THE BOOK OF ETHER
The record of the Jaredites, taken from the twenty-four plates
found by the people of Limhi in the days of king Mosiah.
1 1 AND now I, Moroni, proceed to give an account of
those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the
Lord upon the face of this north country.
2 And I take mine account from the twenty and four
plates which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the
Book of Ether.
3 And as I suppose that the first part of this record,
which speaks concerning the creation of the world, and also of
Adam, and an account from that time even to the great tower, and
whatsoever things transpired among the children of men until that
time, is had among the Jews--
4 Therefore I do not write those things which
transpired from the days of Adam until that time; but they are had
upon the plates; and whoso findeth them, the same will have power
that he may get the full account.
5 But behold, I give not the full account, but a part
of the account I give, from the tower down until they were
destroyed.
6 And on this wise do I give the account. He that wrote
this record was Ether, and he was a descendant of Coriantor.
7 Coriantor was the son of Moron.
8 And Moron was the son of Ethem.
9 And Ethem was the son of Ahah.
10 And Ahah was the son of Seth.
11 And Seth was the son of Shiblon.
12 And Shiblon was the son of Com.
13 And Com was the son of Coriantum.
14 And Coriantum was the son of Amnigaddah.
15 And Amnigaddah was the son of Aaron.
16 And Aaron was a descendant of Heth, who was the son
of Hearthom.
17 And Hearthom was the son of Lib.
18 And Lib was the son of Kish.
19 And Kish was the son of Corom.
20 And Corom was the son of Levi.
21 And Levi was the son of Kim.
22 And Kim was the son of Morianton.
23 And Morianton was a descendant of Riplakish.
24 And Riplakish was the son of Shez.
25 And Shez was the son of Heth.
26 And Heth was the son of Com.
27 And Com was the son of Coriantum.
28 And Coriantum was the son of Emer.
29 And Emer was the son of Omer.
30 And Omer was the son of Shule.
31 And Shule was the son of Kib.
32 And Kib was the son of Orihah, who was the son of
Jared;
33 Which Jared came forth with his brother and their
families, with some others and their families, from the great
tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people,
and swore in his wrath that they should be scattered upon all the
face of the earth; and according to the word of the Lord the people
were scattered.
34 And the brother of Jared being a large and mighty
man, and a man highly favored of the Lord, Jared, his brother, said
unto him: Cry unto the Lord, that he will not confound us that we
may not understand our words.
35 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did
cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon Jared;
therefore he did not confound the language of Jared; and Jared and
his brother were not confounded.
36 Then Jared said unto his brother: Cry again unto the
Lord, and it may be that he will turn away his anger from them who
are our friends, that he confound not their language.
37 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did
cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion upon their friends
and their families also, that they were not confounded.38 And it
came to pass that Jared spake again unto his brother, saying: Go
and inquire of the Lord whether he will drive us out of the land,
and if he will drive us out of the land, cry unto him whither we
shall go. And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a
land which is choice above all the earth? And if it so be, let us
be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our
inheritance.
39 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did
cry unto the Lord according to that which had been spoken by the
mouth of Jared.
40 And it came to pass that the Lord did hear the
brother of Jared, and had compassion upon him, and said unto
him:
41 Go to and gather together thy flocks, both male and
female, of every kind; and also of the seed of the earth of every
kind; and thy families; and also Jared thy brother and his family;
and also thy friends and their families, and the friends of Jared
and their families.
42 And when thou hast done this thou shalt go at the
head of them down into the valley which is northward. And there
will I meet thee, and I will go before thee into a land which is
choice above all the lands of the earth.
43 And there will I bless thee and thy seed, and raise
up unto me of thy seed, and of the seed of thy brother, and they
who shall go with thee, a great nation. And there shall be none
greater than the nation which I will raise up unto me of thy seed,
upon all the face of the earth. And thus I will do unto thee
because this long time ye have cried unto me.
2 1 AND it came to pass that Jared and his brother, and
their families, and also the friends of Jared and his brother and
their families, went down into the valley which was northward, (and
the name of the valley was Nimrod, being called after the mighty
hunter) with their flocks which they had gathered together, male
and female, of every kind.
2 And they did also lay snares and catch fowls of the
air; and they did also prepare a vessel, in which they did carry
with them the fish of the waters.
3 And they did also carry with them deseret, which, by
interpretation, is a honey bee; and thus they did carry with them
swarms of bees, and all manner of that which was upon the face of
the land, seeds of every kind.
4 And it came to pass that when they had come down into
the valley of Nimrod the Lord came down and talked with the brother
of Jared; and he was in a cloud, and the brother of Jared saw him
not.
5 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that
they should go forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter
where there never had man been. And it came to pass that the Lord
did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud,
and gave directions whither they should travel.
6 And it came to pass that they did travel in the
wilderness, and did build barges, in which they did cross many
waters, being directed continually by the hand of the Lord.
7 And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop
beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should
come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above
all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous
people.
8 And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of
Jared, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that
time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only
God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath
should come upon them.
9 And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning
this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation
shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when
the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of
his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity.
10 For behold, this is a land which is choice above all
other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or
shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it
is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the
land, that they are swept off.
11 And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may
know the decrees of God--that ye may repent, and not continue in
your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down
the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the
land have hitherto done.
12 Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation
shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity,
and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the
God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by
the things which we have written.
13 And now I proceed with my record; for behold, it
came to pass that the Lord did bring Jared and his brethren forth
even to that great sea which divideth the lands. And as they came
to the sea they pitched their tents; and they called the name of
the place Moriancumer; and they dwelt in tents, and dwelt in tents
upon the seashore for the space of four years.
14 And it came to pass at the end of four years that
the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud
and talked with him. And for the space of three hours did the Lord
talk with the brother of Jared, and chastened him because he
remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord.
15 And the brother of Jared repented of the evil which
he had done, and did call upon the name of the Lord for his
brethren who were with him. And the Lord said unto him: I will
forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins; but thou shalt not sin
any more, for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always
strive with man; wherefore, if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe
ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And these are my
thoughts upon the land which I shall give you for your inheritance;
for it shall be a land choice above all other lands.
16 And the Lord said: Go to work and build, after the
manner of barges which ye have hitherto built. And it came to pass
that the brother of Jared did go to work, and also his brethren,
and built barges after the manner which they had built, according
to the instructions of the Lord. And they were small, and they were
light upon the water, even like unto the lightness of a fowl upon
the water.
17 And they were built after a manner that they were
exceedingly tight, even that they would hold water like unto a
dish; and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the
sides thereof were tight like unto a dish; and the ends thereof
were peaked; and the top thereof was tight like unto a dish; and
the length thereof was the length of a tree; and the door thereof,
when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish.
18 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared cried
unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, I have performed the work which thou
hast commanded me, and I have made the barges according as thou
hast directed me.
19 And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light;
whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we
cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we
shall perish.
20 And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold,
thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when
thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive
air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye
shall stop the hole, that ye may not perish in the flood.
21 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did
so, according as the Lord had commanded.
22 And he cried again unto the Lord saying: O Lord,
behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me; and I have
prepared the vessels for my people, and behold there is no light in
them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this
great water in darkness?
23 And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What
will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?
For behold, ye cannot have windows, for they will be dashed in
pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by
the light of fire.
24 For behold, ye shall be as a whale in the midst of
the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless,
I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the
winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the
floods have I sent forth.
25 And behold, I prepare you against these things; for
ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the
waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the
floods which shall come. Therefore what will ye that I should
prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in
the depths of the sea?
3 1 AND it came to pass that the brother of Jared, (now
the number of the vessels which had been prepared was eight) went
forth unto the mount, which they called the mount Shelem, because
of its exceeding height, and did molten out of a rock sixteen small
stones; and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass;
and he did carry them in his hands upon the top of the mount, and
cried again unto the Lord, saying:
2 O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed
about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with
thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that
thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy
before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil
continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment
that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive
according to our desires.
3 Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our
iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we
have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful
unto us. O Lord, look upon me in pity, and turn away thine anger
from this thy people, and suffer not that they shall go forth
across this raging deep in darkness; but behold these things which
I have molten out of the rock.
4 And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can
do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch
these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they
may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in
the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we
shall cross the sea.
5 Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou
art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the
understanding of men.
6 And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared
had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and
touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was
taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the
finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto
flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the
Lord, for he was struck with fear.
7 And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen
to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou
fallen?
8 And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the
Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the
Lord had flesh and blood.
9 And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou
hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has
man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were
it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than
this?
10 And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto
me.
11 And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words
which I shall speak?
12 And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou
speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not
lie.
13 And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord
showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these
things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back
into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.
14 Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation
of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am
the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that
eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall
become my sons and my daughters.
15 And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have
created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou
that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were
created in the beginning after mine own image.
16 Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body
of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit;
and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear
unto my people in the flesh.
17 And now, as I, Moroni, said I could not make a full
account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth
me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit,
even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as
he showed himself unto the Nephites.
18 And he ministered unto him even as he ministered
unto the Nephites; and all this, that this man might know that he
was God, because of the many great works which the Lord had showed
unto him.
19 And because of the knowledge of this man he could
not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger
of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that
it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he
knew, nothing doubting.
20 Wherefore, having this perfect knowledge of God, he
could not be kept from within the veil; therefore he saw Jesus; and
he did minister unto him.
21 And it came to pass that the Lord said unto the
brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt not suffer these things which
ye have seen and heard to go forth unto the world, until the time
cometh that I shall glorify my name in the flesh; wherefore, ye
shall treasure up the things which ye have seen and heard, and show
it to no man.
22 And behold, when ye shall come unto me, ye shall
write them and shall seal them up, that no one can interpret them;
for ye shall write them in a language that they cannot be
read.
23 And behold, these two stones will I give unto thee,
and ye shall seal them up also with the things which ye shall
write.
24 For behold, the language which ye shall write I have
confounded; wherefore I will cause in my own due time that these
stones shall magnify to the eyes of men these things which ye shall
write.
25 And when the Lord had said these words, he showed
unto the brother of Jared all the inhabitants of the earth which
had been, and also all that would be; and he withheld them not from
his sight, even unto the ends of the earth.
26 For he had said unto him in times before, that if he
would believe in him that he could show unto him all things--it
should be shown unto him; therefore the Lord could not withhold
anything from him, for he knew that the Lord could show him all
things.7
27 And the Lord said unto him: Write these things and
seal them up; and I will show them in mine own due time unto the
children of men.
28 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that
he should seal up the two stones which he had received, and show
them not, until the Lord should show them unto the children of
men.
4 1 AND the Lord commanded the brother of
Jared to go down out of the mount from the presence of the Lord,
and write the things which he had seen; and they were forbidden to
come unto the children of men until after that he should be lifted
up upon the cross; and for this cause did king Mosiah keep them,
that they should not come unto the world until after Christ should
show himself unto his people.
2 And after Christ truly had showed himself unto his
people he commanded that they should be made manifest.
3 And now, after that, they have all dwindled in
unbelief; and there is none save it be the Lamanites, and they have
rejected the gospel of Christ; therefore I am commanded that I
should hide them up again in the earth.
4 Behold, I have written upon these plates the very
things which the brother of Jared saw; and there never were greater
things made manifest than those which were made manifest unto the
brother of Jared.
5 Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me to write them;
and I have written them. And he commanded me that I should seal
them up; and he also hath commanded that I should seal up the
interpretation thereof; wherefore I have sealed up the
interpreters, according to the commandment of the Lord.
6 For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth
unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their
iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.
7 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me,
saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may
become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things
which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all
my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of
the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them
are.
8 And he that will contend against the word of the
Lord, let him be accursed; and he that shall deny these things, let
him be accursed; for unto them will I show no greater things, saith
Jesus Christ; for I am he who speaketh.
9 And at my command the heavens are opened and are
shut; and at my word the earth shall shake; and at my command the
inhabitants thereof shall pass away, even so as by fire.
10 And he that believeth not my words believeth not my
disciples; and if it so be that I do not speak, judge ye; for ye
shall know that it is I that speaketh, at the last day.
11 But he that believeth these things which I have
spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and
he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall
know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do
good.
12 And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of
me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that
leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not
believe me--that I am; and he that will not believe me will not
believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am
the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.
13 Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto
you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of
unbelief.
14 Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be
made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for
you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto
you, because of unbelief.5
15 Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief
which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness,
and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great
and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of
the world from you--yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my
name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know
that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto
your fathers, O house of Israel.
16 And then shall my revelations which I have caused to
be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the
people. Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the
time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very
deed.
17 Therefore, when ye shall receive this record ye may
know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of
the land.
18 Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come
unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for
he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that
believe in my name.
19 And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my
name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the
kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And
behold it is I that hath spoken it. Amen.
5 1 AND now I, Moroni, have written the words which
were commanded me, according to my memory; and I have told you the
things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not in order
that ye may translate; for that thing is forbidden you, except by
and by it shall be wisdom in God.
2 And behold, ye may be privileged that ye may show the
plates unto those who shall assist to bring forth this work;
3 And unto three shall they be shown by the power of
God; wherefore they shall know of a surety that these things are
true.
4 And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these
things be established; and the testimony of three, and this work,
in the which shall be shown forth the power of God and also his
word, of which the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear
record--and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world
at the last day.
5 And if it so be that they repent and come unto the
Father in the name of Jesus, they shall be received into the
kingdom of God.
6 And now, if I have no authority for these things,
judge ye; for ye shall know that I have authority when ye shall see
me, and we shall stand before God at the last day. Amen.
6 1 AND now I, Moroni, proceed to give the record of
Jared and his brother.
2 For it came to pass after the Lord had prepared the
stones which the brother of Jared had carried up into the mount,
the brother of Jared came down out of the mount, and he did put
forth the stones into the vessels which were prepared, one in each
end thereof; and behold, they did give light unto the
vessels.
3 And thus the Lord caused stones to shine in darkness,
to give light unto men, women, and children, that they might not
cross the great waters in darkness.
4 And it came to pass that when they had prepared all
manner of food, that thereby they might subsist upon the water, and
also food for their flocks and herds, and whatsoever beast or
animal or fowl that they should carry with them--and it came to
pass that when they had done all these things they got aboard of
their vessels or barges, and set forth into the sea, commending
themselves unto the Lord their God.
5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that
there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters,
towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves
of the sea before the wind.
6 And it came to pass that they were many times buried
in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke
upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were
caused by the fierceness of the wind.
7 And it came to pass that when they were buried in the
deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being
tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark
of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters
they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon
the top of the waters.
8 And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to
blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and
thus they were driven forth before the wind.
9 And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the
brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank
and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they
did not cease to praise the Lord.
10 And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of
the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; and
they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or
under the water.
11 And thus they were driven forth, three hundred and
forty and four days upon the water.
12 And they did land upon the shore of the promised
land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the
promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land,
and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of
joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies
over them.
13 And it came to pass that they went forth upon the
face of the land, and began to till the earth.
14 And Jared had four sons; and they were called Jacom,
and Gilgah, and Mahah, and Orihah.
15 And the brother of Jared also begat sons and
daughters.
16 And the friends of Jared and his brother were in
number about twenty and two souls; and they also begat sons and
daughters before they came to the promised land; and therefore they
began to be many.
17 And they were taught to walk humbly before the Lord;
and they were also taught from on high.
18 And it came to pass that they began to spread upon
the face of the land, and to multiply and to till the earth; and
they did wax strong in the land.
19 And the brother of Jared began to be old, and saw
that he must soon go down to the grave; wherefore he said unto
Jared: Let us gather together our people that we may number them,
that we may know of them what they will desire of us before we go
down to our graves.
20 And accordingly the people were gathered together.
Now the number of the sons and the daughters of the brother of
Jared were twenty and two souls; and the number of sons and
daughters of Jared were twelve, he having four sons.
21 And it came to pass that they did number their
people; and after that they had numbered them, they did desire of
them the things which they would that they should do before they
went down to their graves.
22 And it came to pass that the people desired of them
that they should anoint one of their sons to be a king over
them.
23 And now behold, this was grievous unto them. And the
brother of Jared said unto them: Surely this thing leadeth into
captivity.
24 But Jared said unto his brother: Suffer them that
they may have a king. And therefore he said unto them: Choose ye
out from among our sons a king, even whom ye will.
25 And it came to pass that they chose even the
firstborn of the brother of Jared; and his name was Pagag. And it
came to pass that he refused and would not be their king. And the
people would that his father should constrain him, but his father
would not; and he commanded them that they should constrain no man
to be their king.
26 And it came to pass that they chose all the brothers
of Pagag, and they would not.
27 And it came to pass that neither would the sons of
Jared, even all save it were one; and Orihah was anointed to be
king over the people.
28 And he began to reign, and the people began to
prosper; and they became exceedingly rich.
29 And it came to pass that Jared died, and his brother
also.
30 And it came to pass that Orihah did walk humbly
before the Lord, and did remember how great things the Lord had
done for his father, and also taught his people how great things
the Lord had done for their fathers.
7 1 AND it came to pass that Orihah did execute
judgment upon the land in righteousness all his days, whose days
were exceedingly many.
2 And he begat sons and daughters; yea, he begat thirty
and one, among whom were twenty and three sons.
3 And it came to pass that he also begat Kib in his old
age. And it came to pass that Kib reigned in his stead; and Kib
begat Corihor.
4 And when Corihor was thirty and two years old he
rebelled against his father, and went over and dwelt in the land of
Nehor; and he begat sons and daughters, and they became exceedingly
fair; wherefore Corihor drew away many people after him.
5 And when he had gathered together an army he came up
unto the land of Moron where the king dwelt, and took him captive,
which brought to pass the saying of the brother of Jared that they
would be brought into captivity.
6 Now the land of Moron, where the king dwelt, was near
the land which is called Desolation by the Nephites.
7 And it came to pass that Kib dwelt in captivity, and
his people under Corihor his son, until he became exceedingly old;
nevertheless Kib begat Shule in his old age, while he was yet in
captivity.
8 And it came to pass that Shule was angry with his
brother; and Shule waxed strong, and became
9 Wherefore, he came to the hill Ephraim, and he did
molten out of the hill, and made swords out of steel for those whom
he had drawn away with him; and after he had armed them with swords
he returned to the city Nehor and gave battle unto his brother
Corihor, by which means he obtained the kingdom and restored it
unto his father Kib.
10 And now because of the thing which Shule had done, his father
bestowed upon him the kingdom; therefore he began to reign in the
stead of his father.
11 And it came to pass that he did execute judgment in
righteousness; and he did spread his kingdom upon all the face of
the land, for the people had become exceedingly numerous.
12 And it came to pass that Shule also begat many sons
and daughters.
13 And Corihor repented of the many evils which he had
done; wherefore Shule gave him power in his kingdom.
14 And it came to pass that Corihor had many sons and
daughters. And among the sons of Corihor there was one whose name
was Noah.
15 And it came to pass that Noah rebelled against
Shule, the king, and also his father Corihor, and drew away Cohor
his brother, and also all his brethren and many of the
people.
16 And he gave battle unto Shule, the king, in which he
did obtain the land of their first inheritance; and he became a
king over that part of the land.
17 And it came to pass that he gave battle again unto
Shule, the king; and he took Shule, the king, and carried him away
captive into Moron.
18 And it came to pass as he was about to put him to
death, the sons of Shule crept into the house of Noah by night and
slew him, and broke down the door of the prison and brought out
their father, and placed him upon his throne in his own
kingdom.
19 Wherefore, the son of Noah did build up his kingdom
in his stead; nevertheless they did not gain power any more over
Shule the king, and the people who were under the reign of Shule
the king did prosper exceedingly and wax great.
20 And the country was divided; and there were two
kingdoms, the kingdom of Shule, and the kingdom of Cohor, the son
of Noah.
21 And Cohor, the son of Noah, caused that his people
should give battle unto Shule, in which Shule did beat them and did
slay Cohor.
22 And now Cohor had a son who was called Nimrod; and
Nimrod gave up the kingdom of Cohor unto Shule, and he did gain
favor in the eyes of Shule; wherefore Shule did bestow great favors
upon him, and he did do in the kingdom of Shule according to his
desires.
23 And also in the reign of Shule there came prophets
among the people, who were sent from the Lord, prophesying that the
wickedness and idolatry of the people was bringing a curse upon the
land, and they should be destroyed if they did not repent.
24 And it came to pass that the people did revile
against the prophets, and did mock them. And it came to pass that
king Shule did execute judgment against all those who did revile
against the prophets.
25 And he did execute a law throughout all the land,
which gave power unto the prophets that they should go
whithersoever they would; and by this cause the people were brought
unto repentance.
26 And because the people did repent of their
iniquities and idolatries the Lord did spare them, and they began
to prosper again in the land. And it came to pass that Shule begat
sons and daughters in his old age.
27 And there were no more wars in the days of Shule;
and he remembered the great things that the Lord had done for his
fathers in bringing them across the great deep into the promised
land; wherefore he did execute judgment in righteousness all his
days.
8 1 AND it came to pass that he begat Omer, and Omer
reigned in his stead. And Omer begat Jared; and Jared begat sons
and daughters.
2 And Jared rebelled against his father, and came and
dwelt in the land of Heth. And it came to pass that he did flatter
many people, because of his cunning words, until he had gained the
half of the kingdom.
3 And when he had gained the half of the kingdom he
gave battle unto his father, and he did carry away his father into
captivity, and did make him serve in captivity;
4 And now, in the days of the reign of Omer he was in
captivity the half of his days. And it came to pass that he begat
sons and daughters among whom were Esrom and Coriantumr;
5 And they were exceedingly angry because of the doings of Jared
their brother, insomuch that they did raise an army and gave battle
unto Jared. And it came to pass that they did give battle unto him
by night.
6 And it came to pass that when they had slain the army
of Jared they were about to slay him also; and he plead with them
that they would not slay him, and he would give up the kingdom unto
his father. And it came to pass that they did grant unto him his
life.
7 And now Jared became exceedingly sorrowful because of
the loss of the kingdom, for he had set his heart upon the kingdom
and upon the glory of the world.
8 Now the daughter of Jared being exceedingly expert,
and seeing the sorrows of her father, thought to devise a plan
whereby she could redeem the kingdom unto her father.
9 Now the daughter of Jared was exceedingly fair. And
it came to pass that she did talk with her father, and said unto
him: Whereby hath my father so much sorrow? Hath he not read the
record which our fathers brought across the great deep? Behold, is
there not an account concerning them of old, that they by their
secret plans did obtain kingdoms and great glory?
10 And now, therefore, let my father send for Akish,
the son of Kimnor; and behold, I am fair, and I will dance before
him, and I will please him, that he will desire me to wife;
wherefore if he shall desire of thee that ye shall give unto him me
to wife, then shall ye say: I will give her if ye will bring unto
me the head of my father, the king.
11 And now Omer was a friend to Akish; wherefore, when
Jared had sent for Akish, the daughter of Jared danced before him
that she pleased him, insomuch that he desired her to wife. And it
came to pass that he said unto Jared: Give her unto me to
wife.
12 And Jared said unto him: I will give her unto you,
if ye will bring unto me the head of my father, the king.
13 And it came to pass that Akish gathered in unto the
house of Jared all his kinsfolk, and said unto them: Will ye swear
unto me that ye will be faithful unto me in the thing which I shall
desire of you?
14 And it came to pass that they all sware unto him, by
the God of heaven, and also by the heavens, and also by the earth,
and by their heads, that whoso should vary from the assistance
which Akish desired should lose his head; and whoso should divulge
whatsoever thing Akish made known unto them, the same should lose
his life.
15 And it came to pass that thus they did agree with
Akish. And Akish did administer unto them the oaths which were
given by them of old who also sought power, which had been handed
down even from Cain, who was a murderer from the beginning.
16 And they were kept up by the power of the devil to
administer these oaths unto the people, to keep them in darkness,
to help such as sought power to gain power, and to murder, and to
plunder, and to lie, and to commit all manner of wickedness and
whoredoms.
17 And it was the daughter of Jared who put it into his
heart to search up these things of old; and Jared put it into the
heart of Akish; wherefore, Akish administered it unto his kindred
and friends, leading them away by fair promises to do whatsoever
thing he desired.
18 And it came to pass that they formed a secret
combination, even as they of old; which combination is most
abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God;
19 For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations,
neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things
hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man.
20 And now I, Moroni, do not write the manner of their
oaths and combinations, for it hath been made known unto me that
they are had among all people, and they are had among the
Lamanites.
21 And they have caused the destruction of this people
of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people
of Nephi.
22 And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret
combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over
the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not
suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them,
shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them
and yet he avenge them not.
23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that
these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent
of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations
shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain--and
the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea,
even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon
you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these
things to be.
24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall
see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of
your awful situation, because of this secret combination which
shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them
who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon
it, and also upon those who built it up.
25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up
seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and
countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people,
for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies;
even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that
same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning;
who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the
prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the
beginning.
26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these
things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that
Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but
that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may
come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.
9 1 AND now I, Moroni, proceed with my record.
Therefore, behold, it came to pass that because of the secret
combinations of Akish and his friends, behold, they did overthrow
the kingdom of Omer.
2 Nevertheless, the Lord was merciful unto Omer, and
also to his sons and to his daughters who did not seek his
destruction.
3 And the Lord warned Omer in a dream that he should
depart out of the land; wherefore Omer departed out of the land
with his family, and traveled many days, and came over and passed
by the hill of Shim, and came over by the place where the Nephites
were destroyed, and from thence eastward, and came to a place which
was called Ablom, by the seashore, and there he pitched his tent,
and also his sons and his daughters, and all his household, save it
were Jared and his family.
4 And it came to pass that Jared was anointed king over
the people, by the hand of wickedness; and he gave unto Akish his
daughter to wife.
5 And it came to pass that Akish sought the life of his
father-in-law; and he applied unto those whom he had sworn by the
oath of the ancients, and they obtained the head of his
father-in-law, as he sat upon his throne, giving audience to his
people.
6 For so great had been the spreading of this wicked
and secret society that it had corrupted the hearts of all the
people; therefore Jared was murdered upon his throne, and Akish
reigned in his stead
7 And it came to pass that Akish began to be jealous of
his son, therefore he shut him up in prison, and kept him upon
little or no food until he had suffered death.
8 And now the brother of him that suffered death, (and
his name was Nimrah) was angry with his father because of that
which his father had done unto his brother.
9 And it came to pass that Nimrah gathered together a
small number of men, and fled out of the land, and came over and
dwelt with Omer.
10 And it came to pass that Akish begat other sons, and
they won the hearts of the people, notwithstanding they had sworn
unto him to do all manner of iniquity according to that which he
desired.
11 Now the people of Akish were desirous for gain, even
as Akish was desirous for power; wherefore, the sons of Akish did
offer them money, by which means they drew away the more part of
the people after them.
12 And there began to be a war between the sons of
Akish and Akish, which lasted for the space of many years, yea,
unto the destruction of nearly all the people of the kingdom, yea,
even all, save it were thirty souls, and they who fled with the
house of Omer.
13 Wherefore, Omer was restored again to the land of
his inheritance.
14 And it came to pass that Omer began to be old;
nevertheless, in his old age he begat Emer; and he anointed Emer to
be king to reign in his stead.
15 And after that he had anointed Emer to be king he
saw peace in the land for the space of two years, and he died,
having seen exceedingly many days, which were full of sorrow. And
it came to pass that Emer did reign in his stead, and did fill the
steps of his father.
16 And the Lord began again to take the curse from off
the land, and the house of Emer did prosper exceedingly under the
reign of Emer; and in the space of sixty and two years they had
become exceedingly strong, insomuch that they became exceedingly
rich--
17 Having all manner of fruit, and of grain, and of
silks, and of fine linen, and of gold, and of silver, and of
precious things;
18 And also all manner of cattle, of oxen, and cows,
and of sheep, and of swine, and of goats, and also many other kinds
of animals which were useful for the food of man.
19 And they also had horses, and asses, and there were
elephants and cureloms and cumoms; all of which were useful unto
man, and more especially the elephants and cureloms and
cumoms.
20 And thus the Lord did pour out his blessings upon
this land, which was choice above all other lands; and he commanded
that whoso should possess the land should possess it unto the Lord,
or they should be destroyed when they were ripened in iniquity; for
upon such, saith the Lord: I will pour out the fulness of my
wrath.
21 And Emer did execute judgment in righteousness all
his days, and he begat many sons and daughters; and he begat
Coriantum, and he anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead.
22 And after he had anointed Coriantum to reign in his
stead he lived four years, and he saw peace in the land; yea, and
he even saw the Son of Righteousness, and did rejoice and glory in
his day; and he died in peace.
23 And it came to pass that Coriantum did walk in the
steps of his father, and did build many mighty cities, and did
administer that which was good unto his people in all his days. And
it came to pass that he had no children even until he was
exceedingly old.
24 And it came to pass that his wife died, being an
hundred and two years old. And it came to pass that Coriantum took
to wife, in his old age, a young maid, and begat sons and
daughters; wherefore he lived until he was an hundred and forty and
two years old.
25 And it came to pass that he begat Com, and Com
reigned in his stead; and he reigned forty and nine years, and he
begat Heth; and he also begat other sons and daughters.
26 And the people had spread again over all the face of
the land, and there began again to be an exceedingly great
wickedness upon the face of the land, and Heth began to embrace the
secret plans again of old, to destroy his father.
27 And it came to pass that he did dethrone his father,
for he slew him with his own sword; and he did reign in his
stead.
28 And there came prophets in the land again, crying
repentance unto them--that they must prepare the way of the Lord or
there should come a curse upon the face of the land; yea, even
there should be a great famine, in which they should be destroyed
if they did not repent.
29 But the people believed not the words of the
prophets, but they cast them out; and some of them they cast into
pits and left them to perish. And it came to pass that they did all
these things according to the commandment of the king, Heth.
30 And it came to pass that there began to be a great
dearth upon the land, and the inhabitants began to be destroyed
exceedingly fast because of the dearth, for there was no rain upon
the face of the earth.
31 And there came forth poisonous serpents also upon
the face of the land, and did poison many people. And it came to
pass that their flocks began to flee before the poisonous serpents,
towards the land southward, which was called by the Nephites
Zarahemla.
32 And it came to pass that there were many of them
which did perish by the way; nevertheless, there were some which
fled into the land southward.
33 And it came to pass that the Lord did cause the
serpents that they should pursue them no more, but that they should
hedge up the way that the people could not pass, that whoso should
attempt to pass
34 And it came to pass that the people did follow the
course of the beasts, and did devour the carcasses of them which
fell by the way, until they had devoured them all. Now when the
people saw that they must perish they began to repent of their
iniquities and cry unto the Lord.
35 And it came to pass that when they had humbled
themselves sufficiently before the Lord he did send rain upon the
face of the earth; and the people began to revive again, and there
began to be fruit in the north countries, and in all the countries
round about. And the Lord did show forth his power unto them in
preserving them from famine.
10 1 AND it came to pass that Shez, who was a
descendant of Heth--for Heth had perished by the famine, and all
his household save it were Shez--wherefore, Shez began to build up
again a broken people.
2 And it came to pass that Shez did remember the
destruction of his fathers, and he did build up a righteous
kingdom; for he remembered what the Lord had done in bringing Jared
and his brother across the deep; and he did walk in the ways of the
Lord; and he begat sons and daughters.
3 And his eldest son, whose name was Shez, did rebel
against him; nevertheless, Shez was smitten by the hand of a
robber, because of his exceeding riches, which brought peace again
unto his father.
4 And it came to pass that his father did build up many
cities upon the face of the land, and the people began again to
spread over all the face of the land. And Shez did live to an
exceedingly old age; and he begat Riplakish. And he died, and
Riplakish reigned in his stead.
5 And it came to pass that Riplakish did not do that
which was right in the sight of the Lord, for he did have many
wives and concubines, and did lay that upon men's shoulders which
was grievous to be borne; yea, he did tax them with heavy taxes;
and with the taxes he did build many spacious buildings.
6 And he did erect him an exceedingly beautiful throne;
and he did build many prisons, and whoso would not be subject unto
taxes he did cast into prison; and whoso was not able to pay taxes
he did cast into prison; and he did cause that they should labor
continually for their support; and whoso refused to labor he did
cause to be put to death.
7 Wherefore he did obtain all his fine work, yea, even
his fine gold he did cause to be refined in prison; and all manner
of fine workmanship he did cause to be wrought in prison. And it
came to pass that he did afflict the people with his whoredoms and
abominations.
8 And when he had reigned for the space of forty and
two years the people did rise up in rebellion against him; and
there began to be war again in the land, insomuch that Riplakish
was killed, and his descendants were driven out of the land.
9 And it came to pass after the space of many years,
Morianton, (he being a descendant of Riplakish) gathered together
an army of outcasts, and went forth and gave battle unto the
people; and he gained power over many cities; and the war became
exceedingly sore, and did last for the space of many years; and he
did gain power over all the land, and did establish himself king
over all the land.
10 And after that he had established himself king he
did ease the burden of the people, by which he did gain favor in
the eyes of the people, and they did anoint him to be their
king.
11 And he did do justice unto the people, but not unto
himself because of his many whoredoms; wherefore he was cut off
from the presence of the Lord.
12 And it came to pass that Morianton built up many
cities, and the people became exceedingly rich under his reign,
both in buildings, and in gold and silver, and in raising grain,
and in flocks, and herds, and such things which had been restored
unto them.
13 And Morianton did live to an exceedingly great age,
and then he begat Kim; and Kim did reign in the stead of his
father; and he did reign eight years, and his father died. And it
came to pass that Kim did not reign in righteousness, wherefore he
was not favored of the Lord.
14 And his brother did rise up in rebellion against
him, by which he did bring him into captivity; and he did remain in
captivity all his days; and he begat sons and daughters in
captivity, and in his old age he begat Levi; and he died.
15 And it came to pass that Levi did serve in captivity
after the death of his father, for the space of forty and two
years. And he did make war against the king of the land, by which
he did obtain unto himself the kingdom.
16 And after he had obtained unto himself the kingdom
he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord; and the
people did prosper in the land; and he did live to a good old age,
and begat sons and daughters; and he also begat Corom, whom he
anointed king in his stead.
17 And it came to pass that Corom did that which was
good in the sight of the Lord all his days; and he begat many sons
and daughters; and after he had seen many days he did pass away,
even like unto the rest of the earth; and Kish reigned in his
stead.
18 And it came to pass that Kish passed away also, and
Lib reigned in his stead.
19 And it came to pass that Lib also did that which was
good in the sight of the Lord. And in the days of Lib the poisonous
serpents were destroyed. Wherefore they did go into the land
southward, to hunt food for the people of the land, for the land
was covered with animals of the forest. And Lib also himself became
a great hunter.
20 And they built a great city by the narrow neck of
land, by the place where the sea divides the land.
21 And they did preserve the land southward for a
wilderness, to get game. And the whole face of the land northward
was covered with inhabitants.
22 And they were exceedingly industrious, and they did
buy and sell and traffic one with another, that they might get
gain.
23 And they did work in all manner of ore, and they did
make gold, and silver, and iron, and brass, and all manner of
metals; and they did dig it out of the earth; wherefore, they did
cast up mighty heaps of earth to get ore, of gold, and of silver,
and of iron, and of copper. And they did work all manner of fine
work.
24 And they did have silks, and fine-twined linen; and
they did work all manner of cloth, that they might clothe
themselves from their nakedness.
25 And they did make all manner of tools to till the
earth, both to plow and to sow, to reap and to hoe, and also to
thrash.
26 And they did make all manner of tools with which
they did work their beasts.
27 And they did make all manner of weapons of war. And
they did work all manner of work of exceedingly curious
workmanship.
28 And never could be a people more blessed than were
they, and more prospered by the hand of the Lord. And they were in
a land that was choice above all lands, for the Lord had spoken
it.
29 And it came to pass that Lib did live many years,
and begat sons and daughters; and he also begat Hearthom.
30 And it came to pass that Hearthom reigned in the
stead of his father. And when Hearthom had reigned twenty and four
years, behold, the kingdom was taken away from him. And he served
many years in captivity, yea, even all the remainder of his
days.
31 And he begat Heth, and Heth lived in captivity all
his days. And Heth begat Aaron, and Aaron dwelt in captivity all
his days; and he begat Amnigaddah, and Amnigaddah also dwelt in
captivity all his days; and he begat Coriantum, and Coriantum dwelt
in captivity all his days; and he begat Com.
32 And it came to pass that Com drew away the half of
the kingdom. And he reigned over the half of the kingdom forty and
two years; and he went to battle against the king, Amgid, and they
fought for the space of many years, during which time Com gained
power over Amgid, and obtained power over the remainder of the
kingdom.
33 And in the days of Com there began to be robbers in
the land; and they adopted the old plans, and administered oaths
after the manner of the ancients, and sought again to destroy the
kingdom.
34 Now Com did fight against them much; nevertheless,
he did not prevailagainst them.
11 1 AND there came also in the days of Com many
prophets, and prophesied of the destruction of that great people
except they should repent, and turn unto the Lord, and forsake
their murders and wickedness.
2 And it came to pass that the prophets were rejected
by the people, and they fled unto Com for protection, for the
people sought to destroy them.
3 And they prophesied unto Com many things; and he was
blessed in all the remainder of his days.
4 And he lived to a good old age, and begat Shiblom;
and Shiblom reigned in his stead. And the brother of Shiblom
rebelled against him, and there began to be an exceedingly great
war in all the land.
5 And it came to pass that the brother of Shiblom
caused that all the prophets who prophesied of the destruction of
the people should be put to death;
6 And there was great calamity in all the land, for
they had testified that a great curse should come upon the land,
and also upon the people, and that there should be a great
destruction among them, such an one as never had been upon the face
of the earth, and their bones should become as heaps of earth upon
the face of the land except they should repent of their
wickedness.
7 And they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord,
because of their wicked combinations; wherefore, there began to be
wars and contentions in all the land, and also many famines and
pestilences, insomuch that there was a great destruction, such an
one as never had been known upon the face of the earth; and all
this came to pass in the days of Shiblom.
8 And the people began to repent of their iniquity; and
inasmuch as they did the Lord did have mercy on them.
9 And it came to pass that Shiblom was slain, and Seth
was brought into captivity, and did dwell in captivity all his
days.
10 And it came to pass that Ahah, his son, did obtain
the kingdom; and he did reign over the people all his days. And he
did do all manner of iniquity in his days, by which he did cause
the shedding of much blood; and few were his days.
11 And Ethem, being a descendant of Ahah, did obtain
the kingdom; and he also did do that which was wicked in his
days.
12 And it came to pass that in the days of Ethem there
came many prophets, and prophesied again unto the people; yea, they
did prophesy that the Lord would utterly destroy them from off the
face of the earth except they repented of their iniquities.
13 And it came to pass that the people hardened their
hearts, and would not hearken unto their words; and the prophets
mourned and withdrew from among the people.
14 And it came to pass that Ethem did execute judgment
in wickedness all his days; and he begat Moron. And it came to pass
that Moron did reign in his stead; and Moron did that which was
wicked before the Lord.
15 And it came to pass that there arose a rebellion
among the people, because of that secret combination which was
built up to get power and gain; and there arose a mighty man among
them in iniquity, and gave battle unto Moron, in which he did
overthrow the half of the kingdom; and he did maintain the half of
the kingdom for many years.
16 And it came to pass that Moron did overthrow him,
and did obtain the kingdom again.
17 And it came to pass that there arose another mighty
man; and he was a descendant of the brother of Jared.
18 And it came to pass that he did overthrow Moron and
obtain the kingdom; wherefore, Moron dwelt in captivity all the
remainder of his days; and he begat Coriantor.
19 And it came to pass that Coriantor dwelt in
captivity all his days.
20 And in the days of Coriantor there also came many
prophets, and prophesied of great and marvelous things, and cried
repentance unto the people, and except they should repent the Lord
God would execute judgment against them to their utter
destruction;
21 And that the Lord God would send or bring forth
another people to possess the land, by his power, after the manner
by which he brought their fathers.
22 And they did reject all the words of the prophets,
because of their secret society and wicked abominations.
23 And it came to pass that Coriantor begat Ether, and
he died, having dwelt in captivity all his days.
12 1 AND it came to pass that the days of Ether were in
the days of Coriantumr; and Coriantumr was king over all the
land.
2 And Ether was a prophet of the Lord; wherefore Ether
came forth in the days of Coriantumr, and began to prophesy unto
the people, for he could not be restrained because of the Spirit of
the Lord which was in him.
3 For he did cry from the morning, even until the going
down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto
repentance lest they should be destroyed, saying unto them that by
faith all things are fulfilled--
4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety
hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of
God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of
men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in
good works, being led to glorify God.
5 And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and
marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe,
because they saw them not.
6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning
these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things
which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye
see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your
faith.
7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto
our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not
himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it
must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not
unto the world.
8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself
unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared
a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift,
that they might hope for those things which they have not
seen.
9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of
the gift, if ye will but have faith.
10 Behold it was by faith that they of old were called
after the holy order of God.
11 Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But
in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and
it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.
12 For if there be no faith among the children of men
God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself
until after their faith.
13 Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that
caused the prison to tumble to the earth
14 Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that
wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with
fire and with the Holy Ghost.
15 Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren
which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.
16 Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought
them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who
were after.
17 And it was by faith that the three disciples
obtained a promise that they should not taste of death; and they
obtained not the promise until after their faith.
18 And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles
until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son
of God.
19 And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly
strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within
the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had
beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.
20 And behold, we have seen in this record that one of
these was the brother of Jared; for so great was his faith in God,
that when God put forth his finger he could not hide it from the
sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had
spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith.
21 And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger
of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had
obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his
sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer
be kept without the veil.
22 And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained the
promise that these things should come unto their brethren through
the Gentiles; therefore the Lord hath commanded me, yea, even Jesus
Christ.
23 And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at
these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou
hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us
mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they
could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given
them;
24 And thou hast made us that we could write but
little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast
not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for
thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as
thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.
25 Thou hast also made our words powerful and great,
even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold
our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and
I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words.
26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me,
saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is
sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your
weakness;
27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their
weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my
grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me;
for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then
will I make weak things become strong unto them.
28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their
weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity
bringeth unto me--the fountain of all righteousness.
29 And I, Moroni, having heard these words, was
comforted, and said: O Lord, thy righteous will be done, for I know
that thou workest unto the children of men according to their
faith;
30 For the brother of Jared said unto the mountain
Zerin, Remove--and it was removed. And if he had not had faith it
would not have moved; wherefore thou workest after men have
faith.
31 For thus didst thou manifest thyself unto thy
disciples; for after they had faith, and did speak in thy name,
thou didst show thyself unto them in great power.
32 And I also remember that thou hast said that thou
hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of thy
Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore
man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place
which thou hast prepared.
33 And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou
hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the
world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the
children of men.
34 And now I know that this love which thou hast had
for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall
have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast
prepared in the mansions of thy Father.
35 Wherefore, I know by this thing which thou hast
said, that if the Gentiles have not charity, because of our
weakness, that thou wilt prove them, and take away their talent,
yea, even that which they have received, and give unto them who
shall have more abundantly.
36 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that
he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have
charity.
37 And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If
they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been
faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean. And because
thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto
the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions
of my Father.
38 And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles,
yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet
before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that
my garments are not spotted with your blood.
39 And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and
that he hath talked with me face to face, and that he told me in
plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language,
concerning these things;
40 And only a few have I written, because of my
weakness in writing.
41 And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of
whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God
the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost,
which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever.
Amen.
13 1 AND now I, Moroni, proceed to finish my record
concerning the destruction of the people of whom I have been
writing.
2 For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for
he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and
that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it
became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the
Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him
who dwell upon the face thereof;
3 And that it was the place of the New Jerusalem, which
should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the
Lord.
4 Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake
concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land.
5 And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and
the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come--after it should be
destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord;
wherefore, it could not be a new Jerusalem for it had been in a
time of old; but it should be built up again, and become a holy
city of the Lord; and it should be built unto the house of
Israel.
6 And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this
land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things
there has been a type
7 For as Joseph brought his father down into the land
of Egypt, even so he died there; wherefore, the Lord brought a
remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he
might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph that they should perish
not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph that he
should perish not.
8 Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall
be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their
inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord,
like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be
confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass
away.
9 And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and
they shall be like unto the old save the old have passed away, and
all things have become new.
10 And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are
they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white
through the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who are numbered
among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of
Israel.
11 And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old; and the
inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in
the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who were scattered and
gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north
countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant
which God made with their father, Abraham.
12 And when these things come, bringeth to pass the
scripture which saith, there are they who were first, who shall be
last; and there are they who were last, who shall be first
13 And I was about to write more, but I am forbidden;
but great and marvelous were the prophecies of Ether; but they
esteemed him as naught, and cast him out; and he hid himself in the
cavity of a rock by day, and by night he went forth viewing the
things which should come upon the people.
14 And as he dwelt in the cavity of a rock he made the
remainder of this record, viewing the destructions which came upon
the people, by night.
15 And it came to pass that in that same year in which
he was cast out from among the people there began to be a great war
among the people, for there were many who rose up, who were mighty
men, and sought to destroy Coriantumr by their secret plans of
wickedness, of which hath been spoken.
16 And now Coriantumr, having studied, himself, in all
the arts of war and all the cunning of the world, wherefore he gave
battle unto them who sought to destroy him.
17 But he repented not, neither his fair sons nor
daughters; neither the fair sons and daughters of Cohor; neither
the fair sons and daughters of Corihor; and in fine, there were
none of the fair sons and daughters upon the face of the whole
earth who repented of their sins.
18 Wherefore, it came to pass that in the first year
that Ether dwelt in the cavity of a rock, there were many people
who were slain by the sword of those secret combinations, fighting
against Coriantumr that they might obtain the kingdom.
19 And it came to pass that the sons of Coriantumr
fought much and bled much.
20 And in the second year the word of the Lord came to
Ether, that he should go and prophesy unto Coriantumr that, if he
would repent, and all his household, the Lord would give unto him
his kingdom and spare the people--
21 Otherwise they should be destroyed, and all his
household save it were himself. And he should only live to see the
fulfilling of the prophecies which had been spoken concerning
another people receiving the land for their inheritance; and
Coriantumr should receive a burial by them; and every soul should
be destroyed save it were Coriantumr.
22 And it came to pass that Coriantumr repented not,
neither his household, neither the people; and the wars ceased not;
and they sought to kill Ether, but he fled from before them and hid
again in the cavity of the rock.
23 And it came to pass that there arose up Shared, and
he also gave battle unto Coriantumr; and he did beat him, insomuch
that in the third year he did bring him into captivity.
24 And the sons of Coriantumr, in the fourth year, did
beat Shared, and did obtain the kingdom again unto their
father.
25 Now there began to be a war upon all the face of the
land, every man with his band fighting for that which he
desired.
26 And there were robbers, and in fine, all manner of
wickedness upon all the face of the land.
27 And it came to pass that Coriantumr was exceedingly
angry with Shared, and he went against him with his armies to
battle; and they did meet in great anger, and they did meet in the
valley of Gilgal; and the battle became exceedingly sore.
28 And it came to pass that Shared fought against him
for the space of three days. And it came to pass that Coriantumr
beat him, and did pursue him until he came to the plains of
Heshlon.
29 And it came to pass that Shared gave him battle
again upon the plains; and behold, he did beat Coriantumr, and
drove him back again to the valley of Gilgal.
30 And Coriantumr gave Shared battle again in the
valley of Gilgal, in which he beat Shared and slew him.
31 And Shared wounded Coriantumr in his thigh, that he
did not go to battle again for the space of two years, in which
time all the people upon the face of the land were shedding blood,
and there was none to restrain them.
14 1 AND now there began to be a great curse upon all
the land because of the iniquity of the people, in which, if a man
should lay his tool or his sword upon his shelf, or upon the place
whither he would keep it, behold, upon the morrow, he could not
find it, so great was the curse upon the land.
2 Wherefore every man did cleave unto that which was
his own, with his hands, and would not borrow neither would he
lend; and every man kept the hilt of his sword in his right hand,
in the defence of his property and his own life and of his wives
and children.
3 And now, after the space of two years, and after the
death of Shared, behold, there arose the brother of Shared and he
gave battle unto Coriantumr, in which Coriantumr did beat him and
did pursue him to the wilderness of Akish.
4 And it came to pass that the brother of Shared did
give battle unto him in the wilderness of Akish; and the battle
became exceedingly sore, and many thousands fell by the
sword.
5 And it came to pass that Coriantumr did lay siege to
the wilderness; and the brother of Shared did march forth out of
the wilderness by night, and slew a part of the army of Coriantumr,
as they were drunken.
6 And he came forth to the land of Moron, and placed
himself upon the throne of Coriantumr.
7 And it came to pass that Coriantumr dwelt with his
army in the wilderness for the space of two years, in which he did
receive great strength to his army.
8 Now the brother of Shared, whose name was Gilead,
also received great strength to his army, because of secret
combinations.
9 And it came to pass that his high priest murdered him
as he sat upon his throne.
10 And it came to pass that one of the secret
combinations murdered him in a secret pass, and obtained unto
himself the kingdom; and his name was Lib; and Lib was a man of
great stature, more than any other man among all the people.
11 And it came to pass that in the first year of Lib,
Coriantumr came up unto the land of Moron, and gave battle unto
Lib.
12 And it came to pass that he fought with Lib, in
which Lib did smite upon his arm that he was wounded; nevertheless,
the army of Coriantumr did press forward upon Lib, that he fled to
the borders upon the seashore.
13 And it came to pass that Coriantumr pursued him; and
Lib gave battle unto him upon the seashore.
14 And it came to pass that Lib did smite the army of
Coriantumr, that they fled again to the wilderness of Akish.
15 And it came to pass that Lib did pursue him until he
came to the plains of Agosh. And Coriantumr had taken all the
people with him as he fled before Lib in that quarter of the land
whither he fled.
16 And when he had come to the plains of Agosh he gave
battle unto Lib, and he smote upon him until he died; nevertheless,
the brother of Lib did come against Coriantumr in the stead
thereof, and the battle became exceedingly sore, in the which
Coriantumr fled again before the army of the brother of Lib.
17 Now the name of the brother of Lib was called Shiz.
And it came to pass that Shiz pursued after Coriantumr, and he did
overthrow many cities, and he did slay both women and children, and
he did burn the cities.
18 And there went a fear of Shiz throughout all the
land; yea, a cry went forth throughout the land--Who can stand
before the army of Shiz? Behold, he sweepeth the earth before
him!
19 And it came to pass that the people began to flock
together in armies, throughout all the face of the land.
20 And they were divided; and a part of them fled to
the army of Shiz, and a part of them fled to the army of
Coriantumr.
21 And so great and lasting had been the war, and so
long had been the scene of bloodshed and carnage, that the whole
face of the land was covered with the bodies of the dead.
22 And so swift and speedy was the war that there was
none left to bury the dead, but they did march forth from the
shedding of blood to the shedding of blood, leaving the bodies of
both men, women, and children strewed upon the face of the land, to
become a prey to the worms of the flesh.
23 And the scent thereof went forth upon the face of
the land, even upon all the face of the land; wherefore the people
became troubled by day and by night, because of the scent
thereof.
24 Nevertheless, Shiz did not cease to pursue
Coriantumr; for he had sworn to avenge himself upon Coriantumr of
the blood of his brother, who had been slain, and the word of the
Lord which came to Ether that Coriantumr should not fall by the
sword.
25 And thus we see that the Lord did visit them in the
fulness of his wrath, and their wickedness and abominations had
prepared a way for their everlasting destruction.
26 And it came to pass that Shiz did pursue Coriantumr
eastward, even to the borders by the seashore, and there he gave
battle unto Shiz for the space of three days.
27 And so terrible was the destruction among the armies
of Shiz that the people began to be frightened, and began to flee
before the armies of Coriantumr; and they fled to the land of
Corihor, and swept off the inhabitants before them, all them that
would not join them.
28 And they pitched their tents in the valley of
Corihor; and Coriantumr pitched his tents in the valley of Shurr.
Now the valley of Shurr was near the hill Comnor; wherefore,
Coriantumr did gather his armies together upon the hill Comnor, and
did sound a trumpet unto the armies of Shiz to invite them forth to
battle.
29 And it came to pass that they came forth, but were driven
again; and they came the second time, and they were driven again
the second time. And it came to pass that they came again the third
time, and the battle became exceedingly sore.
30 And it came to pass that Shiz smote upon Coriantumr
that he gave him many deep wounds; and Coriantumr, having lost his
blood, fainted, and was carried away as though he were dead.
31 Now the loss of men, women and children on both
sides was so great that Shiz commanded his people that they should
not pursue the armies of Coriantumr; wherefore, they returned to
their camp.
15 1 AND it came to pass when Coriantumr had recovered
of his wounds, he began to remember the words which Ether had
spoken unto him.
2 He saw that there had been slain by the sword already
nearly two millions of his people, and he began to sorrow in his
heart; yea, there had been slain two millions of mighty men, and
also their wives and their children.
3 He began to repent of the evil which he had done; he
began to remember the words which had been spoken by the mouth of
all the prophets, and he saw them that they were fulfilled thus
far, every whit; and his soul mourned and refused to be
comforted.
4 And it came to pass that he wrote an epistle unto
Shiz, desiring him that he would spare the people, and he would
give up the kingdom for the sake of the lives of the people.
5 And it came to pass that when Shiz had received his
epistle he wrote an epistle unto Coriantumr, that if he would give
himself up, that he might slay him with his own sword, that he
would spare the lives of the people.
6 And it came to pass that the people repented not of
their iniquity; and the people of Coriantumr were stirred up to
anger against the people of Shiz; and the people of Shiz were
stirred up to anger against the people of Coriantumr; wherefore,
the people of Shiz did give battle unto the people of
Coriantumr.
7 And when Coriantumr saw that he was about to fall he
fled again before the people of Shiz.
8 And it came to pass that he came to the waters of
Ripliancum, which, by interpretation, is large, or to exceed all;
wherefore, when they came to these waters they pitched their tents;
and Shiz also pitched his tents near unto them; and therefore on
the morrow they did come to battle.
9 And it came to pass that they fought an exceedingly
sore battle, in which Coriantumr was wounded again, and he fainted
with the loss of blood.
10 And it came to pass that the armies of Coriantumr
did press upon the armies of Shiz that they beat them, that they
caused them to flee before them; and they did flee southward, and
did pitch their tents in a place which was called Ogath.
11 And it came to pass that the army of Coriantumr did
pitch their tents by the hill Ramah; and it was that same hill
where my father Mormon did hide up the records unto the Lord, which
were sacred.
12 And it came to pass that they did gather together
all the people upon all the face of the land, who had not been
slain, save it was Ether.
13 And it came to pass that Ether did behold all the
doings of the people; and he beheld that the people who were for
Coriantumr were gathered together to the army of Coriantumr; and
the people who were for Shiz were gathered together to the army of
Shiz.
14 Wherefore, they were for the space of four years
gathering together the people, that they might get all who were
upon the face of the land, and that they might receive all the
strength which it was possible that they could receive.
15 And it came to pass that when they were all gathered
together, every one to the army which he would, with their wives
and their children--both men, women and children being armed with
weapons of war, having shields, and breastplates, and head-plates,
and being clothed after the manner of war--they did march forth one
against another to battle; and they fought all that day, and
conquered not.
16 And it came to pass that when it was night they were
weary, and retired to their camps; and after they had retired to
their camps they took up a howling and a lamentation for the loss
of the slain of their people; and so great were their cries, their
howlings and lamentations, that they did rend the air
exceedingly.
17 And it came to pass that on the morrow they did go
again to battle, and great and terrible was that day; nevertheless,
they conquered not, and when the night came again they did rend the
air with their cries, and their howlings, and their mournings, for
the loss of the slain of their people.
18 And it came to pass that Coriantumr wrote again an
epistle unto Shiz, desiring that he would not come again to battle,
but that he would take the kingdom, and spare the lives of the
people.
19 But behold, the Spirit of the Lord had ceased
striving with them, and Satan had full power over the hearts of the
people; for they were given up unto the hardness of their hearts,
and the blindness of their minds that they might be destroyed;
wherefore they went again to battle.
20 And it came to pass that they fought all that day,
and when the night came they slept upon their swords.
21 And on the morrow they fought even until the night
came.
22 And when the night came they were drunken with
anger, even as a man who is drunken with wine; and they slept again
upon their swords.
23 And on the morrow they fought again; and when the
night came they had all fallen by the sword save it were fifty and
two of the people of Coriantumr, and sixty and nine of the people
of Shiz.
24 And it came to pass that they slept upon their
swords that night, and on the morrow they fought again, and they
contended in their might with their swords and with their shields,
all that day.
25 And when the night came there were thirty and two of
the people of Shiz, and twenty and seven of the people of
Coriantumr.
26 And it came to pass that they ate and slept, and
prepared for death on the morrow. And they were large and mighty
men as to the strength of men.
27 And it came to pass that they fought for the space
of three hours, and they fainted with the loss of blood.
28 And it came to pass that when the men of Coriantumr
had received sufficient strength that they could walk, they were
about to flee for their lives; but behold, Shiz arose, and also his
men, and he swore in his wrath that he would slay Coriantumr or he
would perish by the sword.
29 Wherefore, he did pursue them, and on the morrow he
did overtake them; and they fought again with the sword. And it
came to pass that when they had all fallen by the sword, save it
were Coriantumr and Shiz, behold Shiz had fainted with the loss of
blood.
30 And it came to pass that when Coriantumr had leaned
upon his sword, that he rested a little, he smote off the head of
Shiz.
31 And it came to pass that after he had smitten off
the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised up on his hands and fell; and
after that he had struggled for breath, he died.
32 And it came to pass that Coriantumr fell to the
earth, and became as if he had no life.
33 And the Lord spake unto Ether, and said unto him: Go
forth. And he went forth, and beheld that the words of the Lord had
all been fulfilled; and he finished his record; (and the hundredth
part I have not written) and he hid them in a manner that the
people of Limhi did find them.
34 Now the last words which are written by Ether are
these: Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer
the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be
that I am saved in the kingdom of God. Amen.