Lehi Prophesies of the Promised Land

After I had taught my brethren, my father, Lehi, spoke many things to them. He reminded them of the many great things the Lord had done for them by bringing them out of Jerusalem, and how merciful God had been to them in sparing their lives upon the ocean during their rebellion. He also pointed out the great blessing of this promised land, which we had obtained, and how merciful the Lord had been in warning us to get out of Jerusalem. He said:

“I have seen a vision, in which I know that Jerusalem has been destroyed. If we had stayed there, we would not have survived. Even though we have been through many afflictions, we have been spared and have obtained this promised land.

“The Lord has covenanted with me that He will give this land to me and my descendants forever, and also to those whom He will lead here from other nations. I prophesy, because of the Spirit in me, that no people will come to this land unless the Lord brings them here. For this land is consecrated to those whom the Lord brings to it. If the people upon this land serve the Lord according to the commandments He gives them, they will always be a free people. On the other hand, if they are ever brought into bondage, it will be because they have broken the Lord’s commandments. For if the people in this land persist in their sinfulness, the land will be cursed for their sakes, but to the righteous, it will be blessed forever.

“The Lord is wise to keep this land hidden from other nations, for they would overrun it, leaving no place for an inheritance. The Lord made this promise to me: If those whom He brings out of Jerusalem will keep His commandments, they will be the only ones to possess this land. They will prosper, be protected from all other nations, and inherit this land forever. But when the time comes that they stop believing and reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God—after receiving such great blessings, after knowing about the creation of the world and of all people, after having power to do all things by faith, having all the commandments from the beginning, and having been brought by His infinite goodness to this precious land of promise—then His judgments will be upon them!

“Then the Lord will bring people from other nations and give them power to take away their lands, to scatter and kill them. Generation after generation will pass away with bloodshed and destruction among them. I hope that you, my sons, will remember and obey my words, so that these things may not happen. Oh, that you would wake up from your deep sleep—the sleep of hell—and shake off the awful chains that bind people and carry them down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe. Awake! Arise and hear the words of a trembling parent, whom you will soon lay down into a cold and silent grave, from where no traveler can return, for soon I will go the way of all the earth.

“But the Lord has redeemed my soul from hell. I have seen His glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of His love. And the desire of my soul has always been that you, my sons, will remember His laws.

“From time to time my heart has been heavy with sorrow because of your pride. I have feared that the anger of the Lord your God will come upon you and cut you off from His presence forever— that a curse will come upon you for many generations—that your descendants will be visited by the sword or famine—that they will be hated by many and be led as captives of the devil. Oh my sons, I hope these things do not come upon you. I hope you and your descendants will always be a choice, favored people of the Lord. But His will be done, for His ways are righteous forever. He has said, ‘If you keep my laws, you will prosper in the land. Otherwise, you will be cut off from my presence.’

“My soul longs to have joy in you—to leave this world with gladness because of you. Arise from the dust, my sons. Be men, determined to be of one mind and one heart, united in all things so that you and your descendants will not come down into captivity— that you may not be cursed by a displeased and just God—that your bodies and souls will not be eternally destroyed. Awake, my sons! Put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off those chains which bind you. Learn to know God as you arise and walk uprightly before Him. Stop rebelling against Nephi, for he has seen glorious things and has kept the commandments from the time we left Jerusalem. He has been an instrument in God’s hands to lead us to this promised land. If not for him, we would have all died of hunger in the wilderness. Yet you have tried to kill him, and he has suffered great sorrow because of you. I fear for him, that he will suffer again because of you, for you have accused him of seeking power and authority over you. I know he has not done this. He only seeks God’s glory and your eternal well-being. You have complained that his words are sharp, and that he has been angry with you, but his sharpness is the power of God’s word. What you call anger was the truth that he could not keep from speaking, which boldly told you of your sins. Only God’s power within Nephi could compel him to command you. He himself did not command you; the Lord’s Spirit did. “Now my sons, Laman, Lemuel, and Sam, and also my sons of Ishmael, if you will listen to and obey Nephi, you will not perish, for I will leave you my first blessing. But if you will not do this, I will take my first blessing from you and give it to Nephi.

“And now, Zoram, you were once Laban’s servant, but you were brought out of servitude in Jerusalem. I know you are a true friend of Nephi forever. Because you have been faithful, your descendants will be blessed along with Nephi’s, that they may live long in prosperity in this land. And nothing but sinfulness among them will disrupt their prosperity in this land forever. If you keep the Lord’s commandments, you will be blessed, for He has consecrated this land for the security of your descendants, as well as Nephi’s.”