44 "For behold, ye have accused him that he sought power and authority over you,
45 But I know that he hath not sought for power nor authority over you, But he hath sought the glory of God and your own eternal welfare.
46 "And ye have murmured because he hath been plain unto you -
47 Ye say that he hath used sharpness, Ye say that he hath been angry with you;
48 But behold, his sharpness was the sharpness of the power of the word of God which was in him;
49 And that which ye call anger was the truth according to that which is in God, which he could not constrain, manifesting boldly concerning your iniquities;
50 And it must needs be that the power of God must be with him, even unto his commanding you, that ye must obey;
51 But behold, it was not him, But it was the Spirit of the Lord which was in him which opened his mouth to utterance, that he could not shut it.
52 "And now my son Laman, and also Lemuel and Sam, and also my sons which are the sons of Ishmael, Behold, if ye will hearken unto the voice of Nephi, ye shall not perish;
53 And if ye will hearken unto him, I leave unto you a blessing, yea, even my first blessing;
54 But if ye will not hearken unto him, I take away my first blessing, yea, even my blessing, And it shall rest upon him.