Nephi’s Preaching and Prophecies

Nephi’s Power and Preaching

Helaman 10:2–11

As Nephi walks home, he hears the voice of God; God blesses him, gives him the power to seal on earth and heaven, and grants him full access to divine power.

And it came to pass that Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown unto him. And it came to pass as he was thus pondering—being much cast down because of the wickedness of the people of the Nephites, their secret works of darkness, and their murderings, and their plunderings, and all manner of iniquities—and it came to pass as he was thus pondering in his heart, behold, a voice came unto him saying:

Helaman 10:12–13

Nephi decides not to go home, but rather to preach to the people and warn them that they will be destroyed if they don’t repent, but most people still do not believe.

And behold, now it came to pass that when the Lord had spoken these words unto Nephi, he did stop and did not go unto his own house, but did return unto the multitudes who were scattered about upon the face of the land, and began to declare unto them the word of the Lord which had been spoken unto him, concerning their destruction if they did not repent. Now behold, notwithstanding that great miracle which Nephi had done in telling them concerning the death of the chief judge, they did harden their hearts and did not hearken unto the words of the Lord.

Helaman 10:14

Nephi again emphasizes the grim future of the people if they don’t repent.

Therefore Nephi did declare unto them the word of the Lord, saying:

“Except ye repent, thus saith the Lord:

‘Ye shall be smitten even unto destruction.’”

Helaman 10:15–16

The people try to attack Nephi, but he is spirited away before they can reach him.

And it came to pass that when Nephi had declared unto them the word, behold, they did still harden their hearts and would not hearken unto his words; therefore they did revile against him, and did seek to lay their hands upon him that they might cast him into prison. But behold, the power of God was with him, and they could not take him to cast him into prison, for he was taken by the Spirit and conveyed away out of the midst of them.

Helaman 10:17–19

Nephi travels from one group to another, continually teaching and preaching the word of God.

And it came to pass that thus he did go forth in the Spirit, from multitude to multitude, declaring the word of God, even until he had declared it unto them all, or sent it forth among all the people. And it came to pass that they would not hearken unto his words; and there began to be contentions, insomuch that they were divided against themselves and began to slay one another with the sword. And thus ended the seventy and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.