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Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
254 NAHOM A place on
the line of travel of Lehi and his company through the Arabian desert. Here
Ishmael died and was buried. (I. Nephi, 16:34). Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
254 NAPHTALI, LAND OF The
country inhabited by the tribe of Naphtali, in Canaan, afterwards known as
Galilee. It is mentioned but once in the Book of Mormon, in a quotation from
the ninth chapter of Isaiah. (II. Nephi, 19:1). Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
254 - 255 NAZARETH The city
were Jesus spent his childhood. It was shown Nephi in his vision of the coming
and birth of our Savior. (I. Nephi, 11:13). It is nowhere else mentioned by
name in the Book of Mormon. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
255 NESS A grain,
kind unknown, mentioned, in connection with wheat, barley, and sheum, as being
planted by the Nephites on the land of Lehi-Nephi. (Mosiah, 9:9). Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
255 NEHOR Could our
readers have taken a glimpse at the fair capital of the Nephites in the first
year of the Judges (B. C. 91), they might have noticed in its principal street
a portly, handsome man, manifesting in his carriage the evidences of great
bodily strength, combined with vanity, self-sufficiency and subtlety. They
might have observed that his raiment was made of the finest fabrics that the
looms of Zarahemla could produce, lavishly embroidered and ornamented with the
labors of the cunning workman in silk, in feathers and the precious metals,
while at his side hung a richly decorated sword. This man was no king, no
governor, no general of the armies of Israel; he was simply Nehor, the
successful religious charlatan of the hour, to whom the unstable listened and
the weak-minded flocked. Nehor's
teachings had at any rate the interest of novelty to the Nephites, yet some of
his theories were older than Idumea. They had been rejected in the counsels of
heaven before Lucifer, the Son of the Morning, fell. He would save all men in
their sins and with their sins; he abolished hell, established a paid order of
priests, and taught doctrines so liberal that every man could be a member of
his church and yet continue to gratify every vice his nature inclined to. For
this liberality of doctrine, Nehor expected in return liberality of support for
himself and assistants; in which anticipation he was not disappointed. Many
adopted his heresies; his success fired his zeal, and developed his vanity. He
was so used to the sycophancy of his converts that he was restive under contradiction,
and when Gideon, the aged patriot and teacher in the true Church, one day met
him in the streets of Zarahemla and upbraided him for his wicked course,
neither respecting his great age nor his many virtues, Nehor drew his sword and
smote him tell he died. For this wilful and unprovoked crime, the murderer was
tried, convicted and afterwards executed. His execution took place on the hill
Manti, and, from the way in which his death is spoken of, we imagine that he
was hanged. Though
Nehor's shameful life was thus ended, unfortunately his doctrine did not die
with him. It was too pleasant to those who desired to gain heaven by a life of
sin. Consequently it spread widely through the teachings of his followers. In
later years the traitorous Amlicites, the apostate Amalekites, the
blood-thirsty Amulonites and Ammonihahites, were all believers in his
soul-destroying doctrines. The bloodshed, the misery produced, the treasure
expended through the wickedness and folly of these base creatures, cannot be
computed. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
256 NEHOR, CITY OF A city of
the Jaredites. It is mentioned but once (Ether, 7:9) and then in the early
history of that race. Here Shule gave battle to his brother Corihor, who
had usurped the throne, defeated him and restored the kingly authority to their
father, Kib. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
256 NEHOR, LAND OF The land
to which Corihor first retired when he rebelled against his father Kib, who
reigned in the land of Moron (Ether 7:4). We are of the opinion that it
was not far distant from Moron, and, if so, would be in or near Central
America. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
256 - 257 NEPHI, THE SON OF LEHI One of the
greatest prophets whose presence ever dignified this earth. He was one of the
most lovable of men, true as steel, never wavering, full of integrity, faith
and zeal; he loved the Lord with all his heart. It is seldom we find a
character in the history of this fallen world that was as perfect or a complete
as was that of Nephi. He was naturally a leader, his faith and courage made him
so, while his devout humility gave him strength with Heaven. In many respects
he resembled Moses; not only was he their law-giver, but a practical teacher of
his people in the every-day concerns of life. Like Enoch, he was a prophet,
seer and revelator, one in whom were deposited the mysteries of God's dealings
with future generations; like Abraham, he was a father to his people; like
Melchizedek, he was their king and high priest; like Noah, he was a
ship-builder, by which he delivered his family, and like Tubalcain, "an
instructor of every artificer in brass and iron." In one respect he was
like almost all the prophets, for he was derided, mocked, abused and persecuted
by those who should have loved him most, those whose welfare he made his
constant labor. Nephi was
the son of Lehi, a devout Israelite, of the tribe of Manasseh, who resided in
Jerusalem; he was born probably about B. C. 617, was married B. C. 600, in the
valley of Laman, on the borders of the Red Sea; he lived to a ripe old age, and
had a numerous posterity, though of his immediate sons and daughters the Book
of Mormon is entirely silent. It is presumable that one of his sons succeeded
him under the title of Nephi II., as king of the Nephites. When, on
account of the persecution of the Jews, Lehi was commanded by the Lord to leave
Jerusalem, Nephi gladly seconded all his efforts, and became a help and a stay
to his father during the many troubles and perplexities of the toilsome journey
through the Arabian wilderness. Early in that journey they rested for a time in
a little valley bordering on the Red Sea, to which Lehi gave the name of Laman.
Twice while they tarried there the sons of Lehi were commanded to return to
Jerusalem. The first time they went to obtain certain records relating to the
tribe, and God's dealings with His people (see Zoram); the second time
to invite Ishmael and his family to join them in their migration. When they had
accomplished the purpose of their stay in the valley of Laman, the Lord
commanded them to depart, and provided a guide for their travels in the shape
of a Divinely prepared compass, which they called a Liahona. During the
whole of the journey, its peace was marred by the rebellious and violent
conduct of Lehi's unbelieving and unrepentant sons, of whom Laman was
the leader. The first serious outbreak was during the return of Lehi's sons
from Jerusalem to the tents of their father with Ishmael and his family. Some
of the sons of Ishmael seem to have regretted the step which their father had
taken. Possibly, like Laman and Lemuel, they had no faith in the prophecies of
the servants of God, who declared that yet a little while and Jerusalem should
be destroyed; and Laman and Lemuel soon impregnated them with that spirit of
malice and discontent that they themselves had already so prominently shown.
Two of the daughters of Ishmael also manifested this spirit. As usual, the way
in which they showed their feelings was by abusing, and ill-treating Nephi. He
was the special object of their dislike, by reason of his faithfulness to the
commandments of God, and because the Lord had shown to him that he should be
their ruler. When the
spirit of rebellion first manifested itself, as they journeyed in the wilderness,
Nephi rebuked the malcontents in somewhat severe terms. Angry with his words of
reproof and entreaty, the rebellious portion of the camp took Nephi and bound
him with cords, their intention being to leave him in the wilderness to be
devoured by wild beasts. But Nephi in mighty faith prayed to the Lord to
deliver him, and that the cords that bound him might be burst. His petitions
were answered. No sooner had he offered this praver than the bands were loosed,
and he stood a free man before his brethren. Again, in
the love of his heart, he pleaded with his tormentors. But they were still
filled with the spirit of malice and murder, and once more sought to lay
violent hands upon him. However, the wife of Ishmael and one of her daughters,
and also one son, begged so earnestly for them to desist that at last their
hearts were softened, and in sorrow and humility they sought Nephi's
forgiveness. This he freely granted without a moment's hesitation; he was but
too glad to have them turn from their cruel and wicked course. Still, as they
had offended God, as well as injured their brother, Nephi exhorted them to pray
unto the Lord for forgiveness; which they did. This
outbreak was but the precursor and type of many others that afterwards troubled
the little company. Another, which occured shortly after, originated in so
apparently trivial an incident as the breaking of Nephi's bow, while in the
Arabian desert. It appears that in one of their expeditions for food Nephi, who
was their most expert hunter, broke his bow, which was made of fine steel.
Because of this misfortune they obtained no food, and, as a result, they became
very hungry. Being hungry, they grew quarrelsome and rebellious. To such an
extent did this spirit prevail in the camp that even Lehi so far forgot himself
as to murmur against the providences of God. Nephi, ever faithful, alone
refrained from complaining against the Lord; he exhorted his brethren, as was
his custom in times of trouble and sorrow, to put away the hardness of their
hearts and humble themselves before the Lord and then all would be well with
them. His words had their effect. Lehi felt truly chastened, and was brought
down into the depths of sorrow. When in this condition the word of the Lord
came to him, and he was instructed to look upon the Liahona, and read the
things that were written thereon. The reproof that was written on the ball was
such as to make Lehi tremble exceedingly, but it also brought relief to the
party, as the writing instructed them where food could be obtained. Nephi,
having made a bow out of wood, went with it and with a sling and stones, and
found the game in the place that the writing had indicated. He slew enough for
food for all the company. When he returned to the tents of his people, bearing
the beasts he had slain, there was great rejoicing in the hearts of all, and
they humbled themselves before the Lord and gave thanks to Him. When the
people of Lehi reached the sea shore they rejoiced greatly that their tedious
wanderings were over; for they had not traveled in a straight line from coast
to coast, but had wandered around and about as the Liahona directed them, which
worked according to their faith and faithfulness. Eight years had been spent in
taking a journey which, had they been as faithful as they should have been,
would only have occupied a few weeks or months. They
pitched their tents by the sea shore, and after many days, the voice of the
Lord came unto Nephi, saying, "Arise, and get thee into the
mountain." As ever, Nephi obeyed the heavenly word. He went up into the
mountain and there cried unto the Lord. Then the Lord spoke unto him and
commanded him to build a ship, after a manner and pattern that He would show
him, that the people might be carried across the great waters that lay before
them. Here a
difficulty presented itself to the mind of Nephi. He had no tools, and how was
it possible to build a ship without the proper instruments. So he laid the
matter before the Lord, who, in answer to his prayers, told him where he could
find ore with which he might make the tools he needed. Nephi at
once proceeded to carry out the commands of the Lord. With the skins of beasts
he made a bellows to blow the fire, but fire as yet he had none, as the Lord
had not permitted a fire to be lighted in the wilderness. So he smote two
stones together, and their first fire was lighted since the company left the
borders of the Red Sea. When his forge was made and his fire was lit, Nephi
began to melt the ore that he had obtained to make the tools that he needed. When his
brothers saw that Nephi was about to build a ship, they began to ridicule him.
They would give him no help, for they did not believe he was instructed of the
Lord. Nephi became very sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts. When
they saw this they were glad, and tauntingly told him they knew that he was
lacking in judgment and could not accomplish so great a work as to build a
ship. Then Nephi recounted many things wherein the power of God had been
manifested in the deliverance of their fathers; all of which he impressed upon
them as a lesson that when God commanded, men should obey without doubt, or
without question. Said he, "If God had commanded me to do all things, I
could do them. If He should command me that I should say to this water, Be thou
earth, it would be earth. Then how much less is it to build one ship than to do
the marvelous works of which I have told you." At first
when Nephi held out these great truths to his brethren, they were angry and
threatened to throw him into the sea; but the Spirit of God was so powerfully
upon him, that they dared not touch him lest they wither; even if he but held
out his hand towards them, they received a shock. After a
time the Lord told him to stretch forth his hand again toward his brethren, and
that they should not wither; but the power of God should smite them; and this
he was commanded to do that they might know that the Lord was their God. So
Nephi stretched forth his hand as he was commanded, and the Lord shook them as
He had promised. Then they fell down to worship their younger brother, whom in
times past they had so much abused; but he would not permit them. He said,
"I am your brother, even your younger brother, wherefore worship the Lord
thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother." Then the
brothers of Nephi worshiped the Lord, and showed their repentance by helping
Nephi to build the ship; while he, from time to time, received the word of the
Lord as to how he should work its timbers; for he did not work after the manner
of the ship-builders of that time, nor after any manner that men were
accustomed to. But he built the ship just as the Lord had shown it to him; and
he often went up into the mount and prayed to the Lord, and God showed him many
great things. Now, when
the vessel was finished Nephi's brothers saw that it was good, and its
workmanship exceedingly fine, therefore they again humbled themselves before
Heaven. Then the voice of the Lord came to them and commanded them to go on
board, which word they willingly obeyed, and at once put forth to sea. The
vessel was then driven by the winds towards the promised land. After they had
been sailing prosperously for a number of days, the hearts of Nephi's brothers
and of the sons of Ishmael and others grew merry and in their merriment they
forgot the Lord. They danced and sang and became very boisterous and rude. This
conduct pained Nephi exceedingly. He feared lest God should be angry with them
and smite them. Therefore he began to protest with much seriousness against the
course they were taking; but they grew angry with him, and his two elder
brothers, Laman and Lemuel, took him and bound him. So furious were they that
they treated him with great harshness, binding the cords so tightly around his
limbs that they caused him much suffering. Then the
Liahona ceased to work. It had been directing the course of the ship thus far,
but now that they had rebelled against the Lord it would no longer point the
way that they should sail. They were in a dilemma, for not one of them knew
which way the ship should be steered. To add to their trouble and perplexity
there arose a great and terrible tempest, and the ship was driven back upon the
waters for three days; and though they were afraid that the raging waters would
engulf their little vessel, yet so hardened were they that they would not loose
Nephi. On the
fourth day matters were still worse. There appeared to be no hope, but that
they would be swallowed up in the sea. Then, and not till then, did they seem
to understand that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must
unavoidably perish unless they repented. Then they reluctantly loosened the
bands which bound Nephi's wrists and ankles, and let him go free. But his
limbs, by reason of the way in which he had been bound, were swollen, and he
tells us great was the soreness thereof. Nevertheless, in all his afflictions
he never murmured. During the
time that Nephi had been thus bound, his father Lehi had begged most earnestly
for the release of his son, but the rebels threatened everyone who sought
Nephi's release; and his parents, who had now grown aged, were brought down to
sick beds by reason of their affiictions and came very near to being cast into
a watery grave. When Nephi
was freed he took the compass, and it commenced to work as before. He prayed to
the Lord, after which the winds ceased to blow, the storm passed away, and
there was a great calm. Then Nephi took charge of the ship and guided it in its
course towards the promised land, which, after many days it reached in safety. Arrived on
the land of promise, they found it rich in minerals, and fruitful. The little
colony at once proceeded to sow the seeds they had brought with them and were
delighted to find that they fructified and brought forth abundantly; and all
might have been peace and happiness in their midst had it not been for the
murderous jealousy of Laman and his associates. After a time, Lehi called his
posterity and others together and blessed them. Many and glorious were the
promises made by the patriarch to Nephi. Soon after this Lehi passed away to
his eternal reward. No sooner
was Lehi dead than the hatred that rankled in the hearts of Laman and those who
sympathized with him seems to have become intensified. It became evident that
the two peoples could not live together in peace. They had nothing in common
except that they belonged to the same family. Laman's vindictiveness grew so
cruel that Nephi's life was in danger; and, as the readiest way out of the
difficulty, Nephi was instructed of the Lord to take those who would listen to
his teachings and obey the commandments of God into some other part of the
land. Therefore he gathered together those people who would hearken to him,
and, taking that portion of the property that belonged to them, as also the
sacred records, the sword of Laban, the Liahona and other treasures, they
departed into the wilderness. Those who listened to Nephi and accompanied him
on this journey were, besides his own family, his brothers Sam, Jacob and
Joseph, his sisters, whose names are not given, and Zoram, with their families.
There might have been, possibly, some others, as we are led to infer from the
statement in the Book of Mormon, but who they were we are not told. The
distance which Nephi and his people traveled was not, probably, very great;
that is, it is not to be measured by thousands of miles, for we find that in a
very few years the Lamanites had found out their place of retreat, and were
harassing and making war upon them. The
Nephites desired that the land they now possessed should be called the land of
Nephi; and this was the name by which it was always afterward known. The people
of Nephi made yet another request. It was that Nephi should be their king. This
desire did not altogether please him; but for the safety of his people he
consented. The kingly power in his hands partook much of the nature of
fatherhood. His people were few in numbers, and he looked after their
individual interests, guided them in their undertakings, directed them in their
labors, and when he found that there was danger of an attack from the
embittered adherents of Laman, he took the sword of Laban, and, using it as a
pattern, fashioned other swords for their defense. Being thus prepared for the
attacks of their enemies, the Nephites repulsed them every time they came to
battle. Nephi also
taught his people to be industrious. They were a lonely people, cut off from
communication with all the rest of the world, without excitements, and with
very few amusements that are common to most peoples. He knew that nothing would
be so dangerous to their spiritual welfare, as well as to their health, as to
permit them to spend their days in idleness. He, therefore, taught them many
kinds of work, the women to take the wool of the sheep and the hair of the
llamas and make clothes thereof; while upon the men devolved the labor of
building a temple. Holding the Holy Priesthood himself, he consecrated his
brothers Jacob and Joseph to be priests also. Shortly
after the arrival of Lehi and his little party on this continent, Nephi
received a commandment from the Lord to make certain plates of ore on which to
engrave the doings of his people. And a few years later Nephi received further
instructions, wherein he was commanded to make other plates upon which also
were to be engraven the history of the Nephite people. By them, both these
plates were called the plates of Nephi, but they were not used for identically
the same purpose. Upon one set of plates was inscribed the religious history of
the people, upon the other was given in greater detail the history of their
wars, contentions, development and other secular matters. Some years
later, how long we are not told, Nephi anointed another man to be king over his
people, and then, having grown old, he died. So greatly was he beloved by his
subjects that the people called the next king, Nephi the second, the next,
Nephi the third, and so on. He had been their prophet, priest and king; father,
friend and guide; protector, teacher and leader; next to God, their all in all. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
266 NEPHI, THE SON OF HELAMAN In Nephi
we have one of the greatest prophets that ever trod the earth, or to whom the
God of our salvation revealed His glorious will. He lived during the greater
portion of the first century before Christ, and disappeared from the knowledge
of mankind but a short time before the advent of the Messiah in Bethlehem. He
is first referred to in the Book of Mormon (B. C. 44) as the elder of Heleman's
two sons, Lehi being the younger. These two brothers appear to have been
inseparable during their life; they are almost always mentioned as associated
in the great and oft-times perilous labors of the ministry undertaken for the
salvation of either Nephites or Lamanites. We have no information with regard
to the time of Nephi's birth, but when his father died, in the year B. C. 39,
he succeeded him as chief judge, the duties of which office he filled with
wisdom and justice for about nine years, when, owing to the wickedness of the
people, he resigned that office and Cezoram was chosen by the people in
his stead (B. C. 30). The years
that Nephi judged his people are some of the darkest in Nephite history. Owing
to their great pride and iniquity, the Lord left them to themselves, and they
became weak like unto the Lamanites, man for man. When war was declared, the
latter, being much the more numerous, carried everything before them. In vain
the Nephites under Moronihah struggled for their homes and their
liberties. They were forced back by the hordes of the Lamanites from city to
city, from land to land. Not a place could be found in the whole southern
continent where the soldiers of the Nephites successfully held their ground.
With hurried hands they built a line of defense across the Isthmus of Panama,
from sea to sea, for the hosts of their conquerors were still pushing
northward. This line of fortifications stopped the roll of the barbaric tide
northward, and the Lamanite commanders rested with the conquest of a continent. These richly
deserved misfortunes brought the Nephites partly to their senses—they began to
repent. Taking advantage of this change in the state of their feeling, Nephi,
Lehi, and their general, Moronihah, preached energetically, and uttered many
prophecies concerning what would most assuredly come upon them if they did not
amend their ways. After a time, Moronihah felt that they had sufficiently
humbled themselves for the Lord to measurably be with them, and he once more
ventured to lead his warriors against the Lamanites. Step by step they regained
their former possessions, until all the most northern settlements had been
reoccupied. Further than this Moronihah dared not venture, the conduct of the
people was not sufficiently reformed, they had not repented in fulness of heart
and purpose. So he waited in the hope of a better and brighter day, when the
people would have thoroughly turned from all their besetting sins, and when he,
in the strength of the God of Israel, could lead them on to victory. Thus
Zarahemla still remained in the hands of the foe. When Nephi
retired from the judgment seat, it was with the intention of devoting his
entire time to the preaching of the gospel. He associated his brother Lehi with
him, and commencing at the most northerly settlement on the southern
continent—Bountiful—he journeyed and preached throughout all the land southward
in the possession of the Nephites. From thence the two brothers passed onward
to Zarahemla, where they found many Nephite dissenters, to whom they proclaimed
the word of God in great power. Numbers of these confessed their sins, were
baptized unto repentance, and immediately returned to their brethren to repair,
if possible, the wrongs they had done, and make such restitution as lay in
their power. Numbers of the Lamanites also received the truth gladly, insomuch
that eight thousand of them were baptized in Zarahemla and the regions round
about. From
Zarahemla, Nephi and Lehi proceeded south to the land of Nephi, where they were
captured by an army of the Lamanites, and thrust into the very same prison in
which Ammon, Helem and Hem were beforetime confined. Here they
were treated with great inhumanity by their savage captors. Food was denied
them, and it was decided to kill them. When the officers commissioned with the
carrying out of this cruel decision arrived at the prison they found the two
prophets encircled about as if by a pillar of fire. This sight filled them with
awe; they dared not attempt to execute their orders; they held back from laying
hands on the prisoners, lest they should be burned, but they also observed that
the two brothers stood unhurt and unterrified in the midst of the ascending
flames. Emboldened by the trepidation of the Lamanite officials, Nephi and Lehi
stood forth and explained to them that it was by the power of God that this
marvelous thing had happened; that it had been manifested that they might learn
that no one could harm them, that they were the servants of the Most High, and
His almighty arm shielded them. Nor was this all: a sudden earthquake shook the
ground, the prison walls tottered to their foundations, a pall of thick
darkness covered all whom curiosity or other motives had gathered to the
prison. The unburning flame, the tottering walls, the quivering earth, the
impenetrable cloud of blackness, all conspired to fill their hearts with solemn
fear and awful dread. They realized the almighty power of God; they were filled
with the sense of their own abject insignificance. A voice, the voice of One
whom they knew not, sounded in their affrighted ears, once, and again, yea, a
third time, and each time that the voice came it was followed by the trembling
of the earth and the shaking of the prison walls. All nature quivered at the
presence of the Majesty on High, while the heavy, palpable, impenetrable
darkness still enshrouded them. From above the voice descended, it was outside
the cloud, its tones came not to their quaking hearts with the roar of the
pealing thunder, nor was it like the tumultuous flow of angry, raging waters,
but it was "still voice of perfect mildness," almost a whisper, that
pierced to their inmost souls. That voice was the voice of the mighty God of
Jacob, and He called upon all those who heard Him to repent, and to do His
servants no ill, and with the third repetition of this command were added
marvelous words of salvation that cannot be uttered by men. And because of the
thick pall of darkness that enveloped them, and the fearful dread that filled
their hearts, none dared move; fear, astonishment, apprehension of what was to
come, had riveted each to the spot on which he stood. Now, among
the crowd was a Nephite dissenter, an apostate from the true Church, named Aminadab.
This man, happening to turn his face in the direction where the two prophets
stood, beheld that their faces shone with a glorious light, and that they were
conversing with some one who appeared to be above them, for their eyes were
turned heavenward. Aminadab drew the attention of those who surrounded him to
this glorious appearance and the spell that bound them was sufficiently removed
to enable them to turn towards the prisoners and to become witnesses of the
fact also. "What do all these things mean?" he anxiously inquired.
"They do converse with the angels of God," answered Aminadab. "What
shall we do that this cloud of darkness may be removed?" was their next
question. "You must repent and cry unto the Voice, even until ye shall
have faith in Christ," he replied. They did cry unto God with all the
energy that their terrifying surroundings inspired, and so continued to
supplicate until the cloud was dispersed, when, to their great surprise, they
discovered that they also were entombed in a pillar of living fire. Yet this
fire did not hurt them, it did not singe their garments, it did not consume the
prison walls. But their terror was swept away, and they were filled with a joy
that was unspeakable, for the Holy Spirit of God filled their souls, and they
broke forth in marvelous words of praise and rejoicing. Again a pleasant,
searching whisper reached their gladdened ears. It said unto them, "Peace,
peace be unto you because of your faith in my well-beloved, who was from the
foundation of the world." Now there were about 300 souls who heard and saw
these things, and they cast up their eyes unto heaven, which was opened to
their vision, and holy angels came down and ministered unto them. The
tidings of this glorious appearing were quickly spread near and far in the
lands where the Lamanites dwelt, and so powerful was the testimony and so great
were the evidences, that the major portion of the people believed, repented and
obeyed the gospel. Then, like all true Saints, they manifestetd the sincerity
of their repentance by works of restitution; they laid down their weapons of
war, they cast aside their false traditions, their hatred gave place to love,
and they restored to the Nephites Zarahemla and the other lands they had taken
from them (B. C. 30). So great was the reformation in their character, so
radical was the change in their habits, that they soon exceeded the Nephites in
faith and works of righteousness. It is a lamentable fact that at this time
many of the latter had become hardened, impenitent and grossly wicked. But
there were those who still remained faithful to the truth, whose hearts greatly
rejoiced at the conversion of their former foes. This joy was, the next year,
greatly increased by the arrival of many missionaries from among the hitherto
darkened and benighted people. The tables were turned, the two races had
changed places; Laman was teaching Nephi the ways of holiness and the law of
the Lord. And God was abundantly with them, His matchless power attended them;
they opened their mouths and He filled them with inspired words of truth. The
Holy Spirit sealed their utterances, and many of the Nephites believed. Nor
were Nephi and Lehi idle. They were sounding the gospel trump, long and loud,
in lordly Zarahemla and its tributary districts, and then, with many of the
Lamanite priesthood, they proceeded to the land northward. Peace
throughout the vast continent from north to south, from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, followed this reformation. A Nephite could visit and do business in
every part of the wide land, and so could a Lamanite. This goodly peace brought
stability, stability brought wealth, wealth engendered pride, pride gave birth
to numerous sins, to be followed by contentions, dissensions, and then wars.
These evils begat sorrow, sorrow softened their heart to repentance, repentance
was followed by the blessing of God which again brought peace, prosperity, and,
by-and-bye, riches. And at this era of Nephite national life, this is the one
eternal round which their inspired historians are compelled to chronicle.
Within four short years of the happy time of universal peace we have just
referred to, the riches of the world had induced stubbornness and rebellion
towards God, combined with the insane desire to rob, plunder and murder their
fellow-men. If there ever were a people swift to do evil, they were the
Nephites of that generation. In the year B. C. 26, Cezoram, the chief judge,
was murdered by an unknown hand, as he sat on the judgment seat, and his son,
who succeeded him, suffered in like manner within the year. The Gadianton
robbers grew in strength, numerically and morally, and were actually fostered
among the Nephites, while the more righteous Lamanites utterly destroyed all
that they found within their borders. The one people dwindled in unbelief, the
other grew in grace and in the power of God's divine Spirit. Nephi tarried
on the northern continent until the year B. C. 23, when, his teachings and his
prophecies having been rejected by its inhabitants, he returned in sorrow to
Zarahelma; but he found no comfort there. The Gadianton robbers filled the
judgment seats, and perverted the law to their own avarice and lust. The life,
the property, the liberty, the virtue of righteous men and women were counted
as things of naught, their playthings or their spoil. Nephi's
house in Zarahemla was situated on one of the principal thoroughfares which led
to the chief market-place. In his garden, near the highway, he built a tower,
whither it was his wont to repair for prayer. On one occasion, shortly after
his return from the north, he became so deeply concerned because of the iniquities
of the people, that in earnest supplication to the Lord he raised his voice so
high that he was heard by the passersby in the street below. A listening crowd
soon gathered, and when the prophet had ended his dovotions and become aware of
their presence, he commenced to teach them. His words were not sugar-coated, to
adapt them to the predelictions of his congregation. On the contrary, he boldly
rebuked their sins, their murders, their whoredoms, their secret iniquities, at
the same time, in the love of the Gospel, entreating, beseeching and pleading
with them to amend their lives and do better. He also warned them of the
terrible impending judgments that would inevitably fall upon them if they
repented not. His words caused a division among his hearers, some clamoring for
his arrest and imprisonment as one who bore false testimony and reviled the
law, while others maintained that he spoke the truth and was a prophet. To
prove to their sin-darkened minds that the prophetic gift was with him he told
them to send to the hall of judgment, and that there they would find the chief
judge murdered, lying in his blood; yet more, that the murderer was the
victim's brother. Five of the crowd hastened to prove his words. They hurried
to the judgment hall, where they found the chief magistrate in the condition
that Nephi had declared. Other citizens, who knew nothing of Nephi's words,
having entered the hall and finding the five men there with the dead body,
concluded that they were the assassins, and consigned them to prison. And some
of the most hardened afterwards charged Nephi with being an accomplice before
the act, and that he had arranged the whole affair to obtain influence with the
people, so that they would believe and accept his doctrine. On this charge he
was bound and imprisoned. By the wisdom that Heaven gave him so abundantly, he
was enabled to baffle this attempt on his life, and through his instrumentality
the murdered judge's brother having been brought to confess his crime, Nephi
was delivered from his traducers and set at liberty. Some of the citizens now
acknowledged that he was a prophet, others declared that he was a god, while
many remained hardened in their sins. So violent became the contention that the
people gathered in excited crowds upon the streets, wrangling and disputing
about the events of the past two days. In their excitement they entirely forgot
Nephi, and left him standing alone in the street. With a sorrowful heart he
wended his way homeward; but before he reached there the voice of the Lord came
to him with many words of comfort and commendation. As with others of His
servants, the Lord made a covenant with him, that whatsoever he bound on earth
should be bound in heaven, and to bless and to curse; to smite the earth with
famine whatsoever he loosed on earth should be loosed in heaven; that he should
have power over the elements and pestilence and destruction, and that none
should have power to hurt him. The Almighty then directed him to return and
again raise his cry of repentance in the cities of the Nephites. He obeyed, and
lifted up his voice in solemn warning; he went from multitude to multitude,
from city to city, from land to land, but without effect. Sometimes, when he
thus warned his fellow-men, they sought to imprison and otherwise maltreat him,
but the Spirit of God would bear him out of their midst to labor in some other
place. In this manner three years passed away; contentions and wars, murder and
violence, filled the land. At last,
wearied with beholding so much misery and contention, Nephi prayed that the
Lord would not suffer the people to be destroyed by the sword, but rather let a
famine desolate the land and, peradventure, bring the people to an
understanding of their awful condition, and cause them to humble themselves and
repent. God heard and answered his petition, the heavens became as brass over
the land, the rains ceased, the earth dried up, the crops failed, the people
perished for want of food. Two years
passed (B. C. 19 and 18) and the third came; but still the refreshing rain was
withheld (B. C. 17). During this year the people, humbled by their sufferings,
turned towards the Lord. They endeavored to root out iniquity from their midst.
They destroyed the Gadianton robber bands, and established the government on a
more righteous foundation. Nephi, observing the change in their conduct and
feelings, interceded with the Lord in their behalf. His prayers were answered,
the welcome rain descended on the parched-up soil, and a bounteous harvest once
more crowned the labors of the husbandman (B. C. 16). The
repentant people now regarded Nephi in his true light; they revered him as a
great prophet, and for a few short years they listened to his teachings. While
they did so they prospered. But the leaven of unrighteousness had too
thoroughly permeated the national life for their faithfulness to God to be of
long duration. For two, three, or perhaps half a dozen years they would
maintain their integrity, and then corruption would seethe, the vile would
snatch the reins of government, the good would be oppressed, and contention and
war, with all their horrors, would again reign supreme. Thus it was after the
three years of famine. For two years there was peace, in the third there began
to be much strife (B. C. 13), in the next, the Gadianton bands reappeared, and
carried havoc among their more peaceable fellow-countrymen. Going on, year by
year, they grew in iniquity and ripened for destruction. For many years Nephi
strove to stem the tide of vice. At times partial succees rewarded his
unceasing efforts, and he had joy in the baptism of some honest souls. But the
great bulk of the people had rejected the gospel, they had no love for its holy
principles, and were unfit for its blessings. Shortly
before the birth of Christ, Nephi transferred the plates of brass and other
records to his son Nephi, gave him charge concerning them, and departed from
the land of Zarahemla. Whither he went or what became of him is hidden from the
knowledge of mankind. That he did not return to the dwelling-places of humanity
is testified to by his son some ten years afterwards (A. D. 9). Of Nephi's
private life and circumstances we can learn but little from the Book of Mormon.
It is evident that his public labors as a preacher of righteousness occupied
almost his entire time. Two of his sons, Nephi and Timothy, are mentioned by
name; these were both chosen by the crucified Redeemer to be members of the
Quorum of the Twelve Disciples who ministered among the Nephites. His character
is the one that stands pre-eminent in his age; he was of a verity a friend of
God, who so acknowledged him, blessed him with as high and glorious privileges
as are ever conferred on man, made peculiar and special covenants with him, and
gave him revelations daily. His whole history gives evidence of his faith,
patience, courage, integrity, humility and zeal. In his long life he saw much
sorrow, but God took him to Himself at last. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
276 NEPHI, THE DISCIPLE Nephi,
like his illustrious father, was the leading spirit of the age. Previous to the
visit of the crucified Redeemer to the Nephites he was their high priest and
prophet. When the Messiah came to them, and chose twelve Disciples to be
special ministers of His name and glory, Nephi was the first that He called,
and to him, on various occasions, the Savior immediately directed His
conversation and instructions. Shortly
before the birth of our Savior, Nephi received the sacred plates with their
appendages from his father, with strict instructions as to their care. From
that time the elder Nephi was no more seen by mortals, and his son took his
place as the representative of Jehovah to the inhabitants of the western world. When 600
years had passed since Lehi left Jerusalem, the wicked and perverse raised a
great outcry that the prophecies had failed and the believers were deluded,
that the delusion was a danger to the state, and those who adhered to it should
be slain. They even appointed a day on which to carry out their sanguinary threats
should the promised signs not be first given. These were days of anxiety and
dread to Nephi. For consolation he sought the Lord in long and fervent prayers.
And his prayers received a full and joyous answer. The word of the Lord came to
him that that night the looked-for sign should be given, and on the morrow Jesus
would come into the world. And so it came to pass. The new star appeared in the
heavens, there were two days and a night of undiminished light and all the
people, both the righteous and the evildoers, recognized the sign and accepted
its signification; the Lord of Life and Glory was clothed with humanity. For about
thirty years we have no direct statement of the work done by Nephi as a
minister of God's word. Those thirty years were a period marked with many
vicissitudes in the national and spiritual history of the Nephites. For
seventeen years from the time of the birth of our Savior they gradually
increased in wickedness; war and desolations afflicted them until, in their
extremity, they were brought to repentance. But their repentance did not bring
immediate deliverance from earthly troubles—the Gadianton robbers held the
upper hand, and it was not until A. D. 21 that, by a signal victory, they freed
themselves from their oppressors and invaders. Then followed a short period of
peace and prosperity, with its usual train of consequences—riches, pride,
inequality, oppression and varied iniquities, and year by year they grew worse,
until A. D. 29. But even then they had not descenbed to their lowest; the next
year we read of them unjustly and unlawfully condemning to death the prophets
who were sent to them. They overrode the laws, filled the country with
sedition, and sought to establish a monarchy in the place of the republic. The
royalists, however, did not effect their purpose, but they succeeded in
breaking up the government. The people then split up and divided into numerous
factions, each governed by its peculiar laws and regulations, and having its
own chief (A. D. 31). At this
time Nephi is again brought to our notice. He comes forth as a servant of the
Most High God, administering the words of eternal life with such power and
great authority that none could disbelieve his testimony, for angels ministered
to him daily. His cry was faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance and
baptism for the remission of sins. Many were the mighty works he performed; he
cast out devils and unclean spirits; he healed the sick and even raised the
dead. But the wicked were actually angered at these manifestations of God's
goodness, and but few were converted. Still, Nephi continued his labors, and at
the end of three years he rejoiced in the re-establishment of the church among
the righteous, the organization of the priesthood and the development of the purposes
of God. For all this, the greater portion of the people continued to delight in
sin; the day of their destruction had come. Thus
passed away thirty and three years. The time had now come for the fulfilment of
the prophecy of Samuel, the Lamanite, when there should be darkness over
the face of the land for the space of three days. On the fourth day of the
first month of the thirty-fourth year, a great and terrible tempest arose, the
horrors of which exceeded all others since the deluge. Huge tidal waves swept
the coasts, swift cyclones and irresistible hurricanes mowed down forest,
wilderness, city and tower, leaving blank desolation in their train; the earth
trembled to its foundations, belched forth fire, uprose in giant peaks or sank
in deep abysses. The whole face of the land was changed by these indescribable
commotions. Some cities were burned, some sank in the depths of the sea; some
were entombed in the earth, while mountains covered the place where others had
before stood. It is not our intention here to detail the horrors of the three
days of mental and physical darkness that followed the hurricane and the
earthquake, nor to dilate upon the great and terrible mourning of the people
for their kindred slain, their cities destroyed and their treasures lost. The
mental horror of these black days was intensified by the fear that they had
sinned away their day of grace, as they realized the tens of thousands of the
dead had done. Then was heard a voice from heaven, crying, "Wo, wo, wo
unto this people, except they shall repent." That voice was the voice of
the Redeemer, and He recounted to them the destructions, the tribulations, the
sorrow that had come upon them because of their abominations, but added the
pleasing news that they who survived had been spared because they were more
righteous than those who had fallen victims to the fury of the storm. He bore
record of Himself, of His sufferings and death—that He had given His life as a
ransom for the sins of the world—and many words of counsel and instruction He
added to His testimony for their future guidance. When the voice ceased there
was silence throughout the land for the space of many hours. Afterwards the
voice of the Savior was again heard, repeating to the humbled Nephites how
often He would have gathered and spared His people Israel, but they would not.
Thus did the three days of terror pass away. At its close the darkness
dispersed and the wailing of the people stopped, for their mourning was turned
into praise and thankfulness unto the Lord Jesus, their Redeemer. The
horrors of the desolation past was succeeded by the most glorious age in
Nephite history. The extreme of misery was followed by a fulness of joy. The
cruicified Redeemer himself appeared and ministered among the people; with His
own voice he explained the beauties and harmonies of salvation's wondrous plan.
The simple, heart-reaching truths of the everlasting gospel He repeated in the
same plain and gentle terms in which He had taught His disciples at Jerusalem,
and even greater truths did He announce and greater works perform, because of
the more abundant faith of the Nephites. He also organized His Church in their
midst, and called twelve Disciples, who became His special representatives and
the presiding authorities of His Church. These are to sit in the great day of
judgment as the judges of the seed of Nephi, and be themselves judged by the
Twelve Apostles whom He had called from among the Jews. First of
these Nephite Twelve stood Nephi, who, by virtue of his seniority, his previous
position, or his goodness, or, perhaps, all combined, was recognized by the
Savior on various occasions as the foremost of his race. Nephi, at this time,
was most probably advanced beyond the middle age of man, as he had held the
records more than thirty-three years after his rather's departure from this
earth, and as that event occurred when the elder Nephi was quite aged, and
Nephi was his eldest son, it is presumable that, if he were one of those who
died when he was seventy-two years old, his day on the earth was not a long one
after the deparature of his Divine Master. Though
Nephi had himself been baptized, and had in times past baptized many, yet a new
dispensation being now opened, Jesus commanded the Twelve whom He had chosen to
baptize all the people; He afterwards gave them power and authority to confer
the Holy Ghost. Nephi was the first who was baptized among all the people! he
then baptized the remaining eleven of his Quorum, which, having been done, they
were filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire; indeed they were encircled
around with fire which came down from heaven, while holy angels ministered to
them the unspeakable things of the kingdom. After the
final departure of the Savior we are told but little of Nephi's personal life. His
son, Nephi, appears to have taken charge of the records almost immediately
after these events, while another son, Jonas, was a member of the Quorum of the
Twelve. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
280 - 281 NEPHI, THE SON OF NEPHI, THE
DISCIPLE This holy
man appears to have arrived at the age of manhood when the Messiah visited the
Nephites as (if we get a right understanding of the sacred records,) the
plates, with the other holy things, were taken charge of by him very shortly
after that glorious appearing. It is presumable he was then a young man, as he
retained them seventy-six years, or until A. D. 110, when his son Amos received
them. His duty, as the recorder of the doings of his people, was a most happy
one; he had nothing but good to relate of their lives and actions, and to
record that perfect peace prevailed on all the vast continent. The Nephites
increased in numbers (and Lamanites there were none), they prospered in
circumstances, they grew in material wealth, all of which was held in common,
according to the order of God; they colonized and spread far abroad; they
rebuilt their ancient capital and many other cities, and founded many new ones;
but, above all, they were rich in heavenly treasures, the Holy Spirit of God
reigned in every heart, and illumined every soul. It was a foretaste of the
Millennium to the whole people of half the world, and when Nephi died (A. D.
110) this inexpressibly happy, heavenly state still continued in undiminished
warmth of Divine and brotherly love and strength of abiding faith. All the
generation to which Nephi belonged entered in at the straight gate, and walked
the narrow way to the Eternal City of God, not one of them was lost. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
281 NEPHI, CITY OF The name
frequently given to the city of Lehi-Nephi. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
281 - 282 NEPHI, LAND OF From the
days of the first Mosiah to the era of Christ's advent, South America was
divided into two great divisions. These were they land of Zarahemla and the
land of Nephi. During this period, except in times of war, the Lamanites
occupied the land of Nephi, and the Nephites inhabited the land of Zarahemla.
That these two lands occupied the whole of the southern continent is shown by
the statement of the sacred writer: "Thus the land of Nephi, and the land
of Zarahemla, were nearly surrounded by water; there being a small neck of land
between the land northward and the land southward." The width of this
narrow neck of land is in the place said to have been the distance of a day and
a half's journey for a Nephite. In another place it is called a day's journey.
Perhaps the places spoken of are not identical, one may have been slightly to
the north of the other, along the line of the isthmus. Both the
lands of Nephi and Zarahemla were subdivided, for governmental purposes, into
smaller lands, states or districts. Among the Nephites, these lands, in the
days of the republic, were ruled by local chief judges, subject to the chief
judge of the whole nation; and among the Lamanites by kings, who were tributary
to the head king, whose seat of government was at the city of Lehi-Nephi. The land
of Nephi covered a much larger area of country than did the land of Zarahemla.
The two countries were separated by the wilderness which extended entirely
across the continent from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. The
northern edge of this wilderness ran in a line almost due east and west and
passed near the head of the river Sidon. All north of this belt of wilderness
was considered the land of Zarahemla; all south of it was included in the land
of Nephi. The exact
place where Lehi and his little colony first landed on that continent is not
stated in the Book of Mormon; but it is generally believed among the Latter-day
Saints, from a statement made by the Prophet Joseph, to be on the coast of
Chili, in thirty degrees south latitude. In the
region where Lehi landed, there he also died. Soon after his death, Nephi, and
those of the colony who wished to serve the Lord, migrated, by the command of
God, to another country. The reason for this command was the murderous hatred
shown by Laman and Lemuel towards Nephi and his friends. Nephi and his company
journeyed in the wilderness. By the expression "the wilderness," we understand
the inspired writer to mean the uncultivated and uninhabited portions of the
land. The journey of the Nephites was northward, as is shown by their later
history; but Nephi, in his very brief account of this migration, says nothing
with regard to the direction in which they traveled. At the end of many days a
land was found which was deemed suitable for settlement. There the company
pitched their tents, and commenced the tilling of the soil. In honor of their
leader, it was called the land of Nephi. No doubt
the choice of location was made by Divine inspiration. It was a highly favored
land, rich in mineral and vegetable productions, and yielded abundant crops to
the labors of the husbandmen. It appears to have been near some great waters,
the Pacific Ocean or an inland sea, for Jacob, Nephi's brother, in speaking of
the potency of the faith of his people, says, "We truly can command in the
name of Jesus, and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of
the sea." In this happy country the Nephites dwelt, prospered and
increased until they again moved northward. Perhaps not once, nor twice, they
migrated, but several times; for we hold it to be inconsistent with the story
of the record and with good judgment to believe that in their first journey
they traveled as far north as they were found four hundred years afterwards,
when they again took up their line of march, and finally settled in the land of
Zarahemla. In the first place, there was no necessity for Nephi and his people
taking such a lengthy, tedious and hazardous journey; in the second place, in
their weak condition, it was nigh unto an impossibility; again, in a few years
the Lamanites had followed and overtaken them. It is altogether inconsistent to
think that that people, with its racial characteristics, could in so short a
time have accomplished so marvelous a triumph as to follow, hunt up and attack
their late brethren, if the latter had placed all the distance from Chili to
Ecuador between themselves and their pursuers. When we consider the
difficulties of travel through the trackless wilderness, the obstacles
interposed by nature, the lack of all roads or other guides to indicate where
the Nephites had gone, it seems out of the question to imagine that in twenty
years or so, the shiftless, unenterprising Lamanites had accomplished such a
feat. On the contrary, we believe that Nephi and those with him traveled until
they considered themselves safe, then settled down in a spot which they deemed
desirable. By and by the Lamanites came upon them; the Nephites defended
themselves as long as they could, and when they could do so no longer they
again moved to the northward. Their early history was one of frequent wars; and
as the Lord used the Lamanites as thorns in their sides when they turned from
Him, we judge for this reason, and that they were found so far north in the
days of Amaleki and Mosiah, that the savage descendants of Laman had frequently
defeated them and driven them farther and farther away from the land of their
first possession. The
inquiry will naturally arise, as a result of these suggestions: In what portion
of the South American continent lay the home of the Nephites in the days of
Mosiah? This cannot be answered authoritatively. We are nowhere told its exact
situation. Still, there are many references in the Book of Mormon from which we
can judge, to some extent, of its location. Apostle Orson Pratt suggested that
it was in the country we now call Ecuador. We believe
that the lands occupied by the Nephites before they went down into the land of
Zarahemla were situated among the table-lands or high valleys of the Andes,
much as Utah is located in the bosom of the Rocky Mountains and parallel
chains. For these reasons: First—They
were lands rich in minerals, which all through the American continents are
found most abundantly in mountainous regions. Secondly,
the climate of the torrid low lands, almost directly under the equator, would
be intolerable for its heat, and deadly in its humidity; while the country in
the high valleys and tablelands would be excellently adapted to human life,
especially (we may presume) before the great upheavals and convulsions that
marked the death of the Redeemer. It is also
probable that in their journeys the Nephites would follow the most available
route, rather than plunge into the dense, untrodden, primeval forests of the
wilderness; the home of all manner of savage animals, venomous snakes and
poisonous reptiles, where a road would have to be cut every foot of the way
through the most luxuriant and gigantic tropical vegetation to be found on the
face of the globe. Therefore we regard its accessibility as another reason for
believing that the Nephites did not leave the great backbone of the continent
to descend into the unexplored depths of the region whose character they aptly
sum up in the one word, wilderness. It must be
remembered that there were two lands called by the name of Nephi. The one was a
limited district immediately surrounding the city of Lehi-Nephi or Nephi. There
Mosiah and the Nephites dwelt, about two hundred years before Christ. The other
land of Nephi occupied the whole of the continent south of the great
wilderness. This wilderness formed its northern boundary, and its frontier
thereon ran in a straight course from the east to the west sea, or, to use our
modern geographical names, in a straight line from the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean. As this
wilderness, though of great length east and west, was but a narrow strip north
and south, and its northern edge ran close to the head waters of the River
Sidon (or Magdalena), it is evident that the land of Nephi covered by far the
greater portion of South America. Within its wide boundaries was situated the
original land of Nephi, as well as many other lands called by various local
names. It is very
obvious how there grew to be these two lands of Nephi. At first, the small
district around the capital city comprised all the territory occupied by the
Nephites. As they spread out, whatever valley, plain, etc., they reclaimed from
the wilderness was considered a part of that land; and thus, year by year, its
borders grew wider and wider, while for convenience sake or governmental
purposes, the newly built cities and the land surrounding were called by varied
names, according to the wishes of the people, most frequently after the leader
of the out-going colony or founder of the city. To distinguish the smaller land
of Nephi from the whole country, it is sometimes called the land of Lehi-Nephi. We have
stated that the small land of Nephi was a very limited district. We think this
is easily proved. It was so limited in extent that we are told King Noah
built a tower near the temple so high that he could stand upon the top thereof
and overlook not only the land of Lehi-Nephi, where it was built, but also the
land of Shilom and the land of Shemlon, which last named land was possessed by
the Lamanites. No matter how high the tower, the land of Lehi-Nephi must have
been comparatively small to have enabled a man to overlook all three lands from
the top of one building. It was on
the borders of this land, in the forest of Mormon, that Alma used to
hide himself. It was there he gathered the believers in his teachings, baptized
them in the waters of Mormon, and organized the Church of Jesus Christ. From
the waters of Mormon to Zarahemla it was twenty-two days' actual travel for an
emigrant train. Alma
having been warned of the Lord fled with his people into the wilderness which
divided the lands of Nephi and Zarahemla. They journeyed for eight days when
they rested and commenced to build a city, which they called Helam.
Being afterwards compelled to leave this city, on account of the persecutions
of the Lamanites and Amulonites, they again took their journey northward, and
reached the homes of the main body of the Nephites in Zarahemla in about
fourteen days. Here we
have a people encumbered and delayed by flocks and herds, heavily laden with
grain, etc., making the journey, in two separate stages in twenty-two days. It
is scarcely supposable that they traveled in a direct line; mountains, rivers
and swamps would render the journey somewhat circuitous or winding. But even
supposing that they did advance in an almost direct line from point to point,
it would only make the distance between Nephi and Zarahemla 220 miles, if they
traveled ten miles a day; 330, if they traveled fifteen miles a day; 440 if
they journeyed twenty miles a day. Zarahemla
was situated on the Sidon, certainly a considerable distance from its head
waters, as other lands and cities such as Minon and Manti are mentioned as
lying far above it. If we measure the distance from such a point southward,
either 200, 300 or 400 miles, all these measurements will bring us into the
country now called Ecuador. We are of
the opinion that the land of Lehi-Nephi was situated in one of the higher
valleys, or extensive plateaus of the Andes. In the first place, admitting it
was in Ecuador, it would lie almost immediately under the equator, and the
lowlands would be unbearable for an industrious population on account of the
great heat; as well as exceedingly unhealthy. Again, the
crops which the Nephites raised most abundantly—barley and wheat—are not those
that flourish in a tropical climate, but can be grown most advantageously in a
temperate region. It was
also a land rich in mineral wealth, which, most probably, would not have been
the case if it had been situated among the wide-spreading alluvial plains east
of the Andes. It is
likewise spoken of as a hilly or mountainous country. The hill north of the
land of Shilom is frequently mentioned in the historical narrative. For
another reason, the expression "up" is almost always used when
reference is made to persons going towards the land of Nephi. Not only did they
travel from Zarahemla up the Sidon and across the wilderness to Nephi, but also
UP from the land of Ishmael and other portions of the land of Nephi to
the city of Nephi and its surroundings. In contradistinction to this, persons
leaving Nephi went down to the land of Zarahemla and other places. The only
time in which the word down is used, when referring to parties going towards
Nephi, is when certain persons came down to the city from off the hill
mentioned above. In the
second generation the Nephites began to grow numerous, and iniquity made its
appearance among them. It was then that Jacob, their priest, prophesied: The
time speedily cometh, that except ye repent, they [the Lamanites] shall possess
the land of your inheritance, and the Lord God will lead away the righteous out
from among you. This prophecy was completely fulfilled, if not on previous
occasions, about 300 years or so afterwards, when Mosiah, by the command of
God, led the righteous Nephites out of the land of their inheritance—the land
of Nephi—down into the land of Zarahemla. From that
time the land of Nephi was possessed and ruled by the posterity of Laman,
Lemuel and Ishmael; or by Nephite apostates, who with superior cunning, worked
themselves on to the Lamanite throne. During the
era that the Nephites dwelt in the land of Nephi they built several cities.
These the Lamanites eagerly took possession of when Mosiah and his people
vacated them. Reference to them is found in the record of Zeniff's return from
Zarahemla, and reoccupancy, by treaty with the Lamanites, of a portion of the
old Nephite home, known as Lehi-Nephi and Shilom. Our next
information regarding the condition of the land of Nephi is gleaned from the
history of the mission of the sons of King Mosiah to the Lamanites in that
region. This mission began B. C. 91, and lasted fourteen years. The country was
then divided into several distinct kingdoms, each ruled by its own king, but
all subject to the head monarch, whose court was at Nephi. The lands specially
mentioned in connection with this mission are those of Nephi, Middoni,
Ishmael, Shilom, Shemlon, Helam, Amulon and Jerusalem. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
289 NEPHIHAH The second
chief judge of the Nephite republic. Of his birth and early life nothing is
said, but at the time of his elevation to the chief judgeship he is called
"a wise man who was among the elders of the church." It appears that
when Alma found the combined duties of chief judge and president of the
church too excessive for one man to properly perform, he selected Nephihah as
his successor in the first named office (B. C. 83) and that this selection was
ratified by the voice of the people. The principal events that occurred among
the Nephites during Nephihah's judgeship were: The
destruction of Ammonihah by the Lamanites (B. C. 81). The
Ammonites established in Jershon (B. C. 77). The
defection of the Zoramites and the invasion of the Lamanites under Zarahemnah
(B. C. 74). The
rebellion of Amalickiah and the Lamanite attack on Ammonihah and Noah (B. C.
73). Contention
between the people of Lehi and Morianton (B. C. 68). The years
that Nephihah judged the Nephites were of great material progress. Many new
cities were founded, and a wide stretch of country reclaimed from the
wilderness. He passed away to the realms of the blest in B. C. 68, having,
according to the sacred historian, "filled the judgment seat with perfect
uprightness before God." Alma had such great confidence in him that he
desired to intrust him with the sacred records. This honor and responsibility
Nephihah declined, and Alma conferred these treasures upon his son Helaman.
Nephihah was succeeded in the judgment seat by his son Pahoran. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
290 NEPHIHAH, CITY OF We fancy
there were two cities of this name; one situated on the southern frontier, some
distance east of Manti and the Sidon (Alma 56:25), the other on the Atlantic
seaboard, north of Moroni (Alma 50:14). Of this latter city it is written that
in the year B. C. 72 the Nephites began a foundation for a city between the
city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the city of Aaron and Moroni; and
they called the name of the city or land, Nephihah. This is the region again
referred to as captured by the Lamanites B. C. 67, and retained by them until
B. C. 61, when Moroni retook it by a night surprise. Elder Orson Pratt, in a
footnote to chapter 56, draws attention to the fact that the Nephihah there
mentioned is not the one spoken of in the other chapters. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
290 NEPHIHAH, PLAINS OF Plains
near that city of Nephihah mentioned in Alma, chap. 62. Here Moroni desired the
Lamanites to meet him in battle, but they, knowing the great courage of the
Nephites and the greatness of their numbers, kept within the walls of the city. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
290 NEPHIHAH, LAND OF The region
on the Atlantic seaboard immediately surrounding the city of the same name. It
appears to have been bounded by the land of Moroni on the south, while that of
Aaron was contiguous in another quarter (probably north). Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
290 - 291 NEPHITES, THE A people
descended from Manasseh, the son of Joseph, named after Nephi, the
fourth son of Lehi, who, in connection with the Lamanites, occupied the
American continent from about B. C. 590 to A. C. 385, when they were destroyed
by the latter race. Originally they were the descendants of Nephi, Sam,
Jacob, Joseph, and Zoram, but in later ages the distinction was one
of religion and government more than of pedigree; hosts of the two peoples
having, at different times, seceded from their own races and fused and
intermixed with the other. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
291 NUEM A Hebrew
prophet, quoted by Nephi (I. Nephi 19:10). He prophesied that the Son of God
should be crucified. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
291 NIMRAH A
Jaredite, the son of Akish. Out of jealousy Akish had starved to death
one of his sons, a brother of Nimrah, and the latter being angry with his
father, gathered a small number of men and fled to the exiled king, Omer,
who had established himself on the Atlantic coast, probably in the region we
call New England. What afterwards became of Nimrah we are not told. (Ether 9:8,
9.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
291 NIMROD An early
Jaredite prince, the son of Cohor. In his days the kingdom was a divided one,
Shule reigning over one portion and Cohor over the other. Cohor, desiring to
obtain undivided dominion, gave battle to Shule, was defeated and slain.
Nimrod, recognizing the superior rights of Shule, surrendered the region his
father had ruled over to that monarch. For this act and for his faithful
allegiance, Nimod found favor in the eyes of Shule, and he had authority given
him to do "according to his desires," in the latter's kingdom. (Ether
7:22.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
291 - 292 NIMROD, VALLEY OF A valley
in Mesopotamia, or in the adjacent regions, called after the mighty hunter who
founded the Babylonian empire. There the Jaredites assembled and organized for
their journey. In this valley, also, the Lord talked with the brother of Jared,
and commanded that the company should go forth into that region where man had
never yet been; but the brother of Jared did not at that time see the Lord, for
He was hidden from him in a cloud. (Ether 2.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
292 NOAH The son of
Zeniff and second king over the Nephite colony which returned from
Zarahemla to the land of Lehi-Nephi. Unlike his father, he was not a righteous
man, but gave way to drunkenness and harlotry, and, as is often the case with
monarchs of his disposition, grievously oppressed his people. He surrounded
himself with creatures after his own heart, and placed the holy priesthood in
the hands of men who were as corrupt as himself. He greatly beautified the
temple in the city of Lehi-Nephi, which he befouled with his debaucheries;
while the cost of the rich adornment with which he lavishly ornamented it was
wrung from his unwilling subjects in a tax of one-fifth of all they possessed.
Not only did he greatly beautify the temple, but he built himself a magnificent
palace, and erected many other costly buildings in the city of Lehi-Nephi, and
in the neighboring valley of Shilom. He also built two very high watch towers,
one of which stood near the temple, and the other on the hill to the north of
the land of Shilom. Later, he planted many vineyards and made an abundance of
wine, which resulted in him and his people becoming drunkards. Noah had
not been long on the throne before small marauding bands of Lamanites began to
harass the Nephites and drive off their flocks. The king set guards around his
possessions to keep the Lamanites off, but he did not post them in sufficient
numbers, and they were slain or driven away. He finally sent his armies and
drove the Lamanites back. This victory made him and his people conceited and
boastful, and developed a delight in them to shed the blood of the Lamanites. At this
time (about B. C. 150, a prophet, named Abinadi, appeared among them,
and predicted that they would be brought into bondage to their enemies unless
they repented of their wickedness. The king and the people were very angry with
Abinadi, and sought to take his life. Two years after he came among them in
disguise. This time he uttered, in the name of the Lord, very terrible
prophecies against Noah and his people, all of which were fulfilled in a very
few years. But the people would not heed Abinadi, and the more he exposed their
iniquities the more furious raged their anger against him. They finally took
him, bound him, and hurried him, with railing accusations, before the king.
There the priests began to cross-question him, that they might confuse him and
cause him to say something that would give them a pretext for slaying him. This
conduct gave Abinadi the chance in turn to question his accusers, by which he
exposed their deceit and iniquity; and it also enabled him to explain many of
the principles of the gospel of life and salvation. His teachings were,
however, exactly what Noah's infidel priests did not want. They charged Abinadi
with having reviled the king, and on this charge obtained Noah's consent for
his execution. And, finally, Abinadi was cruelly tortured and burned to death
by his fellow citizens in the sin-stained city of Lehi-Nephi. Abinadi's
cruel death was, in the providences of the Lord, made the means of establishing
the church of Christ among Noah's subjects. One of the young priests, named
Alma, was converted by the prophet's teachings; he wrote them down and taught
them to others. A church was organized on the outskirts of the city, but, in a
little while, the movement reached the ears of the king, and he sent his
soldiers to capture the believers. Being warned of the Lord, the latter fled
and escaped their pursuers. Soon after
the return of Noah's army from their unsuccessful attempt to capture Alma and
his people, a great division grew up among that monarch's subjects. They were
heartily tired of his tyranny and his debaucheries. One of those most dissatisfied
was an officer of the king's army named Gideon. In the disturbances that
now arose between Noah and his people, Gideon sought to slay the king. But Noah
fled to the tower near the temple. From its top he beheld an advancing host of
the Lamanites. Pleading with Gideon for his life, he ordered his people to
flee. They did so, but being encumbered with their families, the Lamanites soon
overtook them and began to slay them. The craven-hearted king then commanded
his men to leave the women and children to the mercy of their savage foes and
flee into the wilderness. Some obeyed, while others refused. Those who followed
Noah soon grew ashamed of their cowardice and desired to return to meet the
Lamanites to avenge the slaughter of their wives and little ones, or perish as
they had done. King Noah objected, and his unworthy priests sustained him. At
this, the soldiers grew exceedingly angry; all love for him as a man was
crushed out, all respect for him as a monarch was lost; they took him and
burned him to death, as he had done Abinadi, and would have sacrificed the
priests in the same way had they not fled from them. They then turned their
faces towards Lehi-Nephi and were overjoyed to meet some messengers who bore
the welcome tidings that the Lamanites had spared the lives of those who had
been left behind, though they held them in bondage. Noah was succeeded by his
son Limhi. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
294 - 295 NOAH An early
Jaredite leader, the son of Corihor and the father of Cohor. Noah
rebelled against King Shule, and against his own father, drawing from
their allegiance all his brothers and many of the people. When sufficiently
strong, he attacked and defeated Shule, and took possession and reigned over
the land of the Jaredites' first inheritance, probably Moron, (near the land
known to the Nephites as Desolation). A second time he attacked Shule, defeated
and captured him, and carried him to Moron. It was Noah's intention to put
Shule to death, but before he could do so some of the sons of Shule crept into
the house of Noah by night and slew him. They then broke down the door of the
prison in which their father was confined, liberated him and restored him to
his throne, while Cohor reigned over that portion of the land originally conquered
by his father, Noah. (Ether 7:20.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
295 NOAH, The Bible patriarch His name
is mentioned four times in the Book of Mormon—once in the promise (Alma 10:22)
that the people should not again be destroyed by a flood; twice in a quotation,
by the Savior, of Isaiah 54:9; and once in the statement that the Jaredite
barges "were tight like unto the ark of Noah." (Ether 6:7.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
295 NOAH, CITY OF One of the
western cities of the Nephites, not far from Ammonihah. After destroying the
latter city (B. C. 81), the Lamanites came around by the borders of Noah, slew
a number and took many prisoners. These captives were afterwards liberated by
the Nephite general, Zoram, and restored to their homes. This city was strongly
fortified by Moroni, so that when the armies of Amalickiah
attempted to carry it by assault (B. C. 73), being unable to force the gates,
they endeavored to dig down the wall built by Moroni; but in this vain attempt
they left more than a thousand dead and wounded in the ditch surrounding it,
while the Nephites had not one soldier slain, and only about fifty were
wounded. (Alma 49.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
295 - 296 NOAH, LAND OF A region
in the land of Zarahemla, contiguous to Ammonihah, between the river Sidon and
the Pacific Ocean. We are of the opinion that it was situated in the wilderness
that bordered on that great sea. It was unsuccessfully invaded by the Lamanites
in B. C. 81 and B. C. 73; but doubtless fell into their hands in the days of
Moronihah (about B. C. 34), when the whole of South America fell into the hands
of Laman's savage soldiery. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
296 NOB A
sacerdotal city in the tribe of Benjamin, situated not far from Jerusalem. It
is only mentioned in the Book of Mormon in Nephi's transcription of the
writings of Isaiah (II. Nephi 20:32). (Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 296) |
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