(Book of Mormon, 1830 Edition)
THE BOOK OF OMNI.
CHAPTER I.
BEHOLD, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father Jarom, that I
should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our genealogy; wherefore, in my days, I
would that ye should know that I fought much with the sword, to preserve my people, the
Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I, of myself,
am a wicked man; and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord, as I
ought to have done.
And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and six years had passed away, and
we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of serious war and bloodshed.—Yea,
and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates
according to the commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And
I make an end.
And now I, Amaron, write these things whatsoever I write, which are few, in the book of
my father. Behold, it came to pass that three hundred and twenty years had passed away, and
the more wicked part of the Nephites were destroyed: for the Lord would not suffer, after he
had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, and kept and preserved them from falling into the
hands of their enemies; yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which he
spake unto our fathers, saying, That inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments, ye shall
not prosper in the land. Wherefore, the Lord did visit them in great judgment; nevertheless, he
did spare the righteous, that they should not perish, but did deliver them out of the hands of their
enemies. And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates unto my brother Chemish.
Now I, Chemish, write what few things I write, in the same book with my brother: for
behold, I saw the last which he wrote, that he wrote it with his own hand; and he wrote it in the
day that he delivered them unto me. And after this manner we keep the records: for it is
according to the commandments of our fathers. And I make an end.
Behold, I, Abinadom, I am the son of Chemish. Behold, it came to pass that I saw much
war and contention between my people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites; and I, with mine own
sword, have taken the lives of many of the Lamanites, in the defence of my brethren. And
behold, the record of this people is engraven upon plates which is had by the kings, according to
the generations; and I know of no revelation, save that which has been written, neither prophecy;
wherefore, that which is sufficent, is written. And I make an end.
Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat
concerning Mosiah, which was made king over the land of Zarahemla: for behold, he being
warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken
unto the voice of the Lord, should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness. And
it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of
the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord; and they
were led by many preachings and prophesyings. And they were admonished continually by the
word of God; and they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness, until they came
down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla. And they discovered a people, which
was called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of
Zarahemla; and also, Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because that the Lord had sent the
people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews.
Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla, came out
from Jerusalem, at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon.
And they journied in the wilderness, and was brought by the hand of the Lord, across the great
waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had dwelt there from that time
forth. And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had become exceeding numerous.
Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from
time to time; and their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with
them; and they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could
not understand them.
But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in his language. And it
came to pass that after they were taught in the language of Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a genealogy
of his fathers, according to his memory: and they are written, but not in these plates.
And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla, and of Mosiah, did unite together; and
Mosiah was appointed to be their king. And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a
large stone brought unto him, with engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings, by the
gift and power of God.
And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And
Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of
nine Moons. It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first parents came out
from the Tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of
the Lord fell upon them, according to his judgments, which is just; and their bones lay scattered
in the land northward.
Behold, I, Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah; and I have lived to see his death;
and Benjamin, his son, reigneth in his stead. And behold, I have seen in the days of king
Benjamin, a serious war, and much bloodshed, between the Nephites and the Lamanites. But
behold, the Nephites did obtain much advantage over them; yea, insomuch that king Benjamin
did drive them out of the land of Zarahemla.
And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed, and knowing king
Benjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall deliver up these plates unto him,
exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in
revelations, and in the ministering of Angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the
gift of interpreting languages in all things which is good: for there is nothing which is good, save
it comes from the Lord; and that which is evil, cometh from the Devil.
And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, which is the
Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come
unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and
praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth, ye will be saved.
And now, I would speak somewhat concerning a certain number which went up into the
wilderness, to return to the land of Nephi: for there was a large number which were desirous to
possess the land of their inheritance; wherefore, they went up into the wilderness. And their
leader being a strong and a mighty man, and a stiffnecked man, wherefore, he caused a
contention among them; and they were all slain, save fifty, in the wilderness, and they returned
again to the land of Zarahemla.
And it came to pass that they also took others, to a considerable number, and took their
journey again into the wilderness. And, I, Amaleki, had a brother, which also went with them;
and I have not since known concerning them. And I am about to lay down in my grave; and
these plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking.