The Book of Rachel
The Sister of Nephie

Rachel Chapter 1

For behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years had passed away from the time that Sariah left Jerusalem; wherefore, Nephie gave me, Rachel, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven. And she gave me, Rachel, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of this people which are called the people of Nephie.

For she said that the history of her people should be engraven upon her other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my offspring, from generation to generation. And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people.

For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things should happen unto them. And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of much prophecy; wherefore, we knew of Christ and her queendom, which should come.

Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of Goddess, that they might enter into her rest, lest by any means she should swear in her wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness. Wherefore, we would to Goddess that we could persuade all women not to rebel against Goddess, to provoke her to anger, but that all women would believe in Christ, and view her death, and suffer her cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Rachel, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my sister Nephie.

Now Nephie began to be old, and she saw that she must soon die; wherefore, she anointed a woman to be a queen and a ruler over her people now, according to the reigns of the kings. The people having loved Nephie exceedingly, she having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Labana in their defence, and having labored in all her days for their welfare—

Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance her name. And whoso should reign in her stead were called by the people, second Nephie, third Nephie, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by the people, let them be of whatever name they would. And it came to pass that Nephie died.

Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Rachelites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites. But I, Rachel, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of Nephie, and those who are friendly to Nephie I shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephie, according to the reigns of the kings.

And now it came to pass that the people of Nephie, under the reign of the second queen, began to grow hard in their hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such as like unto Davina of old desiring many husbands and lovers, and also Solomone, her daughter. Yea, and they also began to search much gold and silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.

Wherefore I, Rachel, gave unto them these words as I taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lady. For I, Rachel, and my sister Josephine had been consecrated priestesses and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephie. And we did magnify our office unto the Lady, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of Goddess with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.