Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
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4 And now I, Nephi, speak concerning the prophecies of which my father hath spoken concerning Joseph, who was carried into Egypt. 2 For behold, he truly prophesied concerning all his seed. And the prophecies which he wrote, there are not many greater. And he prophesied concerning us and our future generations, and they are written upon the plates of brass.
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4 Now I’ll write about the prophecies my father has spoken of concerning Joseph, who was taken into Egypt. 2 Joseph prophesied truthfully about all his descendants, and there aren’t many greater prophecies than those he wrote. He prophesied about us, and future generations descended from us, and they’re written on the brass plates.
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3 Wherefore, after my father had made an end of speaking concerning the prophecies of Joseph, he called the children of Laman, his sons and his daughters, and said unto them, Behold, my sons and my daughters who are the sons and the daughters of my first born, I would that ye should give ear unto my words. 4 For the Lord God hath said that inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land, and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments, ye shall be cut off from my presence. 5 But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you. For behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go, ye will not depart from it. 6 Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you that the cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your parents. 7 Wherefore, because of my blessing, the Lord God will not suffer that ye shall perish. Wherefore, he will be merciful unto you and unto your seed for ever.
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3 After my father finished speaking about Joseph’s prophecies, he called Laman’s children, his sons and daughters, and said to them: My sons and daughters, who are the children of my first born, I want you to listen to me carefully. 4 The Lord God has said: To the degree you keep My commandments, you’ll prosper in the land. But to the degree you don’t keep My commandments, you’ll be cut off from My presence. 5 However, my sons and daughters, I can’t go down to my grave without leaving a blessing upon you. I know that if you’re brought up in the way you should live, you won’t stray from it. 6 Therefore if you’re cursed, I leave my blessing upon you so that the cursing will be taken from you and your parents will be responsible for it. 7 And because of my blessing, the Lord God won’t allow you to perish: He’ll be merciful to you and your descendants forever.
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8 And it came to pass that after my father had made an end of speaking to the sons and daughters of Laman, he caused the sons and daughters of Lemuel to be brought before him. 9 And he spake unto them, saying, Behold, my sons and my daughters who are the sons and the daughters of my second son, behold, I leave unto you the same blessing which I left unto the sons and daughters of Laman. Wherefore, thou shall not utterly be destroyed, but in the end, thy seed shall be blessed.
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8 After my father had finished speaking to Laman’s children, he had Lemuel’s children brought to him, 9 telling them: My sons and daughters, who are the children of my second son, I’m giving you the same blessing I gave Laman’s children; therefore your posterity won’t be completely destroyed, and in the end, your descendants will be blessed.
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10 And it came to pass that when my father had made an end of speaking unto them, behold, he spake unto the sons of Ishmael, yea, and even all his household. 11 And after he had made an end of speaking unto them, he spake unto Sam, saying, Blessed art thou and thy seed, for thou shalt inherit the land like unto thy brother Nephi. And thy seed shall be numbered with his seed; and thou shalt be even like unto thy brother, and thy seed like unto his seed; and thou shalt be blessed in all thy days.
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10 When my father had finished talking to them, he spoke to Ishmael’s sons and his whole household. 11 After he had finished speaking to them, he said to Sam: You and your descendants are blessed, because you’ll inherit the land like your brother Nephi, and your posterity will be included with his. You’ll be blessed like your brother, and your descendants like his descendants. You’ll be blessed your whole life.
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12 And it came to pass that after my father Lehi had spoken unto all his household, according to the feelings of his heart and the spirit of the Lord which was in him, he waxed old. And it came to pass that he died and was buried.
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12 After my father had spoken to his whole household according to the feelings of his heart and the Spirit of the Lord in him, his health failed and he died and was buried.
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13 And it came to pass that not many days after his death, Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael were angry with me because of the admonitions of the Lord; 14 for I, Nephi, was constrained to speak unto them according to his word. For I had spake many things unto them, and also my father before his death, many of which sayings are written upon mine other plates, for a more history part are written upon mine other plates. 15 And upon these I write the things of my soul and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children. 16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord, and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
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13 Not many days after his death, Laman, Lemuel, and Ishmael’s sons were angry with me because of the Lord’s warnings and correction 14 that I was inspired to tell them based on His word. I taught them many things, as my father did before he died. Much of what was said is written on my other plates, since more historical details are written on them. 15 But on these plates I only write the things within my soul and quotes of the scriptures from the brass plates. My soul delights in the scriptures, and I ponder upon them and write them for my children’s instruction and benefit. 16 My soul rejoices in the things of the Lord, and I continually ponder in my heart what God has shown and told me.
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17 Nevertheless the great goodness of the Lord in shewing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth, Oh wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh, my soul grieveth because of my iniquities. 18 I am encompassed about because of the temptations and the sins which doth so easily beset me, 19 and when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins. Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. 20 My God hath been my support, he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. 21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. 22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me. 23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night time. 24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high, and angels came down and ministered unto me. 25 And upon the wings of his spirit hath my body been carried away up on exceeding high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things — yea, even too great for man — therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
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17 Nevertheless — despite the Lord’s great goodness in showing me His great and awe-inspiring works — my heart cries out: How wretched a man am I! Indeed, my heart mourns because of my human weakness. My soul is pained because of my shortcomings. 18 I’m surrounded on all sides because of the temptations and sins that so easily trap me. 19 When I want to be glad, I mourn over my sins. Nevertheless, I know whom I’ve trusted. 20 God has supported me. He’s led me through my troubles in the wilderness and preserved me while crossing the deep waters. 21 He’s filled me with so much of His love that it has completely overwhelmed me. 22 He’s defeated my enemies, making them shake in front of me. 23 He’s heard my prayer by day and given me knowledge by visions at night. 24 I’ve grown bold through powerful prayers offered to Him by day. I’ve sent up my voice to heaven, and angels have come down and taught me. 25 My body has been carried away on the wings of His Spirit upon very high mountains; and my eyes have seen great things — too great for man — and I was ordered not to write them.
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26 Oh then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord, in his condescension unto the children of men, hath visited me in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away and my strength slacken because of mine afflictions? 27 And why should I yield to sin because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the Evil One have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy? 28 Awake my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. 29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord and say, O Lord, I will praise thee for ever. Yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God and the Rock of my salvation. 31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? 32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite? O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road? 33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness? O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies? Wilt thou make my path straight before me? Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way, but that thou wouldst clear my way before me and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy? 34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee and I will trust in thee for ever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh, for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. 35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee. Yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the Rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall for ever ascend up unto thee, my Rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.
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26 Then, if I’ve seen such great things, if the Lord — who descends from His high position to help mankind — if He has visited me with so much mercy, then why does my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, why does my body cower and my strength fail me because of my difficulties? 27 Why should I ever submit to temptations because of weaknesses? Why should I let any temptation by the Evil One have a place in my heart to cause me regret and trouble my soul? Why am I angry with myself because of my enemy? 28 Wake up, my soul! Don’t focus on sin any longer! Rejoice, my heart; don’t give any attention to the enemy of my soul anymore. 29 Don’t get angry because of my enemies. Don’t lose resolve to obey God because I face troubles. 30 Rejoice, my heart; pray to the Lord, saying: O Lord, I’ll praise you forever. My soul will rejoice in you, my God and the rock of my salvation. 31 O Lord, redeem my soul! Rescue me from my enemies! Make me shudder when sin appears! 32 May the gates of hell always be shut in front of me because my heart is broken and my spirit contrite. O Lord, don’t shut the gates of your righteousness in front of me, let me walk in Your pathway and stay on Your safe road. 33 O Lord, cover me in the robe of Your righteousness, help me to escape from my enemies, clear the path in front of me! Don’t let any obstacle hinder me, but clear the way in front of me so I can go on safely, and hinder my enemy. 34 O Lord, I’ve trusted in You and will trust in You forever. I won’t put my trust in the scholarly arrogance of man, because I know those who trust in arrogant fools are cursed. Indeed, those who put their trust in the vain teachings of a man and trust them as if they were truth are cursed. 35 Yes, I know God will give freely and abundantly to those who ask; yes, God will give to me if I don’t ask improperly. Therefore I’ll lift up my voice to You; yes, I’ll cry to You, my God, the rock of my righteousness. I’ll never stop calling out to You, my rock and my everlasting God. Amen.