101 And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from heaven;
102 Wherefore he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before God.
103 And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable for ever, he sought also the misery of all mankind.
104 Wherefore, he said, unto Eve, yea, even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies; wherefore he said, Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
105 And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit, they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.
106 And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the earth.
107 And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh;
108 Wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men.
109 For he gave commandment that all men must repent;
110 For he shewed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.
111 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed, he would not have fallen; but he would have remained in the garden of Eden.
112 And all things which were created, must have remained in the same state which they were, after they were created; and they must have remained for ever, and had no end.
113 And they would have had no children; wherefore, they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
114 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.
115 Adam fell, that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
116 And the Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall.
117 And because that they are redeemed from the fall, they have become free for ever, knowing good from evil;
118 To act for themselves, and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the Lord, at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
119 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.
120 And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil:
121 For he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
122 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments;
123 And be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit,
124 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein,
125 Which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.
126 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of my probation;
127 And I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet.
128 And I have none other object, save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls. Amen.
CHAPTER 2
1 And now I speak unto you, Joseph, my last born.
2 Thou wast born in the wilderness of mine afflictions; yea, in the days of my greatest sorrow did thy mother bear thee.
3 And may the Lord consecrate also unto thee this land, which is a most precious land, for thine inheritance and the inheritance of thy seed with thy brethren, for thy security for ever, if it so be that ye shall keep the commandments of the Holy One of Israel.
4 And now, Joseph, my last born, whom I have brought out of the wilderness of mine afflictions, may the Lord bless thee for ever, for thy seed shall not utterly be destroyed.
5 For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph, who was carried captive into Egypt.
6 And great were the covenants of the Lord, which he made unto Joseph; wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day.
7 And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins, the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel;
8 Not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off; nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord,
9 That the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light; yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom.
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