1
And it came to pass that in the year 3356 and in the year of the reign of King Zedekiah, I Lehi began to be somewhat troubled in my heart. For many years I, Lehi, Son of Zenos had believed all the words which the High Priest had spoken unto the church of Elohim.
2
For many years had not passed since the last great reform, those years being counted 128.
3
And I, being young, had suspected that the words which the many priests of the land had taught concerning eternal life had been just and true. Therefore, I took my journeyings into the land of my fathers, even that great city of Jerusalem.
4
And there I did study under that great teacher, even the teacher Josephat. For he was a great and mighty teacher in the land and known round about even in the lands of Bethel and in the lands of Judah.
5
And so great was this honor for a lad as young as I to be taken under a prophet so great that my parents, yea, even my mother and my father, did rejoice, and they did praise YHVH.
6
And it came to pass that after a year of study under the great priest, that I was taken up, even unto the temple of our fathers. And I was initiated into the ways of the priesthood. And great was the joy of my mother and my father, for the temple, even that great mountain was closed unto all whom YHVH had not chosen. And this was a great sign unto my parents, for they did come from noble background and were yet farmers in the land of Nod to the east.
7
And when the Priests had thus taken me unto the mount of YHVH, behold, they did smite me and did crown me after the manner of their Orders. And in that year, they did call me friend and brother and did teach me in their secret ways.
8
And it was after the manner of the kings and the prophets of old that they did live. And in all their ways they did continue that which the great king David did bring, for they were stewards of his house and his people.
9
And it was after the manner of the kings that they did take unto themselves many wives, yet concubines they had none, for they knew that to break the laws of chastity and virtue would bring about destruction.
10
And they did take much of the wealth that the citizens did donate unto themselves and unto the building up of the fine sanctuaries, and these can be seen all about the city.
11
And it was not long before I began to become a great and a mighty man in the sight of my brethren and in the sight of the people. For they did listen to every word I did write, and thus they knew that Elohim had spoken it.
12
And I did continue to gather unto myself much wealth. Insomuch that I used the funds to build up many lodges and places of resort.
13
And it was in this year that my cousin Laban did come up also from the Land of Nod. Yet, he had already built up many great and spacious buildings and they did dot the land. And from the Etruscans he had many fine weapons of steel and of bronze. And from the Ethiopians he had many fine twinned linens. Even many silks.
14
All this he had not only because of his priesthood, but because of his father’s priesthood and his fathers before him. For his father’s name was Zenock, and the same is my uncle.
15
And it came to pass that with him was the daughter of his father, and she was a beautiful and a fair woman to behold. And her name was Sariah after the name of our grandmother.
16
Being thus smitten by a woman so fair and beautiful, I began to endeavor to make her my wife. For I knew that I would make it farther still with a woman such as her by my side. For she had been trained in the courts of her father and was mighty in her learning.
17
And behold, the desires of my affection was for not, for she was betrothed to another. Nevertheless, seeing the union and alliance joining our two houses would bring, Laban, in secret, removed the man to whom Sariah was betrothed. And it was in that same year that we wed, and a great house was born.
18
And I continued to rise within the priesthood, yet I did not take many wives as did my brothers. And this did bring about some mockings, but not so great. Yet still there were some that stayed aloof from me because of this thing. Nevertheless, Laban and I began to become strong within the land. Yea, even to rival the mighty High Priest.
19
And to me were born sons who I named Laman and Lemuel, and daughters also. And to Laban were born also many sons and daughters. Yet, more he had for his many wives.
20
And many years passed, and more sons and daughters were born unto me. And I did raise my sons and did teach them in the ways of the priesthood. And Laman and Lemuel, but Laman most especially, did take to it. Yea, from a young age did he become mighty of speech. And great did he become in the teaching of the law and the prophets.
21
And there came in that self-same year, rumors of a stirring in the north. For many there were that were beginning to fall away from the church and to teach their own laws and their own ways. Yet, the council saw this as no great problem and let the matter be.
22
And it was as they said, not so long after the stirring began did it stop again, and those few who returned not to the Law of Moses were removed and cast out, for their teachings were contrary to them of old.
23
Nevertheless, this idea did spread, and these were the teachings of this idea:
24
That in not so long, there would be One who would come that was greater than all the prophets. And that he would condescend all and yet he would be king. And this teaching was not so vexing as the idea that this man would be the word made flesh.
25
These teachings, among others, brought about much consternation among they of the city, and they of the surrounding parts. Nevertheless, the council sought to do not about it, for who would believe such a vain and foolish doctrine?
26
And these were the contentions that began to be about the land. And I, Lehi, despite the council’s refusal to deal with these doctrines despised them. Yea, and I began to be troubled in my heart by them.