1 Nephi 13:28-31

The book Nephi saw in his vision had been changed by the great and abominable church.  Many plain and precious things were “taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God” (1 Nephi 13:28).  Note Nephi’s choice of words – “taken away from the book.”  Nephi is telling us those things that are lost from the book were intentionally removed.  Only after the loss of the plain and precious things did the book go to the nations and gentiles.

Apparently, this was a problem as early as Peter’s time.  He wrote, “As also in all [Paul’s] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [GR twist, distort], as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16).  Peter was complaining that Paul’s words had been distorted along with other scripture.  It didn’t take long after Christ’s death for the loss of plain and precious things to begin.

This stage could have occurred simply by altering the meaning of the things taught by the Lord without necessarily changing the words themselves. This change in understanding was the fundamental problem Nephi saw, for the things that would cause many to stumble were those things "taken away out of the gospel" (1 Nephi 13:29).[1]

Nephi saw the gentiles went “forth out of captivity” (1 Nephi 13:30) into this, the promised land.  Lehi had been promised “his seed should have for the land of their inheritance” (1 Nephi 13:30).  Nephi’s descendants will mix with the Lamanites.  His descendants that had mixed with the Lamanites, along with those who were “pure” Lamanite will be spared from destruction.  Jacob taught:

And now, this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore, because of this observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people.

Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children; and their unbelief and their hatred towards you is because of the iniquity of their fathers; wherefore, how much better are you than they, in the sight of your great Creator?

O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God.

Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, which is the word of God, that ye revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skins; neither shall ye revile against them because of their filthiness; but ye shall remember your own filthiness, and remember that their filthiness came because of their fathers.

Jacob 3:6 - 9

There are critics of the Church who claim the Book of Mormon is racist, that the Lamanites are inferior to the Nephites.  They obviously ignore evidence like that that is found in Jacob’s words.  Speaking against the practice of the Nephites having more than one wife and concubines, Jacob compares the Nephites to the Lamanites.  Some of his words:

  

[W]herefore, because of this observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people.

[T]heir husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children.

[T]heir unbelief and their hatred towards you is because of the iniquity of their fathers; wherefore, how much better are you than they, in the sight of your great Creator?

[T]heir skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God.

There are too many critics who don’t let truth and facts get in the way of their beliefs.

---

[1] Some Personal Reflections, John Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 27, 2013.

1 Nephi 13:20-27

Having seen the gentiles prosper in the land, Nephi saw “a book, and it was carried forth among them” (1 Nephi 13:20).  Nephi did not know anything about the book.  The angel told him “it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew” (1 Nephi 13:23).  This book is a record of the Jews.  Lehi, speaking to Joseph, said, “Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord”” (2 Nephi 3:12).

This book contains covenants the Lord made with Israel; it contains prophecies made by the holy prophets; it is a record similar to the brass plates, “save there are not so many” (1 Nephi 13:23).  The book contains the covenants the Lord made with Israel, so this is valuable to the gentiles.

Hugh Nibley explains:

This is our Old Testament, but such a book was quite strange to Nephi, and the angel explains that "it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord... unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles" (1 Nephi 13:23). The only scriptures Nephi knew were a collection of writings, more extensive indeed than what is contained in our Old Testament, but not conflicting with it.[1]

A common criticism of the Church by its opponents is we don’t believe in the Bible. 

Of course, Latter-day Saints believe in the Bible, but it is sometimes stated by some not of our faith that we do not. In fact, we love the Bible and believe its teachings. It holds a special place in our religion that cannot be filled by any other book. On the day the Church was organized, the Lord affirmed the Bible's truthfulness (D&C 20:11), and the Book of Mormon itself bears testimony of the Bible and commits us to it (1 Nephi 13:20–23; 2 Nephi 29:2–13). With many other Christians we have faith that the Bible's ancient writers were inspired, and we reject the trends in modern society that devalue it and its teachings. We can be grateful for the many good people who have held fast to this book, and we join with them in expressing our thanks to God for it.[2]

When the book (the Old Testament) goes forth, it will contain the fullness of the gospel.  The twelve apostles will bear witness to its truthfulness.  When it goes forth, it will be a pure record of the gospel.

And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible!  A Bible!  We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.

But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people.  And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them?  Yea, what do the Gentiles mean?  Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?

O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people?  Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them.  But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.

Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible.  Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?

2 Nephi 29:3 - 6

The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith, “my work shall go forth, for inasmuch as the knowledge of a Savior has come unto the world, through the testimony of the Jews, even so shall the knowledge of a Savior come unto my people—“ (D&C 3:16).

Eventually, may plain and precious things will be taken away from the Old Testament.  As I mentioned earlier, many critics erroneously claim we don’t believe in the Bible.  This shows a misunderstanding of the 8^th Article of Faith, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”  We do not accept the claim that our Bible today is not without flaws.  Biblical textual criticism shows this to be true. (See the writings of Bart Ehrman for examples.) 

John Welch looks at this issue.

[A]s it was handed down, important parts were lost, removed, or obscured. A more detailed and more informative picture than this, however, can be gleaned from the words of 1 Nephi 13:24-32, given by an angel to Nephi. Close reading shows that Nephi saw other, more fundamental factors first at work.

These words of the angel seem to identify three stages in this process—not just one. First, the Gentiles would take "away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious" (1 Nephi 13:26). This stage possibly could have occurred more by altering the meaning or understanding of the things taught by the Lord than by changing the words themselves. This changing of understanding was a fundamental problem seen by Nephi. What would cause many to stumble were those things "taken away out of the gospel" (1 Nephi 13:29, 32).

Second, the Gentiles would take away "many covenants of the Lord" (1 Nephi 13:26). This step, too, could be taken without deleting any words from the Bible as such. The knowledge and benefit of the covenants of God could become lost simply by neglecting the performance of ordinances, or priesthood functions, or individual covenants as the Lord had taught.

Third, Nephi beheld that there were "many plain and precious things taken away from the book" (1 Nephi 13:28). This step was apparently a consequence of the first two, since 13:28 begins with the word "wherefore." Thus, the eventual physical loss of things from the Bible was perhaps less a cause than a result of the fact that, first, the gospel, and second, the covenants had been lost or taken away.[3]

---

[1] A New Age of Discovery, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 24, 2013.

[2] Some LDS Perspectives on the Bible, Insights Volume - 20, Issue - 3Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 24, 2013.

[3] The Plain and Precious Parts, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 24, 2013.

1 Nephi 13:10-19

Nephi next saw the oceans that separated the gentiles from the Lamanites.  The angel said to Nephi, “Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren” (1 Nephi 13:11). 

Nephi saw a gentile cross the ocean and come to the Lamanites in the promised land.  Since at least 1879, when Orson Pratt’s references in the Book of Mormon identified this gentile as Columbus.[1]  Today, there are scholars who question this interpretation.  For example, Stephen Smoot writes:

I urge caution with … identification of Columbus as the Gentile spoken of in 1 Nephi 13:12. Although this idea has most certainly been a prevalent interpretation among Latter-day Saints, it is speculative and cannot be classed as evidence for the Book of Mormon. Ash [author of the book being reviewed] does give some intriguing details about Columbus's own conviction that he was being led by divine forces in his explorations, and he mentions the famous mariner's Libro de las profecías (p. 95). There are, however, risks in constructing an argument based on a fundamental uncertainty.[2]

Nephi also saw other gentiles, escaping captivity, and coming to the new world.  Lehi taught his family that the Lord “will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten” (2 Nephi 1:11).  John Tvedtnes makes this observation about these verses.

“[M]ost Latter-day Saints likely see the fulfillment of prophecies by Lehi and Nephi in the arrival of European explorers and settlers to the territory covered by the United States of America. Therefore, Columbus, the Pilgrim fathers, and others are often understood to be the subjects of those ancient prophecies, despite the fact that Columbus never set foot in North America and that the Massachusetts Pilgrims were but a fraction of the many people from different parts of Europe who settled North, Central, and South America. Even those passages often thought to refer to the oppression of Native Americans by the U.S. government and its people could refer to other parts of the New World (see, for example, 1 Nephi 13:14, 30—31; 22:7—8; 2 Nephi 1:11). Native Americans were persecuted and driven out of their lands throughout the Americas, and persecution continued into the twentieth century in places such as Mexico, Brazil, and Chile. The United States of America was neither the only nation that confined these natives to reservations nor the only New World nation that broke its ties to its European rulers. So while some of those prophecies may include the United States, this is not the only possible meaning.[3]

The “Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance” (1 Nephi 13:15).  Mormon would write much the same sentiment.  “And behold, the Lord hath reserved their blessings, which they might have received in the land, for the Gentiles who shall possess the land” (Mormon 5:19).

Nephi saw that the gentiles “were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain” (1 Nephi 13:15).  We can contrast this to the description Nephi gave of the Lamanites after the separation.  “And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity.  For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them” (2 Nephi 5:21).

Mormon would write that, after Christ’s visit to the Nephites, they “did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people” (4 Nephi 1:10).  Moroni₂ would add, “O then ye unbelieving, turn ye unto the Lord; cry mightily unto the Father in the name of Jesus, that perhaps ye may be found spotless, pure, fair, and white, having been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, at that great and last day” (Mormon 9:6).

These scriptures have been used to show the Book of Mormon is racist, which is clearly not true.  John E. Clark responds to this charge.

True, the Book of Mormon describes the Gentiles as "white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain" (1 Nephi 13:15). Use of this language is not offensive, but to attribute these attributes solely to the immigrants of England, France, Holland, Germany, Sweden, and Ireland is another matter. One gets the distinct impression that Curtis has never seen a Spaniard nor looked up any pictures. They are fairer than he or I. But surely the term "gentile" goes beyond relative evaluations of the whiteness of one's skin or the beauty of one's visage.[4]

The gentiles who came to this land did so to flee their captivity. 

Nephi then saw war between the gentiles and “their mother Gentiles.”  “[T]he the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle. And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations” (1 Nephi 13:18-19). 

This scripture has traditionally been interpreted to refer to the American revolution.  Richard Bushman gives an alternate interpretation.

By American standards, this is a strangely distorted account. There is no indictment of the king or parliament, no talk of American rights or liberty, nothing of the corruptions of the ministry, and most significant, no description of despots or heroes. In fact, there is no reference to American resistance. The "mother Gentiles" are the only warriors. God, not General Washington or the American army, delivers the colonies.

The meaning of the narrative opens itself to the reader only after he lays aside his American preconceptions about the Revolution and recognizes that the dramatic structure in Nephi's account is fundamentally different from the familiar one in Independence Day orations. The point of the narrative is that Americans escaped from captivity. They did not resist, they fled. The British were defeated because the wrath of God was upon them. The virtue of the Americans was that they "did humble themselves before the Lord" (1 Nephi 13:16). The moral is that "the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations." The theme is deliverance, not resistance.[5]

---

[1] Columbus: By Faith or Reason? Grant R. Hardy, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 23, 2013.

[2] The Faith and Reason of Michael R. Ash, Stephen O. Smoot, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 23, 2013.

[3][3] Reinventing the Book of Mormon, John A. Tvedtnes, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 23, 2013.

[4] The Final Battle for Cumorah, John E. Clark, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 23, 2013.

[5] The Book of Mormon and the American Revolution, Richard L. Bushman, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 23, 2013.

1 Nephi 13:1-9

Chapter 13

Nephi sees in vision: the church of the devil set up among the Gentiles; the discovery and colonizing of America; the loss of many plain and precious parts of the Bible; the resultant state of gentile apostasy; the restoration of the gospel, the coming forth of Latter-day scripture, and the building up of Zion. About 600–592 B.C.

Having seen the destruction of his people, Nephi was shown many nations and kingdoms.  These, the angel told him are the nations of the gentiles.   Among the gentiles, Nephi saw the formation of a church.  The angel described this church as being “most abominable above all other churches” (1 Nephi 13:5). 

The church tortures and kills the saints of god.  They are bound with a yoke of iron that brings them into captivity.  Jacob would tell the Nephites, “Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they who are the whore of all the earth; for they who are not for me are against me, saith our God”  (2 Nephi 10:16). 

Nephi saw the great and abominable church and the devil was its founder.  “And another angel shall sound his trump, saying: That great church, the mother of abominations, that made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, that persecuteth the saints of God, that shed their blood—she who sitteth upon many waters, and upon the islands of the sea—behold, she is the tares of the earth; she is bound in bundles; her bands are made strong, no man can loose them; therefore, she is ready to be burned.  And he shall sound his trump both long and loud, and all nations shall hear it.” (D&C 88:94). 

What and who is the great and abominable church?  Noel Reynolds examines a myth.

Myth 3: The Roman Catholic Church specifically is the great and abominable church spoken of in Nephi's vision.

Given the dependence of the early LDS writers on Protes­tant historians, who were themselves often anti-Catholic in orientation, it is not surprising that Latter-day Saints tended to interpret Nephi's vision in this way. The Protestant focus on the corruption in medieval Christianity naturally suggested the Catholic Church as the "church of the devil" described by Nephi in his vision. But if we look more closely at these scriptures, we will see that the church of the devil arose centuries before the Catholic Church was established with Rome as its acknowledged head, and we will see that it includes much more than just one such organization. There is much more to it.[1]

The great and abominable church is made up of those who oppose Christ.  They (those who oppose Christ) may claim to be believers or may reject the existence of God.  What they share in common is their opposition to the gospel and church of Christ.  They are fighting righteousness and serve their master, the devil.

These people have set their hearts on the things of the world.  They want riches and fine clothing.  They are struck with the Nephite disease, pride.  Mormon wrote to us, seeing our day:

Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not.  But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.

And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God?  Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ?  Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?

Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?

Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?

Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints

Mormon 8:35 – 41

For the praise of the world, the great and abominable church will “destroy the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity” (1 Nephi 13:9).

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?  who is able to make war with him?

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Revelation 13:4 – 7

---

[1] Introduction: What Went Wrong for the Early Christians? Noel B. Reynolds, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 20, 2013.

1 Nephi 12:11-23

After having seen Christ’s visit to his people, he looks and sees that there will be righteousness for three generations.  “[T]heir garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God.  And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him” (1 Nephi 12:11).   Many of the fourth generation also lived in righteousness. 

Then, Nephi saw the second multitude in his vision.  Corbin Volluz writes about the two multitudes Nephi saw in his vision.

In Nephi's vision, he is shown the prophetic meaning behind the symbolic imagery of Lehi's dream: "And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the earth gathered together" (1 Nephi 12:13). Whereas the first gathering together of multitudes was a representation of the house of Israel assembling in order to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb, this second gathering of multitudes represents the seed of Nephi and his brethren who gather together for their final great battle, which would result in the virtual annihilation of the Nephite society (1 Nephi 12:14–15). Once again the phrase multitudes gathering together is being used to interpret the symbol of the great and spacious building of Lehi's dream.[1]

The multitude Nephi saw consisted of the Nephite and Lamanite armies, ready to do battle.  Towards the end of his life, Mormon would record, “And it came to pass that my people, with their wives and their children, did now behold the armies of the Lamanites marching towards them; and with that awful fear of death which fills the breasts of all the wicked, did they await to receive them” (Mormon 6:7). 

The angel spoke to Nephi, explaining the fountain of filthy water.  “The ‘fountain [river] of filthy water,’ the interpretation of which the angel gives as ‘the depths of hell’ (1 Nephi 12:16). This is the destination of the descendants of Nephi, who died in their wicked and rebellious state.”[2]

The mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil.  They “blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost” (Proverbs 4:14-15).  The savior taught, “Strive to enter in at the strait [GR narrow] gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24).

The great and spacious building “is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men” (1 Nephi 12:18).  “The ‘great and spacious building,’ the interpretation of which the angel gives as ‘the vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men’ (1 Nephi 12:18). This pride is the inner force that caused the Nephites' overthrow.”[3]

Jeremiah twice warned against vain imaginations.  “But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward” (Jeremiah 7:24).  “And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein; But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them” (Jeremiah 9:13 - 14).

In the parable of the richman and Lazarus, the Savior taught there was a gulf between the righteous and wicked.

And [the richman] cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Luke 16:24 - 26

“In light of Nephi's vision, which came to him after he asked to see what his father, Lehi, had seen, Lehi's dream of the tree of life can be seen as much more than the journey of one man who is concerned for his two rebellious sons. The vision is of cosmic significance, entailing the rise and fall of a great civilization and extending from Lehi's camp to the entire world and its ultimate future. Above all, the vision reveals the Son of God—his birth, life, and death.”[4]

There is a great gulf dividing the righteous and the wicked.  Hugh Nibley explains how this is an appropriate metaphor for someone who lived in a desert environment.

To symbolize what is utterly inaccessible, Lehi is shown "a great and a terrible gulf" (1 Nephi 12:18), "an awful gulf" (1 Nephi 15:28), a tremendous chasm with one's objective (the tree of life) maddeningly visible on the other side; all who have traveled in the desert know the feeling of utter helplessness and frustration at finding one's way suddenly cut off by one of those appalling canyons with perpendicular sides—nothing could be more abrupt, more absolute, more baffling to one's plans, and so will it be with the wicked in a day of reckoning. Hariri describes death as "a chasm drear" which sooner or later confronts all mortals. Many recent photographs show us that Burton was not exaggerating when he described the "titanic walls, lofty donjons, huge projecting bastions, and moats full of deep shade" that are a characteristic of Lehi's desert. It is very much like the "red rock" country of our own Southwest.[5]

When the Nephites and Lamanites met in the great battle, Mormon would describe his situation.  “[B]ehold I have witnessed almost all the destruction of my people, the Nephites.  And it is many hundred years after the coming of Christ ^*that I deliver these records into the hands of my son; and it supposeth me that he will witness the entire destruction of my people.  But may God grant that he may survive them, that he may write somewhat concerning them, and somewhat concerning Christ, that perhaps some day it may profit them” (Words of Mormon 1:1 - 2).

Many generations of the Nephites lived with wars and rumors of war.  Moroni would comment on the Nephite situation.  “And behold, it is the hand of the Lord which hath done it.  And behold also, the Lamanites are at war one with another; and the whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed; and no one knoweth the end of the war” (Mormon 8:8).  “For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ” (Moroni 1:2).

The Lamanites will dwindle in unbelief and become a “dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations” (1 Nephi 12:23).

---

[1] Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life: Springboard to Prophecy, Corbin T. Volluz, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 18, 2013.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Lehi's Vision of the Tree of Life: Understanding the Dream as Visionary Literature, Charles Swift, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 18, 2013.

[5] Lehi's Dream, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 18, 2013.

1 Nephi 12:1-10

Chapter 12

Nephi sees in vision: the land of promise; the righteousness, iniquity, and downfall of its inhabitants; the coming of the Lamb of God among them; how the twelve disciples and the twelve apostles shall judge Israel; the loathsome and filthy state of those who dwindle in unbelief. About 600–592 B.C.

Nephi saw that the wicked of the world would come together and fight against Christ.  The angel then showed Nephi his people in the Americas.  He numbered his people “as many as the sand of the sea” (1 Nephi 12:1), echoing the words of the Lord to Abraham.  “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22:17 - 18).

He was next shown how there would be wars, rumors of war, and great slaughter among his people.  Enos, the son of Jacob (Nephi’s brother) would record, “And I saw wars between the Nephites and Lamanites in the course of my days” (Enos 1:24).  Considering the small number of people involved, even during Enos’ days, what Nephi was seeing was more like what we would call a clan feud than an actual war.  The wars come later.

Moroni, having seen the destruction of the Nephites, would record, “And behold, the Lamanites have hunted my people, the Nephites, down from city to city and from place to place, even until they are no more; and great has been their fall; yea, great and marvelous is the destruction of my people, the Nephites” (Mormon 8:7).

Corbin Volluz likens the mist of darkness to the destruction of the Nephites.

Nephi is shown great battles and wars among his seed and the seed of his brethren, which last for the space of many generations (1 Nephi 12:2–3). Then Nephi sees a "mist of darkness" on the face of the land of promise. This "mist of darkness" beheld by Nephi is an interpretation and elaboration of the "mist of darkness" that Lehi saw cause the destruction of the first multitude in his dream, causing them to "lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost" (1 Nephi 8:23).[1]

Hugh Nibley observed…

When Lehi's party had barely left Jerusalem, Nephi had a vision in which he "looked and beheld the land of promise." And what did he see? "A mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise," and horrible destruction and desolation (1 Nephi 12:4). Obviously one is not home-free when he has set foot upon the land of promise. Quite the opposite; from then on he must watch his step and control the impulse to do whatever he pleases and "have it all." For "God has sworn in his wrath" that what went on in other lands should not go on here.[2] 

Nephi was shown the destruction among his people before Christ’s appearance.  The darkness was lifted and he saws Christ descending out of heaven and stand before those who survived.  This event was anticipated throughout Nephite history.  Nephi would write…

AND after Christ shall have risen from the dead he shall show himself unto you, my children, and my beloved brethren; and the words which he shall speak unto you shall be the law which ye shall do.

But the Son of righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away, and many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.

2 Nephi 26:1, 9

Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh.  And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.

2 Nephi 32:6

Alma₂ taught, “And many of the people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did hear with great joy and gladness” (Alma 16:20).

Nephi then saw the Christ chose twelve his of people and ordained them.  “Behold the Twelve Disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed” (1 Nephi 12:8). 

The angel asked Nephi if he remembered Christ’s twelve apostles.  (When they had been called by Christ, “he gave them power [GR authority over] against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease” (Matthew 10:1).)  The twelve will judge the twelve tribes of Israel.  “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration [JST Matt. 19:28 ... resurrection...] when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).  They will also judge the Nephite twelve. 

The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith, “And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, and it hath gone forth in a firm decree, by the will of the Father, that mine apostles, the Twelve which were with me in my ministry at Jerusalem, shall stand at my right hand at the day of my coming in a pillar of fire, being clothed with robes of righteousness, with crowns upon their heads, in glory even as I am, to judge the whole house of Israel, even as many as have loved me and kept my commandments, and none else” (D&C 29:12).

The Nephite twelve will judge Nephi’s seed. “And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just.  Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be?  Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27).  Mormon added…

Yea, behold, I write unto all the ends of the earth; yea, unto you, twelve tribes of Israel, who shall be judged according to your works by the twelve whom Jesus chose to be his disciples in the land of Jerusalem.

And I write also unto the remnant of this people, who shall also be judged by the twelve whom Jesus chose in this land; and they shall be judged by the other twelve whom Jesus chose in the land of Jerusalem.

Mormon 3:18 - 19

The Nephite twelve will be “righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood” (1 Nephi 12:10). 

All righteous will, through their faith in Christ, have “their garments made with in His blood.”  In his Revelation, an elder answered John, saying, “What are these which are arrayed in white robes?  and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.  And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:13 - 14).

Alma₂, preaching to the people of Zarahemla after he resigned the judgment seat, told them…

I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.

And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness?  Behold, what will these things testify against you?

Behold will they not testify that ye are murderers, yea, and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness?

Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?

I say unto you, Nay; except ye make our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning, ye cannot suppose that such can have place in the kingdom of heaven; but they shall be cast out for they are the children of the kingdom of the devil.

And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God?  Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble?  That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?

Alma 5:21 - 27

When confronting Zeezrom, he would teach…

Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.

Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.

And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest.

Alma 13:11 - 13

---

[1] Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life: Springboard to Prophecy, Corbin T. Volluz, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 16, 2013.

[2] Last Call: An Apocalyptic Warning from the Book of Mormon, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 16, 2013.

1 Nephi 11:30-36

After Nephi saw the twelve being carried away, the angel told him to look.  Christ went forth among the people and Nephi “beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits” (1 Nephi 11:31).  King Benjamin saw much the same thing.

For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.

And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

Mosiah 3:5 - 7

Moroni₂ would write about signs that will follow believers of Christ.  “[I]n in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” (Mormon 9:24).   People were healed and devils and unclean spirits were cast out through Christ’s power.

Nephi then saw the Christ was taken by the people and judged by man. 

And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Prætorium; and they call together the whole band.

And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

Mark 15:15 - 20

He saw the crucifixion of Christ.  He was “slain for the sins of the world” (1 Nephi 11:33).  Christ told the twelve in Jerusalem:

Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.

For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:

And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

Luke 18:31 – 33

Nephi’s brother Jacob taught, “it must needs be expedient that Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name—should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God” (2 Nephi 10:3).

King Benjamin taught:

And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.

And he sha1l rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men.

Mosiah 3:9 - 10

We also have Christ’s words to the Nephites during his visit after his crucifixion.  “And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—“ (3 Nephi 27:14).

After Christ’s crucifixion “the multitudes … were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Lamb; for thus were the twelve called by the angel of the Lord” (1 Nephi 11:34).  Christ’s warned his apostles,

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

Tell us, when shall these things be?  and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Mark 13:3-4, 13

In his epistle to the Corinthians, Paul wrote:

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last [GR last apostles], as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted [GR last apostles], and have no certain dwellingplace;

And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer  [GR endure patiently] it:

Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

1 Corinthians 4:9 - 13

Nephi saw the multitude gathered in the great and spacious building.  “Behold the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (1 Nephi 11:35). 

Sidney Sperry wrote about the spacious building.

The great and spacious building on the other side of the river typifies the pride of the world. The multitudes within the building in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers at those who were partaking of the fruit of the tree represent the wicked world and the folly thereof. They include, according to Nephi, the house of Israel gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb (1 Nephi 11:35). He also informs us that the fall of the great and spacious building represents the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.[1]

John Welch ties this opposition to the twelve to the apostasy.

Nephi then beheld "the world and the wisdom thereof; yea behold the house of Israel" would gather together "to fight against the twelve" (1 Nephi 11:35). This prophecy seems to be completely fulfilled when persecution was immediately heaped by the Jewish potentates on Peter, John, Stephen, and others in Jerusalem; Christians in Damascus; and Paul in Pisidia, Thessalonika, Achaia, and elsewhere. The Christian "menace" seems to have brought Jewish factions together as never before; suddenly Pharisees and Sadducees in the Sanhedrin united against the Christians (Acts 5—7). As is often the case, nothing serves to draw squabbling sectarians together as does a new common enemy.[2]

The great and spacious building represents the pride of the world.  “The great building in Lehi's vision represented the "pride of the world" (1 Nephi 11:36) and was filled with sophisticated critics—scoffing at those who fully accepted the testimony of the prophets and tasted of their experiences (1 Nephi 8:26–28; 15:24).”[3]  The angel told Nephi the building will fall, “and the fall thereof was exceedingly great.  And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (1 Nephi 11:36).

---

[1] Types of Literature in the Book of Mormon: Patriarchal Blessings, Symbolic Prophecy, Prophetic Narrative, Prophetic Dialogue, Sidney B. Sperry, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 15, 2013.

[2] Modern Revelation: A Guide to Research about the Apostasy, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 15, 2013.

[3] Christian Ethics in Joseph Smith Biography, Richard Lloyd Anderson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 15, 2013.

1 Nephi 11:26-29

Having seen the birth of the Savior, the angel shows Nephi the condescension of God.  What does this mean?  The word condescend has its roots from the mid-14^th century., "to yield deferentially," from Old French condescendere  "to agree, consent, give in, yield," from Late Latin condescendere "to let oneself down," from Latin com- "together"  + descendere "descend.” Sense of "to sink willingly to equal terms with inferiors" is from mid-15^th century.[1]

John would write, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).  When Christ fed the 5,000, he told the multitude, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38).

Alma would teach the people of Gideon, “Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me” (Alma 7:13).  In the Olive Leaf, the Lord revealed, “He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth”  (D&C 88:6). 

Nephi beheld the Redeemer of the world.  Towards the end of Nephi’s record, he would prophesy of Christ, writing, “Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God.  Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name” (2 Nephi 25:13).

Corbin Volluz writes about the interpretation the angel gave Nephi concerning the river of water.

Nephi beholds the rod of iron which his father had seen, "which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life" (1 Nephi 11:25). The living waters flow from the base of the tree of life. A basic interpretation of the living waters would be that they are the divine drink that goes along with the divine food (i.e., the fruit of the tree of life) to be given to those who reach the end of the strait and narrow path. Here, though, the angel gives to Nephi another, prophetic, interpretation. The symbol of the living waters is used to represent the waters of the Jordan River in which Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. Indeed, this is exactly what is shown Nephi in vision immediately after he beholds the living waters (1 Nephi 11:26–27).[2]

Nephi also saw John preparing the way for Christ.  He saw Christ’s baptism and he “beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove” (1 Nephi 11:27).

Nephi saw Christ’s ministry, how he would minister in power and great glory.  Eventually he saw they would cast Him out from among them (see 1 Nephi 11:28).  He also briefly saw the twelve before they were carried away.

---

[1] Online Etymology Dictionary, condescend, accessed February 13, 2013.

[2] Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life: Springboard to Prophecy, Corbin T. Volluz, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 13, 2013.

1 Nephi 11:19-25

Having been shown Mary, Nephi was commanded to look.  He saw Mary holding a child in her arms.  John Clark identifies this as a part of Nephi’s messianic doctrine.  The three parts are the Messiah is God, the premortal Jesus, called Jehovah by Old Testament prophets; He is the Redeemer, and the Messiah would be born in the flesh.[1]

The angel told Nephi to “[b]ehold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father” (1 Nephi 11:21).  He then turns Nephi’s question around and asks him to answer his question.  Does he know the meaning of the tree?

Nephi knows the answer.  “[I]t is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things” (1 Nephi 11:22). 

Alma₂ would refer to the tree when preaching to the people of Zarahemla.  “I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life” (Alma 5:62).  In an epistle to Moroni₂, Mormon wrote…

And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;

And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

Moroni 8:25 - 26

Nephi then saw Christ going among the people and may worshipped Him.  He saw the iron rod (the word of God).  It led to the fountain of living waters and the tree of life.  These represent the love of God. 

The living water is the love of God (1 Nephi 11:25). Ultimately, it represents Jesus Christ and his atonement, the only true source of eternal life. The blessings of the atonement have no temporal cost. Individuals pay no monetary price to receive the blessings of the atonement of Christ. Yet God does require a spiritual price: a broken heart and a contrite spirit (2 Nephi 2:7; 3 Nephi 9:20; D&C 59:8).[2]

---

[1] Painting Out the Messiah: The Theologies of Dissidents, John L. Clark, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 11, 2013.

[2] The Earthly Ministry of Jesus Christ, Donald W. Parry, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 11, 2013.