Nephi Preaches Repentance to His People

Event 139

Reference: Hel. 7:1-29

The Prophecy of Nephi, the son of Helaman—God threatensthe people of Nephi that he will visit them in his anger, totheir utter destruction except they repent of their wickedness.God smiteth the people of Nephi with pestilence; they repentand turn unto him. Samuel, a Lamanite, prophesies unto theNephites.BEHOLD, now it came to pass in the sixty and ninth year ofthe reign of the judges over the people of the Nephites, thatNephi, the son of Helaman, returned to the land ofZarahemla from the land northward. 2 For he had been forthamong the people who were in the land northward, and didpreach the word of God unto them, and did prophesy manythings unto them; 3 And they did reject all his words,insomuch that he could not stay among them, but returnedagain unto the land of his nativity. 4 And seeing the peoplein a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadiantonrobbers filling the judgment-seats—having usurped thepower and authority of the land; laying aside thecommandments of God, and not in the least aright beforehim; doing no justice unto the children of men; 5Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness;letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because oftheir money; and moreover to be held in office at the headof government, to rule and do according to their wills, thatthey might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover,that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal,and kill, and do according to their own wills— 6 Now thisgreat iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space ofnot many years; and when Nephi saw it, his heart wasswollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaimin the agony of his soul:MormonLand ofZarahemla23 to 21 B.C.7 Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my fatherNephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could havejoyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy tobe entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow tobe led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto thewords of the Lord— 8 Yea, if my days could have been in thosedays, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of mybrethren. 9 But behold, I am consigned that these are my days, andthat my soul shall be filled with sorrow because of this thewickedness of my brethren.Nephi 10 And behold, now it came to pass that it was upon a tower,which was in the garden of Nephi, which was by thehighway which led to the chief market, which was in thecity of Zarahemla; therefore, Nephi had bowed himselfupon the tower which was in his garden, which tower wasalso near unto the garden gate by which led the highway.MormonGarden of Nephiat city ofZarahemla23 to 21 B.C.11 And it came to pass that there were certain men passingby and saw Nephi as he was pouring out his soul unto Godupon the tower; and they ran and told the people what theyhad seen, and the people came together in multitudes thatthey might know the cause of so great mourning for thewickedness of the people. 12 And now, when Nephi arose hebeheld the multitudes of people who had gathered together.13 And it came to pass that he opened his mouth and saidunto them:Behold, why have ye gathered yourselves together? That I may tellyou of your iniquities? 14 Yea, because I have got upon my towerthat I might pour out my soul unto my God, because of theexceeding sorrow of my heart, which is because of your iniquities!15 And because of my mourning and lamentation ye have gatheredyourselves together, and do marvel; yea, and ye have great need tomarvel; yea, ye ought to marvel because ye are given away that thedevil has got so great hold upon your hearts. 16 Yea, how couldyou have given way to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurlaway your souls down to everlasting misery and endless wo?Nephi17 O repent ye, repent ye! Why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye untothe Lord your God. Why has he forsaken you? 18 It is because youhave hardened your hearts; yea, ye will not hearken unto the voiceof the good shepherd; yea, ye have provoked him to anger againstyou. 19 And behold, instead of gathering you, except ye willrepent, behold, he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meatfor dogs and wild beasts.20 O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very day thathe has delivered you? 21 But behold, it is to get gain, to be praisedof men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have setyour hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, forthe which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear falsewitness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity. 22And for this cause wo shall come unto you except ye shall repent.For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all thosegreat cities which are round about, which are in the land of ourpossession, shall be taken away that ye shall have no place inthem; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you strength, as hehas hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies. 23 Forbehold, thus saith the Lord: I will not show unto the wicked of my strength, to one morethan the other, save it be unto those who repent of their sins, andhearken unto my words.The LordGarden of Nephiat city ofZarahemla23 to 21 B.C.Now therefore, I would that ye should behold, my brethren, that itshall be better for the Lamanites than for you except ye shallrepent. 24 For behold, they are more righteous than you, for theyhave not sinned against that great knowledge which ye havereceived; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them; yea, hewill lengthen out their days and increase their seed, even whenthou shalt be utterly destroyed except thou shalt repent. 25 Yea, wobe unto you because of that great abomination which has comeamong you; and ye have united yourselves unto it, yea, to thatsecret band which was established by Gadianton!Nephi26 Yea, wo shall come unto you because of that pride which yehave suffered to enter your hearts, which has lifted you up beyondthat which is good because of your exceedingly great riches! 27Yea, wo be unto you because of your wickedness andabominations! 28 And except ye repent ye shall perish; yea, evenyour lands shall be taken from you, and ye shall be destroyed fromoff the face of the earth. 29 Behold now, I do not say that thesethings shall be, of myself, because it is not of myself that I knowthese things; but behold, I know that these things are true becausethe Lord God has made them known unto me, therefore I testifythat they shall be.