24
Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but
he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither
was the number put in the accountof the chronicles of king David.
The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of
prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were
quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record
gives an accountof
two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and
afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the
Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the
tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.
“He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an accountof the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;
An accountof 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 accountof 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 accountof Nephi; or in other words, I, Nephi, wrote this record.
16
And now I, Nephi, do not make a full accountof
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.
17
But I shall make an accountof 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 accountof mine own life.
11
And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which gave an accountof the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents;
3
And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full accountof 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.
2
And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full accountof the history of my people; for the plates upon which I make a full accountof 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.
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.
4
Upon the other plates should be engraven an accountof 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.
4
Wherefore, I, Nephi, did make a record upon the other plates, which gives an account, or which gives a greater accountof 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.
5
And an accountof 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.
An accountof 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.
21
And they gave an accountof 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.
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 accountof the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.
The Record of Zeniff—An accountof his people, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until the time that they were delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites. Comprising chapters 9 to 22 inclusive.
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 accountof their baptism shall be given hereafter.
6
And he also read the accountof Alma and his brethren, and all their afflictions, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until the time they returned again.
9
And they took their journey into the wilderness to go up to preach the word among the Lamanites; and I shall give an accountof their proceedings hereafter.
• • •
17
Now after Mosiah had finished translating these records, behold, it gave an accountof the people who were destroyed, from the time that they were destroyed back to the building of the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people and they were scattered abroad upon the face of all the earth, yea, and even from that time back until the creation of Adam.
The accountof Alma, who was the son of Alma, the first and chief judge over the people of Nephi, and also the high priest over the Church. An accountof the reign of the judges, and the wars and contentions among the people. And also an accountof a war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, according to the record of Alma, the first and chief judge.
3
And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on accountof
their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to
choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising
exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that
holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory
redemption for such.
4
And thus they have been called to this holy calling on accountof their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on accountof the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren.
• • •
10
Now, as I said concerning the holy order, or this high priesthood, there were many who were ordained and became high priests of God; and it was on accountof
their exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before
God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to
perish;
3
And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on accountof his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of
his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow
up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance;
therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat.
An accountof the sons of Mosiah, who rejected their rights to the kingdom for the word of God, and went up to the land of Nephi to preach to the Lamanites; their sufferings and deliverance—according to the record of Alma. Comprising chapters 17 to 26 inclusive.
16
And it came to pass that they did call on the name of the Lord, in their might, even until they had all fallen to the earth, save it were one of the Lamanitish women, whose name was Abish, she having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on accountof a remarkable vision of her father—
1
Now, as Ammon was thus teaching the people of Lamoni continually, we will return to the accountof Aaron and his brethren; for after he departed from the land of Middoni he was led by the Spirit to the land of Nephi, even to the house of the king which was over all the land save it were the land of Ishmael; and he was the father of Lamoni.
• • •
35
And now I, after having said this, return again to the accountof Ammon and Aaron, Omner and Himni, and their brethren.
23
And behold, we will set our armies between the land Jershon and the land
Nephi, that we may protect our brethren in the land Jershon; and this
we do for our brethren, on accountof their fear to take up arms against their brethren lest they should commit sin; and this their great fear came because of their sore repentance which they had, on accountof their many murders and their awful wickedness.
8
And this is the accountof Ammon and his brethren, their journeyings in the land of
Nephi, their sufferings in the land, their sorrows, and their
afflictions, and their incomprehensible joy, and the reception and
safety of the brethren in the land of Jershon. And now may the Lord, the Redeemer of all men, bless their souls forever.
9
And this is the accountof the wars and contentions among the Nephites, and also the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites; and the fifteenth year of the reign of the judges is ended.
16
Therefore, he caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he
might give unto them every one his charge, separately, concerning the
things pertaining unto righteousness. And we have an accountof his commandments, which he gave unto them according to his own record.
29
Therefore ye shall keep these secret plans of
their oaths and their covenants from this people, and only their
wickedness and their murders and their abominations shall ye make known
unto them; and ye shall teach them to abhor such wickedness and
abominations and murders; and ye shall also teach them that these people
were destroyed on accountof their wickedness and abominations and their murders.
The accountof the people of Nephi, and their wars and dissensions, in the days of Helaman, according to the record of Helaman, which he kept in his days. Comprising chapters 45 to 62 inclusive.
8
And now it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites, on the west sea, south, while in the absence of Moroni on accountof
some intrigue amongst the Nephites, which caused dissensions amongst
them, had gained some ground over the Nephites, yea, insomuch that they
had obtained possession of a number of their cities in that part of the land.
An accountof the Nephites. Their wars and contentions, and their dissensions. And also the prophecies of many holy prophets, before the coming of Christ, according to the records of Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, and also according to the records of his sons, even down to the coming of Christ. And also many of the Lamanites are converted. An accountof their conversion. An accountof the righteousness of the Lamanites, and the wickedness and abominations of the Nephites, according to the record of Helaman and his sons, even down to the coming of Christ, which is called the book of Helaman.
14
But behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, yea, the accountof the Lamanites and of
the Nephites, and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and
their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and their
building of ships, and their building of temples, and of
synagogues and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their
wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their plundering,
and all manner of abominations and whoredoms, cannot be contained in this work.
19
Showing his body unto them, and ministering unto them; and an accountof his ministry shall be given hereafter. Therefore for this time I make an end of my sayings.
33
And if ye had all the scriptures which give an accountof all the marvelous works of Christ, ye would, according to the words of Christ, know that these things must surely come.
18
And upon the plates of Nephi I did make a full accountof all the wickedness and abominations; but upon these plates I did forbear to make a full accountof their wickedness and abominations, for behold, a continual scene of wickedness and abominations has been before mine eyes ever since I have been sufficient to behold the ways of man.
9
And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of
these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said should
scatter this people, and this people should be counted as naught among
them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full accountof the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people.
1
And now I, Moroni, proceed to give an accountof those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the Lord upon the face of this north country.
17
And now, as I, Moroni, said I could not make a full accountof
these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that
Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner
and in the likeness of the same body even as he showed himself unto the Nephites.
1
Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the accountof the people of
Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet
perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should
destroy me.
38
And now, verily I say unto you, that an accountof those things that you have written, which have gone out of your hands, is engraven upon the plates of Nephi;
• • •
44
Behold, they have only got a part, or an abridgment of the accountof Nephi.
3
And verily in this thing ye have done wisely, for it is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an accountof his stewardship, both in time and in eternity.
• • •
5
Verily I say unto you, the elders of the church in this part of my vineyard shall render an accountof their stewardship unto the bishop, who shall be appointed of me in this part of my vineyard.
• • •
11
To take an accountof
the elders as before has been commanded; and to administer to their
wants, who shall pay for that which they receive, inasmuch as they have
wherewith to pay;
• • •
16
And now, verily I say unto you, that as every elder in this part of the vineyard must give an accountof his stewardship unto the bishop in this part of the vineyard—
35
But only an accountof this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of
my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they
unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I
know them.
Some preachers and other professors of religion reject accountof First Vision—Persecution heaped upon Joseph Smith—He testifies of the reality of the vision. (Verses 21-26.)
21
Some few days after I had this vision, I happened to be in company with one of
the Methodist preachers, who was very active in the before mentioned
religious excitement; and, conversing with him on the subject of religion, I took occasion to give him an accountof
the vision which I had had. I was greatly surprised at his behavior;
he treated my communication not only lightly, but with great contempt,
saying it was all of the devil, that there
were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that all
such things had ceased with the apostles, and that there would never be
any more of them.
• • •
24
However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have
thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense
before King Agrippa, and related the accountof
the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still
there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others
said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not
destroy the reality of his vision. He had
seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven
could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto
death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had
both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world
could not make him think or believe otherwise.
• • •
34
He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an accountof the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;
• • •
63
Sometime in this month of February, the
aforementioned Mr. Martin Harris came to our place, got the characters
which I had drawn off the plates, and started with them to the city of New York. For what took place relative to him and the characters, I refer to his own accountof the circumstances, as he related them to me after his return, which was as follows:
“After writing the account given of the Savior’s ministry to the remnant of the seed of
Jacob, upon this continent, it was easy to be seen, as the prophet said
it would be, that darkness covered the earth and gross darkness the
minds of the people. On reflecting further it
was as easy to be seen that amid the great strife and noise concerning
religion, none had authority from God to administer the ordinances of the Gospel. For the question might be asked, have men authority to administer in the name of Christ, who deny revelations, when His testimony is no less than the spirit of prophecy, and His religion based, built, and sustained by immediate revelations, in all ages of
the world when He has had a people on earth? If these facts were
buried, and carefully concealed by men whose craft would have been in
danger if once permitted to shine in the faces of men, they were no longer to us; and we only waited for the commandment to be given ‘Arise and be baptized.’
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