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Show FIRST BOOK OF FIRST NEPHL ded us, and searehed them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children. Wherefore it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journied in the wilderness towards the land of promise. ———_— CHAPTER Anp now I, Nephi, do not give the genealogy of my fathers in this part of my record; neither at any time shallI give it after upon these plates which | am writing; for it is given in the record which has been kept by my father; whereforeI do not writeit in this work. For it sufficeth me to say, that we And it mattereth not to me that are a descendant of Joseph. Iam particular to give a full account of all the things of my father, for they cannot be written upon these plates, tor I deFor the sire the room, that | may write of the things of God. fullness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved. Wherefore the things which are pleasing unto the world, I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto them which are not of the world. Wherefore I shall give commandment unto my seed, % e a ae et Beh . IL -—= V / _ that they shall not occupy these platema'y things which are not of worth unto the children of men. + nd now I would had made an end e that ye might know, that after my father Lehi oe es ooh A i of prophesying concerning his seed, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto him again, saying, that it was not mete for him, Lehi, that he should take his family into the wilderness alone; but thatshis sons should take daughters to wife, that - they might raise ip seed unto the Lord in the land of promise. _ And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that ], Nephi, and my brethren, should again return unto the land of Jerusalem, and bring down Ishmael and his family into the wilderness. And it came to passthat [, Nephi, did again, with my brethAnd ren, go forth into the wilderness to go up to Jerusalem. it came to pass that we went up unio the house of Ishmael, 1. © © and we did in favor in; the sight of Ishmael, insomuch thet» We gid spei i the words sof of the the Lord. we did speak unto him BOOK OF NEPHI. 17 And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael, and also his household, insomuch that they.took their journey with us down into the wilderness to thetent of our father. And it came to pass that as we journiedin the wilderness, behold, Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of [shmacl, and the two sons of [gshmael, and their families, did against us; yea, against (Nephi, and Sam, and their Oe pebel omen father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters. And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they were desirous to return unto the land of Jerusalem. And now I, Nephi, bemg grieved for the hardness of their hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying; yea, even unto Laman and unto Lemuel, behold, thouwart mine elder brethren; and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that ye have need that I, your younger brother, sfould speak unto you, yea, and setan example for you? How is itthat ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord? How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord? Yea, and how isitthat ye have forgotten how great things the Lord hath done ior us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and alse igi ‘ that we should obtain the record? Yea, and how is it that y@u =" have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things#according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him; wherefore, let us be faithfulin himeesAnd if itso ™ be that we are faithful in him, we shall obtain the land of proms ise; 9 and ye shall know at some future period, that the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled, concerning the destruction of Jeru-_. - > i es er . . , : , . bat salem; for all things which the Lord hath spoken concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, must be fulfilled. For, behold, the spirit of the Lord ceaseth soon to strive with them; for, behold, they have rejected the prophets, and_Jeremiah-have.they : And they have sought to take away the life of «fast tininto prison.» my father, imsofnuch that they have driven him out of the land, Now, behold,I say unto you, that if ye will return unto Jerusalem, ye shall also perish with them. And now, if ye have: choice, go up to the land, and remember the words which § speak unto you, that if ye go, ye will also perish; for thus the spirit of the Lord constraineth me that I should speak. | And words it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken unto my brethren, they were angry with me. these And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me; for, behold, exceeding 1 vroth; and they did bind me with garde, a were eS a they one” e ~~ UES * « - aH |
