4 Nephi 1

4 Nephi 1

4 Nephi 1: Header

The Book of Nephi, Who Is the Son of Nephi—One of the Disciples of Jesus Christ.

An account of the people of Nephi, according to his record.

Comments

None of the books of Nephi in the Book of Mormon were originally designated by number. Each was the book of Nephi, and distinguished in the title with the genealogy. Thus, what we have typeset as a header may have been part of the intended title, at least up to the description of Nephi as “one of the disciples of Jesus Christ.” The final sentence is probably the header proper.

Because we have four books of Nephi, and we know of three [men named] Nephi’s (son of Lehi₁, son of Helaman₂, and son of Nephi₂, who was the son of Helaman₂), it has been assumed that this new book must indicate yet another Nephi. There is no evidence for a Nephi₄, son of Nephi₃, son of Nephi₂, son of Helaman₂. The title of the book clearly indicates two things: 1) this Nephi is the son of Nephi; and 2) this Nephi is one of the disciples.

It is that last designation that helps us understand that the Nephi₃ whose name is used for this book is the same as the one from whose personal record the book of 3 Nephi was taken. Further evidence is in the first verse of the book, which indicates: “the thirty and fourth year passed away, and also the thirty and fifth, and behold the disciples of Jesus had formed a church of Christ in all the lands round about.” Thus, the book of 4 Nephi begins soon after the end of the book of 3 Nephi, and not enough time later to suggest that the Nephi₃ (who appears to have been the head of the twelve disciples) would have passed away.

Why then a different book? There are two reasons. The first is that the book of 3 Nephi was taken from Nephi₃’s personal record, with some backup in the early chapters from the large plates. In 4 Nephi, we are getting Mormon’s severe condensation of Nephite history. The passage of time is noted in a way that echoes the annalistic format of the large plates.

When the book of 3 Nephi began, Nephi₃ had the large plate record, and he was the record keeper. He kept the record of the previous dynasty, to which he did not belong. The Nephite nation had been destroyed prior to the arrival of the Savior in Bountiful. Nevertheless, the large plates were in Nephi₃’s possession.

In 4 Nephi, we have a reconstitution of the Nephite people as a nation. While it does not clearly state that Nephi₃, son of Nephi₂, had become their ruler, it is a logical inference from his position among the twelve, his possession of the records, and the fact that 4 Nephi bears his name. Thus, 3 Nephi was a book outside of the large plate record, and 4 Nephi returns to the large plates with a new dynasty, and therefore, a new book name.

A Zion Society Is Established

4 Nephi 1:1–4

1 And it came to pass that the thirty and fourth year passed away, and also the thirty and fifth, and behold the disciples of Jesus had formed a church of Christ in all the lands round about. And as many as did come unto them, and did truly repent of their sins, were baptized in the name of Jesus; and they did also receive the Holy Ghost.

2 And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another.

3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.

4 And it came to pass that the thirty and seventh year passed away also, and there still continued to be peace in the land.

Comments

The book of 4 Nephi records only the barest amount of information beyond the passage of time. At the beginning, we learn about the aftermath of the Savior’s visit to his people in Bountiful. Jesus had called twelve disciples (the Book of Mormon designation for what we would call apostles), and they did what they had been called to do. They preached the gospel as Christ had taught them.

They, and all others in Bountiful, were able to bear extremely strong testimony to the truth that Jesus was the Christ, for they had seen, heard, and been with him for days. Thus, that powerful testimony was effective as they traveled through the land to teach. They converted and baptized many.

The result of so many believing in the same thing, and having the same goals, allowed for a time when “there were no contentions and disputations among them.” There “continued to be peace in the land.”

Verse 3 shows that they implemented the New Testament version of social equality and caring for one another. They “had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.” The long-held Nephite goal of treating others well, of not neglecting the needy, had finally come to pass, and lasted longer than during the previous years.

4 Nephi 1:5–9

5 And there were great and marvelous works wrought by the disciples of Jesus, insomuch that they did heal the sick, and raise the dead, and cause the lame to walk, and the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear; and all manner of miracles did they work among the children of men; and in nothing did they work miracles save it were in the name of Jesus.

6 And thus did the thirty and eighth year pass away, and also the thirty and ninth, and forty and first, and the forty and second, yea, even until forty and nine years had passed away, and also the fifty and first, and the fifty and second; yea, and even until fifty and nine years had passed away.

7 And the Lord did prosper them exceedingly in the land; yea, insomuch that they did build cities again where there had been cities burned.

8 Yea, even that great city Zarahemla did they cause to be built again.

9 But there were many cities which had been sunk, and waters came up in the stead thereof; therefore these cities could not be renewed.

Comments

Mormon notes that the disciples did as Christ had done, which was to work miracles of healing the sick, raising the dead, and causing the lame to walk and the blind to see. We do not get any description of these events. We don’t get the stories of the disciples going to a people and preaching and then being presented with these opportunities. Mormon is eschewing story-telling for a rapid and condensed version of events. They happened, but it isn’t the story he wants to tell. What is important is the witness of the effect of the gospel and the Savior’s visit on the people.

In addition to healing people, the destruction of the land began to be healed as well. Cities which had been burned were rebuilt. Those cities that were underwater remained underwater, however. That tells us that the rebuilding process was done by humans and was not a miracle. The people began to do what people do and rebuilt what they could after the terrible destruction.

4 Nephi 1:10–13

10 And now, behold, it came to pass that the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people.

11 And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them.

12 And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the law of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord.

13 And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus.

Comments

The people had begun to live according to the commandments. Although “they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the law of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God,” they retained the promise of the land. The promise was that they would prosper if they lived according to the commandments. They were doing that. They prospered. Mormon “proves” it by declaring that “the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people,” and “there was no contention among all the people, in the land.”

Verse 11 notes that they were married. That was certainly true, but it is such obvious information that Mormon certainly didn’t suggest that this was something new. What he is indicating is that life returned to normal, and to normal activities, such as marrying, and being given in marriage.

Verse 11 if functionally similar to Luke 17:27, which speaks of Noah: “They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” Marrying and being given in marriage simply refer to life continuing as normal.

4 Nephi 1:14–16

14 And it came to pass that the seventy and first year passed away, and also the seventy and second year, yea, and in fine, till the seventy and ninth year had passed away; yea, even an hundred years had passed away, and the disciples of Jesus, whom he had chosen, had all gone to the paradise of God, save it were the three who should tarry; and there were other disciples ordained in their stead; and also many of that generation had passed away.

15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.

Comments

Although Mormon lists years, he lists years without expressing anything happening in them. Then, in verses 15 and 16, he tells us what he had said in verse 13 about there being no contentions in the land.

This is simply a time marker. The story that Mormon is interested in will come later. Now, he is, quite literally, marking time.

4 Nephi 1:17–18

17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.

18 And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no contention in all the land.

Comments

Even though these two verses continue the minimal information that Mormon has been giving, it is important to note that there were no robbers. Not only were they having peace, but they were able to keep out those who would attempt to destroy them. Even more importantly, there were no “Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ.” That is an important point. The old animosity between Lamanites and Nephites was removed when they all left behind their inherited labels and prejudices and became a new people.

When the “first generation” passed away, we may see that as approximately one hundred years. The Book of Mormon appears to use the term generations for that large number of years, rather than meaning an actual human generational change.

Handing Down the Record

4 Nephi 1:19–22

19 And it came to pass that Nephi, he that kept this last record, (and he kept it upon the plates of Nephi) died, and his son Amos kept it in his stead; and he kept it upon the plates of Nephi also.

20 And he kept it eighty and four years, and there was still peace in the land, save it were a small part of the people who had revolted from the church and taken upon them the name of Lamanites; therefore there began to be Lamanites again in the land.

21 And it came to pass that Amos died also, (and it was an hundred and ninety and four years from the coming of Christ) and his son Amos kept the record in his stead; and he also kept it upon the plates of Nephi; and it was also written in the book of Nephi, which is this book.

22 And it came to pass that two hundred years had passed away; and the second generation had all passed away save it were a few.

Comments

Verse 19 declares that Nephi_3, who had been keeping the large plate record, passed away. This appears to have come after a lifetime of perhaps nearing a hundred years. His son, Amos, keeps the record until he dies. Then his son, Amos (another son named for the father), has the record.

This gets us to two hundred years since the birth of Christ in Nephite years. It is an important milestone because it is halfway to the final destruction. It is the righteous half. That will all change in the next verses.

The division between righteousness and wickedness that fits precisely on the two-hundred-year boundary is strongly suggestive that Mormon is fitting history into a more symbolic package. The events certainly happened, but it takes longer to shift a whole society than the movement of a single year to the next. The events surely happened but would have happened over time. The marking of the year 200 as the turning point is a symbolic use of numbers and time.

Pride and Divisions Emerge

4 Nephi 1:23–26

23 And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that the people had multiplied, insomuch that they were spread upon all the face of the land, and that they had become exceedingly rich, because of their prosperity in Christ.

24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.

25 And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.

26 And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ.

Comments

The newly formed, and newly inclusive, nation of Nephi had lived the commandments for two hundred years. Therefore, they prospered. After two hundred years, they finally return to the problems of old. They became rich, and once they became rich they “were lifted up in pride,” and began wearing costly apparel, that harbinger of a people drifting away from the commandments.

The earlier egalitarianism was abandoned, and social hierarchies were becoming normal. Thus, “they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.” It was what we would expect of a people who began to wear costly apparel.

4 Nephi 12:27–29

27 And it came to pass that when two hundred and ten years had passed away there were many churches in the land; yea, there were many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they did deny the more parts of his gospel, insomuch that they did receive all manner of wickedness, and did administer that which was sacred unto him to whom it had been forbidden because of unworthiness.

28 And this church did multiply exceedingly because of iniquity, and because of the power of Satan who did get hold upon their hearts.

29 And again, there was another church which denied the Christ; and they did persecute the true church of Christ, because of their humility and their belief in Christ; and they did despise them because of the many miracles which were wrought among them.

Comments

Within ten years, the unified Nephite society was essentially dissolved. “There were many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they did deny the more parts of his gospel.” The original disciples, save three, had died by this time. The loss of the eyewitnesses appears to have allowed room for disputation, and therefore there existed separated congregations which interpreted the gospel in different ways.

There was also, of course, “another church which denied the Christ.” That was the common theme of the influence of the outside world on the Nephite faithful. Reading between the lines, there was a period of relative isolation from other nations, and then a time when the connections between people started up again. One of the ways to acquire riches was always through trade with outside peoples. They traded not only in goods, but apparently in ideas. Those ideas infiltrated Nephite society and returned them to the more divided people that they were before the great destruction at Christ’s death in the Old World.

4 Nephi 1:30–33

30 Therefore they did exercise power and authority over the disciples of Jesus who did tarry with them, and they did cast them into prison; but by the power of the word of God, which was in them, the prisons were rent in twain, and they went forth doing mighty miracles among them.

31 Nevertheless, and notwithstanding all these miracles, the people did harden their hearts, and did seek to kill them, even as the Jews at Jerusalem sought to kill Jesus, according to his word.

32 And they did cast them into furnaces of fire, and they came forth receiving no harm.

33 And they also cast them into dens of wild beasts, and they did play with the wild beasts even as a child with a lamb; and they did come forth from among them, receiving no harm.

Comments

Even the three disciples who had tarried were no longer respected and universally believed. They were persecuted. These events are being reported at some time after the Nephite year 210, after the birth of Christ. These are the events Mormon earlier referenced when speaking of the three (see 3 Nephi 28:19–22):

19 And they were cast into prison by them who did not belong to the church. And the prisons could not hold them, for they were rent in twain.

20 And they were cast down into the earth; but they did smite the earth with the word of God, insomuch that by his power they were delivered out of the depths of the earth; and therefore they could not dig pits sufficient to hold them.

21 And thrice they were cast into a furnace and received no harm.

22 And twice were they cast into a den of wild beasts; and behold they did play with the beasts as a child with a suckling lamb, and received no harm.

4 Nephi 1:34–39

34 Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts, for they were led by many priests and false prophets to build up many churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. And they did smite upon the people of Jesus; but the people of Jesus did not smite again. And thus they did dwindle in unbelief and wickedness, from year to year, even until two hundred and thirty years had passed away.

35 And now it came to pass in this year, yea, in the two hundred and thirty and first year, there was a great division among the people.

36 And it came to pass that in this year there arose a people who were called the Nephites, and they were true believers in Christ; and among them there were those who were called by the Lamanites—Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites;

37 Therefore the true believers in Christ, and the true worshipers of Christ, (among whom were the three disciples of Jesus who should tarry) were called Nephites, and Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites.

38 And it came to pass that they who rejected the gospel were called Lamanites, and Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites; and they did not dwindle in unbelief, but they did wilfully rebel against the gospel of Christ; and they did teach their children that they should not believe, even as their fathers, from the beginning, did dwindle.

39 And it was because of the wickedness and abomination of their fathers, even as it was in the beginning. And they were taught to hate the children of God, even as the Lamanites were taught to hate the children of Nephi from the beginning.

Comments

Once upon a time, things were so good that there were no “manner of -ites” (4 Nephi 1:17). By the Nephite year 231, that idyllic time had ended. Once again, we have “-ites,” and they fall into the previous categories of unbelief. While it is certain that tribal distinctions remained, it would be unusual for all of those who apostatized from the Nephite religion to just happen to belong to the old designations for the unbelievers.

Mormon is doing what Jacob did hundreds of years before: “But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings” (Jacob 1:14).

We should understand that Mormon is creating a restored Nephite nation, along with restoring its self-identity. The important part is not in names, but rather in functions. There are the righteous, and they are called Nephites. Once again, there are others. Verses 38 and 39 emphasize that things have come around to the conditions in the beginning. Just as there was hatred in the beginning, there is hatred again. Mormon is emphasizing the return to that period.

Wickedness Prevails

4 Nephi 1:40–42

40 And it came to pass that two hundred and forty and four years had passed away, and thus were the affairs of the people. And the more wicked part of the people did wax strong, and became exceedingly more numerous than were the people of God.

41 And they did still continue to build up churches unto themselves, and adorn them with all manner of precious things. And thus did two hundred and fifty years pass away, and also two hundred and sixty years.

42 And it came to pass that the wicked part of the people began again to build up the secret oaths and combinations of Gadianton.

Comments

With the reappearance of Lamanites, there is a reappearance of wickedness. Again, this is a literary device, and should not be seen as something that is inherent in all definitions of Lamanites at all times. This division occurs, and once again the Lamanites “became exceedingly more numerous than were the people of God.” Mormon is showing a cyclical reappearance of the conditions prior to Christ’s arrival. In Jarom 1:6 we had learned that: “And they [the Lamanites] were exceedingly more numerous than were they of the Nephites.”

Most importantly, the people who are against the Nephites are sufficiently wicked that the Gadiantons are going to appear yet again. Mormon has already told us that they caused the ultimate downfall of the Nephites (Helaman 2:13–14). Therefore, they had to come back, along with all the other ills of society.

4 Nephi 1:43–45

43 And also the people who were called the people of Nephi began to be proud in their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, and become vain like unto their brethren, the Lamanites.

44 And from this time the disciples began to sorrow for the sins of the world.

45 And it came to pass that when three hundred years had passed away, both the people of Nephi and the Lamanites had become exceedingly wicked one like unto another.

Comments

Mormon seems to suggest that there was a general prosperity in which both the Nephites and the Lamanites shared. That prosperity led both people to pride, and therefore, both people to wickedness.

Mormon is preparing his readers for the final demise of the Nephites and contrasts the previous righteous state of both Lamanites and Nephites with the nearly universal separation from gospel principles in the land. Even though we still have the labels of Lamanite and Nephite, they can no longer be used to suggest righteousness versus wickedness. They were both “exceedingly wicked, one like unto another.”

Handing Down the Record

4 Nephi 1:46–49

46 And it came to pass that the robbers of Gadianton did spread over all the face of the land; and there were none that were righteous save it were the disciples of Jesus. And gold and silver did they lay up in store in abundance, and did traffic in all manner of traffic.

47 And it came to pass that after three hundred and five years had passed away, (and the people did still remain in wickedness) Amos died; and his brother, Ammaron, did keep the record in his stead.

48 And it came to pass that when three hundred and twenty years had passed away, Ammaron, being constrained by the Holy Ghost, did hide up the records which were sacred—yea, even all the sacred records which had been handed down from generation to generation, which were sacred—even until the three hundred and twentieth year from the coming of Christ.

49 And he did hide them up unto the Lord, that they might come again unto the remnant of the house of Jacob, according to the prophecies and the promises of the Lord. And thus is the end of the record of Ammaron.

Comments

The conditions leading up to Mormon’s personal story are nearly universal rejection of gospel principles. Even worse, “the robbers of Gadianton did spread over all the face of the land; and there were none that were righteous save it were the disciples of Jesus.”

The record keeper Amos, son of Amos, died in the Nephite year 305. His brother, Ammaron, then took up the record. He kept all of the records until deciding, in the Nephite year 320, that the conditions were too unsafe for preserving the records. To preserve them, he “did hide up the records which were sacred—yea, even all the sacred records.” This ends the record that Ammaron kept in the book named for Nephi₃.

Ammaron will then look for someone to take up the records. He will find Mormon.