The Fourth Book of Nephi

4 Nephi 1

Many years passed with great peace. All the people were baptized to the Lord, both Nephites and Lamanites. There was no trouble and arguments among them. Every person shared all things. There were no rich or poor, slave or free. They were all made free.

The disciples did many wonderful miracles in the name of Jesus Christ. They healed the sick, raised the dead and healed the crippled. The blind could see and the deaf could hear.

The people rebuilt the burned cities—even the great city Zarahemla. They fasted, prayed and met together often to pray and hear the Lord’s word. There was no trouble.

Years went by in peace and joy until many of the people who had seen Jesus died. When the disciples chosen by Jesus had all died, except the three who should stay on the earth, other disciples were chosen in their places.

God’s love lived in the people’s hearts. There was no envy, strife, or lying. Surely there was not a happier people among all the people God created. The people were no longer called Nephites or Lamanites, nor any kind of -ites. They were all the children of Christ.

One hundred ten years had passed and the first generation from Christ had passed away. Nephi wrote his last record and he died. His son Amos wrote history in his place. Amos died and his son Amos kept the record.

Two hundred years passed and the second generation had all lived and died. The people spread across the land and were rich.

Some people began to be lifted in pride. They wore fancy clothes, fine pearls and costly things. From that time forward, they did not share their things with each other.

They began to be divided into groups and build up different churches to get rich. They began to deny the true church of Christ.

By two hundred ten years, there were many churches in the land. All said they knew Christ the best, but they denied many parts of His gospel. The leaders of one of these churches put the disciples of Jesus into prison. But by the power of God’s word, the prison was broke in pieces. The disciples came out and did many mighty miracles.

Still, the people closed their hearts. They were led by greedy priests and false prophets to do all kinds of sins. They beat up the people of Jesus; but the people of Jesus did not fight back.

In the two hundred thirty-first year, there was a great split among the people. The true believers in Christ were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites and Zoramites. Those who were against the gospel were called Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites. They fought against the gospel of Christ.

They taught their children to not believe in Jesus and hate the children of God. The Lamanites were taught to hate the Nephites from the beginning.

By the two hundred forty-fourth year, there were more wicked people than good. The Lamanites built fancy churches and covered them with gold and silver and fancy jewels. They had secret gangs like the Gadianton robbers.

The Nephites also began to be proud, because of their great riches. The disciples were sad because of people’s sins.

When three hundred years had passed, both the Nephites and the Lamanites were wicked. The robber gangs of Gadianton spread across the land. They put their hearts on gold, silver and saving their treasures. Only the disciples of Jesus were good.

Amos died and his brother, Ammaron, wrote in his place. When three hundred twenty years had passed, the Holy Ghost told Ammaron to hide the sacred records. He hid them so they would later be brought to this people by the Lord.