By reading the third chapter of 2 _Nephi_, we learn that this subject had become well developed in the mind of Lehi before his death. Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, had left on record a remarkable prophecy--which was probably engraven on the plates of brass--that the writing of the fruit of his loins (the Book of Mormon), and the writing of the fruit of the loins of Judah (the Bible), should not only be joined together in the latter days, but that a great Seer should be raised up who should write the writing of the fruit of his loins for the benefit of his brethren. Such a plain description is given of things connected with this Seer, that we are perfectly safe in concluding that he and Joseph Smith, Jun., are identical. From this time, during the existence of the Nephites, the coming forth of their record to the Lamanites, and to their own posterity in the latter times, was ever associated in the minds of the faithful, with the Seer whom the Lord should raise up to bring them forth. Both were the subject of their earnest prayers, and called forth the exercise of a living faith; _Mormon_, 8. 25. The history of the Nephite-American colony commences with their leaving Jerusalem, 600 B. C.; 1 _Nephi_ 10. 4, and closed when Moroni finished the record, from which the Book of Mormon was translated, and hid it up in the hill Cumorah, A. C. 421; a period of one thousand and twenty-one years. When Lehi and his colony left Jerusalem, the renowned city of Babylon was in the height of its glory, and the city of Rome had been founded only one hundred and fifty years. The importance of the Book of Mormon, as a history, will be recognized by the fact that it is the only history of the western hemisphere, known to the world, for the long period of thirty-eight hundred years between Noah's flood, and the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, in 1492. Book of Mormon. 1 _Nephi_ 3. 3 the record of Laban. 4, 13, 19, 26. _Chap_. 4. 10-27. 5. 11-13 the record contained the five books of Moses, and a history of Jews. 16. 21, 22 the records on the plates of brass very desirable. _Chap_. 6. 1-6. 9. 2-4 one set of plates for sacred things, the other historical _Chap_. 19. 1-6. 13. 23 the record that proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. 25, 38, 40, 41. 14. 18-30 concerning the writings of the apostle John, and of Nephi. 2 _Nephi_ 3. 12 the writings of Judah and Joseph to grow together. 5. 12 Nephi took with him, into the wilderness, the record on the plates of brass. 30-33. 25. 18 the Lord will bring forth his word to the Jews. 18-23. 26. 17 the things done among them shall be written and sealed up. 27. 7 in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning. 10-29. 29. 2 my words shall hiss forth to the ends of the earth. 8, 10-14. 30. 3 the book written to be carried forth to the seed of Nephi. _Chap_. 31. 1, 2. _Jacob_ 4. 1-3. _Enos_ 1. 13 Enos prayed that a record might be preserved to come forth to the Lamanites. 14, 16-18.