THE BOOK OF NEPHI
THE SON OF NEPHI, WHO WAS THE SON OF HELAMAN
And Helaman was the son of Helaman, who was the son of Alma, who was the son of Alma, being a descendant of Nephi who was the son of Lehi, who came out of Jerusalem in the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah.
3 Nephi 1:1
1 Now it came to pass that the ninety and first year had passed away and it was six
hundred years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; and it was in the year that
Lachoneus was the chief judge and the governor over the land.
3 Nephi 1:2
2 And Nephi, the son of Helaman, had departed out of the land of Zarahemla, giving
charge unto his son Nephi, who was his eldest son, concerning the plates of brass, and all
the records which had been kept, and all those things which had been kept sacred from
the departure of Lehi out of Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 1:3
3 Then he departed out of the land, and whither he went, no man knoweth; and his son
Nephi did keep the records in his stead, yea, the record of this people.
3 Nephi 1:4
4 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninety and second year, behold,
the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be
greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people.
3 Nephi 1:5
5 But there were some who began to say that the time was past for the words to be
fulfilled, which were spoken by Samuel, the Lamanite.
3 Nephi 1:6
6 And they began to rejoice over their brethren, saying: Behold the time is past, and the
words of Samuel are not fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing
hath been vain.
3 Nephi 1:7
7 And it came to pass that they did make a great uproar throughout the land; and the
people who believed began to be very sorrowful, lest by any means those things which
had been spoken might not come to pass.
8 But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which
should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had
not been vain.
3 Nephi 1:9
9 Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those
who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to
pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.
3 Nephi 1:10
10 Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness of his
people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.
3 Nephi 1:11
11 And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and
cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be
destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.
3 Nephi 1:12
12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord, all that day; and behold, the
voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:
3 Nephi 1:13
13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this
night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the
world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy
prophets.
3 Nephi 1:14
14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfill all things which I have made known unto the
children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father
and of the Son--of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And
behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.
3 Nephi 1:15
15 And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according
as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness;
and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night
came.
3 Nephi 1:16
16 And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the
earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction
which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been
frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.
17 And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the
people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north
and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.
3 Nephi 1:18
18 For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that
the sign which had been given was already at hand; and they began to fear because of
their iniquity and their unbelief.
3 Nephi 1:19
19 And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as
though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again,
according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be
born, because of the sign which had been given.
3 Nephi 1:20
20 And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the
prophets.
21 And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.
3 Nephi 1:22
22 And it came to pass that from this time forth there began to be lyings sent forth
among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent that they might not
believe in those signs and wonders which they had seen; but notwithstanding these lyings
and deceivings the more part of the people did believe, and were converted unto the Lord.
3 Nephi 1:23
23 And it came to pass that Nephi went forth among the people, and also many others,
baptizing unto repentance, in the which there was a great remission of sins. And thus the
people began again to have peace in the land.
3 Nephi 1:24
24 And there were no contentions, save it were a few that began to preach, endeavoring
to prove by the scriptures that it was no more expedient to observe the law of Moses.
Now in this thing they did err, having not understood the scriptures.
3 Nephi 1:25
25 But it came to pass that they soon became converted, and were convinced of the error
which they were in, for it was made known unto them that the law was not yet fulfilled,
and that it must be fulfilled in every whit; yea, the word came unto them that it must be
fulfilled; yea, that one jot or tittle should not pass away till it should all be fulfilled;
therefore in this same year were they brought to a knowledge of their error and did
confess their faults.
26 And thus the ninety and second year did pass away, bringing glad tidings unto the
people because of the signs which did come to pass, according to the words of the
prophecy of all the holy prophets.
3 Nephi 1:27
27 And it came to pass that the ninety and third year did also pass away in peace, save it
were for the Gadianton robbers, who dwelt upon the mountains, who did infest the land;
for so strong were their holds and their secret places that the people could not overpower
them; therefore they did commit many murders, and did do much slaughter among the
people.
3 Nephi 1:28
28 And it came to pass that in the ninety and fourth year they began to increase in great
degree, because there were many dissenters of the Nephites who did flee unto them,
which did cause much sorrow unto those Nephites who did remain in the land.
3 Nephi 1:29
29 And there was also a cause of much sorrow among the Lamanites; for behold, they
had many children who did grow up and began to wax strong in years, that they became
for themselves, and were led away by some who were Zoramites, by their lyings and their
flattering words, to join those Gadianton robbers.
3 Nephi 1:30
30 And thus were the Lamanites afflicted also, and began to decrease as to their faith and
righteousness, because of the wickedness of the rising generation.
3 Nephi 2:1
1 And it came to pass that thus passed away the ninety and fifth year also, and the people
began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and
less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in
their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard
and seen--
3 Nephi 2:2
2 Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the
power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan
get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and
lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing.
3 Nephi 2:3
3 And it came to pass that the people began to wax strong in wickedness and
abominations; and they did not believe that there should be any more signs or wonders given; and Satan did go about, leading away the hearts of the people, tempting them and causing them that they should do great wickedness in the land.
3 Nephi 2:4
4 And thus did pass away the ninety and sixth year; and also the ninety and seventh year;
and also the ninety and eighth year; and also the ninety and ninth year;
3 Nephi 2:5
5 And also an hundred years had passed away since the days of Mosiah, who was king
over the people of the Nephites.
6 And six hundred and nine years had passed away since Lehi left Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 2:7
7 And nine years had passed away from the time when the sign was given, which was
spoken of by the prophets, that Christ should come into the world.
3 Nephi 2:8
8 Now the Nephites began to reckon their time from this period when the sign was given,
or from the coming of Christ; therefore, nine years had passed away.
3 Nephi 2:9
9 And Nephi, who was the father of Nephi, who had the charge of the records, did not
return to the land of Zarahemla, and could nowhere be found in all the land.
3 Nephi 2:10
10 And it came to pass that the people did still remain in wickedness, notwithstanding
the much preaching and prophesying which was sent among them; and thus passed away
the tenth year also; and the eleventh year also passed away in iniquity.
3 Nephi 2:11
11 And it came to pass in the thirteenth year there began to be wars and contentions
throughout all the land; for the Gadianton robbers had become so numerous, and did slay
so many of the people, and did lay waste so many cities, and did spread so much death
and carnage throughout the land, that it became expedient that all the people, both the
Nephites and the Lamanites, should take up arms against them.
3 Nephi 2:12
12 Therefore, all the Lamanites who had become converted unto the Lord did unite with
their brethren, the Nephites, and were compelled, for the safety of their lives and their
women and their children, to take up arms against those Gadianton robbers, yea, and also
to maintain their rights, and the privileges of their church and of their worship, and their
freedom and their liberty.
13 And it came to pass that before this thirteenth year had passed away the Nephites
were threatened with utter destruction because of this war, which had become
exceedingly sore.
3 Nephi 2:14
14 And it came to pass that those Lamanites who had united with the Nephites were
numbered among the Nephites;
3 Nephi 2:15
15 And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the
Nephites;
3 Nephi 2:16
16 And their young men and their daughters became exceedingly fair, and they were
numbered among the Nephites, and were called Nephites. And thus ended the thirteenth
year.
3 Nephi 2:17
17 And it came to pass in the commencement of the fourteenth year, the war between the
robbers and the people of Nephi did continue and did become exceedingly sore;
nevertheless, the people of Nephi did gain some advantage of the robbers, insomuch that
they did drive them back out of their lands into the mountains and into their secret places.
3 Nephi 2:18
18 And thus ended the fourteenth year. And in the fifteenth year they did come forth
against the people of Nephi; and because of the wickedness of the people of Nephi, and
their many contentions and dissensions, the Gadianton robbers did gain many advantages
over them.
3 Nephi 2:19
19 And thus ended the fifteenth year, and thus were the people in a state of many
afflictions; and the sword of destruction did hang over them, insomuch that they were
about to be smitten down by it, and this because of their iniquity.
3 Nephi 3:1
1 And now it came to pass that in the sixteenth year from the coming of Christ,
Lachoneus, the governor of the land, received an epistle from the leader and the governor
of this band of robbers; and these were the words which were written, saying:
3 Nephi 3:2
2 Lachoneus, most noble and chief governor of the land, behold, I write this epistle unto
you, and do give unto you exceedingly great praise because of your firmness, and also the firmness of your people, in maintaining that which ye suppose to be your right and liberty; yea, ye do stand well, as if ye were supported by the hand of a god, in the defence of your liberty, and your property, and your country, or that which ye do call so.
3 Nephi 3:3
3 And it seemeth a pity unto me, most noble Lachoneus, that ye should be so foolish and
vain as to suppose that ye can stand against so many brave men who are at my command,
who do now at this time stand in their arms, and do await with great anxiety for the word
-Go down upon the Nephites and destroy them.
3 Nephi 3:4
4 And I, knowing of their unconquerable spirit, having proved them in the field of battle,
and knowing of their everlasting hatred towards you because of the many wrongs which
ye have done unto them, therefore if they should come down against you they would visit
you with utter destruction.
3 Nephi 3:5
5 Therefore I have written this epistle, sealing it with mine own hand, feeling for your
welfare, because of your firmness in that which ye believe to be right, and your noble
spirit in the field of battle.
3 Nephi 3:6
6 Therefore I write unto you, desiring that ye would yield up unto this my people, your
cities, your lands, and your possessions, rather than that they should visit you with the
sword and that destruction should come upon you.
3 Nephi 3:7
7 Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us and become
acquainted with our secret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us-
not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance.
3 Nephi 3:8
8 And behold, I swear unto you, if ye will do this, with an oath, ye shall not be
destroyed; but if ye will not do this, I swear unto you with an oath, that on the morrow
month I will command that my armies shall come down against you, and they shall not
stay their hand and shall spare not, but shall slay you, and shall let fall the sword upon
you even until ye shall become extinct.
3 Nephi 3:9
9 And behold, I am Giddianhi; and I am the governor of this the secret society of
Gadianton; which society and the works thereof I know to be good; and they are of
ancient date and they have been handed down unto us.
3 Nephi 3:10
10 And I write this epistle unto you, Lachoneus, and I hope that ye will deliver up your
lands and your possessions, without the shedding of blood, that this my people may recover their rights and government, who have dissented away from you because of your wickedness in retaining from them their rights of government, and except ye do this, I will avenge their wrongs. I am Giddianhi.
3 Nephi 3:11
11 And now it came to pass when Lachoneus received this epistle he was exceedingly
astonished, because of the boldness of Giddianhi demanding the possession of the land of
the Nephites, and also of threatening the people and avenging the wrongs of those that
had received no wrong, save it were they had wronged themselves by dissenting away
unto those wicked and abominable robbers.
3 Nephi 3:12
12 Now behold, this Lachoneus, the governor, was a just man, and could not be
frightened by the demands and the threatenings of a robber; therefore he did not hearken
to the epistle of Giddianhi, the governor of the robbers, but he did cause that his people
should cry unto the Lord for strength against the time that the robbers should come down
against them.
3 Nephi 3:13
13 Yea, he sent a proclamation among all the people, that they should gather together
their women, and their children, their flocks and their herds, and all their substance, save
it were their land, unto one place.
3 Nephi 3:14
14 And he caused that fortifications should be built round about them, and the strength
thereof should be exceedingly great. And he caused that armies, both of the Nephites and
of the Lamanites, or of all them who were numbered among the Nephites, should be
placed as guards round about to watch them, and to guard them from the robbers day and
night.
3 Nephi 3:15
15 Yea, he said unto them: As the Lord liveth, except ye repent of all your iniquities, and
cry unto the Lord, ye will in no wise be delivered out of the hands of those Gadianton
robbers.
3 Nephi 3:16
16 And so great and marvelous were the words and prophecies of Lachoneus that they
did cause fear to come upon all the people; and they did exert themselves in their might
to do according to the words of Lachoneus.
3 Nephi 3:17
17 And it came to pass that Lachoneus did appoint chief captains over all the armies of
the Nephites, to command them at the time that the robbers should come down out of the
wilderness against them.
18 Now the chiefest among all the chief captains and the great commander of the armies
of the Nephites was appointed, and his name was Gidgiddoni.
3 Nephi 3:19
19 Now it was the custom among all the Nephites to appoint for their chief captains,
(save it were in their times of wickedness) some one that had the spirit of revelation and
also prophecy; therefore, this Gidgiddoni was a great prophet among them, as also was
the chief judge.
3 Nephi 3:20
20 Now the people said unto Gidgiddoni: Pray unto the Lord, and let us go up upon the
mountains and into the wilderness, that we may fall upon the robbers and destroy them in
their own lands.
3 Nephi 3:21
21 But Gidgiddoni saith unto them: The Lord forbid; for if we should go up against them
the Lord would deliver us into their hands; therefore we will prepare ourselves in the
center of our lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will not go against
them, but we will wait till they shall come against us; therefore as the Lord liveth, if we
do this he will deliver them into our hands.
3 Nephi 3:22
22 And it came to pass in the seventeenth year, in the latter end of the year, the
proclamation of Lachoneus had gone forth throughout all the face of the land, and they
had taken their horses, and their chariots, and their cattle, and all their flocks, and their
herds, and their grain, and all their substance, and did march forth by thousands and by
tens of thousands, until they had all gone forth to the place which had been appointed that
they should gather themselves together, to defend themselves against their enemies.
3 Nephi 3:23
23 And the land which was appointed was the land of Zarahemla, and the land which
was between the land Zarahemla and the land Bountiful, yea, to the line which was
between the land Bountiful and the land Desolation.
3 Nephi 3:24
24 And there were a great many thousand people who were called Nephites, who did
gather themselves together in this land. Now Lachoneus did cause that they should gather
themselves together in the land southward, because of the great curse which was upon the
land northward.
3 Nephi 3:25
25 And they did fortify themselves against their enemies; and they did dwell in one land,
and in one body, and they did fear the words which had been spoken by Lachoneus,
insomuch that they did repent of all their sins; and they did put up their prayers unto the Lord their God, that he would deliver them in the time that their enemies should come down against them to battle.
26 And they were exceedingly sorrowful because of their enemies.
And Gidgiddoni did cause that they should make weapons of war of every kind, and they should be strong with armor, and with shields, and with bucklers, after the manner of his instruction.
3 Nephi 4 Chapter 43 Nephi 4:1
1 And it came to pass that in the latter end of the eighteenth year those armies of robbers
had prepared for battle, and began to come down and to sally forth from the hills, and out
of the mountains, and the wilderness, and their strongholds, and their secret places, and
began to take possession of the lands, both which were in the land south and which were
in the land north, and began to take possession of all the lands which had been deserted
by the Nephites, and the cities which had been left desolate.
3 Nephi 4:2
2 But behold, there were no wild beasts nor game in those lands which had been deserted
by the Nephites, and there was no game for the robbers save it were in the wilderness.
3 Nephi 4:3
3 And the robbers could not exist save it were in the wilderness, for the want of food; for
the Nephites had left their lands desolate, and had gathered their flocks and their herds
and all their substance, and they were in one body.
3 Nephi 4:4
4 Therefore, there was no chance for the robbers to plunder and to obtain food, save it
were to come up in open battle against the Nephites; and the Nephites being in one body,
and having so great a number, and having reserved for themselves provisions, and horses
and cattle, and flocks of every kind, that they might subsist for the space of seven years,
in the which time they did hope to destroy the robbers from off the face of the land; and
thus the eighteenth year did pass away.
3 Nephi 4:5
5 And it came to pass that in the nineteenth year Giddianhi found that it was expedient
that he should go up to battle against the Nephites, for there was no way that they could
subsist save it were to plunder and rob and murder.
6 And they durst not spread themselves upon the face of the land insomuch that they
could raise grain, lest the Nephites should come upon them and slay them; therefore
Giddianhi gave commandment unto his armies that in this year they should go up to
battle against the Nephites.
3 Nephi 4:7
7 And it came to pass that they did come up to battle; and it was in the sixth month; and
behold, great and terrible was the day that they did come up to battle; and they were
girded about after the manner of robbers; and they had a lamb-skin about their loins, and
they were dyed in blood, and their heads were shorn, and they had head-plates upon
them; and great and terrible was the appearance of the armies of Giddianhi, because of
their armor, and because of their being dyed in blood.
3 Nephi 4:8
8 And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites, when they saw the appearance of
the army of Giddianhi, had all fallen to the earth, and did lift their cries to the Lord their
God, that he would spare them and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.
3 Nephi 4:9
9 And it came to pass that when the armies of Giddianhi saw this they began to shout
with a loud voice, because of their joy, for they had supposed that the Nephites had fallen
with fear because of the terror of their armies.
3 Nephi 4:10
10 But in this thing they were disappointed, for the Nephites did not fear them; but they
did fear their God and did supplicate him for protection; therefore, when the armies of
Giddianhi did rush upon them they were prepared to meet them; yea, in the strength of
the Lord they did receive them.
3 Nephi 4:11
11 And the battle commenced in this the sixth month; and great and terrible was the
battle thereof, yea, great and terrible was the slaughter thereof, insomuch that there never
was known so great a slaughter among all the people of Lehi sinc