1
And the Lord spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
• • •
8
¶ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord.
9
And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for
thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs
from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?
• • •
20
¶ And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up
early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to
the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
14
¶ And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they
hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against
Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the
plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
• • •
22
And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.
• • •
29
And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they
should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering
of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
• • •
33
And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well as the stranger, as he that
was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half
of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
10
But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.
• • •
16
¶ And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
• • •
19
And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
• • •
21
¶ And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.
22
Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.
1
Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of
the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto
king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion.
• • •
25
Therefore now, Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me.
• • •
40
That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
• • •
43
Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.
• • •
46
If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;
• • •
50
And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:
• • •
52
That thine eyes may be open unto the
supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people
Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.
40
So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.
41
But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.
42
¶ And there came a man from Baal-shalisha, and brought the man of God
bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn
in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
43
And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the Lord, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.
10
And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.
11
And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they
went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their
persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty
waters.
• • •
15
And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth
water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.
• • •
21
Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
• • •
23
Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and
broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to
their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.
24
So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst
before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them
into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would.
• • •
28
But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies;
21
To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
22
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month
which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a
good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
• • •
26
Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,
27
The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all
such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;
14
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of
Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which
is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen
vessel, that they may continue many days.
• • •
31
For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,
• • •
35
And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
• • •
39
And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
40
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
• • •
11
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I
come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou
hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
• • •
13
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
• • •
19
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
• • •
21
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
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.
• • •
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!
• • •
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
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
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.
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.
• • •
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.
16
And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.
• • •
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.
22
And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
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?
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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?
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.
• • •
28
And ye also know that they were fed with manna in the wilderness.
• • •
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.
• • •
36
Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.
• • •
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.
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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 wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
25
Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
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
But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek to take away my life.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
16
Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it 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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
Jacob 5: 7, 9, 11, 20, 34, 39, 46-47, 49, 54-55, 63-64, 66, 68
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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?
• • •
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?
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
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.
• • •
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.
• • •
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.
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