The First Book of Nephi , often referred to simply as first Nephi, is the first book of the Book of Mormon and one of four books with the name Nephi. It is a first-person narrative, beginning around 600 BC, of a prophet named Nephi. Its 22 chapters tell the story of one family's challenges and the miracles they witness as they escape from Jerusalem, struggle to survive in the wilderness, build a ship and sail to the Americas. The book is a composed of two intermingled genres; one a historical narrative describing the events and conversations that occurred and the other a recording of visions, sermons, and doctrinal discourses as shared by either Nephi or Lehi to members of the family.