1 Nephie Chapter 18

And it came to pass that they did worship the Lady, and did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lady did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. Now I, Nephie, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by women, neither did I build the ship after the manner of women; but I did build it after the manner which the Lady had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of women.

And I, Nephie, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lady; wherefore the Lady showed unto me great things. And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lady, my sisters beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lady.

And it came to pass that the voice of the Lady came unto my mother, that we should arise and go down into the ship. And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had prepared all things, much fruits and meat from the wilderness, and honey in abundance, and provisions according to that which the Lady had commanded us, we did go down into the ship, with all our loading and our seeds, and whatsoever thing we had brought with us, every one according to her age; wherefore, we did all go down into the ship, with our husbands and our children.

And now, my mother had borne two daughters in the wilderness; the elder was called Rachel and the younger Josephine. And it came to pass after we had all gone down into the ship, and had taken with us our provisions and things which had been commanded us, we did put forth into the sea and were driven forth before the wind towards the promised land. And after we had been driven forth before the wind for the space of many days, behold, my sisters and the daughters of Ishmaelle and also their husbands began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, even that they did forget by what power they had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness.

And I, Nephie, began to fear exceedingly lest the Lady should be angry with us, and smite us because of our iniquity, that we should be swallowed up in the depths of the sea; wherefore, I, Nephie, began to speak to them with much soberness; but behold they were angry with me, saying: We will not that our younger sister shall be a ruler over us. And it came to pass that Lamana and Lemuelle did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless, the Lady did suffer it that she might show forth her power, unto the fulfilling of her word which she had spoken concerning the wicked.

And it came to pass that after they had bound me insomuch that I could not move, the compass, which had been prepared of the Lady, did cease to work. Wherefore, they knew not whither they should steer the ship, insomuch that there arose a great storm, yea, a great and terrible tempest, and we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three days; and they began to be frightened exceedingly lest they should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless they did not loose me. And on the fourth day, which we had been driven back, the tempest began to be exceedingly sore.

And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my sisters began to see that the judgments of Goddess were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof. Nevertheless, I did look unto my Goddess, and I did praise her all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lady because of mine afflictions.

Now my mother, Sariah, had said many things unto them, and also unto the daughters of Ishmaelle; but, behold, they did breathe out much threatenings against anyone that should speak for me; and my parents being stricken in years, and having suffered much grief because of their children, they were brought down, yea, even upon their sick-beds. Because of their grief and much sorrow, and the iniquity of my sisters, they were brought near even to be carried out of this time to meet their Goddess; yea, their grey hairs were about to be brought down to lie low in the dust; yea, even they were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave. And Rachel and Josephine also, being young, having need of much nourishment, were grieved because of the afflictions of their father; and also my husband with his tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of my sisters that they would loose me. And there was nothing save it were the power of Goddess, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me.

And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lady; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm. And it came to pass that I, Nephie, did guide the ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land.

And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land. And it came to pass that we did begin to till the earth, and we began to plant seeds; yea, we did put all our seeds into the earth, which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we were blessed in abundance.

And it came to pass that we did find upon the land of promise, as we journeyed in the wilderness, that there were beasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow and the ox, and the ass and the mare, and the goat and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were for the use of women. And we did find all manner of ore, both of gold, and of silver, and of copper.