them.
1 Nephi 11:30
And it came to pass that the angel spoke to me again, saying, "Look!" And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men; and they ministered to them.
1 Nephi 11:31
And he spoke to me again, saying, "Look!" And I looked, and I beheld the lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spoke and showed all these things to me. And they were healed by the power of the lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.
1 Nephi 11:32
And it came to pass that the angel spoke to me again, saying, "Look!" And I looked and beheld the lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; indeed, the son of the everlasting God was judged by the world; and I saw and bear record.
1 Nephi 11:33
And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.
1 Nephi 11:34
And after he was slain I saw the multitudes of the earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the lamb; for thus were the twelve called by the angel of the Lord.
1 Nephi 11:35
And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like the building which my father saw. And the angel of the Lord spoke to me again, saying, "Behold the world and the wisdom; indeed, behold, the house of Israel has gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the lamb."
1 Nephi 11:36
And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall was exceedingly great. And the angel of the Lord spoke to me again, saying, "Thus will the destruction of all nations be, [and] kindred, tongues, and people, that will fight against the twelve apostles of the lamb."
1 Nephi 12:1
And it came to pass that the angel said to me, "Look, and behold your seed, and also the seed of your brethren." And I looked and beheld the land of promise; and I beheld multitudes of people, indeed, even as it were in number as many as the sand of the sea.
1 Nephi 12:2
And it came to pass that I beheld multitudes gathered together to battle, one against the other; and I beheld wars, and rumors of wars, and great slaughters with the sword amongst my people.
1 Nephi 12:3
And it came to pass that I beheld many generations pass away, after the manner of wars and contentions in the land; and I beheld many cities, indeed, even that I did not number them.
1 Nephi 12:4
And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard thundering, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces; and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up; and I saw many cities that they were sunk; and I saw many that they were burned with fire; and I saw many that tumbled to the earth because of the quaking.
1 Nephi 12:5
And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth; and behold, I saw multitudes who had not fallen because of the great and terrible judgments of the Lord.
1 Nephi 12:6
And I saw the heavens open, and the lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself to them.
1 Nephi 12:7
And I also saw and bear record that the [Holy] Spirit fell upon twelve others; and they were ordained by God, and chosen.
1 Nephi 12:8
And the angel spoke to me, saying, "Behold the twelve disciples of the lamb, who are chosen to minister to your seed."
1 Nephi 12:9
And he said to me, "Do you remember the twelve apostles of the lamb? Behold, they are they who will judge the twelve tribes of Israel; therefore, the twelve ministers of your seed will be judged by them; for you are of the house of Israel.
1 Nephi 12:10
And these twelve ministers whom you behold will judge your seed. And behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the lamb of God, their garments are made white in his blood."
1 Nephi 12:11
And the angel said to me, "Look!" And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments were white even like the lamb of God. And the angel said to me, "These are made white in the blood of the lamb because of their faith in him."
1 Nephi 12:12
And I, Nephi, also saw many of the fourth generation who passed away in righteousness.
1 Nephi 12:13
And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the earth gathered together.
1 Nephi 12:14
And the angel said to me, "Behold your seed, and also the seed of your brethren."
1 Nephi 12:15
And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the people of my seed gathered together in multitudes against the seed of my brethren; and they were gathered together to battle.
1 Nephi 12:16
And the angel spoke to me, saying, "Behold the fountain of filthy water which your father saw; indeed, even the river of which he spoke; and the depths are the depths of Hell.
1 Nephi 12:17
And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blinds the eyes, and hardens the hearts of the children of men, and leads them away into broad roads, so that they perish and are lost.
1 Nephi 12:18
And the large and spacious building, which your father saw is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible gulf divides them; indeed, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the lamb of God, of whom the [Holy] Spirit bears record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever."
1 Nephi 12:19
And while the angel spoke these words, I beheld and saw that the seed of my brethren contended 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 overpowered the people of my seed.
1 Nephi 12:20
And it came to pass that I beheld and saw the people of the seed of my brethren that they had overcome my seed; and they went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land.
1 Nephi 12:21
And I saw them gathered together in multitudes; and I saw wars and rumors of wars amongst them; and I saw many generations pass away in wars and rumors of wars.
1 Nephi 12:22
And the angel said to me, "Behold, these will dwindle in disbelief."
1 Nephi 12:23
And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had dwindled in disbelief, they became a dark and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.
1 Nephi 13:1
And it came to pass that the angel spoke to me, saying, "Look!" And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.
1 Nephi 13:2
And the angel said to me, "What do you behold?" And I said, "I behold many nations and kingdoms."
1 Nephi 13:3
And he said to me, "These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles."
1 Nephi 13:4
And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles, the formation of a great church.
1 Nephi 13:5
And the angel said to me, "Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slays the saints of God, indeed, and tortures them and binds them down, and yokes them with a yoke of iron, and brings them down into captivity."
1 Nephi 13:6
And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil, that he was the founder of it.
1 Nephi 13:7
And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine-twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlots.
1 Nephi 13:8
And the angel spoke to me, saying, "Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, these are the desires of this great and abominable church.
1 Nephi 13:9
And also, for the praise of the world, they destroyed the saints of God, and brought them down into captivity."
1 Nephi 13:10
And it came to pass that I looked and beheld many waters; and they divided the Gentiles from the seed of my brethren.
1 Nephi 13:11
And it came to pass that the angel said to me, "Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of your brethren."
1 Nephi 13:12
And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the [Holy] Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even to the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.
1 Nephi 13:13
And it came to pass that I beheld the [Holy] Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.
1 Nephi 13:14
And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were struck.
1 Nephi 13:15
And I beheld the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they prospered and obtained the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like my people before, they were slain.
1 Nephi 13:16
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity humbled themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.
1 Nephi 13:17
And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.
1 Nephi 13:18
And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.
1 Nephi 13:19
And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.
1 Nephi 13:20
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they prospered in the land; and I beheld a Book, and it was carried forth among them.
1 Nephi 13:21
And the angel said to me, "Do you know the meaning of the Book?"
1 Nephi 13:22
And I said to him, "I do not know."
1 Nephi 13:23
And he said, "Behold, it proceeds out of the mouth of a Jew." And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said to me, "The Book that you behold is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which He has made to the house of Israel; and it also contains many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, except there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which He has made to the house of Israel; therefore, they are of great worth to the Gentiles."
1 Nephi 13:24
And the angel of the Lord said to me, "You have beheld that the Book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew, it contained the fullness of the Gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the lamb of God.
1 Nephi 13:25
Therefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity to the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God.
1 Nephi 13:26
And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the lamb, from the Jews to the Gentiles, you see the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away many parts which are plain and most precious from the Gospel of the lamb; and they have also taken away many covenants of the Lord.
1 Nephi 13:27
And they have done all this so that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men.
1 Nephi 13:28
Therefore, you see that after the Book has gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the Book, which is the Book of the lamb of God.
1 Nephi 13:29
And after these plain and precious things were taken away, it goes forth to all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goes forth to all the nations of the Gentiles, indeed, even across the many waters which you have seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, you see - because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the Book, which were plain to the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the lamb of God - because of these things which are taken away out of the Gospel of the lamb, an exceedingly great many stumble, indeed, insomuch that Satan has great power over them.
1 Nephi 13:30
Nevertheless, you behold that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land that the Lord God has covenanted with your father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance; therefore, you see that the Lord God will not allow that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of your seed, which are among your brethren.
1 Nephi 13:31
Neither will He allow that the Gentiles will destroy the seed of your brethren.
1 Nephi 13:32
Neither will the Lord God allow that the Gentiles will forever remain in that awful state of blindness, which you behold they are in, because of the plain and most precious parts of the Gospel of the lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, whose formation you have seen.
1 Nephi 13:33
Therefore the lamb of God says, "I will be merciful to the Gentiles, to the visiting of the remnant of the house of Israel in great judgment."
1 Nephi 13:34
And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spoke to me, saying, "Behold,” says the lamb of God, “After I have visited the remnant of the house of Israel - and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of your father - for what reason, after I have visited them in judgment, and struck them by the hand of the Gentiles, and after the Gentiles stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and precious parts of the Gospel of the lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots,” says the lamb - “I will be merciful to the Gentiles on that day, insomuch that I will bring forth to them, in my own power, much of my Gospel, which will be plain and precious,” says the lamb.
1 Nephi 13:35
“For, behold,” says the lamb, “I will manifest myself to your seed, so that they will write many things which I will minister to them, which will be plain and precious; and after your seed will be destroyed, and dwindle in disbelief, and also the seed of your brethren, behold, these things will be hidden up, to come forth to the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the lamb.
1 Nephi 13:36
And my Gospel will be written in them,” says the lamb, “And my rock and my salvation.
1 Nephi 13:37
And those who will seek to bring forth my Zion at that day are blessed, for they will have the gift and the power of the [Holy] Spirit; and if they endure to the end, they will be lifted up at the Last Day, and will be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the lamb; and whoever will publish peace, indeed, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains will they be.”
1 Nephi 13:38
And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Book of the lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles to the remnant of the seed of my brethren.
1 Nephi 13:39
And after it had come forth to them, I beheld other Books, which came forth by the power of the lamb, from the Gentiles to them, to the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the lamb are true.
1 Nephi 13:40
And the angel spoke to me, saying, "These last records, which you have seen among the Gentiles, will establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the lamb, and will make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and will make known to all kindred, tongues, and people, that the lamb of God is the son of the Eternal Father, and the savior of the world; and that all men must come to him, or they cannot be saved.
1 Nephi 13:41
And they must come according to the words which will be established by the mouth of the lamb; and the words of the lamb will be made known in the records of your seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the lamb; therefore they both will be established in one; for there is one God and one shepherd over all the earth.
1 Nephi 13:42
And the time comes that he will manifest himself to all nations, both to the Jews and also to the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself to the Jews and also to the Gentiles, then he will manifest himself to the Gentiles and also to the Jews, and the last will be first, and the first will be last.
1 Nephi 10:1
And it will come to pass, that if the Gentiles will listen to the lamb of God on that day, that he will manifest himself to them in word, and also in power, in very deed, to the taking away of their stumbling blocks -
1 Nephi 14:2
And not harden their hearts against the lamb of God, they will be numbered among the seed of your father; indeed, they will be numbered among the house of Israel; and they will be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; they will no longer be brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel will no longer be confounded.
1 Nephi 14:3
And that great pit, which has been dug for them by that great and abominable church, which was founded by the devil and his children, so that he might lead away the souls of men down to Hell - indeed, that great pit which has been dug for the destruction of men will be filled by those who dug it, to their utter destruction,” says the lamb of God; “Not the destruction of the soul, except it is the casting of it into that Hell which has no end.
1 Nephi 14:4
For behold, this is according to the captivity of the devil, and also according to the justice of God, upon all those who will work wickedness and abomination before Him.
1 Nephi 14:5
And it came to pass that the angel spoke to me, Nephi, saying, "You have beheld that if the Gentiles repent, it will be well with them; and you also know concerning the covenants of the Lord to the house of Israel; and you also have heard that whoever does not repent, must perish.
1 Nephi 14:6
Therefore, woe to the Gentiles if it so is that they harden their hearts against the lamb of God.
1 Nephi 14:7
For the time comes," says the lamb of God, "That I will work a great and marvelous work amongst the children of men; a work which will be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other - either to the convincing of them to peace and eternal life, or to the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds, to their being brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of which I have spoken."
1 Nephi 14:8
And it came to pass that when the angel had spoken these words, he said to me, "Do you remember the covenants of the Father to the house of Israel?" I said to him, "Indeed."
1 Nephi 14:9
And it came to pass that he said to me, "Look, and behold that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations, whose founder is the devil."
1 Nephi 14:10
And he said to me, "Behold there are only two churches; the one is the church of the lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; therefore, whoever does not belong to the church of the lamb of God, belongs to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth."
1 Nephi 14:11
And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindred, tongues, and people.
1 Nephi 14:12
And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.
1 Nephi 14:13
And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations gathered multitudes together upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the lamb of God.
1 Nephi 14:14
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.
1 Nephi 14:15
And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindred of the earth.
1 Nephi 14:16
And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars amongst all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spoke to me, saying, "Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots; and behold, you see all these things -
1 Nephi 14:17
And when the day comes that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father will commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of His covenants, which He has made to His people who are of the house of Israel."
1 Nephi 14:18
And it came to pass that the angel spoke to me, saying, "Look!"
1 Nephi 14:19
And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe.
1 Nephi 14:20
And the angel said to me, "Behold one of the twelve apostles of the lamb.
1 Nephi 14:21
Behold, he will see and write the remainder of these things; indeed, and also many things which have been.
1 Nephi 14:22
And he will also write concerning the end of the world.
1 Nephi 14:23
Therefore, the things which he will write are just and true; and behold, they are written in the Book which you beheld proceeding out of the mouth of the Jew; and at the time they proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, or, at the time the Book proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men.
1 Nephi 14:24
And behold, the things which this apostle of the lamb will write are many things which you have seen; and behold, you will see the remainder.
1 Nephi 14:25
But the things which you will see hereafter, you will not write; for the Lord God has ordained the apostle of the lamb of God that he should write them.
1 Nephi 14:26
And also others who have been, He has shown all things to them, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, to the house of Israel."
1 Nephi 14:27
And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the lamb was John, according to the word of the angel.
1 Nephi 14:28
And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard; therefore the things which I have written suffices me; and I have written only a small part of the things which I saw.
1 Nephi 14:29
And I bear record that I saw the things which my father saw, and the angel of the Lord made them known to me.
1 Nephi 14:30
And now I make an end of speaking concerning the things which I saw while I was carried away in the [Holy] 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.
1 Nephi 15:1
And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been carried away in the [Holy] Spirit, and seen all these things, I returned to the tent of my father.
1 Nephi 15:2
And it came to pass that I beheld my brethren, and they were disputing one with another concerning the things which my father had spoken to them.
1 Nephi 15:3
For he truly spoke many great things to them, which were hard to be understood, unless a man should inquire of the Lord; and they, being hard in their hearts, therefore did not look to the Lord as they should.
1 Nephi 15:4
And now I, Nephi, was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, and also, because of the things which I had seen, and knew they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great wickedness of the children of men.
1 Nephi 15:5
And it came to pass that I was overcome because of my afflictions, for I considered that my afflictions were great above all, because of the destruction of my people, for I had beheld their fall.
1 Nephi 15:6
And it came to pass that after I had received strength, I spoke to my brethren, desiring to know the cause of their disputations from them.
1 Nephi 15:7
And they said, "Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father has spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree, and also concerning the Gentiles."
1 Nephi 15:8
And I said to them, "Have you inquired of the Lord?"
1 Nephi 15:9
And they said to me, "We have not; for the Lord makes no such thing known to us."
1 Nephi 15:10
"Behold," I said to them, "How is it that you do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that you will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?
1 Nephi 15:11
Do you not remember the things which the Lord has said? - 'If you will not harden your hearts, and ask Me in faith, believing that you will receive, with diligence in keeping My commandments, surely these things will be made known to you.'
1 Nephi 15:12
'Behold,' I say to you, 'That the house of Israel was compared to an olive tree, by the [Holy] Spirit of the Lord which was in our father; and behold, are we not broken off from the house of Israel, and are we not a branch of the house of Israel?'
1 Nephi 15:13
And now, the thing which our father means concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed will have dwindled in disbelief, indeed, for the space of many years, and many generations after, the Messiah will be manifested in body to the children of men, then the fullness of the Gospel of the Messiah will come to the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles to the remnant of our seed -
1 Nephi 15:14
And at that day, the remnant of our seed will know that they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the covenant people of the Lord; and then they will know and come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge of the Gospel of their redeemer, which was ministered to their fathers by him; therefore, they will come to the knowledge of their redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, so that they may know how to come to him and be saved.
1 Nephi 15:15
And then at that day, will they not rejoice and give praise to their everlasting God, their Rock and their salvation? Indeed, at that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true vine? Indeed, will they not come to the true fold of God?
1 Nephi 15:16
'Behold,' I say to you, 'Indeed; they will be remembered again amongst the house of Israel; they will be grafted in, being a natural branch of the olive tree, into the true olive tree.'
1 Nephi 15:17
And this is what our father means; and he means that it will not come to pass until after they are scattered by the Gentiles; and he means that it will come by way of the Gentiles, so that the Lord may show His power to the Gentiles, for the very cause that He will be rejected by the Jews, or by the house of Israel.
1 Nephi 15:18
Therefore, our father has not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying, 'In your seed will all the kindred of the earth be blessed.'"
1 Nephi 15:19
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spoke a lot to them concerning these things; indeed, I spoke to them concerning the restoration of the Jews in the latter days.
1 Nephi 15:20
And I rehearsed the words of Isaiah to them, who spoke concerning the restoration of the Jews, or of the house of Israel; and after they were restored, they should no longer be confounded, neither should they be scattered again. And it came to pass that I spoke many words to my brethren, so that they were pacified and humbled themselves before the Lord.
1 Nephi 15:21
And it came to pass that they spoke to me again, saying, "What does this thing mean which our father saw in a dream? What does the tree which he saw mean?"
1 Nephi 15:22
And I said to them, "It was a representation of the Tree of Life."
1 Nephi 15:23
And they said to me, "What does the rod of iron which our father saw mean, which led to the Tree?"
1 Nephi 15:24
And I said to them that it was the word of God; and whoever would listen to the word of God, and would hold fast to it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them to blindness, to lead them away to destruction.
1 Nephi 15:25
Therefore, I, Nephi, exhorted them to give heed to the word of the Lord; indeed, I exhorted them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, so that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep His commandments always in all things.
1 Nephi 15:26
And they said to me, "What does the river of water which our father saw mean?"
1 Nephi 15:27
And I said to them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he did not behold the filthiness of the water.
1 Nephi 15:28
And I said to them that it was an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the Tree of Life, and also from the saints of God.
1 Nephi 15:29
And I said to them that it was a representation of that awful Hell, which the angel said to me was prepared for the wicked.
1 Nephi 15:30
And I said to them that our father also saw that the justice of God also divided the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness was like the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascends up to God forever and ever, and has no end.
1 Nephi 15:31
And they said to me, "Does this thing mean the torment of the body in the days of probation, or does it mean the final state of the soul after the death of the temporal body, or does it speak of the things which are temporal?"
1 Nephi 15:32
And it came to pass that I said to them that it was a representation of things both temporal and spiritual; for the day should come that they must be judged by their works, indeed, even the works which were done by the temporal body in their days of probation.
1 Nephi 15:33
Therefore, if they should die in their wickedness, they must also be cast off, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to righteousness; therefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be judged by their works; and if their works have been filthiness, they must be filthy; and if they are filthy, it must be that they cannot dwell in the Kingdom of God; if so, the Kingdom of God must also be filth.
1 Nephi 15:34
“But behold,” I say to you, “The Kingdom of God is not filthy, and no unclean thing can enter into the Kingdom of God; therefore there must be a place of filthiness prepared for that which is filthy.
1 Nephi 15:35
And there is a place prepared, indeed, even that awful Hell of which I have spoken, and the devil is the preparator of it; therefore the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the Kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken.
1 Nephi 15:36
Therefore, 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; indeed, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” And thus I spoke to my brethren. Amen.
1 Nephi 16:1
And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of speaking to my brethren, behold, they said to me, “You have declared hard things to us, more than we are able to bear.”
1 Nephi 16:2
And it came to pass that I said to them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and I have justified the righteous, and testified that they should be lifted up at the Last Day; therefore, the guilty take the truth to be hard, for it cuts them to the very center.
1 Nephi 16:3
And now my brethren, if you were righteous and were willing to listen to the truth, and give heed to it, so that you might walk uprightly before God, then you would not murmur because of the truth, and say, “You speak hard things against us.”
1 Nephi 16:4
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, exhorted my brethren, with all diligence, to keep the commandments of the Lord.
1 Nephi 16:5
And it came to pass that they humbled themselves before the Lord; insomuch that I had joy and great hopes for them, that they would walk in the paths of righteousness.
1 Nephi 16:6
Now, all these things were said and done as my father dwelt in a tent in the valley which he called Lemuel.
1 Nephi 16:7
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, took one of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also, my brethren took from the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also Zoram took the eldest daughter of Ishmael to wife.
1 Nephi 16:8
And thus my father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord which had been given to him. And also, I, Nephi, had been blessed by the Lord exceedingly.
1 Nephi 16:9
And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord spoke to my father by night, and commanded him that on the morrow, he should take his journey into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 16:10
And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment, he beheld upon the ground, a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way where we should go into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 16:11
And it came to pass that we gathered together whatsoever things we should carry into the wilderness, and all the remainder of our provisions which the Lord had given to us; and we took seed of every kind so that we might carry into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 16:12
And it came to pass that we took our tents and departed into the wilderness, across the river Laman.
1 Nephi 16:13
And it came to pass that we traveled for the space of four days, nearly a south-southeast direction, and we pitched our tents again; and we called the name of the place Shazer.
1 Nephi 16:14
And it came to pass that we took our bows and our arrows, and went forth into the wilderness to slay food for our families; and after we had slain food for our families, we returned again to our families in the wilderness, to the place of Shazer. And we went forth again in the wilderness, following the same direction, keeping in the most fertile parts of the wilderness, which were in the borders near the Red Sea.
1 Nephi 16:15
And it came to pass that we traveled for the space of many days, slaying food by the way, with our bows and our arrows and our stones and our slings.
1 Nephi 16:16
And we followed the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.
1 Nephi 16:17
And after we had traveled for the space of many days, we pitched our tents for the space of a time, so that we might again rest ourselves and obtain food for our families.
1 Nephi 16:18
And it came to pass that as I, Nephi, went forth to slay food, behold, I broke my bow, which was made of fine steel; and after I broke my bow, behold, my brethren were angry with me because of the loss of my bow, for we obtained no food.
1 Nephi 16:19
And it came to pass that we returned without food to our families, and being much fatigued, because of their journeying, they suffered much for the want of food.
1 Nephi 16:20
And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael began to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness; and also my father began to murmur against the Lord his God; indeed, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that they murmured against the Lord.
1 Nephi 16:21
Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, having been afflicted with my brethren because of the loss of my bow, and their bows having lost their springs, it began to be exceedingly difficult, indeed, insomuch that we could obtain no food.
1 Nephi 16:22
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spoke much to my brethren, because they had hardened their hearts again, even to complaining against the Lord their God.
1 Nephi 16:23
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, made a bow out of wood, and out of a straight stick, an arrow; therefore, I armed myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones. And I said to my father, “Where will I go to obtain food?”
1 Nephi 16:24
And it came to pass that he inquired of the Lord, for they had humbled themselves because of my words; for I said many things to them in the energy of my soul.
1 Nephi 16:25
And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to my father; and he was truly chastened because of his murmuring against the Lord, insomuch that he was brought down into the depths of sorrow.
1 Nephi 16:26
And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said to him, “Look upon the ball, and behold the things which are written.”
1 Nephi 16:27
And it came to pass that when my father beheld the things which were written upon the ball, he feared and trembled exceedingly, and also my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our wives.
1 Nephi 16:28
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they worked according to the faith and diligence and heed which we gave to them.
1 Nephi 16:29
And a new writing was also written upon them, which was plain to be read, which gave 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 to it. And thus we see that by small means, the Lord can bring about great things.
1 Nephi 16:30
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, went forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball.
1 Nephi 16:31
And it came to pass that I slayed wild beasts, insomuch that I obtained food for our families.
1 Nephi 16:32
And it came to pass that I returned 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 humbled themselves before the Lord, and gave thanks to Him.
1 Nephi 16:33
And it came to pass that we again took our journey, traveling nearly the same course as in the beginning; and after we had traveled for the space of many days, we pitched our tents again, so that we might wait for the space of a time.
1 Nephi 16:34
And it came to pass that Ishmael died, and was buried in the place which was called Nahom.
1 Nephi 16:35
And it came to pass that the daughters of Ishmael mourned exceedingly, because of the loss of their father, and because of their afflictions in the wilderness; and they murmured against my father, because he had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, saying, "Our father is dead; indeed, and we have wandered much in the wilderness, and we have suffered much affliction, hunger, thirst, and fatigue; and after all these sufferings, we must perish in the wilderness with hunger.”
1 Nephi 16:36
And thus they murmured against my father, and also against me; and they were desirous to return again to Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 16:37
And Laman said to Lemuel and also to the sons of Ishmael, “Behold, let us slay our father, and also our brother Nephi, who has taken it upon him to be our ruler and our teacher, who are his elder brethren.
1 Nephi 16:38
Now, he says that the Lord has talked with him, and also that angels have ministered to him. But behold, we know that he lies to us; and he tells us these things, and he works many things by his cunning arts, so that he may deceive our eyes, thinking, perhaps, that he may lead us away into some strange wilderness; and after he has led us away, he has thought to make himself a king and a ruler over us, so that he may do with us according to his will and pleasure.” And after this manner, my brother Laman stirred up their hearts to anger.
1 Nephi 16:39
And it came to pass that the Lord was with us, indeed, even the voice of the Lord came and spoke many words to them, and chastened them exceedingly; and after they were chastened by the voice of the Lord, they turned away their anger, and repented of their sins, insomuch that the Lord blessed us again with food, so that we did not perish.
1 Nephi 17:1
And it came to pass that we again took our journey in the wilderness; and we traveled nearly eastward from that time forth. And we traveled and wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women bore children in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 17:2
And the blessings of the Lord were so great upon us, that while we lived upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women gave plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, indeed, even like the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.
1 Nephi 17:3
And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so is that the children of men keep the commandments of God, He does nourish them, and strengthens them, and provides means whereby they can accomplish the thing which He has commanded them; therefore, He provided means for us while we sojourned in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 17:4
And we sojourned for the space of many years, indeed, even eight years in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 17:5
And we came to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its plentiful fruit and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared by the Lord so that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is many waters.
1 Nephi 17:6
And it came to pass that we pitched our tents by the seashore; and notwithstanding, we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, indeed, 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 plentiful fruit.
1 Nephi 17:7
And 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 to me, saying, "Arise, and get into the mountain.” And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried to the Lord.
1 Nephi 17:8
And it came to pass that the Lord spoke to me, saying, "You will construct a ship, after the manner which I will show you, so that I may carry your people across these waters.”
1 Nephi 17:9
And I said, "Lord, where will I go so that I may find ore to molten, so that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which You have shown to me?”
1 Nephi 17:10
And it came to pass that the Lord told me where I should go to find ore, so that I might make tools.
1 Nephi 17:11
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, made a bellows whereby to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, so that I might have [something] whereby to blow the fire; I struck two stones together so that I might make fire.
1 Nephi 17:12
For the Lord had not allowed that we should make much fire, as we journeyed in the wilderness; for He said, "I will make your food become sweet, so that you do not cook it;
1 Nephi 17:13
And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so is that you will keep My commandments; therefore, inasmuch as you will keep My commandments, you will be led towards the promised land; and you will know that it is by Me that you are led.
1 Nephi 17:14
Indeed, and the Lord said also that, “After you have arrived in the promised land, you will know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, delivered you from destruction; indeed, that I brought you out of the land of Jerusalem.”
1 Nephi 17:15
Therefore, I, Nephi, strove to keep the commandments of the Lord, and I exhorted my brethren to faithfulness and diligence.
1 Nephi 17:16
And it came to pass that I made tools from the ore which I melted out of the rock.
1 Nephi 17:17
And 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 thinks that he can build a ship; indeed, and he also thinks that he can cross these great waters.”
1 Nephi 17:18
And thus my brethren complained 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 by the Lord.
1 Nephi 17:19
And now it came to pass that I, Nephi, was 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 rejoiced over me, saying, "We knew that you could not construct a ship, for we knew that you were lacking in judgment; therefore, you cannot accomplish so great a work.
1 Nephi 17:20
And you are like our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart; indeed, he has 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 wilderness and suffered all things, except death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these afflictions.
1 Nephi 17:21
Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; indeed, and we might have been happy.
1 Nephi 17:22
And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all His commandments, according to the law of Moses; therefore, we know that they are a righteous people; and our father has judged them, and has led us away because we would listen to his words; indeed, and our brother is like him.” And after this manner of language, my brethren murmured and complained against us.
1 Nephi 17:23
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spoke to them, saying, "Do you believe that our fathers, who were the Children of Israel, would have been led away out of the hands of the Egyptians if they had not listened to the words of the Lord?
1 Nephi 17:24
Indeed, do you 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?
1 Nephi 17:25
Now you know that the Children of Israel were in bondage; and you know that they were laden with tasks, which were grievous to be borne; therefore, you know that it must be a good thing for them, that they should be brought out of bondage.
1 Nephi 17:26
Now you know that Moses was commanded by the Lord to do that great work; and you know that by his word, the waters of the Red Sea were divided here and there, and they passed through on dry ground.
1 Nephi 17:27
But you know that the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, who were the armies of Pharaoh.
1 Nephi 17:28
And you also know that they were fed with manna in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 17:29
Indeed, and you also know that Moses, by his word, according to the power of God which was in him, struck the rock, and water came forth, so that the Children of Israel might quench their thirst.
1 Nephi 17:30
And notwithstanding, they, being led, the Lord their God, their Redeemer, going before them, leading them by day and giving light to them by night, and doing all things for them which were expedient for man to receive, they hardened their hearts and blinded their minds, and reviled against Moses and against the true and living God.
1 Nephi 17:31
And it came to pass that according to His word, He destroyed them; and according to His word, He led them; and according to His word, He did all things for them; and there was not any thing done except it was by His word.
1 Nephi 17:32
And after they had crossed the river Jordan, He made them mighty to the driving out of the children of the land, indeed, to scattering them to destruction.
1 Nephi 17:33
And now, do you suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do you suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say to you, No.
1 Nephi 17:34
Do you suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say to you, No.
1 Nephi 17:35
Behold, the Lord esteems all flesh in one; he who is righteous is favored by God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fullness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord cursed the land against them, and blessed it to our fathers; indeed, He cursed it against them to their destruction, and He blessed it to our fathers to their obtaining power over it.
1 Nephi 17:36
Behold, the Lord has created the earth so that it should be inhabited; and He has created His children so that they should possess it.
1 Nephi 17:37
And He raises up a righteous nation, and destroys the nations of the wicked.
1 Nephi 17:38
And He leads away the righteous into precious lands, and He destroys the wicked, and curses the land to them for their sakes.
1 Nephi 17:39
He rules high in the heavens, for it is His Throne, and this earth is His footstool.
1 Nephi 17:40
And He loves those who will have Him to be their God. Behold, He loved our fathers, and He covenanted with them, indeed, even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and He remembered the covenants which He had made; therefore, He brought them out of the land of Egypt.
1 Nephi 17:41
And He straitened them in the wilderness with His rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as you have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten, He prepared a way so 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 who perished.
1 Nephi 17:42
And they hardened their hearts from time to time, and they reviled against Moses, and also against God; nevertheless, you know that they were led forth by His matchless power into the land of promise.
1 Nephi 17:43
And now, after all these things, the time has come that they have become wicked, indeed, nearly to ripeness; and I do not know, but they are about to be destroyed at this day; for I know that the day must surely come that they must be destroyed, except a few only, who will be led away into captivity.
1 Nephi 17:44
Therefore, the Lord commanded my father that he should depart into the wilderness; and the Jews also sought to take away his life; indeed, and you also have sought to take away his life; therefore, you are murderers in your hearts and you are like them.
1 Nephi 17:45
You are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. You have seen an angel, and He spoke to you; indeed, you have heard His voice from time to time; and He has spoken to you in a still small voice, but you were past feeling, so that you could not feel His words; therefore, He has spoken to you like the voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.
1 Nephi 17:46
And you also know that by the power of His almighty word, He can cause the earth so that it will pass away; indeed, and you know that by His word, He can cause the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places will be broken up. O, then, why is it that you can be so hard in your hearts?
1 Nephi 17:47
Behold, my soul is torn with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear in case you will be cast off forever. Behold, I am full of the [Holy] Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has no strength.”
1 Nephi 17:48
And 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; and as they came forth to lay their hands upon me, I spoke to them, saying, "In the name of the Almighty God, I command you that you do not touch me, for I am filled with the power of God, even to the consuming of my flesh; and whoever will lay his hands upon me will wither even as a dried reed; and he will be as nothing before the power of God, for God will strike him.”
1 Nephi 17:49
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said to them 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.
1 Nephi 17:50
And I said to them, “If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If He should command me that I should say to this water, “Be earth,” it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.
1 Nephi 17:51
And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has worked so many miracles amongst the children of men, how is it that He cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?”
1 Nephi 17:52
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said many things to my brethren, insomuch that they were confounded and could not contend against me; neither did they lay their hands upon me nor touch me with their fingers, even for the space of many days. Now they did not do this in case they should wither before me, so powerful was the [Holy] Spirit of God; and thus He had worked upon them.
1 Nephi 17:53
And it came to pass that the Lord said to me, “Stretch forth your hand again to your brethren, and they will not wither before you, but I will shock them,” the Lord says, “And I will do this so that they may know that I am the Lord their God.”
1 Nephi 17:54
And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand to my brethren, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord shook them, even according to the word which He had spoken.
1 Nephi 17:55
And now, they said, "We know of a surety that the Lord is with you, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us. And they fell down before me, and were about to serve me, but I would not allow them, saying, "I am your brother, indeed, even your younger brother; therefore, serve the Lord your God, and honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God will give you.”
1 Nephi 18:1
And it came to pass that they served the Lord, and went forth with me; and we worked timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord showed me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.
1 Nephi 18:2
Now 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 built it after the manner which the Lord had shown to me; therefore, it was not after the manner of men.
1 Nephi 18:3
And I, Nephi, went into the mount often, and I prayed often to the Lord; therefore the Lord showed great things to me.
1 Nephi 18:4
And 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 was exceedingly fine; therefore, they humbled themselves again before the Lord.
1 Nephi 18:5
And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to my father, so that we should arise and go down into the ship.
1 Nephi 18:6
And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had prepared all things, many fruits and meats from the wilderness, and honey in abundance, and provisions according to that which the Lord had commanded us, we went down into the ship, with all our loading and our seeds, and whatsoever thing we had brought with us, every one according to his age; therefore, we all went down into the ship, with our wives and our children.
1 Nephi 18:7
And now, my father had fathered two sons in the wilderness; the elder was called Jacob and the younger Joseph.
1 Nephi 18:8
And it came to pass after we had all gone down into the ship, and had taken our provisions with us and things which had been commanded us, we put forth into the sea and were driven forth before the wind towards the promised land.
1 Nephi 18:9
And after 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, indeed, even that they forgot by what power they had been brought there; indeed, they were lifted up to exceeding rudeness.
1 Nephi 18:10
And I, Nephi, began to fear exceedingly in case the Lord should be angry with us, and strike us because of our iniquity, so that we should be swallowed up in the depths of the sea; therefore, I, Nephi, began to speak to them with much soberness; but behold, they were angry with me, saying, "We do not will that our younger brother will be a ruler over us.”
1 Nephi 18:11
And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel took me and bound me with cords, and they treated me with much harshness; nevertheless, the Lord did allow it so that He might show forth His power, to the fulfilling of His word which He had spoken concerning the wicked.
1 Nephi 18:12
And it came to pass that after they had bound me insomuch that I could not move, the compass, which had been prepared by the Lord, ceased to work.
1 Nephi 18:13
Therefore, they did not know where they should steer the ship, insomuch that there arose a great storm, indeed, 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 in case they should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless they did not loosen me.
1 Nephi 18:14
And on the fourth day which we had been driven back, the tempest began to be exceedingly sore.
1 Nephi 18:15
And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to see that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish unless they should repent of their iniquities; therefore, they came to me, and loosened the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold, they had swollen exceedingly; and also my ankles were greatly swollen, and the soreness was great.
1 Nephi 18:16
Nevertheless, I looked to my God, and I praised Him all day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of my afflictions.
1 Nephi 18:17
Now my father, Lehi, had said many things to them, and also to the sons of Ishmael; but behold, they breathed out much threatening against anyone who should speak for me; and my parents, being stricken in years, and having suffered much grief because of their children, they were brought down, indeed, even upon their sick-beds.
1 Nephi 18:18
Because 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; indeed, their gray hairs were about to be brought down to lie low in the dust; indeed, even they were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave.
1 Nephi 18:19
And 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 so that they would loosen me.
1 Nephi 18:20
And there was nothing unless it was the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, that could soften their hearts; therefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea, they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosened me.
1 Nephi 18:21
And it came to pass after they had loosened me, behold, I took the compass, and it worked where I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed to the Lord; and after I had prayed, the winds ceased, and the storm ceased, and there was a great calm.
1 Nephi 18:22
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, guided the ship, so that we sailed again towards the promised land.
1 Nephi 18:23
And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days, we arrived at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and pitched our tents; and we called it the promised land.
1 Nephi 18:24
And it came to pass that we began to till the earth, and we began to plant seeds; indeed, we put all our seeds into the earth, which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass that they grew exceedingly; therefore, we were blessed in abundance.
1 Nephi 18:25
And it came to pass that we found upon the land of promise, as we journeyed in the wilderness, that there were beasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow and the ox, and the donkey and the horse, and the goat and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were for the use of men. And we found all manner of ore, both of gold, and silver, and copper.
1 Nephi 19:1
And it came to pass that the Lord commanded me, therefore I made plates of ore so that I might engrave the record of my people upon them. And upon the plates which I made, I engraved the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and I have also engraved many of my own prophecies upon them.
1 Nephi 19:2
And I did not know at the time when I made them that I should be commanded by the Lord to make these plates; therefore, the record of my father, and the genealogy of his fathers, and the longer part of all our proceedings in the wilderness are engraved upon those first plates of which I have spoken; therefore, the things which transpired before I made these plates are, of a truth, more particularly mentioned upon the first plates.
1 Nephi 19:3
And after 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, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known to the Lord.
1 Nephi 19:4
Therefore, I, Nephi, made 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 I have done this, and commanded my people what they should do after 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 from the Lord.
1 Nephi 19:5
And an account of my making these plates will be given hereafter; and then, behold, I proceed according to that which I have spoken; and I do this so that the more sacred things may be kept for the knowledge of my people.
1 Nephi 19:6
Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates unless it is [something] that I think it is sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old; 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.
1 Nephi 19:7
For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at nothing and trample [them] under their feet. Indeed, even the very God of Israel, men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words - they set Him at nothing, and do not listen to the voice of His counsels.
1 Nephi 19:8
And behold, he comes, according to the words of the angel, in six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 19:9
And the world, because of their iniquity, will judge him to be a thing of nothing; therefore they scourge him, and he suffers; and they strike him, and he suffers. Indeed, they spit upon him, and he suffer, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.
1 Nephi 19:10
And the God of our fathers, who were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by him, indeed, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yields 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 sepulcher, according to the words of Zenos, which he spoke concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death to those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given to those who are of the house of Israel.
1 Nephi 19:11
For thus the prophet spoke, “The Lord God surely will visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with His voice, because of their righteousness, to their great joy and salvation, and others with the thundering and the lightnings of His power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which will be carried up.
1 Nephi 19:12
And all these things must surely come,” the prophet Zenos says. “And the rocks of the earth must rend; and because of the groaning of the earth, many of the kings of the isles of the sea will be worked upon by the [Holy] Spirit of God, to exclaim, ‘The God of nature suffers.’
1 Nephi 19:13
And as for those who are at Jerusalem,” the prophet says, “They will be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel.
1 Nephi 19:14
And because they turn their hearts aside,” the prophet says, “And have despised the Holy One of Israel, they will wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations.
1 Nephi 19:15
Nevertheless, when that day comes,” the prophet says, “That they no longer turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will He remember the covenants which He made to their fathers.
1 Nephi 19:16
Indeed, then will He remember the isles of the sea; indeed, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, ‘I will gather in,’ the Lord says, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth.
1 Nephi 19:17
Indeed, and all the earth will see the salvation of the Lord,” the prophet says; “Every nation, kindred, tongue and people will be blessed.”
1 Nephi 19:18
And I, Nephi, have written these things to my people, so that perhaps I might persuade them so that they would remember the Lord, their Redeemer.
1 Nephi 19:19
Therefore, I speak to all the house of Israel, if it so is that they should obtain these things.
1 Nephi 19:20
For behold, I have workings in the spirit, which wearies me even that all my joints are weak, for those who are at Jerusalem; for had the Lord not been merciful, to show to me concerning them, even as He had prophets of old, I should have also perished.
1 Nephi 19:21
And He surely did show to the prophets of old all things concerning them; and also He showed to many concerning us; therefore, it must be that we know concerning them, for they are written upon the plates of brass.
1 Nephi 19:22
Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, taught my brethren these things; and it came to pass that I read many things to them, which were engraved upon the plates of brass, so that they might know concerning the workings of the Lord in other lands, amongst people of old.
1 Nephi 19:23
And I read many things to them which were written in the Books of Moses; but so that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord, their Redeemer, I read to them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I likened all Scriptures to us, so that it might be for our profit and learning.
1 Nephi 19:24
Therefore I spoke to them, saying, "Hear the words of the prophet, you who are a remnant of the house of Israel, a branch who has been broken off; hear the words of the prophet, which were written to all the house of Israel, and liken them to yourselves, so that you may have hope as well as your brethren from whom you have been broken off; for the prophet has written after this manner.
1 Nephi 20:1
Listen and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and have come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, still they do not swear in truth nor in righteousness.
1 Nephi 20:2
Nevertheless, they call themselves of the holy city, but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel, who is the Lord of hosts; indeed, the Lord of hosts is His name.
1 Nephi 20:3
Behold, I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of My mouth, and I showed them. I showed them suddenly.
1 Nephi 20:4
And I did it because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow brass;
1 Nephi 20:5
And I have declared to you even from the beginning; before it came to pass I showed them to you; and I showed them for fear in case you should say, “My idol has done them, and my graven image, and my molten image has commanded them.”
1 Nephi 20:6
You have seen and heard all this; and will you not declare them? And I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, and you did not know them.
1 Nephi 20:7
They are created now, and not from the beginning, even before the day when you did not hear them, they were declared to you, in case you should say, “Behold I knew them.”
1 Nephi 20:8
Indeed, and you did not hear; indeed, you did not know; indeed, from that time, your ear was not opened; for I knew that you would deal very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from the womb.
1 Nephi 20:9
Nevertheless, for My name’s sake, I will defer My anger, and for My praise, I will refrain from you, so that I do not cut you off.
1 Nephi 20:10
For, behold, I have refined you, I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.
1 Nephi 20:11
For My own sake, indeed, for My own sake, I will do this, for I will not allow My name to be polluted, and I will not give My glory to another.
1 Nephi 20:12
Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, My called, for I am He; I am the First, and I am also the Last.
1 Nephi 20:13
My hand has also laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has spanned the heavens. I call to them, and they stand up together.
1 Nephi 20:14
All you, assemble yourselves, and hear; who among them has declared these things to them? The Lord has loved him; indeed, and He will fulfill His word which He has declared by them; and He will do His pleasure upon Babylon, and His arm will come upon the Chaldeans.
1 Nephi 20:15
Also, the Lord says; “I the Lord, indeed, I have spoken; indeed, I have called him to declare, I have brought him, and he will make his way prosperous.
1 Nephi 20:16
Come near to Me; I have not spoken in secret; from the beginning, from the time that it was declared, I have spoken;” and the Lord God, and His [Holy] Spirit, has sent me.
1 Nephi 20:17
And thus the Lord says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; “I have sent him, the Lord your God who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go, has done it.
1 Nephi 20:18
O that you had listened to My commandments - then had your peace been as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea.
1 Nephi 20:19
Your seed also had been as the sand; the offspring of your bowels like the gravel; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before Me.
1 Nephi 20:20
Go forth from Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing, declare, tell this, utter to the end of the earth; say, ‘The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob.
1 Nephi 20:21
And they did not thirst; He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; He split the rock also and the waters gushed out.
1 Nephi 20:22
And notwithstanding, He has done all this, and greater also,’ there is no peace,” the Lord says, “To the wicked.”
1 Nephi 21:1
And again, listen, O you house of Israel, all you who are broken off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people; indeed, all you who are broken off, so that are scattered abroad, who are of my people, O house of Israel. Listen, O isles, to me, and listen, you people from afar; the Lord has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother, He has made mention of my name.
1 Nephi 21:2
And He has made my mouth like a sharp sword; He has hidden me in the shadow of His hand, and made me a polished shaft; He has hidden me in His quiver;
1 Nephi 21:3
And said to me, “You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
1 Nephi 21:4
Then I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work [is] with my God.”
1 Nephi 21:5
And now, the Lord says - who formed me from the womb so that I should be His servant, to bring Jacob again to Him - though Israel is not gathered, still, I will be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God will be my strength.
1 Nephi 21:6
And He said, "It is a light thing that you should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give you for a light to the Gentiles, so that you may be My salvation to the ends of the earth.
1 Nephi 21:7
Thus the Lord says, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nations abhors, to servant of rulers, “Kings will see and arise, princes also will serve, because of the Lord that is faithful.”
1 Nephi 21:8
Thus the Lord says, “I have heard you in an acceptable time, O isles of the sea, and I have helped you in a day of salvation; and I will preserve you, and give you My servant for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
1 Nephi 21:9
So that you may say to the prisoners, “Go forth;” to those who sit in darkness, “Show yourselves.” They will feed in the ways, and their pastures will be in all high places.
1 Nephi 21:10
They will not hunger or thirst, neither will the heat or the sun strike them; for He who has mercy on them will lead them, He will guide them even by the springs of water.
1 Nephi 21:11
And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways will be exalted.
1 Nephi 21:12
And then, O house of Israel, behold, these will come from afar; and look, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
1 Nephi 21:13
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of those who are in the east will be established; and break forth into singing, O mountains; for they will be struck no more; for the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy upon His afflicted.
1 Nephi 21:14
But behold, Zion has said, "The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me” - but He will show that He has not.
1 Nephi 21:15
“For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Indeed, they may forget, still I will not forget you, O house of Israel.
1 Nephi 21:16
Behold, I have engraved you upon the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.
1 Nephi 21:17
Your children will make haste against your destroyers; and those who made you waste will go forth from you.
1 Nephi 21:18
Lift up your eyes round about and behold; all these gather themselves together, and they will come to you. And as I live,” the Lord says, “You will surely clothe yourself with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on even as a bride.
1 Nephi 21:19
For your waste and your desolate places, and the land of your destruction, will even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants; and those who swallowed you up will be far away.
1 Nephi 21:20
The children whom you will have, after you have lost the first, will again say in your ears, ‘The place is too straight for me; give a place to me so that I may dwell.’
1 Nephi 21:21
Then will you say in your heart, ‘Who has let me give birth to these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and from? And who has brought these up? Behold, I was left alone; these, where have they been?’”
1 Nephi 21:22
Thus the Lord God says, “Behold, I will lift up My hand to the Gentiles, and set up My standard to the people; and they will bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters will be carried upon their shoulders.
1 Nephi 21:23
And kings will be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers; they will bow down to you with their face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet; and you will know that I am the Lord; for they will not be ashamed who wait for Me.
1 Nephi 21:24
For will the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives be delivered?”
1 Nephi 21:25
But thus the Lord says, “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the prey of the terrible will be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children.
1 Nephi 21:26
And I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh; they will be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
1 Nephi 22:1
And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had read these things which were engraved upon the plates of brass, my brethren came to me and said to me, “What do these things which you have read mean? Behold, are they to be understood according to things which are spiritual, which will come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh?”
1 Nephi 22:2
And I, Nephi, said to them, “Behold, they were manifested to the prophet by the voice of the [Holy] Spirit; for by the [Holy] Spirit are all things made known to the prophets, which will come upon the children of men according to the flesh.
1 Nephi 22:3
Therefore, the things of which I have read are things pertaining to things both temporal and spiritual; for it appears that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations.
1 Nephi 22:4
And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Indeed, the greater part of all the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and from upon the isles of the sea; and where they are, none of us knows, except that we know that they have been led away.
1 Nephi 22:5
And since they have been led away, these things have been prophesied concerning them, and also concerning all those who will hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for they will harden their hearts against him; therefore, they will be scattered amongst all nations and will be hated by all men.
1 Nephi 22:6
Nevertheless, after they will be nursed by the Gentiles, and the Lord has lifted up His hand upon the Gentiles and set them up for a standard, and their children have been carried in their arms, and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders, behold, these things of which are spoken are temporal; for thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers; and it means us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel.
1 Nephi 22:7
And it means that the time comes that after all the house of Israel has been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation amongst the Gentiles, indeed, even upon the face of this land; and our seed will be scattered by them.
1 Nephi 22:8
And after our seed is scattered, the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work amongst the Gentiles, which will be of great worth to our seed; therefore, it is likened to their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.
1 Nephi 22:9
And it will also be of worth to the Gentiles; and not only to the Gentiles but to all the house of Israel, to the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven to Abraham, saying, ‘In your seed will all the kindred of the earth be blessed.’
1 Nephi 22:10
And I will, my brethren, that you should know that all the kindred of the earth cannot be blessed unless He will make His arm bare in the eyes of the nations.
1 Nephi 22:11
Therefore, the Lord God will proceed to make His arm bare in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about His covenants and His Gospel to those who are of the house of Israel.
1 Nephi 22:12
Therefore, He will bring them again out of captivity, and they will be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they will be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they will know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.
1 Nephi 22:13
And the blood of that great and abominable church, which is the whore of all the earth, will turn upon their own heads; for they will war amongst themselves, and the sword of their own hands will fall upon their own heads, and they will be drunk with their own blood.
1 Nephi 22:14
And every nation which will war against you, O house of Israel, will be turned against one another, and they will fall into the pit which they dug to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all who fight against Zion will be destroyed, and that great whore, who has perverted the right ways of the Lord, indeed, that great and abominable church, will tumble to dust and the fall of it will be great.
1 Nephi 22:15
‘For behold,’ the prophet says, ‘The time comes speedily that Satan will have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon comes that all the proud and those who do wickedly will be as stubble; and the day comes that they must be burned.’
1 Nephi 22:16
For the time soon comes that the fullness of the wrath of God will be poured out upon all the children of men; for He will not allow that the wicked will destroy the righteous.
1 Nephi 22:17
Therefore, He will preserve the righteous by His power, even if it so is that the fullness of His wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even to the destruction of their enemies by fire. Therefore, the righteous do not need to fear; for thus the prophet says, ‘They will be saved, even if it so is as by fire.’
1 Nephi 22:18
Behold, my brethren, I say to you, that these things must shortly come; indeed, even blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke must come; and it must be upon the face of this earth; and it comes to men according to the flesh if it so is that they will harden their hearts against the Holy One of Israel.
1 Nephi 22:19
For behold, the righteous will not perish; for the time surely must come that all those who fight against Zion will be cut off.
1 Nephi 22:20
And the Lord will surely prepare a way for his people, to the fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spoke, saying, ‘The Lord your God will raise up a prophet to you, like me; you will hear him in all things whatsoever he will say to you. And it will come to pass that all those who will not hear that prophet will be cut off from amongst the people.’
1 Nephi 22:21
And now I, Nephi, declare to you, that this prophet of whom Moses spoke was the Holy One of Israel; therefore, he will execute judgment in righteousness.
1 Nephi 22:22
And the righteous do not need to fear, for they are those who will not be confounded. But it is the kingdom of the devil, which will be built up amongst the children of men, which kingdom is established amongst those who are in the flesh -
1 Nephi 22:23
For the time will speedily come in which all churches that are built up to get gain, and all those that are built up to get power over the flesh, and those that are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those that seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; indeed, in fine, all those that belong to the kingdom of the devil are those that need to fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those that must be brought low in the dust; they are those that must be consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet.
1 Nephi 22:24
And the time speedily comes that the righteous must be led up as calves from the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great glory.
1 Nephi 22:25
And He gathers His children from the four quarters of the earth; and He numbers His sheep, and they know Him; and there will be one fold and one shepherd; and He will feed His sheep, and they will find pasture in Him.
1 Nephi 22:26
And because of the righteousness of His people, Satan has no power; therefore, he cannot be loosened for the space of many years; for he has no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigns.
1 Nephi 22:27
And now behold, I, Nephi, say to you that all these things must come according to the flesh.
1 Nephi 22:28
But behold, all nations, kindred, tongues, and people will dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel if it so is that they will repent.
1 Nephi 22:29
And now I, Nephi, make an end; for I did not speak further as still concerning these things.
1 Nephi 22:30
Therefore, my brethren, I willed that you 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.
1 Nephi 22:31
Therefore, you do not need to suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified and also taught them. Therefore, if you will be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, you will be saved at the Last Day. And thus it is. Amen.”