“Nephi and Lehi in Prison,” Friend, Mar. 1995, 16
Nephi and Lehi in Prison
Nephi and Lehi, Helaman’s sons, were named after the Lehi and Nephi who had left Jerusalem. Helaman wanted his sons to be righteous like them. Hel. 5:4–7
Helaman taught his sons to believe in Jesus Christ. They learned that forgiveness of sin comes through faith and repentance. Hel. 5:9–12
Nephi and Lehi went as missionaries to teach the word of God to the Nephites and the Lamanites. Thousands of people were baptized. Hel. 5:14–19
When Nephi and Lehi went to the land of Nephi, an army of Lamanites threw them into prison and left them there for many days without food. Hel. 5:20–22
The Lamanites came to kill Nephi and Lehi, but they were protected by a ring of fire. The Lamanites dared not touch them for fear of being burned. Hel. 5:23
Nephi and Lehi were not burned by the fire. They told the Lamanites that the power of God was protecting them. Hel. 5:24–26
The earth shook and the walls of the prison trembled. A cloud of darkness covered all the people in the prison; they were afraid. Hel. 5:27–28
A voice spoke through the darkness, saying, “Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you.” Hel. 5:29
The voice was not a voice of thunder. It was not loud. It was quiet, like a whisper, yet everyone could hear it. Hel. 5:30
The voice spoke three times, and the ground and the prison walls shook. The Lamanites couldn’t run away. It was too dark, and they were too frightened. Hel. 5:31–34
A man who was once a Nephite saw through the darkness that Nephi’s and Lehi’s faces were shining. Hel. 5:35–36
Nephi and Lehi were talking and looking up toward heaven. The man told the Lamanites to look. They wondered to whom Nephi and Lehi were talking. Hel. 5:37–38
The man, who was named Aminadab, told them that Nephi and Lehi were talking to angels of God. Hel. 5:39
The Lamanites asked how to get rid of the cloud of darkness. Aminadab told them to repent and to pray to God until they had faith in Jesus Christ. Hel. 5:40–41
Alma, Amulek, and Zeezrom had already taught these Lamanites about Jesus. They prayed until the dark cloud was gone. Hel. 5:42
When the darkness left, the people saw a pillar of fire around all of them. The fire did not burn them or the prison walls. Hel. 5:43–44
The Lamanites felt great joy, and the Holy Spirit of God filled their hearts. Hel. 5:45
A pleasant voice whispered to them, “Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved.” Hel. 5:46–47
The Lamanites were blessed because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Angels came down from heaven to be with them and help them. Hel. 5:48
About three hundred people saw and heard these things. They went out to tell others what they had seen and heard. Hel. 5:49–50
Most of the Lamanites believed them and put away their weapons of war. Hel. 5:51
The Lamanites stopped hating the Nephites and gave back the land taken from them. Hel. 5:52
The Lamanites became a righteous people, even more righteous than the Nephites. Many Lamanites went with Nephi and Lehi to teach the Nephites. Hel. 6:1, 6
Illustrated by Jerry Thompson