THE BOOK OF OMNI

OMN 0:0 Comprising records kept by Omni, Amaron, Chemish, Abinadom, and
Amaleki--Mosiah, leaving the land of Nephi, discovers the land of Zarahemla,
occupied by another colony from Jerusalem--He is made king--Coriantumr, the
last of the Jaredites--King Benjamin--Other migrations.

OMN 1:1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father,
Jarom, that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our
genealogy--

OMN 1:2 Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much
with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the
hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked
man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I
ought to have done.

OMN 1:3 And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and six years had
passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of
serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two
years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the
commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And I
make an end.

OMN 1:4 And now I, Amaron, write the things whatsoever I write, which are
few, in the book of my father.

OMN 1:5 Behold, it came to pass that three hundred and twenty years had
passed away, and the more wicked part of the Nephites were destroyed.

OMN 1:6 For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the land
of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their
enemies, yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified,
which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my
commandments ye shall not prosper in the land.

OMN 1:7 Wherefore, the Lord did visit them in great judgment; nevertheless,
he did spare the righteous that they should not perish, but did deliver them
out of the hands of their enemies.

OMN 1:8 And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates unto my brother
Chemish.

OMN 1:9 Now I, Chemish, write what few things I write, in the same book with
my brother; for behold, I saw the last which he wrote, that he wrote it with
his own hand; and he wrote it in the day that he delivered them unto me. And
after this manner we keep the records, for it is according to the
commandments of our fathers. And I make an end.

OMN 1:10 Behold, I, Abinadom, am the son of Chemish. Behold, it came to pass
that I saw much war and contention between my people, the Nephites, and the
Lamanites; and I, with my own sword, have taken the lives of many of the
Lamanites in the defence of my brethren.

OMN 1:11 And behold, the record of this people is engraven upon plates which
is had by the kings, according to the generations; and I know of no
revelation save that which has been written, neither prophecy; wherefore,
that which is sufficient is written. And I make an end.

OMN 1:12 Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto
you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla;
for behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land
of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also
depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness--

OMN 1:13 And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded
him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would
hearken unto the voice of the Lord; and they were led by many preachings and
prophesyings. And they were admonished continually by the word of God; and
they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness until they came
down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla.

OMN 1:14 And they discovered a people, who were called the people of
Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and
also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people
of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews.

OMN 1:15 Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of
Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah,
was carried away captive into Babylon.

OMN 1:16 And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand
of the Lord across the great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered
them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth.

OMN 1:17 And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had become
exceedingly numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious
contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their
language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them; and
they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah,
could understand them.

OMN 1:18 But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they should be taught in
his language. And it came to pass that after they were taught in the language
of Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a genealogy of his fathers, according to his
memory; and they are written, but not in these plates.

OMN 1:19 And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla, and of Mosiah, did
unite together; and Mosiah was appointed to be their king.

OMN 1:20 And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large stone
brought unto him with engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings
by the gift and power of God.

OMN 1:21 And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his
people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he
dwelt with them for the space of nine moons.

OMN 1:22 It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first
parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language
of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his
judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land
northward.

OMN 1:23 Behold, I, Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah; and I have lived
to see his death; and Benjamin, his son, reigneth in his stead.

OMN 1:24 And behold, I have seen, in the days of king Benjamin, a serious war
and much bloodshed between the Nephites and the Lamanites. But behold, the
Nephites did obtain much advantage over them; yea, insomuch that king
Benjamin did drive them out of the land of Zarahemla.

OMN 1:25 And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed, and
knowing king Benjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall
deliver up these plates unto him, exhorting all men to come unto God, the
Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in
the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in
the gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good; for
there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord; and that which is
evil cometh from the devil.

OMN 1:26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto
Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the
power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an
offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the
end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

OMN 1:27 And now I would speak somewhat concerning a certain number who went
up into the wilderness to return to the land of Nephi; for there was a large
number who were desirous to possess the land of their inheritance.

OMN 1:28 Wherefore, they went up into the wilderness. And their leader being
a strong and mighty man, and a stiffnecked man, wherefore he caused a
contention among them; and they were all slain, save fifty, in the
wilderness, and they returned again to the land of Zarahemla.

OMN 1:29 And it came to pass that they also took others to a considerable
number, and took their journey again into the wilderness.

OMN 1:30 And I, Amaleki, had a brother, who also went with them; and I have
not since known concerning them. And I am about to lie down in my grave; and
these plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking.
