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Nephi. of the tribe of Manasseh, who resided in Jerusalem; he was born probably about B. C. 617, was married B. C. 600, in the valley of Laman, on the borders of the Red Sea; he lived to a ripe old age, and had a numerous posterity, though of his immediate sons and daughters the Book of Mormon is entirely silent. It is presumable that one of his sons succeeded him under the title of Nephi II, as king of the Nephites.

When, on account of the persecution of the Jews, Lehi was commanded by the Lord to leave Jerusalem, Nephi gladly seconded all his efforts, and became a help and a stay to his father during the many troubles and perplexities of the toilsome journey through the Arabian wilderness. Early in that journey they rested for a time in a little valley bordering on the Red Sea to which Lehi gave the name of Laman. Twice while they tarried there the sons of Lehi were commanded to return to Jerusalem. The first time they went to obtain certain records relating to their tribe, and God's dealings with His people (see Zoram); the second time to invite Ishmael and his family to join them in their migration. When they had accomplished the purpose of their stay in the valley of Laman, the Lord commanded them to depart, and provided a guide for their travels in the shape of a Divinely prepared compass, which they called a Liahona. During the whole of the journey, its peace was marred by the rebellious and violent conduct of Lehi's unbelieving and unrepentant sons, of whom Laman was the leader. The first serious outbreak was during the return of Lehi's sons from Jerusalem to the tents of their father with Ishmael and his family. Some of the sons of Ishmael seem to have regretted the step which their father had taken. Possibly, like Laman and Lemuel, they had no faith in the prophecies of the servants of God, who declared that yet a little while and Jerusalem should be destroyed; and Laman and Lemuel