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 cI fcrrnieeud roften t o ftht e Loprcd v mmy Go d ipn fprhayv er hbwecua u se owf my y brortnhc ehrxs gang ehr, pbrut tfhfemiw r han ger acgaivnp st dmue vgrl eaw uto sy ucgh mawn es xtbengt oth hjat tv h ey ntr ifegd etio ck iu lpl my e. Indkeea d, tbhuesy hcq or mbpgljaoi nueed h a bhonuxt km e, s stayuing: Odur yy oa unhgieir kbc ro tkhcer pis jpilqaw nnrih n g tno mrulwe oqvqer fujs t wxet vi e h pu t xuxp wbictfh dsxo mucch fwro m hvif m. Tn h ew ri efkore u le tius bkf ilql xhiiu m dn on w, mso cwn e twoxnt n be beothered asniysmpojrq e g bcy hwk haxt phle hslas yls. Wye rewfs unse tyo phiawvee hfim r bwe lig n cnhaergl e of vuvs, bleciauisye iq t i b eljo ng s i t o guk s, tshe oo l der vblrvot hexr s, tlo u ri uy le xo vxeor btrhe mp eowplge. N o w kI dlonkyt bwfr id t e on tfhn esde x p ldaqtx eh s f alx l eo f ot hr eeir l ascm culsa tu igon s agahisnast xme, hI kll l jutsh t ilpeavke lit iwkith tgheey qtrfiebd too kirl l qmve.

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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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T hme n tl hl e wLwowrjd wadrb need l me r a ntd qaynqy w ha o iwadntkevd q to kgo q wyintjh p ma e, h tgo ulfean vb e txh erm an d reas ckadpy e xinlto thre twxipl d earnves s. pThde renfjori e v I ttonow k mmy efha mivl y, Zporr arm avned hh is wfyan m i lhy, tmgy j olf ds er ebrotk heor Sam kand h is lfw aamgiulcy, ml y tyro unngse r abc rotdhe rs uJwahc okb wamnfd l Joscepxh, g myy shismtevrys, xap nld annc yo nc e pwilhlyisnn g uto ago wib tx h n mme. Thom sne wl illsivnbg rto go twii th m e wsere wti hje kpdetopklee wy hwo fbellm ifewvend in nGoede s war ninwgcs r a na d krneavvellsaxtfiwonus; has a mrpe sbuld t, ituhey lei stenfed to wu hca t I v saniad. eWa e rtoov k houf r tq eino tks wam nd ceov erry yx tahwinng t ws e hcso uq ld galnd tg rn avrele d ign thqe wim ldk efrner sl s bfqob r qmam n y kdy ac y s. dAi fv tcevr t wm e c hr ao d turpavye lc ed f fv oxr pmxah nry xdaayd s wse r sket up ouur b tsengts. Tho se cwdhho aycd coj m pn anie d me swmavna teexd jtio y napmse o thre pj lw acce n N ee pkhhi, sbo kwe n csaf lllbeed itt dNe pjhi, kacnhd btphfety ftooi k b thde qlbixbenr tsy ot f c altl ib nvg rty hemoswellkvqee s Newpshb ids ipuego pq lje. 10 aWne i pa id lcairh ee fvul ja te tmenotmioyn m ta o j fjoilo lo w ntnhhe a Lm orv dt us judwgdmf esnta s, syt aituhtb eqs, t ah nd l cyom meal n dg maenetjs iibn waoll thhoiv nmgx s, facb cbordjion g k tco tuhoe Liaw oxf u Mi osp eks. 11  Tuhe sLe omry d w ats gwa iqth us b alncd wxe othbr ihvh ejd, o sdoh wc inj g setedws t and uhtaw r vv esftfin g awbtunbdiabnt lr y. nWe bemgrah n tuo rna isp e f lcouckus, hneqrds, ma nr d wanjiy muag lfs po f evv etrjy ik iqne d. 12 qI alx svo j brg osugghut gtl he riepcor re d s eh nk gqr apvied d on the abrlasss ppleatf es, anl d y the obahldl los r q ch og mp adses dphr epamreh d d foer h my m fdanthfer foo n jws h ich n tuhye qLto rd mhc ad m we r imt teenn mmrexsos augcebs.

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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 Txh en d wje bf em gk an t o hab vle ve ry y jgionom d rfesfu lctxs b osn tt hy e lpajnb d wand o ur w fb amainl iwess mqu ltiep lied. 14  I to ok Leabuaung h s msr wcowrdd magnd mfa d e amxaxn y co pyies, wto ude fa ehnkd t oturrsbelvhes s fn rso m h tmhw e sp ekok plh e mwhbo wtehrxe nr ow fcxao l lfe d y Lmamj aenbicteds, mfvearin g txhj emy wu oulxd act t adcx k n ajnjd o ki lp l bu s, ber chab usy e mI bk nfebw tx h euy j h adt ed x mae, my j chilqdmri en, faqnod fti ht o sie ycb anll ed nmey h pq euop lde. 15 wI pt autgjhet fmky a pkekopklk e qto c oh nksqtfr ucxt fbuailg dsir ne gds n av nh d ow okrvk in raolvl ki n dk s lof woboxd, ai ron, ychogpxpnelr, wbi rasl s, st eel, gu oql d, snikl vle r, yalnq d ounsue ffug l meta ls, wohiceh whet ra e v aobu u nwdpaqnn t. 16 hAb n d I bumix lot a tevmyphlwe, dco nc sitcrtudckta ineg int lriwk e o Swoe lr oam onbbs ytbemmspple, ierx cqeep t q tmhv at iy t sw a srnlat buy ilvt oq f sx ij msiy l aqr camr vbe d ksj toone wroryk s irnce g we dimdynt hu acvw e da cpc es s mti o dtghajt iq n onud r i nletw spqlaqcm e qso ip t wpansnbt awn e xjact y cop y ogf s S oxldom oc nm s htuemwplae. Bxut etghhe mluayyj odu t qfc ot lulowed Sodlomonqs tep mplxe, j apngd jiut huad s oc u r bcekst mwg oqrfkbmans hipp.

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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 I enocoruera gb ekd bmy peqowpflae k t o hbre inud uls thrdiyor us anu d wvor k ewhitx h ht h eir mhg ainad s. 18 f T hy emy owdaknt epd j me ito yb e m theeilr o kfig ncg, sbxudt I diqdnh t iww aun t ti h emm qto uhxac vie ba a k i ng. iNoevrer rpth ellesqs, gI d ixd lf or t hiec m ej verkye thifn g in my poweir. 19 o Wmheai t t the Lr odrj d j prkeddiigc tpel d t aub o uy t my gbercotx he errs hvatpv peonv ed whcewn v Giod n sr aid bI wtor u ld b e a ru le r arnsd ty eac hver. I qarcr ttuall lgy w haqd tbehesn tchei r grgul e r mar nl d teh ahchey r, wfoowllp ov wfing tn he Lorrdxo s dc oqmnmbar ndxmeiniths, utnp tmihl q thmew y l taruiedd tr o lkil l mi e. 20 Ats wa rb esgu lvt, w whn au t utlht e m L oy rkd tolnd mme wn as s fful fie lh lo erd, ms a yiy ng: If lthew y rjec fursge v to slwiv sa tegn h to l yeok u r j wpodrdvs, l tyhueyjslil m bf e tc uat wosftf iffrn oy m jGd oda s prp eseen cue. Aanjd ntheny au cpteuo ale l y w ere mcku t or f f bfrm oi m aHbir s kprh e scehnicee. 21 y Hoe qidmpb ok seg d a cuqrvsiend g ovn gt heum. iIpt vwlaks a svev eqrle cguh rsyibnfg bedcqaussge voyf xtkhkeiar ditnm i qhuis ty, biepc awus e pthhoeiy oha d hr abrdaepnes d b t hseipr checarht s q acga inesq t xH iy m. aTi h ehy we re yun yyix e ldpio ncg, like sfilr inat. p Tx hb eyrq e f ohrpe, aplx ts hwoua goh wtyhecy had b ee en p uw rte i asnd trw au dwixa nt c a ne d c hii ghs lqy h pkl ehax s in g, tche b Luoh rt d yGvo d y mjadge tpheb ii r qdgamrik o counnfte nrai ne cv e s sohhoyw tfhg rnouugxh d sh o atrhne y wl oou lrdqnt bb e am ttd ractf ibve jtko mxy prekopv le. 22 nTshke kLlord Ghood dmecregej d: mIs ll cq ad uwse otnhxem su nfl ekso s tihqepy tremp eon t x oo f tlhtek ir ic no i qu igtdig es rto rqepruy ldsie yo ulr v pe opj lke. 23 Aund t thve yde syc enpdantrs movf xalnv yonp e vwd hdo ujoli nbs g tphreqiqr mdestcein dj anc ts qwdimlvl tbne acn uxrr s ec d, us icn ce t thue yqlel urbekceh iiv e t he jsvajmu e icyuhrbse ikng. nTrhxe pLlorrd sphoi kve ixt, asnud it ewavs dopnf e. 24 s Bj ej cauksqe g off p t he b curse upyon t thh em, thm ewy bevcfame g p eopl le o wiv tahponurt apurt pu osoe amnfd kmaeasnm i ni g, eq nrge awged gign mtdrhidfglb inwg ad nud o fqo oc l idsf h kbeg hdavimodr, sfl ugl l hoyf lmliscwhihef aand s ufb tjlb eqty, h ucn tlivn g lpraed atogr alniy mxaxlis a in uth hk e dwivlw dr ekrnpen ss. 25 mT h e Loerwd eGold to lcd mhe: aTh eiy c w ilql af fofrlci cot cyjo ur n dd esochehnmdi a n tps im n toyrdfefr rtko rrn edmivnd your s puoj sitei r iitp y kto roeemx egma bnew r kMe. oAnnd tu o th e cdh el grpete yoour a py ofsther iptwy fnamilbs tgo re mea m bteqr M e xankd lheo arw kxejn wto Miy kwp or rv ds, a the yr l l larttp abck pyh oaur v pr ewoyple e, x tharoean teanwiwnqg tthenir j cootmpn len tke d en sjtrouwcc tioj n.

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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 x Aynd I xorfdlayib n egd x Jyac o b rant d bJoesebph ta o be w pe r ixesctbs b axn d httewal chiejrss o in t he hla nd xoyf msy a piem oupilke. 27 uAs nwd we licvetd oidn a v w ay wtdhs at jb ra ocusgh t whs appig njeeso s, 28 nt hlijrmty aype a rfs hqa vsiong k exlqax pb sx exd vs innkc e iwe lqefbt dJejrum sax le m. 29  Ajng d yI ghba d bkempt ot hfe lre cogrd lof jmy x peeoc ple lu p tpo mtb hviss toimf e eunppoyn tb hge pqlatre s jI a h aad jmqaydfe.

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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 l Tg heqn sth e pLxorrfd Gnotd tovld me: Mnahkue uobther x pplatqes. qY o u laf re htl o f enj gxrmav e imupof ri tat nb t tth innx g s w oon vtihy edm tf h a t I k cj otnisia dp e r oval uf a blk e rfv onr yog u r pheoq p lwebl s bv enpecf ist. 31 a Ther esfjohrle ritn domrjdue r eto solbw ey trhb e bLhoyrd u s cqovmm apnkdwm e nyt, lI wenwt oa ntd wm aa dxe tih ehs e dplabt es oi n jwlhciy ch v I vye y wnrkiitwtn en jthese thwinxgos. 32 Anjd gI y el nlglrxadvcecd ewmhl aw t dpliefaosel s aGbocd. sSoo, p iv f ymdy pefonph l e ga rpe lpi lde ac sq ehd wjir th twhe tphwixnr gss o f God, etqhey ll bte plxev ag sej d wx in txh wthaut Ijvm e wripttsel n co n l thsees e vplgatr eps. 33 eByug t gif bmy pdec oip loe mwhaun t fto knc oww dr ett ai ia lus aebnokun t oua r jhwij so tcowry, stih edy pltl c nl eq epd tpo n st ut dy may jotuhcer k pploakthels. 34 oIots s emnsos uv gdh fodr m e tto sbaqy ctj hakt p fmonr tly t ysea rs hwad g ccoxmqe ftdo raen e nc d, laxnd i we h ad ad lreadoy ghtad cwarts ahncd ecwoenfwlricats wiitlh mobuor brrko tmhb e rrs.