The Collected Works of Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith Jr.
also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious
field, as if it had been a world.
1 Nephi 8:21
21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were
pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto
the tree by which I stood.
1 Nephi 8:22
22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in
the path which led to the tree.
1 Nephi 8:23
23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea,
even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they
who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they
wandered off and were lost.
1 Nephi 8:24
24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward,
and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of
iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness,
clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and
partake of the fruit of the tree.
1 Nephi 8:25
25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did
cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
1 Nephi 8:26
26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other
side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it
stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.
1 Nephi 8:27
27 And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male
and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and
they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers
towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
1 Nephi 8:28
28 And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed,
because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away
into forbidden paths and were lost.
1 Nephi 8:29
29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.
1 Nephi 8:30
30 But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes
pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the
rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually
holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell
down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
1 Nephi 8:31
31 And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards
that great and spacious building.
1 Nephi 8:32
32 And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of
the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in
strange roads.
1 Nephi 8:33
33 And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange
building. And after they did enter into that building they did
point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of
the fruit also; but we heeded them not.
1 Nephi 8:34
34 These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them,
had fallen away.
1 Nephi 8:35
35 And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my
father.
1 Nephi 8:36
36 And it came to pass after my father had spoken all the words
of his dream or vision, which were many, he said unto us, because
of these things which he saw in a vision, he exceedingly feared
for Laman and Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be cast off
from the presence of the Lord.
1 Nephi 8:37
37 And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender
parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the
Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my
father did preach unto them.
1 Nephi 8:38
38 And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto
them of many things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the
Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them.
1 Nephi 9 Chapter 9
1 Nephi 9:1
1 And all these things did my father see, and hear, and speak,
as he dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel, and also a great
many more things, which cannot be written upon these plates.
1 Nephi 9:2
2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they
are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the
history of my people; for the plates upon which I make a full
account of my people I have given the name of Nephi; wherefore,
they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and
these plates also are called the plates of Nephi.
1 Nephi 9:3
3 Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I
should make these plates, for the special purpose that there
should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people.
1 Nephi 9:4
4 Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the
reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people;
wherefore these plates are for the more part of the ministry; and
the other plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings
and the wars and contentions of my people.
1 Nephi 9:5
5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for
a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.
1 Nephi 9:6
6 But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore,
he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children
of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all
his words. And thus it is. Amen.
1 Nephi 10 Chapter 10
1 Nephi 10:1
1 And now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon these plates
of my proceedings, and my reign and ministry; wherefore, to
proceed