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1 Nephi 18


Chapter 18

The ship is finished—The births of Jacob and Joseph are mentioned—The company embarks for the promised land—The sons of Ishmael and their wives join in revelry and rebellion—Nephi is bound, and the ship is driven back by a terrible tempest—Nephi is freed, and by his prayer the storm ceases—The people arrive in the promised land. About 591–589 B.C.

And it came to pass that they did worship the Lord, and did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.

Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.

And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord.

And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father, that we should arise and go down into the ship.

And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had prepared all things, much fruits and meat from the wilderness, and honey in abundance, and provisions according to that which the Lord had commanded us, we did go down into the ship, with all our loading and our seeds, and whatsoever thing we had brought with us, every one according to his age; wherefore, we did all go down into the ship, with our wives and our children.

And now, my father had begat two sons in the wilderness; the elder was called Jacob and the younger Joseph.

And it came to pass after we had all gone down into the ship, and had taken with us our provisions and things which had been commanded us, we did put forth into the sea and were driven forth before the wind towards the promised land.

And after we had been driven forth before the wind for the space of many days, behold, my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and also their wives began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, even that they did forget by what power they had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness.

10 And I, Nephi, began to fear exceedingly lest the Lord should be angry with us, and smite us because of our iniquity, that we should be swallowed up in the depths of the sea; wherefore, I, Nephi, began to speak to them with much soberness; but behold they were angry with me, saying: We will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us.

11 And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless, the Lord did suffer it that he might show forth his power, unto the fulfilling of his word which he had spoken concerning the wicked.

12 And it came to pass that after they had bound me insomuch that I could not move, the compass, which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to work.

13 Wherefore, they knew not whither they should steer the ship, insomuch that there arose a great storm, yea, a great and terrible tempest, and we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three days; and they began to be frightened exceedingly lest they should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless they did not loose me.

14 And on the fourth day, which we had been driven back, the tempest began to be exceedingly sore.

15 And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to see that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof.

16 Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions.

17 Now my father, Lehi, had said many things unto them, and also unto the sons of Ishmael; but, behold, they did breathe out much threatenings against anyone that should speak for me; and my parents being stricken in years, and having suffered much grief because of their children, they were brought down, yea, even upon their sick-beds.

18 Because of their grief and much sorrow, and the iniquity of my brethren, they were brought near even to be carried out of this time to meet their God; yea, their grey hairs were about to be brought down to lie low in the dust; yea, even they were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave.

19 And Jacob and Joseph also, being young, having need of much nourishment, were grieved because of the afflictions of their mother; and also my wife with her tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of my brethren that they would loose me.

20 And there was nothing save it were the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me.

21 And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm.

22 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land.

23 And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land.

24 And it came to pass that we did begin to till the earth, and we began to plant seeds; yea, we did put all our seeds into the earth, which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we were blessed in abundance.

25 And it came to pass that we did find upon the land of promise, as we journeyed in the wilderness, that there were beasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow and the ox, and the ass and the horse, and the goat and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were for the use of men. And we did find all manner of ore, both of gold, and of silver, and of copper.

      • according to (preposition)

        In a way that agrees with.

      • affliction (noun)

        Pain; problems.

      • after the manner of (adverb phrase)

        Following the pattern or customs of; according to the principles of.

      • all manner of (adjective phrase)

        Every kind of.

      • B.C. (noun)

        Before the birth of Christ.

      • beast (noun)

        Animal.

      • because of (conjunction)

        By reason of; through.

      • before (preposition)

        In front of.

      • behold (interjection, archaic)

        Look! See! In fact.

      • behold (verb)

        To look; to see; to notice.

      • brethren (noun)

        Brothers.

      • cease (verb)

        To stop; to come to an end.

      • it came to pass (verb phrase)

        It happened; it took place.

      • command (verb)

        To give a law, order, or binding instruction.

      • concerning (preposition)

        About.

      • curious (adjective)

        Careful; intricate; artful; (possibly) strange.

      • desire (verb)

        To want; to wish; to long for.

      • destruction (noun)

        The tearing down or complete ruin of something.

      • did, didst (verb, archaic)

        A term used before verbs to make them past tense.

      • drown (verb)

        Die from inhaling water into one’s lungs.

      • earth (noun)

        Ground.

      • elder (adjective)

        Older.

      • even unto (adverb)

        To the point of; up until.

      • exceeding (adjective)

        Great; extreme.

      • exceedingly (adverb)

        Much; a lot.

      • exceedingly (adverb)

        Very; extremely.

      • fine (adjective)

        Of high quality; intricate.

      • forth (adverb)

        Forward; away.

      • frighten (verb)

        To scare; to make afraid.

      • 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.

      • grieved (adjective)

        Saddened; sorrowful.

      • humble oneself (verb)

        To abandon one’s pride.

      • iniquity (noun)

        Wickedness; evil.

      • iniquity (noun)

        Wickedness; evil.

      • insomuch (adverb)

        So much; to such an extent.

      • insomuch (adverb)

        With the result that.

      • Ishmael (proper noun)

        A man who went with Lehi when he left Jerusalem. His daughters married Lehi’s and Sariah’s sons.

      • Jacob (proper noun)

        Brother of Nephi; author of the third book of the Book of Mormon.

      • land of Jerusalem (proper noun)

        The area around Jerusalem, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Judah.

      • journey (verb)

        To travel.

      • judgment (noun)

        Punishment from God for evil acts.

      • Laman (proper noun)

        Oldest son of Lehi; often rebellious against his brother Nephi.

      • 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.

      • Lehi (proper noun)

        A prophet who lived in about 600 B.C.; ancestor of the Nephites and Lamanites.

      • Lemuel (proper noun)

        Second son of Lehi; often rebellious against his brother Nephi.

      • look to (verb phrase)

        To rely on; to go to for help.

      • Lord (noun)

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

      • men (noun)

        People; humanity.

      • might (verb)

        Can; could.

      • much (adjective)

        A large amount of.

      • murmur (verb)

        To grumble; to mutter; to complain in secret or openly.

      • mine (pronoun, archaic)

        My.

      • 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.

      • nothing save it was (or were) (preposition)

        Nothing but.

      • nourishment (noun)

        Food; care (physical or spiritual).

      • over (preposition)

        Above in authority or power; having responsibility for.

      • perish (verb)

        To die; to be killed.

      • pitch (verb)

        To put up (a tent).

      • praise (verb)

        To speak of the greatness of someone or something.

      • pray (verb)

        To speak to God, out loud or silently.

      • prayer (noun)

        Asking God for something; speaking to God, vocally or in one’s heart.

      • promised land (proper noun)

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

      • provision (noun)

        Food and other supplies.

      • repent (verb)

        To feel sorrow for one’s sins, ask to be forgiven, and change one’s life.

      • ruler (noun)

        Leader; law-giver.

      • shall, should (verb)

        Will, would.

      • should (verb)

        May; must; ought to.

      • should (verb)

        Were to.

      • soberness (noun)

        Seriousness; solemnity.

      • soften the heart of (verb phrase)

        To overcome someone’s resistance, opposition, or hostility.

      • soften one’s heart (verb phrase)

        To overcome one’s resistance, opposition, or hostility.

      • sore (adjective)

        Painful; grievous.

      • sorrow (noun)

        Sadness; suffering.

      • for the space of (adverb phrase)

        During; for the period of time of.

      • suffer (verb, archaic)

        To allow; to permit.

      • suffer (verb)

        To endure; to have something bad happen.

      • swell (verb)

        To become larger; to expand.

      • tent (noun)

        Shelter made from skins or cloth, supported by poles, and secured by ropes; a temporary shelter for travelling.

      • that (conjunction)

        In order that; so that.

      • that (conjunction)

        Who.

      • thereof (adverb)

        Of it; of him; of them.

      • till (verb)

        To farm; to grow crops on.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        Sufficient for; resulting in.

      • voice of the Lord (noun)

        Words spoken by God the Father or Jesus Christ (whether heard physically or in one’s mind or heart); divine instruction or reasoning.

      • whatsoever (adjective)

        Whatever.

      • wherefore (adverb)

        So you see; therefore.

      • wherefore (adverb)

        So.

      • wicked (noun)

        A person who does evil or bad things in an ongoing way.

      • wilderness (noun)

        Land where few or no people live.

      • with (preposition)

        Through; by means of.

      • word (noun)

        Command; instruction.

      • workmanship (noun)

        Construction; style.

      • worship (verb)

        To honor, venerate, or praise God.

      • yea (interjection, archaic)

        Indeed; yes. This is pronounced “yay.”