- children.”
And this is what happened, just as the Lord said it would.
Also by this curse, the Lamanites became lazy, full of mischief and craftiness, and they hunted dangerous animals in the wilderness. Then the Lord said to me,
- "The Lamanites will be a trial to your people, reminding them to seek my favor and protection. And if your people do not remember me and keep my commandments, the Lamanites will be allowed to destroy them.”
I, Nephi, consecrated Jacob and Joseph to be priests and teachers over my people, and we lived the way of happiness (righteousness). The year was 570 BC, and thirty years had passed since we had left Jerusalem in 600 BC.
Since arriving in the promised land, I had kept a historical record of my people on large plates. Then the Lord said to me,
- "Make another set of plates for engraving things that are good in my sight—for the profit of your people.”
Upon this second set--the smaller plates, I have engraved a more sacred record of my people. If my people are pleased with the things of God, they will also be pleased with the engravings on these small plates.
If my people want to know more about their history, they can read it from the larger plates, which I keep updated.
And now, ten more years have passed, making it forty years since we left Jerusalem, and already we have had wars with our brethren, the Lamanites.
Jacob relates his and Isaiah's vision...
(compare 2 Nephi, chapter 6)
These are the words that Jacob, Nephi's younger brother, spoke to his people:
