Post by Lehi –
As I’ve seen in vision, the land of our inheritance at Jerusalem has been conquered and Jerusalem destroyed. Many times as we journeyed in the wilderness my sons longed to return. Our life there was indeed more comfortable, we had been prospered by the Lord, yet glory be to His name that we were obedient in fleeing that wicked land. It is no more.
This new land of inheritance carries with it a promise so glorious, yet so conditional. Notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained this land of promise which is choice above all other lands. The Lord covenanted with me that it should be a land unto me and my children forever, along with those that He would lead from other countries to this land.
This very special land has been and will be forever watched over by the hand of the Lord. None will come here except brought by the Lord. It is a consecrated land, consecrated to the those the Lord will bring here. If they will but serve according to the commandments which He will give, it will be a land of liberty. They will never be brought down into captivity. If however, they reject the Lord and become wicked, the land will be cursed for their sakes. But, the righteous will be blessed however.
It’s wisdom that this promised land should be kept from the knowledge of other nations. If other nations knew, they would overrun this land and it would not be a land of inheritance for those the Lord does bring here.
The Lord has given us this promise concerning this land: “Inasmuch as those that the Lord God will bring to this land will keep His commandments, they will prosper in this land and they will be kept from all other nations. They may posses this land unto themselves. They will dwell in safety forever.”
The Lord has also warned that when the time comes when they dwindle in unbelief, after they have received the great blessings from the Lord – having a knowledge of the creation of the earth and all men, knowing the great and marvelous works of the Lord from the creation of the world; having power given them to do all things by faith; having all the commandments from the beginning, and having been brought by His infinite goodness into this precious land of promise— if the day comes that they reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, His judgment will rest upon them. He will bring other nations to the land and He will give unto them power, and He will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and He will cause them to be scattered and smitten.
The Lord God’s judgments and promises will certainly come to pass. Just as I saw Jerusalem destroyed as we were warned, the Lord will fulfill His words, that as one rebellious generation passes to another in this land, there will be bloodsheds and great visitations of condemnations. I wish with all my heart that my sons would hearken to my words, that you will wake up and shake off the pride, rebellion, selfishness, wickedness, even all the chains of hell that hold you down and will surely keep you captive and will only deliver misery and woe.
Please my sons, I am but an aging parent who will soon be gone back to the earth to a cold and silent grave, please hear my words. Though my body will return to the dust of the earth, the Lord has redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of His love. I pray that you will remember to observe the statutes and the judgments of the Lord; this has been the anxiety of my soul from the beginning. My heart has been weighed down with sorrow from time to time, and I fear for the hardness of your hearts lest the Lord your God should come out in the fullness of His wrath upon you, and you will be cut off and destroyed forever.
If you are not destroyed forever, you will at least be cursed for the space of many generations. You will be visited by the sword, by famine and will be hated and led around by the will and captivity of the devil. I plead that you become a choice and favored people of the Lord so these things won’t come to pass. Remember, if you keep His commandments, you will prosper in the land, if not, you will be cut off from His presence.
Fearing that I repeat myself with each of these exhortations, I can’t help but try to make my plea to you very clear. Please let me leave this world with gladness – arise from the dust my sons and be men! Be determined to follow God, united, putting on His armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains that bind you. Rebel no more against your brother. He hasn’t tried to usurp power and authority over you, if it weren’t for him we would have perished in the wilderness, yet you tried to kill him. He has been plain in his speech to you because he too is interested in your eternal welfare. Nephi is full of the spirit and at times he cannot be restrained and he therefore declares the truth boldly.
And now my sons, Laman, Lemuel and Sam, and also my sons who are the sons of Ishmael, if you will listen and follow the voice of Nephi you won’t perish. And if you will follow him I leave you a blessing, even my first blessing. But if you don’t, I take away my first blessing, and it will rest on him.
Now, Zoram, I speak to you: You are the servant of Laban; nevertheless, you’ve been brought out of Jerusalem, and I know you are a true friend to my son, Nephi, forever.
Because you’ve been faithful, your seed will be blessed with his seed, and they will dwell in prosperity a long time in this land; and nothing, except iniquity among them, will harm or disturb their prosperity on the face of this land forever.
Wherefore, if you keep the commandments of the Lord, the Lord has consecrated this land for the security of your seed with the seed of my son.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 1:5 – 32)
