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EDITOR'S NOTE
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77 And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my father.
78 But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
79 And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.
80 And it came to pass that many were drowned in the depths of the fountain;
81 And many were lost from his view, wandering in strange roads.
82 And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building.
83 And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me, and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.
84 These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen away.
85 And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.
86 And it came to pass after my father had spoken all the words of his dream or vision, which were many, he said unto us, because of these things which he saw in a vision, he exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel;
87 Yea, he feared lest they should be cast off from the presence of the Lord;
88 And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that, perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off;
89 Yea, my father did preach unto them.
90 And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto them of many things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord;
91 And he did cease speaking unto them.
92 And all these things did my father see, and hear, and speak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel; and also a great many more things, which can not be written upon these plates.
93 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold, they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people;
94 For the plates upon which I make a full account of my people, I have given the name of Nephi;
95 Wherefore, they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and these plates also are called the plates of Nephi.
96 Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people.
97 Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people;
98 Wherefore, these plates are for the more part of the ministry; and the other plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people.
99 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him; which purpose I know not.
100 But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning;
101 Wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words.
102 And thus it is. Amen.
CHAPTER 3
1 And now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon these plates, of my proceedings, and my reign and ministry; wherefore, to proceed with mine account, I must speak somewhat of the things of my father, and also of my brethren.
2 For behold, it came to pass after my father had made an end of speaking the words of his dream, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, he spake unto them concerning the Jews, that after they should be destroyed, even that great city Jerusalem, and many be carried away captive into Babylon, according to the own due time of the Lord they should return again; yea, even be brought back out of captivity;
3 And after they should be brought back out of captivity they should possess again the land of their inheritance.
4 Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews, even a Messiah; or, in other words, a Savior of the world.
5 And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world.
6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be, save they should rely on this Redeemer.
7 And he spake also concerning a prophet, who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord;
8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths straight;
9 For there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
10 And much spake my father concerning this thing.
11 And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.
12 And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world.
13 And it came to pass after my father had spoken these words, he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews,
14 And also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief.
15 And after they had slain the Messiah who should come, and after he had been slain, he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest by the Holy Ghost unto the Gentiles.
