Nephi Writes of His Father, Lehi

I Nephi, was born to good parents who saw that I was educated in the way my father had been. I have experienced many afflictions in my days. But I have always been highly favored by the Lord, and I have received a great knowledge of His goodness and mysteries. Because of these things, I now make this record of my life.

I am writing as my father does—using the Egyptian language (hieroglyphics), but writing according to our Jewish learning. I know this record is true, which I engrave upon metal plates I have made.

My record begins with my father, Lehi, who was born and raised in Jerusalem. He lived there with his own family in the year 600 BC. Not long after our new king, Zedekiah, came to power, many prophets came into our city. They told the people that if they did not repent, they would be destroyed.

When my father heard this, he became very concerned for his people. He went out and prayed with all his heart to the Lord, asking what he could do to help save them. While he was praying, a pillar of fire came upon a rock before him. He saw and heard many things that made him shake in astonishment !

After this vision, my father was so overcome by the Spirit that he returned home and collapsed on his bed. As his vision continued he saw the heavens open. He saw what appeared to be God sitting upon His throne, surrounded by countless angels who were singing and praising Him.

My father saw a man come down from heaven whose whole body shone brighter than the sun. He saw twelve others follow, and they shone brighter than the stars.

They came down to the earth, and the first man (who was Jesus) gave my father a book and told him to read from it.

As Lehi read, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord. He read, “Jerusalem is cursed, for I have seen its wickedness! Unless its people repent, many of them will either be killed by the Babylonians or become their slaves.”

My father read about, and saw in vision, many great and marvelous things, after which he exclaimed, “Oh Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and Thy power, goodness, and mercy are over all the earth. Because of Thy mercy, Thou will spare all who come to Thee!” My father’s heart was full of joy because of the Lord’s tender mercy in showing him all these things.

I, Nephi, am writing only a small part of my father’s visions, dreams and prophecies that he has written in his record and has told to his children. I will make a record of my life, but first I will write part of my father’s history on metal plates that I have made.

My father wrote: “After my vision of the destruction of Jerusalem, I went out and told the people of my city what I had seen and heard. After hearing of my marvelous vision concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, the people made fun of me, for it told them of their wickedness. It also told them of a Messiah who would come down to redeem the world. When they heard all this, they became angry and said they would kill me—just as their fathers had killed the prophets of old.”

Now, I, Nephi, will show you that the Lord’s tender mercy protects those whom He has chosen (because of their faith)—and whose faith gives them the power to be delivered.