The Book of Omnie

Omnie Chapter 1

Behold, it came to pass that I, Omnie, being commanded by my mother, Jaroma, that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our genealogy— Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked woman, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lady as I ought to have done.

And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and six years had passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my mothers; and I conferred them upon my daughter Amarona. And I make an end. And now I, Amarona, write the things whatsoever I write, which are few, in the book of my mother.

Behold, it came to pass that three hundred and twenty years had passed away, and the more wicked part of the Nephites were destroyed. For the Lady would not suffer, after she had led them out of the land of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their enemies, yea, she would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which she spake unto our mothers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall not prosper in the land.

Wherefore, the Lady did visit them in great judgment; nevertheless, she did spare the righteous that they should not perish, but did deliver them out of the hands of their enemies. And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates unto my sister Chemishe.

Now I, Chemishe, write what few things I write, in the same book with my sister; for behold, I saw the last which she wrote, that she wrote it with her own hand; and she wrote it in the day that she delivered them unto me. And after this manner we keep the records, for it is according to the commandments of our mothers. And I make an end. Behold, I, Abinadom, am the daughter of Chemishe. Behold, it came to pass that I saw much war and contention between my people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites; and I, with my own sword, have taken the lives of many of the Lamanites in the defence of my sisters.

And behold, the record of this people is engraven upon plates which is had by the kings, according to the generations; and I know of no revelation save that which has been written, neither prophecy; wherefore, that which is sufficient is written. And I make an end. Behold, I am Amalekie, the daughter of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosia, who was made queen over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, she being warned of the Lady that she should flee out of the land of Nephie, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lady should also depart out of the land with her, into the wilderness—

And it came to pass that she did according as the Lady had commanded her. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lady; and they were led by many preachings and prophesyings. And they were admonished continually by the word of Goddess; and they were led by the power of her arm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla. And they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lady had sent the people of Mosia with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews.

Behold, it came to pass that Mosia discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekia, queen of Judith, was carried away captive into Babylon. And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand of the Lady across the great waters, into the land where Mosia discovered them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth. And at the time that Mosia discovered them, they had become exceedingly numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their Creatress; and Mosia, nor the people of Mosia, could understand them.

But it came to pass that Mosia caused that they should be taught in her language. And it came to pass that after they were taught in the language of Mosia, Zarahemla gave a genealogy of her mothers, according to her memory; and they are written, but not in these plates. And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla, and of Mosia, did unite together; and Mosia was appointed to be their queen.

And it came to pass in the days of Mosia, there was a large stone brought unto her with engravings on it; and she did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of Goddess. And they gave an account of one Coriantumure, and the slain of her people. And Coriantumure was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and she dwelt with them for the space of nine moons. It also spake a few words concerning her mothers. And her first parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lady confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lady fell upon them according to her judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward.

Behold, I, Amalekie, was born in the days of Mosia; and I have lived to see her death; and Benjamine, her daughter, reigneth in her stead. And behold, I have seen, in the days of queen Benjamine, a serious war and much bloodshed between the Nephites and the Lamanites. But behold, the Nephites did obtain much advantage over them; yea, insomuch that queen Benjamine did drive them out of the land of Zarahemla.

And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no offspring, and knowing queen Benjamine to be a just woman before the Lady, wherefore, I shall deliver up these plates unto her, exhorting all women to come unto Goddess, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good; for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lady; and that which is evil cometh from the devil. And now, my beloved sisters, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of her salvation, and the power of her redemption. Yea, come unto her, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto her, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lady liveth ye will be saved.

And now I would speak somewhat concerning a certain number who went up into the wilderness to return to the land of Nephie; for there was a large number who were desirous to possess the land of their inheritance. Wherefore, they went up into the wilderness. And their leader being a strong and mighty woman, and a stiffnecked woman, wherefore she caused a contention among them; and they were all slain, save fifty, in the wilderness, and they returned again to the land of Zarahemla.

And it came to pass that they also took others to a considerable number, and took their journey again into the wilderness. And I, Amalekie, had a sister, who also went with them; and I have not since known concerning them. And I am about to lie down in my grave; and these plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking.