# 2 Nephi 1

*Paraphrase*

### Lehi Speaks of God’s Goodness

After I finished teaching my brothers, our father Lehi spoke to them too. He reminded them of all the amazing things the Lord had done—bringing us safely out of Jerusalem. He talked about their rebellion on the journey, and how God’s mercy kept them from drowning in the sea. He talked about this land we’d reached—this promised land—and how good the Lord had been to warn us to escape Jerusalem.

“I’ve seen it in a vision,” he said. “Jerusalem is destroyed. If we’d stayed, we’d be dead too.”

### The Promised Land

“We’ve been through so much, but we’ve made it to the promised land—a land that’s better than any other. The Lord promised me this land would belong to my descendants forever. Not just to us, but to everyone he leads here from other places.”

“So I’m telling you what the Spirit shows me: no one will come to this land unless the Lord brings them. This land is set apart for those he leads here. If they serve him and follow his commands, they’ll be free—never enslaved. But if they turn to evil, the land itself will turn against them. For the righteous, though, it will be a blessing forever. It’s wise that this land stays hidden from other nations. If they knew about it, they’d flood in and take everything.”

“The Lord has promised me this: everyone he brings here from Jerusalem will thrive if they keep his commands. They’ll be protected from other nations and possess this land for themselves. If they’re faithful, they’ll be blessed here, safe from attack, and no one will take their inheritance. They’ll live in peace forever.”

### A Warning for Future Generations

“But here’s what will happen if they lose faith after everything the Lord has done for them. After knowing how the earth was made and all the Lord’s amazing works from the beginning. After having the power to do anything through faith. After having all the commandments and being brought to this precious promised land by his goodness—if they reject the Holy One of Israel, their true Messiah, their Redeemer, their God—then his judgment will fall on them. He’ll bring other nations against them. He’ll let those nations overpower them and take their land. He’ll let them be scattered and defeated. Generation after generation, there will be war and terrible suffering. My sons, please remember this. Listen closely to what I’m saying.”

### A Father’s Plea

“Wake up! Snap out of this deadly sleep—this sleep that leads to hell. Break free from the chains holding you down, the same chains that drag everyone toward eternal misery and despair!”

“Wake up! Get up from the dust and listen to your father. I’m trembling as I speak—my body will soon lie in the cold grave where no one returns. I have only a few more days before I die.”

“But the Lord has saved my soul from hell. I’ve seen his glory. I’m forever held in his loving arms.”

“I want you to follow the Lord’s commands. This has been my deepest concern from the start. My heart has been heavy with grief, over and over. I’ve been terrified that your stubborn hearts would bring down the full force of God’s anger, wiping you out forever. Or that a curse would fall on you for generations—war, famine, hatred—and you’d become slaves to the devil’s will.”

“I don’t want this for you. I want you to be the Lord’s chosen people. But his will be done. His ways are always right.”

“He’s said it clearly: if you keep my commands, you’ll thrive in this land. But if you don’t, you’ll be cut off from me.”

### Stand Together

“So that I can have joy in you, so I can leave this world with gladness instead of being dragged to my grave with grief—get up, my sons. Be men. Stand together with one mind and one heart, united in everything, so you won’t fall into slavery. Don’t bring down a terrible curse on yourselves. Don’t anger a just God and face destruction—the eternal destruction of body and soul.”

“Wake up! Put on the armor of righteousness. Break these chains. Come out of the shadows and rise from the dust.”

### In Defense of Nephi

“Stop fighting your brother. He’s had incredible visions. He’s followed God’s commands since we left Jerusalem. God used him to bring us to this promised land. Without him, we’d have starved in the wilderness. Yet you tried to kill him. You’ve caused him so much pain. I’m terrified you’ll hurt him again. You’ve accused him of wanting power over you. But I know he’s never wanted control. He’s only wanted God’s glory and your eternal good.”

“You’ve complained that he’s too blunt with you. You say he’s been harsh, that he’s been angry. But his sharpness came from the power of God’s word inside him. What you call anger was just truth—God’s truth that he couldn’t hold back. He spoke boldly about your sins. God’s power had to be with him when he commanded you to obey. It wasn’t really him speaking—it was the Spirit of the Lord inside him. The Spirit opened his mouth, and he couldn’t close it.”

### Final Blessings

“Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and my sons-in-law—if you listen to Nephi, you won’t be destroyed. If you follow him, I give you my blessing—my firstborn’s blessing.”

“But if you refuse to listen, I take back that first blessing. It will rest on Nephi instead.”

“Zoram, I’m speaking to you now. You were Laban’s servant, but you escaped Jerusalem with us. I know you’re a true friend to my son Nephi—you always will be. Because you’ve been faithful, your descendants will be blessed alongside his. They’ll live and thrive in this land. Nothing will harm their prosperity here—unless they turn to evil. If you keep the Lord’s commands, he’s set this land apart to protect your family and my son’s family together.”

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/2-nephi/1)*
