BoM Translation Guide



3 Nephi 1

3 Nephi 1:1 [LDS 1:1]
[Now it came to pass] [that the ninety] [and first] year [had passed away;] [and it was] six hundred years [from the time] [that Lehi] left Jerusalem; [and it was] [in the year] [that Lachoneus] was [the <chief> judge] [and the governor] over [the land.]

3 Nephi 1:2 [LDS 1:2]
[And Nephi,] [the son] [of Helaman,] [had departed out] [of the land] [of Zarahemla,] [giving charge] unto [his son] Nephi, who [was his <eldest> son,] concerning [the plates] [of brass,] [and all] [the records] which [had been kept,] [and all] those things which [had been kept] sacred, [from the departure] [of Lehi] [out of Jerusalem;]

3 Nephi 1:3 [LDS 1:3]
[Then he departed out] [of the land,] [and whither] [he went,] no man knoweth; [and his son] Nephi [did keep] [the record] [in his stead,] yea, [the record] [of this people.]

3 Nephi 1:4 [LDS 1:4]
[And it came to pass] [that in the commencement] [of the ninety] [and second] year, behold [the prophecies] [of the prophets] began [to be fulfilled] [more fully;] for [there began] [to be <greater> signs] [and <greater> miracles] wrought [among the people.]

3 Nephi 1:5 [LDS 1:5]
[But there were] some who began [to say] [that the time] [was past] [for the words] [to be fulfilled,] [which were spoken] [by Samuel,] [the Lamanite.]

3 Nephi 1:6 [LDS 1:6]
[And they began] [to rejoice] [over their brethren,] saying, Behold, [the time] [is past,] [and the words] [of Samuel] [are <not> fulfilled;] therefore, [your joy] [and your faith] concerning this thing [hath been vain.]

3 Nephi 1:7 [LDS 1:7]
[And it came to pass] [that they did make a <great> uproar] [throughout the land;] [and the people] [who believed,] began [to be <very> sorrowful,] lest [by any means] those things [which had been spoken,] [might <not> come to pass.]

3 Nephi 1:8 [LDS 1:8]
[But behold,] [they did watch] steadfastly for that day, [and <that> night,] [and <that> day,] [which should be] [as <one> day,] [as if there were <no> night,] [that they might know] that [their faith] [had <not> been vain.]

3 Nephi 1:9 [LDS 1:9]
[Now it came to pass] [that there was] [a day] [set apart] [by the unbelievers,] [that all] [those who believed] [in those] traditions [should be put to death,] except [the sign] [should come to pass] which [had been given] [by Samuel] [the prophet.]

3 Nephi 1:10 [LDS 1:10]
[Now it came to pass] [that when] Nephi, [the son] [of Nephi,] saw [this wickedness] [of his people,] [his heart] [was <exceeding> sorrowful.]

3 Nephi 1:11 [LDS 1:11]
[And it came to pass] [that he went out] [and bowed himself down] upon [the earth,] [and cried] mightily to [his God,] [in behalf] [of his people;] yea, [those who] [were about to be destroyed] [because of their faith] [in the tradition] [of their fathers.]

3 Nephi 1:12 [LDS 1:12]
[And it came to pass] [that he cried] mightily unto [the Lord,] all that day; [and behold,] [the voice] [of the Lord] came [unto him,] saying, [Lift up] [your head] [and be of <good> cheer,] for behold, [the time] [is at hand,] [and on <this> night] [shall the sign] [be given,]

3 Nephi 1:13 [LDS 1:13]
[And on the morrow] come I [into the world,] [to shew] [unto the world] that [I will fulfill] all [that which] [I have caused to be spoken] [by the mouth] [of my <holy> prophets.]

3 Nephi 1:14 [LDS 1:14]
Behold, I come unto [my own,] [to fulfill] [all things] which [I have made known] unto [the children] [of men,] [from the foundation] [of the world,] [and to do] [the will,] [both of the Father,] and [of the Son] [of the Father,] [because of me,] [and of the Son,] [because of my flesh.]

3 Nephi 1:15 [LDS 1:14]
[And behold,] [the time] [is at hand,] [and <this> night] [shall the sign] [be given.]

3 Nephi 1:16 [LDS 1:15]
[And it came to pass] [that the words] which came unto Nephi [were fulfilled,] [according as they had been spoken:]

3 Nephi 1:17 [LDS 1:15]
For behold [at the going down] [of the sun,] [there was] no darkness; [and the people] began [to be astonished,] because [there was] no darkness [[when [the night] came. ]]

3 Nephi 1:18 [LDS 1:16]
[And there were] many [who had <not> believed] [the words] [of the prophets,] fell [to the earth,] [and became] [as if they were dead,] for [they knew] that [the <great> plan] [of destruction] which [they had laid] [for those who believed] [in the words] [of the prophets,] [had been frustrated,] [for the sign] which [had been given] was already [at hand;] [and they began] [to know] [that the Son] [of God] [must <shortly> appear;]

3 Nephi 1:19 [LDS 1:17]
Yea, [in fine,] all [the people] upon [the face] [of the whole] earth, [from the west] [to the east,] [both in the land] north [and in the land] south, [were so <exceedingly> astonished,] [that they fell] [to the earth;]

3 Nephi 1:20 [LDS 1:18]
For [they knew] that [the prophets] [had testified] [of these] things for many years, [and that the sign] which [had been given,] was already [at hand;] [and they began] [to fear] [because of their iniquity] [and their unbelief.]

3 Nephi 1:21 [LDS 1:19]
[And it came to pass] [that there was] no darkness [in all] [that night,] [but it was] [as light] [as though it was midday.]

3 Nephi 1:22 [LDS 1:19] [Note]
[And it came to pass] [that the sun] [did rise] [in the morning] again, [according to its <proper> order;] [and they knew] [that it was the day] [that the Lord] [should be born,] [because of the sign] which [had been given.]

3 Nephi 1:23 [LDS 1:20]
[And it had come to pass,] yea, [all things,] [every whit,] [according to the words] [of the prophets.]

3 Nephi 1:24 [LDS 1:21]
[And it came to pass] also, [that a <new> star] [did appear,] [according to the word.]

3 Nephi 1:25 [LDS 1:22]
[And it came to pass] [that from this time forth,] [there began] [to be lyings] [sent forth] [among the people] [by Satan,] [to harden] [their hearts,] [to the intent] [that they might <not> believe] [in those] signs [and wonders] which [they had seen;]

3 Nephi 1:26 [LDS 1:22]
[But notwithstanding] [those lyings] [and deceivings,] [the more part] [of the people] [did believe,] [and were converted] unto [the Lord.]

3 Nephi 1:27 [LDS 1:23]
[And it came to pass] [that Nephi] [went forth] [among the people,] [and also] many others, baptizing [unto repentance,] [in the which,] [there were] [a <great> remission] [of sins.]

3 Nephi 1:28 [LDS 1:24]
[And thus] [the people] began again [to have] peace [in the land;] [and there were] no contentions, save [it were a few] [that began] [to preach,] endeavoring [to prove] [by the scriptures,] that [it was <no> more] expedient [to observe] [the Law] [of Moses.]

3 Nephi 1:29 [LDS 1:24]
Now [in <this> thing] [they did err,] [having <not> understood] [the scriptures.]

3 Nephi 1:30 [LDS 1:25]
[But it came to pass] [that they <soon> became converted,] [and were convinced] [of the error] which [they were in,] for [it was made known] [unto them] [that the law] was [not yet] fulfilled, [and that] [it must be fulfilled] [in every whit;]

3 Nephi 1:31 [LDS 1:25]
Yea, [the word] came [unto them] that [it must be fulfilled;] yea, [that one] jot [or tittle] [should <not> pass away,] till [it should <all> be fulfilled;] [[therefore in [this same] year, ]] [were they brought] [to a knowledge] [of their error,] [and did confess] [their faults.]

3 Nephi 1:32 [LDS 1:26]
[And thus] [the ninety] [and second] year [did pass away,] bringing glad tidings unto [the people] [because of the signs] which [did come to pass,] [according to the words] [of the prophecy] [of all] [the <holy> prophets.]

3 Nephi 1:33 [LDS 1:27]
[And it came to pass] [that the ninety] [and third] year [did also] [pass away] [in peace,] save [it were for the Gadianton] robbers, [who dwelt] upon [the mountains,] who [did infest] [the land;]

3 Nephi 1:34 [LDS 1:27]
For [so strong] [were their holds] [and their secret places] [that the people] could not [overpower them;] therefore [they did commit] many murders, [and did do] much slaughter [among the people.]

3 Nephi 1:35 [LDS 1:28]
[And it came to pass] [that in the ninety] [and fourth] year, [they began] [to increase] [in a <great> degree,] because [there were] many dissenters [of the Nephites] [who did flee] [unto them,] which [did cause] much sorrow [unto those Nephites] who [did remain] [in the land;]

3 Nephi 1:36 [LDS 1:29]
[And there was] [also a cause] [of <much> <sorrow> among] [the Lamanites,] for behold, [they had <many> children] who [did grow up] [and began] [to wax strong] [in years,] [that they became] [for themselves,] [and were led away] [by some] [who were Zoramites,] [by their lyings] [and their <flattering> words,] [to join] those Gadianton robbers;

3 Nephi 1:37 [LDS 1:30]
[And thus] [were the Lamanites] afflicted also, [and began] [to decrease] [as to their faith] [and righteousness,] [because of the wickedness] [of the <rising> generation.]

3 Nephi 1:38 [LDS 2:1]
[And it came to pass] [that thus] [passed away] [the ninety] [and fifth] year also, [and the people] began [to forget] those signs [and wonders] which [they had heard,] [and began] [to be] less [and <less> astonished] [at a sign] [or a wonder] [from heaven,]

3 Nephi 1:39 [LDS 2:2]
[Insomuch that they began] [to be hard] [in their hearts,] [and blind] [in their minds,] [and began] [to disbelieve] all which [they had heard] [and seen,] [imagining up] [some vain thing] [in their hearts,] that [it was wrought] [by men,] [and by the power] [of the devil,] [to lead away] [and deceive] [the hearts] [of the people;]

3 Nephi 1:40 [LDS 2:2] [Note]
[And thus] [did <Satan> get possession] [of the hearts] [of the people] again, [insomuch that he did blind] [their eyes,] [and lead them away] [to believe] [that the doctrine] [of Christ] was [a foolish] [and a vain thing.]

3 Nephi 1:41 [LDS 2:3]
[And it came to pass] [that the people] began [to wax strong] [in wickedness] [and abominations;] [and they did <not> believe] [that there should be any more] signs [or wonders] given;

3 Nephi 1:42 [LDS 2:3]
[And Satan] [did go about,] [leading away] [the hearts] [of the people,] [tempting them] [and causing them that they should do] great wickedness [in the land.]

3 Nephi 1:43 [LDS 2:4]
[And thus] [did pass away] [the ninety] [and sixth] year; [and also] [the ninety] [and seventh ] year; [and also] [the ninety] [and eighth] year; [and also] [the ninety] [and ninth] year; [and also] [an hundred] years [had passed away,] since [the days] [of Mosiah,] [who was] king over [the people] [of the Nephites.]

3 Nephi 1:44 [LDS 2:6]
[And six] hundred [and nine] years [had passed away,] since Lehi left Jerusalem; [and nine] years [had passed away,] [from the time] [when the sign] [was given,] [which was spoken of] [by the prophets,] [that Christ] [should come] [into the world.]

3 Nephi 1:45 [LDS 2:8]
[Now the Nephites] began [to reckon] [their time] [from <this> period] [when the sign] [was given] [or from the coming] [of Christ;]

3 Nephi 1:46 [LDS 2:9]
[Therefore,{incorrect punctuation} nine] years [had passed away,] [and Nephi,] who [was the father] [of Nephi,] who [had the charge] [of the records,] [did <not> return] to [the land] [of Zarahemla,] [and could] nowhere [be found] [in all] [the land.]

3 Nephi 1:47 [LDS 2:10]
[And it came to pass] [that the people] [did still] remain [in wickedness,] notwithstanding [the <much> preaching] [and prophesying] which [was sent] [among them;] [and thus] [passed away] [the tenth] year also; [and the eleventh] year also [passed away] [in iniquity.]

3 Nephi 1:48 [LDS 2:11]
[And it came to pass] [in thirteenth] year, [there began] [to be] wars [and contentions] [throughout all] [the land;] for [the Gadianton] robbers [had become] [so numerous,] [and did slay] [so many] [of the people,] [and did lay waste] [so <many> cities,] [and did spread] [so <much> death] [and carnage] [throughout the land,] [that it became expedient] [that all] [the people,] [both the Nephites,] and [the Lamanites,] [should take up] arms [against them;]

3 Nephi 1:49 [LDS 2:12]
Therefore all [the Lamanites,] [who had become converted] unto [the Lord,] [did unite] with [their brethren,] [the Nephites,] [and were compelled,] [for the safety] [of their lives,] [and their women] [and their children,] [to take up] arms against those Gadianton robbers;

3 Nephi 1:50 [LDS 2:12]
Yea, [and also] [to maintain] [their rites,] [and their privileges] [of their church,] [and of their worship,] [and their freedom,] [and their liberty.]

3 Nephi 1:51 [LDS 2:13]
[And it came to pass] [that before] this thirteenth year [had passed away,] [the Nephites] [were threatened] [with utter destruction,] [because of <this> war,] which [had become <exceeding> sore.]

3 Nephi 1:52 [LDS 2:14]
[And it came to pass] [that those Lamanites] who [had united] [with the Nephites,] [were numbered] among [the Nephites:] [and their curse] [was taken] [from them,] [and their skin] became white [like unto the Nephites;]

3 Nephi 1:53 [LDS 2:16]
[And their young men] [and their daughters] became exceeding fair, [and they were numbered] among [the Nephites,] [and were called] Nephites. [And thus] ended [the thirteenth] year.

3 Nephi 1:54 [LDS 2:17]
[And it came to pass] [in the commencement] [of the fourteenth] year, [the war] between [the robbers] [and the people] [of Nephi] [did continue,] [and did become <exceeding> sore;]

3 Nephi 1:55 [LDS 2:17] [Note]
Nevertheless, [the people] [of Nephi] [did gain] [some advantage] [of the robbers,] [insomuch that they did drive them back out] [of their lands] [into the mountains,] [and into their secret places.] [And thus] ended [the fourteenth] year.

3 Nephi 1:56 [LDS 2:18]
[And in the fifteenth] year [they did come forth] again against [the people] [of Nephi;] [and because of the wickedness] [of the people] [of Nephi,] [and their <many> contentions] [and dissensions,] [the Gadianton] robbers [did gain] many advantages [over them.]

3 Nephi 1:57 [LDS 2:19]
[And thus] ended [the fifteenth] year, [and thus] [were the people] [in a state] [of <many> afflictions;] [and the sword] [of destruction] [did hang] [over them,] [insomuch that they] [were about to be smitten down] [by it,] [and this] [because of their iniquity.]