Omni
Chapter 1
Omni 1:Verse 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--
Omni 1:Verse 2
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.
Omni 1:Verse 3
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.
Omni 1:Verse 4
4 And now I, Amaron, write the things whatsoever I
write, which are few, in the book of my father.
Omni 1:Verse 5
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.
Omni 1:Verse 6
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.
Omni 1:Verse 7
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.
Omni 1:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates
unto my brother Chemish.
Omni 1:Verse 9
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.
Omni 1:Verse 10
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.
Omni 1:Verse 11
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.
Omni 1:Verse 12
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--
Omni 1:Verse 13
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.
Omni 1:Verse 14
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.
Omni 1:Verse 15
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.
Omni 1:Verse 16
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.
Omni 1:Verse 17
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.
Omni 1:Verse 18
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.
Omni 1:Verse 19
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.
Omni 1:Verse 20
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.
Omni 1:Verse 21
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.
Omni 1:Verse 22
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.
Omni 1:Verse 23
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.
Omni 1:Verse 24
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.
Omni 1:Verse 25
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.
Omni 1:Verse 26
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.
Omni 1:Verse 27
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.
Omni 1:Verse 28
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.
Omni 1:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass that they also took others to a
considerable number, and took their journey again into the
wilderness.
Omni 1:Verse 30
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.