THE PROMISED LAND--CHILI--ITS NATURAL PRODUCTIONS--THE DEATH OF
LEHI--HIS BLESSING ON HIS POSTERITY--PROPHECIES OF HIS ANCESTOR
JOSEPH.
(I. NEPHI CHAP. 18 TO II. NEPHI CHAP. 4.)
When the little colony, which numbered, we imagine, from sixty to
eighty souls, landed on the promised land they pitched their tents and
soon after began to till the ground. From their sowing they reaped
abundant crops. They explored the wilderness around them, and found
beasts of the forest of many kinds; also the ox, the horse, the goat
and the wild goat. In the rocks they discovered ores of gold, silver
and copper. Of the gold ore Nephi was commanded of the Lord to make
plates on which to keep the records of his people.
The description given by Nephi of the region where the colony landed
exactly corresponds with what we know of the country now called Chili;
and it was on its coast, the Prophet Joseph Smith informs us, that
the Nephites landed, and there they established their first homes.
Chili is favored with one of the finest and healthiest climates in
the world. The soil is exceedingly fertile, and the productions of
both hemispheres seem to thrive equally well there. The most delicious
fruit grows in abundance--the apple, peach, grape, strawberry, etc. Its
forests are magnificent, and furnish many kinds of beautiful wood. The
grass, in its rich meadow pastures, is often so tall and luxuriant as
to hide the cattle grazing amongst it. Chili also possesses valuable
mines, especially of gold, silver, copper and coal.
[Illustration: THE FIRST SACRIFICE ON THE PROMISED LAND.]
The people of Lehi were so few in number that they were a quiet and
solemn race, with few amusements, but with an oppressing sense
of the vastness of the land which they occupied, and of their own
insignificance. Nor was there entire peace amongst them, for Laman and
Lemuel, with others, were still fractious and turbulent.
In course of time Lehi felt that his earthly life was near its close,
for he was aged and in failing health. So he called to him his sons and
daughters and the other members of his colony, and blessed them in the
same manner as his forefather Jacob blessed his family before he died.
Lehi also prophesied many things that should happen to his posterity
after him, for he was possessed of much of the Spirit of the Lord.
After he had done this he died and was buried.
Lehi appears to have taken great pleasure in the knowledge that he
was a descendant of that Joseph who was sold by his brethren, and
afterwards carried into Egypt. In the blessing that he pronounced upon
his own son Joseph, Lehi quotes largely from the prophecies of the
former Joseph; prophecies which are nowhere given us, except in the
Book of Mormon. From them we learn that this mighty son of Jacob was
greatly favored of the Lord in having revealed to him much that related
to the future of his father's house, especially to his own posterity.
He saw the days of Moses and the work that that prophet performed; he
saw Lehi's day and his work, and, more interesting to us than all, he
saw the establishment of the kingdom of God in our day. He was told
that the prophet whom the Lord would raise up to be the leader of God's
people in the latter days would be of his seed, and the name of this
prophet, and that of his father also, would be the same as his--that is,
it would be Joseph. Many other events of great moment that are even now
taking place, were also made manifest to him by the Lord.