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The First Book of Nephie
Her Reign and Ministry

1 Nephie Chapter 1

An account of Sariah and her husband Lehi, and her four daughters, being called, (beginning at the eldest) Lamana, Lemuelle, Samantha, and Nephie. The Lady warns Sariah to depart out of the land of Jerusalem, because she prophesieth unto the people concerning their iniquity and they seek to destroy her life. She taketh three days' journey into the wilderness with her family. Nephie taketh her sisters and returneth to the land of Jerusalem after the record of the Jews. The account of their sufferings. They take the sons of Ishmaelle to husband. They take their families and depart into the wilderness. Their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness. The course of their travels. They come to the large waters. Nephie's sisters rebel against her. She confoundeth them, and buildeth a ship. They call the name of the place Bountiful. They cross the large waters into the promised land, and so forth. This is according to the account of Nephie; or in other words, I, Nephie, wrote this record.

I, Nephie, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my mother; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lady in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of Goddess, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days. Yea, I make a record in the language of my mother, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians. And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.

For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekia, queen of Judith, (my mother, Sariah, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all her days); and in that same year there came many prophetesses, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed. Wherefore it came to pass that my mother, Sariah, as she went forth prayed unto the Lady, yea, even with all her heart, in behalf of her people.

And it came to pass as she prayed unto the Lady, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before her; and she saw and heard much; and because of the things which she saw and heard she did quake and tremble exceedingly. And it came to pass that she returned to her own house at Jerusalem; and she cast herself upon her bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which she had seen. And being thus overcome with the Spirit, she was carried away in a vision, even that she saw the heavens open, and she thought she saw Goddess sitting upon her throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their Goddess.

And it came to pass that she saw One descending out of the midst of heaven, and she beheld that her luster was above that of the sun at noon-day. And she also saw twelve others following her, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament. And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my mother, and gave unto her a book, and bade her that she should read.

And it came to pass that as she read, she was filled with the Spirit of the Lady. And she read, saying: Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thine abominations! Yea, and many things did my mother read concerning Jerusalem—that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon.

And it came to pass that when my mother had read and seen many great and marvelous things, she did exclaim many things unto the Lady; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lady Goddess Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish! And after this manner was the language of my mother in the praising of her Goddess; for her soul did rejoice, and her whole heart was filled, because of the things which she had seen, yea, which the Lady had shown unto her.

And now I, Nephie, do not make a full account of the things which my mother hath written, for she hath written many things which she saw in visions and in dreams; and she also hath written many things which she prophesied and spake unto her children, of which I shall not make a full account. But I shall make an account of my proceedings in my days. Behold, I make an abridgment of the record of my mother, upon plates which I have made with mine own hands; wherefore, after I have abridged the record of my mother then will I make an account of mine own life.

Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lady had shown so many marvelous things unto my mother, Sariah, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold she went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which she had both seen and heard. And it came to pass that the Jews did mock her because of the things which she testified of them; for she truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and she testified that the things which she saw and heard, and also the things which she read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.

And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with her; yea, even as with the prophetesses of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought her life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephie, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lady are over all those whom she hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

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