Book of Mormon |
Annotations |
The words of his preaching unto his brethren. He
confoundeth a man who seeketh to overthrow the doctrine of Christ. A few
words concerning the history of the people of Nephi.
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Chapter 1
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1 For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years
had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephi gave
me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things
are engraven.
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2 And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write
upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious;
that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this
people which are called the people of Nephi.
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3 For he said that the history of his people should be
engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and
hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation.
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4 And if there were preaching which was sacred, or
revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads
of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible,
for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people.
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5 For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had
been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should happen
unto them.
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6 And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much
prophecy; wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which should come.
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7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that
we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of
God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear
in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of
temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness.
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8 Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all
men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would
believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the
shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the
commandment of my brother Nephi.
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9 Now Nephi 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.
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10 The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having
been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their
defence, and having labored in all his days for their welfare—
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11 Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in
remembrance his name. And whoso should reign in his stead were called by the
people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth, according to the reigns of
the kings; and thus they were called by the people, let them be of whatever
name they would.
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12 And it came to pass that Nephi died.
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13 Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites;
nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites,
Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.
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14 But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by
these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people
of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites, or the
people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings.
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15 And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi, 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.
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16 Yea, and they also began to search much gold and
silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.
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17 Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I
taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord.
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18 For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been
consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi.
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19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking
upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own
heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore,
by laboring with our might 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.
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