1 NephiChapter17

And it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth. And we did travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women did bear children in the wilderness.

We set out on our journey through the wilderness again, and from that time on we traveled nearly eastward. We traveled and waded through many hard times in the wilderness, and our wives bore children in the wilderness.

And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.

And the Lord blessed us so much that while we lived on raw meat in the wilderness, our wives had plenty of milk to nurse their children, and they were strong, just like the men; and they began to bear their travels without complaining.

And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

And so we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. If people keep the commandments of God, he nourishes them, strengthens them, and provides a way for them to accomplish the thing he commanded them. And so, he provided us with means while we were in the wilderness.

And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness.

We were in the wilderness for many years, eight years in all.

And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is many waters.

Then we came to the land we called Bountiful, because of its abundant fruit and its wild honey; and all these things were prepared by the Lord so that we wouldn't die. And we saw the sea, which we called Irreantum, which means "many waters."

And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents by the seashore; and notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the seashore; and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit.

We pitched our tents by the seashore. We had suffered so many hard times and so much difficulty, more than we can write, that when we came to the seashore we were overjoyed. And we called the place Bountiful, because of its abundant fruit.

And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.

After I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for many days, the voice of the Lord came to me, saying, "Arise, and go up into the mountain." So I got up and went up the mountain, and cried out to the Lord.

And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.

And the Lord spoke to me, saying, "You shall build a ship, in the way that I will show you, so that I may carry your people across these waters."

And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?

And I said, "Lord, where should I go to find ore to melt down, so that I can make tools to build the ship the way you have shown me?"

And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools.

And the Lord told me where to go to find ore, so that I could make tools.

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make a bellows wherewith to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together that I might make fire.

So I, Nephi, made a bellows out of animal skins to blow the fire with; and after I had made the bellows, I struck two stones together to make fire.

For the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire, as we journeyed in the wilderness; for he said: I will make thy food become sweet, that ye cook it not;

Until then, the Lord had not allowed us to make much fire as we traveled in the wilderness, because he had said, "I will make your food become sweet, so that you do not cook it;

And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.

and I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if you will keep my commandments. As long as you keep my commandments, you will be led toward the promised land; and you will know that it is by me that you are led."

Yea, and the Lord said also that: After ye have arrived in the promised land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem.

And the Lord also said, "After you have arrived in the promised land, you will know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, delivered you from destruction, and brought you out of the land of Jerusalem."

Wherefore, I, Nephi, did strive to keep the commandments of the Lord, and I did exhort my brethren to faithfulness and diligence.

So I, Nephi, worked hard to keep the commandments of the Lord, and I urged my brothers to be faithful and diligent.

And it came to pass that I did make tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock.

And I made tools out of the ore I melted from the rock.

And when my brethren saw that I was about to build a ship, they began to murmur against me, saying: Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters.

When my brothers saw that I was about to build a ship, they began to complain against me, saying, "Our brother is a fool, because he thinks he can build a ship; and he thinks he can cross these great waters too."

And thus my brethren did complain against me, and were desirous that they might not labor, for they did not believe that I could build a ship; neither would they believe that I was instructed of the Lord.

That was how my brothers complained against me. They wanted no part of the work, because they didn't believe I could build a ship, and they wouldn't believe that the Lord had instructed me.

And now it came to pass that I, Nephi, was exceedingly sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts; and now when they saw that I began to be sorrowful they were glad in their hearts, insomuch that they did rejoice over me, saying: We knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work.

Now I, Nephi, was very sad because of the hardness of their hearts; and when they saw that I was becoming sad, they were glad. They gloated over me and said, "We knew you couldn't build a ship. We knew you lacked judgment, so you can't accomplish such a massive work.

And thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the land of Jerusalem, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these afflictions.

You're just like our father, led away by the foolish imaginations of his heart. He led us out of Jerusalem, and we've wandered in the wilderness all these years. Our wives have worked while they were pregnant; they've borne children in the wilderness and suffered everything except death; and it would have been better if they had died before they left Jerusalem than to have suffered all this.

Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy.

All these years we've suffered in the wilderness, when we could have enjoyed our possessions and our homeland. We could have been happy!

And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us.

And we know that the people in Jerusalem were righteous people, because they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses. So we know they're a righteous people, and our father has judged them, and he has led us away because we were willing to listen to his words. And our brother is just like him." That was the kind of language my brothers used to complain about us.

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake unto them, saying: Do ye believe that our fathers, who were the children of Israel, would have been led away out of the hands of the Egyptians if they had not hearkened unto the words of the Lord?

Then I, Nephi, spoke to them, and I said, "Do you believe that our fathers, the people of Israel, would have been led out of the hands of the Egyptians if they had not listened to the words of the Lord?

Yea, do ye suppose that they would have been led out of bondage, if the Lord had not commanded Moses that he should lead them out of bondage?

Do you think they would have been led out of slavery if the Lord hadn't commanded Moses to lead them out?

Now ye know that the children of Israel were in bondage; and ye know that they were laden with tasks, which were grievous to be borne; wherefore, ye know that it must needs be a good thing for them, that they should be brought out of bondage.

Now, you know that the people of Israel were enslaved, and you know they were loaded down with burdens hard to bear; so you know that it had to be a good thing for them to be brought out of bondage.

Now ye know that Moses was commanded of the Lord to do that great work; and ye know that by his word the waters of the Red Sea were divided hither and thither, and they passed through on dry ground.

"You know the Lord commanded Moses to do that great work; and you know that by his word the waters of the Red Sea were divided to this side and to that, and they passed through on dry ground.

But ye know that the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, who were the armies of Pharaoh.

You know that the Egyptians, the armies of Pharaoh, were drowned in the Red Sea.

And ye also know that they were fed with manna in the wilderness.

And you also know that they were fed with manna in the wilderness.

Yea, and ye also know that Moses, by his word according to the power of God which was in him, smote the rock, and there came forth water, that the children of Israel might quench their thirst.

Yes, and you also know that Moses, by his word, according to the power of God that was in him, struck the rock, and water came out, so that the people of Israel could quench their thirst.

And notwithstanding they being led, the Lord their God, their Redeemer, going before them, leading them by day and giving light unto them by night, and doing all things for them which were expedient for man to receive, they hardened their hearts and blinded their minds, and reviled against Moses and against the true and living God.

"And in spite of being led, with the Lord their God, their Redeemer, going before them, leading them by day and giving them light by night, and doing everything for them that was good for people to receive, they hardened their hearts and blinded their minds, and railed against Moses and against the true and living God.

And it came to pass that according to his word he did destroy them; and according to his word he did lead them; and according to his word he did do all things for them; and there was not any thing done save it were by his word.

And according to his word he destroyed them; and according to his word he led them; and according to his word he did all things for them; and nothing was done except by his word.

And after they had crossed the river Jordan he did make them mighty unto the driving out of the children of the land, yea, unto the scattering them to destruction.

And after they had crossed the river Jordan, he made them powerful enough to drive out the people living there and scatter them to destruction.

And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.

"And now, do you think that the people of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers — do you think that they were righteous? I say to you, No.

Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay.

Do you think that our fathers would have been more choice than they were, if they had been righteous? I say to you, No.

Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it.

To the Lord, all people are the same; he favors those who are righteous. But this people had rejected every word of God; they were ripe in iniquity, and the fullness of the wrath of God was on them. So the Lord cursed the land against them, and blessed it for our fathers: cursed it against them to their destruction, blessed it for our fathers so that they gained power over it.

Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.

"The Lord created the earth to be lived in; and he created his children to possess it.

And he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked.

And he raises up a righteous nation, and destroys the nations of the wicked.

And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes.

He leads the righteous away into precious lands; the wicked he destroys, and he curses the land against them because of what they do.

He ruleth high in the heavens, for it is his throne, and this earth is his footstool.

He rules high in the heavens, for it is his throne, and this earth is his footstool.

And he loveth those who will have him to be their God. Behold, he loved our fathers, and he covenanted with them, yea, even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and he remembered the covenants which he had made; wherefore, he did bring them out of the land of Egypt.

And he loves those who want him to be their God. He loved our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; he covenanted with them, and he remembered his covenants. So he brought them out of the land of Egypt.

And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.

"And he disciplined them in the wilderness with his rod, because they hardened their hearts, just as you have; and the Lord disciplined them because of their sin. He sent fiery flying serpents among them, and after the people were bitten, he prepared a way for them to be healed. All the work they had to do was look; and because the way was so simple, so easy, many of them died.

And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did revile against Moses, and also against God; nevertheless, ye know that they were led forth by his matchless power into the land of promise.

But they hardened their hearts from time to time, and they railed against Moses and against God; and yet you know it was his matchless power that led them into the land of promise.

And now, after all these things, the time has come that they have become wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I know not but they are at this day about to be destroyed; for I know that the day must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few only, who shall be led away into captivity.

And now, after all of that, the time has come when they have become wicked, nearly to ripeness; and for all I know, at this very day they are about to be destroyed. For I know the day must surely come when they must be destroyed, except a few, who will be led away into captivity.

Wherefore, the Lord commanded my father that he should depart into the wilderness; and the Jews also sought to take away his life; yea, and ye also have sought to take away his life; wherefore, ye are murderers in your hearts and ye are like unto them.

"That is why the Lord commanded my father to go into the wilderness; and the Jews tried to kill him. And you have tried to kill him too; so you are murderers in your hearts, and you are just like them.

Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.

You are quick to sin but slow to remember the Lord your God. You have seen an angel, and he spoke to you; you have heard his voice from time to time; and he has spoken to you in a still small voice, but you were past feeling, so that you could not feel his words. So he has spoken to you like the voice of thunder, which made the earth shake as if it were about to split apart.

And ye also know that by the power of his almighty word he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye know that by his word he can cause the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts?

You also know that by the power of his almighty word he can make the earth pass away; you know that by his word he can make the rough places smooth and break up the smooth places. O then, why is it that you can be so hard in your hearts?

Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever. Behold, I am full of the Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has no strength.

My soul is torn with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear that you will be cast off forever. I am so full of the Spirit of God that my body has no strength."

And now it came to pass that when I had spoken these words, they were angry with me, and were desirous to throw me into the depths of the sea; and as they came forth to lay their hands upon me I spake unto them, saying: In the name of the Almighty God, I command you that ye touch me not, for I am filled with the power of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay his hands upon me shall wither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as naught before the power of God, for God shall smite him.

When I said this, they were angry with me and wanted to throw me into the sea. And as they came at me to grab me, I spoke: "In the name of the Almighty God, I command you: do not touch me, for I am filled with the power of God, even to the consuming of my flesh. Whoever lays his hands on me will wither like a dried reed; he will be as nothing before the power of God, for God will strike him down."

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto them that they should murmur no more against their father; neither should they withhold their labor from me, for God had commanded me that I should build a ship.

And I, Nephi, told them that they should not complain about their father anymore, and that they should not keep their labor from me, because God had commanded me to build a ship.

And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.

And I said to them, "If God had commanded me to do all things, I could do them. If he commanded me to say to this water, 'Be earth,' it would become earth; and if I said it, it would be done.

And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?

And now, if the Lord has such great power and has worked so many miracles among people, how is it that he cannot teach me to build a ship?"

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said many things unto my brethren, insomuch that they were confounded and could not contend against me; neither durst they lay their hands upon me nor touch me with their fingers, even for the space of many days. Now they durst not do this lest they should wither before me, so powerful was the Spirit of God; and thus it had wrought upon them.

And I, Nephi, said many things to my brothers, until they were dumbfounded and couldn't argue with me. They didn't dare grab me or even touch me with their fingers for many days, for fear they would wither in front of me; that was how powerful the Spirit of God was, and how it had worked on them.

And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth thine hand again unto thy brethren, and they shall not wither before thee, but I will shock them, saith the Lord, and this will I do, that they may know that I am the Lord their God.

Then the Lord said to me, "Stretch out your hand again to your brothers, and they will not wither before you; but I will shock them, and I will do this so that they will know that I am the Lord their God."

And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord did shake them, even according to the word which he had spoken.

So I stretched out my hand to my brothers, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord shook them, according to his word.

And now, they said: We know of a surety that the Lord is with thee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us. And they fell down before me, and were about to worship me, but I would not suffer them, saying: I am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee.

And then they said, "We know for certain that the Lord is with you, because we know it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us." And they fell down before me and were about to worship me, but I wouldn't let them. I said, "I am your brother, your younger brother. Just worship the Lord your God, and honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God will give you."