EPILOGUE

          The Nephite civilization was blessed with a notable history of prophets prior to the birth of Christ.  Those prophets made a generational link, father to son.  Alma was the first.  After Alma, the first, came his son known as Alma, the younger.  The descendants of Alma, the younger, included a son named Helaman.  Helaman had a son he also named Helaman.  That Helaman had two sons, Nephi and Lehi.  The two brothers would have been born shortly before the birth of Jesus Christ, perhaps sometime around or after the year 45 BC.

          And it came to pass that he had two sons.  He gave unto the eldest the name of Nephi, and unto the youngest, the name of Lehi.  And they began to grow up unto the Lord.

(Book of Mormon | Helaman 3:21)

          This imaginary story is based on the lives of these two brothers.  By giving these brothers the names Nephi and Lehi, their father wanted them to remember their ancestors who had come from Jerusalem.

Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words.  Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.

Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.

(Book of Mormon | Helaman 5:6-7)

          Helaman wrote that he wanted his sons to do good.  He desired that the things said and written about his sons would be in favorable comparison to their first parents.  So what was actually written about them?

With only Mormon’s hundredth part abridgment of the full record to go by, they were exceptionally righteous men.  Mormon wrote more about Nephi than he did Lehi.  But he said this of Lehi:

And behold, Lehi, his brother, was not a whit behind him as to things pertaining to righteousness.

(Book of Mormon | Helaman 11:19)

Mormon’s abridged account of Nephi’s true story needs no embellishment to be epically heroic.  His life compares admirably to his namesake forefather.  The record written about his life contains some of the most remarkable heroism a person can imagine.

          From the scriptural index, the following list is created:

Nephi – son of Helaman, great Nephite missionary [c. 45 BC]

Hel. 3:21 elder son of Helaman, brother of Lehi

Hel. 3:37 is appointed chief judge

Hel. 4:14 (5:14; 7:2) preaches and prophesies with Lehi

Hel. 5:1 resigns position as chief judge

Hel. 5:4 is weary over people’s iniquity

Hel. 5:18-19 preaches to Lamanites, converts 8,000

Hel. 5:20 goes to land of Nephi

Hel. 5:21 is imprisoned with Lehi

Hel. 5:22-25, 43-44 is encircled with fire, protected from those who would slay them

Hel. 5:27-31 prison is shaken, overshadowed with a cloud

Hel. 5:36-39 converses with angels

Hel. 5:50 converts more part of Lamanites

Hel. 6:6 goes to land northward with Lehi

Hel. 7:1 returns to Zarahemla

Hel. 7:4-6 sorrows over rise of Gadianton band

Hel. 7:7 laments that he did not live in days of Lehi

Hel. 7:10 prays on garden tower

Hel. 7:12 teaches multitude from tower

Hel. 7:19 predicts calamity unless people repent

Hel. 8:5 arouses opposition

Hel. 8:27 reveals secret murder of chief judge

Hel. 9:16 is accused of the murder

Hel. 9:26-36 identifies murderer

Hel. 9:37-38 innocence is established

Hel. 10:3-5 is praised by voice from heaven

Hel. 10:6-7 is given great power

Hel. 10:16 is conveyed away from persecutors by Spirit

Hel. 11:4 invokes famine in land

Hel. 11:10-16 prays for rain

Hel. 11:17 the Lord answers Nephi’s prayer

Hel. 11:18 is esteemed as great prophet

Hel. 11:23 receives revelations, preaches, puts end to strife

Hel. 16:1 Samuel’s converts ask that Nephi baptize them

Hel. 16:3-4 continues baptizing, prophesying, preaching repentance, working miracles

3 Ne. 1:2 (2:9) disappears

          This list alone is enough to bring awe and admiration and inspiration to the mind and heart.  But could there be even more?  We have less than a hundredth part.  What was that about a secret murder of the chief judge?  He is imprisoned!?  He is encircled by fire!?  He converses with angels!?  He converts the more part of the Lamanites!?  He is conveyed away from persecutors by the Spirit!?  He continues working miracles!?  What else could there possibly be!?  What additional stories and what additional details could be told about his life that we know nothing about?

          The last entry in the scriptural index is rather intriguing.  A mysterious and unexplained event is written as a single word --- “disappears.”

Most people probably assume that Nephi disappeared because he was translated, or taken directly into heaven without experiencing a natural death.  Due to his power and righteousness, Nephi certainly merits sanctified companionship with others who were translated.  Translated individuals include Moses, Elijah, Enoch, and the three Nephite disciples who had their desire granted and they were allowed to tarry, and they were sanctified, never to taste death, and their bodies were changed into a state of immortality.  The scriptural record references Nephi’s own great-grandfather Alma as one who became a translated being. 

And when Alma had done this he departed out of the land of Zarahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek.  And it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of.

Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying went abroad in the church that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses.  But behold, the scriptures saith the Lord took Moses unto himself; and we suppose that he has also received Alma in the spirit, unto himself; therefore, for this cause we know nothing concerning his death and burial.

(Book of Mormon | Alma 45:18 - 19)

            Likewise, we know nothing concerning this Nephi’s death and burial.  After Nephi disappears, however, one more scriptural comment is made about him.

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.

Now the Nephites began to reckon their time from this period when the sign was given, or from the coming of Christ; therefore, 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.

(Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 2:6 - 9)

            Why this later reference, nine years after the sign was given for the coming of Christ, that Nephi could nowhere be found in all the land?  Could it be that someone, perhaps a trusted family member who had something to do with making the record, was still looking for him?  Was a faithful son perhaps praying and hoping for his eventual return, even if it might take years and years before it could happen?  And a return from where?

This story dreamed up an alternate reason for Nephi’s disappearance.

          In the end, there is only one way back.

And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ.  Behold, he is the life and the light of the world.  Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.

(Book of Mormon | Alma 38:9)

O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

(Book of Mormon | Helaman 5:9)