1And it came to pass that we had gathered together all manner of
a of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.
2And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have
a a dream; or, in other words, I have
b a
c.
3And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of
a and also of Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of their seed, will be saved.
4But behold,
a and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.
5And it came to pass that I saw a
a, and he was dressed in a white
b; and he came and stood before me.
6And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
7And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
8And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have
a on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.
9And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious
a.
10And it came to pass that I beheld a
a, whose
b was desirable to make one
c.
11And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the
athereof; 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
b that I had ever seen.
12And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great
a; wherefore, I began to be
b that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was
cabove all other fruit.
13And as I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover my family also, I beheld a
a of water; and it ran along, and it was near the tree of which I was partaking the fruit.
14And I looked to behold from whence it came; and I saw the head thereof a little way off; and at the head thereof I beheld your mother Sariah, and Sam, and
a; and they stood as if they knew not whither they should go.
15And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit.
16And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.
17And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine eyes towards the head of the river, that perhaps I might see them.
18And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would
a come unto me and partake of the fruit.
19And I beheld a
a of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
20And I also beheld a
a 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
b.
21And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were
a forward, that they might obtain the
b which led unto the tree by which I stood.
22And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.
23And it came to pass that there arose a
a 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
b.
24And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness,
a to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the
b of the tree.
25And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were
a.
26And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the
a side of the river of water, a great and
b building; and it stood as it were in the
c, high above the earth.
27And 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
a of
b and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
28And after they had
a of the fruit they were
b, because of those that were
c at them; and they
d away into forbidden paths and were lost.
29And now I, Nephi, do not speak
a the words of my father.
30But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the
a 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.
31And he also saw other
a feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.
32And it came to pass that many were drowned in the
a of the
b; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.
33And 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
a at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.
34These are the words of my father: For as many as
athem, had fallen away.
35And
a and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.
36And 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.
37And he did
a 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.
38And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto them of many things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them.
Chapter 9
Nephi makes two sets of records—Each is called the plates of Nephi—The larger plates contain a secular history; the smaller ones deal primarily with sacred things. About 600–592 B.C.
1And all these things did my father see, and hear, and speak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the
a of Lemuel, and also a great many more things, which cannot be written upon these plates.
2And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people; for the
a 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.
3Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special
a that there should be an account engraven of the
b of my people.
4Upon 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
a plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people.
5Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a
a purpose in him, which purpose I know not.
6But the Lord
a 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
b unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.
Chapter 10
Lehi predicts that the Jews will be taken captive by the Babylonians—He tells of the coming among the Jews of a Messiah, a Savior, a Redeemer—Lehi tells also of the coming of the one who should baptize the Lamb of God—Lehi tells of the death and resurrection of the Messiah—He compares the scattering and gathering of Israel to an olive tree—Nephi speaks of the Son of God, of the gift of the Holy Ghost, and of the need for righteousness. About 600–592 B.C.
1And now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon
aplates 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.
2For behold, it came to pass after my father had made an end of speaking the words of his
a, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, he spake unto them concerning the Jews—
3That after they should be destroyed, even that great city
a, and many be
b away captive into
c, according to the own due time of the Lord, they should
dagain, 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.
4Yea, even
a hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a
b would the Lord God raise up among the
c—even a
d, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.
5And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had
a of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world.
6Wherefore, all mankind were in a
a and in a
b state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.
7And he spake also concerning a
a who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord—
8Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness:
a 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.
9And my father said he should baptize in
a, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should
b with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.
10And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the
a of God, who should take away the sins of the world.
11And 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
a of the Jews in
b. And after they had
c the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should
d from the dead, and should make himself
e, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.
12Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an
a tree, whose
b should be broken off and should be
c upon all the face of the earth.
13Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the
a of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.
14And after the house of
a should be scattered they should be
b together again; or, in fine, after the
c had received the fulness of the
d, the natural branches of the
e tree, or the
f of the house of
g, should be grafted in, or
h to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.
15And after this manner of language did my father prophesy and speak unto my brethren, and also many more things which I do not write in this book; for I have written as many of them as were expedient for me in mine
a book.
16And all these things, of which I have spoken, were done as my father dwelt in a
a, in the valley of Lemuel.
17And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the
aof my father, concerning the things which he saw in a
b, 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
c who should come—I, Nephi, was
d also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the
e, which is the
f of God unto
g those who diligently seek him, as well in times of
h as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.
18For he is the
a yesterday, today, 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.
19For he that diligently
a shall find; and the
bof God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the
c, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the
d of the Lord is one eternal round.
20Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into
a.
21Wherefore, if ye have sought to do
a in the days of your
b, then ye are found
c before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.
22And the Holy Ghost giveth
a that I should speak these things, and deny them not.