39 And because of their cursing which was upon them, they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey.
40 And the Lord God said unto me, They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me;
41 And inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction.
42 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did consecrate Jacob and Joseph, that they should be priests and teachers over the land of my people.
43 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.
44 And thirty years had passed away from the time we left Jerusalem.
45 And I, Nephi, had kept the records upon my plates, which I had made of my people, thus far.
46 And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me, Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people.
47 Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things.
48 And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God.
49 And if my people are pleased with the things of God, they will be pleased with mine engravings which are upon these plates.
