The Second Book of Nephi

2 Nephi 1

After I spoke to my older brothers about Isaiah’s prophecies, I warned them to be obedient to God’s will. Our father Lehi told them how fortunate we were to have been guided by God out of Jerusalem, and into this promised land. Lehi reminded them of their rebellions during the ocean crossing and the great mercy of God, who had spared their lives.

“I’ve had another vision,” Lehi told us, “in which I’ve seen that Jerusalem has been destroyed. Had we remained there we would certainly have died. In spite of the troubles of our long journey, we have been given this land of promise to populate with our progeny, and to share with those who will also be led here by the hand of God. If the people of this land remain faithful to the commandments of God, it will be a place of liberty to those people, and protected from conquest. To protect the land from being overrun, God has promised me that it will be hidden safely forever from other nations as long as his will is being kept.”

“But,” continued Lehi, “when the time comes that our people’s faith in God fails, and they reject the Messiah Jesus Christ, after having been given so much, the judgments of God will fall heavily upon them. After that time, other nations will also be guided to this promised land and God will give them power to take the promised lands for themselves. Those who have failed God will be killed and scattered. As generations pass, there will be bloodshed, and great visitations, so it is important that you listen to and remember my words.

“Awaken, my sons, from the deep sleep of hell, and cast away the chains of misery. Awaken and pay heed to an aging parent who will soon die. God has redeemed my soul and I pray that you also will remember the commandments of God. My worry and fear is that God’s anger will fall upon you and your future descendants, that you will be forever destroyed by famine and war, and be led into captivity by the devil. How I wish that these things would not happen, and that you would remain in God’s grace. The choice is yours, to keep God’s commandments and prosper, or fail God and be cut off from me. Please don’t let me die in grief and sorrow.

“Your brother Nephi has kept his commandments since we left Jerusalem, and has been an instrument of God’s will in bringing us to this promised land. Stop rebelling against him. Were it not for him, we would have perished from starvation in the wilderness. Yet you sought to kill him and brought him suffering and sorrow. I am fearful that he will suffer at your hands again because you accuse him of seeking power and authority over you. I know that his only wish is to serve the glory of God and assist you, his brothers, in your own welfare. He has only been direct with you to help you see and understand the perils that you face. Because the power of God is with him, you must obey his commands as you would the word of God.”

Lehi then spoke to all of his sons, as well as the sons of Ishmael, saying, “If you listen to Nephi, the generations that follow will not perish. If you will follow him, I will leave you with my first blessing. To those who do not follow Nephi, I remove this blessing.”

Turning to Zoram, Laban’s former servant whom Nephi had brought with them from Jerusalem, Lehi said, “Zoram, you are a true friend of my son Nephi. Because of your faithfulness to him, you and your progeny will be blessed with prosperity as long as you and they follow the path of Nephi and God’s will.”