shake in astonishment!
After this vision, my father was so overcome by the Spirit that he returned home and fell upon his bed, where his vision continued. He saw the heavens open. He saw what appeared to be God sitting upon His throne, surrounded by countless angels, singing and praising Him.
My father saw a man come down from heaven, whose whole body shone brighter than the sun. He saw twelve others follow who shone brighter than the stars. They came down to the earth, and the first man (Jesus the Christ) gave my father a book and asked him to read it.
As Lehi read the book, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord He read,
- "Jerusalem is cursed, for I have seen its wickedness! Unless the people of Jerusalem repent, many will either be killed by the Babylonians or become their slaves."
My father read about and saw in vision many great and marvelous things, after which he exclaimed, "Oh Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and Thy power, goodness and mercy are over all the earth. Because of Thy mercy, Thou will spare all who come to Thee!"
My father's heart was full of joy because of the Lord's tender mercy in showing him all these things.
I, Nephi, am writing only a small part of my father's visions dreams and prophecies that he wrote in his record and told to his children.
I will make a record of my life, but first I'll write part of my father's history on metal plates that I've made.
