2 Nephie Chapter 4

And now, I, Nephie, speak concerning the prophecies of which my mother hath spoken, concerning Josephine, who was carried into Egypt. For behold, she truly prophesied concerning all her offspring. And the prophecies which she wrote, there are not many greater. And she prophesied concerning us, and our future generations; and they are written upon the plates of brass.

Wherefore, after my mother had made an end of speaking concerning the prophecies of Josephine, she called the children of Lamana, her daughters, and her sons, and said unto them: Behold, my daughters, and my sons, who are the daughters and the sons of my first-born, I would that ye should give ear unto my words. For the Lady Goddess hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.

But behold, my daughters and my sons, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it. Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your parents.

Wherefore, because of my blessing the Lady Goddess will not suffer that ye shall perish; wherefore, she will be merciful unto you and unto your offspring forever. And it came to pass that after my mother had made an end of speaking to the daughters and sons of Lamana, she caused the daughters and sons of Lemuelle to be brought before her. And she spake unto them, saying: Behold, my daughters and my sons, who are the daughters and the sons of my second daughter; behold I leave unto you the same blessing which I left unto the daughters and sons of Lamana; wherefore, thou shalt not utterly be destroyed; but in the end thy offspring shall be blessed.

And it came to pass that when my mother had made an end of speaking unto them, behold, she spake unto the daughters of Ishmaelle, yea, and even all her household. And after she had made an end of speaking unto them, she spake unto Samantha, saying: Blessed art thou, and thy offspring; for thou shalt inherit the land like unto thy sister Nephie. And thy offspring shall be numbered with her offspring; and thou shalt be even like unto thy sister, and thy offspring like unto her offspring; and thou shalt be blessed in all thy days.

And it came to pass after my mother, Sariah, had spoken unto all her household, according to the feelings of her heart and the Spirit of the Lady which was in her, she waxed old. And it came to pass that she died, and was buried. And it came to pass that not many days after her death, Lamana and Lemuelle and the daughters of Ishmaelle were angry with me because of the admonitions of the Lady.

For I, Nephie, was constrained to speak unto them, according to her word; for I had spoken many things unto them, and also my mother, before her death; many of which sayings are written upon mine other plates; for a more history part are written upon mine other plates. And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.

Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lady; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lady, in showing me her great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched woman that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.

And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. My Goddess hath been my support; she hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and she hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. She hath filled me with her love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. She hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.

Behold, she hath heard my cry by day, and she hath given me knowledge by visions in the nighttime. And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before her; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me. And upon the wings of her Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for woman; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them. O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lady in her condescension unto the children of women hath visited women in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions? And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy? Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lady, and say: O Lady, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my Goddess, and the rock of my salvation. O Lady, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lady, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road! O Lady, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lady, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy. O Lady, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is she that putteth her trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is she that putteth her trust in woman or maketh flesh her arm. Yea, I know that Goddess will give liberally to her that asketh. Yea, my Goddess will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my Goddess, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting Goddess. Amen.