Nephi, Son of Lehi

In the Book of Mormon of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nephi is a prophet. He was the son of Lehi and Sariah, who lived in Jerusalem approximately 600 B.C. under the reign of King Zedekiah. The family included at least three other brothers at the time, Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.

Nephi’s father had a vision where he learned that Jerusalem would be destroyed, if the people did not repent. Lehi warned the people but they sought to take away his life, so God instructed him to take his family and escape into the wilderness. Nephi wanted to understand the visions his father was having so he prayed to the Lord and received confirmation that his father was a prophet. Nephi was obedient to his father and God. This obedience later made him a great prophet and leader.

With help from God through a compass and revelation Lehi’s family traveled to the promised land now known as the Americas. After the death of Lehi, Nephi’s brothers wanted to kill Nephi, so following commandment from God Nephi left in the night with his family and all who would follow him. Those who followed him wanted Nephi to be their leader. He accepted and his people became known as the Nephites. The people loved Nephi so much that the following leaders of the Nephites were called 2 Nephi, 3 Nephi and so on. His brother’s families and followers called themselves Lamanites. Throughout the Book of Mormon the Lamanites and Nephites are in constant battles.

Nephi wrote the first two books of the Book of Mormon, 1 and 2 Nephi. 1 Nephi deals mostly with the families journey to the promised land, the rebellion of Laman and Lemueal and Nephi’s purpose for keeping the record. 2 Nephi contains teachings of the prophets, Nephi’s testimony of Christ, and several chapters from the book of Isaiah.

Other Links: Church Publication Search http://scriptures.lds.org/bm/contents http://www.mormon.org/search/1,9643,1226-1,00.html