The Collected Works of Joseph Smith Jr.. Joseph Smith Jr.
he had chosen, had all gone to the paradise of God, save it were
the three who should tarry; and there were other disciples
ordained in their stead; and also many of that generation had
passed away.
4 Nephi 1:15
15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land,
because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the
people.
4 Nephi 1:16
16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor
whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of
lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people
among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
4 Nephi 1:17
17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there
Lamanites, nor any manner of —ites; but they were in one, the
children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.
4 Nephi 1:18
18 And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in
all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until
an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first
generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no
contention in all the land.
4 Nephi 1:19
19 And it came to pass that Nephi, he that kept this last
record, (and he kept it upon the plates of Nephi) died, and his
son Amos kept it in his stead; and he kept it upon the plates of
Nephi also.
4 Nephi 1:20
20 And he kept it eighty and four years, and there was still
peace in the land, save it were a small part of the people who
had revolted from the church and taken upon them the name of
Lamanites; therefore there began to be Lamanites again in the
land.
4 Nephi 1:21
21 And it came to pass that Amos died also, (and it was an
hundred and ninety and four years from the coming of Christ) and
his son Amos kept the record in his stead; and he also kept it
upon the plates of Nephi; and it was also written in the book of
Nephi, which is this book.
4 Nephi 1:22
22 And it came to pass that two hundred years had passed away;
and the second generation had all passed away save it were a few.
4 Nephi 1:23
23 And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that the people
had multiplied, insomuch that they were spread upon all the face
of the land, and that they had become exceedingly rich, because
of their prosperity in Christ.
4 Nephi 1:24
24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be
among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing
of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine
things of the world.
4 Nephi 1:25
25 And from that time forth they did have their goods and their
substance no more common among them.
4 Nephi 1:26
26 And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to
build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny
the true church of Christ.
4 Nephi 1:27
27 And it came to pass that when two hundred and ten years had
passed away there were many churches in the land; yea, there were
many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they
did deny the more parts of his gospel, insomuch that they did
receive all manner of wickedness, and did administer that which
was sacred unto him to whom it had been forbidden because of
unworthiness.
4 Nephi 1:28
28 And this church did multiply exceedingly because of iniquity,
and because of the power of Satan who did get hold upon their
hearts.
4 Nephi 1:29
29 And again, there was another church which denied the Christ;
and they did persecute the true church of Christ, because of
their humility and their belief in Christ; and they did despise
them because of the many miracles which were wrought among them.
4 Nephi 1:30
30 Therefore they did exercise power and authority over the
disciples of Jesus who did tarry with them, and they did cast
them into prison; but by the power of the word of God, which was
in them, the prisons were rent in twain, and they went forth
doing mighty miracles among them.
4 Nephi 1:31
31 Nevertheless, and notwithstanding all these miracles, the
people did harden their hearts, and did seek to kill them, even
as the Jews at Jerusalem sought to kill Jesus, according to his
word.
4 Nephi 1:32
32 And they did cast them into furnaces of fire, and they came
forth receiving no harm.
4 Nephi 1:33
33 And they also cast them into dens of wild beasts, and they
did play with the wild beasts even as a child with a lamb; and
they did come forth from among them, receiving no harm.
4 Nephi 1:34
34 Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts, for they
were led by many priests and false prophets to build up many
churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. And they did smite
upon the people of Jesus; but the people of Jesus did not smite
again. And thus they did dwindle in unbelief and wickedness,
from year to year, even until two hundred and thirty years had
passed away.
4 Nephi 1:35
35 And now it came to pass in this year, yea, in the two hundred
and thirty and first year, there was a great division among the
people.
4 Nephi 1:36
36 And it came to pass that in this year there arose a people
who were called the Nephites, and they were true believers in
Christ; and among them there were those who were called by the