ספר יעקב אח נפי

    YA’AKOV

    THE BOOK OF YA’AKOV

    THE BROTHER OF NEFI

    The words of his preaching unto his people. He confounds a man who seeks to overthrow the doctrine of Mashiach. A few words concerning the history of the people of Nefi.

    THE BOOK OF YA’AKOV Chapter 1

  1. For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years1 had passed away from the time that Lechi left Yerushalayim. Wherefore, Nefi gave me, Ya’akov, a commandment2 concerning these small plates upon which these things are engraved. And he gave me, Ya’akov, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious;3 that I should not touch, except it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nefi. For he said that the history of his people should be engraved upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation. And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engrave the chief points of them upon these plates and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Mashiach’s sake, and for the sake of our people. For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them. And we also had many revelations and the spirit of much prophecy. Wherefore, we knew4 of Mashiach and his kingdom which should come. Wherefore, we labored diligently among our people that we might persuade them to come5 unto Mashiach and partake of the goodness of Elohim, that they might enter into his rest,6 for fear that by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in,7 as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Isra’el were in the wilderness.8 Wherefore, we would to Elohim that we could persuade all men not to rebel against Elohim, to provoke him to anger,9 but that all men would believe in Mashiach,10 and view his death,11 and suffer his Tz’lav, and bear the shame of the world. Wherefore, I, Ya’akov, take it upon me to fulfill the commandment of my brother Nefi.
  2. Now Nefi began to be old, and he saw that he must soon die; wherefore, he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people. Now, according to the reigns of the kings, the people having loved Nefi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Lavan in their defense, and having labored in all his days for their welfare; wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name. And whoever should reign in his place were called by the people, Second Nefi, and Third Nefi, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by the people, let them be of whatsoever name they would.
  3. And it came to pass that Nefi died. Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nefites; nevertheless, they were called Nefites, Ya’akovites, Yosefites, Tzuramites, Lamanites, L’mu’elites, and Yishma’elites. But I, Ya’akov, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of Nefi; and those who are friendly to Nefi I shall call Nefites, or the people of Nefi, according to the reigns of the kings.
  4. And now it came to pass that the people of Nefi, under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their hearts and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto David of old, desiring many wives and concubines, and also Solomon, his son.12 Yes, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.13 Wherefore, I, Ya’akov, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the Temple, having firstly obtained my errand from yhwh. For I, Ya’akov, and my brother Yosef, had been consecrated kohanim and teachers of this people by the hand of Nefi.14 And we did magnify our office unto yhwh, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of Elohim with all diligence. Wherefore, by laboring with our might,15 their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise, their blood would come upon our garments and we would not be found spotless at the last day.