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1 Nephi 13


Chapter 13

Nephi sees in vision the church of the devil set up among the Gentiles, the discovery and colonizing of America, the loss of many plain and precious parts of the Bible, the resultant state of gentile apostasy, the restoration of the gospel, the coming forth of latter-day scripture, and the building up of Zion. About 600–592 B.C.

And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.

And the angel said unto me: What beholdest thou? And I said: I behold many nations and kingdoms.

And he said unto me: These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles.

And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church.

And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation 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.

And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it.

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.

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.

And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God, 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 seed of my brethren.

11 And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren.

12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.

13 And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, 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 God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.

15 And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, 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 exceedingly 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 the Lord; and the power of the Lord 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 God was with them, and also that the wrath of God 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 God 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 the Lord, which he hath 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 the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles.

24 And the angel of the Lord 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 fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God.

25 Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God.

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 formation of that 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 the Lord have they taken away.

27 And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men.

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 God.

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 seestbecause 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 men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of Godbecause of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly 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 God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands, which is the land that the Lord God hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance; wherefore, thou seest that the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren.

31 Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy brethren.

32 Neither will the Lord God 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 God: 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 the Lord spake unto me, saying: Behold, saith the Lamb of God, after I have visited the remnant of the house of Israel—and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy father—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 seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, 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 kingdom 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 seed of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren.

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 seed of my brethren, 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 God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men 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 seed, 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 God 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.

      • above (adjective)

        More than.

      • according to (preposition)

        In a way that agrees with.

      • all manner of (adjective phrase)

        Every kind of.

      • America (noun)

        North, Central, or South America.

      • angel (noun)

        Messenger from God. Some are spirits of people who have lived or will later live on the earth. Others are people who have been resurrected.

      • Apostle (proper noun)

        One of twelve leaders chosen by Jesus Christ during His ministry in Jerusalem to guide His Church.

      • B.C. (noun)

        Before the birth of Christ.

      • bear record (verb)

        To give testimony; to state, based on personal knowledge, that something is true.

      • because of (conjunction)

        By reason of; through.

      • before (preposition)

        In front of; from.

      • before (preposition)

        In front of.

      • behold (interjection, archaic)

        Look! See! In fact.

      • behold (verb)

        To look; to see; to notice.

      • beholdest (verb, archaic)

        See.

      • Bible (proper noun)

        A book containing sacred records of God’s people in the ancient world. Many of its events take place in Israel.

      • blessed (adjective)

        Having received help, protection, favors, or gifts from God.

      • plates of brass (noun)

        An ancient record, similar to the Bible, kept on metal plates.

      • brethren (noun)

        Brothers.

      • bring forth (verb)

        To reveal; to disclose.

      • bring forth (verb)

        To bring about.

      • by the mouth of (adverb phrase)

        Through; by someone with authority or acting as spokesman.

      • captivity (noun)

        Being a prisoner or slave.

      • children of men (noun)

        All people.

      • choice (adjective)

        Of high quality; special.

      • church (noun)

        Organization; gathering. (In Nephi’s vision this is not limited to religious organizations.)

      • come forth (verb phrase)

        To be brought forward; to be revealed.

      • it came to pass (verb phrase)

        It happened; it took place.

      • cometh (verb, archaic)

        Comes.

      • contain (verb)

        To include.

      • convincing (noun)

        Persuading; proving.

      • covenant (noun)

        A promise God makes to a person or group if they will obey Him.

      • covenant (verb)

        To make a solemn promise or treaty with someone. Covenants generally involve commitments on both sides.

      • day (noun)

        Period; time.

      • deliver (verb)

        To help someone escape; to save someone; to set someone free.

      • desire (noun)

        Wish; request.

      • destroy (verb)

        To kill; to thwart.

      • devil (noun)

        Satan (also called Lucifer), a spiritual being who rebelled against God and opposes Him. Satan deceives people and tempt them to sin.

      • did, didst (verb, archaic)

        A term used before verbs to make them past tense.

      • divide (verb)

        Separate from; stand as a barrier between.

      • dwindle (verb)

        To shrink; to decline; to lose faith and knowledge.

      • engraving (noun)

        Writing or designs cut or scratched into metal.

      • establish (verb)

        To set up; to try to make accepted or official.

      • even unto (adverb)

        To the point of; up until.

      • everlasting (adjective)

        Lasting forever.

      • exceedingly (adverb)

        Much; a lot.

      • exceedingly (adverb)

        Very; extremely.

      • Eternal Father (proper noun)

        A name for God the Father. He created all life and is the Father of our spirits. He rules all things and is just, righteous, merciful, and loving. He is the father of Jesus Christ.

      • for behold (conjunction)

        Because you see.

      • for (conjunction)

        Because.

      • for (conjunction)

        Because; because you see.

      • for (preposition)

        As; to be.

      • forth (adverb)

        Forward; away.

      • gather (verb)

        To assemble; to meet together.

      • gentile (adjective)

        Having to do with nations or peoples who are not part of Israel.

      • Gentile (proper noun)

        Member of a nation or tribe other than Israel.

      • gift (noun)

        A special ability, power, or blessing given to someone by God.

      • go forth (verb phrase)

        To move forward from a starting point.

      • God (proper noun)

        God the Father or His Son, Jesus Christ. God the Father rules all things with perfect justice, mercy, and love. Jesus Christ often speaks and acts for His Father. He suffered so that we could be forgiven of our sins and be resurrected. The Father and Son are separate individuals but are united in purpose.

      • Spirit of God (noun)

        The Holy Ghost, also known as the Spirit of the Lord. He is a divine spirit, one in purpose with God the Father and Jesus Christ. He speaks to our hearts and testifies of truth.

      • gospel (noun)

        God’s plan for saving His children from death and the effects of sin and bringing them back to His presence.

      • great (adjective)

        Big; signficant.

      • harden one’s heart (verb phrase)

        Make or become stubborn, wicked, or resistant to good influences.

      • hath (verb, archaic)

        Has.

      • have (verb)

        To receive; to get; to obtain.

      • hide, hide up (verb)

        To conceal; to place out of sight.

      • Holy Ghost (proper noun)

        The Holy Ghost, also known as the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of the Lord. He is a divine spirit, one in purpose with God the Father and Jesus Christ. He speaks to our hearts and testifies of truth.

      • holy (adjective)

        Sacred; pure; sent by God.

      • humble oneself (verb)

        To abandon one’s pride.

      • land or place of one’s inheritance (noun phrase)

        A land or place one has received from God or from one’s ancestors.

      • insomuch (adverb)

        With the result that.

      • is in God (verb phrase)

        Comes from God.

      • house of Israel (proper noun)

        God’s ancient covenant people, as described in the Bible (house means a nation or tribe); members of God’s Church.

      • Jew (proper noun)

        Member of the tribe of Judah, one of the twelve tribes of Israel; people who lived in the land of Judah.

      • kindred (noun)

        A group of people who are related to each other.

      • kingdom (noun)

        A country ruled by a king; the government of a country ruled by a king.

      • knowest thou (phrase, archaic)

        Do you know.

      • Lamb, Lamb of God (proper noun)

        A title of Jesus Christ. The lamb can represent gentleness, and it can also refer to His role in the Atonement.

      • land of promise (noun)

        A land promised to someone to God if they keep His commandments. For descendants of Lehi and the Jaredites, the land of promise was located in the Americas.

      • the last day (noun)

        The Final Judgment, in which Jesus Christ will judge every human being for their acts during this life.

      • latter-day (adjective)

        Having to do with modern times; the period before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

      • Lord God (noun)

        A term of respect for God the Father or Jesus Christ.

      • Lord (noun)

        A term of respect for God the Father or Jesus Christ.

      • make known (verb)

        To teach; to tell; to reveal.

      • men (noun)

        People; humanity.

      • man (noun)

        Adult male human being.

      • manifest (verb)

        To appear; to show.

      • merciful (adjective)

        Kind; forgiving.

      • might (verb)

        Can; could.

      • minister (verb)

        To teach; to serve.

      • multitude (noun)

        Crowd.

      • mine (pronoun, archaic)

        My.

      • nation (noun)

        A large group of people who are related to each other or who have the same language, history, or government; the country where they live.

      • Nephi (proper noun)

        A prophet, fourth son of Lehi; author of the first two books of the Book of Mormon.

      • nevertheless (adverb)

        But still; in spite of this.

      • obtain (verb)

        To get.

      • one God (noun phrase)

        An expression used to describe God the Father and Jesus Christ. They are separate individuals but are united in purpose.

      • out of someone’s hands (adverb)

        From someone.

      • over (preposition)

        Above in authority or power; having responsibility for.

      • precious (adjective)

        Valuable.

      • proceed, proceed forth (verb)

        To come or go out.

      • promised land (proper noun)

        A land that God promises to give to a group of people if they obey Him.

      • prophecy (noun)

        A message from God delivered by a prophet. In some cases these reveal future events.

      • prophet (noun)

        A person sent by God to speak for Him.

      • prosper (verb)

        To do well; to thrive; to succeed.

      • record (noun)

        A written description or account.

      • remain (verb)

        To stay.

      • remnant (noun)

        Those left when members of a group of people die or disappear.

      • saints (noun)

        Members of Christ’s Church; individuals become holy through living the principles of the gospel.

      • save (preposition)

        Except; unless.

      • save (verb)

        To rescue from death and sin.

      • Savior (adjective)

        A title for Jesus Christ (who saves us from death and sin).

      • scripture (noun)

        Sacred writings given by God or recording God’s dealings with His children.

      • seed (noun)

        Posterity; descendants.

      • seek, sought (verb)

        Try, tried.

      • seest (verb, archaic)

        See.

      • shall, should (verb)

        Will, would.

      • slay (verb)

        To kill.

      • Son (proper noun)

        Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He created the earth and rules it. He often speaks and acts for His Father. He suffered so that we could be forgiven of our sins and be resurrected.

      • spake (verb, archaic)

        Spoke.

      • Spirit of the Lord (noun)

        The Holy Ghost. He is a divine spirit, one in purpose with God the Father and Jesus Christ. He speaks to our hearts and testifies of truth.

      • state (noun)

        Condition; circumstance.

      • suffer (verb, archaic)

        To allow; to permit.

      • that (conjunction)

        In order that; so that.

      • that (conjunction)

        Who.

      • thou hast (phrase, archaic)

        You have.

      • thou (pronoun, archaic)

        You.

      • through (preposition)

        By means of; because of.

      • thy (pronoun, archaic)

        Your.

      • tongue (noun)

        A group of people who speak the same language.

      • unbelief (noun)

        Absence or lack of belief or faith.

      • come unto (verb)

        To come to; to show willingness to follow or obey.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        For; to.

      • unto (preposition)

        Sufficient for; resulting in.

      • like unto (preposition)

        Like; the same as.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • vision (noun)

        A message God gives to individuals in visual form; a visit from a divine messenger.

      • what beholdest thou (phrase, archaic)

        What do you see.

      • wherefore (adverb)

        So you see; therefore.

      • wherefore (adverb)

        So.

      • wherefore (adverb)

        So.

      • white (adjective)

        Righteous; innocent; (possibly) having a light complexion.

      • whoso (pronoun)

        Anyone that; whoever; whosoever.

      • with (preposition)

        Through; by means of.

      • word (noun)

        Message; teachings.

      • world (noun)

        The people of the world.

      • wrought upon (verb phrase)

        Worked on; influenced.

      • yea (interjection, archaic)

        Indeed; yes. This is pronounced “yay.”

      • Zion (proper noun)

        The kingdom of God on earth.