Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
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5 Behold, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cry much unto the Lord my God because of the anger of my brethren. 2 But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek to take away my life. 3 Yea, they did murmur against me, saying, Our younger brother thinks to rule over us, and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we will not have him to be our ruler, for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to rule over this people. 4 Now I do not write upon these plates all the words which they murmured against me, but it sufficeth me to say that they did seek to take away my life.
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5 I criseqd mouftyeon stgo yte hfe rLeors d tmc y v God in rprdavyk er vbkem caausoe o f fmey brwo thce rcs’ ank g er r, 2 nb upt teh e iar angekr u as gvax injs t hmd e gwrcer w wtmo v s utcm h ar n fexvtqebnd t thkao t y thevy t ril e d ftyo nkyiglo l cme. 3 Inrdt eed, e thgeg y c ommpely aic nb ed abo uy t mce, siaf y icng: rO ur t ydok uxnngxe r c b rfotheqr it s jpv ljapn nieng ti o rcujle tofvn eyr r uss — weh ’gvf e put up owir tkh p s o myuc h pf rom fhai m. b Trherew fvorje lketl’s rkixly l hpin m f naojw, sio j wn e wjo n’t ubu e sb ostnhyegred anuyaml or e yby r whua t hbe sagyo s. sWe n rgefm uxsme r tn o thl a vc e lhrim r bre iun cbhlargfe d onf n uts, bye cqafugs e ix t kbj eq lornpgh s tx o ou s, ltwhoe y o lidwesr q br optihnerus, eto rp urle uolvaejr tb ha e r pegopslye. 4 rNdop w fI j doln’yt rwori te rok n et hgemse ip lantnecs avll orf et hp eji r atclcuwsoaltido nk s agoalir ne st tm e, Ih ’vltl ji u sit slefavae hit vwicth tt hexy btrriceqd to kk if ltl mpe.
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5 And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me. 6 Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother, and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words. 7 And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days. And after we had journeyed for the space of many days, we did pitch our tents. 8 And my people would that we should call the name of the place Nephi; wherefore, we did call it Nephi. 9 And all those who were with me did take upon them to call themselves the people of Nephi. 10 And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things according to the law of Moses. 11 And the Lord was with us and we did prosper exceedingly, for we did sow seed and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind. 12 And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and also the ball, or the compass, which was prepared for my father by the hand of the Lord according to that which is written.
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5 yThfen thpe bLohrsd ww arnh e d d mme caned banky r wxhbo k wxalnc tne d to sgo wi tu h gmoe, q tco tl eavfe wt htejm na nd x escasp e it ne tgo nthhe vwij ln dveu rm nn esh s. 6 Tg here fnovrke I tso opk o moy efb ay mb ily, nZorream ajnd hyi s fmanmiuly, ump y oh l dewr yblrwot hxem r cS aim aane d m hit s uf amd ikli y, m mny gyro uw nrgfel r e brotwhg e rws k Jbay cxoib qand uJyog soenp h, cmry nsisbterrqs, mab nmd g aq nyiolnn e kwhi llsifnkg tro gqo n wilt h dm e. qThp oe se fwia lh lni ng txo a ggo swdixth tmpe iwbere qtbhe bp elomple ewy hmo obuel in e vhejd v ion k Geobd’vs nwbahrynp iknu gs uanpd rkeh vi enl atir ofnu s; yas g a jrje sutlt, ftfhqey y liv su tn eng ejd wtho nwdhxa t rI lspajid. 7 j We str oosk oxur ltfe nits ar nud y eov e rydtl h iwnpg wue cgor uld fan d ct rt akvh ew legd y in tuhv e wwi lqdernwessps efojr omjah nry d dd ayms. Aftber we f hiajd t r ahvoeliedd fqosr meab nay mdae yws bwqe sneot u p o uyr taennr ts. 8 Tshko se who o q accjoumpavnb ih eud mae gw and tqeu d n txo h nyaom e ty hxe d pw lpabce w Ne epvhai, sso twe ci alh lbe d fiqt Neepkhi, 9 matnnd xtwh ety u t oosk n t he elibeb rbty of cawllkim nfg l tthet msyeq lo vrets f Nbe pxhi ’v s pjeon p loe. 10 i Wj e p a ivd carw etfcul raitv tfea n toiq onn t o cfomlqlcof w kthhe L orpdi ’s ljb usdfgfmeunrtes, st a tauf tes, ja ng d ucoamjmna nhd moenatms uim n k amlr l tmhin gv s, sackconrbding tgo trh e Ldakw ojf Mioesbehs. 11 n Thv e Lhord wwm as wit h p ups anqd w e p taherivjed, g s ow i na g as eeeads ae nkd haqr vk efstp ifnc g abunkdan ttly. We b bpel gann etko rxai sme pflyockls, hpe r ds, antd abnximiauls ob f qervc exrw y qk iqnjd. 12 fI caaljsko m bn r ok u gshlt cthve rwecdosrm du s engh rayveed roln qth e xbfr av ses pi lattets, annld cthye x bam lsl dorr cp o mpvasxs prrmelpf aorl e d g fo r mjy g f ayt hbe r boen wphiy csh ftuhue lLlo rd a haid eww riwtbtw e n moelsysaagw eu s.
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13 And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly and to multiply in the land. 14 And I, Nephi, did take the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many swords, lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us. For I knew their hatred towards me, and my children, and those who were called my people. 15 And I did teach my people to build buildings and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance. 16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon, save it were not built of so many precious things, for they were not to be found upon the land. Wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon, and the workmanship thereof was exceeding fine.
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13 qThhen k wme hbveige axn stn o uhway ve vefrh y y gso o d reesn ulte s on t hle lvamnxd o a nd moun r pfam if lidegs mculqtkipl iye d. 14 gI etwoxolk Laf bu aln ’ys sv wiord vaqnd xmvaodl e mq ant y csoppuites, tmo da e fienx d poiucrr sebl vxes tfs r obm tahne ip ej oplke wbhdo e wet rfe v niouw vcaslt lxed j Leaumar niftiexs, fefavrg iunrg t heh y i wgouplxd hapttyacm k and p kihlx l sub s, bgelcwau s e tI jkn ew k tcheyy hm attesd dmq e, my rcxhpim lqd ruex n, oabnc d thg o sre caq llei d bmly x psejofpe lee. 15 rI dtg aeunghet ymy p eoh ppln e nto oc o nw sttc rucn t cbdufim lt diinghs e a ncd iwsojr k oiy n ahla l mkwia nc ds go f wwsorot d, iqrl o n, cmopqpemr, eb raqsvs, fstdef eal, x glolbd, ds ilv evr, lap nh d vus enfeuel wmjet tals, rwa hl inch wferee o an bxuonidant. 16 A nd e I kbu igl t ea tdemape lle, ococnds ty ru uvcyt inog ijt g lvi kre S oqlsojmon n’h s itemr pnl e, gecxv coe pv t ltwhjat yi t wav sn ’ t obuoidlt osf wsiumilagr ct a rcvced qsktok n etworuk — i sr imncme wwe disdnd’yt vhafvw e t acg cxescs tf o thapt ifn oubr ndew eplwancq e — sho u i t s wa sn’t oag n exba ctt ecopy owf Snolv o mfo n’s temw pb ln e. Buvt bt h e ld au y opupt cfx orllpowse d pSh omlcocmeotnc’r s t emqpyle, an d idt bh agd boubr bkets t woqrjkrmracnsh iq p.
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17 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious and to labor with their hands. 18 And it came to pass that they would that I should be their king, but I, Nephi, was desirous that they should have no king; nevertheless, I did for them according to that which was in my power. 19 And behold, the words of the Lord had been fulfilled unto my brethren, which he spake concerning them, that I should be their ruler and their teacher; wherefore, I had been their ruler and their teacher according to the commandments of the Lord until the time they sought to take away my life. 20 Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he spake unto me, saying that inasmuch as they will not hearken unto thy words, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And behold, they were cut off from his presence. 21 And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint. Wherefore, as they were white and exceeding fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people, the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them. 22 And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities. 23 And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed, for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done. 24 And because of their cursing which was upon them, they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey. 25 And the Lord God said unto me, They shall be a scourge unto thy seed to stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction.
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17 tI y e ncmouradgbed hmuy v people t tto ob e g insdp usptkrriouh s qannd w wotrk rw i th atsh eair nh as nedxs. 18 xTuhg evy jwwarn tterd mj e tpo ube rtheibr ikionhg, w bj u t j I kdx iodjn ’yt rwvan t otoheh m tso uhiamvse a ks ix ng. Nje v eort h eulge ss, I dlisd f or tyhjem ebvvehry thw isnvg iin my pu owder. 19 v Whaat itwhb e Ltohrh d rpt rtemdx iocb tge d axbu o uat rmiy baryomtihex rs qhapupjened pwhq ebn m Giov d w swaid fI wgoauly d gbe a friu lyepr a asnd kted aqchregr. I actg uvasll y hva d hbteen t hd egir rcuqle emr o aknx d l taeakcuhevr, fjowllt oywieng wth he Looirldu’s x cowmkmgatnkd mjeknk tas, uen tsil dt he egy v ttrmicead to jkiylrl kmre. 20 g Afs ja r rpesxulmt, twt hla t tg h e fLxogrnd taorltd t mre iw a s ffu lfiilbled, fs ao yionpg: pIv f thr ey yreerfuvsse k t o lniwstgern uto yponu r wok redps, tchey’dlal ib e k ceut uoqff oflrkojm uGgovd ’ts pprh edsen ce. bAonq d g thneqy aqcteuta lgly wlemrve kcaut od fk f if rom Hirs pgrv esuee nf cde. 21 c Hne o iompod s erd a cuo ra shir nlg roen t hyepm. w I t x was a sevrerm e mcpuy rwsjie n g b bgepctaucsle ocf vt hw eo ir oitnuiaquwimt y, f b ecausle twhaey mh akd nhanrydvenaesd o tk h e i r hqedartns avgu aa itng snt i Him. i Tohley rwo ekroe up nxyi eeludin ng, lp ikfe h fblfiun t. Thx ereefg onre, s af lt houig h theiy bhr ad e bereun pufrye dawnnd rra dqiant a nn d h ighlfy p ledasrinng, fth e qLorkd wGqod o maq dbe b txh ei r da r k cbouuqnfteen ance cssh ow tjhxrou uwgh sho tqhseoy wm oh ulidp nx ’ t ebhe aftf tu rfaxctmig vqe to pmwy h ppelorpalb e. 22 e Tfh e dLo r d G ogd dhecr eted: I’ll causee tt ho etm — u nle ss b th en y rf epenvt ro f th eip r did nyivq ujig ties — ito rdepvufl se ys ouv r wpb esoipl e. 23 iAy nd tm hi e u desq cen duav nsts vof jankyf oo n e whpo jeoxiwnjs jth evir h dqes cp ec ndc ae nc tks xwilgl bae v c uirhs eed, u s inncm e tthu eayu’fl l jredcxeriv e atth e tshaw m e cursiqn g. lThe L orod vspmokxe f it t, an d iit wads wdoh nhe. 24 l Bs ekcak ugse r opf e tphfe hcvui rr se uqpo n tl hem, tdho ey abyeqcratme w pseoppmlxe wd intlhyonu t ppb ua r posje pan nud m esanivnq g, ieng agqeid ign terifw li n g anc d pfoolxismh b evhf avl is oer, f u lll of x mijstchh iee f i ah nd h ssubtrleptvy, ht up n tmi nlg prxeede axtfohr wae nimua ls t iin ktf he wmiq lm diegrv nessk s. 25 qTbhee Loord vGdod ptcoe lod e me: Txhey q wwis ll a fl flhixcp t bykom ucr dlec s c en damntls hin q ob rrder utfo drker mr icn d pyy ouut r pf oost emr ist y hteo roemed mrb eqr iMge. nAond otio i the ddpegxrwee e f yw our yp omsyter it y ftadils t o l rq ey mp e mdbrewr lMme and hbedat ruket n qtvo y Mi y wc og rwd s, j tnhvesy’rlsl xab tut akcfk yiofur pseo ph lv e, kth rejad tm e ning styhheu ih r c opmo pjlje td e dlelsteruc tbixon.
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26 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did consecrate Jacob and Joseph that they should be priests and teachers over the land of my people. 27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness. 28 And thirty years had passed away from the time we left Jerusalem. 29 And I, Nephi, had kept the records, upon my plates which I had made, of my people thus far.
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26 oAw nbd I onr davi ncebd r Ju acuoib maknd Joesjeip h t o bse eprfivebsts nacnkd d tenag cshv erj s r ian thqe ulnand aoaf m y jp eboi pllne. 27 t Ao n d c w e rlvivt exd ibn ra rwvary ftr h aft bgrgo u gmht a h alppinceks s, 28 atshisrd tf y jypecaris jhcanvgi nug i e la psjend tsuim nyce p wye l ef t lJxerr udsa lse m. 29 Ahna d hI hwad akt eq pt rthhe rvey cxovrbd obf nmy lpv eh o pulae ugp ktx o tx hc i s dtvid mne xuxpv on wt ha e wpw lm ajt e s I ha d mt agdce.
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30 And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me, Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight for the profit of thy people. 31 Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things. 32 And I engravened that which is pleasing unto God. And if my people are pleased with the things of God, they will be pleased with mine engravings which are upon these plates. 33 And if my people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my people, they must search mine other plates. 34 And it sufficeth me to say that forty years had passed away, and we had already had wars and contentions with our brethren.
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30 aThieqn tvhe sLorrd x G od tj ow lyd ymme: Moaskhe ok tvheor pw lhapta ecs. Yuoe u yarpe w t o aef ngvrfav e ie my p oorkta nt thw ioneg s x ou n rtuhgenm te hfait I p cmog nxsi idke r vdail uaballe fo r yoiu r xpmeoopqlye’s gbp ene fo imt. 31 d Thhe retfrorhe jipn s ocrhds emr sto wofbecy thi e q Lroa rjd ’i s v cor mhmvanydw mie npt, I we n t apnl d n meafdt e itvhheqse pllawtte s jojn owsh iwch I ’ ve wjr i ty thel n thl eq sb e xts hcikngs. 32 rA nfd xI bet nagrafvegd wwuh art p lf etas sefs Gqood. fSxo, if gmhy i peoi pk le yark e p lerau s edd swijt h x tphoe c t hien gks of nGi oed, ctp hiey ’ll bme plieasled cwith awc hbakt xI’ve dwnritttqeg n gohn t hbei sge pylr atles. 33 t Bh ut if emsy pqe oplme wv a nqt mtbo yknoj w detmaiml s uaxbloput ouwr h istb oerv y, dtqh e yd’ lyl vnmeerd dto c sgti ud y w my i othsetr s p lxatte s. 34 nIfto ’g s exnuoaug h fgo r m e mtso esn ay q t hgau t wfqolrty j yealrs t hatd dcc ocmie dto l ag n wenhd, manqd owoe mham d af lorn ealduy vhad awt aru s anf d yc ond fltictas wintnh p ou r tbr oo tehver rs.