THE BOOK OF MORMON

THE FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI
HIS REIGN AND MINISTRY (1 Nephi)

An account of Lehi and his wife Sariah and his four sons, being called,
(beginning at the eldest) Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi. The Lord warns Lehi to
depart out of the land of Jerusalem, because he prophesieth unto the people
concerning their iniquity and they seek to destroy his life. He taketh three
days’ journey into the wilderness with his family. Nephi taketh his
brethren and returneth to the land of Jerusalem after the record of the Jews.
The account of their sufferings. They take the daughters of Ishmael to wife.
They take their families and depart into the wilderness. Their sufferings and
afflictions in the wilderness. The course of their travels. They come to the
large waters. Nephi’s brethren rebel against him. He confoundeth them,
and buildeth a ship. They call the name of the place Bountiful. They cross the
large waters into the promised land, and so forth. This is according to the
account of Nephi; or in other words, I, Nephi, wrote this record.

1 Nephi Chapter 1

1:1 I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught
somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in
the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in
all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the
mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

1:2 Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the
learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.

1:3 And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine
own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.

1:4 For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of
Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his
days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the
people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.

1:5 Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed
unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people.

1:6 And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire
and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the
things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.

1:7 And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he
cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which
he had seen.

1:8 And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision,
even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his
throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of
singing and praising their God.

1:9 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.

1:10 And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did
exceed that of the stars in the firmament.

1:11 And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the
first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, and bade him
that he should read.

1:12 And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled with the Spirit of the
Lord.

1:13 And he read, saying: Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thine
abominations! Yea, and many things did my father read concerning
Jerusalem—that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof; many
should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into
Babylon.

1:14 And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and
marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and
marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the
heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of
the earth, and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come
unto thee that they shall perish!

1:15 And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his
God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the
things which he had seen, yea, which the Lord had shown unto him.

1:16 And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father
hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in
dreams; and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto
his children, of which I shall not make a full account.

1:17 But I shall make an account of my proceedings in my days. Behold, I make
an abridgment of the record of my father, upon plates which I have made with
mine own hands; wherefore, after I have abridged the record of my father then
will I make an account of mine own life.

1:18 Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so
many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of
Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to
declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.

1:19 And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which
he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their
abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also
the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of the
Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.

1:20 And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even
as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and
they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi,
will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom
he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power
of deliverance.

1 Nephi Chapter 2

2:1 For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even
in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things
which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto
this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away
thy life.

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.

2:3 And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord,
wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.

2:4 And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his
house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his
precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and
provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.

2:5 And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he
traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and he
did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother,
Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.

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.

2:7 And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering
unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.

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.

2:9 And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the
fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be
like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all
righteousness!

2:10 And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this
valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the
Lord!

2:11 Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for
behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a
visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land
of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious
things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of
the foolish imaginations of his heart.

2:12 And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their
father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who
had created them. 2:13 Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great
city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were
like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of
my father.

2:14 And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in the valley of
Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake
before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him;
wherefore, they did as he commanded them.

2:15 And my father dwelt in a tent.

2:16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless
being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries
of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did
soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my
father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.

2:17 And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the Lord had
manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in
my words.

2:18 But, behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my words; and being
grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried unto the Lord for them.

2:19 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou,
Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness
of heart.

2:20 And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall
be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you;
yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.

2:21 And inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut
off from the presence of the Lord.

2:22 And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a
ruler and a teacher over thy brethren.

2:23 For behold, in that day that they shall rebel against me, I will curse
them even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over thy seed except
they shall rebel against me also.

2:24 And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto
thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance.

1 Nephi Chapter 3

3:1 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, returned from speaking with the Lord, to
the tent of my father.

3:2 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, saying: Behold I have dreamed a
dream, in the which the Lord hath commanded me that thou and thy brethren shall
return to Jerusalem.

3:3 For behold, Laban hath the record of the Jews and also a genealogy of my
forefathers, and they are engraven upon plates of brass.

3:4 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me that thou and thy brothers should go
unto the house of Laban, and seek the records, and bring them down hither into
the wilderness.

3:5 And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have
required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a
commandment of the Lord.

3:6 Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou
hast not murmured.

3:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do
the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no
commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them
that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

3:8 And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was
exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord.

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.

3:10 And it came to pass that when we had gone up to the land of Jerusalem, I
and my brethren did consult one with another.

3:11 And we cast lots—who of us should go in unto the house of Laban. And
it came to pass that the lot fell upon Laman; and Laman went in unto the house
of Laban, and he talked with him as he sat in his house.

3:12 And he desired of Laban the records which were engraven upon the plates of
brass, which contained the genealogy of my father.

3:13 And behold, it came to pass that Laban was angry, and thrust him out from
his presence; and he would not that he should have the records. Wherefore, he
said unto him: Behold thou art a robber, and I will slay thee.

3:14 But Laman fled out of his presence, and told the things which Laban had
done, unto us. And we began to be exceedingly sorrowful, and my brethren were
about to return unto my father in the wilderness.

3:15 But behold I said unto them that: As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we
will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished
the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.

3:16 Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord;
therefore let us go down to the land of our father’s inheritance, for
behold he left gold and silver, and all manner of riches. And all this he hath
done because of the commandments of the Lord.

3:17 For he knew that Jerusalem must be destroyed, because of the wickedness of
the people.

3:18 For behold, they have rejected the words of the prophets. Wherefore, if my
father should dwell in the land after he hath been commanded to flee out of the
land, behold, he would also perish. Wherefore, it must needs be that he flee
out of the land.

3:19 And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records, that
we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers;

3:20 And also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken
by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by
the Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down unto this present
time.

3:21 And it came to pass that after this manner of language did I persuade my
brethren, that they might be faithful in keeping the commandments of God.

3:22 And it came to pass that we went down to the land of our inheritance, and
we did gather together our gold, and our silver, and our precious things.

3:23 And after we had gathered these things together, we went up again unto the
house of Laban.

3:24 And it came to pass that we went in unto Laban, and desired him that he
would give unto us the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass,
for which we would give unto him our gold, and our silver, and all our precious
things.

3:25 And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and that it was
exceedingly great, he did lust after it, insomuch that he thrust us out, and
sent his servants to slay us, that he might obtain our property.

3:26 And it came to pass that we did flee before the servants of Laban, and we
were obliged to leave behind our property, and it fell into the hands of Laban.

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.

3:28 And it came to pass that Laman was angry with me, and also with my father;
and also was Lemuel, for he hearkened unto the words of Laman. Wherefore Laman
and Lemuel did speak many hard words unto us, their younger brothers, and they
did smite us even with a rod.

3:29 And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold, an angel of the
Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto them, saying: Why do ye
smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen
him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities? Behold ye
shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your
hands.

3:30 And after the angel had spoken unto us, he departed.

3:31 And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur,
saying: How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands?
Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay
fifty; then why not us?

1 Nephi Chapter 4

4:1 And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren, saying: Let us go up
again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the
Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than
Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?

4:2 Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like unto Moses; for he truly
spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither and thither, and
our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of
Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea.

4:3 Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath
spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt? Let us go up; the Lord is able to
deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians.

4:4 Now when I had spoken these words, they were yet wroth, and did still
continue to murmur; nevertheless they did follow me up until we came without
the walls of Jerusalem.

4:5 And it was by night; and I caused that they should hide themselves without
the walls. And after they had hid themselves, I, Nephi, crept into the city and
went forth towards the house of Laban.

4:6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I
should do.

4:7 Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the house of Laban I
beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was drunken with
wine.

4:8 And when I came to him I found that it was Laban.

4:9 And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and
the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly
fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.

4:10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should
kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of
man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.

4:11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into
thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life;
yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also
had taken away our property.

4:12 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him, for the
Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;

4:13 Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes.
It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and
perish in unbelief.

4:14 And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of
the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy
seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise.

4:15 Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the
Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law.

4:16 And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass.

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.

4:18 Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban by the hair
of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword.

4:19 And after I had smitten off his head with his own sword, I took the
garments of Laban and put them upon mine own body; yea, even every whit; and I
did gird on his armor about my loins.

4:20 And after I had done this, I went forth unto the treasury of Laban. And as
I went forth towards the treasury of Laban, behold, I saw the servant of Laban
who had the keys of the treasury. And I commanded him in the voice of Laban,
that he should go with me into the treasury.

4:21 And he supposed me to be his master, Laban, for he beheld the garments and
also the sword girded about my loins.

4:22 And he spake unto me concerning the elders of the Jews, he knowing that
his master, Laban, had been out by night among them.

4:23 And I spake unto him as if it had been Laban.

4:24 And I also spake unto him that I should carry the engravings, which were
upon the plates of brass, to my elder brethren, who were without the walls.

4:25 And I also bade him that he should follow me.

4:26 And he, supposing that I spake of the brethren of the church, and that I
was truly that Laban whom I had slain, wherefore he did follow me.

4:27 And he spake unto me many times concerning the elders of the Jews, as I
went forth unto my brethren, who were without the walls.

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.

4:29 And it came to pass that I called after them, and they did hear me;
wherefore they did cease to flee from my presence.

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.

4:31 And now I, Nephi, being a man large in stature, and also having received
much strength of the Lord, therefore I did seize upon the servant of Laban, and
held him, that he should not flee.

4:32 And it came to pass that I spake with him, that if he would hearken unto
my words, as the Lord liveth, and as I live, even so that if he would hearken
unto our words, we would spare his life.

4:33 And I spake unto him, even with an oath, that he need not fear; that he
should be a free man like unto us if he would go down in the wilderness with
us.

4:34 And I also spake unto him, saying: Surely the Lord hath commanded us to do
this thing; and shall we not be diligent in keeping the commandments of the
Lord? Therefore, if thou wilt go down into the wilderness to my father thou
shalt have place with us.

4:35 And it came to pass that Zoram did take courage at the words which I
spake. Now Zoram was the name of the servant; and he promised that he would go
down into the wilderness unto our father. Yea, and he also made an oath unto us
that he would tarry with us from that time forth.

4:36 Now we were desirous that he should tarry with us for this cause, that the
Jews might not know concerning our flight into the wilderness, lest they should
pursue us and destroy us.

4:37 And it came to pass that when Zoram had made an oath unto us, our fears
did cease concerning him.

4:38 And it came to pass that we took the plates of brass and the servant of
Laban, and departed into the wilderness, and journeyed unto the tent of our
father.

1 Nephi Chapter 5

5:1 And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness unto
our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was
exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us.

5:2 For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also
had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man;
saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my
sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.

5:3 And after this manner of language had my mother complained against my
father.

5:4 And it had come to pass that my father spake unto her, saying: I know that
I am a visionary man; for if I had not seen the things of God in a vision I
should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and
had perished with my brethren.

5:5 But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do
rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of
Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness.

5:6 And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi, comfort my mother,
Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of
Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.

5:7 And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold their joy was
full, and my mother was comforted.

5:8 And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded
my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that
the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban,
and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord
hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.

5:9 And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer
sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God
of Israel.

5:10 And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father, Lehi,
took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did
search them from the beginning.

5:11 And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which gave an
account of the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, who were our
first parents;

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;

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.

5:14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of
brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of
Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into
Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve
his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.

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.

5:16 And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And
Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept
the records.

5:17 And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the
Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed—

5:18 That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds,
tongues, and people who were of his seed.

5:19 Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither
should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many things
concerning his seed.

5:20 And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept the
commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us.

5:21 And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and
searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto
us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our
children.

5:22 Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as
we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.

1 Nephi Chapter 6

6:1 And now I, Nephi, do not give the genealogy of my fathers in this part of
my record; neither at any time shall I give it after upon these plates which I
am writing; for it is given in the record which has been kept by my father;
wherefore, I do not write it in this work.

6:2 For it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of Joseph.

6:3 And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full account of
all the things of my father, for they cannot be written upon these plates, for
I desire the room that I may write of the things of God.

6:4 For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the
God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.

6:5 Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but
the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.

6:6 Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not
occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of
men.

1 Nephi Chapter 7

7:1 And now I would that ye might know, that after my father, Lehi, had made an
end of prophesying concerning his seed, it came to pass that the Lord spake
unto him again, saying that it was not meet for him, Lehi, that he should take
his family into the wilderness alone; but that his sons should take daughters
to wife, that they might raise up seed unto the Lord in the land of promise.

7:2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that I, Nephi, and my
brethren, should again return unto the land of Jerusalem, and bring down
Ishmael and his family into the wilderness.

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.

7:4 And it came to pass that we went up unto the house of Ishmael, and we did
gain favor in the sight of Ishmael, insomuch that we did speak unto him the
words of the Lord.

7:5 And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael, and also
his household, insomuch that they took their journey with us down into the
wilderness to the tent of our father.

7:6 And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold Laman
and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael
and their families, did rebel against us; yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and
their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters.

7:7 And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they were desirous to return
unto the land of Jerusalem.

7:8 And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, therefore
I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Laman and unto Lemuel: Behold ye are
mine elder brethren, and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so
blind in your minds, that ye have need that I, your younger brother, should
speak unto you, yea, and set an example for you?

7:9 How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord?

7:10 How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?

7:11 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath
done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we
should obtain the record?

7:12 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all
things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they
exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.

7:13 And if it so be that we are faithful to him, we shall obtain the land of
promise; and ye shall know at some future period that the word of the Lord
shall be fulfilled concerning the destruction of Jerusalem; for all things
which the Lord hath spoken concerning the destruction of Jerusalem must be
fulfilled.

7:14 For behold, the Spirit of the Lord ceaseth soon to strive with them; for
behold, they have rejected the prophets, and Jeremiah have they cast into
prison. And they have sought to take away the life of my father, insomuch that
they have driven him out of the land.

7:15 Now behold, I say unto you that if ye will return unto Jerusalem ye shall
also perish with them. And now, if ye have choice, go up to the land, and
remember the words which I speak unto you, that if ye go ye will also perish;
for thus the Spirit of the Lord constraineth me that I should speak.

7:16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my
brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they did lay their
hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me
with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in
the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.

7:17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according
to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my
brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I
am bound.

7:18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands
were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I
spake unto them again.

7:19 And it came to pass that they were angry with me again, and sought to lay
hands upon me; but behold, one of the daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her
mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch
that they did soften their hearts; and they did cease striving to take away my
life.

7:20 And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of their wickedness,
insomuch that they did bow down before me, and did plead with me that I would
forgive them of the thing that they had done against me.

7:21 And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had
done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for
forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so. And after they had done
praying unto the Lord we did again travel on our journey towards the tent of
our father.

7:22 And it came to pass that we did come down unto the tent of our father. And
after I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had come down unto the
tent of my father, they did give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did
offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him.

1 Nephi Chapter 8

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.

8:2 And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake
unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have
seen a vision.

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.

8:4 But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for
behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.

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.

8:6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.

8:7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a
dark and dreary waste.

8:8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began
to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the
multitude of his tender mercies.

8:9 And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and
spacious field.

8:10 And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to
make one happy.

8:11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof;
and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea,
and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that
I had ever seen.

8:12 And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly
great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of
it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.

8:13 And as I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover my family
also, I beheld a river of water; and it ran along, and it was near the tree of
which I was partaking the fruit.

8:14 And I looked to behold from whence it came; and I saw the head thereof a
little way off; and at the head thereof I beheld your mother Sariah, and Sam,
and Nephi; and they stood as if they knew not whither they should go.

8:15 And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto
them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit,
which was desirable above all other fruit.

8:16 And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit
also.

8:17 And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come
and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine eyes towards the head of
the river, that perhaps I might see them.

8:18 And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come unto me and
partake of the fruit.

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.

8:20 And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of
iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the
fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.

8:21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing
forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I
stood.

8:22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path
which led to the tree.

8:23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an
exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the
path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.

8:24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came
forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward
through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did
come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

8:25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their
eyes about as if they were ashamed.

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.

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.

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.

8:29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.

8:30 But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing
forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they
did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until
they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.

8:31 And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and
spacious building.

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.

8:33 And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And
after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at
me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.

8:34 These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen
away.

8:35 And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.

8:36 And it came to pass after my father had spoken all the words of his dream
or vision, which were many, he said unto us, because of these things which he
saw in a vision, he exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel; yea, he feared
lest they should be cast off from the presence of the Lord.

8:37 And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that
they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to
them, and not cast them off; yea, my father did preach unto them.

8:38 And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto them of many
things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he did cease
speaking unto them.

1 Nephi Chapter 9

9:1 And all these things did my father see, and hear, and speak, as he dwelt in
a tent, in the valley of Lemuel, and also a great many more things, which
cannot be written upon these plates.

9:2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they are not the
plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people; for the
plates upon which I make a full account of my people I have given the name of
Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and
these plates also are called the plates of Nephi.

9:3 Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make
these plates, for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven
of the ministry of my people.

9:4 Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the
kings, and the wars and contentions of my people; wherefore these plates are
for the more part of the ministry; and the other plates are for the more part
of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people.

9:5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise
purpose in him, which purpose I know not.

9:6 But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth
a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he
hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.

1 Nephi Chapter 10

10:1 And now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon these plates of my
proceedings, and my reign and ministry; wherefore, to proceed with mine
account, I must speak somewhat of the things of my father, and also of my
brethren.

10:2 For behold, it came to pass after my father had made an end of speaking
the words of his dream, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, he spake
unto them concerning the Jews—

10:3 That after they should be destroyed, even that great city Jerusalem, and
many be carried away captive into Babylon, according to the own due time of the
Lord, they should return again, yea, even be brought back out of captivity; and
after they should be brought back out of captivity they should possess again
the land of their inheritance.

10:4 Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a
prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in
other words, a Savior of the world.

10:5 And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had
testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or
this Redeemer of the world.

10:6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever
would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.

10:7 And he spake also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah,
to prepare the way of the Lord—

10:8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way
of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom
ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not
worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.

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.

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.

10:11 And it came to pass after my father had spoken these words he spake unto
my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and
also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief. And after they had slain
the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should rise from
the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the
Gentiles.

10:12 Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also
concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an
olive-tree, whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon
all the face of the earth.

10:13 Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord
into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we
should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.

10:14 And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered
together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the
Gospel, the natural branches of the olive-tree, or the remnants of the house of
Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah,
their Lord and their Redeemer.

10:15 And after this manner of language did my father prophesy and speak unto
my brethren, and also many more things which I do not write in this book; for I
have written as many of them as were expedient for me in mine other book.

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.

10:17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my
father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things
which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith
on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should
come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of
these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all
those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he
should manifest himself unto the children of men.

10:18 For he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is
prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they
repent and come unto him.

10:19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall
be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times
as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore,
the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

10:20 Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into
judgment.

10:21 Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your
probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no
unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.

10:22 And the Holy Ghost giveth authority that I should speak these things, and
deny them not.

1 Nephi Chapter 11

11:1 For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father
had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I
sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea,
into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon
which I never had before set my foot.

11:2 And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?

11:3 And I said: I desire to behold the things which my father saw.

11:4 And the Spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree
of which he hath spoken?

11:5 And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.

11:6 And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice,
saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God over all the
earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest
in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which
thou hast desired.

11:7 And behold this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign, that after thou
hast beheld the tree which bore the fruit which thy father tasted, thou shalt
also behold a man descending out of heaven, and him shall ye witness; and after
ye have witnessed him ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God.

11:8 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me: Look! And I looked and
beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen; and the
beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness
thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow.

11:9 And it came to pass after I had seen the tree, I said unto the Spirit: I
behold thou hast shown unto me the tree which is precious above all.

11:10 And he said unto me: What desirest thou?

11:11 And I said unto him: To know the interpretation thereof—for I spake
unto him as a man speaketh; for I beheld that he was in the form of a man; yet
nevertheless, I knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me
as a man speaketh with another.

11:12 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look! And I looked as if to
look upon him, and I saw him not; for he had gone from before my presence.

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.

11:14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down
and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?

11:15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other
virgins.

11:16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

11:17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I
do not know the meaning of all things.

11:18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of
the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

11:19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the
Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a
time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

11:20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.

11:21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of
the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?

11:22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth
itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most
desirable above all things.

11:23 And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.

11:24 And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked,
and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw
many fall down at his feet and worship him.

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.

11:26 And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of
God!

11:27 And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had
spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him.
And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was
baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven
and abide upon him in the form of a dove.

11:28 And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and
great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I
beheld that they cast him out from among them.

11:29 And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it came to pass that
they were carried away in the Spirit from before my face, and I saw them not.

11:30 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And
I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon
the children of men; and they did minister unto them.

11:31 And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the
Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of
people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and
with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these
things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the
devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.

11:32 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And
I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the
Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.

11:33 And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the
sins of the world.

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.

11:35 And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and I beheld that
they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the building which my
father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Behold the
world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath gathered
together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

11:36 And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and
spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof
was exceedingly great. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying:
Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people,
that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

1 Nephi Chapter 12

12:1 And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Look, and behold thy
seed, and also the seed of thy brethren. And I looked and beheld the land of
promise; and I beheld multitudes of people, yea, even as it were in number as
many as the sand of the sea.

12:2 And it came to pass that I beheld multitudes gathered together to battle,
one against the other; and I beheld wars, and rumors of wars, and great
slaughters with the sword among my people.

12:3 And it came to pass that I beheld many generations pass away, after the
manner of wars and contentions in the land; and I beheld many cities, yea, even
that I did not number them.

12:4 And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land
of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and
all manner of tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they
rent; and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces; and I saw the plains of the
earth, that they were broken up; and I saw many cities that they were sunk; and
I saw many that they were burned with fire; and I saw many that did tumble to
the earth, because of the quaking thereof.

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.

12:6 And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven;
and he came down and showed himself unto them.

12:7 And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve
others; and they were ordained of God, and chosen.

12:8 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve disciples of the
Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed.

12:9 And he said unto me: Thou rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb?
Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore,
the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the
house of Israel.

12:10 And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And,
behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of
God their garments are made white in his blood.

12:11 And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld three
generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments were white even like
unto the Lamb of God. And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the
blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him.

12:12 And I, Nephi, also saw many of the fourth generation who passed away in
righteousness.

12:13 And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the earth gathered
together.

12:14 And the angel said unto me: Behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy
brethren.

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.

12:16 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the fountain of filthy water
which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths
thereof are the depths of hell.

12:17 And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which
blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth
them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost.

12:18 And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain
imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible
gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and
the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from
the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and
forever.

12:19 And while the angel spake these words, I beheld and saw that the seed of
my brethren did contend against my seed, according to the word of the angel;
and because of the pride of my seed, and the temptations of the devil, I beheld
that the seed of my brethren did overpower the people of my seed.

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.

12:21 And I saw them gathered together in multitudes; and I saw wars and rumors
of wars among them; and in wars and rumors of wars I saw many generations pass
away.

12:22 And the angel said unto me: Behold these shall dwindle in unbelief.

12:23 And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had dwindled in unbelief
they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and
all manner of abominations.

1 Nephi Chapter 13

13:1 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I
looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.

13:2 And the angel said unto me: What beholdest thou? And I said: I behold many
nations and kingdoms.

13:3 And he said unto me: These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles.

13:4 And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the
formation of a great church.

13:5 And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a church which is most
abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and
tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and
bringeth them down into captivity.

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.

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.

13:8 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the gold, and the silver, and
the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious
clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church.

13:9 And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God,
and bring them down into captivity.

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.

13:11 And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Behold the wrath of God
is upon the seed of thy brethren.

13:12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from
the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God,
that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many
waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.

13:13 And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon
other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.

13:14 And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon
the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed
of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.

13:15 And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and
they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that
they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before
they were slain.

13:16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone
forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of
the Lord was with them.

13:17 And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the
waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.

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.

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.

13:20 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they did prosper in the
land; and I beheld a book, and it was carried forth among them.

13:21 And the angel said unto me: Knowest thou the meaning of the book?

13:22 And I said unto him: I know not.

13:23 And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I,
Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou beholdest is a record
of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto
the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy
prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates
of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants
of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are
of great worth unto the Gentiles.

13:24 And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book
proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the
mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the
twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which
is in the Lamb of God.

13:25 Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the
Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God.

13:26 And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb,
from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of a great and
abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for
behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are
plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken
away.

13:27 And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the
Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of
men.

13:28 Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the
hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and
precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.

13:29 And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth
unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the
nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen
with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou
seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken
out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of
men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of
these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly
great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.

13:30 Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of
captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations,
upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the
land that the Lord God hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should
have for the land of their inheritance; wherefore, thou seest that the Lord God
will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed,
which are among thy brethren.

13:31 Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy
brethren.

13:32 Neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain
in that awful state of blindness, which thou beholdest they are in, because of
the plain and most precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been
kept back by that abominable church, whose formation thou hast seen.

13:33 Wherefore saith the Lamb of God: I will be merciful unto the Gentiles,
unto the visiting of the remnant of the house of Israel in great judgment.

13:34 And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spake unto me, saying:
Behold, saith the Lamb of God, after I have visited the remnant of the house of
Israel—and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy
father—wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment, and smitten them
by the hand of the Gentiles, and after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly,
because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which
have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots,
saith the Lamb—I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch
that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which
shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb.

13:35 For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that
they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be
plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in
unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid
up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb.

13:36 And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and
my salvation.

13:37 And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day,
for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they
endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved
in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea,
tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.

13:38 And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren,
and also the book of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth
of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed
of my brethren.

13:39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came
forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the
convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also
the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of
the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.

13:40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast
seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of
the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious
things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all
kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal
Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or
they cannot be saved.

13:41 And they must come according to the words which shall be established by
the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the
records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the
Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in one; for there is one God and
one Shepherd over all the earth.

13:42 And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both
unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself
unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto
the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first
shall be last.

1 Nephi Chapter 14

14:1 And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the
Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and
also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling
blocks—

14:2 And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be
numbered among the seed of thy father; yea, they shall be numbered among the
house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land
forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity; and the house of
Israel shall no more be confounded.

14:3 And that great pit, which hath been digged for them by that great and
abominable church, which was founded by the devil and his children, that he
might lead away the souls of men down to hell—yea, that great pit which
hath been digged for the destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged
it, unto their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of God; not the destruction of
the soul, save it be the casting of it into that hell which hath no end.

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.

14:5 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, Nephi, saying: Thou hast
beheld that if the Gentiles repent it shall be well with them; and thou also
knowest concerning the covenants of the Lord unto the house of Israel; and thou
also hast heard that whoso repenteth not must perish.

14:6 Therefore, wo be unto the Gentiles if it so be that they harden their
hearts against the Lamb of God.

14:7 For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a
marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting,
either on the one hand or on the other—either to the convincing of them
unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of
their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being brought down
into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and spiritually,
according to the captivity of the devil, of which I have spoken.

14:8 And it came to pass that when the angel had spoken these words, he said
unto me: Rememberest thou the covenants of the Father unto the house of Israel?
I said unto him, Yea.

14:9 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look, and behold that great and
abominable church, which is the mother of abominations, whose founder is the
devil.

14:10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is
the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil;
wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to
that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of
all the earth.

14:11 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth,
and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among
all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.

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.

14:13 And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations
did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the
nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.

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.

14:15 And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out
upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors
of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth.

14:16 And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among all the nations
which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spake unto me, saying:
Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots; and behold, thou seest
all these things—

14:17 And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the
mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth,
whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall
commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he
hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel.

14:18 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

14:19 And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe.

14:20 And the angel said unto me: Behold one of the twelve apostles of the
Lamb.

14:21 Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and
also many things which have been.

14:22 And he shall also write concerning the end of the world.

14:23 Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just and true; and behold
they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding out of the mouth of
the Jew; and at the time they proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, or, at the
time the book proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were
written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of
all men.

14:24 And behold, the things which this apostle of the Lamb shall write are
many things which thou hast seen; and behold, the remainder shalt thou see.

14:25 But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt not write; for
the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God that he should write
them.

14:26 And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they
have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity,
according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord,
unto the house of Israel.

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.

14:28 And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write the remainder of
the things which I saw and heard; wherefore the things which I have written
sufficeth me; and I have written but a small part of the things which I saw.

14:29 And I bear record that I saw the things which my father saw, and the
angel of the Lord did make them known unto me.

14:30 And now I make an end of speaking concerning the things which I saw while
I was carried away in the spirit; and if all the things which I saw are not
written, the things which I have written are true. And thus it is. Amen.

1 Nephi Chapter 15

15:1 And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been carried away in the
spirit, and seen all these things, I returned to the tent of my father.

15:2 And it came to pass that I beheld my brethren, and they were disputing one
with another concerning the things my father had spoken unto them.

15:3 For he truly spake many great things unto them, which were hard to be
understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord; and they being hard in their
hearts, therefore they did not look unto the Lord as they ought.

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.

15:5 And it came to pass that I was overcome because of my afflictions, for I
considered that mine afflictions were great above all, because of the
destruction of my people, for I had beheld their fall.

15:6 And it came to pass that after I had received strength I spake unto my
brethren, desiring to know of them the cause of their disputations.

15:7 And they said: Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father
hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive-tree, and also
concerning the Gentiles.

15:8 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?

15:9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing
known unto us.

15:10 Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments
of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your
hearts?

15:11 Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will
not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive,
with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made
known unto you.

15:12 Behold, I say unto you, that the house of Israel was compared unto an
olive-tree, by the Spirit of the Lord which was in our father; and behold are
we not broken off from the house of Israel, and are we not a branch of the
house of Israel?

15:13 And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of
the natural branches through the fulness of the Gentiles, is, that in the
latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space
of many years, and many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in
body unto the children of men, then shall the fulness of the gospel of the
Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our
seed—

15:14 And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the
house of Israel, and that they are the covenant people of the Lord; and then
shall they know and come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the
knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer, which was ministered unto their
fathers by him; wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer
and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him
and be saved.

15:15 And then at that day will they not rejoice and give praise unto their
everlasting God, their rock and their salvation? Yea, at that day, will they
not receive the strength and nourishment from the true vine? Yea, will they not
come unto the true fold of God?

15:16 Behold, I say unto you, Yea; they shall be remembered again among the
house of Israel; they shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the
olive-tree, into the true olive-tree.

15:17 And this is what our father meaneth; and he meaneth that it will not come
to pass until after they are scattered by the Gentiles; and he meaneth that it
shall come by way of the Gentiles, that the Lord may show his power unto the
Gentiles, for the very cause that he shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the
house of Israel.

15:18 Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all
the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the
latter days; which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying: In thy
seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

15:19 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake much unto them concerning these
things; yea, I spake unto them concerning the restoration of the Jews in the
latter days.

15:20 And I did rehearse unto them the words of Isaiah, who spake concerning
the restoration of the Jews, or of the house of Israel; and after they were
restored they should no more be confounded, neither should they be scattered
again. And it came to pass that I did speak many words unto my brethren, that
they were pacified and did humble themselves before the Lord.

15:21 And it came to pass that they did speak unto me again, saying: What
meaneth this thing which our father saw in a dream? What meaneth the tree which
he saw?

15:22 And I said unto them: It was a representation of the tree of life.

15:23 And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw,
that led to the tree?

15:24 And I said unto them that it was the word of God, and whoso would hearken
unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish;
neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower
them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.

15:25 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto the word of the
Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the
faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and
remember to keep his commandments always in all things.

15:26 And they said unto me: What meaneth the river of water which our father
saw?

15:27 And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness;
and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the
filthiness of the water.

15:28 And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which separated the
wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God.

15:29 And I said unto them that it was a representation of that awful hell,
which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked.

15:30 And I said unto them that our father also saw that the justice of God did
also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like
unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and
ever, and hath no end.

15:31 And they said unto me: Doth this thing mean the torment of the body in
the days of probation, or doth it mean the final state of the soul after the
death of the temporal body, or doth it speak of the things which are temporal?

15:32 And it came to pass that I said unto them that it was a representation of
things both temporal and spiritual; for the day should come that they must be
judged of their works, yea, even the works which were done by the temporal body
in their days of probation.

15:33 Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they must be cast off
also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to
righteousness; wherefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be
judged of their works; and if their works have been filthiness they must needs
be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the
kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God must be filthy also.

15:34 But behold, I say unto you, the kingdom of God is not filthy, and there
cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God; wherefore there must
needs be a place of filthiness prepared for that which is filthy.

15:35 And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful hell of which I have
spoken, and the devil is the preparator of it; wherefore the final state of the
souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of
that justice of which I have spoken.

15:36 Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that
tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other
fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God. And thus I spake
unto my brethren. Amen.

1 Nephi Chapter 16

16:1 And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of speaking
to my brethren, behold they said unto me: Thou hast declared unto us hard
things, more than we are able to bear.

16:2 And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken
hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have
I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day;
wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the
very center.

16:3 And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to
the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then
ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things
against us.

16:4 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did exhort my brethren, with all
diligence, to keep the commandments of the Lord.

16:5 And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord;
insomuch that I had joy and great hopes of them, that they would walk in the
paths of righteousness.

16:6 Now, all these things were said and done as my father dwelt in a tent in
the valley which he called Lemuel.

16:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, took one of the daughters of Ishmael to
wife; and also, my brethren took of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also
Zoram took the eldest daughter of Ishmael to wife.

16:8 And thus my father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord which
had been given unto him. And also, I, Nephi, had been blessed of the Lord
exceedingly.

16:9 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord spake unto my father by
night, and commanded him that on the morrow he should take his journey into the
wilderness.

16:10 And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went
forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a
round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the
ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into
the wilderness.

16:11 And it came to pass that we did gather together whatsoever things we
should carry into the wilderness, and all the remainder of our provisions which
the Lord had given unto us; and we did take seed of every kind that we might
carry into the wilderness.

16:12 And it came to pass that we did take our tents and depart into the
wilderness, across the river Laman.

16:13 And it came to pass that we traveled for the space of four days, nearly a
south-southeast direction, and we did pitch our tents again; and we did call
the name of the place Shazer.

16:14 And it came to pass that we did take our bows and our arrows, and go
forth into the wilderness to slay food for our families; and after we had slain
food for our families we did return again to our families in the wilderness, to
the place of Shazer. And we did go forth again in the wilderness, following the
same direction, keeping in the most fertile parts of the wilderness, which were
in the borders near the Red Sea.

16:15 And it came to pass that we did travel for the space of many days,
slaying food by the way, with our bows and our arrows and our stones and our
slings.

16:16 And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more
fertile parts of the wilderness.

16:17 And after we had traveled for the space of many days, we did pitch our
tents for the space of a time, that we might again rest ourselves and obtain
food for our families.

16:18 And it came to pass that as I, Nephi, went forth to slay food, behold, I
did break my bow, which was made of fine steel; and after I did break my bow,
behold, my brethren were angry with me because of the loss of my bow, for we
did obtain no food.

16:19 And it came to pass that we did return without food to our families, and
being much fatigued, because of their journeying, they did suffer much for the
want of food.

16:20 And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael did
begin to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in the
wilderness; and also my father began to murmur against the Lord his God; yea,
and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did murmur against the
Lord.

16:21 Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, having been afflicted with my brethren
because of the loss of my bow, and their bows having lost their springs, it
began to be exceedingly difficult, yea, insomuch that we could obtain no food.

16:22 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did speak much unto my brethren,
because they had hardened their hearts again, even unto complaining against the
Lord their God.

16:23 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make out of wood a bow, and out of
a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore, I did arm myself with a bow and an
arrow, with a sling and with stones. And I said unto my father: Whither shall I
go to obtain food?

16:24 And it came to pass that he did inquire of the Lord, for they had humbled
themselves because of my words; for I did say many things unto them in the
energy of my soul.

16:25 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father; and
he was truly chastened because of his murmuring against the Lord, insomuch that
he was brought down into the depths of sorrow.

16:26 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said unto him: Look upon
the ball, and behold the things which are written.

16:27 And it came to pass that when my father beheld the things which were
written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble exceedingly, and also my
brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our wives.

16:28 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the
ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we
did give unto them.

16:29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be
read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it
was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence
which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring
about great things.

16:30 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the
mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball.

16:31 And it came to pass that I did slay wild beasts, insomuch that I did
obtain food for our families.

16:32 And it came to pass that I did return to our tents, bearing the beasts
which I had slain; and now when they beheld that I had obtained food, how great
was their joy! And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the
Lord, and did give thanks unto him.

16:33 And it came to pass that we did again take our journey, traveling nearly
the same course as in the beginning; and after we had traveled for the space of
many days we did pitch our tents again, that we might tarry for the space of a
time.

16:34 And it came to pass that Ishmael died, and was buried in the place which
was called Nahom.

16:35 And it came to pass that the daughters of Ishmael did mourn exceedingly,
because of the loss of their father, and because of their afflictions in the
wilderness; and they did murmur against my father, because he had brought them
out of the land of Jerusalem, saying: Our father is dead; yea, and we have
wandered much in the wilderness, and we have suffered much affliction, hunger,
thirst, and fatigue; and after all these sufferings we must perish in the
wilderness with hunger.

16:36 And thus they did murmur against my father, and also against me; and they
were desirous to return again to Jerusalem.

16:37 And Laman said unto Lemuel and also unto 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.

16:38 Now, he says that the Lord has talked with him, and also that angels have
ministered unto him. But behold, we know that he lies unto us; and he tells us
these things, and he worketh many things by his cunning arts, that he may
deceive our eyes, thinking, perhaps, that he may lead us away into some strange
wilderness; and after he has led us away, he has thought to make himself a king
and a ruler over us, that he may do with us according to his will and pleasure.
And after this manner did my brother Laman stir up their hearts to anger.

16:39 And it came to pass that the Lord was with us, yea, even the voice of the
Lord came and did speak many words unto them, and did chasten them exceedingly;
and after they were chastened by the voice of the Lord they did turn away their
anger, and did repent of their sins, insomuch that the Lord did bless us again
with food, that we did not perish.

1 Nephi Chapter 17

17:1 And it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness;
and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth. And we did travel and
wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women did bear children
in the wilderness.

17:2 And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did
live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for
their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to
bear their journeyings without murmurings.

17:3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it
so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish
them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the
thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while
we did sojourn in the wilderness.

17:4 And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in
the wilderness.

17:5 And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much
fruit and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord that
we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which,
being interpreted, is many waters.

17:6 And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents by the seashore; and
notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea, even
so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we
came to the seashore; and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much
fruit.

17:7 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 unto me, saying: Arise,
and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up
into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.

17:8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt
construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry
thy people across these waters.

17:9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I
may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown
unto me?

17:10 And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find
ore, that I might make tools.

17:11 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make a bellows wherewith to blow
the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might
have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together that I might
make fire.

17:12 For the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire, as
we journeyed in the wilderness; for he said: I will make thy food become sweet,
that ye cook it not;

17:13 And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the
way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore,
inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised
land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.

17:14 Yea, and the Lord said also that: After ye have arrived in the promised
land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver
you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem.

17:15 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did strive to keep the commandments of the Lord, and
I did exhort my brethren to faithfulness and diligence.

17:16 And it came to pass that I did make tools of the ore which I did molten
out of the rock.

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 thinketh that he can
build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters.

17:18 And thus my brethren did complain against me, and were desirous that they
might not labor, for they did not believe that I could build a ship; neither
would they believe that I was instructed of the Lord.

17:19 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 did rejoice over
me, saying: We knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye
were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work.

17:20 And thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations
of his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem, and we have
wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled,
being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and
suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that
they had died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these
afflictions.

17:21 Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time
we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and
we might have been happy.

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; wherefore, we know that they
are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away
because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him.
And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against
us.

17:23 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake unto them, saying: Do ye 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 hearkened unto the words of the
Lord?

17:24 Yea, do ye suppose that they would have been led out of bondage, if the
Lord had not commanded Moses that he should lead them out of bondage?

17:25 Now ye know that the children of Israel were in bondage; and ye know that
they were laden with tasks, which were grievous to be borne; wherefore, ye know
that it must needs be a good thing for them, that they should be brought out of
bondage.

17:26 Now ye know that Moses was commanded of the Lord to do that great work;
and ye know that by his word the waters of the Red Sea were divided hither and
thither, and they passed through on dry ground.

17:27 But ye know that the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, who were the
armies of Pharaoh.

17:28 And ye also know that they were fed with manna in the wilderness.

17:29 Yea, and ye also know that Moses, by his word according to the power of
God which was in him, smote the rock, and there came forth water, that the
children of Israel might quench their thirst.

17:30 And notwithstanding they being led, the Lord their God, their Redeemer,
going before them, leading them by day and giving light unto them by night, and
doing all things for them which 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.

17:31 And it came to pass that according to his word he did destroy them; and
according to his word he did lead them; and according to his word he did do all
things for them; and there was not any thing done save it were by his word.

17:32 And after they had crossed the river Jordan he did make them mighty unto
the driving out of the children of the land, yea, unto the scattering them to
destruction.

17:33 And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the
land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they
were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.

17:34 Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if
they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay.

17:35 Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is
favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and
they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them;
and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers;
yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it
unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it.

17:36 Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and
he hath created his children that they should possess it.

17:37 And he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the
wicked.

17:38 And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he
destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes.

17:39 He ruleth high in the heavens, for it is his throne, and this earth is
his footstool.

17:40 And he loveth those who will have him to be their God. Behold, he loved
our fathers, and he covenanted with them, yea, even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;
and he remembered the covenants which he had made; wherefore, he did bring them
out of the land of Egypt.

17:41 And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they
hardened their hearts, even as ye 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 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.

17:42 And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did revile
against Moses, and also against God; nevertheless, ye know that they were led
forth by his matchless power into the land of promise.

17:43 And now, after all these things, the time has come that they have become
wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I know not but they are at this day
about to be destroyed; for I know that the day must surely come that they must
be destroyed, save a few only, who shall be led away into captivity.

17:44 Wherefore, the Lord commanded my father that he should depart into the
wilderness; and the Jews also sought to take away his life; yea, and ye also
have sought to take away his life; wherefore, ye are murderers in your hearts
and ye are like unto them.

17:45 Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye
have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from
time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were
past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto
you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it
were to divide asunder.

17:46 And ye also know that by the power of his almighty word he can cause the
earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye know that by his word he can cause
the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O,
then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts?

17:47 Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and my heart is
pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever. Behold, I am full of the
Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has no strength.

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 spake unto them, saying: In the
name of the Almighty God, I command you that ye touch me not, for I am filled
with the power of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay
his hands upon me shall wither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as naught
before the power of God, for God shall smite him.

17:49 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto 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.

17:50 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do
them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth,
it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.

17:51 And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many
miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that
I should build a ship?

17:52 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said many things unto my brethren,
insomuch that they were confounded and could not contend against me; neither
durst they lay their hands upon me nor touch me with their fingers, even for
the space of many days. Now they durst not do this lest they should wither
before me, so powerful was the Spirit of God; and thus it had wrought upon
them.

17:53 And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth thine hand
again unto thy brethren, and they shall not wither before thee, but I will
shock them, saith the Lord, and this will I do, that they may know that I am
the Lord their God.

17:54 And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren, and
they did not wither before me; but the Lord did shake them, even according to
the word which he had spoken.

17:55 And now, they said: We know of a surety that the Lord is with thee, for
we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us. And they fell down
before me, and were about to worship me, but I would not suffer them, saying: I
am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord thy
God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land
which the Lord thy God shall give thee.

1 Nephi Chapter 18

18:1 And it came to pass that they did worship the Lord, and did go forth with
me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me
from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.

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 did build
it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not
after the manner of men.

18:3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord;
wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

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
thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again
before the Lord.

18:5 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father, that
we should arise and go down into the ship.

18:6 And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had prepared all things,
much fruits and meat from the wilderness, and honey in abundance, and
provisions according to that which the Lord had commanded us, we did go down
into the ship, with all our loading and our seeds, and whatsoever thing we had
brought with us, every one according to his age; wherefore, we did all go down
into the ship, with our wives and our children.

18:7 And now, my father had begat two sons in the wilderness; the elder was
called Jacob and the younger Joseph.

18:8 And it came to pass after we had all gone down into the ship, and had
taken with us our provisions and things which had been commanded us, we did put
forth into the sea and were driven forth before the wind towards the promised
land.

18:9 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, yea, even that they did forget by what power they had
been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness.

18:10 And I, Nephi, began to fear exceedingly lest the Lord should be angry
with us, and smite us because of our iniquity, that we should be swallowed up
in the depths of the sea; wherefore, I, Nephi, began to speak to them with much
soberness; but behold they were angry with me, saying: We will not that our
younger brother shall be a ruler over us.

18:11 And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me with
cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless, the Lord did
suffer it that he might show forth his power, unto the fulfilling of his word
which he had spoken concerning the wicked.

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 of the Lord, did cease to work.

18:13 Wherefore, they knew not whither they should steer the ship, insomuch
that there arose a great storm, yea, a great and terrible tempest, and we were
driven back upon the waters for the space of three days; and they began to be
frightened exceedingly lest they should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless
they did not loose me.

18:14 And on the fourth day, which we had been driven back, the tempest began
to be exceedingly sore.

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 save that they should repent of their iniquities;
wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrist,
and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much
swollen, and great was the soreness thereof.

18:16 Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day
long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions.

18:17 Now my father, Lehi, had said many things unto them, and also unto the
sons of Ishmael; but, behold, they did breathe out much threatenings against
anyone that should speak for me; and my parents being stricken in years, and
having suffered much grief because of their children, they were brought down,
yea, even upon their sick-beds.

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;
yea, their grey hairs were about to be brought down to lie low in the dust;
yea, even they were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave.

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 that they would loose me.

18:20 And there was nothing save it were the power of God, which threatened
them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore, when they saw that
they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea they repented of
the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me.

18:21 And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass,
and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto
the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease,
and there was a great calm.

18:22 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we sailed
again towards the promised land.

18:23 And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days
we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did
pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land.

18:24 And it came to pass that we did begin to till the earth, and we began to
plant seeds; yea, we did put all our seeds into the earth, which we had brought
from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly;
wherefore, we were blessed in abundance.

18:25 And it came to pass that we did find 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 ass 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 did find all manner of ore, both of gold, and of silver, and of copper.

1 Nephi Chapter 19

19:1 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded me, wherefore I did make
plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people. And upon
the plates which I made I did engraven the record of my father, and also our
journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and also many
of mine own prophecies have I engraven upon them.

19:2 And I knew not at the time when I made them that I should be commanded of
the Lord to make these plates; wherefore, the record of my father, and the
genealogy of his fathers, and the more part of all our proceedings in the
wilderness are engraven upon those first plates of which I have spoken;
wherefore, the things which transpired before I made these plates are, of a
truth, more particularly made mention upon the first plates.

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 unto the Lord.

19:4 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did make a record upon the other plates, which gives
an account, or which gives a greater account of the wars and contentions and
destructions of my people. And this have I done, 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 of the Lord.

19:5 And an account of my making these plates shall be given hereafter; and
then, behold, I proceed according to that which I have spoken; and this I do
that the more sacred things may be kept for the knowledge of my people.

19:6 Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think
it be 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.

19:7 For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the
body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the
very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their
feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken
not to the voice of his counsels.

19:8 And behold he cometh, according to the words of the angel, in six hundred
years from the time my father left Jerusalem.

19:9 And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of
naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him,
and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of
his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.

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, yea, the God of Abraham, and
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the
angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to
the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and
to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake
concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his
death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given
unto those who are of the house of Israel.

19:11 For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house
of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness,
unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the
lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of
darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be
carried up.

19:12 And all these things must surely come, saith the prophet Zenos. And the
rocks of the earth must rend; and because of the groanings of the earth, many
of the kings of the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon by the Spirit of
God, to exclaim: The God of nature suffers.

19:13 And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall 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.

19:14 And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have
despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish,
and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations.

19:15 Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more
turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember
the covenants which he made to their fathers.

19:16 Yea, then will he remember the isles of the sea; yea, and all the people
who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in, saith the Lord, according to
the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth.

19:17 Yea, and all the earth shall see the salvation of the Lord, saith the
prophet; every nation, kindred, tongue and people shall be blessed.

19:18 And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I
might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer.

19:19 Wherefore, I speak unto all the house of Israel, if it so be that they
should obtain these things.

19:20 For behold, I have workings in the spirit, which doth weary me even that
all my joints are weak, for those who are at Jerusalem; for had not the Lord
been merciful, to show unto me concerning them, even as he had prophets of old,
I should have perished also.

19:21 And he surely did show unto the prophets of old all things concerning
them; and also he did show unto many concerning us; wherefore, it must needs be
that we know concerning them for they are written upon the plates of brass.

19:22 Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my brethren these things;
and it came to pass that I did read many things to them, which were engraven
upon the plates of brass, that they might know concerning the doings of the
Lord in other lands, among people of old.

19:23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of
Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their
Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for
I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and
learning.

19:24 Wherefore I spake unto them, saying: Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye
who are a remnant of the house of Israel, a branch who have been broken off;
hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of
Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your
brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the
prophet written.

1 Nephi Chapter 20

20:1 Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of
Israel, and are 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, yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness.

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; yea, the Lord of
Hosts is his name.

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 did show them suddenly.

20:4 And I did it because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an
iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

20:5 And I have even from the beginning declared to thee; before it came to
pass I showed them thee; and I showed them for fear lest thou shouldst
say—mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image
hath commanded them.

20:6 Thou hast seen and heard all this; and will ye not declare them? And that
I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou
didst not know them.

20:7 They are created now, and not from the beginning, even before the day when
thou heardest them not they were declared unto thee, lest thou shouldst
say—Behold I knew them.

20:8 Yea, and thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time
thine ear was not opened; for I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously,
and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

20:9 Nevertheless, for my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my
praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off.

20:10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of
affliction.

20:11 For mine own sake, yea, for mine own sake will I do this, for I will not
suffer my name to be polluted, and I will not give my glory unto another.

20:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called, for I am he; I am the
first, and I am also the last.

20:13 Mine hand hath also laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand
hath spanned the heavens. I call unto them and they stand up together.

20:14 All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; who among them hath declared these
things unto them? The Lord hath loved him; yea, and he will fulfill his word
which he hath declared by them; and he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his
arm shall come upon the Chaldeans.

20:15 Also, saith the Lord; I the Lord, yea, I have spoken; yea, I have called
him to declare, I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

20:16 Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken in secret; from the beginning,
from the time that it was declared have I spoken; and the Lord God, and his
Spirit, hath sent me.

20:17 And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have
sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the
way thou shouldst go, hath done it.

20:18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments—then had thy peace
been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.

20:19 Thy seed also had been as the sand; the offspring of thy bowels like the
gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before
me.

20:20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of
singing declare ye, tell this, utter to the end of the earth; say ye: The Lord
hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

20:21 And they thirsted not; he led them through the deserts; he caused the
waters to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also and the waters
gushed out.

20:22 And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and greater also, there is no
peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.

1 Nephi Chapter 21

21:1 And again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken off and
are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people; yea, all
ye that are broken off, that are scattered abroad, who are of my people, O
house of Israel. Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken ye people from far; the
Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made
mention of my name.

21:2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand
hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

21:3 And said unto me: Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be
glorified.

21:4 Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught
and in vain; surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

21:5 And now, saith the Lord—that formed me from the womb that I should
be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him—though Israel be not
gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be
my strength.

21:6 And he said: It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise
up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also
give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto
the ends of the earth.

21:7 Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him whom man
despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to servant of rulers: Kings shall
see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is
faithful.

21:8 Thus saith the Lord: In an acceptable time have I heard thee, O isles of
the sea, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve
thee, and give thee my servant for a covenant of the people, to establish the
earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

21:9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners: Go forth; to them that sit in
darkness: Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures
shall be in all high places.

21:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun
smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs
of water shall he guide them.

21:11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.

21:12 And then, O house of Israel, behold, these shall come from far; and lo,
these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

21:13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of those who are in
the east shall be established; and break forth into singing, O mountains; for
they shall be smitten no more; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will
have mercy upon his afflicted.

21:14 But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath
forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.

21:15 For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have
compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget
thee, O house of Israel.

21:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are
continually before me.

21:17 Thy children shall make haste against thy destroyers; and they that made
thee waste shall go forth of thee.

21:18 Lift up thine eyes round about and behold; all these gather themselves
together, and they shall come to thee. And as I live, saith the Lord, thou
shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on
even as a bride.

21:19 For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction,
shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants; and they that
swallowed thee up shall be far away.

21:20 The children whom thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the first, shall
again in thine ears say: The place is too strait for me; give place to me that
I may dwell.

21:21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart: Who hath begotten me these, seeing I
have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? And
who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where have they
been?

21:22 Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the
Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons
in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

21:23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing
mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, and
lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they
shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

21:24 For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives
delivered?

21:25 But thus saith the Lord, even the captives of the mighty shall be taken
away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with
him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

21:26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; they shall
be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh shall know
that I, the Lord, am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

1 Nephi Chapter 22

22:1 And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had read these things which
were engraven upon the plates of brass, my brethren came unto me and said unto
me: What meaneth these things which ye have read? Behold, are they to be
understood according to things which are spiritual, which shall come to pass
according to the spirit and not the flesh?

22:2 And I, Nephi, said unto them: Behold they were manifest unto the prophet
by the voice of the Spirit; for by the Spirit are all things made known unto
the prophets, which shall come upon the children of men according to the flesh.

22:3 Wherefore, 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.

22:4 And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of
those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the tribes have been led
away; and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea; and whither
they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away.

22:5 And since they have been led away, these things have been prophesied
concerning them, and also concerning all those who shall hereafter be scattered
and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they
harden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and
shall be hated of all men.

22:6 Nevertheless, after they shall 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 meaneth us in the
days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel.

22:7 And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel
have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty
nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them
shall our seed be scattered.

22:8 And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a
marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed;
wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being
carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.

22:9 And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the
Gentiles but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the
covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all
the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

22:10 And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of
the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of
the nations.

22:11 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of
all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who
are of the house of Israel.

22:12 Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be
gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought
out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is
their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.

22:13 And the blood of that great and abominable church, which is the whore of
all the earth, shall turn upon their own heads; for they shall war among
themselves, and the sword of their own hands shall fall upon their own heads,
and they shall be drunken with their own blood.

22:14 And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall
be turned one against another, and they shall fall into the pit which they
digged to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all that fight against Zion shall
be destroyed, and that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the
Lord, yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the dust and great
shall be the fall of it.

22:15 For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh speedily that Satan shall
have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon
cometh that all the proud and they who do wickedly shall be as stubble; and the
day cometh that they must be burned.

22:16 For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be
poured out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked
shall destroy the righteous.

22:17 Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be
that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even
unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need
not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as
by fire.

22:18 Behold, my brethren, I say unto you, that these things must shortly come;
yea, even blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke must come; and it must needs be
upon the face of this earth; and it cometh unto men according to the flesh if
it so be that they will harden their hearts against the Holy One of Israel.

22:19 For behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come
that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off.

22:20 And the Lord will surely prepare a way for his people, unto the
fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A prophet shall the
Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things
whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that all those who
will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people.

22:21 And now I, Nephi, declare unto you, that this prophet of whom Moses spake
was the Holy One of Israel; wherefore, he shall execute judgment in
righteousness.

22:22 And the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be
confounded. But it is the kingdom of the devil, which shall be built up among
the children of men, which kingdom is established among them which are in the
flesh—

22:23 For the time speedily shall come that all churches which are built up to
get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those
who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek
the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of
iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are
they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those who must be brought
low in the dust; they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is
according to the words of the prophet.

22:24 And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as calves
of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and
power, and great glory.

22:25 And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he
numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one
shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture.

22:26 And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power;
wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no
power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the
Holy One of Israel reigneth.

22:27 And now behold, I, Nephi, say unto you that all these things must come
according to the flesh.

22:28 But, behold, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people shall dwell
safely in the Holy One of Israel if it so be that they will repent.

22:29 And now I, Nephi, make an end; for I durst not speak further as yet
concerning these things.

22:30 Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things
which have been written upon the plates of brass are true; and they testify
that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God.

22:31 Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones
that have testified, and also taught them. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient
to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day.
And thus it is. Amen.

THE SECOND BOOK OF
NEPHI

An account of the death of Lehi. Nephi’s brethren rebel against him. The
Lord warns Nephi to depart into the wilderness. His journeyings in the
wilderness, and so forth.

2 Nephi Chapter 1

1:1 And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of teaching my
brethren, our father, Lehi, also spake many things unto them, and rehearsed
unto them, how great things the Lord had done for them in bringing them out of
the land of Jerusalem.

1:2 And he spake unto them concerning their rebellions upon the waters, and the
mercies of God in sparing their lives, that they were not swallowed up in the
sea.

1:3 And he also spake unto them concerning the land of promise, which they had
obtained—how merciful the Lord had been in warning us that we should flee
out of the land of Jerusalem.

1:4 For, behold, said he, I have seen a vision, in which I know that Jerusalem
is destroyed; and had we remained in Jerusalem we should also have perished.

1:5 But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of
promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord
God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed.
Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever,
and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the
Lord.

1:6 Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which
is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought
by the hand of the Lord.

1:7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it
so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath
given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be
brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if
iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the
righteous it shall be blessed forever.

1:8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the
knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land,
that there would be no place for an inheritance.

1:9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom
the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his
commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be
kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves.
And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed
upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take
away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.

1:10 But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief,
after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the
Lord—having a knowledge of the creation of the earth, and all men,
knowing the great and marvelous works of the Lord from the creation of the
world; having power given them to do all things by faith; having all the
commandments from the beginning, and having been brought by his infinite
goodness into this precious land of promise—behold, I say, if the day
shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah,
their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall
rest upon them.

1:11 Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them
power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he
will cause them to be scattered and smitten.

1:12 Yea, as one generation passeth to another there shall be bloodsheds, and
great visitations among them; wherefore, my sons, I would that ye would
remember; yea, I would that ye would hearken unto my words.

1:13 O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep
of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the
chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down
to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.

1:14 Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent,
whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence no
traveler can return; a few more days and I go the way of all the earth.

1:15 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his
glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.

1:16 And I desire that ye should remember to observe the statutes and the
judgments of the Lord; behold, this hath been the anxiety of my soul from the
beginning.

1:17 My heart hath been weighed down with sorrow from time to time, for I have
feared, lest for the hardness of your hearts the Lord your God should come out
in the fulness of his wrath upon you, that ye be cut off and destroyed forever;

1:18 Or, that a cursing should come upon you for the space of many generations;
and ye are visited by sword, and by famine, and are hated, and are led
according to the will and captivity of the devil.

1:19 O my sons, that these things might not come upon you, but that ye might be
a choice and a favored people of the Lord. But behold, his will be done; for
his ways are righteousness forever.

1:20 And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall
prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall
be cut off from my presence.

1:21 And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave
this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be brought down with
grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be
determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not
come down into captivity;

1:22 That ye may not be cursed with a sore cursing; and also, that ye may not
incur the displeasure of a just God upon you, unto the destruction, yea, the
eternal destruction of both soul and body.

1:23 Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains
with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the
dust.

1:24 Rebel no more against your brother, whose views have been glorious, and
who hath kept the commandments from the time that we left Jerusalem; and who
hath been an instrument in the hands of God, in bringing us forth into the land
of promise; for were it not for him, we must have perished with hunger in the
wilderness; nevertheless, ye sought to take away his life; yea, and he hath
suffered much sorrow because of you.

1:25 And I exceedingly fear and tremble because of you, lest he shall suffer
again; for behold, ye have accused him that he sought power and authority over
you; but I know that he hath not sought for power nor authority over you, but
he hath sought the glory of God, and your own eternal welfare.

1:26 And ye have murmured because he hath been plain unto you. Ye say that he
hath used sharpness; ye say that he hath been angry with you; but behold, his
sharpness was the sharpness of the power of the word of God, which was in him;
and that which ye call anger was the truth, according to that which is in God,
which he could not restrain, manifesting boldly concerning your iniquities.

1:27 And it must needs be that the power of God must be with him, even unto his
commanding you that ye must obey. But behold, it was not he, but it was the
Spirit of the Lord which was in him, which opened his mouth to utterance that
he could not shut it.

1:28 And now my son, Laman, and also Lemuel and Sam, and also my sons who are
the sons of Ishmael, behold, if ye will hearken unto the voice of Nephi ye
shall not perish. And if ye will hearken unto him I leave unto you a blessing,
yea, even my first blessing.

1:29 But if ye will not hearken unto him I take away my first blessing, yea,
even my blessing, and it shall rest upon him.

1:30 And now Zoram, I speak unto you: Behold, thou art the servant of Laban;
nevertheless, thou hast been brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and I know
that thou art a true friend unto my son, Nephi, forever.

1:31 Wherefore, because thou hast been faithful thy seed shall be blessed with
his seed, that they dwell in prosperity long upon the face of this land; and
nothing, save it shall be iniquity among them, shall harm or disturb their
prosperity upon the face of this land forever.

1:32 Wherefore, if ye shall keep the commandments of the Lord, the Lord hath
consecrated this land for the security of thy seed with the seed of my son.

2 Nephi Chapter 2

2:1 And now, Jacob, I speak unto you: Thou art my first-born in the days of my
tribulation in the wilderness. And behold, in thy childhood thou hast suffered
afflictions and much sorrow, because of the rudeness of thy brethren.

2:2 Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the
greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.

2:3 Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely with thy
brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God.
Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy
Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring
salvation unto men.

2:4 And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed
even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the
same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of
man, and salvation is free.

2:5 And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the
law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men
are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the
spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable
forever.

2:6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is
full of grace and truth.

2:7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the
law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto
none else can the ends of the law be answered.

2:8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the
inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can
dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and
grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and
taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the
resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

2:9 Wherefore, he is the first-fruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make
intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be
saved.

2:10 And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore,
they stand in the presence of him to be judged of him according to the truth
and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One
hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which
punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is
affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement—

2:11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not
so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to
pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.
Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should
be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor
corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor
insensibility.

2:12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught;
wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation.
Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal
purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.

2:13 And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If
ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And
if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no
righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these
things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the
earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to
be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.

2:14 And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and
learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens
and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things
to be acted upon.

2:15 And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had
created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the
air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was
an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the
one being sweet and the other bitter.

2:16 Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself.
Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed
by the one or the other.

2:17 And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose
that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from
heaven; wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before
God.

2:18 And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever,
he sought also the misery of all mankind. Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea,
even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies,
wherefore he said: Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye
shall be as God, knowing good and evil.

2:19 And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were
driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.

2:20 And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the
earth.

2:21 And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will
of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state
became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the
commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave
commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were
lost, because of the transgression of their parents.

2:22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen,
but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were
created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were
created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.

2:23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in
a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good,
for they knew no sin.

2:24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all
things.

2:25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

2:26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the
children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall
they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves
and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great
and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

2:27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given
them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and
eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and
death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that
all men might be miserable like unto himself.

2:28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and
hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose
eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

2:29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the
evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate,
to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.

2:30 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of
my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the
prophet. And I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of
your souls. Amen.

2 Nephi Chapter 3

3:1 And now I speak unto you, Joseph, my last-born. Thou wast born in the
wilderness of mine afflictions; yea, in the days of my greatest sorrow did thy
mother bear thee.

3:2 And may the Lord consecrate also unto thee this land, which is a most
precious land, for thine inheritance and the inheritance of thy seed with thy
brethren, for thy security forever, if it so be that ye shall keep the
commandments of the Holy One of Israel.

3:3 And now, Joseph, my last-born, whom I have brought out of the wilderness of
mine afflictions, may the Lord bless thee forever, for thy seed shall not
utterly be destroyed.

3:4 For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph
who was carried captive into Egypt. And great were the covenants of the Lord
which he made unto Joseph.

3:5 Wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord,
that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous
branch unto the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be
broken off, nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that
the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit
of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light—yea, out
of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom.

3:6 For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the Lord my God raise up,
who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins.

3:7 Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I
raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among
the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a
work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth
unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which
I have made with thy fathers.

3:8 And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work,
save the work which I shall command him. And I will make him great in mine
eyes; for he shall do my work.

3:9 And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up
unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.

3:10 And Moses will I raise up, to deliver thy people out of the land of Egypt.

3:11 But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him
will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and
not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing
them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.

3:12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins
of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy
loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah,
shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of
contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing
them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the
knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

3:13 And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work
shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel,
saith the Lord.

3:14 And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless;
and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which
I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled.
Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise;

3:15 And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of
his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall
bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto
salvation.

3:16 Yea, thus prophesied Joseph: I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of
the promise of Moses; for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed
forever.

3:17 And the Lord hath said: I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power
unto him in a rod; and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not
loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in
speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and
I will make a spokesman for him.

3:18 And the Lord said unto me also: I will raise up unto the fruit of thy
loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give unto him
that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of
thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it.

3:19 And the words which he shall write shall be the words which are expedient
in my wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins. And it shall be as if
the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their
faith.

3:20 And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their
brethren, even after many generations have gone by them. And it shall come to
pass that their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words.

3:21 Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth
unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of their
words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant
which I made unto thy fathers.

3:22 And now, behold, my son Joseph, after this manner did my father of old
prophesy.

3:23 Wherefore, because of this covenant thou art blessed; for thy seed shall
not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book.

3:24 And there shall rise up one mighty among them, who shall do much good,
both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with
exceeding faith, to work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in
the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of
Israel, and unto the seed of thy brethren.

3:25 And now, blessed art thou, Joseph. Behold, thou art little; wherefore
hearken unto the words of thy brother, Nephi, and it shall be done unto thee
even according to the words which I have spoken. Remember the words of thy
dying father. Amen.

2 Nephi Chapter 4

4:1 And now, I, Nephi, speak concerning the prophecies of which my father hath
spoken, concerning Joseph, who was carried into Egypt.

4:2 For behold, he truly prophesied concerning all his seed. And the prophecies
which he wrote, there are not many greater. And he prophesied concerning us,
and our future generations; and they are written upon the plates of brass.

4:3 Wherefore, after my father had made an end of speaking concerning the
prophecies of Joseph, he called the children of Laman, his sons, and his
daughters, and said unto them: Behold, my sons, and my daughters, who are the
sons and the daughters of my first-born, I would that ye should give ear unto
my words.

4:4 For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments
ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments
ye shall be cut off from my presence.

4:5 But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I
should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought up
in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it.

4:6 Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the
cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your parents.

4:7 Wherefore, because of my blessing the Lord God will not suffer that ye
shall perish; wherefore, he will be merciful unto you and unto your seed
forever.

4:8 And it came to pass that after my father had made an end of speaking to the
sons and daughters of Laman, he caused the sons and daughters of Lemuel to be
brought before him.

4:9 And he spake unto them, saying: Behold, my sons and my daughters, who are
the sons and the daughters of my second son; behold I leave unto you the same
blessing which I left unto the sons and daughters of Laman; wherefore, thou
shalt not utterly be destroyed; but in the end thy seed shall be blessed.

4:10 And it came to pass that when my father had made an end of speaking unto
them, behold, he spake unto the sons of Ishmael, yea, and even all his
household.

4:11 And after he had made an end of speaking unto them, he spake unto Sam,
saying: Blessed art thou, and thy seed; for thou shall inherit the land like
unto thy brother Nephi. And thy seed shall be numbered with his seed; and thou
shalt be even like unto thy brother, and thy seed like unto his seed; and thou
shalt be blessed in all thy days.

4:12 And it came to pass after my father, Lehi, had spoken unto all his
household, according to the feelings of his heart and the Spirit of the Lord
which was in him, he waxed old. And it came to pass that he died, and was
buried.

4:13 And it came to pass that not many days after his death, Laman and Lemuel
and the sons of Ishmael were angry with me because of the admonitions of the
Lord.

4:14 For I, Nephi, was constrained to speak unto them, according to his word;
for I had spoken many things unto them, and also my father, before his death;
many of which sayings are written upon mine other plates; for a more history
part are written upon mine other plates.

4:15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures
which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the
scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and
the profit of my children.

4:16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart
pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.

4:17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing
me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I
am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of
mine iniquities.

4:18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do
so easily beset me.

4:19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins;
nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

4:20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in
the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

4:21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.

4:22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before
me.

4:23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by
visions in the nighttime.

4:24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice
have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

4:25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon
exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even
too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

4:26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension
unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart
weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and
my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

4:27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give
way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my
peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?

4:28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give
place no more for the enemy of my soul.

4:29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength
because of mine afflictions.

4:30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise
thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my
salvation.

4:31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of
mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?

4:32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart
is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of
thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley,
that I may be strict in the plain road!

4:33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O
Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make
my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my
way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my
way, but the ways of mine enemy.

4:34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will
not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth
his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man
or maketh flesh his arm.

4:35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God
will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee;
yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my
voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God.
Amen.

2 Nephi Chapter 5

5:1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cry much unto the Lord my God,
because of the anger of my brethren.

5:2 But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did
seek to take away my life.

5:3 Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: Our younger brother thinks to rule
over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay
him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we
will not have him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder
brethren, to rule over this people.

5:4 Now I do not write upon these plates all the words which they murmured
against me. But it sufficeth me to say, that they did seek to take away my
life.

5:5 And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart
from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me.

5:6 Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also
Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and
Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go
with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the
warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words.

5:7 And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and
did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days. And after we had
journeyed for the space of many days we did pitch our tents.

5:8 And my people would that we should call the name of the place Nephi;
wherefore, we did call it Nephi.

5:9 And all those who were with me did take upon them to call themselves the
people of Nephi.

5:10 And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the
commandments of the Lord in all things according to the law of Moses.

5:11 And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow
seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and
herds, and animals of every kind.

5:12 And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which were engraven upon the
plates of brass; and also the ball, or compass, which was prepared for my
father by the hand of the Lord, according to that which is written.

5:13 And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply
in the land.

5:14 And I, Nephi, did take the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did
make many swords, lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites
should come upon us and destroy us; for I knew their hatred towards me and my
children and those who were called my people.

5:15 And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of
wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and
of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.

5:16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner
of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for
they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like
unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto
the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.

5:17 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious,
and to labor with their hands.

5:18 And it came to pass that they would that I should be their king. But I,
Nephi, was desirous that they should have no king; nevertheless, I did for them
according to that which was in my power.

5:19 And behold, the words of the Lord had been fulfilled unto my brethren,
which he spake concerning them, that I should be their ruler and their teacher.
Wherefore, I had been their ruler and their teacher, according to the
commandments of the Lord, until the time they sought to take away my life.

5:20 Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he spake unto me,
saying that: Inasmuch as they will not hearken unto thy words they shall be cut
off from the presence of the Lord. And behold, they were cut off from his
presence.

5:21 And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing,
because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against
him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and
exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my
people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.

5:22 And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome
unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities.

5:23 And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they
shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was
done.

5:24 And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle
people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for
beasts of prey.

5:25 And the Lord God said unto me: They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to
stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me,
and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction.

5:26 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did consecrate Jacob and Joseph, that
they should be priests and teachers over the land of my people.

5:27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.

5:28 And thirty years had passed away from the time we left Jerusalem.

5:29 And I, Nephi, had kept the records upon my plates, which I had made, of my
people thus far.

5:30 And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me: Make other plates; and
thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the
profit of thy people.

5:31 Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went
and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things.

5:32 And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God. And if my people are
pleased with the things of God they will be pleased with mine engravings which
are upon these plates.

5:33 And if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of
my people they must search mine other plates.

5:34 And it sufficeth me to say that forty years had passed away, and we had
already had wars and contentions with our brethren.

2 Nephi Chapter 6

6:1 The words of Jacob, the brother of Nephi, which he spake unto the people of
Nephi:

6:2 Behold, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, having been called of God, and
ordained after the manner of his holy order, and having been consecrated by my
brother Nephi, unto whom ye look as a king or a protector, and on whom ye
depend for safety, behold ye know that I have spoken unto you exceedingly many
things.

6:3 Nevertheless, I speak unto you again; for I am desirous for the welfare of
your souls. Yea, mine anxiety is great for you; and ye yourselves know that it
ever has been. For I have exhorted you with all diligence; and I have taught
you the words of my father; and I have spoken unto you concerning all things
which are written, from the creation of the world.

6:4 And now, behold, I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and
which are to come; wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah. And they are
the words which my brother has desired that I should speak unto you. And I
speak unto you for your sakes, that ye may learn and glorify the name of your
God.

6:5 And now, the words which I shall read are they which Isaiah spake
concerning all the house of Israel; wherefore, they may be likened unto you,
for ye are of the house of Israel. And there are many things which have been
spoken by Isaiah which may be likened unto you, because ye are of the house of
Israel.

6:6 And now these are the words: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will lift
up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they
shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon
their shoulders.

6:7 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing
mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their faces towards the earth, and
lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they
shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

6:8 And now I, Jacob, would speak somewhat concerning these words. For behold,
the Lord has shown me that those who were at Jerusalem, from whence we came,
have been slain and carried away captive.

6:9 Nevertheless, the Lord has shown unto me that they should return again. And
he also has shown unto me that the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, should
manifest himself unto them in the flesh; and after he should manifest himself
they should scourge him and crucify him, according to the words of the angel
who spake it unto me.

6:10 And after they have hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks
against the Holy One of Israel, behold the judgments of the Holy One of Israel
shall come upon them. And the day cometh that they shall be smitten and
afflicted.

6:11 Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel,
many shall be afflicted in the flesh, and shall not be suffered to perish,
because of the prayers of the faithful; they shall be scattered, and smitten,
and hated; nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that when they
shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together
again to the lands of their inheritance.

6:12 And blessed are the Gentiles, they of whom the prophet has written; for
behold, if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and do
not unite themselves to that great and abominable church, they shall be saved;
for the Lord God will fulfil his covenants which he has made unto his children;
and for this cause the prophet has written these things.

6:13 Wherefore, they that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the
Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet; and the people of the Lord shall not
be ashamed. For the people of the Lord are they who wait for him; for they
still wait for the coming of the Messiah.

6:14 And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set
himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest
himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their
enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he
destroy that believe in him.

6:15 And they that believe not in him shall be destroyed, both by fire, and by
tempest, and by earthquakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by
famine. And they shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel.

6:16 For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive
delivered?

6:17 But thus saith the Lord: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken
away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for the Mighty God shall
deliver his covenant people. For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them
that contendeth with thee—

6:18 And I will feed them that oppress thee, with their own flesh; and they
shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh shall
know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

2 Nephi Chapter 7

7:1 Yea, for thus saith the Lord: Have I put thee away, or have I cast thee off
forever? For thus saith the Lord: Where is the bill of your mother’s
divorcement? To whom have I put thee away, or to which of my creditors have I
sold you? Yea, to whom have I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye
sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

7:2 Wherefore, when I came, there was no man; when I called, yea, there was
none to answer. O house of Israel, is my hand shortened at all that it cannot
redeem, or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I
make their rivers a wilderness and their fish to stink because the waters are
dried up, and they die because of thirst.

7:3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

7:4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know
how to speak a word in season unto thee, O house of Israel. When ye are weary
he waketh morning by morning. He waketh mine ear to hear as the learned.

7:5 The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned
away back.

7:6 I gave my back to the smiter, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the
hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

7:7 For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded.
Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be
ashamed.

7:8 And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will contend with me? Let
us stand together. Who is mine adversary? Let him come near me, and I will
smite him with the strength of my mouth.

7:9 For the Lord God will help me. And all they who shall condemn me, behold,
all they shall wax old as a garment, and the moth shall eat them up.

7:10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his
servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light?

7:11 Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks,
walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled. This
shall ye have of mine hand—ye shall lie down in sorrow.

2 Nephi Chapter 8

8:1 Hearken unto me, ye that follow after righteousness. Look unto the rock
from whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit from whence ye are digged.

8:2 Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah, she that bare you; for I
called him alone, and blessed him.

8:3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and
he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the
Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of
melody.

8:4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation; for a law
shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light for the
people.

8:5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arm shall
judge the people. The isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they
trust.

8:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the
heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a
garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner. But my salvation
shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

8:7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I
have written my law, fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of
their revilings.

8:8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them
like wool. But my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from
generation to generation.

8:9 Awake, awake! Put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in the ancient
days. Art thou not he that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?

8:10 Art thou not he who hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that
hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?

8:11 Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing
unto Zion; and everlasting joy and holiness shall be upon their heads; and they
shall obtain gladness and joy; sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

8:12 I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you. Behold, who art thou, that thou
shouldst be afraid of man, who shall die, and of the son of man, who shall be
made like unto grass?

8:13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens,
and laid the foundations of the earth, and hast feared continually every day,
because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where
is the fury of the oppressor?

8:14 The captive exile hasteneth, that he may be loosed, and that he should not
die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.

8:15 But I am the Lord thy God, whose waves roared; the Lord of Hosts is my
name.

8:16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and have covered thee in the shadow
of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the
earth, and say unto Zion: Behold, thou art my people.

8:17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the
Lord the cup of his fury—thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of
trembling wrung out—

8:18 And none to guide her among all the sons she hath brought forth; neither
that taketh her by the hand, of all the sons she hath brought up.

8:19 These two sons are come unto thee, who shall be sorry for thee—thy
desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword—and by whom
shall I comfort thee?

8:20 Thy sons have fainted, save these two; they lie at the head of all the
streets; as a wild bull in a net, they are full of the fury of the Lord, the
rebuke of thy God.

8:21 Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, and not with wine:

8:22 Thus saith thy Lord, the Lord and thy God pleadeth the cause of his
people; behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, the dregs
of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again.

8:23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; who have said
to thy soul: Bow down, that we may go over—and thou hast laid thy body as
the ground and as the street to them that went over.

8:24 Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments,
O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee
the uncircumcised and the unclean.

8:25 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself
from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

2 Nephi Chapter 9

9:1 And now, my beloved brethren, I have read these things that ye might know
concerning the covenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house
of Israel—

9:2 That he has spoken unto the Jews, by the mouth of his holy prophets, even
from the beginning down, from generation to generation, until the time comes
that they shall be restored to the true church and fold of God; when they shall
be gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in
all their lands of promise.

9:3 Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that ye may
rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the
Lord God shall bestow upon your children.

9:4 For I know that ye have searched much, many of you, to know of things to
come; wherefore I know that ye know that our flesh must waste away and die;
nevertheless, in our bodies we shall see God.

9:5 Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those
at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among
them; for it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become
subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become
subject unto him.

9:6 For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the
great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the
resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came
by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off
from the presence of the Lord.

9:7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be
an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore,
the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless
duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to
its mother earth, to rise no more.

9:8 O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should
rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before
the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more.

9:9 And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils,
angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain
with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who
beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of
light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder
and all manner of secret works of darkness.

9:10 O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape
from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which
I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.

9:11 And because of the way of deliverance of our God, the Holy One of Israel,
this death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its
dead; which death is the grave.

9:12 And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall
deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell
must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and
the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of
men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the
resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.

9:13 O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of
God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the
body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again,
and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls,
having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our
knowledge shall be perfect.

9:14 Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our
uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect
knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with
purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness.

9:15 And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this
first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear
before the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the
judgment, and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God.

9:16 And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it
is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall
be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore,
they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into
everlasting fire; prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and
brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end.

9:17 O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he executeth all his
words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth, and his law must be
fulfilled.

9:18 But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who
have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of
the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God,
which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy
shall be full forever.

9:19 O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! For he
delivereth his saints from that awful monster the devil, and death, and hell,
and that lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.

9:20 O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there
is not anything save he knows it.

9:21 And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken
unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains
of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the
family of Adam.

9:22 And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that
all might stand before him at the great and judgment day.

9:23 And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his
name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved
in the kingdom of God.

9:24 And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in
his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God, the
Holy One of Israel, has spoken it.

9:25 Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no
punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and
where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim
upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of
him.

9:26 For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who
have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful
monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone,
which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them
breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.

9:27 But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments
of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of
his probation, for awful is his state!

9:28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties,
and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and
they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they
know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth
them not. And they shall perish.

9:29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.

9:30 But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For
because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and
their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their God.
And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also.

9:31 And wo unto the deaf that will not hear; for they shall perish.

9:32 Wo unto the blind that will not see; for they shall perish also.

9:33 Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart, for a knowledge of their iniquities
shall smite them at the last day.

9:34 Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell.

9:35 Wo unto the murderer who deliberately killeth, for he shall die.

9:36 Wo unto them who commit whoredoms, for they shall be thrust down to hell.

9:37 Yea, wo unto those that worship idols, for the devil of all devils
delighteth in them.

9:38 And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall
return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins.

9:39 O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against
that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that
cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be
spiritually-minded is life eternal.

9:40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of
the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you;
for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of
your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness;
but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.

9:41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember
that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth
in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of
Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it
be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

9:42 And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned,
and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their
wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save
they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God,
and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.

9:43 But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them
forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.

9:44 O, my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my garments,
and I shake them before you; I pray the God of my salvation that he view me
with his all-searching eye; wherefore, ye shall know at the last day, when all
men shall be judged of their works, that the God of Israel did witness that I
shook your iniquities from my soul, and that I stand with brightness before
him, and am rid of your blood.

9:45 O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains of
him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock of your
salvation.

9:46 Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be
administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may not
shrink with awful fear; that ye may not remember your awful guilt in
perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O
Lord God Almighty—but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my
transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to
his awful misery.

9:47 But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an
awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were
pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye
were freed from sin?

9:48 Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as ye are
not holy, and ye look upon me as a teacher, it must needs be expedient that I
teach you the consequences of sin.

9:49 Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness;
and I will praise the holy name of my God.

9:50 Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he
that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money
and without price.

9:51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your
labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember
the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast
upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul
delight in fatness.

9:52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him
continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your
hearts rejoice.

9:53 And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, and how great his
condescensions unto the children of men; and because of his greatness, and his
grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall not utterly be
destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would preserve them; and in
future generations they shall become a righteous branch unto the house of
Israel.

9:54 And now, my brethren, I would speak unto you more; but on the morrow I
will declare unto you the remainder of my words. Amen.

2 Nephi Chapter 10

10:1 And now I, Jacob, speak unto you again, my beloved brethren, concerning
this righteous branch of which I have spoken.

10:2 For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us
according to the flesh; wherefore, as it has been shown unto me that many of
our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief, nevertheless, God
will be merciful unto many; and our children shall be restored, that they may
come to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer.

10:3 Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that
Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be
his name—should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked
part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our
God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.

10:4 For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would
repent, and know that he be their God.

10:5 But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen
their necks against him, that he be crucified.

10:6 Wherefore, because of their iniquities, destructions, famines,
pestilences, and bloodshed shall come upon them; and they who shall not be
destroyed shall be scattered among all nations.

10:7 But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh that they shall
believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers that
they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their
inheritance.

10:8 And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long
dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth;
and the nations of the Gentiles shall be great in the eyes of me, saith God, in
carrying them forth to the lands of their inheritance.

10:9 Yea, the kings of the Gentiles shall be nursing fathers unto them, and
their queens shall become nursing mothers; wherefore, the promises of the Lord
are great unto the Gentiles, for he hath spoken it, and who can dispute?

10:10 But behold, this land, said God, shall be a land of thine inheritance,
and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land.

10:11 And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there
shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles.

10:12 And I will fortify this land against all other nations.

10:13 And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish, saith God.

10:14 For he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish, for I, the Lord,
the king of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them
forever, that hear my words.

10:15 Wherefore, for this cause, that my covenants may be fulfilled which I
have made unto the children of men, that I will do unto them while they are in
the flesh, I must needs destroy the secret works of darkness, and of murders,
and of abominations.

10:16 Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond
and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they who are the
whore of all the earth; for they who are not for me are against me, saith our
God.

10:17 For I will fulfil my promises which I have made unto the children of men,
that I will do unto them while they are in the flesh—

10:18 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God: I will afflict thy
seed by the hand of the Gentiles; nevertheless, I will soften the hearts of the
Gentiles, that they shall be like unto a father to them; wherefore, the
Gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel.

10:19 Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and them who shall
be numbered among thy seed, forever, for the land of their inheritance; for it
is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands, wherefore I will
have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship me, saith God.

10:20 And now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us
so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay aside
our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off; nevertheless,
we have been driven out of the land of our inheritance; but we have been led to
a better land, for the Lord has made the sea our path, and we are upon an isle
of the sea.

10:21 But great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles
of the sea; wherefore as it says isles, there must needs be more than this, and
they are inhabited also by our brethren.

10:22 For behold, the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of
Israel, according to his will and pleasure. And now behold, the Lord
remembereth all them who have been broken off, wherefore he remembereth us
also.

10:23 Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for
yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal
life.

10:24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God,
and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are
reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye
are saved.

10:25 Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection,
and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be
received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace
divine. Amen.

2 Nephi Chapter 11

11:1 And now, Jacob spake many more things to my people at that time;
nevertheless only these things have I caused to be written, for the things
which I have written sufficeth me.

11:2 And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul
delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will
send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I
have seen him.

11:3 And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I
will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words
are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my
word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.

11:4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the
coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all
things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man,
are the typifying of him.

11:5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath
made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice,
and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.

11:6 And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should
come all men must perish.

11:7 For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are
not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is
Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time.

11:8 And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall
see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men. Now these are
the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men.

2 Nephi Chapter 12

12:1 The word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

12:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the
Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall
be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.

12:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of
his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the
law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

12:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and
they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into
pruning-hooks—nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither
shall they learn war any more.

12:5 O house of Jacob, come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord; yea,
come, for ye have all gone astray, every one to his wicked ways.

12:6 Therefore, O Lord, thou hast forsaken thy people, the house of Jacob,
because they be replenished from the east, and hearken unto soothsayers like
the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

12:7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of
their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of
their chariots.

12:8 Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own
hands, that which their own fingers have made.

12:9 And the mean man boweth not down, and the great man humbleth himself not,
therefore, forgive him not.

12:10 O ye wicked ones, enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for the
fear of the Lord and the glory of his majesty shall smite thee.

12:11 And it shall come to pass that the lofty looks of man shall be humbled,
and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be
exalted in that day.

12:12 For the day of the Lord of Hosts soon cometh upon all nations, yea, upon
every one; yea, upon the proud and lofty, and upon every one who is lifted up,
and he shall be brought low.

12:13 Yea, and the day of the Lord shall come upon all the cedars of Lebanon,
for they are high and lifted up; and upon all the oaks of Bashan;

12:14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills, and upon all the
nations which are lifted up, and upon every people;

12:15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall;

12:16 And upon all the ships of the sea, and upon all the ships of Tarshish,
and upon all pleasant pictures.

12:17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men
shall be made low; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

12:18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish.

12:19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the
earth, for the fear of the Lord shall come upon them and the glory of his
majesty shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

12:20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold,
which he hath made for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

12:21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged
rocks, for the fear of the Lord shall come upon them and the majesty of his
glory shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

12:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to
be accounted of?

2 Nephi Chapter 13

13:1 For behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem,
and from Judah, the stay and the staff, the whole staff of bread, and the whole
stay of water—

13:2 The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the
prudent, and the ancient;

13:3 The captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counselor, and the
cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.

13:4 And I will give children unto them to be their princes, and babes shall
rule over them.

13:5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by
his neighbor; the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and
the base against the honorable.

13:6 When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, and
shall say: Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let not this ruin come
under thy hand—

13:7 In that day shall he swear, saying: I will not be a healer; for in my
house there is neither bread nor clothing; make me not a ruler of the people.

13:8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen, because their tongues and
their doings have been against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory.

13:9 The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and doth declare
their sin to be even as Sodom, and they cannot hide it. Wo unto their souls,
for they have rewarded evil unto themselves!

13:10 Say unto the righteous that it is well with them; for they shall eat the
fruit of their doings.

13:11 Wo unto the wicked, for they shall perish; for the reward of their hands
shall be upon them!

13:12 And my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O
my people, they who lead thee cause thee to err and destroy the way of thy
paths.

13:13 The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.

13:14 The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people and the
princes thereof; for ye have eaten up the vineyard and the spoil of the poor in
your houses.

13:15 What mean ye? Ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the
poor, saith the Lord God of Hosts.

13:16 Moreover, the Lord saith: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and
walk with stretched-forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they
go, and making a tinkling with their feet—

13:17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the
daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts.

13:18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling
ornaments, and cauls, and round tires like the moon;

13:19 The chains and the bracelets, and the mufflers;

13:20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the
tablets, and the ear-rings;

13:21 The rings, and nose jewels;

13:22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and
the crisping-pins;

13:23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and hoods, and the veils.

13:24 And it shall come to pass, instead of sweet smell there shall be stink;
and instead of a girdle, a rent; and instead of well set hair, baldness; and
instead of a stomacher, a girding of sackcloth; burning instead of beauty.

13:25 Thy men shall fall by the sword and thy mighty in the war.

13:26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall be desolate, and
shall sit upon the ground.

2 Nephi Chapter 14

14:1 And in that day, seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We will
eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name
to take away our reproach.

14:2 In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious; the
fruit of the earth excellent and comely to them that are escaped of Israel.

14:3 And it shall come to pass, they that are left in Zion and remain in
Jerusalem shall be called holy, every one that is written among the living in
Jerusalem—

14:4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion,
and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the
spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning.

14:5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon
her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by
night; for upon all the glory of Zion shall be a defence.

14:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat,
and for a place of refuge, and a covert from storm and from rain.

2 Nephi Chapter 15

15:1 And then will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved, touching his
vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill.

15:2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with
the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a
wine-press therein; and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it
brought forth wild grapes.

15:3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you,
betwixt me and my vineyard.

15:4 What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it?
Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes it brought forth
wild grapes.

15:5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard—I will
take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and I will break down
the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down;

15:6 And I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor digged; but there
shall come up briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain
no rain upon it.

15:7 For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men
of Judah his pleasant plant; and he looked for judgment, and behold,
oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry.

15:8 Wo unto them that join house to house, till there can be no place, that
they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!

15:9 In mine ears, said the Lord of Hosts, of a truth many houses shall be
desolate, and great and fair cities without inhabitant.

15:10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of a homer
shall yield an ephah.

15:11 Wo unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow
strong drink, that continue until night, and wine inflame them!

15:12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine are in their
feasts; but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the
operation of his hands.

15:13 Therefore, my people are gone into captivity, because they have no
knowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up
with thirst.

15:14 Therefore, hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without
measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that
rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

15:15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be
humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled.

15:16 But the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy
shall be sanctified in righteousness.

15:17 Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the
fat ones shall strangers eat.

15:18 Wo unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were
with a cart rope;

15:19 That say: Let him make speed, hasten his work, that we may see it; and
let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know
it.

15:20 Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for
light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

15:21 Wo unto the wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight!

15:22 Wo unto the mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong
drink;

15:23 Who justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the
righteous from him!

15:24 Therefore, as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the
chaff, their root shall be rottenness, and their blossoms shall go up as dust;
because they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts, and despised the word
of the Holy One of Israel.

15:25 Therefore, is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he
hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them; and the
hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets.
For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

15:26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto
them from the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly;
none shall be weary nor stumble among them.

15:27 None shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be
loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken;

15:28 Whose arrows shall be sharp, and all their bows bent, and their
horses’ hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a
whirlwind, their roaring like a lion.

15:29 They shall roar like young lions; yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of
the prey, and shall carry away safe, and none shall deliver.

15:30 And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea;
and if they look unto the land, behold, darkness and sorrow, and the light is
darkened in the heavens thereof.

2 Nephi Chapter 16

16:1 In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a
throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

16:2 Above it stood the seraphim; each one had six wings; with twain he covered
his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

16:3 And one cried unto another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of
Hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.

16:4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the
house was filled with smoke.

16:5 Then said I: Wo is unto me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean
lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have
seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.

16:6 Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand,
which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar;

16:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said: Lo, this has touched thy lips; and
thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

16:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, and who
will go for us? Then I said: Here am I; send me.

16:9 And he said: Go and tell this people—Hear ye indeed, but they
understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived not.

16:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut
their eyes—lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and
understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed.

16:11 Then said I: Lord, how long? And he said: Until the cities be wasted
without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly
desolate;

16:12 And the Lord have removed men far away, for there shall be a great
forsaking in the midst of the land.

16:13 But yet there shall be a tenth, and they shall return, and shall be
eaten, as a teil-tree, and as an oak whose substance is in them when they cast
their leaves; so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

2 Nephi Chapter 17

17:1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of
Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah the son of
Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could
not prevail against it.

17:2 And it was told the house of David, saying: Syria is confederate with
Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of
the wood are moved with the wind.

17:3 Then said the Lord unto Isaiah: Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou and
Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway
of the fuller’s field;

17:4 And say unto him: Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be
faint-hearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce
anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

17:5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel
against thee, saying:

17:6 Let us go up against Judah and vex it, and let us make a breach therein
for us, and set a king in the midst of it, yea, the son of Tabeal.

17:7 Thus saith the Lord God: It shall not stand, neither shall it come to
pass.

17:8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus, Rezin; and
within three score and five years shall Ephraim be broken that it be not a
people.

17:9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is
Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe surely ye shall not be
established.

17:10 Moreover, the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying:

17:11 Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depths, or in
the heights above.

17:12 But Ahaz said: I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.

17:13 And he said: Hear ye now, O house of David; is it a small thing for you
to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?

17:14 Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign—Behold, a virgin
shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

17:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and to
choose the good.

17:16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good,
the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

17:17 The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy
father’s house, days that have not come from the day that Ephraim
departed from Judah, the king of Assyria.

17:18 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall hiss for the
fly that is in the uttermost part of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land
of Assyria.

17:19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys,
and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.

17:20 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, by them
beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet;
and it shall also consume the beard.

17:21 And it shall come to pass in that day, a man shall nourish a young cow
and two sheep;

17:22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk they shall give he
shall eat butter; for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the
land.

17:23 And it shall come to pass in that day, every place shall be, where there
were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, which shall be for briers and
thorns.

17:24 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither, because all the land
shall become briers and thorns.

17:25 And all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come
thither the fear of briers and thorns; but it shall be for the sending forth of
oxen, and the treading of lesser cattle.

2 Nephi Chapter 18

18:1 Moreover, the word of the Lord said unto me: Take thee a great roll, and
write in it with a man’s pen, concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

18:2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and
Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

18:3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived and bare a son. Then
said the Lord to me: Call his name, Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

18:4 For behold, the child shall not have knowledge to cry, My father, and my
mother, before the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken
away before the king of Assyria.

18:5 The Lord spake also unto me again, saying:

18:6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly,
and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;

18:7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the
river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria and all his glory; and he
shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks.

18:8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall
reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the
breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

18:9 Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and
give ear all ye of far countries; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in
pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

18:10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and
it shall not stand; for God is with us.

18:11 For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that
I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:

18:12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all to whom this people shall say, A
confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.

18:13 Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him
be your dread.

18:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a
rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and a snare to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem.

18:15 And many among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared,
and be taken.

18:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

18:17 And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of
Jacob, and I will look for him.

18:18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and
for wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts, which dwelleth in Mount Zion.

18:19 And when they shall say unto you: Seek unto them that have familiar
spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter—should not a people seek
unto their God for the living to hear from the dead?

18:20 To the law and to the testimony; and if they speak not according to this
word, it is because there is no light in them.

18:21 And they shall pass through it hardly bestead and hungry; and it shall
come to pass that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and
curse their king and their God, and look upward.

18:22 And they shall look unto the earth and behold trouble, and darkness,
dimness of anguish, and shall be driven to darkness.

2 Nephi Chapter 19

19:1 Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when
at first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali,
and afterwards did more grievously afflict by the way of the Red Sea beyond
Jordan in Galilee of the nations.

19:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that
dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

19:3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and increased the joy—they joy
before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they
divide the spoil.

19:4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his
shoulder, the rod of his oppressor.

19:5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments
rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

19:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government
shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor,
The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

19:7 Of the increase of government and peace there is no end, upon the throne
of David, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment
and with justice from henceforth, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts
will perform this.

19:8 The Lord sent his word unto Jacob and it hath lighted upon Israel.

19:9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitants of
Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart:

19:10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; the
sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

19:11 Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and
join his enemies together;

19:12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour
Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand
is stretched out still.

19:13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they
seek the Lord of Hosts.

19:14 Therefore will the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and
rush in one day.

19:15 The ancient, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is
the tail.

19:16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led
of them are destroyed.

19:17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall
have mercy on their fatherless and widows; for every one of them is a hypocrite
and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not
turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

19:18 For wickedness burneth as the fire; it shall devour the briers and
thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forests, and they shall mount
up like the lifting up of smoke.

19:19 Through the wrath of the Lord of Hosts is the land darkened, and the
people shall be as the fuel of the fire; no man shall spare his brother.

19:20 And he shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry; and he shall eat on
the left hand and they shall not be satisfied; they shall eat every man the
flesh of his own arm—

19:21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; they together shall be against
Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out
still.

2 Nephi Chapter 20

20:1 Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness
which they have prescribed;

20:2 To turn away the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the
poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the
fatherless!

20:3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which
shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave
your glory?

20:4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall
under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is
stretched out still.

20:5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is their
indignation.

20:6 I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of
my wrath will I give him a charge to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and
to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

20:7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but in his
heart it is to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

20:8 For he saith: Are not my princes altogether kings?

20:9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as
Damascus?

20:10 As my hand hath founded the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven
images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;

20:11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to
Jerusalem and to her idols?

20:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass that when the Lord hath performed his
whole work upon Mount Zion and upon Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the
stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.

20:13 For he saith: By the strength of my hand and by my wisdom I have done
these things; for I am prudent; and I have moved the borders of the people, and
have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant
man;

20:14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people; and as one
gathereth eggs that are left have I gathered all the earth; and there was none
that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.

20:15 Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Shall the
saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? As if the rod should shake
itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself
as if it were no wood!

20:16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, send among his fat ones,
leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a
fire.

20:17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a
flame, and shall burn and shall devour his thorns and his briers in one day;

20:18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field,
both soul and body; and they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth.

20:19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may
write them.

20:20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and
such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him
that smote them, but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in
truth.

20:21 The remnant shall return, yea, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty
God.

20:22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of
them shall return; the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

20:23 For the Lord God of Hosts shall make a consumption, even determined in
all the land.

20:24 Therefore, thus saith the Lord God of Hosts: O my people that dwellest in
Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian; he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall
lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.

20:25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine
anger in their destruction.

20:26 And the Lord of Hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the
slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; and as his rod was upon the sea so
shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.

20:27 And it shall come to pass in that day that his burden shall be taken away
from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be
destroyed because of the anointing.

20:28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up
his carriages.

20:29 They are gone over the passage; they have taken up their lodging at Geba;
Ramath is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.

20:30 Lift up the voice, O daughter of Gallim; cause it to be heard unto Laish,
O poor Anathoth.

20:31 Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.

20:32 As yet shall he remain at Nob that day; he shall shake his hand against
the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

20:33 Behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hosts shall lop the bough with terror; and
the high ones of stature shall be hewn down; and the haughty shall be humbled.

20:34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forests with iron, and Lebanon
shall fall by a mighty one.

2 Nephi Chapter 21

21:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch
shall grow out of his roots.

21:2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of
the fear of the Lord;

21:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord; and he
shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing
of his ears.

21:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity
for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his
mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

21:5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the
girdle of his reins.

21:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down
with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and fatling together; and a
little child shall lead them.

21:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down
together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

21:8 And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned
child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s den.

21:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

21:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an
ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be
glorious.

21:11 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set his hand
again the second time to recover the remnant of his people which shall be left,
from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam,
and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

21:12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the
outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four
corners of the earth.

21:13 The envy of Ephraim also shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall
be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

21:14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines towards the
west; they shall spoil them of the east together; they shall lay their hand
upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.

21:15 And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and
with his mighty wind he shall shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it
in the seven streams, and make men go over dry shod.

21:16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people which shall be
left, from Assyria, like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of
the land of Egypt.

2 Nephi Chapter 22

22:1 And in that day thou shalt say: O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou
wast angry with me thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

22:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord
JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation.

22:3 Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

22:4 And in that day shall ye say: Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare
his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

22:5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things; this is known in
all the earth.

22:6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of
Israel in the midst of thee.

2 Nephi Chapter 23

23:1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

23:2 Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them,
shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

23:3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones,
for mine anger is not upon them that rejoice in my highness.

23:4 The noise of the multitude in the mountains like as of a great people, a
tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together, the Lord of
Hosts mustereth the hosts of the battle.

23:5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, yea, the Lord, and
the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

23:6 Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a
destruction from the Almighty.

23:7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, every man’s heart shall melt;

23:8 And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they
shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

23:9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce
anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out
of it.

23:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give
their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall
not cause her light to shine.

23:11 And I will punish the world for evil, and the wicked for their iniquity;
I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay down the
haughtiness of the terrible.

23:12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the
golden wedge of Ophir.

23:13 Therefore, I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of
her place, in the wrath of the Lord of Hosts, and in the day of his fierce
anger.

23:14 And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up;
and they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his
own land.

23:15 Every one that is proud shall be thrust through; yea, and every one that
is joined to the wicked shall fall by the sword.

23:16 Their children, also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their
houses shall be spoiled and their wives ravished.

23:17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard
silver and gold, nor shall they delight in it.

23:18 Their bows shall also dash the young men to pieces, and they shall have
no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.

23:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’
excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

23:20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation
to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the
shepherds make their fold there.

23:21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be
full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance
there.

23:22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses,
and dragons in their pleasant palaces; and her time is near to come, and her
day shall not be prolonged. For I will destroy her speedily; yea, for I will be
merciful unto my people, but the wicked shall perish.

2 Nephi Chapter 24

24:1 For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set
them in their own land; and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they
shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

24:2 And the people shall take them and bring them to their place; yea, from
far unto the ends of the earth; and they shall return to their lands of
promise. And the house of Israel shall possess them, and the land of the Lord
shall be for servants and handmaids; and they shall take them captives unto
whom they were captives; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

24:3 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall give thee rest,
from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast
made to serve.

24:4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that thou shalt take up this
proverb against the king of Babylon, and say: How hath the oppressor ceased,
the golden city ceased!

24:5 The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, the scepters of the rulers.

24:6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled
the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.

24:7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet; they break forth into singing.

24:8 Yea, the fir-trees rejoice at thee, and also the cedars of Lebanon,
saying: Since thou art laid down no feller is come up against us.

24:9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; it
stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath
raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.

24:10 All they shall speak and say unto thee: Art thou also become weak as we?
Art thou become like unto us?

24:11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave; the noise of thy viols is not
heard; the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

24:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Art thou
cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!

24:13 For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt
my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation, in the sides of the north;

24:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most
High.

24:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

24:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and shall consider
thee, and shall say: Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did
shake kingdoms?

24:17 And made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof, and
opened not the house of his prisoners?

24:18 All the kings of the nations, yea, all of them, lie in glory, every one
of them in his own house.

24:19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and the
remnant of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to
the stones of the pit; as a carcass trodden under feet.

24:20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed
thy land and slain thy people; the seed of evil-doers shall never be renowned.

24:21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquities of their fathers,
that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world
with cities.

24:22 For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of Hosts, and cut off
from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the Lord.

24:23 I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water; and
I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of Hosts.

24:24 The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, so shall
it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand—

24:25 That I will bring the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread
him under foot; then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart
from off their shoulders.

24:26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this is
the hand that is stretched out upon all nations.

24:27 For the Lord of Hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul? And his hand
is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

24:28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.

24:29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee
is broken; for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice,
and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.

24:30 And the first-born of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down
in safety; and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.

24:31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved; for
there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his
appointed times.

24:32 What shall then answer the messengers of the nations? That the Lord hath
founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.

2 Nephi Chapter 25

25:1 Now I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written,
which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. For behold, Isaiah spake many
things which were hard for many of my people to understand; for they know not
concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews.

25:2 For I, Nephi, have not taught them many things concerning the manner of
the Jews; for their works were works of darkness, and their doings were doings
of abominations.

25:3 Wherefore, I write unto my people, unto all those that shall receive
hereafter these things which I write, that they may know the judgments of God,
that they come upon all nations, according to the word which he hath spoken.

25:4 Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and
give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you,
nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of
prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in
me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with
me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my
soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn.

25:5 Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out from
Jerusalem, and mine eyes hath beheld the things of the Jews, and I know that
the Jews do understand the things of the prophets, and there is none other
people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto
them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the
Jews.

25:6 But behold, I, Nephi, have not taught my children after the manner of the
Jews; but behold, I, of myself, have dwelt at Jerusalem, wherefore I know
concerning the regions round about; and I have made mention unto my children
concerning the judgments of God, which hath come to pass among the Jews, unto
my children, according to all that which Isaiah hath spoken, and I do not write
them.

25:7 But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness;
in the which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the
prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the
times when they shall come to pass.

25:8 Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and he that
supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly, and confine
the words unto mine own people; for I know that they shall be of great worth
unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them;
wherefore, for their good have I written them.

25:9 And as one generation hath been destroyed among the Jews because of
iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from generation to generation
according to their iniquities; and never hath any of them been destroyed save
it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord.

25:10 Wherefore, it hath been told them concerning the destruction which should
come upon them, immediately after my father left Jerusalem; nevertheless, they
hardened their hearts; and according to my prophecy they have been destroyed,
save it be those which are carried away captive into Babylon.

25:11 And now this I speak because of the spirit which is in me. And
notwithstanding they have been carried away they shall return again, and
possess the land of Jerusalem; wherefore, they shall be restored again to the
land of their inheritance.

25:12 But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day
cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and
of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will
reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and
the stiffness of their necks.

25:13 Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for
the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings;
and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of
God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen
his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name.

25:14 And behold it shall come to pass that after the Messiah hath risen from
the dead, and hath manifested himself unto his people, unto as many as will
believe on his name, behold, Jerusalem shall be destroyed again; for wo unto
them that fight against God and the people of his church.

25:15 Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations; yea, and also
Babylon shall be destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered by other
nations.

25:16 And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them
by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even down from
generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ,
the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind—and
when that day shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the
Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not forward any
more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must
needs be expedient that they should believe these things.

25:17 And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his
people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a
marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.

25:18 Wherefore, he shall bring forth his words unto them, which words shall
judge them at the last day, for they shall be given them for the purpose of
convincing them of the true Messiah, who was rejected by them; and unto the
convincing of them that they need not look forward any more for a Messiah to
come, for there should not any come, save it should be a false Messiah which
should deceive the people; for there is save one Messiah spoken of by the
prophets, and that Messiah is he who should be rejected of the Jews.

25:19 For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six
hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem; and according to the
words of the prophets, and also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be
Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

25:20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as
the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave
unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by
the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he
did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock
and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these
things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given
under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man
can be saved.

25:21 Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these
things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed,
from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph,
that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand.

25:22 Wherefore, these things shall go from generation to generation as long as
the earth shall stand; and they shall go according to the will and pleasure of
God; and the nations who shall possess them shall be judged of them according
to the words which are written.

25:23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our
brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that
it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

25:24 And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and
look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.

25:25 For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead
unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the
law because of the commandments.

25:26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we
prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children
may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

25:27 Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the
deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look
forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was
given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden
their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away.

25:28 And now behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people; wherefore, I have
spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I
have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to
teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny
him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law.

25:29 And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in
Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye
must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and
strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast
out.

25:30 And, inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye must keep the performances and
ordinances of God until the law shall be fulfilled which was given unto Moses.

2 Nephi Chapter 26

26:1 And after Christ shall have risen from the dead he shall show himself unto
you, my children, and my beloved brethren; and the words which he shall speak
unto you shall be the law which ye shall do.

26:2 For behold, I say unto you that I have beheld that many generations shall
pass away, and there shall be great wars and contentions among my people.

26:3 And after the Messiah shall come there shall be signs given unto my people
of his birth, and also of his death and resurrection; and great and terrible
shall that day be unto the wicked, for they shall perish; and they perish
because they cast out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay
them; wherefore the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God from
the ground against them.

26:4 Wherefore, all those who are proud, and that do wickedly, the day that
cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, for they shall be as
stubble.

26:5 And they that kill the prophets, and the saints, the depths of the earth
shall swallow them up, saith the Lord of Hosts; and mountains shall cover them,
and whirlwinds shall carry them away, and buildings shall fall upon them and
crush them to pieces and grind them to powder.

26:6 And they shall be visited with thunderings, and lightnings, and
earthquakes, and all manner of destructions, for the fire of the anger of the
Lord shall be kindled against them, and they shall be as stubble, and the day
that cometh shall consume them, saith the Lord of Hosts.

26:7 O the pain, and the anguish of my soul for the loss of the slain of my
people! For I, Nephi, have seen it, and it well nigh consumeth me before the
presence of the Lord; but I must cry unto my God: Thy ways are just.

26:8 But behold, the righteous that hearken unto the words of the prophets, and
destroy them not, but look forward unto Christ with steadfastness for the signs
which are given, notwithstanding all persecution—behold, they are they
which shall not perish.

26:9 But the Son of righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal
them, and they shall have peace with him, until three generations shall have
passed away, and many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in
righteousness.

26:10 And when these things have passed away a speedy destruction cometh unto
my people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it;
wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and they sell themselves for
naught; for, for the reward of their pride and their foolishness they shall
reap destruction; for because they yield unto the devil and choose works of
darkness rather than light, therefore they must go down to hell.

26:11 For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the
Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this
grieveth my soul.

26:12 And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the
very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is
the Christ, the Eternal God;

26:13 And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the
power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people,
working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men
according to their faith.

26:14 But behold, I prophesy unto you concerning the last days; concerning the
days when the Lord God shall bring these things forth unto the children of men.

26:15 After my seed and the seed of my brethren shall have dwindled in
unbelief, and shall have been smitten by the Gentiles; yea, after the Lord God
shall have camped against them round about, and shall have laid siege against
them with a mount, and raised forts against them; and after they shall have
been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the
righteous shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and
all those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten.

26:16 For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground,
and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one
that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he
may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their
speech shall whisper out of the dust.

26:17 For thus saith the Lord God: They shall write the things which shall be
done among them, and they shall be written and sealed up in a book, and those
who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the
things of God.

26:18 Wherefore, as those who have been destroyed have been destroyed speedily;
and the multitude of their terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth
away—yea, thus saith the Lord God: It shall be at an instant,
suddenly—

26:19 And it shall come to pass, that those who have dwindled in unbelief shall
be smitten by the hand of the Gentiles.

26:20 And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have
stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have
built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of
God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning,
that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.

26:21 And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes,
and malice.

26:22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old,
according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these
things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth
them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong
cords forever.

26:23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh
not in darkness.

26:24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he
loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all
men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his
salvation.

26:25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto
you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and
honey, without money and without price.

26:26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the
synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.

26:27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation?
Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath
commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.

26:28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his
goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like
unto the other, and none are forbidden.

26:29 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold
priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the
world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the
welfare of Zion.

26:30 Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath
given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love,
and except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they
should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.

26:31 But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money
they shall perish.

26:32 And again, the Lord God hath commanded that men should not murder; that
they should not lie; that they should not steal; that they should not take the
name of the Lord their God in vain; that they should not envy; that they should
not have malice; that they should not contend one with another; that they
should not commit whoredoms; and that they should do none of these things; for
whoso doeth them shall perish.

26:33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is
good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the
children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his
goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and
free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto
God, both Jew and Gentile.

2 Nephi Chapter 27

27:1 But, behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles—yea,
behold all the nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews, both those who shall
come upon this land and those who shall be upon other lands, yea, even upon all
the lands of the earth, behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all
manner of abominations—

27:2 And when that day shall come they shall be visited of the Lord of Hosts,
with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and
with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire.

27:3 And all the nations that fight against Zion, and that distress her, shall
be as a dream of a night vision; yea, it shall be unto them, even as unto a
hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is
empty; or like unto a thirsty man which dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he
awaketh and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite; yea, even so shall
the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.

27:4 For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for ye
shall cry out, and cry; yea, ye shall be drunken but not with wine, ye shall
stagger but not with strong drink.

27:5 For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep.
For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected the prophets; and
your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity.

27:6 And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the
words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered.

27:7 And behold the book shall be sealed; and in the book shall be a revelation
from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof.

27:8 Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are
sealed shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of
the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them.

27:9 But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the words
of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in the dust, and
he shall deliver these words unto another;

27:10 But the words which are sealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he
deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God, and the
revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until the own due time of
the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the
foundation of the world unto the end thereof.

27:11 And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall be
read upon the house tops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ; and
all things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been
among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the end of the
earth.

27:12 Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of
whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the
eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses shall behold it,
by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they
shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein.

27:13 And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according
to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for
the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it
were from the dead.

27:14 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth the words of the
book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he
establish his word; and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of God!

27:15 But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to
whom he shall deliver the book: Take these words which are not sealed and
deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying: Read
this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring hither the book, and I will
read them.

27:16 And now, because of the glory of the world and to get gain will they say
this, and not for the glory of God.

27:17 And the man shall say: I cannot bring the book, for it is sealed.

27:18 Then shall the learned say: I cannot read it.

27:19 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that the Lord God will deliver again the
book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not
learned shall say: I am not learned.

27:20 Then shall the Lord God say unto him: The learned shall not read them,
for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore thou
shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee.

27:21 Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in
mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to
do mine own work.

27:22 Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee, and
obtained the witnesses which I have promised unto thee, then shalt thou seal up
the book again, and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which
thou hast not read, until I shall see fit in mine own wisdom to reveal all
things unto the children of men.

27:23 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto
the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not
among the children of men save it be according to their faith.

27:24 And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that
shall read the words that shall be delivered him:

27:25 Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with
their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their
fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men—

27:26 Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea,
a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall
perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid.

27:27 And wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord! And
their works are in the dark; and they say: Who seeth us, and who knoweth us?
And they also say: Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed
as the potter’s clay. But behold, I will show unto them, saith the Lord
of Hosts, that I know all their works. For shall the work say of him that made
it, he made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, he had
no understanding?

27:28 But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children of men
that it is yet a very little while and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful
field; and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest.

27:29 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes
of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

27:30 And the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the Lord, and
the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

27:31 For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that the terrible one is
brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity
are cut off;

27:32 And they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him
that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught.

27:33 Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the
house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax
pale.

27:34 But when he seeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of
him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall
fear the God of Israel.

27:35 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that
murmured shall learn doctrine.

2 Nephi Chapter 28

28:1 And now, behold, my brethren, I have spoken unto you, according as the
Spirit hath constrained me; wherefore, I know that they must surely come to
pass.

28:2 And the things which shall be written out of the book shall be of great
worth unto the children of men, and especially unto our seed, which is a
remnant of the house of Israel.

28:3 For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches which are built
up, and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say unto the other: Behold, I, I
am the Lord’s; and the others shall say: I, I am the Lord’s; and
thus shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the
Lord—

28:4 And they shall contend one with another; and their priests shall contend
one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy
Ghost, which giveth utterance.

28:5 And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto
the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no
God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given
his power unto men;

28:6 Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle
wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God
of miracles; he hath done his work.

28:7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry,
for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.

28:8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry;
nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea,
lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy
neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we
die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes,
and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

28:9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false
and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and
shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be
in the dark.

28:10 And the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them.

28:11 Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted.

28:12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine,
their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because
of pride they are puffed up.

28:13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor
because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in
heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.

28:14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and
wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it
be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led,
that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of
men.

28:15 O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the
pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those
who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto
them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!

28:16 Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile
against that which is good, and say that is of no worth! For the day shall come
that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth; and in that
day that they are fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish.

28:17 But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their
wickedness and abominations they shall not be destroyed, saith the Lord of
Hosts.

28:18 But behold, that great and abominable church, the whore of all the earth,
must tumble to the earth, and great must be the fall thereof.

28:19 For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must
needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devil will grasp them with his
everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger, and perish;

28:20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of
men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

28:21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that
they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and
thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to
hell.

28:22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell;
and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he
whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from
whence there is no deliverance.

28:23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the
devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of
God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the
place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless
torment.

28:24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!

28:25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!

28:26 Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth
the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!

28:27 Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!

28:28 And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the
truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with
gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall
fall.

28:29 Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we
need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!

28:30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men
line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and
blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my
counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give
more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken
away even that which they have.

28:31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or
shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by
the power of the Holy Ghost.

28:32 Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding
I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me;
nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will
repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith
the Lord God of Hosts.

2 Nephi Chapter 29

29:1 But behold, there shall be many—at that day when I shall proceed to
do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have
made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to
recover my people, which are of the house of Israel;

29:2 And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee,
Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the
words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my
words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my
people, which are of the house of Israel;

29:3 And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall
say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.

29:4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it
shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank
they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the
Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of
the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the
Gentiles?

29:5 O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people?
Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to
recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads;
for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.

29:6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no
more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?

29:7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the
Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the
isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth
beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all
the nations of the earth?

29:8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know
ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God,
that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words
unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together
the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

29:9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday,
today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own
pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I
cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be
until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

29:10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it
contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to
be written.

29:11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the
north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write
the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written
I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that
which is written.

29:12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I
shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also
speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and
they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and
they shall write it.

29:13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the
Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites
and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost
tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.

29:14 And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of
Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word
also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my
word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and
that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.

2 Nephi Chapter 30

30:1 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you; for I, Nephi,
would not suffer that ye should suppose that ye are more righteous than the
Gentiles shall be. For behold, except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye
shall all likewise perish; and because of the words which have been spoken ye
need not suppose that the Gentiles are utterly destroyed.

30:2 For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are
the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent
shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that
repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel.

30:3 And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the
Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be
written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be
many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them
forth unto the remnant of our seed.

30:4 And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we
came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.

30:5 And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore,
they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the
knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers.

30:6 And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing
unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to
fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save
they shall be a pure and delightsome people.

30:7 And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall
begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of
the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall also become a
delightsome people.

30:8 And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work among
all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about the restoration of
his people upon the earth.

30:9 And with righteousness shall the Lord God judge the poor, and reprove with
equity for the meek of the earth. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of
his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

30:10 For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great
division among the people, and the wicked will he destroy; and he will spare
his people, yea, even if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by fire.

30:11 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the
girdle of his reins.

30:12 And then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb; and the leopard shall lie
down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling, together;
and a little child shall lead them.

30:13 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down
together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

30:14 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned
child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s den.

30:15 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

30:16 Wherefore, the things of all nations shall be made known; yea, all things
shall be made known unto the children of men.

30:17 There is nothing which is secret save it shall be revealed; there is no
work of darkness save it shall be made manifest in the light; and there is
nothing which is sealed upon the earth save it shall be loosed.

30:18 Wherefore, all things which have been revealed unto the children of men
shall at that day be revealed; and Satan shall have power over the hearts of
the children of men no more, for a long time. And now, my beloved brethren, I
make an end of my sayings.

2 Nephi Chapter 31

31:1 And now I, Nephi, make an end of my prophesying unto you, my beloved
brethren. And I cannot write but a few things, which I know must surely come to
pass; neither can I write but a few of the words of my brother Jacob.

31:2 Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a few
words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I shall
speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying.

31:3 For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord
God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the
understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their
understanding.

31:4 Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto you
concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should baptize the
Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world.

31:5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be
baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have
we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!

31:6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God
did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?

31:7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he
showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth
himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be
obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

31:8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon
him in the form of a dove.

31:9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straightness of the
path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set
the example before them.

31:10 And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my
beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the
commandments of the Father?

31:11 And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of
my Beloved Son.

31:12 And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized
in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me;
wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.

31:13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son,
with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God,
but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that
ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by
following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word,
behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of
fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels,
and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

31:14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me,
saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that
ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have
received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new
tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it
would have been better for you that ye had not known me.

31:15 And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved
are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

31:16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall
endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he
cannot be saved.

31:17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord
and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me,
that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye
should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of
your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.

31:18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal
life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the
commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost,
which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise
which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

31:19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and
narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye
have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith
in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

31:20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a
perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye
shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end,
behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

31:21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none
other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom
of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true
doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one
God, without end. Amen.

2 Nephi Chapter 32

32:1 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in
your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the
way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts?

32:2 Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the
Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye
speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?

32:3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the
words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ;
for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

32:4 Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand
them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not
brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

32:5 For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and
receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.

32:6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine
given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he
shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say
unto you shall ye observe to do.

32:7 And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and
I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the
ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge,
nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even
as plain as word can be.

32:8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your
hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye
would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that
ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him
that he must not pray.

32:9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that
ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall
pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy
performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

2 Nephi Chapter 33

33:1 And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my
people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man
speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it
unto the hearts of the children of men.

33:2 But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy
Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away
which are written and esteem them as things of naught.

33:3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of
great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by
day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my
God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.

33:4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my
people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto
them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their
fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and
to endure to the end, which is life eternal.

33:5 And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the plainness of the
truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the words which I have written save
he shall be of the spirit of the devil.

33:6 I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath
redeemed my soul from hell.

33:7 I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet
many souls spotless at his judgment-seat.

33:8 I have charity for the Jew—I say Jew, because I mean them from
whence I came.

33:9 I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I
hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow
gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path
until the end of the day of probation.

33:10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth,
hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these
words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in
these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me;
and they teach all men that they should do good.

33:11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will
show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last
day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know
that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my
weakness.

33:12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all,
may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.

33:13 And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel,
and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from
the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come.

33:14 And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the
words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth
out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell,
for these words shall condemn you at the last day.

33:15 For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment
bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen.

THE BOOK OF JACOB

THE BROTHER OF NEPHI

The words of his preaching unto his brethren. He confoundeth a man who seeketh
to overthrow the doctrine of Christ. A few words concerning the history of the
people of Nephi.

Jacob Chapter 1

1:1 For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from
the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave me, Jacob, a
commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven.

1:2 And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates
a few of the things which I consider to be most precious; that I should not
touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are
called the people of Nephi.

1:3 For he said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his
other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto
my seed, from generation to generation.

1:4 And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was
great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these
plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s
sake, and for the sake of our people.

1:5 For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest
unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them.

1:6 And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy;
wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come.

1:7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade
them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might
enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should
not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the
children of Israel were in the wilderness.

1:8 Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel
against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ,
and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world;
wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother
Nephi.

1:9 Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must soon die; wherefore, he
anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people now, according to the
reigns of the kings.

1:10 The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great
protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence, and
having labored in all his days for their welfare—

1:11 Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name. And
whoso should reign in his stead were called by the people, second Nephi, third
Nephi, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were
called by the people, let them be of whatever name they would.

1:12 And it came to pass that Nephi died.

1:13 Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they
were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites,
and Ishmaelites.

1:14 But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I
shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of Nephi, and those
who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi,
according to the reigns of the kings.

1:15 And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, under the reign of the
second king, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves
somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old desiring many
wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.

1:16 Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be
lifted up somewhat in pride.

1:17 Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the
temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord.

1:18 For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and
teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi.

1:19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the
responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did
not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with
our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood
would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last
day.

Jacob Chapter 2

2:1 The words which Jacob, the brother of Nephi, spake unto the people of
Nephi, after the death of Nephi:

2:2 Now, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, according to the responsibility which I
am under to God, to magnify mine office with soberness, and that I might rid my
garments of your sins, I come up into the temple this day that I might declare
unto you the word of God.

2:3 And ye yourselves know that I have hitherto been diligent in the office of
my calling; but I this day am weighed down with much more desire and anxiety
for the welfare of your souls than I have hitherto been.

2:4 For behold, as yet, ye have been obedient unto the word of the Lord, which
I have given unto you.

2:5 But behold, hearken ye unto me, and know that by the help of the
all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you concerning your
thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in sin, which sin appeareth very
abominable unto me, yea, and abominable unto God.

2:6 Yea, it grieveth my soul and causeth me to shrink with shame before the
presence of my Maker, that I must testify unto you concerning the wickedness of
your hearts.

2:7 And also it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech
concerning you, before your wives and your children, many of whose feelings are
exceedingly tender and chaste and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing
unto God;

2:8 And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word
of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.

2:9 Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained, because of
the strict commandment which I have received from God, to admonish you
according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds of those who are already
wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds; and those who have not
been wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have daggers
placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds.

2:10 But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I must do according to the
strict commands of God, and tell you concerning your wickedness and
abominations, in the presence of the pure in heart, and the broken heart, and
under the glance of the piercing eye of the Almighty God.

2:11 Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to the plainness of the
word of God. For behold, as I inquired of the Lord, thus came the word unto me,
saying: Jacob, get thou up into the temple on the morrow, and declare the word
which I shall give thee unto this people.

2:12 And now behold, my brethren, this is the word which I declare unto you,
that many of you have begun to search for gold, and for silver, and for all
manner of precious ores, in the which this land, which is a land of promise
unto you and to your seed, doth abound most plentifully.

2:13 And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you
have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more
abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your
hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your
apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than
they.

2:14 And now, my brethren, do ye suppose that God justifieth you in this thing?
Behold, I say unto you, Nay. But he condemneth you, and if ye persist in these
things his judgments must speedily come unto you.

2:15 O that he would show you that he can pierce you, and with one glance of
his eye he can smite you to the dust!

2:16 O that he would rid you from this iniquity and abomination. And, O that ye
would listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this pride of your
hearts destroy your souls!

2:17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and
free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.

2:18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

2:19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye
seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the
naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer
relief to the sick and the afflicted.

2:20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken unto you concerning pride; and those
of you which have afflicted your neighbor, and persecuted him because ye were
proud in your hearts, of the things which God hath given you, what say ye of
it?

2:21 Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all
flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other. And all
flesh is of the dust; and for the selfsame end hath he created them, that they
should keep his commandments and glorify him forever.

2:22 And now I make an end of speaking unto you concerning this pride. And were
it not that I must speak unto you concerning a grosser crime, my heart would
rejoice exceedingly because of you.

2:23 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold,
thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not
the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms,
because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.

2:24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing
was abominable before me, saith the Lord.

2:25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the
land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a
righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.

2:26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like
unto them of old.

2:27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For
there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he
shall have none;

2:28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are
an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.

2:29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of
Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.

2:30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will
command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.

2:31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of
the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands
of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.

2:32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair
daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall
come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.

2:33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of
their tenderness, save I shall visit them with a sore curse, even unto
destruction; for they shall not commit whoredoms, like unto them of old, saith
the Lord of Hosts.

2:34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments were given to
our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto
great condemnation; for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have
done.

2:35 Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren.
Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your
children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their
hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word
of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep
wounds.

Jacob Chapter 3

3:1 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look
unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he
will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send
down justice upon those who seek your destruction.

3:2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the
pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are
firm, forever.

3:3 But, wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart, that are filthy this day
before God; for except ye repent the land is cursed for your sakes; and the
Lamanites, which are not filthy like unto you, nevertheless they are cursed
with a sore cursing, shall scourge you even unto destruction.

3:4 And the time speedily cometh, that except ye repent they shall possess the
land of your inheritance, and the Lord God will lead away the righteous out
from among you.

3:5 Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their
filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous
than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was
given unto our father—that they should have save it were one wife, and
concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed
among them.

3:6 And now, this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore, because of this
observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them,
but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people.

3:7 Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their
husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children; and their
unbelief and their hatred towards you is because of the iniquity of their
fathers; wherefore, how much better are you than they, in the sight of your
great Creator?

3:8 O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins that their
skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the
throne of God.

3:9 Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, which is the word of God, that ye
revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skins; neither
shall ye revile against them because of their filthiness; but ye shall remember
your own filthiness, and remember that their filthiness came because of their
fathers.

3:10 Wherefore, ye shall remember your children, how that ye have grieved their
hearts because of the example that ye have set before them; and also, remember
that ye may, because of your filthiness, bring your children unto destruction,
and their sins be heaped upon your heads at the last day.

3:11 O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls;
shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose
yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become angels to the devil,
to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death.

3:12 And now I, Jacob, spake many more things unto the people of Nephi, warning
them against fornication and lasciviousness, and every kind of sin, telling
them the awful consequences of them.

3:13 And a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, which now began to
be numerous, cannot be written upon these plates; but many of their proceedings
are written upon the larger plates, and their wars, and their contentions, and
the reigns of their kings.

3:14 These plates are called the plates of Jacob, and they were made by the
hand of Nephi. And I make an end of speaking these words.

Jacob Chapter 4

4:1 Now behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my
people in word, (and I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the
difficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we know that the things
which we write upon plates must remain;

4:2 But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates must
perish and vanish away; but we can write a few words upon plates, which will
give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge
concerning us, or concerning their fathers—

4:3 Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these
words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will
receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with
joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents.

4:4 For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that
we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his
coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the
holy prophets which were before us.

4:5 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and
also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of
Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto
us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness
to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is
a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son.

4:6 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the
spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our
faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of
Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.

4:7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it
is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we
have power to do these things.

4:8 Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are
the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find
out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him;
wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God.

4:9 For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth,
which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able
to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not
able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it,
according to his will and pleasure?

4:10 Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel
from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and
in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works.

4:11 Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement
of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according
to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the
first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of
glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.

4:12 And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not
speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as
to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come?

4:13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the
understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not.
Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they
really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the
salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things;
for God also spake them unto prophets of old.

4:14 But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the
words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they
could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness
came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away
his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot
understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done
it, that they may stumble.

4:15 And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto prophesying; for I perceive
by the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews
they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe
foundation.

4:16 But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone shall become the
great, and the last, and the only sure foundation, upon which the Jews can
build.

4:17 And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these, after having rejected
the sure foundation, can ever build upon it, that it may become the head of
their corner?

4:18 Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do
not, by any means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble
because of my over anxiety for you.

Jacob Chapter 5

5:1 Behold, my brethren, do ye not remember to have read the words of the
prophet Zenos, which he spake unto the house of Israel, saying:

5:2 Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear the words of me, a prophet of the
Lord.

5:3 For behold, thus saith the Lord, I will liken thee, O house of Israel, like
unto a tame olive-tree, which a man took and nourished in his vineyard; and it
grew, and waxed old, and began to decay.

5:4 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard went forth, and he saw
that his olive-tree began to decay; and he said: I will prune it, and dig about
it, and nourish it, that perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches,
and it perish not.

5:5 And it came to pass that he pruned it, and digged about it, and nourished
it according to his word.

5:6 And it came to pass that after many days it began to put forth somewhat a
little, young and tender branches; but behold, the main top thereof began to
perish.

5:7 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard saw it, and he said
unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, go
and pluck the branches from a wild olive-tree, and bring them hither unto me;
and we will pluck off those main branches which are beginning to wither away,
and we will cast them into the fire that they may be burned.

5:8 And behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take away many of these young
and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will; and it
mattereth not that if it so be that the root of this tree will perish, I may
preserve the fruit thereof unto myself; wherefore, I will take these young and
tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will.

5:9 Take thou the branches of the wild olive-tree, and graft them in, in the
stead thereof; and these which I have plucked off I will cast into the fire and
burn them, that they may not cumber the ground of my vineyard.

5:10 And it came to pass that the servant of the Lord of the vineyard did
according to the word of the Lord of the vineyard, and grafted in the branches
of the wild olive-tree.

5:11 And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should be digged about, and
pruned, and nourished, saying unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should
lose this tree; wherefore, that perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that
they perish not, that I might preserve them unto myself, I have done this
thing.

5:12 Wherefore, go thy way; watch the tree, and nourish it, according to my
words.

5:13 And these will I place in the nethermost part of my vineyard,
whithersoever I will, it mattereth not unto thee; and I do it that I may
preserve unto myself the natural branches of the tree; and also, that I may lay
up fruit thereof against the season, unto myself; for it grieveth me that I
should lose this tree and the fruit thereof.

5:14 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and hid
the natural branches of the tame olive-tree in the nethermost parts of the
vineyard, some in one and some in another, according to his will and pleasure.

5:15 And it came to pass that a long time passed away, and the Lord of the
vineyard said unto his servant: Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we
may labor in the vineyard.

5:16 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard, and also the servant,
went down into the vineyard to labor. And it came to pass that the servant said
unto his master: Behold, look here; behold the tree.

5:17 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard looked and beheld the
tree in the which the wild olive branches had been grafted; and it had sprung
forth and begun to bear fruit. And he beheld that it was good; and the fruit
thereof was like unto the natural fruit.

5:18 And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches of the wild tree have
taken hold of the moisture of the root thereof, that the root thereof hath
brought forth much strength; and because of the much strength of the root
thereof the wild branches have brought forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not
grafted in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. And now,
behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath brought forth;
and the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the season, unto mine own self.

5:19 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant:
Come, let us go to the nethermost part of the vineyard, and behold if the
natural branches of the tree have not brought forth much fruit also, that I may
lay up of the fruit thereof against the season, unto mine own self.

5:20 And it came to pass that they went forth whither the master had hid the
natural branches of the tree, and he said unto the servant: Behold these; and
he beheld the first that it had brought forth much fruit; and he beheld also
that it was good. And he said unto the servant: Take of the fruit thereof, and
lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self; for
behold, said he, this long time have I nourished it, and it hath brought forth
much fruit.

5:21 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: How comest thou
hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree? For behold, it was the
poorest spot in all the land of thy vineyard.

5:22 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel me not; I knew that it
was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it
this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit.

5:23 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant:
Look hither; behold I have planted another branch of the tree also; and thou
knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than the first. But, behold the
tree. I have nourished it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit;
therefore, gather it, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it
unto mine own self.

5:24 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said again unto his
servant: Look hither, and behold another branch also, which I have planted;
behold that I have nourished it also, and it hath brought forth fruit.

5:25 And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold the last. Behold,
this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long
time, and only a part of the tree hath brought forth tame fruit, and the other
part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this
tree like unto the others.

5:26 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant:
Pluck off the branches that have not brought forth good fruit, and cast them
into the fire.

5:27 But behold, the servant said unto him: Let us prune it, and dig about it,
and nourish it a little longer, that perhaps it may bring forth good fruit unto
thee, that thou canst lay it up against the season.

5:28 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard and the servant of the
Lord of the vineyard did nourish all the fruit of the vineyard.

5:29 And it came to pass that a long time had passed away, and the Lord of the
vineyard said unto his servant: Come, let us go down into the vineyard, that we
may labor again in the vineyard. For behold, the time draweth near, and the end
soon cometh; wherefore, I must lay up fruit against the season, unto mine own
self.

5:30 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard and the servant went
down into the vineyard; and they came to the tree whose natural branches had
been broken off, and the wild branches had been grafted in; and behold all
sorts of fruit did cumber the tree.

5:31 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard did taste of the fruit,
every sort according to its number. And the Lord of the vineyard said: Behold,
this long time have we nourished this tree, and I have laid up unto myself
against the season much fruit.

5:32 But behold, this time it hath brought forth much fruit, and there is none
of it which is good. And behold, there are all kinds of bad fruit; and it
profiteth me nothing, notwithstanding all our labor; and now it grieveth me
that I should lose this tree.

5:33 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: What shall we do unto
the tree, that I may preserve again good fruit thereof unto mine own self?

5:34 And the servant said unto his master: Behold, because thou didst graft in
the branches of the wild olive-tree they have nourished the roots, that they
are alive and they have not perished; wherefore thou beholdest that they are
yet good.

5:35 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant:
The tree profiteth me nothing, and the roots thereof profit me nothing so long
as it shall bring forth evil fruit.

5:36 Nevertheless, I know that the roots are good, and for mine own purpose I
have preserved them; and because of their much strength they have hitherto
brought forth, from the wild branches, good fruit.

5:37 But behold, the wild branches have grown and have overrun the roots
thereof; and because that the wild branches have overcome the roots thereof it
hath brought forth much evil fruit; and because that it hath brought forth so
much evil fruit thou beholdest that it beginneth to perish; and it will soon
become ripened, that it may be cast into the fire, except we should do
something for it to preserve it.

5:38 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant:
Let us go down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard, and behold if the
natural branches have also brought forth evil fruit.

5:39 And it came to pass that they went down into the nethermost parts of the
vineyard. And it came to pass that they beheld that the fruit of the natural
branches had become corrupt also; yea, the first and the second and also the
last; and they had all become corrupt.

5:40 And the wild fruit of the last had overcome that part of the tree which
brought forth good fruit, even that the branch had withered away and died.

5:41 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the
servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?

5:42 Behold, I knew that all the fruit of the vineyard, save it were these, had
become corrupted. And now these which have once brought forth good fruit have
also become corrupted; and now all the trees of my vineyard are good for
nothing save it be to be hewn down and cast into the fire.

5:43 And behold this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did plant in a
good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other
parts of the land of my vineyard.

5:44 And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which cumbered this spot of
ground, that I might plant this tree in the stead thereof.

5:45 And thou beheldest that a part thereof brought forth good fruit, and a
part thereof brought forth wild fruit; and because I plucked not the branches
thereof and cast them into the fire, behold, they have overcome the good branch
that it hath withered away.

5:46 And now, behold, notwithstanding all the care which we have taken of my
vineyard, the trees thereof have become corrupted, that they bring forth no
good fruit; and these I had hoped to preserve, to have laid up fruit thereof
against the season, unto mine own self. But, behold, they have become like unto
the wild olive-tree, and they are of no worth but to be hewn down and cast into
the fire; and it grieveth me that I should lose them.

5:47 But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened mine
hand, that I have not nourished it, Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged
about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched
forth mine hand almost all the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it
grieveth me that I should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them
into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my
vineyard?

5:48 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Is it not the
loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the
roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof,
behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto
themselves. Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard
have become corrupted?

5:49 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant:
Let us go to and hew down the trees of the vineyard and cast them into the
fire, that they shall not cumber the ground of my vineyard, for I have done
all. What could I have done more for my vineyard?

5:50 But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the vineyard: Spare it a
little longer.

5:51 And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a little longer, for it grieveth
me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard.

5:52 Wherefore, let us take of the branches of these which I have planted in
the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and let us graft them into the tree from
whence they came; and let us pluck from the tree those branches whose fruit is
most bitter, and graft in the natural branches of the tree in the stead
thereof.

5:53 And this will I do that the tree may not perish, that, perhaps, I may
preserve unto myself the roots thereof for mine own purpose.

5:54 And, behold, the roots of the natural branches of the tree which I planted
whithersoever I would are yet alive; wherefore, that I may preserve them also
for mine own purpose, I will take of the branches of this tree, and I will
graft them in unto them. Yea, I will graft in unto them the branches of their
mother tree, that I may preserve the roots also unto mine own self, that when
they shall be sufficiently strong perhaps they may bring forth good fruit unto
me, and I may yet have glory in the fruit of my vineyard.

5:55 And it came to pass that they took from the natural tree which had become
wild, and grafted in unto the natural trees, which also had become wild.

5:56 And they also took of the natural trees which had become wild, and grafted
into their mother tree.

5:57 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Pluck not the wild
branches from the trees, save it be those which are most bitter; and in them ye
shall graft according to that which I have said.

5:58 And we will nourish again the trees of the vineyard, and we will trim up
the branches thereof; and we will pluck from the trees those branches which are
ripened, that must perish, and cast them into the fire.

5:59 And this I do that, perhaps, the roots thereof may take strength because
of their goodness; and because of the change of the branches, that the good may
overcome the evil.

5:60 And because that I have preserved the natural branches and the roots
thereof, and that I have grafted in the natural branches again into their
mother tree, and have preserved the roots of their mother tree, that, perhaps,
the trees of my vineyard may bring forth again good fruit; and that I may have
joy again in the fruit of my vineyard, and, perhaps, that I may rejoice
exceedingly that I have preserved the roots and the branches of the first
fruit—

5:61 Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our
might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth
again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious
above all other fruit.

5:62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for
behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall prune
my vineyard.

5:63 Graft in the branches; begin at the last that they may be first, and that
the first may be last, and dig about the trees, both old and young, the first
and the last; and the last and the first, that all may be nourished once again
for the last time.

5:64 Wherefore, dig about them, and prune them, and dung them once more, for
the last time, for the end draweth nigh. And if it be so that these last grafts
shall grow, and bring forth the natural fruit, then shall ye prepare the way
for them, that they may grow.

5:65 And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which bring
forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof;
and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof
should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I
lose the trees of my vineyard.

5:66 For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard; wherefore
ye shall clear away the bad according as the good shall grow, that the root and
the top may be equal in strength, until the good shall overcome the bad, and
the bad be hewn down and cast into the fire, that they cumber not the ground of
my vineyard; and thus will I sweep away the bad out of my vineyard.

5:67 And the branches of the natural tree will I graft in again into the
natural tree;

5:68 And the branches of the natural tree will I graft into the natural
branches of the tree; and thus will I bring them together again, that they
shall bring forth the natural fruit, and they shall be one.

5:69 And the bad shall be cast away, yea, even out of all the land of my
vineyard; for behold, only this once will I prune my vineyard.

5:70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and
the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other
servants; and they were few.

5:71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the
vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall
nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily
cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit
which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.

5:72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights;
and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the
commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.

5:73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the
natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches
began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the
top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof.

5:74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments
of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the
vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become
again the natural fruit; and they became like unto one body; and the fruits
were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural
fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning.

5:75 And it came to pass that when the Lord of the vineyard saw that his fruit
was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants,
and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard;
and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved
the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And
blessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my
vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the
natural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away,
behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard.

5:76 For behold, for a long time will I lay up of the fruit of my vineyard unto
mine own self against the season, which speedily cometh; and for the last time
have I nourished my vineyard, and pruned it, and dug about it, and dunged it;
wherefore I will lay up unto mine own self of the fruit, for a long time,
according to that which I have spoken.

5:77 And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my
vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be gathered; and the good
will I preserve unto myself, and the bad will I cast away into its own place.
And then cometh the season and the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be
burned with fire.

Jacob Chapter 6

6:1 And now, behold, my brethren, as I said unto you that I would prophesy,
behold, this is my prophecy—that the things which this prophet Zenos
spake, concerning the house of Israel, in the which he likened them unto a tame
olive-tree, must surely come to pass.

6:2 And the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his
people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord
shall go forth in his power, to nourish and prune his vineyard; and after that
the end soon cometh.

6:3 And how blessed are they who have labored diligently in his vineyard; and
how cursed are they who shall be cast out into their own place! And the world
shall be burned with fire.

6:4 And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of
Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all
the day long; and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many
as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

6:5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that
ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he
cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the
light of the day, harden not your hearts.

6:6 Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will
ye die?

6:7 For behold, after ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the
day long, will ye bring forth evil fruit, that ye must be hewn down and cast
into the fire?

6:8 Behold, will ye reject these words? Will ye reject the words of the
prophets; and will ye reject all the words which have been spoken concerning
Christ, after so many have spoken concerning him; and deny the good word of
Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the
Holy Spirit, and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been
laid for you?

6:9 Know ye not that if ye will do these things, that the power of the
redemption and the resurrection, which is in Christ, will bring you to stand
with shame and awful guilt before the bar of God?

6:10 And according to the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied, ye
must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are
unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire
and brimstone is endless torment.

6:11 O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate,
and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life.

6:12 O be wise; what can I say more?

6:13 Finally, I bid you farewell, until I shall meet you before the pleasing
bar of God, which bar striketh the wicked with awful dread and fear. Amen.

Jacob Chapter 7

7:1 And now it came to pass after some years had passed away, there came a man
among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem.

7:2 And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and to
declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached many things
which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow
the doctrine of Christ.

7:3 And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people,
insomuch that he did lead away many hearts; and he knowing that I, Jacob, had
faith in Christ who should come, he sought much opportunity that he might come
unto me.

7:4 And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the
people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech,
according to the power of the devil.

7:5 And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many
revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I
truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard
the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time;
wherefore, I could not be shaken.

7:6 And it came to pass that he came unto me, and on this wise did he speak
unto me, saying: Brother Jacob, I have sought much opportunity that I might
speak unto you; for I have heard and also know that thou goest about much,
preaching that which ye call the gospel, or the doctrine of Christ.

7:7 And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of
God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way; and convert the law
of Moses into the worship of a being which ye say shall come many hundred years
hence. And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for
no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come. And after
this manner did Sherem contend against me.

7:8 But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I
did confound him in all his words.

7:9 And I said unto him: Deniest thou the Christ who shall come? And he said:
If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I know that there is no
Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be.

7:10 And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures? And he said, Yea.

7:11 And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly
testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have
written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ.

7:12 And this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have
heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the
Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind
must be lost.

7:13 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a sign by this power of
the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much.

7:14 And I said unto him: What am I that I should tempt God to show unto thee a
sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet thou wilt deny it, because
thou art of the devil. Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall
smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that he has power, both in heaven and
in earth; and also, that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lord, be done, and
not mine.

7:15 And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power
of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. And it came to
pass that he was nourished for the space of many days.

7:16 And it came to pass that he said unto the people: Gather together on the
morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the people before I
shall die.

7:17 And it came to pass that on the morrow the multitude were gathered
together; and he spake plainly unto them and denied the things which he had
taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the
ministering of angels.

7:18 And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been deceived by the power of
the devil. And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment.

7:19 And he said: I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have
lied unto God; for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed the
scriptures; and they truly testify of him. And because I have thus lied unto
God I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto God.

7:20 And it came to pass that when he had said these words he could say no
more, and he gave up the ghost.

7:21 And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was
about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the
power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the
earth.

7:22 Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I had requested it of my
Father who was in heaven; for he had heard my cry and answered my prayer.

7:23 And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again
among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to
the words of this wicked man.

7:24 And it came to pass that many means were devised to reclaim and restore
the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; but it all was vain, for they
delighted in wars and bloodshed, and they had an eternal hatred against us,
their brethren. And they sought by the power of their arms to destroy us
continually.

7:25 Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their arms,
and with all their might, trusting in the God and rock of their salvation;
wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies.

7:26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this
people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this
record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by
saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like
as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers,
cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our
brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our
days.

7:27 And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my grave; wherefore, I said
unto my son Enos: Take these plates. And I told him the things which my brother
Nephi had commanded me, and he promised obedience unto the commands. And I make
an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to
the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words.
Brethren, adieu.

THE BOOK OF ENOS

1:1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just
man—for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God for it—

1:2 And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I
received a remission of my sins.

1:3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had
often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints,
sunk deep into my heart.

1:4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto
him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long
did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice
high that it reached the heavens.

1:5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee,
and thou shalt be blessed.

1:6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept
away.

1:7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?

1:8 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never
before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest
himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.

1:9 Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a
desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out
my whole soul unto God for them.

1:10 And while I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the
Lord came into my mind again, saying: I will visit thy brethren according to
their diligence in keeping my commandments. I have given unto them this land,
and it is a holy land; and I curse it not save it be for the cause of iniquity;
wherefore, I will visit thy brethren according as I have said; and their
transgressions will I bring down with sorrow upon their own heads.

1:11 And after I, Enos, had heard these words, my faith began to be unshaken in
the Lord; and I prayed unto him with many long strugglings for my brethren, the
Lamanites.

1:12 And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all
diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy
desires, because of thy faith.

1:13 And now behold, this was the desire which I desired of him—that if
it should so be, that my people, the Nephites, should fall into transgression,
and by any means be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that
the Lord God would preserve a record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so
be by the power of his holy arm, that it might be brought forth at some future
day unto the Lamanites, that, perhaps, they might be brought unto
salvation—

1:14 For at the present our strugglings were vain in restoring them to the true
faith. And they swore in their wrath that, if it were possible, they would
destroy our records and us, and also all the traditions of our fathers.

1:15 Wherefore, I knowing that the Lord God was able to preserve our records, I
cried unto him continually, for he had said unto me: Whatsoever thing ye shall
ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall
receive it.

1:16 And I had faith, and I did cry unto God that he would preserve the
records; and he covenanted with me that he would bring them forth unto the
Lamanites in his own due time.

1:17 And I, Enos, knew it would be according to the covenant which he had made;
wherefore my soul did rest.

1:18 And the Lord said unto me: Thy fathers have also required of me this
thing; and it shall be done unto them according to their faith; for their faith
was like unto thine.

1:19 And now it came to pass that I, Enos, went about among the people of
Nephi, prophesying of things to come, and testifying of the things which I had
heard and seen.

1:20 And I bear record that the people of Nephi did seek diligently to restore
the Lamanites unto the true faith in God. But our labors were vain; their
hatred was fixed, and they were led by their evil nature that they became wild,
and ferocious, and a bloodthirsty people, full of idolatry and filthiness;
feeding upon beasts of prey; dwelling in tents, and wandering about in the
wilderness with a short skin girdle about their loins and their heads shaven;
and their skill was in the bow, and in the cimeter, and the ax. And many of
them did eat nothing save it was raw meat; and they were continually seeking to
destroy us.

1:21 And it came to pass that the people of Nephi did till the land, and raise
all manner of grain, and of fruit, and flocks of herds, and flocks of all
manner of cattle of every kind, and goats, and wild goats, and also many
horses.

1:22 And there were exceedingly many prophets among us. And the people were a
stiffnecked people, hard to understand.

1:23 And there was nothing save it was exceeding harshness, preaching and
prophesying of wars, and contentions, and destructions, and continually
reminding them of death, and the duration of eternity, and the judgments and
the power of God, and all these things—stirring them up continually to
keep them in the fear of the Lord. I say there was nothing short of these
things, and exceedingly great plainness of speech, would keep them from going
down speedily to destruction. And after this manner do I write concerning them.

1:24 And I saw wars between the Nephites and Lamanites in the course of my
days.

1:25 And it came to pass that I began to be old, and an hundred and seventy and
nine years had passed away from the time that our father Lehi left Jerusalem.

1:26 And I saw that I must soon go down to my grave, having been wrought upon
by the power of God that I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and
declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared
it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world.

1:27 And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I
know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall
put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with
pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place
prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.

THE BOOK OF JAROM

1:1 Now behold, I, Jarom, write a few words according to the commandment of my
father, Enos, that our genealogy may be kept.

1:2 And as these plates are small, and as these things are written for the
intent of the benefit of our brethren the Lamanites, wherefore, it must needs
be that I write a little; but I shall not write the things of my prophesying,
nor of my revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have
written? For have not they revealed the plan of salvation? I say unto you, Yea;
and this sufficeth me.

1:3 Behold, it is expedient that much should be done among this people, because
of the hardness of their hearts, and the deafness of their ears, and the
blindness of their minds, and the stiffness of their necks; nevertheless, God
is exceedingly merciful unto them, and has not as yet swept them off from the
face of the land.

1:4 And there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all
stiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion
with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according
to their faith.

1:5 And now, behold, two hundred years had passed away, and the people of Nephi
had waxed strong in the land. They observed to keep the law of Moses and the
sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they
blaspheme. And the laws of the land were exceedingly strict.

1:6 And they were scattered upon much of the face of the land, and the
Lamanites also. And they were exceedingly more numerous than were they of the
Nephites; and they loved murder and would drink the blood of beasts.

1:7 And it came to pass that they came many times against us, the Nephites, to
battle. But our kings and our leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord;
and they taught the people the ways of the Lord; wherefore, we withstood the
Lamanites and swept them away out of our lands, and began to fortify our
cities, or whatsoever place of our inheritance.

1:8 And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and
became exceedingly rich in gold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in
fine workmanship of wood, in buildings, and in machinery, and also in iron and
copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till
the ground, and weapons of war—yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and the
quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war.

1:9 And thus being prepared to meet the Lamanites, they did not prosper against
us. But the word of the Lord was verified, which he spake unto our fathers,
saying that: Inasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the
land.

1:10 And it came to pass that the prophets of the Lord did threaten the people
of Nephi, according to the word of God, that if they did not keep the
commandments, but should fall into transgression, they should be destroyed from
off the face of the land.

1:11 Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor
diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching
the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to
look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already
was. And after this manner did they teach them.

1:12 And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being destroyed
upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word,
continually stirring them up unto repentance.

1:13 And it came to pass that two hundred and thirty and eight years had passed
away—after the manner of wars, and contentions, and dissensions, for the
space of much of the time.

1:14 And I, Jarom, do not write more, for the plates are small. But behold, my
brethren, ye can go to the other plates of Nephi; for behold, upon them the
records of our wars are engraven, according to the writings of the kings, or
those which they caused to be written.

1:15 And I deliver these plates into the hands of my son Omni, that they may be
kept according to the commandments of my fathers.

THE BOOK OF OMNI

1:1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father, Jarom,
that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our
genealogy—

1:2 Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much with
the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of
their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked man, and I
have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have
done.

1:3 And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and six years had passed
away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of serious war
and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two years had
passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my
fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And I make an end.

1:4 And now I, Amaron, write the things whatsoever I write, which are few, in
the book of my father.

1:5 Behold, it came to pass that three hundred and twenty years had passed
away, and the more wicked part of the Nephites were destroyed.

1:6 For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the land of
Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their
enemies, yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which
he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my
commandments ye shall not prosper in the land.

1:7 Wherefore, the Lord did visit them in great judgment; nevertheless, he did
spare the righteous that they should not perish, but did deliver them out of
the hands of their enemies.

1:8 And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates unto my brother Chemish.

1:9 Now I, Chemish, write what few things I write, in the same book with my
brother; for behold, I saw the last which he wrote, that he wrote it with his
own hand; and he wrote it in the day that he delivered them unto me. And after
this manner we keep the records, for it is according to the commandments of our
fathers. And I make an end.

1:10 Behold, I, Abinadom, am the son of Chemish. Behold, it came to pass that I
saw much war and contention between my people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites;
and I, with my own sword, have taken the lives of many of the Lamanites in the
defence of my brethren.

1:11 And behold, the record of this people is engraven upon plates which is had
by the kings, according to the generations; and I know of no revelation save
that which has been written, neither prophecy; wherefore, that which is
sufficient is written. And I make an end.

1:12 Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you
somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for
behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of
Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also
depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—

1:13 And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him.
And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken
unto the voice of the Lord; and they were led by many preachings and
prophesyings. And they were admonished continually by the word of God; and they
were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness, until they came down
into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla.

1:14 And they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla.
Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also
Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of
Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews.

1:15 Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of
Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was
carried away captive into Babylon.

1:16 And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand of the
Lord across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered them; and
they had dwelt there from that time forth.

1:17 And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had become exceedingly
numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious contentions, and had
fallen by the sword from time to time; and their language had become corrupted;
and they had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their
Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand them.

1:18 But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in his
language. And it came to pass that after they were taught in the language of
Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a genealogy of his fathers, according to his memory; and
they are written, but not in these plates.

1:19 And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla, and of Mosiah, did unite
together; and Mosiah was appointed to be their king.

1:20 And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large stone brought
unto him with engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings by the gift
and power of God.

1:21 And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people.
And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with
them for the space of nine moons.

1:22 It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first parents
came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the
people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments,
which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward.

1:23 Behold, I, Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah; and I have lived to
see his death; and Benjamin, his son, reigneth in his stead.

1:24 And behold, I have seen, in the days of king Benjamin, a serious war and
much bloodshed between the Nephites and the Lamanites. But behold, the Nephites
did obtain much advantage over them; yea, insomuch that king Benjamin did drive
them out of the land of Zarahemla.

1:25 And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed, and
knowing king Benjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall
deliver up these plates unto him, exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy
One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the
ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the
gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good; for there is
nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord; and that which is evil
cometh from the devil.

1:26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who
is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his
redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto
him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the
Lord liveth ye will be saved.

1:27 And now I would speak somewhat concerning a certain number who went up
into the wilderness to return to the land of Nephi; for there was a large
number who were desirous to possess the land of their inheritance.

1:28 Wherefore, they went up into the wilderness. And their leader being a
strong and mighty man, and a stiffnecked man, wherefore he caused a contention
among them; and they were all slain, save fifty, in the wilderness, and they
returned again to the land of Zarahemla.

1:29 And it came to pass that they also took others to a considerable number,
and took their journey again into the wilderness.

1:30 And I, Amaleki, had a brother, who also went with them; and I have not
since known concerning them. And I am about to lie down in my grave; and these
plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking.

THE WORDS OF MORMON

1:1 And now I, Mormon, being about to deliver up the record which I have been
making into the hands of my son Moroni, behold I have witnessed almost all the
destruction of my people, the Nephites.

1:2 And it is many hundred years after the coming of Christ that I deliver
these records into the hands of my son; and it supposeth me that he will
witness the entire destruction of my people. But may God grant that he may
survive them, that he may write somewhat concerning them, and somewhat
concerning Christ, that perhaps some day it may profit them.

1:3 And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I
had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king
Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been
delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small
account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin,
and also many of the words of Nephi.

1:4 And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the
prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them
have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been
prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as
go beyond this day must surely come to pass—

1:5 Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which
remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot
write the hundredth part of the things of my people.

1:6 But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and
revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice
unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.

1:7 And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to
the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know
all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he
worketh in me to do according to his will.

1:8 And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, that they may once again
come to the knowledge of God, yea, the redemption of Christ; that they may once
again be a delightsome people.

1:9 And now I, Mormon, proceed to finish out my record, which I take from the
plates of Nephi; and I make it according to the knowledge and the understanding
which God has given me.

1:10 Wherefore, it came to pass that after Amaleki had delivered up these
plates into the hands of king Benjamin, he took them and put them with the
other plates, which contained records which had been handed down by the kings,
from generation to generation until the days of king Benjamin.

1:11 And they were handed down from king Benjamin, from generation to
generation until they have fallen into my hands. And I, Mormon, pray to God
that they may be preserved from this time henceforth. And I know that they will
be preserved; for there are great things written upon them, out of which my
people and their brethren shall be judged at the great and last day, according
to the word of God which is written.

1:12 And now, concerning this king Benjamin—he had somewhat of
contentions among his own people.

1:13 And it came to pass also that the armies of the Lamanites came down out of
the land of Nephi, to battle against his people. But behold, king Benjamin
gathered together his armies, and he did stand against them; and he did fight
with the strength of his own arm, with the sword of Laban.

1:14 And in the strength of the Lord they did contend against their enemies,
until they had slain many thousands of the Lamanites. And it came to pass that
they did contend against the Lamanites until they had driven them out of all
the lands of their inheritance.

1:15 And it came to pass that after there had been false Christs, and their
mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes;

1:16 And after there had been false prophets, and false preachers and teachers
among the people, and all these having been punished according to their crimes;
and after there having been much contention and many dissensions away unto the
Lamanites, behold, it came to pass that king Benjamin, with the assistance of
the holy prophets who were among his people—

1:17 For behold, king Benjamin was a holy man, and he did reign over his people
in righteousness; and there were many holy men in the land, and they did speak
the word of God with power and with authority; and they did use much sharpness
because of the stiffneckedness of the people—

1:18 Wherefore, with the help of these, king Benjamin, by laboring with all the
might of his body and the faculty of his whole soul, and also the prophets, did
once more establish peace in the land.

THE BOOK OF MOSIAH

Mosiah Chapter 1

1:1 And now there was no more contention in all the land of Zarahemla, among
all the people who belonged to king Benjamin, so that king Benjamin had
continual peace all the remainder of his days.

1:2 And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he called their names
Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they should be taught in
all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of
understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had
been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the
hand of the Lord.

1:3 And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the
plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it
not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we
must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the
mysteries of God.

1:4 For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all
these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help
of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians
therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that
thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the
commandments of God, even down to this present time.

1:5 I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept
and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his
mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our
fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our
brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do
not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their
fathers, which are not correct.

1:6 O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and
also that these records are true. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which
contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left
Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because
we have them before our eyes.

1:7 And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them
diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the
commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises
which the Lord made unto our fathers.

1:8 And many more things did king Benjamin teach his sons, which are not
written in this book.

1:9 And it came to pass that after king Benjamin had made an end of teaching
his sons, that he waxed old, and he saw that he must very soon go the way of
all the earth; therefore, he thought it expedient that he should confer the
kingdom upon one of his sons.

1:10 Therefore, he had Mosiah brought before him; and these are the words which
he spake unto him, saying: My son, I would that ye should make a proclamation
throughout all this land among all this people, or the people of Zarahemla, and
the people of Mosiah who dwell in the land, that thereby they may be gathered
together; for on the morrow I shall proclaim unto this my people out of mine
own mouth that thou art a king and a ruler over this people, whom the Lord our
God hath given us.

1:11 And moreover, I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be
distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought out of the
land of Jerusalem; and this I do because they have been a diligent people in
keeping the commandments of the Lord.

1:12 And I give unto them a name that never shall be blotted out, except it be
through transgression.

1:13 Yea, and moreover I say unto you, that if this highly favored people of
the Lord should fall into transgression, and become a wicked and an adulterous
people, that the Lord will deliver them up, that thereby they become weak like
unto their brethren; and he will no more preserve them by his matchless and
marvelous power, as he has hitherto preserved our fathers.

1:14 For I say unto you, that if he had not extended his arm in the
preservation of our fathers they must have fallen into the hands of the
Lamanites, and become victims to their hatred.

1:15 And it came to pass that after king Benjamin had made an end of these
sayings to his son, that he gave him charge concerning all the affairs of the
kingdom.

1:16 And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the records which were
engraven on the plates of brass; and also the plates of Nephi; and also, the
sword of Laban, and the ball or director, which led our fathers through the
wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might
be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him.

1:17 Therefore, as they were unfaithful they did not prosper nor progress in
their journey, but were driven back, and incurred the displeasure of God upon
them; and therefore they were smitten with famine and sore afflictions, to stir
them up in remembrance of their duty.

1:18 And now, it came to pass that Mosiah went and did as his father had
commanded him, and proclaimed unto all the people who were in the land of
Zarahemla that thereby they might gather themselves together, to go up to the
temple to hear the words which his father should speak unto them.

Mosiah Chapter 2

2:1 And it came to pass that after Mosiah had done as his father had commanded
him, and had made a proclamation throughout all the land, that the people
gathered themselves together throughout all the land, that they might go up to
the temple to hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them.

2:2 And there were a great number, even so many that they did not number them;
for they had multiplied exceedingly and waxed great in the land.

2:3 And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer
sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses;

2:4 And also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought
them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands
of their enemies, and had appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a
just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla,
and who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might
rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men.

2:5 And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched
their tents round about, every man according to his family, consisting of his
wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters,
from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from
another.

2:6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his
tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain
in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;

2:7 For the multitude being so great that king Benjamin could not teach them
all within the walls of the temple, therefore he caused a tower to be erected,
that thereby his people might hear the words which he should speak unto them.

2:8 And it came to pass that he began to speak to his people from the tower;
and they could not all hear his words because of the greatness of the
multitude; therefore he caused that the words which he spake should be written
and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice, that
they might also receive his words.

2:9 And these are the words which he spake and caused to be written, saying: My
brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my
words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to
come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you
should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts
that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be
unfolded to your view.

2:10 I have not commanded you to come up hither that ye should fear me, or that
ye should think that I of myself am more than a mortal man.

2:11 But I am like as yourselves, subject to all manner of infirmities in body
and mind; yet I have been chosen by this people, and consecrated by my father,
and was suffered by the hand of the Lord that I should be a ruler and a king
over this people; and have been kept and preserved by his matchless power, to
serve you with all the might, mind and strength which the Lord hath granted
unto me.

2:12 I say unto you that as I have been suffered to spend my days in your
service, even up to this time, and have not sought gold nor silver nor any
manner of riches of you;

2:13 Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that
ye should make slaves one of another, nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or
steal, or commit adultery; nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any
manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments
of the Lord, in all things which he hath commanded you—

2:14 And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve
you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing
come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things
which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day.

2:15 Yet, my brethren, I have not done these things that I might boast, neither
do I tell these things that thereby I might accuse you; but I tell you these
things that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this
day.

2:16 Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my
days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the
service of God.

2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may
learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the
service of your God.

2:18 Behold, ye have called me your king; and if I, whom ye call your king, do
labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another?

2:19 And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in
your service, and yet has been in the service of God, do merit any thanks from
you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!

2:20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and
praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created
you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and
has granted that ye should live in peace one with another—

2:21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the
beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that
ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you
from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your
whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

2:22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and
he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in
the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye
do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

2:23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you
your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.

2:24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you;
for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid
you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and
ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

2:25 And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye
cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were
created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created
you.

2:26 And I, even I, whom ye call your king, am no better than ye yourselves
are; for I am also of the dust. And ye behold that I am old, and am about to
yield up this mortal frame to its mother earth.

2:27 Therefore, as I said unto you that I had served you, walking with a clear
conscience before God, even so I at this time have caused that ye should
assemble yourselves together, that I might be found blameless, and that your
blood should not come upon me, when I shall stand to be judged of God of the
things whereof he hath commanded me concerning you.

2:28 I say unto you that I have caused that ye should assemble yourselves
together that I might rid my garments of your blood, at this period of time
when I am about to go down to my grave, that I might go down in peace, and my
immortal spirit may join the choirs above in singing the praises of a just God.

2:29 And moreover, I say unto you that I have caused that ye should assemble
yourselves together, that I might declare unto you that I can no longer be your
teacher, nor your king;

2:30 For even at this time, my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while
attempting to speak unto you; but the Lord God doth support me, and hath
suffered me that I should speak unto you, and hath commanded me that I should
declare unto you this day, that my son Mosiah is a king and a ruler over you.

2:31 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should do as ye have hitherto done.
As ye have kept my commandments, and also the commandments of my father, and
have prospered, and have been kept from falling into the hands of your enemies,
even so if ye shall keep the commandments of my son, or the commandments of God
which shall be delivered unto you by him, ye shall prosper in the land, and
your enemies shall have no power over you.

2:32 But, O my people, beware lest there shall arise contentions among you, and
ye list to obey the evil spirit, which was spoken of by my father Mosiah.

2:33 For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him who listeth to obey that
spirit; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in his sins, the
same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an
everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own
knowledge.

2:34 I say unto you, that there are not any among you, except it be your little
children that have not been taught concerning these things, but what knoweth
that ye are eternally indebted to your heavenly Father, to render to him all
that you have and are; and also have been taught concerning the records which
contain the prophecies which have been spoken by the holy prophets, even down
to the time our father, Lehi, left Jerusalem;

2:35 And also, all that has been spoken by our fathers until now. And behold,
also, they spake that which was commanded them of the Lord; therefore, they are
just and true.

2:36 And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have
been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that
which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the
Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths
that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved—

2:37 I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open
rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and
becometh an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in
him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples.

2:38 Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to
God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively
sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the
Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like
an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever.

2:39 And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore
his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment.

2:40 O, all ye old men, and also ye young men, and you little children who can
understand my words, for I have spoken plainly unto you that ye might
understand, I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation
of those that have fallen into transgression.

2:41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and
happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are
blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out
faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell
with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these
things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Mosiah Chapter 3

3:1 And again my brethren, I would call your attention, for I have somewhat
more to speak unto you; for behold, I have things to tell you concerning that
which is to come.

3:2 And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel
from God. And he said unto me: Awake; and I awoke, and behold he stood before
me.

3:3 And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for
behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy.

3:4 For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness,
and hath sent me to declare unto thee that thou mayest rejoice; and that thou
mayest declare unto thy people, that they may also be filled with joy.

3:5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the
Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all
eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall
dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty
miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk,
the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner
of diseases.

3:6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts
of the children of men.

3:7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and
fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold,
blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness
and the abominations of his people.

3:8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven
and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall
be called Mary.

3:9 And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children
of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall
consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and
shall crucify him.

3:10 And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to
judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous
judgment might come upon the children of men.

3:11 For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have
fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God
concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.

3:12 But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For
salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the
Lord Jesus Christ.

3:13 And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of
men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby
whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive
remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though
he had already come among them.

3:14 Yet the Lord God saw that his people were a stiffnecked people, and he
appointed unto them a law, even the law of Moses.

3:15 And many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows showed he unto them,
concerning his coming; and also holy prophets spake unto them concerning his
coming; and yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of
Moses availeth nothing except it were through the atonement of his blood.

3:16 And even if it were possible that little children could sin they could not
be saved; but I say unto you they are blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by
nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins.

3:17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor
any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men,
only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

3:18 For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth
not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls
except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that
salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of
Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

3:19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of
Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the
Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the
atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek,
humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord
seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

3:20 And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge
of the Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and
people.

3:21 And behold, when that time cometh, none shall be found blameless before
God, except it be little children, only through repentance and faith on the
name of the Lord God Omnipotent.

3:22 And even at this time, when thou shalt have taught thy people the things
which the Lord thy God hath commanded thee, even then are they found no more
blameless in the sight of God, only according to the words which I have spoken
unto thee.

3:23 And now I have spoken the words which the Lord God hath commanded me.

3:24 And thus saith the Lord: They shall stand as a bright testimony against
this people, at the judgment day; whereof they shall be judged, every man
according to his works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil.

3:25 And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt
and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord
into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more
return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls.

3:26 Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of God, which
justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Adam should fall
because of his partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have
claim on them no more forever.

3:27 And their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are
unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever. Thus hath the Lord
commanded me. Amen.

Mosiah Chapter 4

4:1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of
speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord,
that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen
to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.

4:2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than
the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have
mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of
our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the
Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down
among the children of men.

4:3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of
the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a
remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the
exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to
the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.

4:4 And king Benjamin again opened his mouth and began to speak unto them,
saying: My friends and my brethren, my kindred and my people, I would again
call your attention, that ye may hear and understand the remainder of my words
which I shall speak unto you.

4:5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has
awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen
state—

4:6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and
his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering
towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared
from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that
should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his
commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean
the life of the mortal body—

4:7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement
which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever
were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the
end of the world.

4:8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other
salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions
whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.

4:9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in
heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in
heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which
the Lord can comprehend.

4:10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and
humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would
forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

4:11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to
the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have
tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth
such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should
remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own
nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy
creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the
name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is
to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

4:12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and
be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and
ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the
knowledge of that which is just and true.

4:13 And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably,
and to render to every man according to that which is his due.

4:14 And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked;
neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and
quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who
is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy
to all righteousness.

4:15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will
teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.

4:16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your
succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need;
and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain,
and turn him out to perish.

4:17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery;
therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor
impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are
just—

4:18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause
to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth
forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

4:19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same
Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and
raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of
every kind?

4:20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and
begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged
in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your
hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be
stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.

4:21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your
lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask
that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought
to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.

4:22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your
substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your
condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but
to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor
repent of the thing which thou hast done.

4:23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with
him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the
things of this world.

4:24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient,
that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye
have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have
not, but if I had I would give.

4:25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye
are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have
not received.

4:26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto
you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day
to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should
impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he
hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and
administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to
their wants.

4:27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not
requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is
expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize;
therefore, all things must be done in order.

4:28 And I would that ye should remember, that whosoever among you borroweth of
his neighbor should return the thing that he borroweth, according as he doth
agree, or else thou shalt commit sin; and perhaps thou shalt cause thy neighbor
to commit sin also.

4:29 And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin;
for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them.

4:30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your
thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God,
and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our
Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man,
remember, and perish not.

Mosiah Chapter 5

5:1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had thus spoken to his
people, he sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the
words which he had spoken unto them.

5:2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words
which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth,
because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change
in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do
good continually.

5:3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the
manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and
were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.

5:4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has
spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do
rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.

5:5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will,
and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us,
all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a
never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink
out of the cup of the wrath of God.

5:6 And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and
therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired; and the
covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.

5:7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the
children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath
spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith
on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his
daughters.

5:8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye
can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh;
therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you
that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto
the end of your lives.

5:9 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the
right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he
shall be called by the name of Christ.

5:10 And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not take upon him the
name of Christ must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself
on the left hand of God.

5:11 And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name that I
said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be
through transgression; therefore, take heed that ye do not transgress, that the
name be not blotted out of your hearts.

5:12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written
always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that
ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by
which he shall call you.

5:13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a
stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

5:14 And again, doth a man take an ass which belongeth to his neighbor, and
keep him? I say unto you, Nay; he will not even suffer that he shall feed among
his flocks, but will drive him away, and cast him out. I say unto you, that
even so shall it be among you if ye know not the name by which ye are called.

5:15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always
abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you
his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation
and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him
who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

Mosiah Chapter 6

6:1 And now, king Benjamin thought it was expedient, after having finished
speaking to the people, that he should take the names of all those who had
entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments.

6:2 And it came to pass that there was not one soul, except it were little
children, but who had entered into the covenant and had taken upon them the
name of Christ.

6:3 And again, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of all
these things, and had consecrated his son Mosiah to be a ruler and a king over
his people, and had given him all the charges concerning the kingdom, and also
had appointed priests to teach the people, that thereby they might hear and
know the commandments of God, and to stir them up in remembrance of the oath
which they had made, he dismissed the multitude, and they returned, every one,
according to their families, to their own houses.

6:4 And Mosiah began to reign in his father’s stead. And he began to
reign in the thirtieth year of his age, making in the whole, about four hundred
and seventy-six years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem.

6:5 And king Benjamin lived three years and he died.

6:6 And it came to pass that king Mosiah did walk in the ways of the Lord, and
did observe his judgments and his statutes, and did keep his commandments in
all things whatsoever he commanded him.

6:7 And king Mosiah did cause his people that they should till the earth. And
he also, himself, did till the earth, that thereby he might not become
burdensome to his people, that he might do according to that which his father
had done in all things. And there was no contention among all his people for
the space of three years.

Mosiah Chapter 7

7:1 And now, it came to pass that after king Mosiah had had continual peace for
the space of three years, he was desirous to know concerning the people who
went up to dwell in the land of Lehi-Nephi, or in the city of Lehi-Nephi; for
his people had heard nothing from them from the time they left the land of
Zarahemla; therefore, they wearied him with their teasings.

7:2 And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted that sixteen of their strong
men might go up to the land of Lehi-Nephi to inquire concerning their brethren.

7:3 And it came to pass that on the morrow they started to go up, having with
them one Ammon, he being a strong and mighty man, and a descendant of
Zarahemla; and he was also their leader.

7:4 And now, they knew not the course they should travel in the wilderness to
go up to the land of Lehi-Nephi; therefore they wandered many days in the
wilderness, even forty days did they wander.

7:5 And when they had wandered forty days they came to a hill, which is north
of the land of Shilom, and there they pitched their tents.

7:6 And Ammon took three of his brethren, and their names were Amaleki, Helem,
and Hem, and they went down into the land of Nephi.

7:7 And behold, they met the king of the people who were in the land of Nephi,
and in the land of Shilom; and they were surrounded by the king’s guard,
and were taken, and were bound, and were committed to prison.

7:8 And it came to pass when they had been in prison two days they were again
brought before the king, and their bands were loosed; and they stood before the
king, and were permitted, or rather commanded, that they should answer the
questions which he should ask them.

7:9 And he said unto them: Behold, I am Limhi, the son of Noah, who was the son
of Zeniff, who came up out of the land of Zarahemla to inherit this land, which
was the land of their fathers, who was made a king by the voice of the people.

7:10 And now, I desire to know the cause whereby ye were so bold as to come
near the walls of the city, when I, myself, was with my guards without the
gate?

7:11 And now, for this cause have I suffered that ye should be preserved, that
I might inquire of you, or else I should have caused that my guards should have
put you to death. Ye are permitted to speak.

7:12 And now, when Ammon saw that he was permitted to speak, he went forth and
bowed himself before the king; and rising again he said: O king, I am very
thankful before God this day that I am yet alive, and am permitted to speak;
and I will endeavor to speak with boldness;

7:13 For I am assured that if ye had known me ye would not have suffered that I
should have worn these bands. For I am Ammon, and am a descendant of Zarahemla,
and have come up out of the land of Zarahemla to inquire concerning our
brethren, whom Zeniff brought up out of that land.

7:14 And now, it came to pass that after Limhi had heard the words of Ammon, he
was exceedingly glad, and said: Now, I know of a surety that my brethren who
were in the land of Zarahemla are yet alive. And now, I will rejoice; and on
the morrow I will cause that my people shall rejoice also.

7:15 For behold, we are in bondage to the Lamanites, and are taxed with a tax
which is grievous to be borne. And now, behold, our brethren will deliver us
out of our bondage, or out of the hands of the Lamanites, and we will be their
slaves; for it is better that we be slaves to the Nephites than to pay tribute
to the king of the Lamanites.

7:16 And now, king Limhi commanded his guards that they should no more bind
Ammon nor his brethren, but caused that they should go to the hill which was
north of Shilom, and bring their brethren into the city, that thereby they
might eat, and drink, and rest themselves from the labors of their journey; for
they had suffered many things; they had suffered hunger, thirst, and fatigue.

7:17 And now, it came to pass on the morrow that king Limhi sent a proclamation
among all his people, that thereby they might gather themselves together to the
temple to hear the words which he should speak unto them.

7:18 And it came to pass that when they had gathered themselves together that
he spake unto them in this wise, saying: O ye, my people, lift up your heads
and be comforted; for behold, the time is at hand, or is not far distant, when
we shall no longer be in subjection to our enemies, notwithstanding our many
strugglings, which have been in vain; yet I trust there remaineth an effectual
struggle to be made.

7:19 Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in God, in
that God who was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; and also, that God
who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and caused that
they should walk through the Red Sea on dry ground, and fed them with manna
that they might not perish in the wilderness; and many more things did he do
for them.

7:20 And again, that same God has brought our fathers out of the land of
Jerusalem, and has kept and preserved his people even until now; and behold, it
is because of our iniquities and abominations that he has brought us into
bondage.

7:21 And ye all are witnesses this day, that Zeniff, who was made king over
this people, he being over-zealous to inherit the land of his fathers,
therefore being deceived by the cunning and craftiness of king Laman, who
having entered into a treaty with king Zeniff, and having yielded up into his
hands the possessions of a part of the land, or even the city of Lehi-Nephi,
and the city of Shilom; and the land round about—

7:22 And all this he did, for the sole purpose of bringing this people into
subjection or into bondage. And behold, we at this time do pay tribute to the
king of the Lamanites, to the amount of one half of our corn, and our barley,
and even all our grain of every kind, and one half of the increase of our
flocks and our herds; and even one half of all we have or possess the king of
the Lamanites doth exact of us, or our lives.

7:23 And now, is not this grievous to be borne? And is not this, our
affliction, great? Now behold, how great reason we have to mourn.

7:24 Yea, I say unto you, great are the reasons which we have to mourn; for
behold how many of our brethren have been slain, and their blood has been spilt
in vain, and all because of iniquity.

7:25 For if this people had not fallen into transgression the Lord would not
have suffered that this great evil should come upon them. But behold, they
would not hearken unto his words; but there arose contentions among them, even
so much that they did shed blood among themselves.

7:26 And a prophet of the Lord have they slain; yea, a chosen man of God, who
told them of their wickedness and abominations, and prophesied of many things
which are to come, yea, even the coming of Christ.

7:27 And because he said unto them that Christ was the God, the Father of all
things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should
be the image after which man was created in the beginning; or in other words,
he said that man was created after the image of God, and that God should come
down among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth
upon the face of the earth—

7:28 And now, because he said this, they did put him to death; and many more
things did they do which brought down the wrath of God upon them. Therefore,
who wondereth that they are in bondage, and that they are smitten with sore
afflictions?

7:29 For behold, the Lord hath said: I will not succor my people in the day of
their transgression; but I will hedge up their ways that they prosper not; and
their doings shall be as a stumbling block before them.

7:30 And again, he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the
chaff thereof in the whirlwind; and the effect thereof is poison.

7:31 And again he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the
east wind, which bringeth immediate destruction.

7:32 And now, behold, the promise of the Lord is fulfilled, and ye are smitten
and afflicted.

7:33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your
trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will,
according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

Mosiah Chapter 8

8:1 And it came to pass that after king Limhi had made an end of speaking to
his people, for he spake many things unto them and only a few of them have I
written in this book, he told his people all the things concerning their
brethren who were in the land of Zarahemla.

8:2 And he caused that Ammon should stand up before the multitude, and rehearse
unto them all that had happened unto their brethren from the time that Zeniff
went up out of the land even until the time that he himself came up out of the
land.

8:3 And he also rehearsed unto them the last words which king Benjamin had
taught them, and explained them to the people of king Limhi, so that they might
understand all the words which he spake.

8:4 And it came to pass that after he had done all this, that king Limhi
dismissed the multitude, and caused that they should return every one unto his
own house.

8:5 And it came to pass that he caused that the plates which contained the
record of his people from the time that they left the land of Zarahemla, should
be brought before Ammon, that he might read them.

8:6 Now, as soon as Ammon had read the record, the king inquired of him to know
if he could interpret languages, and Ammon told him that he could not.

8:7 And the king said unto him: Being grieved for the afflictions of my people,
I caused that forty and three of my people should take a journey into the
wilderness, that thereby they might find the land of Zarahemla, that we might
appeal unto our brethren to deliver us out of bondage.

8:8 And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they
were diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned to this land,
having traveled in a land among many waters, having discovered a land which was
covered with bones of men, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of
buildings of every kind, having discovered a land which had been peopled with a
people who were as numerous as the hosts of Israel.

8:9 And for a testimony that the things that they had said are true they have
brought twenty-four plates which are filled with engravings, and they are of
pure gold.

8:10 And behold, also, they have brought breastplates, which are large, and
they are of brass and of copper, and are perfectly sound.

8:11 And again, they have brought swords, the hilts thereof have perished, and
the blades thereof were cankered with rust; and there is no one in the land
that is able to interpret the language or the engravings that are on the
plates. Therefore I said unto thee: Canst thou translate?

8:12 And I say unto thee again: Knowest thou of any one that can translate? For
I am desirous that these records should be translated into our language; for,
perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of a remnant of the people who have been
destroyed, from whence these records came; or, perhaps, they will give us a
knowledge of this very people who have been destroyed; and I am desirous to
know the cause of their destruction.

8:13 Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that
can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate
all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things
are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded,
lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever
is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.

8:14 And behold, the king of the people who are in the land of Zarahemla is the
man that is commanded to do these things, and who has this high gift from God.

8:15 And the king said that a seer is greater than a prophet.

8:16 And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift
which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God,
which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God.

8:17 But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are
to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret
things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things
which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made
known by them which otherwise could not be known.

8:18 Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty
miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings.

8:19 And now, when Ammon had made an end of speaking these words the king
rejoiced exceedingly, and gave thanks to God, saying: Doubtless a great mystery
is contained within these plates, and these interpreters were doubtless
prepared for the purpose of unfolding all such mysteries to the children of
men.

8:20 O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer
with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of
the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that
she should rule over them!

8:21 Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and
scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest.

Mosiah Chapter 9

9:1 I, Zeniff, having been taught in all the language of the Nephites, and
having had a knowledge of the land of Nephi, or of the land of our
fathers’ first inheritance, and having been sent as a spy among the
Lamanites that I might spy out their forces, that our army might come upon them
and destroy them—but when I saw that which was good among them I was
desirous that they should not be destroyed.

9:2 Therefore, I contended with my brethren in the wilderness for I would that
our ruler should make a treaty with them; but he being an austere and a
bloodthirsty man commanded that I should be slain; but I was rescued by the
shedding of much blood; for father fought against father, and brother against
brother, until the greater number of our army was destroyed in the wilderness;
and we returned, those of us that were spared, to the land of Zarahemla, to
relate that tale to their wives and their children.

9:3 And yet, I being over-zealous to inherit the land of our fathers, collected
as many as were desirous to go up to possess the land, and started again on our
journey into the wilderness to go up to the land; but we were smitten with
famine and sore afflictions; for we were slow to remember the Lord our God.

9:4 Nevertheless, after many days’ wandering in the wilderness we pitched
our tents in the place where our brethren were slain, which was near to the
land of our fathers.

9:5 And it came to pass that I went again with four of my men into the city, in
unto the king, that I might know of the disposition of the king, and that I
might know if I might go in with my people and possess the land in peace.

9:6 And I went in unto the king, and he covenanted with me that I might possess
the land of Lehi-Nephi, and the land of Shilom.

9:7 And he also commanded that his people should depart out of the land, and I
and my people went into the land that we might possess it.

9:8 And we began to build buildings, and to repair the walls of the city, yea,
even the walls of the city of Lehi-Nephi, and the city of Shilom.

9:9 And we began to till the ground, yea, even with all manner of seeds, with
seeds of corn, and of wheat, and of barley, and with neas, and with sheum, and
with seeds of all manner of fruits; and we did begin to multiply and prosper in
the land.

9:10 Now it was the cunning and the craftiness of king Laman, to bring my
people into bondage, that he yielded up the land that we might possess it.

9:11 Therefore it came to pass, that after we had dwelt in the land for the
space of twelve years that king Laman began to grow uneasy, lest by any means
my people should wax strong in the land, and that they could not overpower them
and bring them into bondage.

9:12 Now they were a lazy and an idolatrous people; therefore they were
desirous to bring us into bondage, that they might glut themselves with the
labors of our hands; yea, that they might feast themselves upon the flocks of
our fields.

9:13 Therefore it came to pass that king Laman began to stir up his people that
they should contend with my people; therefore there began to be wars and
contentions in the land.

9:14 For, in the thirteenth year of my reign in the land of Nephi, away on the
south of the land of Shilom, when my people were watering and feeding their
flocks, and tilling their lands, a numerous host of Lamanites came upon them
and began to slay them, and to take off their flocks, and the corn of their
fields.

9:15 Yea, and it came to pass that they fled, all that were not overtaken, even
into the city of Nephi, and did call upon me for protection.

9:16 And it came to pass that I did arm them with bows, and with arrows, with
swords, and with cimeters, and with clubs, and with slings, and with all manner
of weapons which we could invent, and I and my people did go forth against the
Lamanites to battle.

9:17 Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against the
Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he would
deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a
remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers.

9:18 And God did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth
in his might; yea, we did go forth against the Lamanites, and in one day and a
night we did slay three thousand and forty-three; we did slay them even until
we had driven them out of our land.

9:19 And I, myself, with mine own hands, did help to bury their dead. And
behold, to our great sorrow and lamentation, two hundred and seventy-nine of
our brethren were slain.

Mosiah Chapter 10

10:1 And it came to pass that we again began to establish the kingdom and we
again began to possess the land in peace. And I caused that there should be
weapons of war made of every kind, that thereby I might have weapons for my
people against the time the Lamanites should come up again to war against my
people.

10:2 And I set guards round about the land, that the Lamanites might not come
upon us again unawares and destroy us; and thus I did guard my people and my
flocks, and keep them from falling into the hands of our enemies.

10:3 And it came to pass that we did inherit the land of our fathers for many
years, yea, for the space of twenty and two years.

10:4 And I did cause that the men should till the ground, and raise all manner
of grain and all manner of fruit of every kind.

10:5 And I did cause that the women should spin, and toil, and work, and work
all manner of fine linen, yea, and cloth of every kind, that we might clothe
our nakedness; and thus we did prosper in the land—thus we did have
continual peace in the land for the space of twenty and two years.

10:6 And it came to pass that king Laman died, and his son began to reign in
his stead. And he began to stir his people up in rebellion against my people;
therefore they began to prepare for war, and to come up to battle against my
people.

10:7 But I had sent my spies out round about the land of Shemlon, that I might
discover their preparations, that I might guard against them, that they might
not come upon my people and destroy them.

10:8 And it came to pass that they came up upon the north of the land of
Shilom, with their numerous hosts, men armed with bows, and with arrows, and
with swords, and with cimeters, and with stones, and with slings; and they had
their heads shaved that they were naked; and they were girded with a leathern
girdle about their loins.

10:9 And it came to pass that I caused that the women and children of my people
should be hid in the wilderness; and I also caused that all my old men that
could bear arms, and also all my young men that were able to bear arms, should
gather themselves together to go to battle against the Lamanites; and I did
place them in their ranks, every man according to his age.

10:10 And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the Lamanites;
and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites. And it
came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle.

10:11 Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of
the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength. Yet they were a
strong people, as to the strength of men.

10:12 They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in
the tradition of their fathers, which is this—Believing that they were
driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers,
and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they were
also wronged while crossing the sea;

10:13 And again, that they were wronged while in the land of their first
inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all this because that Nephi
was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—therefore he
was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and
he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness.

10:14 And his brethren were wroth with him because they understood not the
dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because
they hardened their hearts against the Lord.

10:15 And again, they were wroth with him when they had arrived in the promised
land, because they said that he had taken the ruling of the people out of their
hands; and they sought to kill him.

10:16 And again, they were wroth with him because he departed into the
wilderness as the Lord had commanded him, and took the records which were
engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he robbed them.

10:17 And thus they have taught their children that they should hate them, and
that they should murder them, and that they should rob and plunder them, and do
all they could to destroy them; therefore they have an eternal hatred towards
the children of Nephi.

10:18 For this very cause has king Laman, by his cunning, and lying craftiness,
and his fair promises, deceived me, that I have brought this my people up into
this land, that they may destroy them; yea, and we have suffered these many
years in the land.

10:19 And now I, Zeniff, after having told all these things unto my people
concerning the Lamanites, I did stimulate them to go to battle with their
might, putting their trust in the Lord; therefore, we did contend with them,
face to face.

10:20 And it came to pass that we did drive them again out of our land; and we
slew them with a great slaughter, even so many that we did not number them.

10:21 And it came to pass that we returned again to our own land, and my people
again began to tend their flocks, and to till their ground.

10:22 And now I, being old, did confer the kingdom upon one of my sons;
therefore, I say no more. And may the Lord bless my people. Amen.

Mosiah Chapter 11

11:1 And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one
of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in
the ways of his father.

11:2 For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after
the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did
cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight
of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness.

11:3 And he laid a tax of one fifth part of all they possessed, a fifth part of
their gold and of their silver, and a fifth part of their ziff, and of their
copper, and of their brass and their iron; and a fifth part of their fatlings;
and also a fifth part of all their grain.

11:4 And all this did he take to support himself, and his wives and his
concubines; and also his priests, and their wives and their concubines; thus he
had changed the affairs of the kingdom.

11:5 For he put down all the priests that had been consecrated by his father,
and consecrated new ones in their stead, such as were lifted up in the pride of
their hearts.

11:6 Yea, and thus they were supported in their laziness, and in their
idolatry, and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which king Noah had put upon his
people; thus did the people labor exceedingly to support iniquity.

11:7 Yea, and they also became idolatrous, because they were deceived by the
vain and flattering words of the king and priests; for they did speak
flattering things unto them.

11:8 And it came to pass that king Noah built many elegant and spacious
buildings; and he ornamented them with fine work of wood, and of all manner of
precious things, of gold, and of silver, and of iron, and of brass, and of
ziff, and of copper;

11:9 And he also built him a spacious palace, and a throne in the midst
thereof, all of which was of fine wood and was ornamented with gold and silver
and with precious things.

11:10 And he also caused that his workmen should work all manner of fine work
within the walls of the temple, of fine wood, and of copper, and of brass.

11:11 And the seats which were set apart for the high priests, which were above
all the other seats, he did ornament with pure gold; and he caused a breastwork
to be built before them, that they might rest their bodies and their arms upon
while they should speak lying and vain words to his people.

11:12 And it came to pass that he built a tower near the temple; yea, a very
high tower, even so high that he could stand upon the top thereof and overlook
the land of Shilom, and also the land of Shemlon, which was possessed by the
Lamanites; and he could even look over all the land round about.

11:13 And it came to pass that he caused many buildings to be built in the land
Shilom; and he caused a great tower to be built on the hill north of the land
Shilom, which had been a resort for the children of Nephi at the time they fled
out of the land; and thus he did do with the riches which he obtained by the
taxation of his people.

11:14 And it came to pass that he placed his heart upon his riches, and he
spent his time in riotous living with his wives and his concubines; and so did
also his priests spend their time with harlots.

11:15 And it came to pass that he planted vineyards round about in the land;
and he built wine-presses, and made wine in abundance; and therefore he became
a wine-bibber, and also his people.

11:16 And it came to pass that the Lamanites began to come in upon his people,
upon small numbers, and to slay them in their fields, and while they were
tending their flocks.

11:17 And king Noah sent guards round about the land to keep them off; but he
did not send a sufficient number, and the Lamanites came upon them and killed
them, and drove many of their flocks out of the land; thus the Lamanites began
to destroy them, and to exercise their hatred upon them.

11:18 And it came to pass that king Noah sent his armies against them, and they
were driven back, or they drove them back for a time; therefore, they returned
rejoicing in their spoil.

11:19 And now, because of this great victory they were lifted up in the pride
of their hearts; they did boast in their own strength, saying that their fifty
could stand against thousands of the Lamanites; and thus they did boast, and
did delight in blood, and the shedding of the blood of their brethren, and this
because of the wickedness of their king and priests.

11:20 And it came to pass that there was a man among them whose name was
Abinadi; and he went forth among them, and began to prophesy, saying: Behold,
thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me, saying, Go forth, and say
unto this people, thus saith the Lord—Wo be unto this people, for I have
seen their abominations, and their wickedness, and their whoredoms; and except
they repent I will visit them in mine anger.

11:21 And except they repent and turn to the Lord their God, behold, I will
deliver them into the hands of their enemies; yea, and they shall be brought
into bondage; and they shall be afflicted by the hand of their enemies.

11:22 And it shall come to pass that they shall know that I am the Lord their
God, and am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of my people.

11:23 And it shall come to pass that except this people repent and turn unto
the Lord their God, they shall be brought into bondage; and none shall deliver
them, except it be the Lord the Almighty God.

11:24 Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall cry unto me I will be
slow to hear their cries; yea, and I will suffer them that they be smitten by
their enemies.

11:25 And except they repent in sackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to the
Lord their God, I will not hear their prayers, neither will I deliver them out
of their afflictions; and thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me.

11:26 Now it came to pass that when Abinadi had spoken these words unto them
they were wroth with him, and sought to take away his life; but the Lord
delivered him out of their hands.

11:27 Now when king Noah had heard of the words which Abinadi had spoken unto
the people, he was also wroth; and he said: Who is Abinadi, that I and my
people should be judged of him, or who is the Lord, that shall bring upon my
people such great affliction?

11:28 I command you to bring Abinadi hither, that I may slay him, for he has
said these things that he might stir up my people to anger one with another,
and to raise contentions among my people; therefore I will slay him.

11:29 Now the eyes of the people were blinded; therefore they hardened their
hearts against the words of Abinadi, and they sought from that time forward to
take him. And king Noah hardened his heart against the word of the Lord, and he
did not repent of his evil doings.

Mosiah Chapter 12

12:1 And it came to pass that after the space of two years that Abinadi came
among them in disguise, that they knew him not, and began to prophesy among
them, saying: Thus has the Lord commanded me, saying—Abinadi, go and
prophesy unto this my people, for they have hardened their hearts against my
words; they have repented not of their evil doings; therefore, I will visit
them in my anger, yea, in my fierce anger will I visit them in their iniquities
and abominations.

12:2 Yea, wo be unto this generation! And the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth
thy hand and prophesy saying: Thus saith the Lord, it shall come to pass that
this generation, because of their iniquities, shall be brought into bondage,
and shall be smitten on the cheek; yea, and shall be driven by men, and shall
be slain; and the vultures of the air, and the dogs, yea, and the wild beasts,
shall devour their flesh.

12:3 And it shall come to pass that the life of king Noah shall be valued even
as a garment in a hot furnace; for he shall know that I am the Lord.

12:4 And it shall come to pass that I will smite this my people with sore
afflictions, yea, with famine and with pestilence; and I will cause that they
shall howl all the day long.

12:5 Yea, and I will cause that they shall have burdens lashed upon their
backs; and they shall be driven before like a dumb ass.

12:6 And it shall come to pass that I will send forth hail among them, and it
shall smite them; and they shall also be smitten with the east wind; and
insects shall pester their land also, and devour their grain.

12:7 And they shall be smitten with a great pestilence—and all this will
I do because of their iniquities and abominations.

12:8 And it shall come to pass that except they repent I will utterly destroy
them from off the face of the earth; yet they shall leave a record behind them,
and I will preserve them for other nations which shall possess the land; yea,
even this will I do that I may discover the abominations of this people to
other nations. And many things did Abinadi prophesy against this people.

12:9 And it came to pass that they were angry with him; and they took him and
carried him bound before the king, and said unto the king: Behold, we have
brought a man before thee who has prophesied evil concerning thy people, and
saith that God will destroy them.

12:10 And he also prophesieth evil concerning thy life, and saith that thy life
shall be as a garment in a furnace of fire.

12:11 And again, he saith that thou shalt be as a stalk, even as a dry stalk of
the field, which is run over by the beasts and trodden under foot.

12:12 And again, he saith thou shalt be as the blossoms of a thistle, which,
when it is fully ripe, if the wind bloweth, it is driven forth upon the face of
the land. And he pretendeth the Lord hath spoken it. And he saith all this
shall come upon thee except thou repent, and this because of thine iniquities.

12:13 And now, O king, what great evil hast thou done, or what great sins have
thy people committed, that we should be condemned of God or judged of this man?

12:14 And now, O king, behold, we are guiltless, and thou, O king, hast not
sinned; therefore, this man has lied concerning you, and he has prophesied in
vain.

12:15 And behold, we are strong, we shall not come into bondage, or be taken
captive by our enemies; yea, and thou hast prospered in the land, and thou
shalt also prosper.

12:16 Behold, here is the man, we deliver him into thy hands; thou mayest do
with him as seemeth thee good.

12:17 And it came to pass that king Noah caused that Abinadi should be cast
into prison; and he commanded that the priests should gather themselves
together that he might hold a council with them what he should do with him.

12:18 And it came to pass that they said unto the king: Bring him hither that
we may question him; and the king commanded that he should be brought before
them.

12:19 And they began to question him, that they might cross him, that thereby
they might have wherewith to accuse him; but he answered them boldly, and
withstood all their questions, yea, to their astonishment; for he did withstand
them in all their questions, and did confound them in all their words.

12:20 And it came to pass that one of them said unto him: What meaneth the
words which are written, and which have been taught by our fathers, saying:

12:21 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good
tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good; that
publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth;

12:22 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they
sing; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion;

12:23 Break forth into joy; sing together ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the
Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem;

12:24 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and
all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God?

12:25 And now Abinadi said unto them: Are you priests, and pretend to teach
this people, and to understand the spirit of prophesying, and yet desire to
know of me what these things mean?

12:26 I say unto you, wo be unto you for perverting the ways of the Lord! For
if ye understand these things ye have not taught them; therefore, ye have
perverted the ways of the Lord.

12:27 Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not
been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?

12:28 And they said: We teach the law of Moses.

12:29 And again he said unto them: If ye teach the law of Moses why do ye not
keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon riches? Why do ye commit whoredoms and
spend your strength with harlots, yea, and cause this people to commit sin,
that the Lord has cause to send me to prophesy against this people, yea, even a
great evil against this people?

12:30 Know ye not that I speak the truth? Yea, ye know that I speak the truth;
and you ought to tremble before God.

12:31 And it shall come to pass that ye shall be smitten for your iniquities,
for ye have said that ye teach the law of Moses. And what know ye concerning
the law of Moses? Doth salvation come by the law of Moses? What say ye?

12:32 And they answered and said that salvation did come by the law of Moses.

12:33 But now Abinadi said unto them: I know if ye keep the commandments of God
ye shall be saved; yea, if ye keep the commandments which the Lord delivered
unto Moses in the mount of Sinai, saying:

12:34 I am the Lord thy God, who hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of bondage.

12:35 Thou shalt have no other God before me.

12:36 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any
thing in heaven above, or things which are in the earth beneath.

12:37 Now Abinadi said unto them, Have ye done all this? I say unto you, Nay,
ye have not. And have ye taught this people that they should do all these
things? I say unto you, Nay, ye have not.

Mosiah Chapter 13

13:1 And now when the king had heard these words, he said unto his priests:
Away with this fellow, and slay him; for what have we to do with him, for he is
mad.

13:2 And they stood forth and attempted to lay their hands on him; but he
withstood them, and said unto them:

13:3 Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I
have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have
I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not
suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time.

13:4 But I must fulfil the commandments wherewith God has commanded me; and
because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. And again, because I
have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad.

13:5 Now it came to pass after Abinadi had spoken these words that the people
of king Noah durst not lay their hands on him, for the Spirit of the Lord was
upon him; and his face shone with exceeding luster, even as Moses’ did
while in the mount of Sinai, while speaking with the Lord.

13:6 And he spake with power and authority from God; and he continued his
words, saying:

13:7 Ye see that ye have not power to slay me, therefore I finish my message.
Yea, and I perceive that it cuts you to your hearts because I tell you the
truth concerning your iniquities.

13:8 Yea, and my words fill you with wonder and amazement, and with anger.

13:9 But I finish my message; and then it matters not whither I go, if it so be
that I am saved.

13:10 But this much I tell you, what you do with me, after this, shall be as a
type and a shadow of things which are to come.

13:11 And now I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I
perceive that they are not written in your hearts; I perceive that ye have
studied and taught iniquity the most part of your lives.

13:12 And now, ye remember that I said unto you: Thou shall not make unto thee
any graven image, or any likeness of things which are in heaven above, or which
are in the earth beneath, or which are in the water under the earth.

13:13 And again: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for
I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers
upon the children, unto the third and fourth generations of them that hate me;

13:14 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my
commandments.

13:15 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord
will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

13:16 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

13:17 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;

13:18 But the seventh day, the sabbath of the Lord thy God, thou shalt not do
any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy
maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;

13:19 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that
in them is; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

13:20 Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13:21 Thou shalt not kill.

13:22 Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal.

13:23 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

13:24 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox,
nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.

13:25 And it came to pass that after Abinadi had made an end of these sayings
that he said unto them: Have ye taught this people that they should observe to
do all these things for to keep these commandments?

13:26 I say unto you, Nay; for if ye had, the Lord would not have caused me to
come forth and to prophesy evil concerning this people.

13:27 And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses. I say
unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but
I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to
keep the law of Moses.

13:28 And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law
alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the
sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish,
notwithstanding the law of Moses.

13:29 And now I say unto you that it was expedient that there should be a law
given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law; for they were a
stiffnecked people, quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their
God;

13:30 Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of
ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep
them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him.

13:31 But behold, I say unto you, that all these things were types of things to
come.

13:32 And now, did they understand the law? I say unto you, Nay, they did not
all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts; for
they understood not that there could not any man be saved except it were
through the redemption of God.

13:33 For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the
Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets
who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more
or less concerning these things?

13:34 Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children
of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon
the face of the earth?

13:35 Yea, and have they not said also that he should bring to pass the
resurrection of the dead, and that he, himself, should be oppressed and
afflicted?

Mosiah Chapter 14

14:1 Yea, even doth not Isaiah say: Who hath believed our report, and to whom
is the arm of the Lord revealed?

14:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of
dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him there is
no beauty that we should desire him.

14:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we
esteemed him not.

14:4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem
him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

14:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we
are healed.

14:6 All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own
way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all.

14:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is
brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb
so he opened not his mouth.

14:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his
generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the
transgressions of my people was he stricken.

14:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death;
because he had done no evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

14:10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when
thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he shall see his seed, he shall
prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

14:11 He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his
knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their
iniquities.

14:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide
the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and
he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors.

Mosiah Chapter 15

15:1 And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God
himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.

15:2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and
having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the
Son—

15:3 The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son,
because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son—

15:4 And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.

15:5 And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the
Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the
temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and
disowned by his people.

15:6 And after all this, after working many mighty miracles among the children
of men, he shall be led, yea, even as Isaiah said, as a sheep before the
shearer is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.

15:7 Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming
subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of
the Father.

15:8 And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over
death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men—

15:9 Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with
compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice;
having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their
transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice.

15:10 And now I say unto you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say
unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his
seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?

15:11 Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the
prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming
of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their
words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked
forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these
are his seed, or they are heirs of the kingdom of God.

15:12 For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he
has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his
seed?

15:13 Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened his mouth to
prophesy, that has not fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets
ever since the world began? I say unto you that they are his seed.

15:14 And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good
tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God
reigneth!

15:15 And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet!

15:16 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that
are still publishing peace!

15:17 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who
shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever!

15:18 And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder
of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has
granted salvation unto his people;

15:19 For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people,
which was prepared from the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were it
not for this, all mankind must have perished.

15:20 But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and
hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of
the dead.

15:21 And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a
resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until
the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called.

15:22 And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have
believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God,
shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first
resurrection.

15:23 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have
eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death.

15:24 And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these
are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having
salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration
of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life,
being redeemed by the Lord.

15:25 And little children also have eternal life.

15:26 But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble;
for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins;
yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world
began, that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the
commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part
in the first resurrection.

15:27 Therefore ought ye not to tremble? For salvation cometh to none such; for
the Lord hath redeemed none such; yea, neither can the Lord redeem such; for he
cannot deny himself; for he cannot deny justice when it has its claim.

15:28 And now I say unto you that the time shall come that the salvation of the
Lord shall be declared to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

15:29 Yea, Lord, thy watchmen shall lift up their voice; with the voice
together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall
bring again Zion.

15:30 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for
the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

15:31 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and
all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Mosiah Chapter 16

16:1 And now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken these words he
stretched forth his hand and said: The time shall come when all shall see the
salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see
eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just.

16:2 And then shall the wicked be cast out, and they shall have cause to howl,
and weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not
hearken unto the voice of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth them not.

16:3 For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea,
even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause
of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual,
devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.

16:4 Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly
lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.

16:5 But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on
in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and
the devil hath all power over him. Therefore, he is as though there was no
redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.

16:6 And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come
as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.

16:7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of
death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no
sting, there could have been no resurrection.

16:8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the
sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

16:9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless,
that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there
can be no more death.

16:10 Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put
on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be
judged of him according to their works whether they be good or whether they be
evil—

16:11 If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness; and
if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation, being delivered up
to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation—

16:12 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never
called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for
the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being
warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they
were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent.

16:13 And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember
that only in and through Christ ye can be saved?

16:14 Therefore, if ye teach the law of Moses, also teach that it is a shadow
of those things which are to come—

16:15 Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the
very Eternal Father. Amen.

Mosiah Chapter 17

17:1 And now it came to pass that when Abinadi had finished these sayings, that
the king commanded that the priests should take him and cause that he should be
put to death.

17:2 But there was one among them whose name was Alma, he also being a
descendant of Nephi. And he was a young man, and he believed the words which
Abinadi had spoken, for he knew concerning the iniquity which Abinadi has
testified against them; therefore he began to plead with the king that he would
not be angry with Abinadi, but suffer that he might depart in peace.

17:3 But the king was more wroth, and caused that Alma should be cast out from
among them, and sent his servants after him that they might slay him.

17:4 But he fled from before them and hid himself that they found him not. And
he being concealed for many days did write all the words which Abinadi had
spoken.

17:5 And it came to pass that the king caused that his guards should surround
Abinadi and take him; and they bound him and cast him into prison.

17:6 And after three days, having counseled with his priests, he caused that he
should again be brought before him.

17:7 And he said unto him: Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee,
and thou art worthy of death.

17:8 For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of
men; and now, for this cause thou shalt be put to death unless thou wilt recall
all the words which thou hast spoken evil concerning me and my people.

17:9 Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will not recall the words
which I have spoken unto you concerning this people, for they are true; and
that ye may know of their surety I have suffered myself that I have fallen into
your hands.

17:10 Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will not recall my words,
and they shall stand as a testimony against you. And if ye slay me ye will shed
innocent blood, and this shall also stand as a testimony against you at the
last day.

17:11 And now king Noah was about to release him, for he feared his word; for
he feared that the judgments of God would come upon him.

17:12 But the priests lifted up their voices against him, and began to accuse
him, saying: He has reviled the king. Therefore the king was stirred up in
anger against him, and he delivered him up that he might be slain.

17:13 And it came to pass that they took him and bound him, and scourged his
skin with faggots, yea, even unto death.

17:14 And now when the flames began to scorch him, he cried unto them, saying:

17:15 Behold, even as ye have done unto me, so shall it come to pass that thy
seed shall cause that many shall suffer the pains that I do suffer, even the
pains of death by fire; and this because they believe in the salvation of the
Lord their God.

17:16 And it will come to pass that ye shall be afflicted with all manner of
diseases because of your iniquities.

17:17 Yea, and ye shall be smitten on every hand, and shall be driven and
scattered to and fro, even as a wild flock is driven by wild and ferocious
beasts.

17:18 And in that day ye shall be hunted, and ye shall be taken by the hand of
your enemies, and then ye shall suffer, as I suffer, the pains of death by
fire.

17:19 Thus God executeth vengeance upon those that destroy his people. O God,
receive my soul.

17:20 And now, when Abinadi had said these words, he fell, having suffered
death by fire; yea, having been put to death because he would not deny the
commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death.

Mosiah Chapter 18

18:1 And now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from the servants of king
Noah, repented of his sins and iniquities, and went about privately among the
people, and began to teach the words of Abinadi—

18:2 Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also concerning the
resurrection of the dead, and the redemption of the people, which was to be
brought to pass through the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and his
resurrection and ascension into heaven.

18:3 And as many as would hear his word he did teach. And he taught them
privately, that it might not come to the knowledge of the king. And many did
believe his words.

18:4 And it came to pass that as many as did believe him did go forth to a
place which was called Mormon, having received its name from the king, being in
the borders of the land having been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild
beasts.

18:5 Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted
thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide
himself in the daytime from the searches of the king.

18:6 And it came to pass that as many as believed him went thither to hear his
words.

18:7 And it came to pass after many days there were a goodly number gathered
together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were
gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did teach
them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the
Lord.

18:8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of
Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the
fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one
another’s burdens, that they may be light;

18:9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort
those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all
times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death,
that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first
resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

18:10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you
against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye
have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his
commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

18:11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands
for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

18:12 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first,
and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy
Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.

18:13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him,
and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as
a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are
dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon
you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ,
whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.

18:14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in
the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being
filled with the Spirit.

18:15 And again, Alma took another, and went forth a second time into the
water, and baptized him according to the first, only he did not bury himself
again in the water.

18:16 And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the
place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls; yea,
and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace
of God.

18:17 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from
that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power
and authority of God was added to his church.

18:18 And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained
priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach
unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of
God.

18:19 And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the
things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy
prophets.

18:20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were
repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.

18:21 And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with
another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and
one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards
another.

18:22 And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children
of God.

18:23 And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep
it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God.

18:24 And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should
labor with their own hands for their support.

18:25 And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should
gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their
God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to assemble themselves
together.

18:26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support; but
for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that they might wax
strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they might teach with
power and authority from God.

18:27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of
their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more
abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little,
but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.

18:28 And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and
good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to
every needy, naked soul.

18:29 And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and they did
walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and
spiritually according to their needs and their wants.

18:30 And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the
waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the
place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are
they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer;
yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever.

18:31 And these things were done in the borders of the land, that they might
not come to the knowledge of the king.

18:32 But behold, it came to pass that the king, having discovered a movement
among the people, sent his servants to watch them. Therefore on the day that
they were assembling themselves together to hear the word of the Lord they were
discovered unto the king.

18:33 And now the king said that Alma was stirring up the people to rebellion
against him; therefore he sent his army to destroy them.

18:34 And it came to pass that Alma and the people of the Lord were apprised of
the coming of the king’s army; therefore they took their tents and their
families and departed into the wilderness.

18:35 And they were in number about four hundred and fifty souls.

Mosiah Chapter 19

19:1 And it came to pass that the army of the king returned, having searched in
vain for the people of the Lord.

19:2 And now behold, the forces of the king were small, having been reduced,
and there began to be a division among the remainder of the people.

19:3 And the lesser part began to breathe out threatenings against the king,
and there began to be a great contention among them.

19:4 And now there was a man among them whose name was Gideon, and he being a
strong man and an enemy to the king, therefore he drew his sword, and swore in
his wrath that he would slay the king.

19:5 And it came to pass that he fought with the king; and when the king saw
that he was about to overpower him, he fled and ran and got upon the tower
which was near the temple.

19:6 And Gideon pursued after him and was about to get upon the tower to slay
the king, and the king cast his eyes round about towards the land of Shemlon,
and behold, the army of the Lamanites were within the borders of the land.

19:7 And now the king cried out in the anguish of his soul, saying: Gideon,
spare me, for the Lamanites are upon us, and they will destroy us; yea, they
will destroy my people.

19:8 And now the king was not so much concerned about his people as he was
about his own life; nevertheless, Gideon did spare his life.

19:9 And the king commanded the people that they should flee before the
Lamanites, and he himself did go before them, and they did flee into the
wilderness, with their women and their children.

19:10 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue them, and did overtake
them, and began to slay them.

19:11 Now it came to pass that the king commanded them that all the men should
leave their wives and their children, and flee before the Lamanites.

19:12 Now there were many that would not leave them, but had rather stay and
perish with them. And the rest left their wives and their children and fled.

19:13 And it came to pass that those who tarried with their wives and their
children caused that their fair daughters should stand forth and plead with the
Lamanites that they would not slay them.

19:14 And it came to pass that the Lamanites had compassion on them, for they
were charmed with the beauty of their women.

19:15 Therefore the Lamanites did spare their lives, and took them captives and
carried them back to the land of Nephi, and granted unto them that they might
possess the land, under the conditions that they would deliver up king Noah
into the hands of the Lamanites, and deliver up their property, even one half
of all they possessed, one half of their gold, and their silver, and all their
precious things, and thus they should pay tribute to the king of the Lamanites
from year to year.

19:16 And now there was one of the sons of the king among those that were taken
captive, whose name was Limhi.

19:17 And now Limhi was desirous that his father should not be destroyed;
nevertheless, Limhi was not ignorant of the iniquities of his father, he
himself being a just man.

19:18 And it came to pass that Gideon sent men into the wilderness secretly, to
search for the king and those that were with him. And it came to pass that they
met the people in the wilderness, all save the king and his priests.

19:19 Now they had sworn in their hearts that they would return to the land of
Nephi, and if their wives and their children were slain, and also those that
had tarried with them, that they would seek revenge, and also perish with them.

19:20 And the king commanded them that they should not return; and they were
angry with the king, and caused that he should suffer, even unto death by fire.

19:21 And they were about to take the priests also and put them to death, and
they fled before them.

19:22 And it came to pass that they were about to return to the land of Nephi,
and they met the men of Gideon. And the men of Gideon told them of all that had
happened to their wives and their children; and that the Lamanites had granted
unto them that they might possess the land by paying a tribute to the Lamanites
of one half of all they possessed.

19:23 And the people told the men of Gideon that they had slain the king, and
his priests had fled from them farther into the wilderness.

19:24 And it came to pass that after they had ended the ceremony, that they
returned to the land of Nephi, rejoicing, because their wives and their
children were not slain; and they told Gideon what they had done to the king.

19:25 And it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites made an oath unto
them, that his people should not slay them.

19:26 And also Limhi, being the son of the king, having the kingdom conferred
upon him by the people, made oath unto the king of the Lamanites that his
people should pay tribute unto him, even one half of all they possessed.

19:27 And it came to pass that Limhi began to establish the kingdom and to
establish peace among his people.

19:28 And the king of the Lamanites set guards round about the land, that he
might keep the people of Limhi in the land, that they might not depart into the
wilderness; and he did support his guards out of the tribute which he did
receive from the Nephites.

19:29 And now king Limhi did have continual peace in his kingdom for the space
of two years, that the Lamanites did not molest them nor seek to destroy them.

Mosiah Chapter 20

20:1 Now there was a place in Shemlon where the daughters of the Lamanites did
gather themselves together to sing, and to dance, and to make themselves merry.

20:2 And it came to pass that there was one day a small number of them gathered
together to sing and to dance.

20:3 And now the priests of king Noah, being ashamed to return to the city of
Nephi, yea, and also fearing that the people would slay them, therefore they
durst not return to their wives and their children.

20:4 And having tarried in the wilderness, and having discovered the daughters
of the Lamanites, they laid and watched them;

20:5 And when there were but few of them gathered together to dance, they came
forth out of their secret places and took them and carried them into the
wilderness; yea, twenty and four of the daughters of the Lamanites they carried
into the wilderness.

20:6 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites found that their daughters had
been missing, they were angry with the people of Limhi, for they thought it was
the people of Limhi.

20:7 Therefore they sent their armies forth; yea, even the king himself went
before his people; and they went up to the land of Nephi to destroy the people
of Limhi.

20:8 And now Limhi had discovered them from the tower, even all their
preparations for war did he discover; therefore he gathered his people
together, and laid wait for them in the fields and in the forests.

20:9 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had come up, that the people
of Limhi began to fall upon them from their waiting places, and began to slay
them.

20:10 And it came to pass that the battle became exceedingly sore, for they
fought like lions for their prey.

20:11 And it came to pass that the people of Limhi began to drive the Lamanites
before them; yet they were not half so numerous as the Lamanites. But they
fought for their lives, and for their wives, and for their children; therefore
they exerted themselves and like dragons did they fight.

20:12 And it came to pass that they found the king of the Lamanites among the
number of their dead; yet he was not dead, having been wounded and left upon
the ground, so speedy was the flight of his people.

20:13 And they took him and bound up his wounds, and brought him before Limhi,
and said: Behold, here is the king of the Lamanites; he having received a wound
has fallen among their dead, and they have left him; and behold, we have
brought him before you; and now let us slay him.

20:14 But Limhi said unto them: Ye shall not slay him, but bring him hither
that I may see him. And they brought him. And Limhi said unto him: What cause
have ye to come up to war against my people? Behold, my people have not broken
the oath that I made unto you; therefore, why should ye break the oath which ye
made unto my people?

20:15 And now the king said: I have broken the oath because thy people did
carry away the daughters of my people; therefore, in my anger I did cause my
people to come up to war against thy people.

20:16 And now Limhi had heard nothing concerning this matter; therefore he
said: I will search among my people and whosoever has done this thing shall
perish. Therefore he caused a search to be made among his people.

20:17 Now when Gideon had heard these things, he being the king’s
captain, he went forth and said unto the king: I pray thee forbear, and do not
search this people, and lay not this thing to their charge.

20:18 For do ye not remember the priests of thy father, whom this people sought
to destroy? And are they not in the wilderness? And are not they the ones who
have stolen the daughters of the Lamanites?

20:19 And now, behold, and tell the king of these things, that he may tell his
people that they may be pacified towards us; for behold they are already
preparing to come against us; and behold also there are but few of us.

20:20 And behold, they come with their numerous hosts; and except the king doth
pacify them towards us we must perish.

20:21 For are not the words of Abinadi fulfilled, which he prophesied against
us—and all this because we would not hearken unto the words of the Lord,
and turn from our iniquities?

20:22 And now let us pacify the king, and we fulfil the oath which we have made
unto him; for it is better that we should be in bondage than that we should
lose our lives; therefore, let us put a stop to the shedding of so much blood.

20:23 And now Limhi told the king all the things concerning his father, and the
priests that had fled into the wilderness, and attributed the carrying away of
their daughters to them.

20:24 And it came to pass that the king was pacified towards his people; and he
said unto them: Let us go forth to meet my people, without arms; and I swear
unto you with an oath that my people shall not slay thy people.

20:25 And it came to pass that they followed the king, and went forth without
arms to meet the Lamanites. And it came to pass that they did meet the
Lamanites; and the king of the Lamanites did bow himself down before them, and
did plead in behalf of the people of Limhi.

20:26 And when the Lamanites saw the people of Limhi, that they were without
arms, they had compassion on them and were pacified towards them, and returned
with their king in peace to their own land.

Mosiah Chapter 21

21:1 And it came to pass that Limhi and his people returned to the city of
Nephi, and began to dwell in the land again in peace.

21:2 And it came to pass that after many days the Lamanites began again to be
stirred up in anger against the Nephites, and they began to come into the
borders of the land round about.

21:3 Now they durst not slay them, because of the oath which their king had
made unto Limhi; but they would smite them on their cheeks, and exercise
authority over them; and began to put heavy burdens upon their backs, and drive
them as they would a dumb ass—

21:4 Yea, all this was done that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled.

21:5 And now the afflictions of the Nephites were great, and there was no way
that they could deliver themselves out of their hands, for the Lamanites had
surrounded them on every side.

21:6 And it came to pass that the people began to murmur with the king because
of their afflictions; and they began to be desirous to go against them to
battle. And they did afflict the king sorely with their complaints; therefore
he granted unto them that they should do according to their desires.

21:7 And they gathered themselves together again, and put on their armor, and
went forth against the Lamanites to drive them out of their land.

21:8 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did beat them, and drove them back,
and slew many of them.

21:9 And now there was a great mourning and lamentation among the people of
Limhi, the widow mourning for her husband, the son and the daughter mourning
for their father, and the brothers for their brethren.

21:10 Now there were a great many widows in the land, and they did cry mightily
from day to day, for a great fear of the Lamanites had come upon them.

21:11 And it came to pass that their continual cries did stir up the remainder
of the people of Limhi to anger against the Lamanites; and they went again to
battle, but they were driven back again, suffering much loss.

21:12 Yea, they went again even the third time, and suffered in the like
manner; and those that were not slain returned again to the city of Nephi.

21:13 And they did humble themselves even to the dust, subjecting themselves to
the yoke of bondage, submitting themselves to be smitten, and to be driven to
and fro, and burdened, according to the desires of their enemies.

21:14 And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they
did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God
that he would deliver them out of their afflictions.

21:15 And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities;
nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of
the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see
fit to deliver them out of bondage.

21:16 And it came to pass that they began to prosper by degrees in the land,
and began to raise grain more abundantly, and flocks, and herds, that they did
not suffer with hunger.

21:17 Now there was a great number of women, more than there was of men;
therefore king Limhi commanded that every man should impart to the support of
the widows and their children, that they might not perish with hunger; and this
they did because of the greatness of their number that had been slain.

21:18 Now the people of Limhi kept together in a body as much as it was
possible, and secured their grain and their flocks;

21:19 And the king himself did not trust his person without the walls of the
city, unless he took his guards with him, fearing that he might by some means
fall into the hands of the Lamanites.

21:20 And he caused that his people should watch the land round about, that by
some means they might take those priests that fled into the wilderness, who had
stolen the daughters of the Lamanites, and that had caused such a great
destruction to come upon them.

21:21 For they were desirous to take them that they might punish them; for they
had come into the land of Nephi by night, and carried off their grain and many
of their precious things; therefore they laid wait for them.

21:22 And it came to pass that there was no more disturbance between the
Lamanites and the people of Limhi, even until the time that Ammon and his
brethren came into the land.

21:23 And the king having been without the gates of the city with his guard,
discovered Ammon and his brethren; and supposing them to be priests of Noah
therefore he caused that they should be taken, and bound, and cast into prison.
And had they been the priests of Noah he would have caused that they should be
put to death.

21:24 But when he found that they were not, but that they were his brethren,
and had come from the land of Zarahemla, he was filled with exceedingly great
joy.

21:25 Now king Limhi had sent, previous to the coming of Ammon, a small number
of men to search for the land of Zarahemla; but they could not find it, and
they were lost in the wilderness.

21:26 Nevertheless, they did find a land which had been peopled; yea, a land
which was covered with dry bones; yea, a land which had been peopled and which
had been destroyed; and they, having supposed it to be the land of Zarahemla,
returned to the land of Nephi, having arrived in the borders of the land not
many days before the coming of Ammon.

21:27 And they brought a record with them, even a record of the people whose
bones they had found; and it was engraven on plates of ore.

21:28 And now Limhi was again filled with joy in learning from the mouth of
Ammon that king Mosiah had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such
engravings; yea, and Ammon also did rejoice.

21:29 Yet Ammon and his brethren were filled with sorrow because so many of
their brethren had been slain;

21:30 And also that king Noah and his priests had caused the people to commit
so many sins and iniquities against God; and they also did mourn for the death
of Abinadi; and also for the departure of Alma and the people that went with
him, who had formed a church of God through the strength and power of God, and
faith on the words which had been spoken by Abinadi.

21:31 Yea, they did mourn for their departure, for they knew not whither they
had fled. Now they would have gladly joined with them, for they themselves had
entered into a covenant with God to serve him and keep his commandments.

21:32 And now since the coming of Ammon, king Limhi had also entered into a
covenant with God, and also many of his people, to serve him and keep his
commandments.

21:33 And it came to pass that king Limhi and many of his people were desirous
to be baptized; but there was none in the land that had authority from God. And
Ammon declined doing this thing, considering himself an unworthy servant.

21:34 Therefore they did not at that time form themselves into a church,
waiting upon the Spirit of the Lord. Now they were desirous to become even as
Alma and his brethren, who had fled into the wilderness.

21:35 They were desirous to be baptized as a witness and a testimony that they
were willing to serve God with all their hearts; nevertheless they did prolong
the time; and an account of their baptism shall be given hereafter.

21:36 And now all the study of Ammon and his people, and king Limhi and his
people, was to deliver themselves out of the hands of the Lamanites and from
bondage.

Mosiah Chapter 22

22:1 And now it came to pass that Ammon and king Limhi began to consult with
the people how they should deliver themselves out of bondage; and even they did
cause that all the people should gather themselves together; and this they did
that they might have the voice of the people concerning the matter.

22:2 And it came to pass that they could find no way to deliver themselves out
of bondage, except it were to take their women and children, and their flocks,
and their herds, and their tents, and depart into the wilderness; for the
Lamanites being so numerous, it was impossible for the people of Limhi to
contend with them, thinking to deliver themselves out of bondage by the sword.

22:3 Now it came to pass that Gideon went forth and stood before the king, and
said unto him: Now O king, thou hast hitherto hearkened unto my words many
times when we have been contending with our brethren, the Lamanites.

22:4 And now O king, if thou hast not found me to be an unprofitable servant,
or if thou hast hitherto listened to my words in any degree, and they have been
of service to thee, even so I desire that thou wouldst listen to my words at
this time, and I will be thy servant and deliver this people out of bondage.

22:5 And the king granted unto him that he might speak. And Gideon said unto
him:

22:6 Behold the back pass, through the back wall, on the back side of the city.
The Lamanites, or the guards of the Lamanites, by night are drunken; therefore
let us send a proclamation among all this people that they gather together
their flocks and herds, that they may drive them into the wilderness by night.

22:7 And I will go according to thy command and pay the last tribute of wine to
the Lamanites, and they will be drunken; and we will pass through the secret
pass on the left of their camp when they are drunken and asleep.

22:8 Thus we will depart with our women and our children, our flocks, and our
herds into the wilderness; and we will travel around the land of Shilom.

22:9 And it came to pass that the king hearkened unto the words of Gideon.

22:10 And king Limhi caused that his people should gather their flocks
together; and he sent the tribute of wine to the Lamanites; and he also sent
more wine, as a present unto them; and they did drink freely of the wine which
king Limhi did send unto them.

22:11 And it came to pass that the people of king Limhi did depart by night
into the wilderness with their flocks and their herds, and they went round
about the land of Shilom in the wilderness, and bent their course towards the
land of Zarahemla, being led by Ammon and his brethren.

22:12 And they had taken all their gold, and silver, and their precious things,
which they could carry, and also their provisions with them, into the
wilderness; and they pursued their journey.

22:13 And after being many days in the wilderness they arrived in the land of
Zarahemla, and joined Mosiah’s people, and became his subjects.

22:14 And it came to pass that Mosiah received them with joy; and he also
received their records, and also the records which had been found by the people
of Limhi.

22:15 And now it came to pass when the Lamanites had found that the people of
Limhi had departed out of the land by night, that they sent an army into the
wilderness to pursue them;

22:16 And after they had pursued them two days, they could no longer follow
their tracks; therefore they were lost in the wilderness.

Mosiah Chapter 23

23:1 Now Alma, having been warned of the Lord that the armies of king Noah
would come upon them, and having made it known to his people, therefore they
gathered together their flocks, and took of their grain, and departed into the
wilderness before the armies of king Noah.

23:2 And the Lord did strengthen them, that the people of king Noah could not
overtake them to destroy them.

23:3 And they fled eight days’ journey into the wilderness.

23:4 And they came to a land, yea, even a very beautiful and pleasant land, a
land of pure water.

23:5 And they pitched their tents, and began to till the ground, and began to
build buildings; yea, they were industrious, and did labor exceedingly.

23:6 And the people were desirous that Alma should be their king, for he was
beloved by his people.

23:7 But he said unto them: Behold, it is not expedient that we should have a
king; for thus saith the Lord: Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or
one man shall not think himself above another; therefore I say unto you it is
not expedient that ye should have a king.

23:8 Nevertheless, if it were possible that ye could always have just men to be
your kings it would be well for you to have a king.

23:9 But remember the iniquity of king Noah and his priests; and I myself was
caught in a snare, and did many things which were abominable in the sight of
the Lord, which caused me sore repentance;

23:10 Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did
answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so
many of you to a knowledge of his truth.

23:11 Nevertheless, in this I do not glory, for I am unworthy to glory of
myself.

23:12 And now I say unto you, ye have been oppressed by king Noah, and have
been in bondage to him and his priests, and have been brought into iniquity by
them; therefore ye were bound with the bands of iniquity.

23:13 And now as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds;
yea, even out of the hands of king Noah and his people, and also from the bonds
of iniquity, even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty
wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be a king over
you.

23:14 And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be
a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments.

23:15 Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man should love his neighbor
as himself, that there should be no contention among them.

23:16 And now, Alma was their high priest, he being the founder of their
church.

23:17 And it came to pass that none received authority to preach or to teach
except it were by him from God. Therefore he consecrated all their priests and
all their teachers; and none were consecrated except they were just men.

23:18 Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with
things pertaining to righteousness.

23:19 And it came to pass that they began to prosper exceedingly in the land;
and they called the land Helam.

23:20 And it came to pass that they did multiply and prosper exceedingly in the
land of Helam; and they built a city, which they called the city of Helam.

23:21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth
their patience and their faith.

23:22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be
lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people.

23:23 For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and
none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham
and Isaac and of Jacob.

23:24 And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did show forth his
mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings.

23:25 For behold, it came to pass that while they were in the land of Helam,
yea, in the city of Helam, while tilling the land round about, behold an army
of the Lamanites was in the borders of the land.

23:26 Now it came to pass that the brethren of Alma fled from their fields, and
gathered themselves together in the city of Helam; and they were much
frightened because of the appearance of the Lamanites.

23:27 But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they
should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and
he would deliver them.

23:28 Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord that he
would soften the hearts of the Lamanites, that they would spare them, and their
wives, and their children.

23:29 And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the hearts of the Lamanites.
And Alma and his brethren went forth and delivered themselves up into their
hands; and the Lamanites took possession of the land of Helam.

23:30 Now the armies of the Lamanites, which had followed after the people of
king Limhi, had been lost in the wilderness for many days.

23:31 And behold, they had found those priests of king Noah, in a place which
they called Amulon; and they had begun to possess the land of Amulon and had
begun to till the ground.

23:32 Now the name of the leader of those priests was Amulon.

23:33 And it came to pass that Amulon did plead with the Lamanites; and he also
sent forth their wives, who were the daughters of the Lamanites, to plead with
their brethren, that they should not destroy their husbands.

23:34 And the Lamanites had compassion on Amulon and his brethren, and did not
destroy them, because of their wives.

23:35 And Amulon and his brethren did join the Lamanites, and they were
traveling in the wilderness in search of the land of Nephi when they discovered
the land of Helam, which was possessed by Alma and his brethren.

23:36 And it came to pass that the Lamanites promised unto Alma and his
brethren, that if they would show them the way which led to the land of Nephi
that they would grant unto them their lives and their liberty.

23:37 But after Alma had shown them the way that led to the land of Nephi the
Lamanites would not keep their promise; but they set guards round about the
land of Helam, over Alma and his brethren.

23:38 And the remainder of them went to the land of Nephi; and a part of them
returned to the land of Helam, and also brought with them the wives and the
children of the guards who had been left in the land.

23:39 And the king of the Lamanites had granted unto Amulon that he should be a
king and a ruler over his people, who were in the land of Helam; nevertheless
he should have no power to do anything contrary to the will of the king of the
Lamanites.

Mosiah Chapter 24

24:1 And it came to pass that Amulon did gain favor in the eyes of the king of
the Lamanites; therefore, the king of the Lamanites granted unto him and his
brethren that they should be appointed teachers over his people, yea, even over
the people who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the land of Shilom, and in
the land of Amulon.

24:2 For the Lamanites had taken possession of all these lands; therefore, the
king of the Lamanites had appointed kings over all these lands.

24:3 And now the name of the king of the Lamanites was Laman, being called
after the name of his father; and therefore he was called king Laman. And he
was king over a numerous people.

24:4 And he appointed teachers of the brethren of Amulon in every land which
was possessed by his people; and thus the language of Nephi began to be taught
among all the people of the Lamanites.

24:5 And they were a people friendly one with another; nevertheless they knew
not God; neither did the brethren of Amulon teach them anything concerning the
Lord their God, neither the law of Moses; nor did they teach them the words of
Abinadi;

24:6 But they taught them that they should keep their record, and that they
might write one to another.

24:7 And thus the Lamanites began to increase in riches, and began to trade one
with another and wax great, and began to be a cunning and a wise people, as to
the wisdom of the world, yea, a very cunning people, delighting in all manner
of wickedness and plunder, except it were among their own brethren.

24:8 And now it came to pass that Amulon began to exercise authority over Alma
and his brethren, and began to persecute him, and cause that his children
should persecute their children.

24:9 For Amulon knew Alma, that he had been one of the king’s priests,
and that it was he that believed the words of Abinadi and was driven out before
the king, and therefore he was wroth with him; for he was subject to king
Laman, yet he exercised authority over them, and put tasks upon them, and put
task-masters over them.

24:10 And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began
to cry mightily to God.

24:11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put
guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God
should be put to death.

24:12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God,
but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their
hearts.

24:13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their
afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of
the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and
deliver them out of bondage.

24:14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that
even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and
this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may
know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

24:15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and
his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could
bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with
patience to all the will of the Lord.

24:16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that
the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on
the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.

24:17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go
with thee and deliver this people out of bondage.

24:18 Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in the night-time gathered
their flocks together, and also of their grain; yea, even all the night-time
were they gathering the flocks together.

24:19 And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the
Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep.

24:20 And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had
traveled all day they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the
valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness.

24:21 Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God
because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had
delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver
them except it were the Lord their God.

24:22 And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and
all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their
God.

24:23 And now the Lord said unto Alma: Haste thee and get thou and this people
out of this land, for the Lamanites have awakened and do pursue thee; therefore
get thee out of this land, and I will stop the Lamanites in this valley that
they come no further in pursuit of this people.

24:24 And it came to pass that they departed out of the valley, and took their
journey into the wilderness.

24:25 And after they had been in the wilderness twelve days they arrived in the
land of Zarahemla; and king Mosiah did also receive them with joy.

Mosiah Chapter 25

25:1 And now king Mosiah caused that all the people should be gathered
together.

25:2 Now there were not so many of the children of Nephi, or so many of those
who were descendants of Nephi, as there were of the people of Zarahemla, who
was a descendant of Mulek, and those who came with him into the wilderness.

25:3 And there were not so many of the people of Nephi and of the people of
Zarahemla as there were of the Lamanites; yea, they were not half so numerous.

25:4 And now all the people of Nephi were assembled together, and also all the
people of Zarahemla, and they were gathered together in two bodies.

25:5 And it came to pass that Mosiah did read, and caused to be read, the
records of Zeniff to his people; yea, he read the records of the people of
Zeniff, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until they returned
again.

25:6 And he also read the account of Alma and his brethren, and all their
afflictions, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until the time they
returned again.

25:7 And now, when Mosiah had made an end of reading the records, his people
who tarried in the land were struck with wonder and amazement.

25:8 For they knew not what to think; for when they beheld those that had been
delivered out of bondage they were filled with exceedingly great joy.

25:9 And again, when they thought of their brethren who had been slain by the
Lamanites they were filled with sorrow, and even shed many tears of sorrow.

25:10 And again, when they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his
power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and
of bondage, they did raise their voices and give thanks to God.

25:11 And again, when they thought upon the Lamanites, who were their brethren,
of their sinful and polluted state, they were filled with pain and anguish for
the welfare of their souls.

25:12 And it came to pass that those who were the children of Amulon and his
brethren, who had taken to wife the daughters of the Lamanites, were displeased
with the conduct of their fathers, and they would no longer be called by the
names of their fathers, therefore they took upon themselves the name of Nephi,
that they might be called the children of Nephi and be numbered among those who
were called Nephites.

25:13 And now all the people of Zarahemla were numbered with the Nephites, and
this because the kingdom had been conferred upon none but those who were
descendants of Nephi.

25:14 And now it came to pass that when Mosiah had made an end of speaking and
reading to the people, he desired that Alma should also speak to the people.

25:15 And Alma did speak unto them, when they were assembled together in large
bodies, and he went from one body to another, preaching unto the people
repentance and faith on the Lord.

25:16 And he did exhort the people of Limhi and his brethren, all those that
had been delivered out of bondage, that they should remember that it was the
Lord that did deliver them.

25:17 And it came to pass that after Alma had taught the people many things,
and had made an end of speaking to them, that king Limhi was desirous that he
might be baptized; and all his people were desirous that they might be baptized
also.

25:18 Therefore, Alma did go forth into the water and did baptize them; yea, he
did baptize them after the manner he did his brethren in the waters of Mormon;
yea, and as many as he did baptize did belong to the church of God; and this
because of their belief on the words of Alma.

25:19 And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted unto Alma that he might
establish churches throughout all the land of Zarahemla; and gave him power to
ordain priests and teachers over every church.

25:20 Now this was done because there were so many people that they could not
all be governed by one teacher; neither could they all hear the word of God in
one assembly;

25:21 Therefore they did assemble themselves together in different bodies,
being called churches; every church having their priests and their teachers,
and every priest preaching the word according as it was delivered to him by the
mouth of Alma.

25:22 And thus, notwithstanding there being many churches they were all one
church, yea, even the church of God; for there was nothing preached in all the
churches except it were repentance and faith in God.

25:23 And now there were seven churches in the land of Zarahemla. And it came
to pass that whosoever were desirous to take upon them the name of Christ, or
of God, they did join the churches of God;

25:24 And they were called the people of God. And the Lord did pour out his
Spirit upon them, and they were blessed, and prospered in the land.

Mosiah Chapter 26

26:1 Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that
could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the
time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the tradition of their
fathers.

26:2 They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the
dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ.

26:3 And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of
God; and their hearts were hardened.

26:4 And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And
they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even
in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their
God.

26:5 And now in the reign of Mosiah they were not half so numerous as the
people of God; but because of the dissensions among the brethren they became
more numerous.

26:6 For it came to pass that they did deceive many with their flattering
words, who were in the church, and did cause them to commit many sins;
therefore it became expedient that those who committed sin, that were in the
church, should be admonished by the church.

26:7 And it came to pass that they were brought before the priests, and
delivered up unto the priests by the teachers; and the priests brought them
before Alma, who was the high priest.

26:8 Now king Mosiah had given Alma the authority over the church.

26:9 And it came to pass that Alma did not know concerning them; but there were
many witnesses against them; yea, the people stood and testified of their
iniquity in abundance.

26:10 Now there had not any such thing happened before in the church; therefore
Alma was troubled in his spirit, and he caused that they should be brought
before the king.

26:11 And he said unto the king: Behold, here are many whom we have brought
before thee, who are accused of their brethren; yea, and they have been taken
in divers iniquities. And they do not repent of their iniquities; therefore we
have brought them before thee, that thou mayest judge them according to their
crimes.

26:12 But king Mosiah said unto Alma: Behold, I judge them not; therefore I
deliver them into thy hands to be judged.

26:13 And now the spirit of Alma was again troubled; and he went and inquired
of the Lord what he should do concerning this matter, for he feared that he
should do wrong in the sight of God.

26:14 And it came to pass that after he had poured out his whole soul to God,
the voice of the Lord came to him, saying:

26:15 Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who were baptized in the
waters of Mormon. Thou art blessed because of thy exceeding faith in the words
alone of my servant Abinadi.

26:16 And blessed are they because of their exceeding faith in the words alone
which thou hast spoken unto them.

26:17 And blessed art thou because thou hast established a church among this
people; and they shall be established, and they shall be my people.

26:18 Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for in my
name shall they be called; and they are mine.

26:19 And because thou hast inquired of me concerning the transgressor, thou
art blessed.

26:20 Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have
eternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name, and shalt gather
together my sheep.

26:21 And he that will hear my voice shall be my sheep; and him shall ye
receive into the church, and him will I also receive.

26:22 For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized
unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him
will I freely forgive.

26:23 For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that
hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the
end a place at my right hand.

26:24 For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall
come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.

26:25 And it shall come to pass that when the second trump shall sound then
shall they that never knew me come forth and shall stand before me.

26:26 And then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, that I am their
Redeemer; but they would not be redeemed.

26:27 And then I will confess unto them that I never knew them; and they shall
depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

26:28 Therefore I say unto you, that he that will not hear my voice, the same
shall ye not receive into my church, for him I will not receive at the last
day.

26:29 Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against me, him
shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess
his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him
shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also.

26:30 Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their
trespasses against me.

26:31 And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say
unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor’s trespasses when he says
that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation.

26:32 Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not repent of his sins the
same shall not be numbered among my people; and this shall be observed from
this time forward.

26:33 And it came to pass when Alma had heard these words he wrote them down
that he might have them, and that he might judge the people of that church
according to the commandments of God.

26:34 And it came to pass that Alma went and judged those that had been taken
in iniquity, according to the word of the Lord.

26:35 And whosoever repented of their sins and did confess them, them he did
number among the people of the church;

26:36 And those that would not confess their sins and repent of their iniquity,
the same were not numbered among the people of the church, and their names were
blotted out.

26:37 And it came to pass that Alma did regulate all the affairs of the church;
and they began again to have peace and to prosper exceedingly in the affairs of
the church, walking circumspectly before God, receiving many, and baptizing
many.

26:38 And now all these things did Alma and his fellow laborers do who were
over the church, walking in all diligence, teaching the word of God in all
things, suffering all manner of afflictions, being persecuted by all those who
did not belong to the church of God.

26:39 And they did admonish their brethren; and they were also admonished,
every one by the word of God, according to his sins, or to the sins which he
had committed, being commanded of God to pray without ceasing, and to give
thanks in all things.

Mosiah Chapter 27

27:1 And now it came to pass that the persecutions which were inflicted on the
church by the unbelievers became so great that the church began to murmur, and
complain to their leaders concerning the matter; and they did complain to Alma.
And Alma laid the case before their king, Mosiah. And Mosiah consulted with his
priests.

27:2 And it came to pass that king Mosiah sent a proclamation throughout the
land round about that there should not any unbeliever persecute any of those
who belonged to the church of God.

27:3 And there was a strict command throughout all the churches that there
should be no persecutions among them, that there should be an equality among
all men;

27:4 That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb their peace; that
every man should esteem his neighbor as himself, laboring with their own hands
for their support.

27:5 Yea, and all their priests and teachers should labor with their own hands
for their support, in all cases save it were in sickness, or in much want; and
doing these things, they did abound in the grace of God.

27:6 And there began to be much peace again in the land; and the people began
to be very numerous, and began to scatter abroad upon the face of the earth,
yea, on the north and on the south, on the east and on the west, building large
cities and villages in all quarters of the land.

27:7 And the Lord did visit them and prosper them, and they became a large and
wealthy people.

27:8 Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one
of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his
father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was
a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he
led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.

27:9 And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God;
stealing away the hearts of the people; causing much dissension among the
people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them.

27:10 And now it came to pass that while he was going about to destroy the
church of God, for he did go about secretly with the sons of Mosiah seeking to
destroy the church, and to lead astray the people of the Lord, contrary to the
commandments of God, or even the king—

27:11 And as I said unto you, as they were going about rebelling against God,
behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were
in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the
earth to shake upon which they stood;

27:12 And so great was their astonishment, that they fell to the earth, and
understood not the words which he spake unto them.