And now it came to pass that after I, Nefi, had made an end of speaking to my brothers, behold, they said unto me, You have declared unto us hard things, more than which we are able to bear. 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 take the truth to be hard, for it cuts them to the very center. And now my brothers, if you were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth and give heed unto it, that you might walk uprightly before Elohim, then you would not murmur because of the truth and say, You speak hard things against us. And it came to pass that I, Nefi, did exhort my brothers with all diligence to keep the mitzvot of yhwh. And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before yhwh, insomuch that I had joy and great hopes of them, that they would walk in the paths of righteousness. Now all these things were said and done as my father dwelt in a tent in the valley which he called L’mu’el.
And it came to pass that I, Nefi, took one of the daughters of Yishma’el to wife, and also my brothers took of the daughters of Yishma’el to wife, and also Tzuram took the eldest daughter of Yishma’el to wife. And thus my father had fulfilled all the mitzvot of yhwh which had been given unto him. And also I, Nefi, had been blessed of yhwh exceedingly.
And it came to pass that the voice of yhwh spoke unto my father by night and commanded him that the next day he should take his journey into the wilderness. And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning and went forth to the tent door, and to his great astonishment, he beheld upon the ground a round ball117 of elegant workmanship, and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles, and the one pointed the way where we should go into the wilderness.
And it came to pass that we did gather together whatsoever things we should carry into the wilderness, and all the remainder of our provisions which yhwh had given unto us. And we did take seed of every kind that we might carry into the wilderness.
And it came to pass that we did take our tents and departed into the wilderness across the river Laman. And it came to pass that we traveled for the space of four days, nearly a south-southeast direction, and we did pitch our tents again; and we did call the name of the place Shazer.118
And it came to pass that we did take our bows and our arrows and go forth into the wilderness to slay food for our families; and after we had slain food for our families, we did return again to our families in the wilderness, to the place of Shazer. And we did go forth again in the wilderness, following the same direction, keeping in the most fertile parts of the wilderness which were in the borders near the Red Sea. And it came to pass that we did travel for the space of many days, slaying food by the way with our bows, and our arrows, and our stones, and our slings; and we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness. And after we had traveled for the space of many days, we did pitch our tents for the space of a time, that we might again rest ourselves and obtain food for our families.
And it came to pass that as I, Nefi, went forth to slay food, behold, I did break my bow which was made of fine steel; and after I did break my bow, behold, my brothers were angry with me because of the loss of my bow, for we did obtain no food. And it came to pass that we did return without food to our families. And being much fatigued because of their journeying, they did suffer much for the want of food. And it came to pass that Laman, and L’mu’el, and the sons of Yishma’el did begin to murmur exceedingly because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness; and also my father began to murmur against yhwh his Elohim; yes, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did murmur against yhwh. Now it came to pass that I, Nefi, having been afflicted with my brothers because of the loss of my bow, and their bows having lost their springs, it began to be exceedingly difficult, yes, insomuch that we could obtain no food. And it came to pass that I, Nefi, did speak much unto my brothers because they had hardened their hearts again, even unto complaining against yhwh their Elohim. And it came to pass that I, Nefi, did make out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick an arrow; wherefore, I did arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones. And I said unto my father, Where shall I go to obtain food? And it came to pass that he did inquire of yhwh, for they had humbled themselves because of my words; for I did say many things unto them in the energy of my soul. And it came to pass that the voice of yhwh came unto my father, and he was truly chastened because of his murmurings against yhwh, insomuch that he was brought down into the depths of sorrow.
And it came to pass that the voice of yhwh said unto him, Look upon the ball and behold the things which are written. And it came to pass that when my father beheld the things which were written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble exceedingly, and also my brothers, and the sons of Yishma’el, and our wives. And it came to pass that I, Nefi, 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. And there was also written upon them a new writing which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of yhwh; and it was written and changed from time to time according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small119 means yhwh can bring about great things. And it came to pass that I, Nefi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball. And it came to pass that I did slay wild beasts, insomuch that I did obtain food for our families. 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 yhwh and did give thanks unto him.
And it came to pass that we did again take our journey, traveling nearly the same course as in the beginning; and after we had traveled for the space of many days, we did pitch our tents again, that we might remain for the space of a time.
And it came to pass that Yishma’el died and was buried in the place which was called Nahom.120 And it came to pass that the daughters of Yishma’el did mourn exceedingly because of the loss of their father and because of their afflictions in the wilderness. And they did murmur121 against my father because he had brought them out of the land of Yerushalayim, saying, Our father is dead. Yes, and we have wandered much in the wilderness, and we have suffered much afflictions, hunger, thirst, and fatigue; and after all these sufferings we must perish in the wilderness with hunger. And thus they did murmur against my father and also against me; and they were desirous to return again to Yerushalayim. And Laman said unto L’mu’el, and also unto the sons of Yishma’el, Behold, let us slay our father, and also our brother Nefi who has taken it upon him to be our ruler and our teacher, who are his elder brothers. Now he says that yhwh has talked with him, and also that angels have ministered unto him. But behold, we know that he lies unto us; and he tells us these things, and he works many things by his cunning arts, that he may deceive our eyes, thinking perhaps that he may lead us away into some strange wilderness. And after he has led us away, he has thought to make himself a king and a ruler over us, that he may do with us according to his will and pleasure. And after this manner did my brother Laman stir up their hearts to anger. And it came to pass that yhwh was with us, yes, even the voice of yhwh came and did speak many words unto them and did chasten them exceedingly. And after they were chastened by the voice of yhwh, they did turn away their anger and did repent of their sins, insomuch that yhwh did bless us again with food, that we did not perish.
And it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth. And we did travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness, and our women bore children in the wilderness. And so great were the blessings of yhwh upon us that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of milk for their children and were strong, yes, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.
And thus we see that the mitzvot of Elohim must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the mitzvot of Elohim, he does nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide122 ways and means by which they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them. Wherefore, he did provide ways and means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.
And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yes, even eight years123 in the wilderness. And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much fruit124 and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of yhwh that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which (being interpreted) is many waters.
And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents by the seashore. And even though we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yes, even so much that we cannot write them all, we rejoiced exceedingly when we came to the seashore; and we called the place Bountiful because of its much fruit.
And it came to pass that after I, Nefi, had been in the land Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of yhwh came unto me, saying, Arise and get you into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain and cried unto yhwh. And it came to pass that yhwh spoke unto me, saying, You shall construct a ship after the manner which I shall show you, that I may carry your people across these waters. And I said, yhwh, where shall I go that I may find ore to molten that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which you have shown unto me? And it came to pass that yhwh told me where I should go to find ore, that I might make tools.
And it came to pass that I, Nefi, did make bellows, with which to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts. And after I had made bellows, that I might have the means to blow the fire, I did strike two stones together that I might make fire. For yhwh had not thus far allowed that we should make much fire as we journeyed in the wilderness, for he said, I will make your food become sweet, that you cook it not. And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that you shall keep my mitzvot. Wherefore, inasmuch as you shall keep my mitzvot, you shall be led towards the promised land; and you shall know that it is by me that you are led. Yes, and yhwh said also that after you have arrived to the promised land, you shall know that I, yhwh, am Elohim, and that I, yhwh, did deliver you from destruction, yes, that I did bring you out of the land of Yerushalayim. Wherefore, I, Nefi, did strive to keep the mitzvot of yhwh, and I did exhort my brothers to faithfulness and diligence. And it came to pass that I did make tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock. And when my brothers saw that I was about to build a ship, they began to murmur against me, saying, Our brother is a fool, for he thinks that he can build a ship; yes, and he also thinks that he can cross these great waters. And thus my brothers 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 yhwh.
And now it came to pass that I, Nefi, 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 you could not construct a ship, for we knew that you were lacking in judgment; wherefore, you cannot accomplish so great a work. And you are like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart. Yes, he has led us out of the land of Yerushalayim, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years.125 And our women have labored, being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things except it were death. And it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Yerushalayim than to have suffered these afflictions. Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yes, and we might have been happy. And we know that the people who were in the land of Yerushalayim were a righteous people, for they keep the statutes and the judgments of yhwh, and all his mitzvot according to the Torah of Moshe; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people. And our father has judged them and has led us away because we would hearken unto his word; yes, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brothers murmur and complain against us.
And it came to pass that I, Nefi, spoke unto them, saying, Do you believe that our fathers, who were the children of Isra’el, would have been led away out of the hands of the Egyptians if they had not hearkened unto the words of yhwh? Yes, do you suppose that they would have been led out of bondage if yhwh had not commanded Moshe that he should lead them out of bondage? Now you know that the children of Isra’el were in bondage, and you know that they were laden with tasks which were grievous to be borne. Wherefore, you know that it must necessarily be a good thing for them that they should be brought out of bondage. Now you know that Moshe was commanded of yhwh to do that great work, and you know that by his word the waters of the Red Sea were divided hither and thither, and they passed through on dry ground.126 But you know that the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, who were the armies of Pharaoh.127 And you also know that they were fed with manna in the wilderness.128 Yes, and you also know that Moshe, by his word, according to the power of Elohim which was in him, smote the rock and there came forth water, that the children of Isra’el might quench their thirst.129 And despite their being led — yhwh their Elohim, their Redeemer, going before them, leading them by day, and giving light unto them by night,130 and doing all things for them which were expedient for man to receive — they hardened their hearts and blinded their minds, and reviled against Moshe and against the true and living Elohim. And it came to pass that according to his word he did destroy them, and according to his word he did lead them, and according to his word he did do all things for them; and there was not anything done except it were by his word. And after they had crossed the river Yarden, he did make them mighty unto the driving out the children of the land, yes, unto the scattering them to destruction.131
And now, do you suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do you suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, no. Do you suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, no. Behold, yhwh esteems132 all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of Elohim. But behold, this people had rejected every word of Elohim, and they were ripe in iniquity, and the fulness of the wrath of Elohim was upon them. And yhwh did curse the land against them and bless it unto our fathers; yes, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers, unto their obtaining power over it.
Behold, yhwh has created the earth133 that it should be inhabited, and he has created his children that they should possess it. And he raises up a righteous nation and destroys the nations of the wicked. And he leads away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroys, and curses the land unto them for their sakes. He rules high in the Heavens, for it is his throne, and this earth is his footstool.134 And he loves them who will have him to be their Elohim. Behold, he loved our fathers; and he covenanted with them, yes, even Avraham, and Yitz’chak, and Ya’akov, and he remembered the covenants which he had made; wherefore, he did bring them out of the land of Egypt. And he did distress them in the wilderness with his rod, for they hardened their hearts, even as you have; and yhwh distressed them because of their iniquity. He sent flying fiery serpents135 among them;136 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. And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did revile against Moshe and also against Elohim. Nevertheless, you know that they were led forth by his matchless power into the land of promise.
And now after all these things, the time has come that they have become wicked, yes, 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, except a few only, who shall be led away into captivity; wherefore, yhwh commanded137 my father that he should depart into the wilderness. And the Judeans also sought to take away his life; yes, and you also have sought to take away his life. Wherefore, you are murderers in your hearts and you are like unto them. You are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember yhwh your Elohim. You have seen an angel and he spoke unto you. Yes, you have heard his voice from time to time, and he has spoken unto you in a still, small voice, but you were past feeling, that you could not feel his words. Wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder. And you also know that by the power of his almighty word he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yes, and you know that by his word he can cause that rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. Oh then, why is it that you can be so hard in your hearts? Behold, my soul is torn with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained. I fear that you shall be cast off for ever. Behold, I am full of the Ruach Elohim, insomuch that my frame has no strength.
And now it came to pass that when I had spoken these words, they were angry with me and were desirous to throw me into the depths of the sea. And as they came forth to lay their hands upon me, I spoke unto them, saying, In the name of El Shaddai I command you that you touch me not, for I am filled with the power of Elohim, even unto the consuming of my flesh. And whoever shall lay their hands upon me shall wither even as a dried weed, and he shall be as nothing before the power of Elohim, for Elohim shall smite him. And it came to pass that I, Nefi, said unto them that they should murmur no more against their father, neither should they withhold their labor from me, for Elohim had commanded me that I should build a ship. And I said unto them, If Elohim had commanded me to do all things, I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, Be you earth — and it shall be earth. And if I should say it, it would be done. And now, if yhwh has such great power and has worked so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me that I should build a ship?138 And it came to pass that I, Nefi, said many things unto my brothers, insomuch that they were confounded and could not contend against me; neither dared they lay their hands upon me nor touch me with their fingers, even for the space of many days. Now they dared not do this for fear that they should wither before me, so powerful was the Ruach Elohim; and thus it had worked upon them.
And it came to pass that yhwh said unto me, Stretch forth your hand again unto your brothers and they shall not wither before you, but I will shake them, says yhwh, and this will I do that they may know that I am yhwh their Elohim. And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brothers, and they did not wither before me, but yhwh did shake them, even according to the word which he had spoken. And now they said, We know of a surety that yhwh is with you, for we know that it is the power of yhwh that has shaken us. And they fell down before me and were about to worship me, but I would not allow them, saying, I am your brother, yes, even your younger brother. Wherefore, worship yhwh your Elohim, and honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which yhwh your Elohim shall give you.139
And it came to pass that they did worship yhwh and did go forth with me, and we did work timbers of exact workmanship. And yhwh did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. Now I, Nefi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of man, but I did build it after the manner which yhwh had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.
And I, Nefi, did go into the mount often, and I did pray often unto yhwh; wherefore, yhwh showed unto me great things.
And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship according to the word of yhwh, my brothers beheld that it was good and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before yhwh.
And it came to pass that the voice of yhwh came unto my father that we should arise and go down into the ship. And it came to pass that the next day, after we had prepared all things, much fruits and meat from the wilderness, and honey in abundance, and provisions, according to that which yhwh had commanded us, we did go down into the ship with all our loading, and our seeds, and whatsoever things we had brought with us, every one according to his age. Wherefore, we did all go down into the ship with our wives and our children. And now my father had fathered two sons in the wilderness; the elder was called Ya’akov, and the younger, Yosef.
And it came to pass, after we had all gone down into the ship, and had taken with us our provisions and things which had been commanded us, we did put forth into the sea and were driven forth before the wind towards the promised land.
And after we had been driven forth before the wind for the space of many days, behold, my brothers, and the sons of Yishma’el, and also their wives, began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance and to sing and to speak with much rudeness, yes, even that they did forget by what power they had been brought to that point; yes, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness. And I, Nefi, began to fear exceedingly that yhwh should be angry with us and smite us because of our iniquity, that we should be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. Wherefore, I, Nefi, began to speak to them with much soberness, but behold, they were angry with me, saying, We will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us.
And it came to pass that Laman and L’mu’el did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness. Nevertheless, yhwh allowed140 it, that he might show forth his power unto the fulfilling of his word which he had spoken concerning the wicked. And it came to pass that after they had bound me, insomuch that I could not move, the compass141 which had been prepared of yhwh did cease to work. Wherefore, they knew not where they should steer the ship, insomuch that there arose a great storm — yes, a great and terrible tempest — and we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three days. And they began to be exceedingly frightened that they should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless, they did not loose me. And on the fourth day which we had been driven back, the tempest began to be exceedingly sore. 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 brothers began to see that the judgments of Elohim were upon them, and that they must perish except 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 my ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof. Nevertheless, I did look unto my Elohim, and I did praise him all the day long, and I did not murmur against yhwh because of my afflictions.
Now my father Lechi had said many things unto them, and also unto the sons of Yishma’el, but behold, they did breathe out much threatenings against anyone that should speak for me. And my parents, being stricken in years and having suffered much grief because of their children, they were brought down, yes, even upon their sickbeds. Because of their grief, and much sorrow, and the iniquity of my brothers, they were brought near even to be carried out of this time to meet their Elohim. Yes, their gray hairs were about to be brought down to lie low in the dust, yes, even they were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave. And Ya’akov and Yosef 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 brothers that they would loose me. And there was nothing, except it were the power of Elohim 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.
And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work142 where I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto yhwh; and after I had prayed, the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm. And it came to pass that I, Nefi, did guide the ship that we sailed again towards the promised land. And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days, we did arrive to the promised land. And we went forth upon the land and did pitch our tents, and we did call it the promised land.
And it came to pass that we did begin to till the earth, and we began to plant seeds; yes, we did put all our seeds into the earth which we had brought from the land of Yerushalayim. And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we were blessed in abundance. And it came to pass that we did find upon the land of promise, as we journeyed in the wilderness, that there were beasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow, and the ox, and the ass, and the horse, and the goat, and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were for the use of man. And we did find all manner of ore, both of gold, and of silver, and of copper.
And it came to pass that yhwh commanded me; wherefore, I did make plates of ore, that I might engrave upon them the record of my people. And upon the plates which I made, I did engrave the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and also many of my own prophecies have I engraved upon them. And I knew not at the time when I made them that I should be commanded of yhwh to make these plates. Wherefore, the record of my father, and the genealogy of his forefathers, and the more part of all our proceedings in the wilderness, are engraved upon those first plates of which I have spoken; wherefore, the things which transpired before I made these plates are of a truth more particularly made mention upon the first plates.
And after I made these plates by way of mitzvah, I, Nefi, received a mitzvah that the ministry and the prophecies — the more plain and precious parts of them — should be written upon these plates, and that the things which were written should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto yhwh. Wherefore, I, Nefi, did make a record upon the other plates, which gives an account — or which gives a greater account — of the wars, and contentions, and destructions of my people. And now this have I done, and commanded my people that they should do after I was gone, and that these plates should be handed down from one generation to another, or from one prophet to another, until further mitzvot of yhwh. And an account of my making these plates shall be given hereafter; and then behold, I proceed according to that which I have spoken. And this I do that the more sacred things may be kept for the knowledge of my people. Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates except it be that I think it be sacred. And now if I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me according to the flesh, I would excuse myself.
For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at no value143 and trample under their feet, yes, even the very Elohim of Isra’el do men trample under their feet. I say trample under their feet, but I would speak in other words: They set him at no value and hearken not to the voice of his counsels. And behold, he comes, according to the words of the angel, in six hundred144 years from the time my father left Yerushalayim. And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of no value. Wherefore, they scourge him and he allows it; and they smite him and he allows it; yes, they spit upon him and he allows it, because of his lovingkindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men. And the Elohim of our fathers who were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by him — yes, the Elohim of Avraham, and of Yitz’chak, and the Elohim of Ya’akov — yields himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up according to the words of Zenoch, and to be crucified according to the words of Ne’um, and to be buried in a sepulcher according to the words of Zenos, which he spoke concerning the three days145 of darkness which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea — more especially given unto those who are of the house of Isra’el.
For thus spoke the prophet: The Adonai yhwh surely shall visit all the house of Isra’el at that day, some with his voice because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power — by tempest, by fire, and by smoke and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up. And all these things must surely come, says the prophet Zenos. And the rocks of the earth must split. And because of the groanings of the earth, many of the kings of the isles of the sea shall be worked upon by the Ruach Elohim to exclaim, The Elohim of nature suffers!146 And as for those who are at Yerushalayim, says the prophet, they shall be afflicted by all people because they crucified the Elohim of Isra’el and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs, and wonders, and power, and glory of the Elohim of Isra’el. And because they turn their hearts aside, says the prophet, and have despised HaKodesh of Isra’el,147 they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations. Nevertheless, when that day comes, says the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against HaKodesh of Isra’el, then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers.148 Yes, then will he remember the isles of the sea, yes, and all the people who are of the house of Isra’el will I gather in, says yhwh, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth.149 Yes, and all the earth shall see the salvation of yhwh, says the prophet: every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall be blessed.
And I, Nefi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember yhwh their Redeemer. Wherefore, I speak unto all the house of Isra’el, if it so be that they should obtain these things. For behold, I have workings in the spirit which do weary me, even that all my joints are weak, for those who are at Yerushalayim. For had not yhwh been merciful to show unto me concerning them, even as he had prophets of old, I should have perished also. He surely did show unto prophets of old all things concerning them, and also he did show unto many concerning us. Wherefore, it must necessarily be that we know concerning them, for they are written upon the plates of brass.