1 Nephi 2
1 For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even
in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things
which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto
this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take
away thy life.
2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream,
that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.
3 And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord,
wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.
4 And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his
house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his
precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and
provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.
5 And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he
traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and
he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother,
Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.
6 And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the
wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water.
7 And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering
unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.
8 And it came to pass that he called the name of the river, Laman, and it
emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders near the mouth
thereof.
9 And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the
fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest
be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all
righteousness!
10 And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this
valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of
the Lord!
11 Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel;
for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he
was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave
the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their
precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done
because of the foolish imaginations of his heart.
12 And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their
father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God
who had created them.
13 Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be
destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto
the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my
father.
14 And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in the valley of
Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake
before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him;
wherefore, they did as he commanded them.
15 And my father dwelt in a tent.
16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless
being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries
of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and
did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by
my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.
17 And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the
Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that he
believed in my words.
18 But, behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my words; and
being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried unto the Lord
for them.
19 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art
thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with
lowliness of heart.
20 And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and
shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for
you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.
21 And inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut
off from the presence of the Lord.
22 And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made
a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren.
23 For behold, in that day that they shall rebel against me, I will curse them
even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over thy seed except
they shall rebel against me also.
24 And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto thy
seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance.
