# Omni 1

*Paraphrase*

### Omni’s Brief Record

I’m Omni. My father Jarom commanded me to write something on these plates to keep a record of our family line.

So I want you to know that during my lifetime, I fought hard with the sword to protect my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of the Lamanites. But I’m being honest—I’ve been a wicked man. I haven’t kept God’s laws the way I should have.

Two hundred and seventy-six years passed. We had many seasons of peace, and many seasons of brutal war and bloodshed. In all, two hundred and eighty-two years went by. I kept these plates as my ancestors commanded, then I passed them on to my son Amaron. That’s all I have to say.

### Amaron and Chemish

Now I, Amaron, am writing what little I have to say in my father’s record.

Three hundred and twenty years had passed, and the most wicked part of the Nephites were destroyed. God had led them out of Jerusalem and protected them from their enemies. He wouldn’t let his promise to our ancestors fail—the one where he said: “If you don’t keep my commandments, you won’t thrive in this land.” So God brought severe judgment on them. But he spared the righteous. He didn’t let them be wiped out, but delivered them from their enemies.

I passed the plates to my brother Chemish. I’m Chemish, and I’m writing just a few words in the same record as my brother. I saw what he wrote last—he wrote it with his own hand on the day he gave the plates to me. This is how we keep the records, as our ancestors commanded. That’s all I have to say.

### Abinadom’s Account

I’m Abinadom, son of Chemish. I saw a lot of war and fighting between my people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites. I killed many Lamanites with my own sword to defend my brothers. The detailed history of our people is carved on plates kept by the kings, passed down through the generations. I don’t know of any revelations or prophecies beyond what’s already been written. What’s written is enough. That’s all I have to say.

### Mosiah Flees to Zarahemla

I’m Amaleki, son of Abinadom. Let me tell you about Mosiah, who became king over the land of Zarahemla. The Lord warned him to flee from the land of Nephi. Everyone who would listen to God’s voice left with him into the wilderness.

He did exactly what God commanded. All who would listen to God’s voice left with him and headed into the wilderness. They were guided by constant preaching and prophesying. God’s word kept warning them, and his power led them through the wilderness until they came down into the land called Zarahemla.

There they found a people called the people of Zarahemla. There was great celebration among the people of Zarahemla, and Zarahemla himself was overjoyed that God had sent Mosiah’s people with the brass plates—the record of the Jews.

Mosiah learned that the people of Zarahemla had left Jerusalem when Zedekiah, king of Judah, was taken captive to Babylon. They had traveled through the wilderness and God had brought them across the great waters to the land where Mosiah found them. They’d been living there ever since.

By the time Mosiah found them, they’d grown very numerous. But they’d had many wars and bitter conflicts, and many had died by the sword. Their language had become garbled. They’d brought no records with them, and they denied that God even existed. Mosiah and his people couldn’t understand their language. Mosiah had them taught his language. After they learned to speak it, Zarahemla recited his family line from memory. It was written down, though not on these plates.

The people of Zarahemla and the people of Mosiah joined together, and Mosiah was made their king.

### The Stone and Coriantumr

During Mosiah’s time, someone brought him a large stone covered with engravings. By God’s gift and power, he interpreted them.

The engravings told the story of a man named Coriantumr and his slaughtered people. The people of Zarahemla had found Coriantumr, and he lived with them for nine months. It also said a little about his ancestors. His first ancestors came from the Tower when God confused everyone’s language. God’s judgment fell hard on them—justly so. Their bones lay scattered across the northern lands.

### King Benjamin’s Reign

I, Amaleki, was born during Mosiah’s time. I lived to see him die, and his son Benjamin became king.

During King Benjamin’s time, I saw terrible war and bloodshed between the Nephites and Lamanites. But the Nephites gained the upper hand, and King Benjamin drove the Lamanites out of Zarahemla.

Now I’m getting old. I have no children. I know King Benjamin is a righteous man before God, so I’m passing these plates to him. I urge everyone to come to God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophecy, revelations, angels, speaking in tongues, interpreting languages—in all things that are good. Because nothing good comes from anywhere but God. Everything evil comes from the devil.

And now, my dear brothers and sisters, I want you to come to Christ, the Holy One of Israel. Embrace his salvation and the power of his redemption. Come to him and offer your whole soul to him. Keep fasting and praying. Stay faithful to the end. As surely as God lives, you will be saved.

### Failed Journey to Nephi

Let me tell you about a group that went up into the wilderness to return to the land of Nephi. Many of them desperately wanted to reclaim their ancestral land.

So they headed into the wilderness. Their leader was strong and powerful, but also stubborn and proud. He stirred up conflict among them. They were all killed except fifty, who made it back to Zarahemla.

Later, they took quite a few more people and set out into the wilderness again.

My brother went with them. I haven’t heard anything about them since. I’m about to die, and these plates are full. I have nothing more to say.

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