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05 - Book of Mormon - Joseph Smith Jr · Sacred Texts Archive

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First Nephi, chapter seventeen through nineteen chapter seventeen. And it came to pass
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that we did again take our journey in the wilderness, and we did travel
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nearly eastward from that time forth, and we did travel and weigh through much
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affliction in the wilderness. And our women did bear children in the wilderness.
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And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we
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did live upon ramat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck
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for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men.
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And they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings. And thus we see
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that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that
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the children of men keep the commandments of God, he doth nourish them and
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strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which He has
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commanded them. Wherefore He did provide means for us while we did sojourn in
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the wilderness, and we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea
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even eight years in the wilderness. And we did come to the land which
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we called bountiful because of its much fruit and also wild honey, and all
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these things were prepared of the Lord that we might not perish. And we
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beheld the sea, which we called Iriantum, which being interpreted, is many
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waters. And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents by the
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sea shore. And notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea,
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even so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced
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when we came to the seashore. And we called the place bountiful because of
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its much fruit. And it came to pass that after I Nephi had been
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in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of
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the Lord came unto me, saying, arise and get thee into the mountain.
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And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain
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and cried unto the Lord. And it came to pass that the Lord spake
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unto me, saying, thou shalt construct a ship after the manner which I
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shall show THEE, that I may carry thy people across these waters. And
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I said, Lord, whither shall I go that I may find and or
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to molten that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which
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thou hast shown unto me. And it came to pass that the Lord told
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me whether I should go to find or that I might make tools. And
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it came to pass that I Nephi and did make a bellows wherewith to blow
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the fire of the skins of beasts. And after I had made a bellows,
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that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two
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stones together that I might make fire. For the Lord had not hitherto suffered
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that we should make much fire as we journeyed in the wilderness. For he
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said, I will make thy food become sweet, that ye cook it not.
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And I will also be your light in the wilderness. And I will
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prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my
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commandments. Wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall be
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led towards the Promised Land. And ye shall know that it is by ME
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that ye are led, yea. And the Lord said also that after ye
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have arrived in the Promised Land, ye shall know that I the Lord am
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God, and that I the Lord, did deliver you from destruction, yea,
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that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem. Wherefore,
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I, Nephi did strive to keep the commandments of the Lord, and I
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did exhort my brethre into faithfulness and diligence. And it came to pass that
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I did make tools of the oar, which I did molten out of the
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rock. And when my brethren saw that I was about to build a ship,
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they began to murmur against me, saying, our brother is a fool,
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for he thinketh he can build a ship, yea. And he also
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thinketh that he can cross these great waters. And thus my brethren did complain
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against me, and were desirous that they might not labor, for they did
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not believe that I could build a ship. Neither would they believe that I
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was instructed of the Lord. And it came to pass that I Nephi was
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exceedingly sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts. And now when they saw
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that I began to be sorrowful, they were glad in their hearts insomuch that
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they did rejoice over me, saying, we knew that YE could not construct
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a ship, for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment. Wherefore thou
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canst not accomplished so great a work. And thou art like unto our father,
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led away by foolish imaginations of his heart. Yea, he hath led
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us out of the land of Jerusalem. And we have wandered in the wilderness
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for these many years. And our women have toiled, being big with child,
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and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things save it
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were death. And it would have been better that they had died before they
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came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these afflictions. Behold, these many
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years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our
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possessions in the land of our inheritance. Yea, and we might have been
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happy. And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem
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were a righteous people, for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord
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and all his commandments according to the law of Moses. Wherefore we know that
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they are a righteous people. And our father hath judged them and hath led
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us away because we would hearken unto his words. Yea, and our brother
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is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur
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and complain against us, and it came to pass that Nephi spake unto them,
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saying, do you believe that our fathers, who were the children of
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Israel, would have been led away out of the hands of the Egyptians if
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they had not hearkened unto the words of the Lord? Yea, do ye
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suppose that they would have been led out of bondage if the Lord had not
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commanded Moses that he should lead them out of bondage. Now ye know that
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the children of Israel were in bondage, and ye know that they were laden
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with tasks which were grievous to be born. Wherefore ye know that it must
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needs be a good thing for them that they should be brought out of bondage.
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Now ye know that Moses was commanded of the Lord to do that great
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work. And ye know that by his word the waters of the Red Sea
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were divided hither and thither, and they passed through on dry ground. But
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ye know that the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, who were the
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armies of Pharaoh. And ye also know that they were fed with manna in
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the wilderness, yea. And ye also know that Moses, by his word,
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according to the power of God which was in him, smote the rock,
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and there came forth water, that the children of Israel might quench their
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thirst. And notwithstanding they being led the Lord, their God, their redeemer,
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going before them, leading them by day, and giving light unto them
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by night, and doing all things for them which were expedient for man to
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receive, they hardened their hearts and blinded their minds, and reviled against Moses
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and against the True and Living God. And it came to pass that according
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to his word he did destroy them, and according to his word he did
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lead them, and according to his word he did do all things for them.
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And there was not anything done save it were by his word. And
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after they had crossed the river Jordan, he did make them mighty unto the
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driving out of the children of the land, yea unto the scattering them to
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destruction. And now do ye suppose that the children of this land who were
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in the land of Promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do
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ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, nay,
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do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if
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they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay. Behold, the
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Lord esteemeth all flesh, and one he that is righteous, is favored of
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God. But behold, his people had rejected every word of God, and
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they were ripe in iniquity, and the fullness of the wrath of God was
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upon them. And the Lord did curse the land against them, and blessed
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unto our fathers. Yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction,
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and he did bless it unto our fathers, unto their obtaining power over
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it. Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited,
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and he hath created his children that they should possess it. And he
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raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked. And
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he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands. And the wicked he destroyeth and
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curseth the land unto them for their sakes. He ruleth high in the heavens,
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for it is his throne, and this earth is his footstool. And
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he loveth those who will have him to be their God. Behold, he
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loved our fathers, and he covenanted with them. Yea, even Abraham,
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Isaac and Jacob and he remembered the covenants which he had made. Wherefore he
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did bring them out of the land of Egypt, and he did straighten them
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in the wilderness with his rod. For they hardened their hearts even as ye
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have, and the Lord straightened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery
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flying serpents among them, And after they were bitten, he prepared a way
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that they might be healed. And the labor which they had to perform was
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to look. And because of the simpleness of the way or the easiness of
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it, there were many who perished. And they did harden their hearts from
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time to time, and they did revile against Moses and also against God.
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Nevertheless, ye know that they were led forth by His matchless power into the
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land of Promise. And now, after all these things, the time has
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come that they have become wicked, yea nearly unto ripeness. And I know
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not, but they are at this day about to be destroyed. For I
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know that the day must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a
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few only who shall be led away into captivity. Wherefore, the Lord commanded
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my father that he should depart into the wilderness and the Jews also sought to
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take away his life, yea, and ye also have sought to take away
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his life. Wherefore ye are murderers in your hearts, and ye are like
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unto them. Ye are swift to do iniquity, but slow to remember the
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Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you.
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Yea. Ye have heard his voice from time to time, and he
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hath spoken unto you in a still small voice. But ye were past feeling
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that ye could not feel his words. Wherefore he has spoken unto you,
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like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake,
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as if it were to divide asunder. And ye also know that by the
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power of his almighty word, he can cause the earth that it shall pass
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away. Yea. And ye know that by his word he can cause the
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rough places to be made smooth, and the smooth places shall be broken up.
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Oh, then why is it that ye can be so hard in your
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hearts? Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and
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my heart is pained. I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever.
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Behold, I am full of the spirit of God in so much that my
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frame has no strength. And now it came to pass that when I had
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spoken these words, they were angry with me, and were desirous to throw
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me into the depths of the sea. And as they came forth to lay
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their hands upon me, I spake unto them, saying, in the name
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of the Almighty God, I command you that ye touch me not, for
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I am filled with the power of God, even unto the consuming of my
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flesh. And whoso shall lay his hands upon me shall wither even as a
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dry reed, and he shall be as not before the power of God,
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for God shall smite him. And it came to pass that I Nephai said
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unto them that they should murmur no more against their father, neither should they
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withhold their labor from me. For God had commanded me that I should build
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a ship. And I said unto them, if God commanded me to do
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all things, I could do them. If he should command me that I
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should say, unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth.
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And if I should say it, it would be done. And now,
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if the Lord has such great power and has wrought so many miracles among
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the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me that I
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should build a ship. And it came to pass that I Nephi said many
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things unto my brethren, insomuch that they were confounded and could not contend against
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me. Neither durst they lay their hands upon me, nor touch me with
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their fingers, even for the space of many days. Now they durst not
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do this lest they should wither before me. So powerful was the spirit of
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God. And thus it had been wrought upon them. And it came to
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pass that the Lord said, unto me, stretch forth thy hand again unto
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thy brethren, and they shall not wither before THEE. But I will shock
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them, saith the Lord. And this I will do, that they may
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know that I am the Lord their God. And it came to pass that
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I stretch forth my hand unto my brethren, and they did not wither before
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me. But the Lord did shake them, even according to the word which
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he had spoken. And now they said, we know of a surety that
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the Lord is with THEE, for we know that it is the power of
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the Lord that has shaken us. And they fell down before me, and
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whereabout to worship me. But I would not suffer them, saying I am
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thy brother yea, even thy younger brother. Wherefore, worship the Lord,
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thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may
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be long in the land which the Lord, thy God shall give thee Chapter
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eighteen. And it came to pass that they did worship the Lord, and
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did go forth with me, and we did work timbers of curious workmanship,
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And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should
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work the timbers of the ship. Now, I, Nephi, did not
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work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men. Neither did I
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build the ship after the manner of men. But I did build it after
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the manner which the Lord had shown unto me. Wherefore it was not after
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the manner of men. And I, Nephi, did go unto the mount
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often, and I did pray oft unto the Lord. Wherefore the Lord showed
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unto me great things. And it came to pass that after I had finished
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the ship according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it
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was good, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine. Wherefore they did humble
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themselves again before the Lord. And it came to pass that the voice of
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the Lord came unto my father that we should arise and go down into the
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ship. And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had
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prepared all things, much fruits and meat from the wilderness, and honey in
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abundance, and provisions according to that which the Lord had commanded us, we
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did go down into the ship with all our loading, and our seeds,
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and whatsoever thing we had brought with us, every one according to his age.
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Wherefore we did go down into the ship with our wives and our children.
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And now my father had begot two sons in the wilderness. The elder
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was called Jacob, and the younger Joseph. And it came to pass,
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after we had all gone down into the ship, and had taken with us
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our provisions and things which had been commanded us, we did put forth into
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the sea and were driven forth before the wind towards the promised land. And
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after we had been driven forth before the wind for the space of many days,
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be my brethren and the sons of Ishmael, and also their wives,
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began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance and to sing,
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and to speak with much rudeness, yea, even that they did forget
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by what power they had been brought thither. Yea, they were lifted up
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unto exceeding rudeness. And I Nephi began to fear exceedingly lest the Lord should
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be angry with us and smite us because of our iniquity, that we should
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be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. Wherefore, I Nephi began
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to speak to them with much soberness. But behold, they were angry with
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me, saying, we will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler
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over us. And it came to pass that Layman and Lemuel did take me
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and bind me with chords, and they did treat me with much harshness.
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Nevertheless, the Lord did suffer it that he might show forth his power unto
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the fulfilling of his word which he had spoken concerning the wicked. And it
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came to pass that, after they had bound me, insomuch that I could
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not move, the compass which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease
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to work. Wherefore they knew not whither they should steer the ship. Insomuch
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that there arose a great storm. YEA, a great and terrible tempest,
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and we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three days,
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and they began to be frightened exceedingly, lest they should be drowned in the
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sea. Nevertheless, they did not loose me. And on the fourth day,
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which we had been driven back, the tempests began to be exceedingly sore,
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and it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in
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the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the
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waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to see that the
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judgments of God were upon them, that they must perish, save they should
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repent of their iniquities. Wherefore they came unto me and loose the bands which
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were upon my wrist. And behold they had swollen exceedingly, and also mine
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ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof. Nevertheless, I
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did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long,
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and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions. Now,
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my father Lehi had said many things unto them, and also unto the
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sons of Ishmael. But behold, they did breathe out much threatenings against any
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one that should speak for me, and my parents, being stricken in years
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and having suffered much grief because of their children, they were brought down,
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Yea, even upon their sick beds, because of their grief and much sorrow,
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and the iniquity of my brethren. They were brought near to be carried
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out of this time to meet their God. Yea, their gray hairs were
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about to be brought down to lie low in the dust. Yea, even
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they were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave. And Jacob
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and Joseph, also being young, having need of much nourishment, were grieved
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because of the afflictions of their mother. And also my wife, with her
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tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of
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my brethren that they would loose me. And there was nothing save it where
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the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts.
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Wherefore, when they saw they were about to be swallowed up in the
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depths of the sea, they repented of the thing which they had done,
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insomuch that they loosed me. And it came to pass that after they had
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loosed me, behold I took the compass, and it did work whither I
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desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord.
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And after I had prayed, the winds did cease, and the storm did
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cease, and there was a great calm. And it came to pass that
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I Nephi did guide the ship that we sailed again towards the Promised Land.
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And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many
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days, we did arrive at the Promised Land. And we went forth upon
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the land, and did pitch our tents, and we did call it the
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Promised Land. And it came to pass that we did begin to till the
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earth, and we began to plant seeds. Yea, we did put all
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our seeds into the earth, which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem.
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And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly. Wherefore we were
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blessed in abundance. And it came to pass that we did find upon the
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land of Promise, as we journeyed in the wilderness, that there were beasts
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in the forest of every kind, both the cow and the ox, and
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the ass, and the horse, and the goat, and the wild God,
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and all manner of wild animals which were for the use of men.
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And we did find all manner of ore, both of gold and of silver,
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and of copper, Chapter nineteen. And it came to pass that the
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Lord commanded me. Wherefore I did make plates of ore, that I might
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engraven upon them the record of my people. And upon the plates which I
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made, I did engrave in the record of my father, and also our
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journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father, and also many
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of mine own prophecies have I engraven upon them. And I knew not at
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the time when I made them, that I should be commanded of the Lord
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to make these plates. Wherefore the record of my father and the genealogy of
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his fathers, and the more part of all our proceedings in the wilderness are
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engraven upon those first plates of which I have spoken. Wherefore the things which
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transpired before I made these plates are of a truth. More particularly made mention
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upon the first plates. And after I had made these plates, by way
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of commandment, I Nephi received a commandment that the ministry and the prophecies,
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the more plain and precious parts of them should be written upon these plates,
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and that the things which were written should be kept for the instruction of my
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people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes,
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which purposes are known unto the Lord. Wherefore I nef I did make a
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record upon the other plates which gives an account, or which gives a greater
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account of the wars and contentions and destructions of my people. And this have
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I done, and commanded my people what they should do after I was gone,
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and that these plates should be handed down from one generation to another,
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or from one prophet to another, until further commandments of the Lord, and
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an account of my making these plates shall be given hereafter. And then behold,
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I proceed according to that which I have spoken. And this I do,
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that the more sacred things may be kept for the knowledge of my people.
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Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plate, save it be that
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I think it be sacred. And now if I do err, even did
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they err of old? Not that I would excuse myself because of other men,
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but because of the weakness which is in me. According to the flesh,
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I would excuse myself for the things which some men esteem to be of
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great worth both to the body and soul. Others set it not and trample
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under their feet. Yea, the very God of Israel, do men trample
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under their feet? I say, trample under their feet, but I would
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speak in other words. They set him at naught, and hearkened not to
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the voice of his counsels. And behold he cometh according to the words of
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the Angel, in six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem,
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and the world because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing
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of nought. Wherefore they scourage him, and he suffereth it. And they
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smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him,
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and he suffereth it because of his loving kindness and his long suffering towards the
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children of men and the God of our fathers, who were let out of
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Egypt out of bondage, and were also preserved in the wilderness by him.
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Yea, the God of Abraham and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
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yieldeth himself, according to the words of the Angel, as a man
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into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up according to the words
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of Zenik, and to be crucified according to the words of neum and to
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be buried in a sepulcher, according to the words of Zenus, which he
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spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of
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his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially
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given unto those who are of the House of Israel. For thus spake the
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Prophet. The Lord God shall surely visit all the House of Israel at that
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day, some with his voice because of their righteousness, unto their great joy
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and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of His power,
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by tempest, by fire and by smoke, and by vapor of darkness,
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and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried
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up. And all these things must surely come, Saith the Prophet Zenus,
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and the rocks of the earth must rend. And because of the groanings of
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the earth, many kings of the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon
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by the spirit of God to exclaim the God of Nature suffers. And as
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for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the Prophet, they shall be scourged
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by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their
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hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders and the power and glory of the God
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of Israel. And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the Prophet,
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and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh
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and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among
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all nations. Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the Prophet, that
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they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel. Then
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will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers Yea. Then will
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he remember the isles of the sea Yea, And all the people who are
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of the House of Israel. Will I gather in saith the Lord, according
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to the words of the Prophet Zenus, from the four quarters of the earth,
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Yea. And all the earth shall see the salvation of the Lord,
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Saith the Prophet. Every nation, kindred tongue and people shall be blessed.
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And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps
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I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord, their redeemer. Wherefore
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I speak unto all the house of Israel, if it so be that they
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should obtain these things. For behold, I have workings in the spirit,
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which doth weary me, even that all my joints are weak for those who
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are at Jerusalem. For had not the Lord been merciful to show unto me
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concerning them, even as he had the prophets of old, I should have
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perished also. And he did surely show unto the prophets of old all things
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concerning them. And also he did show unto many concerning us. Wherefore it
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must needs be that we know concerning them, for they are written upon the
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plates of brass. Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did
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teach my brethren these things. And it came to pass that I did read
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many things to them which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that they
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might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands among people of old.
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And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books
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of Moses, that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord
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their redeemer. I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet
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Isaiah. For I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be
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for our prophet and learning. Wherefore I spake unto them, saying, hear
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ye the words of the Prophet, He who are a remnant of the House
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of Israel, a branch who have been broken off. Hear ye the words
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of the Prophet which were written unto all the House of Israel, And liken
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them unto yourselves, that ye may hope as well as your brethren from whom
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ye have been broken off. For after this manner has the Prophet written.
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End of First Nephi, Chapters seventeen through nineteen