MOTHER STORIES
FROM THE
BOOK OF MORMON
By
William A. Morton
Author of
"The Gospel Primer"
"The Primary Helper"
"A Child's Life of Our Savior," etc.
Published by
William A. Morton
Salt Lake City, Utah
CONTENTS.
Lehi and his Family
How Nephi Got the Good Book
How the Lord Answered Nephi's Prayer
How the Lord Guided Lehi and His Family
What Happened on a Hunting Trip
Nephi as a Ship Builder
What Took Place on the Great Waters
Lehi and His People in the Promised Land
The Nephites and the Lamanites
Zeniff and His People
How the People of Zeniff were Brought into Bondage
How the Lord Delivered His People
Remarkable Conversions and Missionary Experience
Mission of the Sons of Mosiah to the Lamanites
Samuel the Lamanite--His Prophecies and their Fulfillment
Two Memorable Battles
Christ's Visit to the Nephites
The Three Nephites
The Reign of Peace
The Last of the Nephites
LEHI AND HIS FAMILY.
So you want me to tell you a story, children. I will gladly do so,
for when I was a child like one of you, I loved to listen to stories,
too--stories about great and good men and women, and good boys and
girls.
The story I am going to tell you this evening is about a good man named
Lehi, and his family, who lived many, many years ago in a country far
across the sea.
Lehi had a good wife. Her name was Sariah. They had four sons. Their
names were Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi. Nephi and Sam were very good
boys. They loved their father and mother and were always obedient to
them.
But Laman and Lemuel were not at all like their brothers. They did not
obey their parents, but often vexed them by doing things that were
wrong.
That was displeasing to our Heavenly Father, and He did not love Laman
and Lemuel as He loved Sam and Nephi.
The people who lived in the same place as Lehi were wicked. They would
not do as the Lord wished, so He said He would have to punish them, to
teach them to do better. He told Lehi to go out among them, and to tell
them that if they did not stop doing wicked things, He would not bless
them as He had done, but would let people from another country come and
take them away to be their servants.
Lehi preached many times to the people, but not one of them would
believe what he said. Then the Lord told Lehi to gather his family
together, and He would lead them to a new and beautiful country, far
across great waters. That was to this land in which we now live.
Lehi did as the Lord told him. He left his home and all his riches,
and, with his wife and children, started out for the strange land which
the Lord had told him about.
I suppose you would like to know how they traveled. Well, I believe
they rode on camels. Camels can travel fast and carry heavy loads. Some
of them can travel one hundred miles in a day.
There were no houses in the part of the country through which Lehi and
his family traveled, so they took tents with them to live in. One day
they came to a large river of water. It ran through a beautiful valley.
By the side of the river they put up their tents. Then they knelt in
prayer, and Lehi gave thanks to God for having taken care of them on
the way.
Lehi called the river Laman and the valley he called Lemuel. You know
why he gave them those names. Yes, those were the names of his two
elder sons.
I told you that Laman and Lemuel were disobedient boys. They were also
unkind to their brothers. Their father, Lehi, would often sit down and
talk kindly to them. He would plead with them to be good boys. He would
tell them that if they would do right, and obey their parents, the Lord
would love and bless them; but that He would not do so if they kept on
grumbling and getting angry with their brothers.
Then Laman and Lemuel would say to their father, "We don't want to go
to a new country. We want to go back to our old home and stay with the
people there."
And their father would say, "but you know, my boys, the people there
are not good; they do not do as our Heavenly Father wishes them, and He
is going to punish them. That is why He told us to come away from them.
If we had stayed there after the Lord told us to leave we should be
punished also."
Then Nephi would say, "Yes, brothers, that is true. Now, let us be good
boys, and do what the Lord and our parents tell us, and after a while
we will get to a beautiful country, and we shall be far better and
happier than we should be if we were to go back to the place we have
left."
But Laman and Lemuel would not do as their father and brothers pleaded
with them to do, and you will hear later what happened to them.
HOW NEPHI GOT THE GOOD BOOK.
One night as Lehi lay asleep on his bed in the tent, he heard a voice
speak to him. It was the voice of the Lord out of heaven. The Lord
said, "Lehi, I want you to get Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi to go back
to the place where they used to live and to bring back with them a
wonderful book which a man has locked up in his home there."
"What is the name of the man who has the book?" Lehi asked.
"His name is Laban," said the Lord, "and I do not want him to have the
book, for he does not do what the good book tells him to do."
"What is in the book?" Lehi asked.
"It is a very precious history," said the Lord. "It tells of God and of
many wonderful things which He has done. I want you to get the book and
to take it with you to the promised land, so that your children may be
taught the commandments of God."
The next morning Lehi told Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi all that the
Lord had told him about the wonderful book. How happy Nephi and Sam
felt as they listened to what their father said. Then said Nephi, "Yes,
father, we will go and get the book; and when we come back you will
read to us some of the wonderful things recorded in it."
"I will, my son," said the father. "But what is the matter with Laman
and Lemuel?" asked Lehi, as he turned to his two elder sons.
O, how cross they looked as they said to their father, "We don't want
to go for the book. We don't believe we could get it. We feel sure
Laban would not let us have it, and perhaps he would whip us for coming
for it."
"We are not afraid of Laban," said Nephi and Sam. "The Lord has told us
to do this, and we know He will take care of us. He would not want us
to go if He did not know that we could get the book."
"That is right," said the father. "If you will do what the Lord wants
you to do, all will be well."
After a while Laman and Lemuel agreed to go with their brothers. But
they did not believe they would get the book. It was a long journey to
Laban's home, and the boys were glad when they came in sight of it.
"Now, who is to go and try to get the book?" asked Laman, the eldest
son.
"I will tell you what we will do," said Nephi. "We will cast lots, and
the one on whom the lot falls will go to Laban and ask him for the
book."
They all agreed to that. The lot fell upon Laman, so he set out for
Laban's home. For a long time his brothers watched for him to come
back. At last they saw him. He came running away from Laban's house.
"Oh, dear!" exclaimed Nephi, "Laman has not got the book!"
They sat in silence till their brother came up to them. His face was
very pale and he was trembling with excitement. He was also very angry.
Going over to Nephi, he said, with a loud voice, "I told you before we
started that we would not get the book, but you would not believe me.
Do you believe me now?"
"We are sorry," said Nephi, "that your visit to Laban was in vain. Will
you please tell us why you failed to get the book?"
"When I told Laban what I wanted," said Laman, "he became very angry.
He called me a thief and a robber, and said if I did not leave his
house at once he would kill me. He reached for his sword, and I had to
run as fast as I could to save my life. Come, let us go back to our
father."
"No," said Nephi, "I am not going to give up with one trial. I still
believe we will get the book."
"O, you do," said Laman, and he turned up his nose in a sneering way.
"Pray, how do you hope to get the book when I could not get it?"
"I believe the Lord will help us to get it," said Nephi. "I have just
thought of a plan, and if you boys will help me carry it out, it may be
the means of getting us the book."
"Well, let us hear your plan," said Laman.
"It is this," said Nephi: "that we go down to the place where we used
to live, get all the money our father left there, and come back and
offer it to Laban for the book."
"That is a good idea," said Sam. "I am ready to go."
"I like the plan, too," said Lemuel. "Come, Laman, let us go and try
it."
So the boys started for the home in which they used to live. Tomorrow
evening I will tell you the rest of the story.
HOW NEPHI GOT THE GOOD BOOK.
On arriving at their home, Nephi and his brothers got all the money and
put it into a large bag. Then they prepared a lunch with some of the
food they had brought with them, and when they had finished the meal,
they took up the bag of money and set out for Laban's home.
Now, Laban loved money very much, and when he saw the large bag of gold
and silver his eyes sparkled with delight. "If I could get that bag of
money," he thought, "I would be one of the richest men in the country."
But he did not want to give the book for it. No, he wanted to keep
the book and the money, too. The boys sat waiting for Laban to go and
get them the book. Suddenly he jumped up and gave a loud call for
his servants, and when they came running into the room he told them
that Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi had tried to rob him. Laban and
the servants seized their swords and ran at the boys, trying to kill
them. The boys ran quickly out of the house, leaving the bag of money
behind them. Laban got it and kept it. Nephi and his brothers ran
over the hills till they came to some large rocks, and there they hid
themselves. Laban and his servants followed them a long way, and when
they saw they could not catch them they returned home.
Failing to get the book, and seeing that they had lost all their money,
Laman and Lemuel became very angry. They put all the blame on Nephi and
Sam, and seizing two large branches of a tree, they began to beat their
younger brothers with them. Nephi and Sam pleaded with their brothers
to stop beating them, but they would not.
Just then Nephi saw a bright light coming down from heaven, and a
moment later a beautiful angel, dressed in a shining, white robe, stood
before them.
"You are very bad boys," the angel said to Laman and Lemuel. "The
Lord is displeased with you because of the way you have treated your
brothers. He has sent me to tell you that He will not bless you as He
has done, and that He will give many good things to Sam and Nephi."
The angel told Nephi to dry his tears, and not to fear, for the Lord
would help him to get the good book.
When Laman and Lemuel saw the angel they were frightened. They said
they were sorry for having beaten their brothers, and that they would
not do so again. They asked Nephi and Sam to forgive them. They did so
freely.
Nephi then told his brothers to stay behind while he made another
effort to get the book. It was almost dark at the time, so, without
being seen, he made his way towards Laban's home. As he neared the
place he saw a man lying upon the ground. He went over to him, and was
greatly surprised to find that the man was Laban. Laban had drunk a
great deal of wine that evening.
As Nephi stood looking at Laban, the voice of the Lord spoke to him,
telling him to dress himself in Laban's clothes and to go to Laban's
home and get the good book.
Nephi did as the Lord told him. On reaching the home of Laban he was
met by one of the servants. Nephi told the servant to go and get the
good book and to follow him. The servant did as he was told, thinking
all the while that Nephi was his master, Laban, and that he was taking
the book out to read to the people.
When Laman, Lemuel and Sam saw Nephi coming towards them, they were
very much frightened and began to run away. They thought it was Laban;
for, as I told you, Nephi had dressed himself in Laban's clothing.
Nephi called to his brothers to wait, and when they heard his voice
they turned and came towards him.
Zoram (that was the name of Laban's servant) was greatly surprised at
that moment. He saw that Nephi was not his master, and he was about to
run back home when Nephi caught him by the arm.
"Do not have the least fear, Zoram," said Nephi. "The Lord has told us
to do this, and if you will come down with us to our father and mother
we will treat you kindly, and will take you with us to a beautiful
country far across the great waters."
Zoram agreed to go with Nephi and his brethren. So, with the good book
safe in their hands, they started back for the place where their father
and mother were watching and waiting for them.
On seeing his sons coming, Lehi hastened to meet them, and when he
heard that they had the good book with them he shed tears of joy. That
evening they all knelt in prayer, and Lehi thanked and praised the Lord
for bringing his boys back safely. Then he opened the book and read
to them some of the wonderful things which the Lord had done from the
creation of the world.
HOW THE LORD ANSWERED NEPHI'S PRAYER.
I am going to tell you this evening about another trip which Nephi and
his brethren made to Jerusalem, the city where they came from, and what
took place on the way back.
You see, the country they were going to was a very large country. There
were no people living in it at that time. But the Lord wanted it filled
with good men and women and good boys and girls.
So He told Lehi to send his sons back to Jerusalem to ask a man named
Ishmael and his family, who lived there, to go with them to the
wonderful country far across the great waters.
Ishmael had a number of beautiful daughters, and the Lord wanted Lehi's
sons to marry some of them, so that they could have good families.
Lehi told his sons what the Lord wanted them to do, and they all said
they would go. After traveling for a long time they arrived at the home
of Ishmael. They were taken in and were treated very kindly.
Nephi told Ishmael why he and his brethren had come to his home. Then
they all talked the matter over, and at last Ishmael and his family
said they would go with Nephi and his brethren.
A day or two later the company started out for the place where Lehi and
his wife were. All went well for a time; but after a while Laman and
Lemuel and part of Ishmael's family stopped and said they would go no
farther.
Nephi pleaded with them to continue the journey. He told them that if
they would do as the Lord wanted them to do, He would take them across
the great waters and land them safely in a beautiful country, where
they would find all manner of choice fruit and other good things.
"We don't want to go to a new country," they answered, sharply. "We
want to go back to our own home, and stay with the people there."
"Well," said Nephi, "you can go back if you want to, but if you do you
will be sorry. The people you speak of are wicked, and the Lord is
going to punish them. So if you go back you will be punished, too."
Then Laman spoke very sharply to Nephi. "We do not believe you," he
said. "How do you know that the Lord is going to punish the people in
the place where we used to live?"
"He told our father so," said Nephi, "and everything that the Lord says
is true. You did not believe we would get the good book our father sent
us for, but we did get it, just as the Lord said we would."
Then Laman and Lemuel and some of Ishmael's family grew very angry.
They ran and caught Nephi and tied him with strong cords to a tree.
"You will not preach to us any more," they said. "We are going to go
away and leave you here, and after a while wild beasts will come and
kill and eat you."
Poor Nephi! What a terrible way to be treated by his own brothers! He
was suffering great pain, for the cords were cutting his wrists and
ankles. But he did not get angry, nor speak hard words to those who had
so cruelly treated him. He knew the Lord would not let the wild beasts
harm him, and after a time He would help him to get free.
A happy thought came to him: he would pray to the Lord to give him
strength to break the cords. He looked up to heaven and said, "Dear
Heavenly Father, I know you will not let me be left here to be killed
by wild beasts. Please give me strength to break these cords, that I
may be able to go back to my dear father and mother."
At that moment Nephi felt great strength come into his body. The Lord
had heard and answered his prayer. He broke the cords as easily as if
they had been tiny threads and stood forth free before his brethren.
When they saw what had happened, they began to tremble with fear.
"Surely, the Lord is with Nephi," they said, and they came and bowed
down before him and begged of him to forgive them.
What did Nephi do? He said, "My dear brothers, I freely forgive you for
all the wrong you have done me. Now pray to our Father in Heaven to
forgive you also."
They did so, and then the company began to travel again. They reached
home in safety. Nephi and his brothers married four of the daughters of
Ishmael, and after a time little baby boys and girls were born to them.
HOW THE LORD GUIDED LEHI AND HIS FAMILY.
This evening I am going to tell you how Lehi and his family were guided
on their journey.
They were now a long way from their old home. They had not been in that
part of the land before, and the place was new and strange to them.
They could not ask anyone to tell them the way they should travel, for,
as I told you, there was no one living in that part.
How were they to know which way they should go?
"I can see what is going to happen to us," said Laman one evening as
they all sat outside their tents.
Nephi was reading the good book at the time, but on hearing what his
brother said he stopped. Looking straight into the face of Laman, he
asked, "What do you think is going to happen to us?"
"We are going to get lost; that is what is going to happen," said
Laman, sharply.
"I don't think so," said Nephi, calmly, and a bright smile lit up his
sweet face. "I am sure we will get to the wonderful country all right."
"O, yes," said Laman, as he cast a wicked glance at Nephi, "you are
sure of everything. You know all and we know nothing. Isn't that so,
boys?" he asked, turning to his other brothers and to the sons of
Ishmael.
They all, with the exception of Sam, nodded their heads, which meant
that they agreed with what Laman had said.
Then Sam spoke up in behalf of his brother: "I think," said he, "that
you are all too hard on Nephi. It is a shame the way you have treated
him. He is one of the best boys that ever lived, and I am proud to have
him for my brother."
"Well, you won't feel so proud of him after a while," said Lemuel,
"when he leads you away over those mountains and you get lost."
"Do not be afraid, Sam," said Nephi. "We will find the way all right."
"I know we will," said Sam, "and I will follow you, Nephi, wherever you
go."
"And how do you know you will find the way?" Laman asked, turning to
his brother Sam.
"I believe the Lord will show us the way," said Sam. "Indeed, I know He
will, if we will have faith in Him and do what He tells us from time to
time."
"That is true," said Nephi. "And now I want to tell you what I have
just read in the good book. After Moses had led the children of Israel
out of Egypt they came to the waters of the Red Sea. On looking back
they saw Pharaoh and his army coming after them.
"'Oh, dear, what shall we do?' they cried. 'We cannot cross these
waters. In a little while we will all be killed.'
"Then Moses stood up before them and said, 'Do not be afraid. The
Lord will save yon from Pharaoh's army.' Then he stretched his rod
across the waters, the sea divided, and all the children of Israel
crossed over on dry ground. When they had reached the other side, Moses
stretched forth his rod again, the waters came back and drowned Pharaoh
and all his soldiers.
"Now, the lesson we can learn from this," Nephi added, "is that as the
Lord led the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea,
so He can lead us to the beautiful country He has told us about."
"That is a very good lesson, Nephi," said his father. "I am sure the
Lord will guide us right. Let us now go into our tents and offer up our
prayers before we retire to rest."
Nephi was the first to awake in the morning. He arose quietly and
dressed himself. He decided to go out for a walk in the fresh air, and
listen to the birds sing their sweet songs in the trees.
As he stepped outside the tent, to his great surprise he saw a large
ball lying on the ground. He ran and picked it up. It was not like any
other ball he had ever seen. It was made of fine brass, and it had two
hands, like the hands of a watch.
He went quickly into the tent and awoke his father. "Look, father
dear," he said, "at the beautiful brass ball I found lying outside our
tent this morning."
Lehi took the ball and examined it carefully. As he looked at it one of
the hands began to point in a certain direction.
"See, Nephi!" he exclaimed, "the hands are moving."
"So they are," said Nephi. "What a wonderful ball this is!"
Then all the rest of the company were awakened and shown the wonderful
ball. As they looked on it with wondering eyes, Lehi said, "We need
fear no longer, for if we are faithful the hands on the ball will point
out to us the way we should go."
And so they did.
Where do you think the wonderful ball came from?
WHAT HAPPENED ON A HUNTING TRIP.
With the wonderful brass ball to guide them, Lehi, his family and the
rest of the company took up their tents and started to travel again. It
was a pretty sight to see them all in line crossing the river Laman.
When they had traveled for many days they decided to stop again for
a short time. So they chose a cool place, by the side of a stream of
clear, sparkling water, and there they put up their tents.
That evening Nephi and his brothers and the sons of Ishmael began to
make preparations for a hunting trip, which they had decided to take
the following morning. They were not going out to hunt for pleasure.
No, it was for the purpose of getting food, for the only food the
company had at that time was wild fruit and the flesh of wild animals.
I am sure you could not guess what kind of weapons they had.
"Guns?"
No, there were no guns in those days. They used bows and arrows, slings
and stones. Some of the bows were made of wood and some of steel. Nephi
had a good, steel bow. He and his brothers had practiced so much with
their bows and arrows and slings that they were very good shots, but
Nephi was the best of all. He could hit the mark almost every time.
Early the next morning the party of young hunters started off in search
of food. They took the brass ball with them to point the way. They
traveled for a long time without seeing an animal fit to kill.
At last they stopped suddenly. What was the noise they heard a short
distance ahead of them? It was made by a fine, large animal, that
jumped up frightened and started to run as the hunters drew near. It
ran to the top of a small hill, and there it stood looking back at
Nephi and his brethren.
Nephi quickly drew an arrow and placed it in his bow. He took good
aim, and was just going to send the arrow through the air when his
beautiful, steel bow broke in two. At the same moment the animal
started to run again and was soon lost to sight.
Poor Nephi! How sorry he felt as he looked down at his broken bow. Then
he cast a glance at Laman, and saw that his face was pale with anger.
He wished he had let one of the others shoot, but it was now too late
to mend matters.
Laman turned to Nephi and began to scold him. He was quickly stopped by
Sam, who said sharply: "It is unkind of you to speak that way to Nephi.
He did not break his bow wilfully. It was an accident. And he feels bad
enough over it without you hurting his feelings more by abusing him.
Let us say no more about the matter, but go on our way."
All day long they hunted without killing a single animal. When evening
came the party, with the exception of Nephi and Sam, started back for
their tents.
"I do not care to go home yet," Nephi said. "I will follow you later."
"I am going to stay with Nephi," said Sam. "Tell father and mother we
will be home before midnight."
After Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael had left, Nephi turned
to Sam and said:
"Sam, I tell you what we will do; we will kneel down and pray to our
Heavenly Father to help us get some food. I am sure He will do so."
"So am I," said Sam. "He has helped us many times before."
The two young men went over and knelt down under a large tree, where
they prayed earnestly to God to help them get food for the company. I
will tell you presently how their prayer was answered.
The other members of the hunting party returned to camp and told what
had happened. Their story cast a gloom over the whole company.
"What a terrible state to be in!" exclaimed one of the daughters of
Ishmael. "There is barely enough food for another meal. When that is
gone, starvation will stare us in the face."
Lehi and his wife Sariah were sitting together with bowed heads a short
distance away. Tears were running down the poor mother's cheeks. She
was not crying because the food supply had almost run out. No, she was
thinking of her boys, Nephi and Sam, out in the mountains alone, in
danger of being killed by wild beasts, and the darkness of night fast
coming on.
Lehi took her hand in his and in a comforting voice said: "Fear not,
Sariah, the Lord will watch over and protect our boys. I believe they
will soon return, and that they will bring food with them."
On hearing that, Nephi's mother dried her tears, and turning to her
husband, said: "Thank you, Lehi, for those words. I will trust in God
to bring our sons back safely."
Let us now go back to Nephi and Sam.
When they had ceased praying, Nephi sat down and quickly made a new bow
out of a branch of a tree. Then they walked briskly to the top of a
hill a short distance away.
At the foot of the hill lay a fertile valley, with a stream of clear,
cool water running gently through it. Birds were singing their evening
songs in the trees all around, and the air was filled with the
fragrance of wild flowers, which grew in abundance on the hillside.
For a moment Sam and Nephi stood gazing in admiration on the beautiful
scene before them. Then they began to descend the hill. As they were
nearing the foot they saw a sight which made them stop suddenly. At the
other side of the stream, not far from where they stood, they beheld
two fine, big animals quenching their thirst. Quick as a shot Nephi
and Sam dropped to the ground. Placing an arrow in each of their bows,
they took aim and fired. The arrows flew straight to the mark and the
animals fell.
With thankful hearts the young hunters dashed through the stream, and
on reaching the opposite bank, looked down upon the fine animals they
had slain. Here was meat to last the company several days. Cutting down
two large branches from a tree, they fastened the beasts upon them and
started for the tents of their father.
What a look of surprise came over the faces of Laman and Lemuel and the
sons of Ishmael when Nephi and Sam came into camp late that evening.
Lehi heard his sons coming and went out to meet them, and as he beheld
the two fine animals, he took Sam and Nephi by the hands and said: "I
knew, my sons, that you would not come back without food. The Lord
always provides for His faithful children."
NEPHI AS A SHIP BUILDER.
My story this evening is about the same people I told you of in my
other stories--Lehi and his followers.
How many years, do you think, those people spent in traveling through
the country? Eight. That is a long time--almost as long as some of you
have lived on the earth.
One day, at the end of the eighth year, they came to a very beautiful
and fruitful part of the country. How happy they all felt! On every
side there were trees and bushes laden with choice, wild fruit. But
that was not all. There was also a large number of natural bee-hives,
almost all of them filled with delicious honey.
The entire company stood for a time gazing in silence on the scene
before them. Then they began to gather fruit and honey, and when they
had collected a good supply, they sat down and began to feast.
"This," said Nephi, "is one of the best meals we have had since we left
home eight years ago."
"Isn't this honey delicious?" said Lemuel.
"It is," said his father.
That evening as they all sat in front of their tents, watching the sun
go down behind the hills, Lehi said, "This is a very rich part of the
country. I have been trying all day to think of a name by which to call
it, and I think I have the right name at last."
"And what is the name, father dear?" asked Nephi's wife, a daughter of
Ishmael.
"Bountiful," Lehi answered.
"The proper name!" they all shouted in chorus. So the place was given
the name Bountiful.
After Lehi and his people had rested for a short time, they began to
travel again. Nephi and Sam--they were always together--rode ahead of
the company. On reaching the top of a high hill they stopped suddenly.
They sat gazing for a few moments at the scene before them. Then they
turned and started at a quick pace for the rest of the party.
"What can be the matter?" Lehi asked, as he saw his two sons coming
back.
As Nephi and Sam came near the party, Nephi put his hand to his mouth
and shouted as loudly as he could, "The great waters! The great
waters!" On hearing that, every one in the company became excited, and
all hurried forward to get a look at the mighty ocean.
What strange feelings came into the hearts of Lehi and his followers as
they looked out upon the sea. How were they to cross such a large body
of water?
Just then Laman spoke. "It seems to me," said he, "that it is now time
for us to turn and go back home. I have felt from the day we started
that we would have to turn back some time. That time has come at last."
"And I have felt from the day we started," said Nephi, in a calm but
firm voice, "that we would never go back to our old home again. I know
that God is in heaven. I know He led the children of Israel through the
Red Sea and I know that He can and will carry us across these mighty
waters."
On hearing that, Laman and Lemuel and some of the sons and daughters of
Ishmael began to laugh and to make fun of Nephi.
"So you think God is going to come down out of heaven and carry us in
His arms across this great ocean," said Lemuel, "and set us down in a
wonderful country on the other side."
"No," said Nephi, "I do not think anything of the kind. But I do
believe He will tell us how we can cross these waters."
Then Lehi, their father, spoke. "My sons," he said, "do not get angry
with each other. Remember you are brothers. Remember, also, Laman, that
the Lord can do great things. He made this world in which we live.
Surely, then, He can help us to get to the other side of this ocean.
Now, let me tell you what I want you and the rest of the company to do:
I want you to gather all the fruit and honey you can. We must collect a
big supply, for it will be many days before we get to the new country."
"So you think we shall get across these great waters?" said Laman to
his father.
"I am sure we will," said Lehi. "Now, let us get to work."
All day long they gathered choice fruit and honey, and when the evening
came they sat down and looked with great satisfaction upon the labors
of their hands.
Nephi arose early the next morning. He looked pale, and it was easily
to be seen that he had some great matter upon his mind. He had slept
very little, but had spent the greater part of the night wondering how
the company could get across the great waters. He went to the tent in
which his parents were sleeping and gently woke his father. "I am going
into the mountains, father," he said, "to spend the day in prayer. I
feel that I shall have good news for you when I come back."
His father raised himself, and putting his arm around his son's neck,
drew him to him. Then he kissed him and said, "May God Bless you, my
son, and answers the prayers you offer up to Him this day."
After traveling for a long time, Nephi reached the top of a very high
mountain. All was quiet and peaceful around him. He sat down and rested
a little while. Then he knelt in prayer. He prayed to God with all his
heart to show him how the company could get across the great waters. I
believe he prayed three times. Then something very wonderful happened.
The Lord showed to Nephi in a vision a picture of a ship. It was not
like any other ship he had ever seen.
As Nephi gazed in wonder upon the vessel, the Lord said to him, "Nephi,
I want you to build a ship like this one, to carry your company across
the great waters."
"But, Lord," said Nephi, "I do not know how to build a ship."
"I know that," said the Lord, "but I will teach you. You will come up
into this mountain often and pray to me, and I will show you how to
build the ship."
The Lord then told Nephi where he could get one with which to make
tools, and after giving him other instructions, He told him to return
and tell his people all that he had seen and heard.
At first Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael would not believe
him. They made great fun of him, saying he would never be able to build
a ship. But after Nephi had talked very seriously to them, they started
to help him. Piece after piece was added to the vessel, and after a
long time the ship was finished and ready to be launched.
In my next story I shall tell you what happened soon after the company
had set out across the great waters.
WHAT TOOK PLACE ON THE GREAT WATERS.
The morning after the ship was finished all the company came together
to look at it. It was a very fine vessel. Nephi and those who had
assisted him were well pleased with their labors. They had built the
ship exactly as the Lord had told them, and had done their work well.
Then Lehi turned to his four sons and also to the sons of Ishmael and
said, "You have our grateful thanks for the great work which you have
done. You have built a splendid vessel, and I am sure it will carry us
safely across these great waters to the promised land."
A busy time followed. The men and women worked hard all day carrying
meat, fruit and honey down into the ship, and their little sons and
daughters helped them.
When night came they were all pretty tired; but they did not seem
anxious to go to sleep. That was the last night they would spend on
land for a long time. On the morrow they would be out upon the great
waters. Finally they retired, one by one, and the moon and stars shown
brightly over the sleeping camp.
The company was up and at work early next morning. The women prepared
breakfast and the men took down the tents and attended to other duties.
Nephi and Sam and some of Ishmael's sons were busily employed at fixing
the sails of the ship and getting the vessel ready for her first voyage.
At last the time came for all to go on board. A line was formed.
Lehi and his wife, being the oldest, marched at the head. The others
followed, according to their ages. A sharp breeze was blowing and the
vessel tugged at its chains as if anxious to get away.
When all of the company were safely on board, Nephi loosed the ship,
the wind immediately filled its sails, and a moment later it was
gliding swiftly through the water on its way to the promised land.
All went well the first day. And all would have gone well every other
day if Laman and Lemuel and some of the sons and daughters of Ishmael
had conducted themselves as they should have done.
The second day the company was on the water, Laman and Lemuel began to
sing and dance and to act in a very rude manner. Some of Ishmael's sons
and daughters joined them. Their conduct made Nephi feel very bad, and
he reproved them sharply.
"How can you act in such a shameful manner," he said, "after having
received so many blessings from the Lord? Have you forgotten how good
He has been to us, how He provided us with food on our journey and
taught us how to build this ship? I tell you, the Lord is looking down
upon you. He is displeased with you because of your conduct, and if you
do not stop and humble yourselves before Him, He will surely punish
you."
Those words made Laman and Lemuel very angry. They rushed at Nephi, and
seizing him by the arms, they thrust him back against the mast of the
ship. Then they called to the sons of Ishmael to bring a rope quickly.
Their command was obeyed, and they bound Nephi hand and foot to the
mast. There they kept him all day, suffering great pain, for the rope
cut deep wounds in his flesh.
It was a great trial to Lehi and his wife to see their dear son in such
a terrible condition. They pleaded with Laman and Lemuel to release
Nephi, but they would not. The tears and prayers of Nephi's wife
likewise failed to soften their stony hearts.
Nephi bore his sufferings well. Not one murmuring word fell from his
lips. When Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael mocked him, and
said unkind things to him, he heeded them not. He tried to comfort his
father and mother and loving wife by telling them that all would be
well, that in time the Lord would help him to get free.
And the Lord did. How? Listen and I will tell you. Two or three days
later dark clouds began to gather in the sky. A storm was coming.
Suddenly a flash of lightning lit up the heavens. Then a terrible peal
of thunder shook the vessel. The rain came down in torrents. Then the
wind changed and the vessel began to be driven back towards land.
The storm grew worse every hour. The waves dashed fiercely against the
vessel and at times swept over its deck. In the face of that awful
tempest stood poor Nephi, tied hand and foot to the mast. For three
days and nights the storm lasted, and all that time the vessel was
being driven back.
On the morning of the fourth day a terrible wave struck the ship and
almost turned it over. Some of the women began to scream with fright.
Laman and Lemuel became alarmed also. They saw that the Lord was angry
with them: that He had let the storm come upon them because of the way
in which they had treated their brother Nephi. Then another angry wave
burst over the vessel and almost buried it in the depths of the sea.
Believing they were about to be destroyed, Laman and Lemuel and the
sons of Ishmael repented of what they had done. They went over to
Nephi, untied the ropes which bound him and set him free.
Nephi was so weak that he could hardly stand upon his feet. He knelt
down, and looking up towards heaven he prayed with all his heart to God
to cause the storm to cease, and to change the course of the wind so
that the vessel might sail towards the promised land.
To the astonishment of all the people, the storm suddenly ceased, the
sea became calm, and the vessel started again on its journey across the
great waters.
LEHI AND HIS PEOPLE IN THE PROMISED LAND.
Lehi and his people had been a long time upon the great ocean. They
were very tired, for they had seen nothing but water for many days.
Some of them had begun to murmur, and to wonder if they should ever
set foot upon land again. Then something happened which brought joy to
every heart.
It was early in the morning. All the company were asleep except Nephi
and Sam. Nephi was steering the ship and Sam was standing in the fore
part of the vessel looking over the great waters.
Suddenly Sam's quick eyes caught sight of a dark object. He stood still
and held his breath. Could it be land? He looked again, and then he
gave a shout for joy which startled the whole company. In a few moments
men, women and children were by his side, asking what had happened.
"Look!" he exclaimed, as he pointed across the waters. "See, yonder is
the promised land!"
"It is, indeed!" they all shouted, and the children clapped their hands
and cried, "Land! land! land!"
"The Lord's name be praised!" said Lehi when he heard the joyful news,
although he could not see the land so far off, for he was old and his
eyes had become dim.
After breakfast, all set to work making preparations for landing. The
splendid little ship rode proudly as ever over the waves, and early in
the afternoon Nephi steered the vessel safe to shore. When the company
had landed they all knelt down upon the ground, and Lehi offered a
prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God for having brought them to the
promised land.
It was a beautiful country. The sun shone in its glory. The birds
welcomed the company with their sweet songs, and the flowers delighted
all with their rich perfume. On the hillsides animals of different
kinds were feeding. Among them were horses, donkeys, cows and goats.
There were also a great many wild fowl.
After breakfast the next morning, Lehi called the men of the company to
him and said, "My sons, the first thing for us to do is to clear some
land and plant the seed we have brought with us. The soil is very rich,
and I am sure we shall reap excellent crops."
"That is just what we were going to do, father," said Nephi. "Come,
brethren," he said to the others, "let us turn our attention to farming
for a while."
Day after day the men worked in the fields. Each evening all the people
met together and Nephi read to them out of the good book. Lehi also
told them many wonderful things which the Lord had done. They felt very
happy.
At last the seed was planted. Then the men went up into the hills and
caught a number of horses, donkeys, cows, and goats. The animals were
wild, but through kind treatment they soon became tame. The cows and
goats gave milk, the horses hauled wood and did other work, and the
donkeys carried the boys and girls on merry rides over the rolling
prairie.
The crops sprang up and grew rapidly, and when the time came for
harvesting there was plenty of food for man and beast.
And now I am going to tell you, children, about the last days of the
Prophet Lehi. He had become old and feeble, and the time was fast
drawing near when his spirit would leave this world and go to dwell
with the righteous in the Paradise of God.
Two baby boys had been born to him on the journey to the promised land.
Their names were Jacob and Joseph. They were good children, always kind
and obedient to their parents. On beautiful, warm days they would take
their father by the hand and lead him gently to a comfortable seat
under the shade of a large tree. Then they would sit down on the grass
at his feet and listen while he told them stories of wonderful things
which had happened many years before.
One day Lehi sent word to all the people to come to him, that he might
bless them before he died. When they had assembled, he blessed them in
turn. He promised them many good things from the Lord if they would
keep the commandments of God and love and help each other.
When Joseph, Lehi's youngest son, went in to receive his blessing his
father drew him close to him. He looked into his sweet, innocent face a
few seconds; then he pressed him to his bosom and placed a loving kiss
upon his lips.
While being blessed by his father, Joseph saw how good the Lord had
been to him, and when he was told of the great blessings which would be
bestowed upon him because of his faithfulness, he bowed his head on his
father's neck and wept.
"And now, my son," said Lehi, "I am going to tell you of a wonderful
thing which the Lord has told me will take place many years from now."
Joseph wondered what it could be. "You have seen the book which your
brother Nephi is writing." Joseph answered that he had. "Well," said
his father, "that is a history. It is an account of what has taken
place among us since the day we left our home up to the present time.
After Nephi has finished writing in it, he will deliver the book to
another good man, who will continue the history. When the second writer
has finished his part, he will give the book to a third, and in this
manner the history of the people will be kept for hundreds and hundreds
of years. When it is finished, it will be the most precious and
wonderful book ever written.
"And what will become of the book, father?" asked Joseph.
"I was just going to tell you," said Lehi.
Joseph drew closer, and looked anxiously into his father's face.
"When the book is finished," continued Lehi, "the last writer will hide
it in a deep hole in the ground. He will do that because wicked men
might get it and destroy it. The book will be kept hid in the earth for
thousands of years."
"At last the time will come for the book to be brought forth again.
Then the Lord will send an angel to a boy named Joseph, the same name
that you bear. The heavenly messenger will tell Joseph of the book and
show him the place in which it will lie buried. A few years later the
precious history will be taken from its hiding place and given to the
boy Joseph. The Lord will help the boy to change the language of the
book to suit the language of the people living at that time. Then the
book will be published, men will carry it into all the world, and the
people of every nation will learn of the great things which the Lord
will have done for us and our children."
"That is really wonderful," said Joseph. "It is, indeed," said his
father. Then Lehi kissed his boy again and said, "May the Lord bless
you, my son, forever."
Can my children tell me how the words of Lehi were fulfilled concerning
the book that was to be hid in the ground?
THE NEPHITES AND THE LAMANITES.
I am going to tell you this evening what took place soon after the
death of Lehi. Laman and Lemuel grew more wicked every day. Their
hearts were full of hatred towards Nephi and Sam.
One evening they went off by themselves. They sat down under a large
tree and talked together for a long time. I am sure you could not guess
what they were doing. They were making plans to kill Sam and Nephi.
Laman and Lemuel thought that if Nephi and Sam were dead the people
would choose them to be their leaders.
They did not seem to know that the Lord was looking down upon them and
listening to their wicked plot. But the Lord had seen and heard all,
and He at once prepared a way for the escape of Nephi and Sam.
That night the Lord told Nephi to gather together all the people that
wished to follow him and to take them away into another part of the
country. All the good people agreed to go with Nephi and Sam, the
wicked ones decided to stay with Laman and Lemuel.
Nephi and his people were guided on their way by the wonderful brass
ball which I told you about in one of my other stories. After traveling
many days they came to a place where they decided to settle.
"What shall we call this place?" asked one of the company.
Several voices answered at once: "We will call it Nephi, after our
faithful leader." So the place was named Nephi. From that time all
the people that followed Nephi were called Nephites. Those who stayed
behind with Laman and Lemuel were called Lamanites.
Now that they were away from their wicked brethren, Nephi and his
people felt very happy. They had brought with them many kinds of seed,
so they laid out farms and gardens and planted the seed in them. God
blessed their labors. His gentle rains and warm sun caused the seed to
grow and to produce splendid crops, so that there was plenty of food
for all.
In the evenings, when their work was done, the people would meet
together, and Nephi would read to them out of the good book. Then they
would pray to God, thanking Him for all His blessings, and asking Him
to protect them from the wicked Lamanites.
At first they had only tents to live in, but after a while they took
down their tents and put up beautiful houses in their place. In the
course of a few years a splendid little city had sprung up in that
desert region.
One Sabbath day, when the people had gathered together to worship God,
Nephi asked them if they would like to build a beautiful temple to the
Lord. They all said they would love to do so. A few days later a choice
place was selected, and a number of men began to lay the foundation of
the Lord's House. The hearts of the people swelled with joy as they saw
the walls of the sacred building rise higher and higher. At last the
temple was finished. The Lord was well pleased with it, and when the
people went into the temple to worship Him He bestowed great blessings
upon them.
One day all the people assembled together. They sent for Nephi, and
when he arrived they told him that, because he had been such a good
man, and had done so much for them, they had decided to make him their
king.
But Nephi would not agree to such a thing. He said he did not wish to
be king over them; that he wanted to be like one of themselves, and
that he would continue to be their leader and teacher.
I must now take you back to Laman and Lemuel, and to the people who
stayed with them. They, as I told you, were called Lamanites. O, dear,
what a difference there was between them and the people of Nephi! What
do you think had happened to Laman and the people who had stayed with
him? The displeasure of the Lord had come upon them so that their
skins had become dark, and they were fast becoming a wild and savage
people. They had neither farms nor gardens, nor houses to live in.
The only food they had to eat was fish and the flesh of wild beasts,
and at night they slept in old, worn out tents. They had become dirty,
idle, and lazy, just like the Indians we sometimes see going round
begging food. Such, dear children, was the terrible condition into
which the Lamanites were brought because of their disobedience to the
commandments of God.
ZENIFF AND HIS PEOPLE.