Lehi’s Final Blessings
Now let me tell you about the prophecies my father shared—the ones about Joseph who was taken to Egypt. Joseph truly prophesied about all his descendants. The prophecies he wrote are among the greatest we have. He prophesied about us and our future generations, and they’re all written on the brass plates.
After my father finished speaking about Joseph’s prophecies, he called Laman’s children—his sons and daughters—before him. He said to them, 'Listen carefully, children and grandchildren of my firstborn. The Lord God has promised: If you keep my commandments, you’ll thrive in this land. But if you refuse to keep them, you’ll be cut off from my presence.' I can’t go to my grave without leaving a blessing on you. I know that if you’re raised in the right way, you won’t turn from it. 'So if you’re cursed, I’m leaving my blessing on you—that the curse may be lifted from you and fall instead on your parents.' 'Because of my blessing, the Lord God won’t let you be destroyed. He will be merciful to you and your children forever.'
After my father finished speaking to Laman’s children, he had Lemuel’s sons and daughters brought before him. He spoke to them: 'Listen, children and grandchildren of my second son. I’m giving you the same blessing I gave to Laman’s children. You won’t be completely destroyed. In the end, your descendants will be blessed.'
When he finished speaking to them, he spoke to Ishmael’s sons—in fact, to Ishmael’s entire household.
After that, he spoke to Sam: 'You and your children are blessed. You’ll inherit the land just like your brother Nephi. Your descendants will be counted with his. You’ll be just like your brother, and your family line will be like his. You’ll be blessed all your days.'
After Lehi had spoken to everyone in his household—speaking from his heart and the Spirit of the Lord within him—he grew old. And then he died and was buried.
Brothers Turn Against Nephi
Not many days after his death, Laman and Lemuel and Ishmael’s sons were angry with me because of the Lord’s warnings. I had to speak to them according to God’s word. I’d said many things to them, and so had my father before his death. Many of those things are written on my other plates—the ones with more historical detail.
Nephi’s Soul: A Psalm of Struggle and Trust
On these plates, I’m writing what matters to my soul and many of the scriptures engraved on the brass plates. I love the scriptures. My heart ponders them constantly, and I write them down so my children can learn and benefit. My soul delights in the things of the Lord. My heart never stops thinking about what I’ve seen and heard.
Yet even with all the Lord’s goodness—even after he’s shown me his great and marvelous works—my heart cries out, 'What a wretched man I am!' My heart aches because of my mortal weaknesses. My soul grieves because of my sins. I’m surrounded by temptations and sins that trap me so easily. When I want to rejoice, my heart groans because of my sins. Still, I know who I’ve trusted.
My God has been my support. He led me through troubles in the wilderness. He kept me safe on the open ocean. He’s filled me with his love—so much it consumes my whole being. He’s confused my enemies and made them tremble before me. He’s heard my cries during the day, and he’s given me knowledge through visions at night. During the day I’ve prayed boldly and passionately before him. I’ve lifted my voice on high, and angels came down and ministered to me. On the wings of his Spirit, my body has been carried to incredibly high mountains. I’ve seen great things—things too great for anyone to see. That’s why I was told not to write them down.
So then—if I’ve seen such great things, if the Lord in his mercy has visited people with such compassion, why should my heart weep? Why should my soul linger in this valley of sorrow? Why should my body waste away and my strength fade because of my troubles? Why should I give in to sin because of my mortal weakness? Why should I let temptations in, giving the evil one a foothold in my heart to destroy my peace and torment my soul? Why am I angry because of my enemies?
Wake up, my soul! Stop sinking into sin. Rejoice, my heart, and don’t give the enemy of my soul any more ground. Don’t get angry again because of my enemies. Don’t let my strength fade because of my troubles.
Rejoice, my heart, and cry out to the Lord: 'Lord, I will praise you forever! My soul will rejoice in you, my God, the rock of my salvation.' 'Lord, will you redeem my soul? Will you rescue me from the hands of my enemies? Will you help me tremble at the very sight of sin?' 'May the gates of hell stay shut before me because my heart is broken and my spirit is humble. Lord, don’t shut the gates of your righteousness before me. Let me walk in the humble valley. Let me stay on the plain road.' 'Lord, will you wrap me in the robe of your righteousness? Will you make a way for me to escape my enemies? Will you make my path straight? Don’t put a stumbling block in my way—instead, clear my path and block the way of my enemy.' 'Lord, I’ve trusted in you, and I will trust in you forever. I won’t put my trust in human strength, because I know that anyone who trusts in human strength is cursed. Cursed is the one who trusts in people or makes mortal power his support.' 'I know that God gives generously to anyone who asks. My God will give to me if I ask with right motives. So I will lift my voice to you. I will cry out to you, my God, the rock of my righteousness. My voice will rise up to you forever, my rock and my everlasting God. Amen.'
Influences
- 4:13 — Luke 15:13 (KJV)And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
- 4:14 — Acts 28:19 (KJV)But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.
- 4:16 — Isaiah 42:1 (KJV)Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
- 4:16 — Luke 7:22 (KJV)Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
- 4:17 — Revelation 15:3 (KJV)And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
- 4:18 — Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
- 4:18 — Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
- 4:18 — Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
- 4:19 — 2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV)For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
- 4:20 — Isaiah 51:10 (KJV)Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
- 4:21 — Job 33:21 (KJV)His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
- 4:23 — Job 33:15 (KJV)In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
- 4:24 — Acts 13:46 (KJV)Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
- 4:24 — Matthew 4:11 (KJV)Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
- 4:25 — Revelation 21:10 (KJV)And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
- 4:25 — Matthew 4:8 (KJV)Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
- 4:26 — Job 14:10 (KJV)But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
- 4:27 — Psalm 143:12 (KJV)And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
- 4:30 — Psalm 52:9 (KJV)I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.
- 4:30 — Psalm 9:2 (KJV)I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
- 4:30 — Psalm 89:26 (KJV)He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
- 4:31 — Psalm 49:15 (KJV)But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
- 4:31 — Psalm 31:15 (KJV)My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
- 4:32 — Matthew 16:18 (KJV)And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
- 4:32 — Matthew 16:18 (KJV)And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
- 4:32 — Psalm 34:18 (KJV)The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
- 4:32 — Psalm 117:19 (KJV)Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord:
- 4:32 — Isaiah 2:3 (KJV)And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
- 4:33 — Isaiah 61:10 (KJV)I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
- 4:33 — 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
- 4:33 — Matthew 3:3 (KJV)For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
- 4:33 — Romans 14:13 (KJV)Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
- 4:33 — Hosea 2:6 (KJV)Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.
- 4:34 — Jeremiah 17:5 (KJV)Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
- 4:35 — James 1:5 (KJV)If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
- 4:35 — James 4:3 (KJV)Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
- 4:35 — Psalm 143:8 (KJV)Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
- 4:35 — Psalm 4:1 (KJV)Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
- 4:35 — Genesis 21:33 (KJV)And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.