Nephi’s Vision

The Decline of Nephi’s Posterity

1 Nephi 12:13–15

Nephi then sees his posterity coming to war against each other again.

And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the earth gathered together. And the angel said unto me:

“Behold thy seed, and also
the seed of thy brethren.”

And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the people of my seed gathered together in multitudes against the seed of my brethren; and they were gathered together to battle.

1 Nephi 12:16–18

The angel compares the people’s pride and vanity to the large building of Lehi’s dream.

And the angel spake unto me, saying:

“Behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell. And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost.

And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever.”

1 Nephi 12:19–21

Nephi sees that his brothers’ posterity eliminate his own.

And while the angel spake these words, I beheld and saw that the seed of my brethren did contend against my seed, according to the word of the angel; and because of the pride of my seed, and the temptations of the devil, I beheld that the seed of my brethren did overpower the people of my seed.

And it came to pass that I beheld, and saw the people of the seed of my brethren that they had overcome my seed; and they went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land. And I saw them gathered together in multitudes; and I saw wars and rumors of wars among them; and in wars and rumors of wars I saw many generations pass away.

1 Nephi 12:22–23

Nephi sees that the remaining people become corrupt and godless.

And the angel said unto me:

“Behold these shall dwindle in unbelief. And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had dwindled in unbelief they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.”