1 Nephi
38 verses
We gathered all kinds of seeds, including every type of grain and every kind of fruit seed.
And it came to pass that we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.
While my father stayed in the wilderness, he spoke to us, saying, “I have had a dream; in other words, I have seen a vision. ”
And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision.
Because of what I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also Sam; for I have reason to believe that they, and many of their descendants, will be saved.
And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of their seed, will be saved.
Laman and Lemuel, I am very worried because of you; I thought I saw a dark and dreary wilderness in my dream.
But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you; for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and dreary wilderness.
I saw a man dressed in a white robe, and he came and stood in front of me.
And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.
He spoke to me and told me to follow him.
And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.
As I followed him, I saw that I was in a dark and dreary wilderness.
And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
After I had traveled for many hours in darkness, I began to pray to the Lord, asking him to have mercy on me according to his great compassion.
And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.
After I prayed to the Lord, I saw a large and spacious field.
And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field.
I saw a tree with fruit that was desirable because it could make someone happy.
And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
I went forward and ate the fruit, and I saw that it was the sweetest I had ever tasted. I also saw that the fruit was whiter than anything I had ever seen.
And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
As I ate the fruit, it filled my soul with incredibly great joy. I wanted my family to eat it too, because I knew it was more desirable than any other fruit.
And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.
As I looked around, hoping to see my family, I saw a river of water running nearby, close to the tree where I was eating the fruit.
And as I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover my family also, I beheld a river of water; and it ran along, and it was near the tree of which I was partaking the fruit.
I looked to see where it came from, and I saw the beginning of it a little way off. At the beginning, I saw your mother Sariah, Sam, and Nephi, and they stood there as if they didn’t know where they should go.
And I looked to behold from whence it came; and I saw the head thereof a little way off; and at the head thereof I beheld your mother Sariah, and Sam, and Nephi; and they stood as if they knew not whither they should go.
I called out to them and told them in a loud voice to come to me and eat the fruit, which was more desirable than any other fruit.
And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit.
They came to me and also ate the fruit.
And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.
I wanted Laman and Lemuel to come and eat the fruit too, so I looked toward the head of the river, hoping I might see them.
And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine eyes towards the head of the river, that perhaps I might see them.
I saw them, but they would not come to me and eat the fruit.
And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would not come unto me and partake of the fruit.
I saw a rod of iron that ran along the bank of the river and led to the tree where I was standing.
And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
I also saw a straight and narrow path that ran alongside the rod of iron, leading to the tree where I was standing. The path also passed by the head of the fountain and went to a large and spacious field, as if it were a world.
And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.
I saw countless groups of people, many of whom were moving forward, trying to reach the path that led to the tree where I was standing.
And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.
They came forward and started on the path that led to the tree.
And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.
A thick mist of darkness arose, so great that those who had started on the path lost their way, wandered off, and became lost.
And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.
I saw others moving forward, and they came and grabbed the end of the iron rod. They continued through the mist of darkness, holding tightly to the iron rod, until they reached the tree and ate its fruit.
And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.
After they had eaten the fruit from the tree, they looked around as if they were ashamed.
And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
I looked around and saw, on the other side of the river, a large and spacious building; it appeared to be suspended in the air, high above the ground.
And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.
It was filled with people, both old and young, male and female; they were dressed very finely and were mocking and pointing their fingers at those who had come and were eating the fruit.
And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
After they tasted the fruit, they felt ashamed because others were mocking them, so they left and wandered off into forbidden paths and were lost.
And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
Now I, Nephi, am not repeating all the words of my father.
And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.
To be brief, he saw other crowds moving forward; they came and grabbed the end of the rod of iron, and they kept moving forward, always holding tightly to the rod of iron, until they reached the tree, fell down, and ate the fruit.
But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
He also saw other crowds making their way toward that great and spacious building.
And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.
Many drowned in the depths of the fountain, and many were lost from his view, wandering on unfamiliar paths.
And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.
A large crowd went into that strange building. After they entered, they pointed at me and those who were eating the fruit, mocking us; but we ignored them.
And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.
My father said that everyone who listened to them had turned away.
These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen away.
And my father said that Laman and Lemuel did not eat the fruit.
And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.
After my father finished telling us all the words of his dream or vision, which were many, he told us that because of what he saw, he was extremely worried about Laman and Lemuel; he was afraid they might be cast out from the presence of the Lord.
And it came to pass after my father had spoken all the words of his dream or vision, which were many, he said unto us, because of these things which he saw in a vision, he exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be cast off from the presence of the Lord.
He urged them with all the love of a caring parent to listen to his words, hoping that the Lord would be merciful to them and not reject them. My father preached to them.
And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my father did preach unto them.
After he preached to them and prophesied to them about many things, he told them to keep the commandments of the Lord, and then he stopped speaking to them.
And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto them of many things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them.