1:1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father,
Jarom, that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our
genealogy—
1:2 Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought
much with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling
into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself
am a wicked man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments
of the Lord as I ought to have done.
1:3 And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and six years had
passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons
of serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty
and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to
the commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son
Amaron. And I make an end.
1:4 And now I, Amaron, write the things whatsoever I write, which are
few, in the book of my father.
1:5 Behold, it came to pass that three hundred and twenty years had
passed away, and the more wicked part of the Nephites were destroyed.
1:6 For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the
land of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling into the
hands of their enemies, yea, he would not suffer that the words should
not be verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch
as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall not prosper in the land.
1:7 Wherefore, the Lord did visit them in great judgment; nevertheless,
he did spare the righteous that they should not perish, but did deliver
them out of the hands of their enemies.
1:8 And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates unto my brother
Chemish.
1:9 Now I, Chemish, write what few things I write, in the same book
with my brother; for behold, I saw the last which he wrote, that he
wrote it with his own hand; and he wrote it in the day that he
delivered them unto me. And after this manner we keep the records, for
it is according to the commandments of our fathers. And I make an end.
1:10 Behold, I, Abinadom, am the son of Chemish. Behold, it came to
pass that I saw much war and contention between my people, the
Nephites, and the Lamanites; and I, with my own sword, have taken the
lives of many of the Lamanites in the defence of my brethren.
1:11 And behold, the record of this people is engraven upon plates
which is had by the kings, according to the generations; and I know of
no revelation save that which has been written, neither prophecy;
wherefore, that which is sufficient is written. And I make an end.
1:12 Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak
unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of
Zarahemla; for behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee
out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice
of the Lord should also depart out of the land with him, into the
wilderness—
1:13 And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had
commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness,
as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord; and they were led
by many preachings and prophesyings. And they were admonished
continually by the word of God; and they were led by the power of his
arm, through the wilderness, until they came down into the land which
is called the land of Zarahemla.
1:14 And they discovered a people, who were called the people of
Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of
Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord
had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained
the record of the Jews.
1:15 Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of
Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of
Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon.
1:16 And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand
of the Lord across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah
discovered them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth.
1:17 And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had become
exceedingly numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious
contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their
language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with
them; and they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the
people of Mosiah, could understand them.
1:18 But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught
in his language. And it came to pass that after they were taught in the
language of Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a genealogy of his fathers,
according to his memory; and they are written, but not in these plates.
1:19 And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla, and of Mosiah,
did unite together; and Mosiah was appointed to be their king.
1:20 And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large stone
brought unto him with engravings on it; and he did interpret the
engravings by the gift and power of God.
1:21 And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his
people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and
he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons.
1:22 It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first
parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the
language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them
according to his judgments, which are just; and their bones lay
scattered in the land northward.
1:23 Behold, I, Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah; and I have
lived to see his death; and Benjamin, his son, reigneth in his stead.
1:24 And behold, I have seen, in the days of king Benjamin, a serious
war and much bloodshed between the Nephites and the Lamanites. But
behold, the Nephites did obtain much advantage over them; yea, insomuch
that king Benjamin did drive them out of the land of Zarahemla.
1:25 And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed,
and knowing king Benjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore,
I shall deliver up these plates unto him, exhorting all men to come
unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in
revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of
speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting languages, and
in all things which are good; for there is nothing which is good save
it comes from the Lord; and that which is evil cometh from the devil.
1:26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto
Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation,
and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your
whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and
praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be
saved.
1:27 And now I would speak somewhat concerning a certain number who
went up into the wilderness to return to the land of Nephi; for there
was a large number who were desirous to possess the land of their
inheritance.
1:28 Wherefore, they went up into the wilderness. And their leader
being a strong and mighty man, and a stiffnecked man, wherefore he
caused a contention among them; and they were all slain, save fifty, in
the wilderness, and they returned again to the land of Zarahemla.
1:29 And it came to pass that they also took others to a considerable
number, and took their journey again into the wilderness.
1:30 And I, Amaleki, had a brother, who also went with them; and I have
not since known concerning them. And I am about to lie down in my
grave; and these plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking.