The Book of Mormon Part 3

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Nephi 5:22 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 6 Chapter 6

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

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

1 Nephi 6:3 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 G.o.d.

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

1 Nephi 6:5 5 Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto G.o.d and unto those who are not of the world.

1 Nephi 6:6 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 7 Chapter 7

1 Nephi 7:1 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 pa.s.s that the Lord spake unto him again, saying that it was not meet for him, Lehi, that he should take his family into the wilderness alone; but that his sons should take daughters to wife, that they might raise up seed unto the Lord in the land of promise.

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

1 Nephi 7:3 3 And it came to pa.s.s that I, Nephi, did again, with my brethren, go forth into the wilderness to go up to Jerusalem.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Nephi 7:22 22 And it came to pa.s.s 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 G.o.d; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him.

1 Nephi 8 Chapter 8

1 Nephi 8:1 1 And it came to pa.s.s that we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.

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

1 Nephi 8:3 3 And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of their seed, will be saved.

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

1 Nephi 8:5 5 And it came to pa.s.s that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.

1 Nephi 8:6 6 And it came to pa.s.s that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.

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

1 Nephi 8:8 8 And after I had traveled for the s.p.a.ce of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the mult.i.tude of his tender mercies.

1 Nephi 8:9 9 And it came to pa.s.s after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and s.p.a.cious field.

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

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

1 Nephi 8:12 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.