V1.04.08 The Wilderness Vision of Nephi - Reimagining the Book of Mormon

The Wilderness Vision of Nephi

composed ca. 570 bc¹⁰

And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost; which power he received by faith on the Son of God. And the Son of God was the messiah who should come. I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things by the power of the Holy Ghost which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old, as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. For he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.

And the way is prepared from the foundation of the world:
If it so be that they repent and come unto him.
For he that diligently seeketh shall find. And the mysteries of God
Shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well
In this time as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times
To come. Wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into judgment. Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever. And the Holy Ghost giveth authority that I should speak these things, and deny them not.

For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, a mountain which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.
And the spirit said unto me: Behold! What desirest thou?
And I said: I desire to behold the things which my father saw.
And the spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?
And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.
And when I had spoken these words, the spirit cried with a loud voice, saying:

Hosanna to the Lord, the most high god! For he is god over all
The earth, yea, even above all! And blessed art thou, Nephi, because
Thou believest in the son of the most high. Wherefore, thou shalt behold
The things which thou hast desired. And behold this thing shall be
Given unto thee for a sign: That after thou hast beheld the tree which bore
The fruit which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending
Out of heaven, and him shall ye witness. And after ye have witnessed him,
Ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God.

And it came to pass that the spirit said unto me: Look!
And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen. And the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty! And the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow. And it came to pass after I had seen the tree, I said unto the spirit: I behold thou hast shown unto me the tree which is precious above all.
And he said unto me: What desirest thou?
And I said unto him: To know the interpretation thereof.

For I spake unto him as a man speaketh. For I beheld that he was in the form of a man. Yet nevertheless, I knew that it was the spirit of the Lord. And he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another.

And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look!
And I looked as if to look upon him, and I saw him not! For he had gone from before my presence. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth. And in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white. And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open. And an angel came down and stood before me.¹¹
And he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?
And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.
And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?
And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children. Nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of God, after the manner of the flesh!

And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the spirit. And after she had been carried away in the spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God! Yea, even the eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad, in the hearts of the children of men. Wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

And he spake unto me, saying: Yea! And the most joyous to the soul. And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look!
And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men. And I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him. And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters; or to the Tree of Life. Which waters are a representation of the love of God. And I also beheld that the Tree of Life was a representation of the love of God. And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of God!

And I looked and beheld the redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken. And I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of Heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove. And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him. And I beheld that they cast him out from among them. And I also beheld twelve others following him.

And it came to pass that they were carried away in the spirit from before my face, and I saw them not. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look!
And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men; and they did minister unto them. And he spake unto me again, saying: Look!

And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits. And the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God, and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look!

And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people. Yea, the everlasting god was judged of the world! And I saw and bear record. And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world. And after he was slain, I saw the multitudes of the earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the Apostles of the Lamb: for thus were the twelve called by the angel of the Lord. And the multitude of the earth was gathered together. And I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the building which my father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying:

Behold the world and the wisdom thereof! Yea, behold the House of Israel
Hath gathered together to fight against the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world, and it fell! And the fall thereof was exceedingly great.¹²

And the angel of the lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve Apostles of the Lamb!

And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Look! And behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren.
And I looked and beheld the Land of Promise; and I beheld multitudes of people. Yea, even as it were in number as many as the sand of the sea. And it came to pass that I beheld multitudes gathered together to battle, one against the other. And I beheld wars, and rumors of wars, and great slaughters with the sword among my people. And it came to pass that I beheld many generations pass away, after the manner of wars and contentions in the land. And I beheld many cities, yea, even that I did not number them.

And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the Land of Promise. And I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises. And I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent! And I saw mountains tumbling into pieces.

And I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up, and I saw many cities, that they were sunk, and I saw many that they were burned with fire. And I saw many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof. And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth. And behold, I saw multitudes who had not fallen because of the great and terrible judgments of the Lord.

And I saw the heavens open! And the Lamb of God descending out of Heaven, and he came down and showed himself unto them! And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve others and they were ordained of God, and chosen.
And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed.
And he said unto me:

Thou rememberest the twelve Apostles of the Lamb?
Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
Wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them.
For ye are of the House of Israel. And these twelve ministers
Whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold,
They are righteous forever! For because of their faith in the Lamb of God
Their garments are made white in his blood.

And the angel said unto me: Look!
And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness! And their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God. And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him.
And I, Nephi, also saw many of the fourth generation who passed away in righteousness. And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the earth gathered together. And the angel said unto me: Behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren!

And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the people of my seed gathered together in multitudes against the seed of my brethren. And they were gathered together to battle. And the angel spake unto me, saying:

Behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw!
Yea, even the river of which he spake, and the depths thereof are the depths
of Hell. And the mists of darkness are the temptations
Of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts
Of the children of men, and leadeth them away
Into broad roads, that they perish and are lost.
And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain
Imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great
And a terrible gulf divideth them! Yea, even the sword
Of the justice of the eternal god and Jesus Christ, which is
The Lamb of God of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record,
From the beginning of the world until this time,
And from this time henceforth and forever.

And while the angel spake these words, I beheld and saw that the seed of my brethren did contend against my seed, according to the word of the angel. And because of the pride of my seed, and the temptations of the Devil, I beheld that the seed of my brethren did overpower the people of my seed! And it came to pass that I beheld, and saw the people of the seed of my brethren that they had overcome my seed. And they went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land. And I saw them gathered together in multitudes, and I saw wars and rumors of wars among them. And in wars and rumors of wars I saw many generations pass away. And the angel said unto me: Behold these shall dwindle in unbelief.

And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had dwindled in unbelief they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.
And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.
And the angel said unto me: What beholdest thou?
And I said: I behold many nations and kingdoms.
And he said unto me: These are the nations and kingdoms of the gentiles.
And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the gentiles the foundation of a great church. And the angel said unto me:

Behold the foundation of a church which is most abominable
Above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God,
Yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them
With a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.

And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church! And I saw the Devil that he was the founder of it. And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine-twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing. And I saw many harlots. And the angel spake unto me, saying:

Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and
The fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots,
Are the desires of this great and abominable church.
And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints
Of God, and bring them down into captivity.

And it came to pass that I looked and beheld many waters, and they divided the gentiles from the seed of my brethren. And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren!

And I looked and beheld a man among the gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters. And I beheld the spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren who were in the promised land. And it came to pass that I beheld the spirit of God, that it wrought upon other gentiles. And they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.¹³

And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the gentiles upon the land of promise and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren. And they were scattered before the gentiles and were smitten. And I beheld the spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the gentiles. And they did prosper and obtain the land of their inheritance. And I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain.

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord, and the power of the Lord was with them. And I beheld that their mother [them other] gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them. And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle. And I, Nephi, beheld that the gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they did prosper in the land. And I beheld a book, and it was carried forth among them. And the angel said unto me: Knowest thou the meaning of the book?

And I said unto him: I know not.
And he said: Behold! It proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew.
And I, Nephi, beheld it. And he said unto me:

The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains
The covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the House of Israel.
And it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets.
And it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon
The Plates of Brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless,
They contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto
The House of Israel. Wherefore, they are of great worth unto the gentiles.

And the angel of the Lord said unto me:

Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth
Of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew
It contained the plainness of the gospel of the Lamb, of whom
The twelve Apostles bear record. And they bear record according to
The truth which is in the Lamb of God. Wherefore, these things go forth
From the Jews in purity unto the gentiles, according to the truth which is
In God. And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve Apostles
Of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the foundation
Of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable
Above all other churches, for behold, they have taken away from
The gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious.
And also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.

And all this have they done that they might pervert the right
Ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden
The hearts of the children of men. Wherefore, thou seest that
After the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great
And abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things
Taken away from the book, which is the Book of the Lamb of God.

And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth
Forth unto all the nations of the gentiles; and after it goeth forth
Unto all the nations of the gentiles, yea, even across the many waters
Which thou hast seen with the gentiles which have gone forth
Out of captivity, thou seest — because of the many plain
And precious things which have been taken out of the book,
Which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men,
According to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God — Because
Of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb,
An exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan
Hath great power over them.

Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the gentiles who have gone
Forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up
By the power of God above all other nations,
Upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands,
Which is the land that the Lord God hath covenanted with thy father,
That his seed should have for the land of their inheritance, wherefore,
Thou seest that the Lord God will not suffer that the gentiles will
Utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren.

Neither will he suffer that the gentiles shall destroy the seed
Of thy brethren. Neither will the Lord God suffer that the gentiles shall
Forever remain in that state of awful woundedness which thou beholdest
They are in, because of the plain and most precious parts of the gospel
Of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church,
Whose formation thou hast seen. Wherefore saith the Lamb of God:
I will be merciful unto the gentiles unto the visiting
Of the remnant of the House of Israel in great judgment.¹⁴

And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spake unto me, saying:

Behold, saith the Lamb of God: after I have visited the remnant of
The House of Israel and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed
Of thy father — Wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment,
And smitten them by the hand of the gentiles, and after
The gentiles do stumble exceedingly because of the most plain and precious
Parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back
By that abominable church which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb

I will be merciful unto the gentiles in that day, saith the Lamb
Insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power,
Much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb.¹⁵

For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy seed,
That they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them,
Which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed,
And dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold,
These things shall be hid up! To come forth unto the gentiles by the gift
And power of the Lamb. And in them shall be written my gospel,
Saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation.
And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion
At that day: For they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost.
And if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day,
And shall be saved, in the everlasting Kingdom of the Lamb.
And whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful
Upon the mountains shall they be!

And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Book of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren. And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb are true.

And the angel spake unto me, saying:

These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish
The truth of the first, which are of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb,
And shall make known the plain and precious things which have been
Taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues,
And people, that the Lamb of God is the eternal Father, and
The savior of the world. And that all man must come unto him, or
They cannot be saved. And they must come according to the words
Which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words
Of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well
As in the records of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.

Wherefore they both shall be established in one! For there is one
God and one shepherd over all the earth. And the time cometh
That he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews
And also unto the gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto
The Jews and also unto the gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto
The gentiles and also unto the Jews, And the last shall be first,
And the first shall be last. And it shall come to pass,
That if the gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that
He shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power,
In very deed unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks,¹⁶
And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall
Be numbered among the seed of thy father!

Yea, they shall be numbered among the House of Israel,
And they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever!
They shall be no more brought down into captivity.
And the House of Israel shall no more be confounded.
And that great pit, which hath been digged
For them by that great and abominable church, which was founded
By the Devil and his children, that he might lead away the souls of men
Down to Hell — yea, that great pit which hath been digged for
The destruction of men, shall be filled by those who digged it,
Unto their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of God.
Not the destruction of the soul, save it be
The casting of it into that Hell which hath no end. For behold, this
Is according to the captivity of the Devil, and also according
To the justice of God, upon
All those who will work wickedness and abomination before him.

And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, Nephi, saying:

Thou hast beheld that if the gentiles repent it shall be well with them.
And thou also knowest concerning the covenants of the Lord unto
The House of Israel. And thou also hast heard that whoso repenteth
Not must perish. Therefore, wo be unto the gentiles if it so be
That they harden their hearts against the Lamb of God!

For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work
A great and a marvelous work among the children of men.
A work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand
Or on the other: either to the convincing of them unto peace
And life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness
Of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being
Brought down into captivity, and also into destruction,
Both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity
Of the Devil, of which I have spoken.

And it came to pass that when the angel had spoken these words, he said unto me: Rememberest thou the covenants of the Father unto the House of Israel?

I said unto him, Yea! And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look, and behold that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations, whose founder is the Devil.
And he said unto me:

Behold! There are save two churches only: The one is the Church
Of the Lamb of God. And the other is the Church of the Devil.
Wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the Church of the Lamb of God
Belongeth to that great church which is the mother of abominations.
And she is the whore of all the earth.

And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters. And she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. And it came to pass that I beheld the Church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters. Nevertheless, I beheld that the Church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth, and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.

And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the Church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth. And they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory. And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth. And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spake unto me, saying:

Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots, and behold,
Thou seest all these things; And when the day cometh that the wrath
Of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great
And abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the Devil,
Then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence!
In preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants,
Which he hath made to his people who are of the House of Israel.

And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe. And the angel said unto me:

Behold one of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb! Behold, he shall see
And write the remainder of these things. Yea, and also many things
Which have been. And he shall also write concerning the end
Of the world. Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just and true.
And behold they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding out
Of the mouth of the Jew, and at the time they proceeded out
Of the mouth of the Jew, or, at the time the book proceeded out
Of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were written were plain
And pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men.

And behold, the things which this apostle of the Lamb shall write
Are many things which thou hast seen, and behold, the remainder
Shalt thou see. But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou
Shalt not write! For the Lord God hath ordained the apostle
Of the Lamb of God that he should write them. And also others
Who have been: To them hath he shown all things, and they have written
Them, and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according
To the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord,
Unto the House of Israel.

And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel. And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard. Wherefore the things which I have heard, wherefore the things which I have written, sufficeth me. And I have written but a small part of the things which I saw. And I bear record that I saw the things which my father saw, and the angel of the Lord did make them known unto me. And now I make an end of speaking concerning the things which I saw while I was carried away in the spirit. And if all the things which I saw are not written, the things which I have written are true. And thus it is. Amen.

And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been carried away in the spirit, and seen all these things, I returned to the tent of my father. And it came to pass that I beheld my brethren, and they were disputing one with another concerning the things which my father had spoken unto them. For he truly spake many great things unto them, which were hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord. And they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto the Lord as they ought.

And now I, Nephi, was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, and also, because of the things which I had seen, and knew they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great wickedness of the children of men. And it came to pass that I was overcome because of my afflictions, for I considered that mine afflictions were great above all, because of the destruction of my people, for I had beheld their fall. And it came to pass that after I had received strength I spake unto my brethren, desiring to know of them the cause of their disputations. And they said:

Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken
Concerning the natural branches of the olive-tree, and also concerning
The gentiles.

And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?
And they said unto me: We have not. For the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.
Behold, I said unto them:

How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord?
How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?
Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?

If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith,
Believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in
Keeping my commandments, surely these things
Shall be made known unto you!

Behold, I say unto you, that the House of Israel was compared
Unto an olive-tree by the spirit of the Lord which was in our father.
And behold are we not broken off from the House of Israel,
And are we not a branch of the House of Israel?
And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in
Of the natural branches through the fullness of the gentiles, is,
That in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief,
Yea, for the space of many years, and many generations
After the messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men,
Then shall the fullness of the gospel of the messiah come unto the gentiles,
And from the gentiles unto the remnant of our seed.

And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of
The House of Israel, and that they are the covenant people
Of the Lord, and then shall they know and come to
The knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge
Of the gospel of their redeemer, which was ministered unto their fathers
By him. Wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their redeemer
And the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come
Unto him and be saved. And then at that day will they not rejoice
And give praise unto their everlasting god, their rock and their salvation?
Yea! At that day, will they not receive the strength
And nourishment from the true vine? Yea,
Will they not come unto the true fold of God?

Behold, I say unto you, Yea! They shall be remembered again
Among the House of Israel. They shall be grafted in,
Being a natural branch of the olive-tree, into the true olive-tree.
And this is what our father meaneth. And he meaneth that
It will not come to pass until after they are scattered by the gentiles.
And he meaneth that it shall come by way of the gentiles,
That the Lord may show his power unto the gentiles, for the very cause
That he shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the House of Israel.

Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all
The House of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled
In the latter days, which covenant the Lord made to our father
Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake much unto them concerning these things. Yea, I spake unto them concerning the restoration of the Jews in the latter days. And I did rehearse unto them the words of Isaiah, who spake concerning the restoration of the Jews, or of the House of Israel. And after they were restored they should no more be confounded, neither should they be scattered again. And it came to pass that I did speak many words unto my brethren, that they were pacified and did humble themselves before the Lord.

And it came to pass that they did speak unto me again, saying:

What meaneth this thing which our father saw in a dream?
What meaneth the tree which he saw?

And I said unto them: It was a representation of the Tree of Life.
And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?

And I said unto them that it was the word of God. And whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish. Neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction. Wherefore, I, Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto the word of the Lord. Yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things. And they said unto me: What meaneth the river of water which our father saw?

And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness. And so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water. And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the Tree of Life, and also from the saints of God. And I said unto them that it was a representation of that awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked.

And I said unto them that our father also saw that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous. And the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end. And they said unto me:

Doth this thing mean the torment of the body in the days of probation,
Or doth it mean the final state of the soul after the death
Of the temporal body? Or doth it speak of the things which are temporal?

And it came to pass that I said unto them that it was a representation of things both temporal and spiritual. For the day should come that they must be judged of their works, yea, even the works which were done by the temporal body in their days of probation. Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to righteousness. Wherefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be judged of their works. And if their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the Kingdom of God. If so, the Kingdom of God must be filthy also.

But behold, I say unto you, the Kingdom of God is not filthy!
And there cannot any unclean thing enter into the Kingdom of God.
Wherefore there must needs be a place of filthiness
Prepared for that which is filthy. And there is a place prepared, yea,
Even that awful Hell of which I have spoken, and the Devil
Is the father of it. Wherefore the final state of the souls of men
Is to dwell in the Kingdom of God; or to be cast out because of that justice
Of which I have spoken. Wherefore, the wicked are rejected
From the righteous, and also from that Tree of Life,
Whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits, yea,
And it is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

And thus I spake unto my brethren. Amen. And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of speaking to my brethren, behold they said unto me: Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than 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 taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth
Them to the very center. And now my brethren, if ye were
Righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed
Unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would
Not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest
Hard things against us.

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did exhort my brethren, with all diligence, to keep the commandments of the Lord. And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord, 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 Lemuel.

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