[color-box]For comparison purposes, the original Book of Mormon text is supplied (italicized and indented) after each Modern Book of Mormon verse.[/color-box]
Nephi and his brothers go back to Jerusalem to bring Ishmael and his family into the wilderness with them. Nephi’s brothers tie him up with the intention of killing him, but he breaks free and his brothers repent.
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1 After my father, Lehi, had finished prophesying about his descendants, the Lord told my father that it wouldn’t be good for him to take his family into the wilderness alone, but that his sons should get married and raise righteous children in the promised land.
1 And now I would that ye might know, that after my father, Lehi, had made an end of prophesying concerning his seed, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto him again, saying that it was not meet for him, Lehi, that he should take his family into the wilderness alone; but that his sons should take daughters to wife, that they might raise up seed unto the Lord in the land of promise.
2 The Lord commanded him that my brothers and I should again return to Jerusalem and bring Ishamel and his family back with us into the wilderness.
2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that I, Nephi, and my brethren, should again return unto the land of Jerusalem, and bring down Ishmael and his family into the wilderness.
3 So I went with my brothers yet again into the wilderness toward Jerusalem.
3 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did again, with my brethren, go forth into the wilderness to go up to Jerusalem.
4 We went to Ishmael’s house and won him over and told him what the Lord had said.
4 And it came to pass that we went up unto the house of Ishmael, and we did gain favor in the sight of Ishmael, insomuch that we did speak unto him the words of the Lord.
5 The Lord softened the hearts of Ishamel and his family, and they came with us into the wilderness to our father’s camp.
5 And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael, and also his household, insomuch that they took their journey with us down into the wilderness to the tent of our father.
6 While we were traveling in the wilderness, Laman, Lemuel, two daughters of Ishmael, and two sons of Ishmael and their families rebelled against us (me, Sam, Ishmael, Ishmael’s wife, and Ishmael’s three other daughters).
6 And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us; yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters.
7 They wanted to go back to Jerusalem.
7 And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they were desirous to return unto the land of Jerusalem.
8 I was sad that they were being so stubborn, so I told Laman and Lemuel, You are my older brothers. How can you be so stubborn and closed-minded that I, your younger brother, need to talk to you and be an example to you?
8 And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Laman and unto Lemuel: Behold ye are mine elder brethren, and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that ye have need that I, your younger brother, should speak unto you, yea, and set an example for you?
9 How can it be that you haven’t listened to the Lord?
9 How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord?
10 How can you have forgotten that you’ve seen an angel?
10 How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?
11 How can you have forgotten the great things the Lord has done for us, like saving us from Laban and giving us the brass plates?
11 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we should obtain the record?
12 How can you have forgotten that the Lord can do anything he wants for us if we actively have faith in him? So let’s be faithful to him.
12 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.
13 If we are faithful to the Lord, we will be given the promised land. You will know in the future that the Lord’s word about the destruction of Jerusalem will come true. Everything that the Lord has said about the destruction of Jerusalem will come true.
13 And if it so be that we are faithful to him, we shall obtain the land of promise; and ye shall know at some future period that the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled concerning the destruction of Jerusalem; for all things which the Lord hath spoken concerning the destruction of Jerusalem must be fulfilled.
14 The Lord’s Spirit will soon leave them. They have rejected the prophets and put Jeremiah in prison. They have tried to kill our father and have driven him out of Jerusalem in the process.
14 For behold, the Spirit of the Lord ceaseth soon to strive with them; for behold, they have rejected the prophets, and Jeremiah have they cast into prison. And they have sought to take away the life of my father, insomuch that they have driven him out of the land.
15 If you go back to Jerusalem, you will die with the rest of them. If this is your choice, go ahead, and remember what I’ve saidóthat if you go, you will also be killed. That’s what the Spirit is telling me to tell you.
15 Now behold, I say unto you that if ye will return unto Jerusalem ye shall also perish with them. And now, if ye have choice, go up to the land, and remember the words which I speak unto you, that if ye go ye will also perish; for thus the Spirit of the Lord constraineth me that I should speak.
16 After I said this, my brothers were angry with me. They grabbed and tied me up with rope, and wanted to leave me in the wilderness to get eaten by wild animals.
16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.
17 But I prayed to the Lord and said, I have faith in you, Lord. Save me from my brothers. Give me enough strength to break out of these ropes.
17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.
18 When I had finished saying these words, the ropes slid off of my hands and feet. I stood in front of my brothers and spoke to them again.
18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.
19 And again, they were angry with me and tried to grab me, but one of Ishamel’s daughters, along with her mother and one of her brothers, begged my brothers not to hurt me. This calmed them down, and they stopped trying to kill me.
19 And it came to pass that they were angry with me again, and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of the daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did soften their hearts; and they did cease striving to take away my life.
20 They were so sorry for their behavior that they bowed down in front of me and begged me to forgive them for what they had done.
20 And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before me, and did plead with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against me.
21 I forgave them and encouraged them to pray to the Lord for forgiveness, which they did. When they finished praying, we started again on our journey to our father’s camp.
21 And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so. And after they had done praying unto the Lord we did again travel on our journey towards the tent of our father.
22 Then, having safely arrived at our father’s camp, we (Ishamel’s family, my brothers, and I) thanked the Lord and offered up sacrifices and burnt offerings to him.
22 And it came to pass that we did come down unto the tent of our father. And after I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had come down unto the tent of my father, they did give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him.