2 Nephi 5:1 1 Behold, it came to pa.s.s that I, Nephi, did cry much unto the Lord my G.o.d, because of the anger of my brethren.
2 Nephi 5:2 2 But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek to take away my life.
2 Nephi 5:3 3 Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: Our younger brother thinks to rule over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we will not have him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to rule over this people.
2 Nephi 5:4 4 Now I do not write upon these plates all the words which they murmured against me. But it sufficeth me to say, that they did seek to take away my life.
2 Nephi 5:5 5 And it came to pa.s.s that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me.
2 Nephi 5:6 6 Wherefore, it came to pa.s.s that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of G.o.d; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words.
2 Nephi 5:7 7 And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and did journey in the wilderness for the s.p.a.ce of many days. And after we had journeyed for the s.p.a.ce of many days we did pitch our tents.
2 Nephi 5:8 8 And my people would that we should call the name of the place Nephi; wherefore, we did call it Nephi.
2 Nephi 5:9 9 And all those who were with me did take upon them to call themselves the people of Nephi.
2 Nephi 5:10 10 And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things according to the law of Moses.
2 Nephi 5:11 11 And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind.
2 Nephi 5:12 12 And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which were engraven upon the plates of bra.s.s; and also the ball, or compa.s.s, which was prepared for my father by the hand of the Lord, according to that which is written.
2 Nephi 5:13 13 And it came to pa.s.s that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land.
2 Nephi 5:14 14 And I, Nephi, did take the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many swords, lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us; for I knew their hatred towards me and my children and those who were called my people.
2 Nephi 5:15 15 And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of bra.s.s, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.
2 Nephi 5:16 16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon"s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.
2 Nephi 5:17 17 And it came to pa.s.s that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands.
2 Nephi 5:18 18 And it came to pa.s.s that they would that I should be their king. But I, Nephi, was desirous that they should have no king; nevertheless, I did for them according to that which was in my power.
2 Nephi 5:19 19 And behold, the words of the Lord had been fulfilled unto my brethren, which he spake concerning them, that I should be their ruler and their teacher. Wherefore, I had been their ruler and their teacher, according to the commandments of the Lord, until the time they sought to take away my life.
2 Nephi 5:20 20 Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he spake unto me, saying that: Inasmuch as they will not hearken unto thy words they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And behold, they were cut off from his presence.
2 Nephi 5:21 21 And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord G.o.d did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.
2 Nephi 5:22 22 And thus saith the Lord G.o.d: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities.
2 Nephi 5:23 23 And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done.
2 Nephi 5:24 24 And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey.
2 Nephi 5:25 25 And the Lord G.o.d said unto me: They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction.
2 Nephi 5:26 26 And it came to pa.s.s that I, Nephi, did consecrate Jacob and Joseph, that they should be priests and teachers over the land of my people.
2 Nephi 5:27 27 And it came to pa.s.s that we lived after the manner of happiness.
2 Nephi 5:28 28 And thirty years had pa.s.sed away from the time we left Jerusalem.
2 Nephi 5:29 29 And I, Nephi, had kept the records upon my plates, which I had made, of my people thus far.
2 Nephi 5:30 30 And it came to pa.s.s that the Lord G.o.d said unto me: Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people.
2 Nephi 5:31 31 Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things.
2 Nephi 5:32 32 And I engraved that which is pleasing unto G.o.d. And if my people are pleased with the things of G.o.d they will be pleased with mine engravings which are upon these plates.
2 Nephi 5:33 33 And if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my people they must search mine other plates.
2 Nephi 5:34 34 And it sufficeth me to say that forty years had pa.s.sed away, and we had already had wars and contentions with our brethren.
2 Nephi 6 Chapter 6
2 Nephi 6:1 1 The words of Jacob, the brother of Nephi, which he spake unto the people of Nephi:
2 Nephi 6:2 2 Behold, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, having been called of G.o.d, and ordained after the manner of his holy order, and having been consecrated by my brother Nephi, unto whom ye look as a king or a protector, and on whom ye depend for safety, behold ye know that I have spoken unto you exceedingly many things.
2 Nephi 6:3 3 Nevertheless, I speak unto you again; for I am desirous for the welfare of your souls. Yea, mine anxiety is great for you; and ye yourselves know that it ever has been. For I have exhorted you with all diligence; and I have taught you the words of my father; and I have spoken unto you concerning all things which are written, from the creation of the world.
2 Nephi 6:4 4 And now, behold, I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and which are to come; wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah. And they are the words which my brother has desired that I should speak unto you. And I speak unto you for your sakes, that ye may learn and glorify the name of your G.o.d.
2 Nephi 6:5 5 And now, the words which I shall read are they which Isaiah spake concerning all the house of Israel; wherefore, they may be likened unto you, for ye are of the house of Israel. And there are many things which have been spoken by Isaiah which may be likened unto you, because ye are of the house of Israel.
2 Nephi 6:6 6 And now these are the words: Thus saith the Lord G.o.d: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
2 Nephi 6:7 7 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their faces towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
2 Nephi 6:8 8 And now I, Jacob, would speak somewhat concerning these words.
For behold, the Lord has shown me that those who were at Jerusalem, from whence we came, have been slain and carried away captive.
2 Nephi 6:9 9 Nevertheless, the Lord has shown unto me that they should return again. And he also has shown unto me that the Lord G.o.d, the Holy One of Israel, should manifest himself unto them in the flesh; and after he should manifest himself they should scourge him and crucify him, according to the words of the angel who spake it unto me.
2 Nephi 6:10 10 And after they have hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks against the Holy One of Israel, behold the judgments of the Holy One of Israel shall come upon them. And the day cometh that they shall be smitten and afflicted.
2 Nephi 6:11 11 Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh, and shall not be suffered to perish, because of the prayers of the faithful; they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated; nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance.
2 Nephi 6:12 12 And blessed are the Gentiles, they of whom the prophet has written; for behold, if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church, they shall be saved; for the Lord G.o.d will fulfil his covenants which he has made unto his children; and for this cause the prophet has written these things.
2 Nephi 6:13 13 Wherefore, they that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet; and the people of the Lord shall not be ashamed. For the people of the Lord are they who wait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah.
2 Nephi 6:14 14 And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him.
2 Nephi 6:15 15 And they that believe not in him shall be destroyed, both by fire, and by tempest, and by earthquakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by famine. And they shall know that the Lord is G.o.d, the Holy One of Israel.