The Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 3:16

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~600 BC

1830 Edition

Wherefore let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; therefore let us go down to the land of our father’s inheritance, for behold he left gold and silver, and all manner of riches. And all this he hath done, because of the commandments of the Lord:

Influences

Judith 8:7 (KJV)
She was also of a goodly countenance, and very beautiful to behold: and her husband Manasses had left her gold, and silver, and menservants and maidservants, and cattle, and lands; and she remained upon them.

Changes

Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; therefore let us go down to the land of our father’s inheritance, for behold he left gold and silver, and all manner of riches. And all this he hath done, because of the commandments of the Lord:.

Simple English

So let’s keep the Lord’s commands. Let’s go to our father’s old land. He left gold and silver and many valuable things there. He did all this because the Lord commanded it.

Paraphrase

'Let’s stay faithful to God’s commands. I have an idea—let’s go to our father’s old property. He left behind gold, silver, and all kinds of treasures when God commanded him to leave.'

Notes

3:16

Parallel: Both 1 Nephi and the book of Judith contain a similar expression. "left her gold and silver, and.." (Judith 8:7).

For other parallels, please see: 1 Nephi 1:1, 1 Nephi 1:2, 1 Nephi 1:17, 1 Nephi 4:20-24, 1 Nephi 2:4-6, 1 Nephi 3:3, 1 Nephi 3:16, 1 Nephi 3:25, 1 Nephi 3:31, 1 Nephi 4:1-2, 1 Nephi 4:4-5, 1 Nephi 4:7-9, 1 Nephi 4:18, 1 Nephi 4:19-24 & 38, 1 Nephi 4:20, 1 Nephi 4:27, 1 Nephi 5:9, 1 Nephi 13:40, 2 Nephi 5:8, Mosiah 10:13, 4 Nephi 1:31.

For a full note on the use of the Apocrypha, please see the annotation at 1 Nephi 1:1.