Latest / Sacred Texts Archive / 03 - Book of Mormon - Joseph Smith Jr

Transcript

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

• First Nephi, chapter eleven. For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me. As I sat pondering in mine heart, I was caught away in the spirit of the Lord Yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I had never before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot. And the Spirit said, unto me, behold what desirest thou. And I said, I desire to behold the things which my father saw. And the Spirit said, unto me, believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken. And I said, yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father. And when I had spoken these words, the spirit cried with a loud voice, saying, Hosanna to the Lord, the Most High God. For ye is God over all the earth, yea even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Sun of the Most High God. Wherefore thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired. And behold, this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign that after thou hast beheld the tree which bore the fruit which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of heaven, and him shall ye witness. And after ye have witnessed him, ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God. And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me, Look, And I looked and beheld a tree. And it was like unto the tree which my father had seen. And the beauty thereof was far beyond yea exceeding of all beauty. And the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow. And it came to pass after I had seen the tree, I said, unto the Spirit, I behold, thou hast shown unto me the tree which is precious above all. And he said, unto me, what desirest thou? And I said unto him, to know the interpretation thereof, For I spake unto him as a man speaketh, For I beheld that he was in the form of a man. Yet nevertheless I knew that it was the spirit of the Lord. And he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another and it came to pass that he said, unto me, look, and I looked as if to look upon him, and I saw him not, for he had gone from before my presence. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth. And in the city of Nazareth, I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white. And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open, and an angel came down and stood before me, and he said, unto me, Nephi, what beholdest thou. And I said, unto him, a virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins. And he said, unto me, knowest thou the condescension of God? And I said, unto him, I know that he loveth his children. Nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things. And he said, unto me, behold the virgin, whom thou seest, is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the spirit. And after she had been carried away in the spirit for the space of a time. The Angel spake unto me, saying look. And I looked, and beheld the Virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. And the Angel said unto me, behold the lamb of God. Yea, even the son of the Eternal Father, knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw. And I answered him, saying, yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men. Wherefore it is the most desirable above all things. And he spake unto me, saying yea, and the most joyous to the soul. And after he had said these words, he said unto me, look, and I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men. And I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him. And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life, which waters are a representation of the love of God. And I also beheld that the tree life was of representation of the love of God. And the Angel said unto me again look and behold the condescension of God. And I looked and beheld the redeemer of the world of whom my father had spoken. And I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him, And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him. And after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove. And I beheld that he went forth, ministering unto the people in power and great glory. And the multitudes were gathered together to hear him. And I beheld that they cast him out from among them. And I also beheld twelve others following him, And it came to pass that they were carried away in the spirit from before my face, and I saw them not. And it came to pass that the Angel spake unto me again, saying look, And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men, and they did minister unto them. And he spake unto me again, saying look, And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men, and I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits. And the Angel spake and showed all these things unto me, and they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God, and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out. And it came to pass that the Angel spake unto me again, saying look. And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people. Yea, the son of the Everlasting God, was judged of the world. And I saw and bare record, and I Nephi saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world. And after he was slain, and I saw the multitudes of the earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Lamb. For thus were the twelve called by the Angel of the Lord. And the multitude of the earth was gathered together. And I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like under the building which my father saw. And the Angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying, behold the world and the wisdom thereof. Yea, behold the House of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And it came to pass that I saw and bear record that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world. And it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great. And the Angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying, thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb Chapter twelve. And it came to pass that the Angel said unto me, look and behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren. And I looked and beheld the land of Promise. And I beheld multitudes of people, yea, even as it were in number as many as the sand of the sea. And it came to pass that I beheld many generations pass away after the manner of wars and contentions in the land. And I beheld many cities, yea, even that I did not number them. And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the Land of Promise. And I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings and earthquakes and all manner of tumultuous noises. And I saw the earth and the rocks that they rent, and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces. And I saw the plains of the earth that they were broken up. And I saw many cities that they were sunk, and I saw many that they were burned with fire. And I saw many that did tumble to the earth because of the quaking thereof. And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness that it passed from off the face of the earth. And behold, I saw multitudes who had not fallen because of the great and terrible judgments of the Lord. And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven, and he came down and showed himself unto them. And I also saw and bare record that the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve others, and they were ordained of God and chosen. And the Angel spake unto me, saying, behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed, and he said, unto me, thou rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Behold, they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Wherefore the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them. For ye are of the house of Israel. And these twelve ministers, whom thou beholdest, shallt judge thy seed. And behold, they are righteous forever, for because of their faith in the Lamb of God, their garments are made white in his blood. And the Angel said, unto me, look, and I looked and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness, and their garments were white, even like unto the Lamb of God. And the Angel said, unto me, these are made white in the blood of the Lamb because of their faith in him. And I Nephi also saw many of the fourth generation who passed away in righteousness. And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the earth gathered together. And the Angel said, unto me, behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the people of my seed gathered together in multitudes against the seed of my brethren, and they were gathered together to battle. And the Angel spake unto me, saying, behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw, yea, even the river of which he spake, And the depths thereof are the depths of hell. And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost. And the large and spacious building which thy father saw is vain imaginations, and the pride of the children of men, And a great and terrible gulf divideth them. YEA, even the word the justice of the eternal God and the Messiah, who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth, record from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever. And while the angels spake these words, I beheld and saw that the seed of my brethren did contend against my seed, according to the word of the Angel. And because of the pride of my seed and the temptations of the devil, I beheld that the seed of my brethren did overpower the people of my seed. And it came to pass that I beheld and saw the people of the seed of my brethren, that they had overcome my seed. And they went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land. And I saw them gathered together in multitudes, and I saw wars and rumors of wars among them, And in wars and rumors of wars, I saw many generations pass away. And the Angel said, unto me, behold, these shall dwindle in unbelief. And it came to pass that I beheld after they had dwindled in unbelief, they became a dark and loathsome and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations Chapter thirteen. And it came to pass that the Angel spake unto me, saying look. And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms. And the Angel said, unto me, what beholdest thou? And I said, I behold many nations and kingdoms, And he said, unto me, these are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles. And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church. And the Angel said unto me, behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, Yea, and tortureth them, and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity. And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable Church, and I saw the devil, that he was the founder of it. And I also saw gold and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing. And I saw many harlots, And the angels spake unto me, saying, behold the gold and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots are the desires of this great and abominable Church. And also for the praise of the world. Do they destroy the saints of God and bring them down into captivity. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld many waters, and they divided the gentiles from the seed of my brethren. And it came to pass that the Angel said unto me. Behold, the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren. And I looked and beheld a man among the gentiles who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters. And I beheld the spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man. And he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land. And it came to pass that I beheld the spirit of God that it wrought upon other gentiles, and they went forth out of captivity upon the many waters. And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the gentiles upon them land of promise, and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren. And they were scattered before the gentiles and were smitten. 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. And it came to pass that I, Nephi beheld that the gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity, did humble themselves before the Lord, and the power of the Lord was with them. And I beheld that their mother gentiles were gathered together upon the waters and upon the land also to battle against them. And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle. And I Nephi beheld that the gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations. 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. And the Angel said, unto me, knowest thou the meaning of the book? And I said, unto him, I know not, And he said, behold, it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I Nephi beheld it, and he said, unto me, the book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord which he hath made unto the house of Israel. And it also containeth many of the prophecies of the Holy prophets. And it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many. Nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel. Wherefore they are of great worth unto the Gentiles. And the Angel of the Lord said unto me, thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew. And when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew, it contained the fullness of the Gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve Apostles bear record, And they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God. Wherefore these things go forth from the Jews in purity, unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God. And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb from the Jews under the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of a great and abominable Church, which is most abominable above all other churches. For behold, they have taken away from the Gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious, and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away. 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. Wherefore thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable Church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God. And after these plain and precious things were taken away, it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles. And after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the gentiles. Yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles, which have gone forth out of captivity. Thou seest because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain under the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God. Because of these things which are taken away out of the Gospel of the Lamb, and exceedingly great many do stumble, yea insomuch that Satan hath great power over them. Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land that the Lord God hath covenanted with thy Father, that his sieed should have for the land of their inheritance. Wherefore thou seest that the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed which are among thy brethren. Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy brethren. Neither will the Lord God suffer that the gentiles shall forever remain in that awful state of blindness, which thou beholdest they are in because of the plain and most precious parts of the Gospel of the Lamb, which have been kept back by that abominable church, whose formation thou hast seen. Wherefore saith the Lamb of God. I will be merciful unto the Gentiles, unto the visiting of the remnant of the House of Israel in great judgment. And it came to pass that the Angel of the Lord spake unto me saying, behold saith the Lamb of God. After I have visited the remnant of the House of Israel, and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy Father. Wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment and smitten them by the hand of the gentiles, and after the gentiles do stumble exceedingly because of the most plain and precious parts of the Gospel of the Lamb, which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, Saith the Lamb. I will be merciful unto the gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them in mine own power much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious. Saith the Lamb. 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 plas lain 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, and in them shall be written my Gospel, Saith the Lamb, and my Rock and my Salvation. And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost. And if they endure unto the end, they shall be lifted up at the last Day, and shall be saved in the everlasting Kingdom of the Lamb. And whoso shall publish peace yea tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be. And it came to pass that I beheld the Remnant of the Seed of my brethren, and also the Book of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the Remnant of the Seed of my brethren. And after it had come forth unto them, I beheld other books which came forth by the power of the Lamb from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles, and the Remnant of the Seed of my brethren. And also the Jews, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true, and the Angel spake unto me, saying these last records which thou hast seen among the gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them, and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the son of the Eternal Father and the savior of the world, and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved. And they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb. And the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Wherefore they both shall be established in one For there is one God and one shepherd over all the earth. And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the gentiles. And after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the gentiles and also unto the Jews. And the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. End of First Nephi, Chapters eleven, fourteen,