1 Nephi 11–15
January 22–28, 2024
CHAPTER 11.
Nephi and the Spirit of Godde — Lehi’s prophetic dream interpreted — Nephi’s vision of the Virgin and the Son of Godde — Christ’s ministry foreshown.
1. For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that Godde was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of Godde, yea, into an exceeding high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.
2. And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?
3. And I said: I desire to behold the things which my father saw.
4. And the Spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?
5. And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.
6. And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Divine Parents, the most high Godde; for they are Godde over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high Godde; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired.
7. And behold this thing shall be given unto thee for a sign, that after thou hast beheld the tree which bore the fruit which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending out of heaven, and him shall ye witness; and after ye have witnessed him ye shall bear record that it is the Son of Godde.
8. And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me: Look! And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow.
9. And it came to pass after I had seen the tree, I said unto the Spirit: I behold thou hast shown unto me the tree which is precious, above all.
10. And he said unto me: What desirest thou?
11. And I said unto him: To know the interpretation thereof — for I spake unto him as a person speaketh; for I beheld that he was in the form of a human; yet nevertheless, I knew that it was the Spirit of Godde; and he spake unto me as a person speaketh with another.
12. And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look! And I looked as if to look upon him, and I saw him not; for he had gone from before my presence.
13. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.
14. And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?
15. And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.
16. And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of Godde?
17. And I said unto him: I know that Our Heavenly Mother and Father loveth their children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
18. And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of Godde, after the manner of the flesh.
19. And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
20. And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.
21. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of Godde, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father and Mother! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?
22. And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of our Divine Parents, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of humanity; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
23. And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.
24. And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of Godde going forth among the children of humanity; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.
25. And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of Godde, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of Godde; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of the Divine Parents.
26. And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold the condescension of Godde!
27. And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of Godde went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove.
28. And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them.
29. And I also beheld twelve others following him. And it came to pass that they were carried away in the Spirit from before my face, and I saw them not.
30. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of humanity; and they did minister unto them.
31. And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of Godde going forth among the children of humanity. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of Godde; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.
32. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of Godde, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting Godde was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.
33. And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.
34. And after he was slain I saw the multitudes of the earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Lamb; for thus were the twelve called by the angel of Godde.
35. And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the building which my father saw. And the angel of Godde spake unto me again, saying: Behold the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
36. And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceeding great. And the angel of Godde spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
CHAPTER 12.
Nephi’s vision of the land of promise — The future appearing of the Savior to the people of Nephi — Their righteousness, iniquity and downfall foreseen.
1. And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Look, and behold thy descendants, and also the descendants of thy brothers. And I looked and beheld the land of promise; and I beheld multitudes of people, yea, even as it were in number as many as the sand of the sea.
2. And it came to pass that I beheld multitudes gathered together to battle, one against the other; and I beheld wars, and rumors of wars, and great slaughters with the sword among my people.
3. And it came to pass that I beheld many generations pass away, after the manner of wars and contentions in the land; and I beheld many cities, yea, even that I did not number them.
4. And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces; and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up; and I saw many cities that they were sunk; and I saw many that they were burned with fire; and I saw many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof.
5. And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth; and behold, I saw multitudes who had fallen because of the great and terrible judgments of Godde.
6. And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of Godde descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them.
7. And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve others; and they were ordained of Godde, and chosen.
8. And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy posterity.
9. And he said unto me: Thou rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the house of Israel.
10. And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of Godde their garments are made white in his blood.
11. And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness; and their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of Godde. And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him.
12. And I, Nephi, also saw many of the fourth generation who passed away in righteousness.
13. And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the earth gathered together.
14. And the angel said unto me: Behold thy descendants, and also the descendants of thy brothers.
15. And it came to pass that I looked and, beheld the people of my descent gathered together in multitudes against the descendants of my brothers; and they were gathered together to battle.
16. And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell.
17. And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of humanity, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost.
18. And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is the vain imaginations and pride of the children of humanity. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal Divine Parents, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of Godde, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever.
19. And while the angel spake these words, I beheld and saw that the descendants of my brothers did contend against my descendants, according to the word of the angel; and because of the pride of my descendants, and the temptations of the devil, I beheld that the descendants of my brothers did overpower the people of my descent.
20. And it came to pass that I beheld, and saw the people of the descent of my brothers that they had overcome my descendants; and they went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land.
21. And I saw them gathered together in multitudes; and I saw wars and rumors of wars among them; and in wars and rumors of wars I saw many generations pass away.
22. And the angel said unto me: Behold these shall dwindle in unbelief.
23. And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had dwindled in unbelief they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.
CHAPTER 13.
The nations of the Gentiles — A great and abominable church — America’s history foreshadowed — The Bible and the Book of Mormon.
1. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.
2. And the angel said unto me: What beholdest thou? And I said: I behold many nations and kingdoms.
3. And he said unto me: These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles.
4. And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the foundation of a great church.
5. And the angel said unto me: Behold the foundation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.
6. And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the foundation of it.
7. And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine-twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlots.
8. And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church.
9. And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of Godde, and bring them down into captivity.
10. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld many waters; and they divided the Gentiles from the descendants of my brothers.
11. And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Behold the wrath of Godde is upon the descendants of thy brothers.
12. And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the descendants of my brothers by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of Godde, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the descendants of my brothers, who were in the promised land.
13. And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of Godde, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.
14. And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of Godde, that it was upon the descendants of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.
15. And I beheld the Spirit of Godde, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceeding fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain.
16. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before Godde; and the power of our Divine Parents was with them.
17. And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.
18. And I beheld that the power of Godde was with them, and also that the wrath of Godde was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.
19. And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of Godde out of the hands of all other nations.
20. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they did prosper in the land; and I beheld a book, and it was carried forth among them.
21. And the angel said unto me: Knowest thou the meaning of the book?
22. And I said unto him: I know not.
23. And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of our Heavenly Mother and Father, which they have made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of our Divine Parents, which they have made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles.
24. And the angel of Godde said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the
plainness of the gospel of our Heavenly Mother and Father, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of Godde.
25. Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in the Divine Parents.
26. And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the foundation of a great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of our Heavenly Father and Mother have they taken away.
27. And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of Godde, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of humanity.
28. Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth, through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of Godde.
29. And after these plain and precious things were taken away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest — because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of humanity, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of Godde — because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceeding great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.
30. Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of Godde above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land that the Eternal Godde hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance; wherefore, thou seest that the Eternal Heavenly Father and Mother will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy descendants, which are among thy brothers.
31. Neither will the Eternal Divine Parents suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the descendants of thy brothers.
32. Neither will the Eternal Godde suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain in that awful state of blindness, which thou beholdest they are in, because of the plain and most precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, whose formation thou hast seen.
33. Wherefore saith the Lamb of Godde: I will be merciful unto the Gentiles, unto the visiting of the remnant of the house of Israel in great judgment.
34. And it came to pass that the angel of Godde spake unto me, saying: Behold, saith the Lamb of Godde, after I have visited the remnant of the house of Israel — and this remnant of whom I speak is the posterity of thy father and mother — wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment, and smitten them by the hand of the Gentiles, and after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb — I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb.
35. For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy descendants, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy descendants shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the descendants of thy brothers, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb.
36. And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation.
37. And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting realm of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.
38. And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the descendants of my brothers, and also the book of the Lamb of Godde, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that It came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the descendants of my brothers.
39. And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the descendants of my brothers, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.
40. And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of Godde is the Son of the Eternal Father and Mother, and the Savior of the world; and that all people must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.
41. And they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy descendants, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in one; for there is one Godde and one Shepherd over all the earth.
42. And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.
CHAPTER 14.
Alternative blessing or cursing for the Gentiles — Two churches only — Doom of the mother of harlots — Mission of John the Revelator — End of Nephi’s vision.
1. And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of Godde in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks.
2. And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of Godde, they shall be numbered among the descendants of thy father and mother; yea, they shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded.
3. And that great pit, which hath been digged for them by that great and abominable church, which was founded by the devil and his children, that he might lead away the souls of humans down to hell — yea, that great pit which hath been digged for the destruction of humans shall be filled by those who digged it, unto their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of Godde; not the destruction of the soul, save it be the casting of it into that hell which hath no end.
4. For behold, this is according to the captivity of the devil, and also according to the justice of Godde, upon all those who will work wickedness and abomination before them.
5. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, Nephi, saying: Thou hast beheld that if the Gentiles repent it shall be well with them; and thou also knowest concerning the covenants of our Heavenly Mother and Father unto the house of Israel; and thou also hast heard that whoso repenteth not must perish.
6. Therefore, wo be unto the Gentiles if it so be that they harden their hearts against the Lamb of Godde.
7. For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of Godde, that I will work a great and a marvelous work among the children of humanity; a work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other — either to the convincing of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of which I have spoken.
8. And it came to pass that when the angel had spoken these words, he said unto me: Rememberest thou the covenants of the Father and Mother unto the house of Israel? I said unto him, Yea.
9. And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look, and behold that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations, whose foundation is the devil.
10. And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of Godde, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of Godde belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.
11. And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.
12. And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of Godde, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of Godde, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.
13. And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of Godde.
14. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of Godde, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of Godde, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of Godde in great glory.
15. And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of Godde was poured out upon the great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth.
16. And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold, the wrath of Godde is upon the mother of harlots; and behold, thou seest all these things.
17. And when the day cometh that the wrath of Godde is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose foundation is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father and Mother shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of their covenants, which they have made to their people who are of the house of Israel.
18. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
19. And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe.
20. And the angel said unto me: Behold one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
21. Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and also many things which have been.
22. And he shall also write concerning the end of the world.
23. Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just and true; and behold they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding out of the mouth of the Jew; and at the time they proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, or, at the time the book proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all people.
24. And behold, the things which this apostle of the Lamb shall write are many things which thou hast seen; and behold, the remainder shalt thou see.
25. But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt not write; for the Divine Parents hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of Godde that he should write them.
26. And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of Godde, unto the house of Israel.
27. And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel.
28. And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard; wherefore the things which I have written sufficeth me; and I have written but a small part of the things which I saw.
29. And I bear record that I saw the things which my father saw, and the angel of Godde did make them known unto me.
30. And now I make an end of speaking concerning the things which I saw while I was carried away in the spirit; and if all the things which I saw are not written, the things which I have written are true. And thus it is. Amen.
CHAPTER 15.
Lehi’s teachings interpreted by Nephi — The olive-tree — The tree of life — The word of Godde.
1. And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been carried away in the spirit, and seen all these things, I returned to the tent of my father.
2. And it came to pass that I beheld my brothers, and they were disputing one with another concerning the things which my father had spoken unto them.
3. For he truly spake many great things unto them, which were hard to be understood, save they should inquire of Godde; and they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto Godde as they ought.
4. And now I, Nephi, was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, and also, because of the things which I had seen, and knew they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great wickedness of the children of humanity.
5. And it came to pass that I was overcome because of my afflictions, for I considered that mine afflictions were great above all, because of the destructions of my people, for I had beheld their fall.
6. And it came to pass that after I had received strength I spake unto my brothers, desiring to know of them the cause of their disputations.
7. And they said: Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive-tree, and also concerning the Gentiles.
8. And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of our Heavenly Mother and Father?
9. And they said unto me: We have not; for our Divine Parents maketh no such thing known unto us.
10. Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of Godde? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?
11. Do ye not remember the things which our Heavenly Mother and Father hath said? — If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask us in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping our commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.
12. Behold, I say unto you, that the house of Israel was compared unto an olive-tree, by the Spirit of Godde which was in our ancestors; and behold are we not broken off from the house of Israel, and are we not a branch of the house of Israel?
13. And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fulness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our descendants shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years, and many generations after the Messiah, shall be manifested in body unto the children of humanity, then shall the fulness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our descendants —
14. And at that day shall the remnant of our descendants know that they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the covenant people of Godde; and then shall they know and come to the knowledge of their forefathers and foremothers, and also to the knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer, which was ministered unto their ancestors by him; wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved.
15. And then at that day will they not rejoice and give praise unto their everlasting Godde, their rock and their salvation? Yea, at that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true vine? Yea, will they not come unto the true fold of Godde?
16. Behold, I say unto you, Yea; they shall be remembered again among the house of Israel; they shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the olive-tree, into the true olive-tree.
17. And this is what our father meaneth; and he meaneth that it will not come to pass until after they are scattered by the Gentiles; and he meaneth that it shall come by way of the Gentiles, that the Redeemer may show his power unto the Gentiles, for the very cause that the Redeemer shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the house of Israel.
18. Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our descendants alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant our Heavenly Father and Mother made to our father Abraham and to our mother Sarah, saying: In thy posterity shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
19. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake much unto them concerning these things; yea, I spake unto them concerning the restoration of the Jews in the latter days.
20. And I did rehearse unto them the words of Isaiah, who spake concerning the restoration of the Jews, or of the house of Israel; and after they were restored they should no more be confounded, neither should they be scattered again. And it came to pass that I did speak many words unto my brothers, that they were pacified and did humble themselves before Godde.
21. And it came to pass that they did speak unto me again, saying: What meaneth this thing which our father saw in a dream? What meaneth the tree which he saw?
22. And I said unto them: It was a representation of the tree of life.
23. And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?
24. And I said unto them that it was the word of Godde; and whoso would hearken unto the word of Godde, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.
25. Wherefore, I, Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto the word of Godde; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of Godde and remember to keep Godde’s commandments always in all things.
26. And they said unto me: What meaneth the river of water which our father saw?
27. And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water.
28. And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of Godde.
29. And I said unto them that It was a representation of that awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked.
30. And I said unto them that our father also saw that the justice of Godde did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto Godde forever and ever, and hath no end.
31. And they said unto me: Doth this thing mean the torment of the body in the days of probation, or doth it mean the final state of the soul after the death of the temporal body, or doth it speak of the things which are temporal?
32. And it came to pass that I said unto them that it was a representation of things both temporal and spiritual; for the day should come that they must be judged of their works, yea, even the works which were done by the temporal body in their days of probation.
33. Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to righteousness; wherefore, they must be brought to stand before Godde, to be judged of their works; and if their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the realm of Godde; if so, the realm of Godde must be filthy also.
34. But behold, I say unto you, the realm of Godde is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the realm of God; wherefore there must needs be a place of filthiness prepared for that which is filthy.
35. And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful hell of which I have spoken, and the devil is the foundation of it; wherefore the final state of the souls of men and women is to dwell in the realm of Godde, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken.
36. Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of Godde. And thus I spake unto my brothers. Amen.
