iently large to transport them over the sea. This work was
accomplished in eight years from the time they left Jerusalem.
They set sail, and in a proper time they landed, as we infer from
their record, somewhere on the western coast of South America.
They immediately commenced tilling the earth, and erecting
mansions for dwelling-places.

"Lehi had six sons, Laman, Lemuel, Nephi, Sam, Jacob, and Joseph.
Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, rebelled against God, and
would not keep his commandments; for this they were cursed. Their
posterity, in process of time, became a powerful nation, but
extremely wicked; and their chief occupations were hunting,
plundering, and roving about from place to place. In the Book of
Mormon, they are called Lamanites. The other sons of Lehi were
obedient to the commands of God. Their posterity, also, in the
course of time, became a great nation, and were called Nephites.
To them God committed his divine oracles, (the holy priesthood,)
and they had prophets and inspired men among them. They also kept
a record of their prophecies and revelations, and the proceedings
of their nation. When they left Jerusalem, they brought with them
the law of Moses, and the writings of the former prophets, down to
the days of Jeremiah. This accounts for the quotations from Isaiah
and others, which are found in the Book of Mormon.

"The Nephites tilled the land, built cities, and erected temples
for places of worship; but the Lamanites lived a more indolent
life, although, in some instances, they built cities. The Nephites
were at times faithful to God; at other times they were
indifferent, and would not be faithful. They frequently had long
and tedious wars with the Lamanites, and were often driven before
them. They were constantly emigrating to the north. At length they
commenced settlements in the region of country not far from the
Isthmus of Darien; and, while in those parts, they advanced
further in science and arts than at any time previous, and built
more spacious cities and buildings than they did before.

"Six hundred and thirty odd years from the time Lehi left
Jerusalem, Christ, after his resurrection, appeared unto many of
the Nephites, and established his church, chose disciples, and
sent them throughout the land to preach his gospel, thus
fulfilli