18:1 And it came to pass that they did worship the Lord, and did go
forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the
Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the
timbers of the ship.
18:2 Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was
learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men;
but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me;
wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.
18:3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto
the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.
18:4 And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according
to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that
the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did
humble themselves again before the Lord.
18:5 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my
father, that we should arise and go down into the ship.
18:6 And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had prepared all
things, much fruits and meat from the wilderness, and honey in
abundance, and provisions according to that which the Lord had
commanded us, we did go down into the ship, with all our loading and
our seeds, and whatsoever thing we had brought with us, every one
according to his age; wherefore, we did all go down into the ship, with
our wives and our children.
18:7 And now, my father had begat two sons in the wilderness; the elder
was called Jacob and the younger Joseph.
18:8 And it came to pass after we had all gone down into the ship, and
had taken with us our provisions and things which had been commanded
us, we did put forth into the sea and were driven forth before the wind
towards the promised land.
18:9 And after we had been driven forth before the wind for the space
of many days, behold, my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and also
their wives began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to
dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, even that
they did forget by what power they had been brought thither; yea, they
were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness.
18:10 And I, Nephi, began to fear exceedingly lest the Lord should be
angry with us, and smite us because of our iniquity, that we should be
swallowed up in the depths of the sea; wherefore, I, Nephi, began to
speak to them with much soberness; but behold they were angry with me,
saying: We will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us.
18:11 And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me
with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless,
the Lord did suffer it that he might show forth his power, unto the
fulfilling of his word which he had spoken concerning the wicked.
18:12 And it came to pass that after they had bound me insomuch that I
could not move, the compass, which had been prepared of the Lord, did
cease to work.
18:13 Wherefore, they knew not whither they should steer the ship,
insomuch that there arose a great storm, yea, a great and terrible
tempest, and we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three
days; and they began to be frightened exceedingly lest they should be
drowned in the sea; nevertheless they did not loose me.
18:14 And on the fourth day, which we had been driven back, the tempest
began to be exceedingly sore.
18:15 And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the
depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters
for the space of four days, my brethren began to see that the judgments
of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should
repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed
the bands which were upon my wrist, and behold they had swollen
exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the
soreness thereof.
18:16 Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all
the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine
afflictions.
18:17 Now my father, Lehi, had said many things unto them, and also
unto the sons of Ishmael; but, behold, they did breathe out much
threatenings against anyone that should speak for me; and my parents
being stricken in years, and having suffered much grief because of
their children, they were brought down, yea, even upon their sick-beds.
18:18 Because of their grief and much sorrow, and the iniquity of my
brethren, they were brought near even to be carried out of this time to
meet their God; yea, their grey hairs were about to be brought down to
lie low in the dust; yea, even they were near to be cast with sorrow
into a watery grave.
18:19 And Jacob and Joseph also, being young, having need of much
nourishment, were grieved because of the afflictions of their mother;
and also my wife with her tears and prayers, and also my children, did
not soften the hearts of my brethren that they would loose me.
18:20 And there was nothing save it were the power of God, which
threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore,
when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of
the sea they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that
they loosed me.
18:21 And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the
compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that
I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and
the storm did cease, and there was a great calm.
18:22 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we
sailed again towards the promised land.
18:23 And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of
many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon
the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised
land.
18:24 And it came to pass that we did begin to till the earth, and we
began to plant seeds; yea, we did put all our seeds into the earth,
which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass
that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we were blessed in
abundance.
18:25 And it came to pass that we did find upon the land of promise, as
we journeyed in the wilderness, that there were beasts in the forests
of every kind, both the cow and the ox, and the ass and the horse, and
the goat and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were
for the use of men. And we did find all manner of ore, both of gold,
and of silver, and of copper.