1 Nephie Chapter 2

For behold, it came to pass that the Lady spake unto my mother, yea, even in a dream, and said unto her: Blessed art thou Sariah, 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. And it came to pass that the Lady commanded my mother, even in a dream, that she should take her family and depart into the wilderness.

And it came to pass that she was obedient unto the word of the Lady, wherefore she did as the Lady commanded her. And it came to pass that she departed into the wilderness. And she left her house, and the land of her inheritance, and her gold, and her silver, and her precious things, and took nothing with her, save it were her family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness. And she came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and she traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and she did travel in the wilderness with her family, which consisted of my father, Lehi, and my elder sisters, who were Lamana, Lemuelle, and Samantha.

And it came to pass that when she had traveled three days in the wilderness, she pitched her tent in a valley by the side of a river of water. And it came to pass that she built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lady, and gave thanks unto the Lady our Goddess.

And it came to pass that she called the name of the river, Lamana, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders near the mouth thereof. And when my mother saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, she spake unto Lamana, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness! And she also spake unto Lemuelle: O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lady!

Now this she spake because of the stiffneckedness of Lamana and Lemuelle; for behold they did murmur in many things against their mother, because she was a visionary woman, 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 she had done because of the foolish imaginations of her heart. And thus Lamana and Lemuelle, being the eldest, did murmur against their mother. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that Goddess who had created them. Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophetesses. And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my mother.

And it came to pass that my mother did speak unto them in the valley of Lemuelle, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before her. And she did confound them, that they durst not utter against her; wherefore, they did as she commanded them. And my mother dwelt in a tent.

And it came to pass that I, Nephie, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of Goddess, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lady; and behold she did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my mother; wherefore, I did not rebel against her like unto my sisters. And I spake unto Samantha, making known unto her the things which the Lady had manifested unto me by her Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that she believed in my words.

But, behold, Lamana and Lemuelle would not hearken unto my words; and being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried unto the Lady for them. And it came to pass that the Lady spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephie, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart. 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. And inasmuch as thy sisters shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lady. And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy sisters.

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 offspring except they shall rebel against me also. And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto thy offspring, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance.