1 Nephie Chapter 5

And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness unto our mother, behold, she was filled with joy, and also my father, Lehi, was exceedingly glad, for he truly had mourned because of us. For he had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and he also had complained against my mother, telling her that she was a visionary woman; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my daughters are no more, and we perish in the wilderness. And after this manner of language had my father complained against my mother.

And it had come to pass that my mother spake unto his, saying: I know that I am a visionary woman; for if I had not seen the things of Goddess in a vision I should not have known the goodness of Goddess, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my sisters. But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lady will deliver my daughters out of the hands of Labana, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness. And after this manner of language did my mother, Sariah, comfort my father, Lehi, concerning us, while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.

And when we had returned to the tent of my mother, behold their joy was full, and my father was comforted. And he spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lady hath commanded my wife to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lady hath protected my daughters, and delivered them out of the hands of Labana, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lady hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did he speak.

And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lady; and they gave thanks unto the Goddess of Israel. And after they had given thanks unto the Goddess of Israel, my mother, Sariah, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and she did search them from the beginning. And she beheld that they did contain the five books of Zipporah, which gave an account of the creation of the world, and also of Eve and Adam, who were our first parents; And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekia, queen of Judith; And also the prophecies of the holy prophetesses, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekia; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremia.

And it came to pass that my mother, Sariah, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of her mothers; wherefore she knew that she was a descendant of Josephine; yea, even that Josephine who was the daughter of Rachel, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lady, that she might preserve her mother, Rachel, and all her household from perishing with famine. And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same Goddess who had preserved them. And thus my mother, Sariah, did discover the genealogy of her mothers. And Labana also was a descendant of Josephine, wherefore she and her mothers had kept the records.

And now when my mother saw all these things, she was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning her offspring— That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of her offspring.

Wherefore, she said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And she prophesied many things concerning her offspring. And it came to pass that thus far I and my mother had kept the commandments wherewith the Lady had commanded us. And we had obtained the records which the Lady had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lady unto our children.

Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lady that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.