Nephi, Son of Nephi, Son of Helaman
One of the twelve Nephite disciples chosen by the resurrected Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon (3 Ne. 1:2–3; 19:4). This prophet prayed mightily to the Lord in behalf of his people. Nephi heard the voice of the Lord (3 Ne. 1:11–14). Nephi was also visited by angels, cast out devils, raised his brother from the dead, and bore a testimony that could not be disbelieved (3 Ne. 7:15–19; 19:4). Nephi kept the scriptural record (3 Ne. 1:2–3).
The book of 3Â Nephi
A book written by Nephi, son of Nephi, in the Book of Mormon. Chapters 1–10 show the fulfillment of the prophecies about the coming of the Lord. The sign of Christ’s birth was given; the people repented; but then they returned to wickedness. Finally tempests, earthquakes, violent storms, and great destruction signaled the death of Christ. Chapters 11–28 record Christ’s coming to the Americas. This is the central part of the book of 3 Nephi. Many of Christ’s words are similar to His sermons recorded in the Bible (for example, Matt. 5–7 and 3 Ne. 12–14). Chapters 29–30 are Mormon’s words to the latter-day nations.
The book of 4Â Nephi
This book has only forty-nine verses, all in one chapter, yet it covers nearly three hundred years of Nephite history (A.D. 34–321). Several generations of writers, including Nephi, contributed to the record. Verses 1–19 tell that after the resurrected Christ’s visit all the Nephites and Lamanites were converted to the gospel. Peace, love, and harmony reigned. The three Nephite disciples, whom Christ had allowed to remain on earth until His Second Coming (3 Ne. 28:4–9), ministered to the people. Nephi left the record to his son Amos. Verses 19–47 are the record of Amos’s ministry (84 years) and that of his son Amos (112 years). In A.D. 201, pride began to cause problems among the people, who divided themselves into classes and began false churches to get gain (4 Ne. 1:24–34).
The final verses of 4 Nephi show that the people had returned again to wickedness (4 Ne. 1:35–49). In A.D. 305, Amos the son of Amos died and his brother Ammaron hid all the sacred records for safekeeping. Ammaron later entrusted the records to Mormon, who recorded many events of his own lifetime and then abridged them (Morm. 1:2–4).