The Book of Mormon. Joseph F. Smith
of
Adam and Eve, who were our first parents;
1 Nephi 5:12
12 And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down
to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah;
1 Nephi 5:13
13 And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the
beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of
Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the
mouth of Jeremiah.
1 Nephi 5:14
14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the
plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew
that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was
the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved
by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father,
Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.
1 Nephi 5:15
15 And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land
of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.
1 Nephi 5:16
16 And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his
fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he
and his fathers had kept the records.
1 Nephi 5:17
17 And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled
with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed—
1 Nephi 5:18
18 That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations,
kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed.
1 Nephi 5:19
19 Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never
perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he
prophesied many things concerning his seed.
1 Nephi 5:20
20 And it came to pass that thus far I and my father had kept
the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded us.
1 Nephi 5:21
21 And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded
us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea,
even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the
commandments of the Lord unto our children.
1 Nephi 5:22
22 Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry
them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land
of promise.
1 Nephi 6 Chapter 6
1 Nephi 6:1
1 And now I, Nephi, do not give the genealogy of my fathers in
this part of my record; neither at any time shall I give it after
upon these plates which I am writing; for it is given in the
record which has been kept by my father; wherefore, I do not
write it in this work.
1 Nephi 6:2
2 For it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of Joseph.
1 Nephi 6:3
3 And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full
account of all the things of my father, for they cannot be
written upon these plates, for I desire the room that I may write
of the things of God.
1 Nephi 6:4
4 For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to
come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob, and be saved.
1 Nephi 6:5
5 Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do
not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto
those who are not of the world.
1 Nephi 6:6
6 Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they
shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth
unto the children of men.
1 Nephi 7 Chapter 7
1 Nephi 7:1
1 And now I would that ye might know, that after my father,
Lehi, had made an end of prophesying concerning his seed, it came
to pass that the Lord spake unto him again, saying that it was
not meet for him, Lehi, that he should take his family into the
wilderness alone; but that his sons should take daughters to
wife, that they might raise up seed unto the Lord in the land of
promise.
1 Nephi 7:2
2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that I, Nephi,
and my brethren, should again return unto the land of Jerusalem,
and bring down Ishmael and his family into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 7:3
3 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did again, with my
brethren, go forth into the wilderness to go up to Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 7:4
4 And it came to pass that we went up unto the house of Ishmael,
and we did gain favor in the sight of Ishmael, insomuch that we
did speak unto him the words of the Lord.
1 Nephi 7:5
5 And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of
Ishmael, and also his household, insomuch that they took their
journey with us down into the wilderness to the tent of our
father.
1 Nephi 7:6
6 And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness,
behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and
the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us;
yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and
his wife, and his three other daughters.
1 Nephi 7:7
7 And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they were desirous
to return unto the land of Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 7:8
8 And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their
hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Laman
and unto Lemuel: Behold ye are mine elder brethren, and how is it
that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds,
that ye have need that I, your younger brother, should speak unto
you,