Nephi, in this, from every point of view, masterly address, reminds his two brothers, Laman and Lemuel, of some indisputable facts: (1) They had seen an angel; (2) they had been miraculously delivered from death at the hands of Laban; (3) they had obtained the records.
After these facts had been placed before them, he promised them that if they would be faithful, they would obtain a better land, and they would receive knowledge, at some future time, of the destruction of Jerusalem.
If, however, notwithstanding all this, they would return, very well, he exclaimed, “go up to the land,” but remember—and this is the word of the Spirit of the Lord—“if ye go, ye will also perish.”
I doubt whether even a Lincoln could improve this speech a great deal.