Aaron: I have no grounds to be proud. Though I am one of King Mosiah’s four boys, my brothers and I, along with Alma proved able to destroy the testimonies of many of Christ’s followers. It was serious enough that God sent an angel to shake the earth beneath our feet. Consider how a still small voice can change a heart. Not with us. It took an earthquake. Fortunately, however, we repented and spent the rest of our lives teaching Christ to our fellow Nephites, Lamanites, Amulonites, Zoramites, Amalekites, and then returning to minister among our own Nephites. Among the experiences I cherish and will thank my God forever is the opportunity to teach Lamoni’s father about the Creation, the Fall, and the Plan of Redemption. His conversion, which I contend was not my doing but the doing of God, opened the way for our participation in the conversion of many.
Abinadom: I am the son of Chemish, and from him given the sacred records. I’m not a wordy person, and though I could write about the many wars I’ve fought and won, I don’t see that I could add much to the record. My son Amaleki may add to this record. One point to make is that I am a direct descendant of Jacob. It’s been some 350 years since our fathers left Jerusalem.
Abish: I am blessed to be a servant in King Lamoni’s court. Because of a dream my father had our family were converted to the Lord. I kept it secret from the rest of the Lamanites. I wasn’t embarrassed of the Lord but I knew how the Lamanites hated the Nephites and their religion, I didn’t want them to hate mel even though I am a Lamanite. When Ammon became a servant of King Lamoni, I was so happy. Then I got to help the queen. I am no longer alone in worshiping Jesus Christ and His father.
Alma: I foolishly fell in with a bad crowd—King Noah and his priests. Yep, that crowd. I served happily with them glutting myself on the labor of the people up in the land of our first inheritance. Our people left Zarahemla under the leadership of a shrewd leader Zeniff. He was righteous enough but overly ambitious. His son Noah ruled in his stead and couldn’t get much worse. It wasn’t until by the mercy of God, a prophet was sent to call us to repentance. It seems that I was the only one of the priests that heard that call. I was driven out and hunted. With a group of believers numbering over 400 we were warned of the Lord to flee into the wilderness. We did. We established a city and were soon captured and put into bondage by the Lamanites and ironically my fellow priest Amulon, though deception and tyranny became our task-masters. Again the Lord in his mercy led us from bondage and back to Zarahemla where I was eventually appointed as High Priest over the church by King Mosiah.
Alma the Younger: As the son of Alma who served in King Noah’s court and who was the lone priest who accepted the words of Abinadi, my early behavior could be categorized only as rebellion. I did so much damage to God’s work, it took a heavenly visitor and the thunder of a shaken earth to wake me from my rebellion. Well, it worked. I now dedicate my heart and soul to
proclaim in the language of Him who hath commanded me, that you that belong to the church must repent and obey; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life.
Amaleki: I am the last of the nine Nephite scribes to write on the small plates of Nephi. I was born in the days of King Mosiah and have lived to witness the death of our beloved King Mosiah. Along with my people we have lived among nearly constant warfare. I have no descendents to whom I may pass this sacred responsibility. I know Mosiah’s son Benjamin and I know he is a righteous man. I thus will give this responsibility to him with the same charge I received from my father – that these plates are for a testimony and plea for people to come unto Christ and I testify that as the Lord lives, if we come unto Him, we will be saved.
Amaron: My father Omni gave me the plates with the commandment to keep them safe. I have witnessed the judgements of God upon the wicked Nephites who have been destroyed. I testify that the Lord will not suffer that these words will not be verified, which he spoke to our fathers saying that, Inasmuch as you will not keep my commandments, you will not prosper in the land. I witness that is true.
Ammon: I may have been mistakenly considered the Great Spirit and by default considered the chief of the fourteen-year mission several of us including my three brothers served among the Lamanites. Once numbered among the unbelievers. And I say unbelievers because that is what kind people call us. We were rebellious, anti-Christs secretly seeking to destroy the church. It took an angel who shook the earth to open our eyes. After suffering much anguish of soul, we’ve spent our remaining days testifying of the mercy and grace of a loving Savior Jesus Christ and His plan of redemption, the creation, the fall, and the resurrection. I love my Savior.
Amulek with Alma: I am a descendant of Nephi and was a prominent citizen of Ammonihah. I consider myself a good and generous man. I was industrious and wealthy with many kindreds and friends. Yet I confess that despite witnessing the Lord’s mysteries and His marvelous power, I hardened my heart. I was called many times but would not hear. I knew concerning the things of God, yet I would not know. I simply went on rebelling against God. Compared to the angel who appeared to Alma and Mosiah’s sons, my angel was gentle. He simply instructed me to go and care for a prophet. Now having served God these many years, I give great thanks to a loving, forgiving, merciful Savior Jesus Christ.
Chemish: I am the son of Omni, a descendent of Jacob. I received what is called the Small Plates of Nephi from my brother Amaron. Amaron made one small entry to the plates he gave them to me. We’ve kept the plates only by the commandment of our fathers. I echoed my brother’s entry by making the note that I passed them on to my son Abinadom.
Daniel: I am of royal descent and once many of my good friends like Nephi left Jerusalem, we were taken captive into Babylon when the well prophesied destruction of Jerusalem took place. We are now in the court of Nebuchadnezzar being prepared to serve the king with other younger men. My new name here is Belteshazzar. When my buddies and I refused the king’s meat, we faced death but by the grace of a loving God we have won favor with the King. We don’t have many other fans here in Babylon apart from those taken captive with us. We do have prophets among us like Ezekiel.
Enos: I gave the sacred plates to my son Jarom. I received them from my father, the prophet Jacob. I am descended from prophets and thus am the recipient of a noble spiritual heritage and having been wrought upon by the power of God, I must preach and prophesy unto this people and declare the words according to the truth which is in Christ. I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in Him I shall rest. I know this for the personal revelation I received while in the seclusion of the forest said, “Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.”
Ezekiel: I am a priest of the family of Zadok. I am one of the captives carried away by Nebuchadnezzar. I am settled in Tel Abib. I find myself prophesying of the future restoration of Israel and the millennial reign of the Lord. I also feel strongly that each individual has responsibility for the consequences of their own behavior. I also see that two records will come together to become one testimony of the Messiah.
Himni: Like my brothers Ammon, Aaron and Omni, I was numbered among the unbelievers. Not being a story teller I seem to be the lesser of the sons. Yet, I was one of those who went about destroying the church of God. As one of King Mosiah’s sons we did great damage. I am forever grateful to have been able to spend 14 years serving as a missionary. I know we made the right choice refusing the opportunity to follow my father as king. Though we suffered many trials as missionaries, the blessings were so abundant. I was chosen by Alma to remain here in Zarahemla to care for the church while Alma, Shiblom, Corianton, Zeezrom, and my brothers left to serve as missionaries to the Zoramites.
Jacob: Not long after my parents Lehi and Sariah fled Jerusalem, I was born in the wilderness. I grew up amid intensifying family strife. My older brothers Laman and Lemuel lived in almost never-ending rebellion against God. Due to the very deep division in our family, I lived a life of sorrow. In a blessing from my father Lehi before his death, he recognized I suffered great affliction and sorrow because of the rudeness of my brothers. I now feel as though our lives pass away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and solemn people, wanderers cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation and hated of our brothers. Indeed we mourn out our days. Yet I beheld my Savior in my youth.
Jarom: I received the plates from my father Jarom. Writing is not one of my passions. I’ve fought my share of battles with the Lamanites and led many others during the seasons of war. Though I’ve not kept the commandments as I ought to have done, I have preserved the plates and passed them on to my son Amaron.
Jeremiah: I was called by the Lord to be a prophet some 27 years ago. Like other prophets called in these days, we all have unique responsibilities. To name a few of my fellow prophets, Lehi, Daniel, Obadiah, Habakkuk, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah and a few who’ve already given their lives. We don’t necessarily get together at the prophet’s club. The wickedness here in Jerusalem has earned the warning of impending destruction from all of us. Of the five kings to whom I’ve testified, only Josiah can be classified as righteous, and I lament his death. I trust the Lord and know I will see the destruction of Jerusalem.
Joseph: I am the youngest of the Lehi and Sariah family. Like my brother Jacob, I was born in the wilderness in the middle of tremendous family strife. Following the acquisition of the Brass Plates and my father Lehi learning about his ancestry and knowing he is a descendent to Joseph, I was blessed with his name. My father was clear that the ancient covenants given to Joseph extended to me. Included in this promise to me, is a promise of a latter-day seer who will also be named Joseph.
Noah: As the son of King Zeniff. I am the rightful king here in Shemlon. It took a strong hand like I have to establish a true monarchy with priests faithful to me to manage a people with a firm hand. Due to my strong leadership I put down the weak and contentious priests my father consecrated. My responsibility to lead demands that we have special privileges deserving of those of us who sacrifice to be leaders and protectors. It is because my leadership our people are such a great people. We will not permit contention in our kingdom. Those who cause problems will be punished.
Lamoni was king over the land of Ishmael and was a descendant of Ishmael (Alma 17:21). He was the first convert of Ammon. Although he was an enemy of the Nephites and a king of an apostate people, Lamoni was still a man of reason and conscience. He eventually became a man of great faith and an example of the joy and dedication that accompanies spiritual rebirth as well as a tremendous tool in the hand of the Lord that led to thousands of Lamanites coming to a knowledge of the truth (Alma 17-21)
Laban: I am one of the more prominent inhabitants of Jerusalem. I am a descendent of Joseph as is Lehi who thinks he should have the sacred plates of brass. As a military leader, I command fifty. My prominence allows me to associate with the Elders with whom we meet particularly at night. In full armor including my exceedingly fine sword, no one dares challenge me. With my position in the city, I have charge of a fine treasury.
Laman: As the oldest son of Lehi and Sariah, this blog should be mine, but Nephi has taken upon himself this right and I have far more important things to do than sit around and drone on about my father’s visions and dreams. I don’t have much use for them. They upset our family, the leaders in the community and one day will probably get my father killed. If Nephi were smart he would leave this to me since I am the firstborn and have the birthright privilege of leadership. But since Nephi humors my father, my father thinks Nephi is better than me and Lemuel. We will get even, Nephi will realize his mistakes, soon enough.
Lehi: Although I have seen and written a great deal in my life, I will not clutter this blog with much of my writings, but as invited by my dear son Nephi, I will contribute from time to time. I am acquainted with many of the prophets that God has sent to call the city of Jerusalem to repentance. It is not so large a city that we don’t know many of the people well. It doesn’t take a prophet to recognize the moral and political decay that is gutting this city. But it was their teachings that inspired my seeking the Lord in prayer concerning this matter. I have lived in Jerusalem all my life and have raised my family here. In my travels I have gained a sizable fortune and my family lives quite comfortably here.
Lemuel: My brother Laman is right in one thing, our father is making it very difficult for our family. We have position in this city, respect among our friends, we associate with the leaders and enjoy the finest the great city Jerusalem has to offer. I am the second oldest and I would like it very much if Nephi would give up his irritating “follow God” complex. If he would, I could show him the finer side of living in Jerusalem. Being the size that he is, it would be easy to introduce him to some pretty fine women.
I was the maidservant of a man named Morianton. Morianton established a people not from the land of Lehi. There began a dispute between Morianton and the people in the land of Lehi. Morianton armed his people and they were about to attack the people of Lehi. When the people of Lehi saw the were going to be attacked, they ran to Moroni. When Morianton heard that Moroni might send troops he decided to flee northward. Morianton was a hot-tempered and wicked man. In a fit of anger he beat me terribly. It was the last time. So I ran to Moroni’s camp and told them of Morianton’s plans. When Teancum’s army returned from trying to stop Morianton from fleeing northward, I was glad to hear that Teancom killed him.
Nephi: I am the 4th son of Lehi and Sariah. Sam, my next oldest is not much with words so he will probably not add much to this blog. But he is a great man. He has always supported me in my desire to do what is right. Sam doesn’t mind that I am the younger brother, his love for me and the Lord is a great help. We have been taught well by our parents. We have learned the language of our father which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians. Sam and I have enjoyed a great knowledge of the goodness and mysteries of God.
Omni: I received the plates from my father Jarom. Writing is not one of my passions. I’ve fought my share of battles with the Lamanites and led many others during the seasons of war. Though I’ve not kept the commandments as I ought to have done, I have preserved the plates and passed them on to my son Amaron.
Sam: I am Lehi and Sariah’s third son. I am a bit of an introvert, but I support my father and my younger brother Nephi. I’ve never had the visions as Nephi and my father seem to have regularly. I do however know from personal experience with the spirit that we are living after the manner of happiness. I am thankful we are apart from my older brothers. We will continue to serve God and eventually enjoy the peace that comes by obeying the commandments. My marriage with one of Ishmael’s daughters has been a happy one and together we’re raising a family.
Sariah: I am the matriarch of this new civilization. I resided in Jerusalem for many years before the Lord directed my husband Lehi in a dream to take our family into the wilderness. I faced challenges that include the birth of two sons and all the perils inherent in isolated desert travel and of course family strife. Believe me, there is and was plenty of that. I think one of the greatest wilderness challenges was the delayed return of my sons from their journey to acquire the brass plates of Laban. I was consumed with the worry that they perished. I blamed my husband for exposing them to so much danger. Later when upon the water I was brought to near death due to the mistreatment of my son Nephi at the hands of Laman and Lemuel.
Zoram: Until Nephi offered me freedom for helping him acquire the Plates of Brass, I served Laban as his slave. I served him as faithfully as I now do the Lord. I was trusted with Laban’s most treasured possessions. In fact, I held the keys to the actual treasury. When offered the chance to join Nephi’s family and enjoy freedom, I took that invitation to heart and have never looked back. Nephi once made a comparison between me and Joseph of Old in the fact that I was instrumental in saving a branch of the House of Israel. I am older than Laman and Lemuel and thus was given Ishmael’s oldest daughter to marry. She has brought me great joy. I can’t imagine how difficult it is for her to watch her sisters join Laman and Lemuel as they rebel against God.
This may be the best blog collection I have ever read.