You're not going to be here. We all know the first book of Nephi so well. You may wonder if there's still more to learn.

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Hello, we are Scott and Maureen Proctor, and this is Meridian magazine's Come Follow Me podcast on First Nephi, Chapter 1 through 7, called I Will Go and Do.

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Nefai starts his record with what is called a caliphon,

which is a common way in ancient writings to mark the beginning

or the end of a literary text.

In a caliphon, the author is introduced as well as the subject, the context, and the purpose of the text, and in Nephi's case,

a solemn a vowel that it is true.

Nephi begins, I Nephi having been born of Good goodly parents therefore I was taught somewhat in all the

learning of my father and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days nevertheless

having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days, yea, having had a great

knowledge of the goodness and all the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings

in my days. A seeming contradiction jumps out here for

Nephi tells us that he has seen many afflictions in his days but at the same time

he has been highly favored of the Lord.

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