THE FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI
HIS REIGN AND MINISTRY
An account of Lehi and his wife Sariah, and his
four sons, being called, (beginning at the eldest) Laman, Lemuel,
Sam, and Nephi. The Lord warns Lehi to depart out of the land of
Jerusalem, because he prophesieth unto the people concerning their
iniquity and they seek to destroy his life. He taketh three days'
journey into the wilderness with his family. Nephi taketh his
brethren and returneth to the land of Jerusalem after the record of
the Jews. The account of their sufferings. They take the daughters
of Ishmael to wife. They take their families and depart into the
wilderness. Their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness. The
course of their travels. They come to the large waters. Nephi's
brethren rebel against him. He confoundeth them, and buildeth a
ship. They call the name of the place Bountiful. They cross the
large waters into the promised land, and so forth. This is
according to the account of Nephi; or in other words, I, Nephi,
wrote this record.
Chapter 1
1 Nephi 1:Verse 1
1 I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents,
therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father;
and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days,
nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my
days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the
mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my
days.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 2
2 Yea, I make a record in the language of my father,
which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the
Egyptians.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 3
3 And I know that the record which I make is true; and
I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my
knowledge.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 4
4 For it came to pass in the commencement of the first
year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi,
having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year
there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they
must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 5
5 Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he
went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in
behalf of his people.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there
came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw
and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he
did quake and tremble exceedingly.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that he returned to his own house
at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with
the Spirit and the things which he had seen.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 8
8 And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was
carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he
thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with
numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and
praising their God.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of
the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that
of the sun at noon-day.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 10
10 And he also saw twelve others following him, and
their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the
firmament.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 11
11 And they came down and went forth upon the face of
the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave
unto him a book, and bade him that he should read.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled
with the Spirit of the Lord.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 13
13 And he read, saying: Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I
have seen thine abominations! Yea, and many things did my father
read concerning Jerusalem--that it should be destroyed, and the
inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many
should be carried away captive into Babylon.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that when my father had read and
seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things
unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord
God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and
goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and,
because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto
thee that they shall perish!
1 Nephi 1:Verse 15
15 And after this manner was the language of my father
in the praising of his God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole
heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen, yea,
which the Lord had shown unto him.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 16
16 And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the
things which my father hath written, for he hath written many
things which he saw in visions and in dreams; and he also hath
written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his
children, of which I shall not make a full account.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 17
17 But I shall make an account of my proceedings in my
days. Behold, I make an abridgment of the record of my father, upon
plates which I have made with mine own hands; wherefore, after I
have abridged the record of my father then will I make an account
of mine own life.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 18
18 Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after
the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi,
yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth
among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them
concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him
because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly
testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he
testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the
things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming
of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.
1 Nephi 1:Verse 20
20 And when the Jews heard these things they were angry
with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast
out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that
they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you
that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath
chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the
power of deliverance.
Chapter 2
1 Nephi 2:Verse 1
1 FOR behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto
my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art
thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because
thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things
which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away thy
life.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my
father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart
into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the
word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that he departed into the
wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance,
and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took
nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and
tents, and departed into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 5
5 And he came down by the borders near the shore of the
Red Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are
nearer the Red Sea; and he did travel in the wilderness with his
family, which consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder
brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that when he had traveled three
days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side
of a river of water.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones,
and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord
our God.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that he called the name of the
river, Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was
in the borders near the mouth thereof.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 9
9 And when my father saw that the waters of the river
emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman,
saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually
running into the fountain of all righteousness!
1 Nephi 2:Verse 10
10 And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest
be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in
keeping the commandments of the Lord!
1 Nephi 2:Verse 11
11 Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of
Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against
their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out
of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance,
and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to
perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of
the foolish imaginations of his heart.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 12
12 And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did
murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew
not the dealings of that God who had created them.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 13
13 Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great
city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets.
And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought
to take away the life of my father.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that my father did speak unto
them in the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the
Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did
confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore,
they did as he commanded them.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 15
15 And my father dwelt in a tent.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly
young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great
desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto
the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that
I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father;
wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 17
17 And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the
things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit.
And it came to pass that he believed in my words.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 18
18 But, behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto
my words; and being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts
I cried unto the Lord for them.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me,
saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou
hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 20
20 And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye
shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a
land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice
above all other lands.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 21
21 And inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against
thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 22
22 And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments,
thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 23
23 For behold, in that day that they shall rebel
against me, I will curse them even with a sore curse, and they
shall have no power over thy seed except they shall rebel against
me also.
1 Nephi 2:Verse 24
24 And if it so be that they rebel against me, they
shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of
remembrance.
Chapter 3
1 Nephi 3:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that I, Nephi, returned from
speaking with the Lord, to the tent of my father.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, saying:
Behold I have dreamed a dream, in the which the Lord hath commanded
me that thou and thy brethren shall return to Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 3
3 For behold, Laban hath the record of the Jews and
also a genealogy of my forefathers, and they are engraven upon
plates of brass.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 4
4 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me that thou and
thy brothers should go unto the house of Laban, and seek the
records, and bring them down hither into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 5
5 And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a
hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not
required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 6
6 Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of
the Lord, because thou hast not murmured.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my
father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded,
for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children
of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may
accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that when my father had heard
these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been
blessed of the Lord.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 9
9 And I, Nephi, and my brethren took our journey in the
wilderness, with our tents, to go up to the land of
Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that when we had gone up to the
land of Jerusalem, I and my brethren did consult one with
another.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 11
11 And we cast lots--who of us should go in unto the
house of Laban. And it came to pass that the lot fell upon Laman;
and Laman went in unto the house of Laban, and he talked with him
as he sat in his house.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 12
12 And he desired of Laban the records which were
engraven upon the plates of brass, which contained the genealogy of
my father.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 13
13 And behold, it came to pass that Laban was angry,
and thrust him out from his presence; and he would not that he
should have the records. Wherefore, he said unto him: Behold thou
art a robber, and I will slay thee.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 14
14 But Laman fled out of his presence, and told the
things which Laban had done, unto us. And we began to be
exceedingly sorrowful, and my brethren were about to return unto my
father in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 15
15 But behold I said unto them that: As the Lord
liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the
wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath
commanded us.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 16
16 Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the
commandments of the Lord; therefore let us go down to the land of
our father's inheritance, for behold he left gold and silver, and
all manner of riches. And all this he hath done because of the
commandments of the Lord.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 17
17 For he knew that Jerusalem must be destroyed,
because of the wickedness of the people.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 18
18 For behold, they have rejected the words of the
prophets. Wherefore, if my father should dwell in the land after he
hath been commanded to flee out of the land, behold, he would also
perish. Wherefore, it must needs be that he flee out of the
land.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 19
19 And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should
obtain these records, that we may preserve unto our children the
language of our fathers;
1 Nephi 3:Verse 20
20 And also that we may preserve unto them the words
which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which
have been delivered unto them by the Spirit and power of God, since
the world began, even down unto this present time.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that after this manner of
language did I persuade my brethren, that they might be faithful in
keeping the commandments of God.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that we went down to the land of
our inheritance, and we did gather together our gold, and our
silver, and our precious things.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 23
23 And after we had gathered these things together, we
went up again unto the house of Laban.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that we went in unto Laban, and
desired him that he would give unto us the records which were
engraven upon the plates of brass, for which we would give unto him
our gold, and our silver, and all our precious things.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that when Laban saw our
property, and that it was exceedingly great, he did lust after it,
insomuch that he thrust us out, and sent his servants to slay us,
that he might obtain our property.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that we did flee before the
servants of Laban, and we were obliged to leave behind our
property, and it fell into the hands of Laban.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that we fled into the
wilderness, and the servants of Laban did not overtake us, and we
hid ourselves in the cavity of a rock.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that Laman was angry with me,
and also with my father; and also was Lemuel, for he hearkened unto
the words of Laman. Wherefore Laman and Lemuel did speak many hard
words unto us, their younger brothers, and they did smite us even
with a rod.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod,
behold, an angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he
spake unto them, saying: Why do ye smite your younger brother with
a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over
you, and this because of your iniquities? Behold ye shall go up to
Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your
hands.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 30
30 And after the angel had spoken unto us, he
departed.
1 Nephi 3:Verse 31
31 And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel
again began to murmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lord
will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and
he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not
us?
Chapter 4
1 Nephi 4:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren,
saying: Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful
in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier
than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty,
yea, or even than his tens of thousands?
1 Nephi 4:Verse 2
2 Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like unto
Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they
divided hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of
captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and
were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 3
3 Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also
know that an angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt?
Let us go up; the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers,
and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 4
4 Now when I had spoken these words, they were yet
wroth, and did still continue to murmur; nevertheless they did
follow me up until we came without the walls of Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 5
5 And it was by night; and I caused that they should
hide themselves without the walls. And after they had hid
themselves, I, Nephi, crept into the city and went forth towards
the house of Laban.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 6
6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand
the things which I should do.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 7
7 Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto
the house of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth
before me, for he was drunken with wine.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 8
8 And when I came to him I found that it was
Laban.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 9
9 And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the
sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the
workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade
thereof was of the most precious steel.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the
Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at
any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that
I might not slay him.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 11
11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord
hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had
sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken
unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our
property.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me
again: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy
hands;
1 Nephi 4:Verse 13
13 Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth
his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish
than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 14
14 And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I
remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the
wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my
commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 15
15 Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the
commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they
should have the law.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 16
16 And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the
plates of brass.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 17
17 And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban
into my hands for this cause--that I might obtain the records
according to his commandments.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 18
18 Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and
took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with
his own sword.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 19
19 And after I had smitten off his head with his own
sword, I took the garments of Laban and put them upon mine own
body; yea, even every whit; and I did gird on his armor about my
loins.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 20
20 And after I had done this, I went forth unto the
treasury of Laban. And as I went forth towards the treasury of
Laban, behold, I saw the servant of Laban who had the keys of the
treasury. And I commanded him in the voice of Laban, that he should
go with me into the treasury.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 21
21 And he supposed me to be his master, Laban, for he
beheld the garments and also the sword girded about my loins.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 22
22 And he spake unto me concerning the elders of the
Jews, he knowing that his master, Laban, had been out by night
among them.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 23
23 And I spake unto him as if it had been Laban.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 24
24 And I also spake unto him that I should carry the
engravings, which were upon the plates of brass, to my elder
brethren, who were without the walls.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 25
25 And I also bade him that he should follow me.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 26
26 And he, supposing that I spake of the brethren of
the church, and that I was truly that Laban whom I had slain,
wherefore he did follow me.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 27
27 And he spake unto me many times concerning the
elders of the Jews, as I went forth unto my brethren, who were
without the walls.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that when Laman saw me he was
exceedingly frightened, and also Lemuel and Sam. And they fled from
before my presence; for they supposed it was Laban, and that he had
slain me and had sought to take away their lives also.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass that I called after them, and
they did hear me; wherefore they did cease to flee from my
presence.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass that when the servant of Laban
beheld my brethren he began to tremble, and was about to flee from
before me and return to the city of Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 31
31 And now I, Nephi, being a man large in stature, and
also having received much strength of the Lord, therefore I did
seize upon the servant of Laban, and held him, that he should not
flee.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that I spake with him, that if
he would hearken unto my words, as the Lord liveth, and as I live,
even so that if he would hearken unto our words, we would spare his
life.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 33
33 And I spake unto him, even with an oath, that he
need not fear; that he should be a free man like unto us if he
would go down in the wilderness with us.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 34
34 And I also spake unto him, saying: Surely the Lord
hath commanded us to do this thing; and shall we not be diligent in
keeping the commandments of the Lord? Therefore, if thou wilt go
down into the wilderness to my father thou shalt have place with
us.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that Zoram did take courage at
the words which I spake. Now Zoram was the name of the servant; and
he promised that he would go down into the wilderness unto our
father. Yea, and he also made an oath unto us that he would tarry
with us from that time forth.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 36
36 Now we were desirous that he should tarry with us
for this cause, that the Jews might not know concerning our flight
into the wilderness, lest they should pursue us and destroy
us.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 37
37 And it came to pass that when Zoram had made an oath
unto us, our fears did cease concerning him.
1 Nephi 4:Verse 38
38 And it came to pass that we took the plates of brass
and the servant of Laban, and departed into the wilderness, and
journeyed unto the tent of our father.
Chapter 5
1 Nephi 5:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that after we had come down into
the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and
also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had
mourned because of us.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 2
2 For she had supposed that we had perished in the
wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling
him that he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us
forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more,
and we perish in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 3
3 And after this manner of language had my mother
complained against my father.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 4
4 And it had come to pass that my father spake unto
her, saying: I know that I am a visionary man; for if I had not
seen the things of God in a vision I should not have known the
goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished
with my brethren.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 5
5 But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the
which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will
deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down
again unto us in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 6
6 And after this manner of language did my father,
Lehi, comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed
in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record
of the Jews.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 7
7 And when we had returned to the tent of my father,
behold their joy was full, and my mother was comforted.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 8
8 And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that
the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness;
yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my
sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them
power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath
commanded them. And after this manner of language did she
speak.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that they did rejoice
exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the
Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 10
10 And after they had given thanks unto the God of
Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon
the plates of brass, and he did search them from the
beginning.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 11
11 And he beheld that they did contain the five books
of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world, and
also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents;
1 Nephi 5:Verse 12
12 And also a record of the Jews from the beginning,
even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of
Judah;
1 Nephi 5:Verse 13
13 And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from
the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of
Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the
mouth of Jeremiah.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found
upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he
knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who
was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was
preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his
father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with
famine.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 15
15 And they were also led out of captivity and out of
the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 16
16 And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy
of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph,
wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 17
17 And now when my father saw all these things, he was
filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his
seed--
1 Nephi 5:Verse 18
18 That these plates of brass should go forth unto all
nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 19
19 Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should
never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And
he prophesied many things concerning his seed.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that thus far I and my father
had kept the commandments wherewith the Lord had commanded
us.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 21
21 And we had obtained the records which the Lord had
commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable;
yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve
the commandments of the Lord unto our children.
1 Nephi 5:Verse 22
22 Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should
carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the
land of promise.
Chapter 6
1 Nephi 6:Verse 1
1 AND now I, Nephi, do not give the genealogy of my
fathers in this part of my record; neither at any time shall I give
it after upon these plates which I am writing; for it is given in
the record which has been kept by my father; wherefore, I do not
write it in this work.
1 Nephi 6:Verse 2
2 For it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of
Joseph.
1 Nephi 6:Verse 3
3 And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to
give a full account of all the things of my father, for they cannot
be written upon these plates, for I desire the room that I may
write of the things of God.
1 Nephi 6:Verse 4
4 For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade
men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob, and be saved.
1 Nephi 6:Verse 5
5 Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the
world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God
and unto those who are not of the world.
1 Nephi 6:Verse 6
6 Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed,
that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not
of worth unto the children of men.
Chapter 7
1 Nephi 7:Verse 1
1 AND now I would that ye might know, that after my
father, Lehi, had made an end of prophesying concerning his seed,
it came to pass that the Lord spake unto him again, saying that it
was not meet for him, Lehi, that he should take his family into the
wilderness alone; but that his sons should take daughters to wife,
that they might raise up seed unto the Lord in the land of
promise.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded him that
I, Nephi, and my brethren, should again return unto the land of
Jerusalem, and bring down Ishmael and his family into the
wilderness.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did again, with my
brethren, go forth into the wilderness to go up to Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that we went up unto the house of
Ishmael, and we did gain favor in the sight of Ishmael, insomuch
that we did speak unto him the words of the Lord.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the
heart of Ishmael, and also his household, insomuch that they took
their journey with us down into the wilderness to the tent of our
father.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the
wilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of
Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel
against us; yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father,
Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they were
desirous to return unto the land of Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 8
8 And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of
their hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto
Laman and unto Lemuel: Behold ye are mine elder brethren, and how
is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your
minds, that ye have need that I, your younger brother, should speak
unto you, yea, and set an example for you?
1 Nephi 7:Verse 9
9 How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of
the Lord?
1 Nephi 7:Verse 10
10 How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen
an angel of the Lord?
1 Nephi 7:Verse 11
11 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great
things the Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands
of Laban, and also that we should obtain the record?
1 Nephi 7:Verse 12
12 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the
Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the
children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him?
Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 13
13 And if it so be that we are faithful to him, we
shall obtain the land of promise; and ye shall know at some future
period that the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled concerning the
destruction of Jerusalem; for all things which the Lord hath spoken
concerning the destruction of Jerusalem must be fulfilled.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 14
14 For behold, the Spirit of the Lord ceaseth soon to
strive with them; for behold, they have rejected the prophets, and
Jeremiah have they cast into prison. And they have sought to take
away the life of my father, insomuch that they have driven him out
of the land.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 15
15 Now behold, I say unto you that if ye will return
unto Jerusalem ye shall also perish with them. And now, if ye have
choice, go up to the land, and remember the words which I speak
unto you, that if ye go ye will also perish; for thus the Spirit of
the Lord constraineth me that I should speak.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken
these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came
to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they
were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they
sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the
wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 17
17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord,
saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou
deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me
strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that when I had said these
words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet,
and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that they were angry with me
again, and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of the
daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one of the sons
of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did
soften their hearts; and they did cease striving to take away my
life.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that they were sorrowful,
because of their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before
me, and did plead with me that I would forgive them of the thing
that they had done against me.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them
all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray
unto the Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that
they did so. And after they had done praying unto the Lord we did
again travel on our journey towards the tent of our father.
1 Nephi 7:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that we did come down unto the
tent of our father. And after I and my brethren and all the house
of Ishmael had come down unto the tent of my father, they did give
thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and
burnt offerings unto him.
Chapter 8
1 Nephi 8:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that we had gathered together all
manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind, and
also of the seeds of fruit of every kind.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that while my father tarried in
the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a
dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 3
3 And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I
have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of
Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of their
seed, will be saved.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 4
4 But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly
because of you; for behold, methought I saw in my dream, a dark and
dreary wilderness.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was
dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade
me follow him.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld
myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 8
8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours
in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy
on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass after I had prayed unto the Lord
I beheld a large and spacious field.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose
fruit was desirable to make one happy.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake
of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above
all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit
thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever
seen.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 12
12 And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my
soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous
that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was
desirable above all other fruit.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 13
13 And as I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I
might discover my family also, I beheld a river of water; and it
ran along, and it was near the tree of which I was partaking the
fruit.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 14
14 And I looked to behold from whence it came; and I
saw the head thereof a little way off; and at the head thereof I
beheld your mother Sariah, and Sam, and Nephi; and they stood as if
they knew not whither they should go.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I
also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto
me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other
fruit.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that they did come unto me and
partake of the fruit also.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman
and Lemuel should come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I
cast mine eyes towards the head of the river, that perhaps I might
see them.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would
not come unto me and partake of the fruit.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 19
19 And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along
the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 20
20 And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which
came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood;
and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and
spacious field, as if it had been a world.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 21
21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of
whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which
led unto the tree by which I stood.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and
commence in the path which led to the tree.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of
darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch
that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that
they wandered off and were lost.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing
forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod
of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness,
clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and
partake of the fruit of the tree.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 25
25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree
they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 26
26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on
the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious
building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the
earth.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 27
27 And it was filled with people, both old and young,
both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly
fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their
fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the
fruit.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 28
28 And after they had tasted of the fruit they were
ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell
away into forbidden paths and were lost.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 29
29 And now I, Nephi, do not speak all the words of my
father.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 30
30 But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other
multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the
end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward,
continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth
and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 31
31 And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way
towards that great and spacious building.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that many were drowned in the
depths of the fountain; and many were lost from his view, wandering
in strange roads.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 33
33 And great was the multitude that did enter into that
strange building. And after they did enter into that building they
did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking
of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 34
34 These are the words of my father: For as many as
heeded them, had fallen away.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 35
35 And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said
my father.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 36
36 And it came to pass after my father had spoken all
the words of his dream or vision, which were many, he said unto us,
because of these things which he saw in a vision, he exceedingly
feared for Laman and Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be
cast off from the presence of the Lord.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 37
37 And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of
a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps
the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my
father did preach unto them.
1 Nephi 8:Verse 38
38 And after he had preached unto them, and also
prophesied unto them of many things, he bade them to keep the
commandments of the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto
them.
Chapter 9
1 Nephi 9:Verse 1
1 AND all these things did my father see, and hear, and
speak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel, and also a
great many more things, which cannot be written upon these
plates.
1 Nephi 9:Verse 2
2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates,
behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of
the history of my people; for the plates upon which I make a full
account of my people I have given the name of Nephi; wherefore,
they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and these
plates also are called the plates of Nephi.
1 Nephi 9:Verse 3
3 Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the
Lord that I should make these plates, for the special purpose that
there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my
people.
1 Nephi 9:Verse 4
4 Upon the other plates should be engraven an account
of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my
people; wherefore these plates are for the more part of the
ministry; and the other plates are for the more part of the reign
of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people.
1 Nephi 9:Verse 5
5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these
plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.
1 Nephi 9:Verse 6
6 But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning;
wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the
children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling
of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.
Chapter 10
1 Nephi 10:Verse 1
1 AND now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon
these plates of my proceedings, and my reign and ministry;
wherefore, to proceed with mine account, I must speak somewhat of
the things of my father, and also of my brethren.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 2
2 For behold, it came to pass after my father had made
an end of speaking the words of his dream, and also of exhorting
them to all diligence, he spake unto them concerning the
Jews--
1 Nephi 10:Verse 3
3 That after they should be destroyed, even that great
city Jerusalem, and many be carried away captive into Babylon,
according to the own due time of the Lord, they should return
again, yea, even be brought back out of captivity; and after they
should be brought back out of captivity they should possess again
the land of their inheritance.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 4
4 Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my
father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among
the Jews--even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the
world.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 5
5 And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great
a number had testified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of
whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 6
6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen
state, and ever would be save they should rely on this
Redeemer.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 7
7 And he spake also concerning a prophet who should
come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord--
1 Nephi 10:Verse 8
8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the
wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths
straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he
is mightier than I, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to
unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 9
9 And my father said he should baptize in Bethabara,
beyond Jordan; and he also said he should baptize with water; even
that he should baptize the Messiah with water.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 10
10 And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he
should behold and bear record that he had baptized the Lamb of God,
who should take away the sins of the world.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass after my father had spoken these
words he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should
be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of
the Jews in unbelief. And after they had slain the Messiah, who
should come, and after he had been slain he should rise from the
dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the
Gentiles.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 12
12 Yea, even my father spake much concerning the
Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should
be compared like unto an olive-tree, whose branches should be
broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the
earth.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 13
13 Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should
be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the
fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered
upon all the face of the earth.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 14
14 And after the house of Israel should be scattered
they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the
Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural
branches of the olive-tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel,
should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah,
their Lord and their Redeemer.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 15
15 And after this manner of language did my father
prophesy and speak unto my brethren, and also many more things
which I do not write in this book; for I have written as many of
them as were expedient for me in mine other book.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 16
16 And all these things, of which I have spoken, were
done as my father dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all
the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a
vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy
Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God--and the
Son of God was the Messiah who should come--I, Nephi, was desirous
also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the
power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those
who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time
that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 18
18 For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever;
and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the
world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 19
19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the
mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the
Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well
in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the
Lord is one eternal round.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 20
20 Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou
shalt be brought into judgment.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 21
21 Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the
days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the
judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God;
wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.
1 Nephi 10:Verse 22
22 And the Holy Ghost giveth authority that I should
speak these things, and deny them not.
Chapter 11
1 Nephi 11:Verse 1
1 FOR it came to pass after I had desired to know the
things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was
able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I
was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly
high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I
never had before set my foot.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 2
2 And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest
thou?
1 Nephi 11:Verse 3
3 And I said: I desire to behold the things which my
father saw.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 4
4 And the Spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy
father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?
1 Nephi 11:Verse 5
5 And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the
words of my father.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 6
6 And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried
with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God;
for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed
art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high
God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast
desired.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 7
7 And behold this thing shall be given unto thee for a
sign, that after thou hast beheld the tree which bore the fruit
which thy father tasted, thou shalt also behold a man descending
out of heaven, and him shall ye witness; and after ye have
witnessed him ye shall bear record that it is the Son of God.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me:
Look! And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree
which my father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond,
yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed
the whiteness of the driven snow.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass after I had seen the tree, I said
unto the Spirit: I behold thou hast shown unto me the tree which is
precious above all.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 10
10 And he said unto me: What desirest thou?
1 Nephi 11:Verse 11
11 And I said unto him: To know the interpretation
thereof--for I spake unto him as a man speaketh; for I beheld that
he was in the form of a man; yet nevertheless, I knew that it was
the Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with
another.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look! And
I looked as if to look upon him, and I saw him not; for he had gone
from before my presence.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the
great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the
city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin,
and she was exceedingly fair and white.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and
an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi,
what beholdest thou?
1 Nephi 11:Verse 15
15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and
fair above all other virgins.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 16
16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension
of God?
1 Nephi 11:Verse 17
17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his
children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all
things.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 18
18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou
seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the
flesh.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was
carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in
the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying:
Look!
1 Nephi 11:Verse 20
20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a
child in her arms.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 21
21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God,
yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning
of the tree which thy father saw?
1 Nephi 11:Verse 22
22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of
God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of
men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 23
23 And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most
joyous to the soul.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 24
24 And after he had said these words, he said unto me:
Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among
the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and
worship him.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of
iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to
the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters
are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the
tree of life was a representation of the love of God.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 26
26 And the angel said unto me again: Look and behold
the condescension of God!
1 Nephi 11:Verse 27
27 And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world,
of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who
should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth
and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the
heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide
upon him in the form of a dove.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 28
28 And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the
people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered
together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from
among them.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 29
29 And I also beheld twelve others following him. And
it came to pass that they were carried away in the Spirit from
before my face, and I saw them not.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me
again, saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open
again, and I saw angels descending upon the children of men; and
they did minister unto them.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 31
31 And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I
looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children
of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who
were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and
unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these things
unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and
the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me
again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that
he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was
judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 33
33 And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the
cross and slain for the sins of the world.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 34
34 And after he was slain I saw the multitudes of the
earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the
apostles of the Lamb; for thus were the twelve called by the angel
of the Lord.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 35
35 And the multitude of the earth was gathered
together; and I beheld that they were in a large and spacious
building, like unto the building which my father saw. And the angel
of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Behold the world and the
wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath gathered
together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
1 Nephi 11:Verse 36
36 And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that
the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it
fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great. And the angel of
the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction
of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight
against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Chapter 12
1 Nephi 12:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that the angel said unto me:
Look, and behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren. And I
looked and beheld the land of promise; and I beheld multitudes of
people, yea, even as it were in number as many as the sand of the
sea.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that I beheld multitudes gathered
together to battle, one against the other; and I beheld wars, and
rumors of wars, and great slaughters with the sword among my
people.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that I beheld many generations
pass away, after the manner of wars and contentions in the land;
and I beheld many cities, yea, even that I did not number
them.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on
the face of the land of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard
thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises;
and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw
mountains tumbling into pieces; and I saw the plains of the earth,
that they were broken up; and I saw many cities that they were
sunk; and I saw many that they were burned with fire; and I saw
many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking
thereof.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw
the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the
earth; and behold, I saw multitudes who had not fallen because of
the great and terrible judgments of the Lord.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 6
6 And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God
descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto
them.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 7
7 And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost
fell upon twelve others; and they were ordained of God, and
chosen.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 8
8 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the
twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy
seed.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 9
9 And he said unto me: Thou rememberest the twelve
apostles of the Lamb? Behold they are they who shall judge the
twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy
seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the house of
Israel.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 10
10 And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall
judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for
because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made
white in his blood.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 11
11 And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and
beheld three generations pass away in righteousness; and their
garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God. And the angel
said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb,
because of their faith in him.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 12
12 And I, Nephi, also saw many of the fourth generation
who passed away in righteousness.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the
earth gathered together.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 14
14 And the angel said unto me: Behold thy seed, and
also the seed of thy brethren.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the
people of my seed gathered together in multitudes against the seed
of my brethren; and they were gathered together to battle.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 16
16 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the
fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river
of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of
hell.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 17
17 And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the
devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the
children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they
perish and are lost.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 18
18 And the large and spacious building, which thy
father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of
men. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the
word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the
Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the
beginning of the world until this time, and from this time
henceforth and forever.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 19
19 And while the angel spake these words, I beheld and
saw that the seed of my brethren did contend against my seed,
according to the word of the angel; and because of the pride of my
seed, and the temptations of the devil, I beheld that the seed of
my brethren did overpower the people of my seed.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that I beheld, and saw the
people of the seed of my brethren that they had overcome my seed;
and they went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 21
21 And I saw them gathered together in multitudes; and
I saw wars and rumors of wars among them; and in wars and rumors of
wars I saw many generations pass away.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 22
22 And the angel said unto me: Behold these shall
dwindle in unbelief.
1 Nephi 12:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had
dwindled in unbelief they became a dark, and loathsome, and a
filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of
abominations.
Chapter 13
1 Nephi 13:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that the angel spake unto me,
saying: Look! And I looked and beheld many nations and
kingdoms.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 2
2 And the angel said unto me: What beholdest thou? And
I said: I behold many nations and kingdoms.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 3
3 And he said unto me: These are the nations and
kingdoms of the Gentiles.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of
the Gentiles the formation of a great church.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 5
5 And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a
church which is most abominable above all other churches, which
slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them
down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down
into captivity.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that I beheld this great and
abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of
it.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 7
7 And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and
scarlets, and fine-twined linen, and all manner of precious
clothing; and I saw many harlots.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 8
8 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the gold,
and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the
fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are
the desires of this great and abominable church.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 9
9 And also for the praise of the world do they destroy
the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld many
waters; and they divided the Gentiles from the seed of my
brethren.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that the angel said unto me:
Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 12
12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles,
who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters;
and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon
the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed
of my brethren, who were in the promised land.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God,
that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of
captivity, upon the many waters.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of
the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of
God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were
scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 15
15 And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was
upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for
their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and
exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they
were slain.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the
Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves
before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 17
17 And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were
gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to
battle against them.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 18
18 And I beheld that the power of God was with them,
and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were
gathered together against them to battle.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 19
19 And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone
out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the
hands of all other nations.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they
did prosper in the land; and I beheld a book, and it was carried
forth among them.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 21
21 And the angel said unto me: Knowest thou the meaning
of the book?
1 Nephi 13:Verse 22
22 And I said unto him: I know not.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 23
23 And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth
of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book
that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the
covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel;
and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets;
and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the
plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they
contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the
house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the
Gentiles.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 24
24 And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast
beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and
when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the
fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear
record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the
Lamb of God.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 25
25 Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in
purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in
God.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 26
26 And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest
the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most
abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken
away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and
most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken
away.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 27
27 And all this have they done that they might pervert
the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and
harden the hearts of the children of men.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 28
28 Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone
forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that
there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book,
which is the book of the Lamb of God.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 29
29 And after these plain and precious things were taken
away it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after
it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even
across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which
have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest--because of the many
plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book,
which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men,
according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God--because of
these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an
exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath
great power over them.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 30
30 Nevertheless, thou beholdest that the Gentiles who
have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the
power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land
which is choice above all other lands, which is the land that the
Lord God hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should have
for the land of their inheritance; wherefore, thou seest that the
Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the
mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 31
31 Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall
destroy the seed of thy brethren.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 32
32 Neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles
shall forever remain in that awful state of blindness, which thou
beholdest they are in, because of the plain and most precious parts
of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that
abominable church, whose formation thou hast seen.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 33
33 Wherefore saith the Lamb of God: I will be merciful
unto the Gentiles, unto the visiting of the remnant of the house of
Israel in great judgment.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 34
34 And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spake
unto me, saying: Behold, saith the Lamb of God, after I have
visited the remnant of the house of Israel--and this remnant of
whom I speak is the seed of thy father--wherefore, after I have
visited them in judgment, and smitten them by the hand of the
Gentiles, and after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of
the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which
have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother
of harlots, saith the Lamb--I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in
that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own
power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith
the Lamb.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 35
35 For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself
unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall
minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after
thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the
seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come
forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 36
36 And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the
Lamb, and my rock and my salvation.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 37
37 And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth
my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of
the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be
lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting
kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of
great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 38
38 And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the
seed of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God, which
had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth
from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my
brethren.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 39
39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other
books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles
unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of
the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon
all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of
the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 40
40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last
records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish
the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the
Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have
been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds,
tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal
Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come
unto him, or they cannot be saved.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 41
41 And they must come according to the words which
shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the
Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well as in
the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both
shall be established in one; for there is one God and one Shepherd
over all the earth.
1 Nephi 13:Verse 42
42 And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself
unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles;
and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the
Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also
unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be
last.
Chapter 14
1 Nephi 14:Verse 1
1 AND it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall
hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest
himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto
the taking away of their stumbling blocks--
1 Nephi 14:Verse 2
2 And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God,
they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father; yea, they
shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and they shall be a
blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall be no
more brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel shall no
more be confounded.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 3
3 And that great pit, which hath been digged for them
by that great and abominable church, which was founded by the devil
and his children, that he might lead away the souls of men down to
hell--yea, that great pit which hath been digged for the
destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged it, unto
their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of God; not the destruction
of the soul, save it be the casting of it into that hell which hath
no end.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 4
4 For behold, this is according to the captivity of the
devil, and also according to the justice of God, upon all those who
will work wickedness and abomination before him.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me,
Nephi, saying: Thou hast beheld that if the Gentiles repent it
shall be well with them; and thou also knowest concerning the
covenants of the Lord unto the house of Israel; and thou also hast
heard that whoso repenteth not must perish.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 6
6 Therefore, wo be unto the Gentiles if it so be that
they harden their hearts against the Lamb of God.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 7
7 For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I
will work a great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a
work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the
other--either to the convincing of them unto peace and life
eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their
hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being brought
down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and
spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of which I
have spoken.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that when the angel had spoken
these words, he said unto me: Rememberest thou the covenants of the
Father unto the house of Israel? I said unto him, Yea.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look, and
behold that great and abominable church, which is the mother of
abominations, whose founder is the devil.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 10
10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two
churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the
other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to
the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which
is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the
earth.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the
whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had
dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues,
and people.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the
Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness
and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters;
nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the
saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their
dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the
wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that I beheld that the great
mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face
of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight
against the Lamb of God.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power
of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church
of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were
scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with
righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of
God was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch
that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and
kindreds of the earth.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 16
16 And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars
among all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations,
the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold, the wrath of God is upon
the mother of harlots; and behold, thou seest all these
things--
1 Nephi 14:Verse 17
17 And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is
poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and
abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the devil,
then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in
preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he
hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me,
saying: Look!
1 Nephi 14:Verse 19
19 And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in
a white robe.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 20
20 And the angel said unto me: Behold one of the twelve
apostles of the Lamb.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 21
21 Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of
these things; yea, and also many things which have been.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 22
22 And he shall also write concerning the end of the
world.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 23
23 Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just
and true; and behold they are written in the book which thou beheld
proceeding out of the mouth of the Jew; and at the time they
proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, or, at the time the book
proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were
written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the
understanding of all men.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 24
24 And behold, the things which this apostle of the
Lamb shall write are many things which thou hast seen; and behold,
the remainder shalt thou see.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 25
25 But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou
shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the
Lamb of God that he should write them.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 26
26 And also others who have been, to them hath he shown
all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to
come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the
Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of
Israel.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 27
27 And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name
of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the
angel.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 28
28 And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should
write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard; wherefore
the things which I have written sufficeth me; and I have written
but a small part of the things which I saw.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 29
29 And I bear record that I saw the things which my
father saw, and the angel of the Lord did make them known unto
me.
1 Nephi 14:Verse 30
30 And now I make an end of speaking concerning the
things which I saw while I was carried away in the spirit; and if
all the things which I saw are not written, the things which I have
written are true. And thus it is. Amen.
Chapter 15
1 Nephi 15:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been
carried away in the spirit, and seen all these things, I returned
to the tent of my father.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that I beheld my brethren, and
they were disputing one with another concerning the things which my
father had spoken unto them.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 3
3 For he truly spake many great things unto them, which
were hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord;
and they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look
unto the Lord as they ought.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 4
4 And now I, Nephi, was grieved because of the hardness
of their hearts, and also, because of the things which I had seen,
and knew they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great
wickedness of the children of men.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that I was overcome because of my
afflictions, for I considered that mine afflictions were great
above all, because of the destruction of my people, for I had
beheld their fall.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that after I had received
strength I spake unto my brethren, desiring to know of them the
cause of their disputations.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 7
7 And they said: Behold, we cannot understand the words
which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the
olive-tree, and also concerning the Gentiles.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 8
8 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the
Lord?
1 Nephi 15:Verse 9
9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord
maketh no such thing known unto us.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 10
10 Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not
keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish,
because of the hardness of your hearts?
1 Nephi 15:Verse 11
11 Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath
said?--If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith,
believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my
commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto
you.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 12
12 Behold, I say unto you, that the house of Israel was
compared unto an olive-tree, by the Spirit of the Lord which was in
our father; and behold are we not broken off from the house of
Israel, and are we not a branch of the house of Israel?
1 Nephi 15:Verse 13
13 And now, the thing which our father meaneth
concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the
fulness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed
shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years,
and many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in body
unto the children of men, then shall the fulness of the gospel of
the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the
remnant of our seed--
1 Nephi 15:Verse 14
14 And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know
that they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the
covenant people of the Lord; and then shall they know and come to
the knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge of
the gospel of their Redeemer, which was ministered unto their
fathers by him; wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of
their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may
know how to come unto him and be saved.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 15
15 And then at that day will they not rejoice and give
praise unto their everlasting God, their rock and their salvation?
Yea, at that day, will they not receive the strength and
nourishment from the true vine? Yea, will they not come unto the
true fold of God?
1 Nephi 15:Verse 16
16 Behold, I say unto you, Yea; they shall be
remembered again among the house of Israel; they shall be grafted
in, being a natural branch of the olive-tree, into the true
olive-tree.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 17
17 And this is what our father meaneth; and he meaneth
that it will not come to pass until after they are scattered by the
Gentiles; and he meaneth that it shall come by way of the Gentiles,
that the Lord may show his power unto the Gentiles, for the very
cause that he shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the house of
Israel.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 18
18 Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed
alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the
covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which
covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying: In thy seed
shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake much unto
them concerning these things; yea, I spake unto them concerning the
restoration of the Jews in the latter days.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 20
20 And I did rehearse unto them the words of Isaiah,
who spake concerning the restoration of the Jews, or of the house
of Israel; and after they were restored they should no more be
confounded, neither should they be scattered again. And it came to
pass that I did speak many words unto my brethren, that they were
pacified and did humble themselves before the Lord.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that they did speak unto me
again, saying: What meaneth this thing which our father saw in a
dream? What meaneth the tree which he saw?
1 Nephi 15:Verse 22
22 And I said unto them: It was a representation of the
tree of life.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 23
23 And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron
which our father saw, that led to the tree?
1 Nephi 15:Verse 24
24 And I said unto them that it was the word of God;
and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast
unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and
the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to
lead them away to destruction.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 25
25 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did exhort them to give heed
unto the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the
energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed,
that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep
his commandments always in all things.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 26
26 And they said unto me: What meaneth the river of
water which our father saw?
1 Nephi 15:Verse 27
27 And I said unto them that the water which my father
saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other
things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 28
28 And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf,
which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the
saints of God.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 29
29 And I said unto them that it was a representation of
that awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the
wicked.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 30
30 And I said unto them that our father also saw that
the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous;
and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a
flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and
hath no end.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 31
31 And they said unto me: Doth this thing mean the
torment of the body in the days of probation, or doth it mean the
final state of the soul after the death of the temporal body, or
doth it speak of the things which are temporal?
1 Nephi 15:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that I said unto them that it
was a representation of things both temporal and spiritual; for the
day should come that they must be judged of their works, yea, even
the works which were done by the temporal body in their days of
probation.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 33
33 Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness
they must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual,
which are pertaining to righteousness; wherefore, they must be
brought to stand before God, to be judged of their works; and if
their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if
they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the
kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God must be filthy
also.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 34
34 But behold, I say unto you, the kingdom of God is
not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the
kingdom of God; wherefore there must needs be a place of filthiness
prepared for that which is filthy.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 35
35 And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful
hell of which I have spoken, and the devil is the preparator of it;
wherefore the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the
kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which
I have spoken.
1 Nephi 15:Verse 36
36 Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the
righteous, and also from that tree of life, whose fruit is most
precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is
the greatest of all the gifts of God. And thus I spake unto my
brethren. Amen.
Chapter 16
1 Nephi 16:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made
an end of speaking to my brethren, behold they said unto me: Thou
hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to
bear.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew
that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the
truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they
should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh
the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 3
3 And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were
willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye
might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because
of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did exhort my
brethren, with all diligence, to keep the commandments of the
Lord.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that they did humble themselves
before the Lord; insomuch that I had joy and great hopes of them,
that they would walk in the paths of righteousness.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 6
6 Now, all these things were said and done as my father
dwelt in a tent in the valley which he called Lemuel.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, took one of the
daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also, my brethren took of the
daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also Zoram took the eldest
daughter of Ishmael to wife.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 8
8 And thus my father had fulfilled all the commandments
of the Lord which had been given unto him. And also, I, Nephi, had
been blessed of the Lord exceedingly.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord spake
unto my father by night, and commanded him that on the morrow he
should take his journey into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that as my father arose in the
morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment
he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and
it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and
the one pointed the way whither we should go into the
wilderness.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that we did gather together
whatsoever things we should carry into the wilderness, and all the
remainder of our provisions which the Lord had given unto us; and
we did take seed of every kind that we might carry into the
wilderness.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that we did take our tents and
depart into the wilderness, across the river Laman.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that we traveled for the space
of four days, nearly a south-southeast direction, and we did pitch
our tents again; and we did call the name of the place
Shazer.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that we did take our bows and
our arrows, and go forth into the wilderness to slay food for our
families; and after we had slain food for our families we did
return again to our families in the wilderness, to the place of
Shazer. And we did go forth again in the wilderness, following the
same direction, keeping in the most fertile parts of the
wilderness, which were in the borders near the Red Sea.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that we did travel for the space
of many days, slaying food by the way, with our bows and our arrows
and our stones and our slings.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 16
16 And we did follow the directions of the ball, which
led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 17
17 And after we had traveled for the space of many
days, we did pitch our tents for the space of a time, that we might
again rest ourselves and obtain food for our families.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that as I, Nephi, went forth to
slay food, behold, I did break my bow, which was made of fine
steel; and after I did break my bow, behold, my brethren were angry
with me because of the loss of my bow, for we did obtain no
food.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that we did return without food
to our families, and being much fatigued, because of their
journeying, they did suffer much for the want of food.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel and the
sons of Ishmael did begin to murmur exceedingly, because of their
sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness; and also my father
began to murmur against the Lord his God; yea, and they were all
exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did murmur against the
Lord.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 21
21 Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, having been
afflicted with my brethren because of the loss of my bow, and their
bows having lost their springs, it began to be exceedingly
difficult, yea, insomuch that we could obtain no food.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did speak much
unto my brethren, because they had hardened their hearts again,
even unto complaining against the Lord their God.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make out of
wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore, I did
arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones.
And I said unto my father: Whither shall I go to obtain food?
1 Nephi 16:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that he did inquire of the Lord,
for they had humbled themselves because of my words; for I did say
many things unto them in the energy of my soul.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came
unto my father; and he was truly chastened because of his murmuring
against the Lord, insomuch that he was brought down into the depths
of sorrow.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said
unto him: Look upon the ball, and behold the things which are
written.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that when my father beheld the
things which were written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble
exceedingly, and also my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our
wives.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the
pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to
the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 29
29 And there was also written upon them a new writing,
which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding
concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed
from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we
gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can
bring about great things.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up
into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which
were given upon the ball.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 31
31 And it came to pass that I did slay wild beasts,
insomuch that I did obtain food for our families.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that I did return to our tents,
bearing the beasts which I had slain; and now when they beheld that
I had obtained food, how great was their joy! And it came to pass
that they did humble themselves before the Lord, and did give
thanks unto him.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that we did again take our
journey, traveling nearly the same course as in the beginning; and
after we had traveled for the space of many days we did pitch our
tents again, that we might tarry for the space of a time.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 34
34 And it came to pass that Ishmael died, and was
buried in the place which was called Nahom.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that the daughters of Ishmael
did mourn exceedingly, because of the loss of their father, and
because of their afflictions in the wilderness; and they did murmur
against my father, because he had brought them out of the land of
Jerusalem, saying: Our father is dead; yea, and we have wandered
much in the wilderness, and we have suffered much affliction,
hunger, thirst, and fatigue; and after all these sufferings we must
perish in the wilderness with hunger.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 36
36 And thus they did murmur against my father, and also
against me; and they were desirous to return again to
Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 37
37 And Laman said unto Lemuel and also unto the sons of
Ishmael: Behold, let us slay our father, and also our brother
Nephi, who has taken it upon him to be our ruler and our teacher,
who are his elder brethren.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 38
38 Now, he says that the Lord has talked with him, and
also that angels have ministered unto him. But behold, we know that
he lies unto us; and he tells us these things, and he worketh many
things by his cunning arts, that he may deceive our eyes, thinking,
perhaps, that he may lead us away into some strange wilderness; and
after he has led us away, he has thought to make himself a king and
a ruler over us, that he may do with us according to his will and
pleasure. And after this manner did my brother Laman stir up their
hearts to anger.
1 Nephi 16:Verse 39
39 And it came to pass that the Lord was with us, yea,
even the voice of the Lord came and did speak many words unto them,
and did chasten them exceedingly; and after they were chastened by
the voice of the Lord they did turn away their anger, and did
repent of their sins, insomuch that the Lord did bless us again
with food, that we did not perish.
Chapter 17
1 Nephi 17:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that we did again take our
journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward from
that time forth. And we did travel and wade through much affliction
in the wilderness; and our women did bear children in the
wilderness.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 2
2 And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us,
that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women
did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea,
even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings
without murmurings.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 3
3 And thus we see that the commandments of God must be
fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the
commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and
provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has
commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did
sojourn in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 4
4 And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea,
even eight years in the wilderness.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 5
5 And we did come to the land which we called
Bountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey; and all
these things were prepared of the Lord that we might not perish.
And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being
interpreted, is many waters.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that we did pitch our tents by
the seashore; and notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions
and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them
all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the seashore; and
we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in
the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the
Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain.
And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and
cried unto the Lord.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me,
saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall
show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 9
9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find
ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after
the manner which thou hast shown unto me?
1 Nephi 17:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I
should go to find ore, that I might make tools.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make a
bellows wherewith to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and
after I had made a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the
fire, I did smite two stones together that I might make fire.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 12
12 For the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we
should make much fire, as we journeyed in the wilderness; for he
said: I will make thy food become sweet, that ye cook it not;
1 Nephi 17:Verse 13
13 And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and
I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep
my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my
commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye
shall know that it is by me that ye are led.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 14
14 Yea, and the Lord said also that: After ye have
arrived in the promised land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am
God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver you from destruction; yea,
that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 15
15 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did strive to keep the
commandments of the Lord, and I did exhort my brethren to
faithfulness and diligence.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that I did make tools of the ore
which I did molten out of the rock.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 17
17 And when my brethren saw that I was about to build a
ship, they began to murmur against me, saying: Our brother is a
fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also
thinketh that he can cross these great waters.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 18
18 And thus my brethren did complain against me, and
were desirous that they might not labor, for they did not believe
that I could build a ship; neither would they believe that I was
instructed of the Lord.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 19
19 And now it came to pass that I, Nephi, was
exceedingly sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts; and
now when they saw that I began to be sorrowful they were glad in
their hearts, insomuch that they did rejoice over me, saying: We
knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye were
lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great
a work.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 20
20 And thou art like unto our father, led away by the
foolish imaginations of his heart; yea, he hath led us out of the
land of Jerusalem, and we have wandered in the wilderness for these
many years; and our women have toiled, being big with child; and
they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things,
save it were death; and it would have been better that they had
died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these
afflictions.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 21
21 Behold, these many years we have suffered in the
wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and
the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been
happy.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 22
22 And we know that the people who were in the land of
Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and
judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the
law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people;
and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we
would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto
him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and
complain against us.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake unto them,
saying: Do ye believe that our fathers, who were the children of
Israel, would have been led away out of the hands of the Egyptians
if they had not hearkened unto the words of the Lord?
1 Nephi 17:Verse 24
24 Yea, do ye suppose that they would have been led out
of bondage, if the Lord had not commanded Moses that he should lead
them out of bondage?
1 Nephi 17:Verse 25
25 Now ye know that the children of Israel were in
bondage; and ye know that they were laden with tasks, which were
grievous to be borne; wherefore, ye know that it must needs be a
good thing for them, that they should be brought out of
bondage.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 26
26 Now ye know that Moses was commanded of the Lord to
do that great work; and ye know that by his word the waters of the
Red Sea were divided hither and thither, and they passed through on
dry ground.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 27
27 But ye know that the Egyptians were drowned in the
Red Sea, who were the armies of Pharaoh.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 28
28 And ye also know that they were fed with manna in
the wilderness.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 29
29 Yea, and ye also know that Moses, by his word
according to the power of God which was in him, smote the rock, and
there came forth water, that the children of Israel might quench
their thirst.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 30
30 And notwithstanding they being led, the Lord their
God, their Redeemer, going before them, leading them by day and
giving light unto them by night, and doing all things for them
which were expedient for man to receive, they hardened their hearts
and blinded their minds, and reviled against Moses and against the
true and living God.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 31
31 And it came to pass that according to his word he
did destroy them; and according to his word he did lead them; and
according to his word he did do all things for them; and there was
not any thing done save it were by his word.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 32
32 And after they had crossed the river Jordan he did
make them mighty unto the driving out of the children of the land,
yea, unto the scattering them to destruction.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 33
33 And now, do ye suppose that the children of this
land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our
fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto
you, Nay.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 34
34 Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more
choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you,
Nay.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 35
35 Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that
is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had
rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the
fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse
the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did
curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it
unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 36
36 Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it
should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they
should possess it.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 37
37 And he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth
the nations of the wicked.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 38
38 And he leadeth away the righteous into precious
lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them
for their sakes.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 39
39 He ruleth high in the heavens, for it is his throne,
and this earth is his footstool.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 40
40 And he loveth those who will have him to be their
God. Behold, he loved our fathers, and he covenanted with them,
yea, even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and he remembered the
covenants which he had made; wherefore, he did bring them out of
the land of Egypt.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 41
41 And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his
rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord
straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying
serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way
that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform
was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the
easiness of it, there were many who perished.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 42
42 And they did harden their hearts from time to time,
and they did revile against Moses, and also against God;
nevertheless, ye know that they were led forth by his matchless
power into the land of promise.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 43
43 And now, after all these things, the time has come
that they have become wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I know
not but they are at this day about to be destroyed; for I know that
the day must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few
only, who shall be led away into captivity.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 44
44 Wherefore, the Lord commanded my father that he
should depart into the wilderness; and the Jews also sought to take
away his life; yea, and ye also have sought to take away his life;
wherefore, ye are murderers in your hearts and ye are like unto
them.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 45
45 Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the
Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea,
ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto
you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could
not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the
voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were
to divide asunder.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 46
46 And ye also know that by the power of his almighty
word he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye
know that by his word he can cause the rough places to be made
smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O, then, why is it,
that ye can be so hard in your hearts?
1 Nephi 17:Verse 47
47 Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you,
and my heart is pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever.
Behold, I am full of the Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has
no strength.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 48
48 And now it came to pass that when I had spoken these
words they were angry with me, and were desirous to throw me into
the depths of the sea; and as they came forth to lay their hands
upon me I spake unto them, saying: In the name of the Almighty God,
I command you that ye touch me not, for I am filled with the power
of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay
his hands upon me shall wither even as a dried reed; and he shall
be as naught before the power of God, for God shall smite
him.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 49
49 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto them
that they should murmur no more against their father; neither
should they withhold their labor from me, for God had commanded me
that I should build a ship.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 50
50 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do
all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should
say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I
should say it, it would be done.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 51
51 And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has
wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that
he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?
1 Nephi 17:Verse 52
52 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said many things
unto my brethren, insomuch that they were confounded and could not
contend against me; neither durst they lay their hands upon me nor
touch me with their fingers, even for the space of many days. Now
they durst not do this lest they should wither before me, so
powerful was the Spirit of God; and thus it had wrought upon
them.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 53
53 And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me:
Stretch forth thine hand again unto thy brethren, and they shall
not wither before thee, but I will shock them, saith the Lord, and
this will I do, that they may know that I am the Lord their
God.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 54
54 And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand
unto my brethren, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord
did shake them, even according to the word which he had
spoken.
1 Nephi 17:Verse 55
55 And now, they said: We know of a surety that the
Lord is with thee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord
that has shaken us. And they fell down before me, and were about to
worship me, but I would not suffer them, saying: I am thy brother,
yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord thy God,
and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in
the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee.
Chapter 18
1 Nephi 18:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that they did worship the Lord,
and did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious
workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what
manner I should work the timbers of the ship.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 2
2 Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the
manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after
the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the
Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of
men.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 3
3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did
pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great
things.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that after I had finished the
ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it
was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine;
wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came
unto my father, that we should arise and go down into the
ship.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had
prepared all things, much fruits and meat from the wilderness, and
honey in abundance, and provisions according to that which the Lord
had commanded us, we did go down into the ship, with all our
loading and our seeds, and whatsoever thing we had brought with us,
every one according to his age; wherefore, we did all go down into
the ship, with our wives and our children.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 7
7 And now, my father had begat two sons in the
wilderness; the elder was called Jacob and the younger
Joseph.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass after we had all gone down into
the ship, and had taken with us our provisions and things which had
been commanded us, we did put forth into the sea and were driven
forth before the wind towards the promised land.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 9
9 And after we had been driven forth before the wind
for the space of many days, behold, my brethren and the sons of
Ishmael and also their wives began to make themselves merry,
insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with
much rudeness, yea, even that they did forget by what power they
had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding
rudeness.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 10
10 And I, Nephi, began to fear exceedingly lest the
Lord should be angry with us, and smite us because of our iniquity,
that we should be swallowed up in the depths of the sea; wherefore,
I, Nephi, began to speak to them with much soberness; but behold
they were angry with me, saying: We will not that our younger
brother shall be a ruler over us.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take
me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much
harshness; nevertheless, the Lord did suffer it that he might show
forth his power, unto the fulfilling of his word which he had
spoken concerning the wicked.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that after they had bound me
insomuch that I could not move, the compass, which had been
prepared of the Lord, did cease to work.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 13
13 Wherefore, they knew not whither they should steer
the ship, insomuch that there arose a great storm, yea, a great and
terrible tempest, and we were driven back upon the waters for the
space of three days; and they began to be frightened exceedingly
lest they should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless they did not
loose me.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 14
14 And on the fourth day, which we had been driven
back, the tempest began to be exceedingly sore.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that we were about to be
swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven
back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began
to see that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must
perish save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore,
they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists,
and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were
much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 16
16 Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did
praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord
because of mine afflictions.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 17
17 Now my father, Lehi, had said many things unto them,
and also unto the sons of Ishmael; but, behold, they did breathe
out much threatenings against anyone that should speak for me; and
my parents being stricken in years, and having suffered much grief
because of their children, they were brought down, yea, even upon
their sick-beds.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 18
18 Because of their grief and much sorrow, and the
iniquity of my brethren, they were brought near even to be carried
out of this time to meet their God; yea, their grey hairs were
about to be brought down to lie low in the dust; yea, even they
were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 19
19 And Jacob and Joseph also, being young, having need
of much nourishment, were grieved because of the afflictions of
their mother; and also my wife with her tears and prayers, and also
my children, did not soften the hearts of my brethren that they
would loose me.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 20
20 And there was nothing save it were the power of God,
which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts;
wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in
the depths of the sea they repented of the thing which they had
done, insomuch that they loosed me.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass after they had loosed me,
behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it.
And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had
prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was
a great calm.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the
ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the
space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went
forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it
the promised land.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that we did begin to till the
earth, and we began to plant seeds; yea, we did put all our seeds
into the earth, which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem.
And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we
were blessed in abundance.
1 Nephi 18:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that we did find upon the land
of promise, as we journeyed in the wilderness, that there were
beasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow and the ox, and
the ass and the horse, and the goat and the wild goat, and all
manner of wild animals, which were for the use of men. And we did
find all manner of ore, both of gold, and of silver, and of
copper.
Chapter 19
1 Nephi 19:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that the Lord commanded me,
wherefore I did make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them
the record of my people. And upon the plates which I made I did
engraven the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the
wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and also many of mine
own prophecies have I engraven upon them.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 2
2 And I knew not at the time when I made them that I
should be commanded of the Lord to make these plates; wherefore,
the record of my father, and the genealogy of his fathers, and the
more part of all our proceedings in the wilderness are engraven
upon those first plates of which I have spoken; wherefore, the
things which transpired before I made these plates are, of a truth,
more particularly made mention upon the first plates.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 3
3 And after I had made these plates by way of
commandment, I, Nephi, received a commandment that the ministry and
the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should
be written upon these plates; and that the things which were
written should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should
possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes
are known unto the Lord.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 4
4 Wherefore, I, Nephi, did make a record upon the other
plates, which gives an account, or which gives a greater account of
the wars and contentions and destructions of my people. And this
have I done, and commanded my people what they should do after I
was gone; and that these plates should be handed down from one
generation to another, or from one prophet to another, until
further commandments of the Lord.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 5
5 And an account of my making these plates shall be
given hereafter; and then, behold, I proceed according to that
which I have spoken; and this I do that the more sacred things may
be kept for the knowledge of my people.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 6
6 Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates
save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even
did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of
other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to
the flesh, I would excuse myself.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 7
7 For the things which some men esteem to be of great
worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample
under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample
under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak
in other words--they set him at naught, and hearken not to the
voice of his counsels.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 8
8 And behold he cometh, according to the words of the
angel, in six hundred years from the time my father left
Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 9
9 And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge
him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he
suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they
spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness
and his long-suffering towards the children of men.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 10
10 And the God of our fathers, who were led out of
Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by
him, yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man,
into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the
words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of
Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of
Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which
should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit
the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of
the house of Israel.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 11
11 For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely
shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his
voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and
salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of
his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of
darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which
shall be carried up.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 12
12 And all these things must surely come, saith the
prophet Zenos. And the rocks of the earth must rend; and because of
the groanings of the earth, many of the kings of the isles of the
sea shall be wrought upon by the Spirit of God, to exclaim: The God
of nature suffers.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 13
13 And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the
prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify
the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and
wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 14
14 And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the
prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall
wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword,
and be hated among all nations.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 15
15 Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the
prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy
One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to
their fathers.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 16
16 Yea, then will he remember the isles of the sea;
yea, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I
gather in, saith the Lord, according to the words of the prophet
Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 17
17 Yea, and all the earth shall see the salvation of
the Lord, saith the prophet; every nation, kindred, tongue and
people shall be blessed.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 18
18 And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my
people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember
the Lord their Redeemer.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 19
19 Wherefore, I speak unto all the house of Israel, if
it so be that they should obtain these things.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 20
20 For behold, I have workings in the spirit, which
doth weary me even that all my joints are weak, for those who are
at Jerusalem; for had not the Lord been merciful, to show unto me
concerning them, even as he had prophets of old, I should have
perished also.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 21
21 And he surely did show unto the prophets of old all
things concerning them; and also he did show unto many concerning
us; wherefore, it must needs be that we know concerning them for
they are written upon the plates of brass.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 22
22 Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my
brethren these things; and it came to pass that I did read many
things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that
they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands,
among people of old.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 23
23 And I did read many things unto them which were
written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade
them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them
that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all
scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and
learning.
1 Nephi 19:Verse 24
24 Wherefore I spake unto them, saying: Hear ye the
words of the prophet, ye who are a remnant of the house of Israel,
a branch who have been broken off; hear ye the words of the
prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken
them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your
brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner
has the prophet written.
Chapter 20
1 Nephi 20:Verse 1
1 HEARKEN and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are
called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters
of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of
the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, yet they swear not
in truth nor in righteousness.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 2
2 Nevertheless, they call themselves of the holy city,
but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel, who is the
Lord of Hosts; yea, the Lord of Hosts is his name.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 3
3 Behold, I have declared the former things from the
beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them.
I did show them suddenly.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 4
4 And I did it because I knew that thou art obstinate,
and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
1 Nephi 20:Verse 5
5 And I have even from the beginning declared to thee;
before it came to pass I showed them thee; and I showed them for
fear lest thou shouldst say--Mine idol hath done them, and my
graven image, and my molten image hath commanded them.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 6
6 Thou hast seen and heard all this; and will ye not
declare them? And that I have showed thee new things from this
time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 7
7 They are created now, and not from the beginning,
even before the day when thou heardest them not they were declared
unto thee, lest thou shouldst say--Behold I knew them.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 8
8 Yea, and thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not;
yea, from that time thine ear was not opened; for I knew that thou
wouldst deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor
from the womb.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 9
9 Nevertheless, for my name's sake will I defer mine
anger, and for my praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee
not off.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 10
10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee
in the furnace of affliction.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 11
11 For mine own sake, yea, for mine own sake will I do
this, for I will not suffer my name to be polluted, and I will not
give my glory unto another.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 12
12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called, for
I am he; I am the first, and I am also the last.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 13
13 Mine hand hath also laid the foundation of the
earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens. I call unto them
and they stand up together.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 14
14 All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; who among
them hath declared these things unto them? The Lord hath loved him;
yea, and he will fulfil his word which he hath declared by them;
and he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall come upon
the Chaldeans.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 15
15 Also, saith the Lord; I the Lord, yea, I have
spoken; yea, I have called him to declare, I have brought him, and
he shall make his way prosperous.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 16
16 Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken in secret;
from the beginning, from the time that it was declared have I
spoken; and the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 17
17 And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One
of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to
profit, who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done
it.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 18
18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments--then
had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves
of the sea.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 19
19 Thy seed also had been as the sand; the offspring of
thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been
cut off nor destroyed from before me.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 20
20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans,
with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter to the end of
the earth; say ye: The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 21
21 And they thirsted not; he led them through the
deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he
clave the rock also and the waters gushed out.
1 Nephi 20:Verse 22
22 And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and
greater also, there is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the
wicked.
Chapter 21
1 Nephi 21:Verse 1
1 AND again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that
are broken off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the
pastors of my people; yea, all ye that are broken off, that are
scattered abroad, who are of my people, O house of Israel. Listen,
O isles, unto me, and hearken ye people from far; the Lord hath
called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made
mention of my name.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 2
2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the
shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in
his quiver hath he hid me;
1 Nephi 21:Verse 3
3 And said unto me: Thou art my servant, O Israel, in
whom I will be glorified.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 4
4 Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my
strength for naught and in vain; surely my judgment is with the
Lord, and my work with my God.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 5
5 And now, saith the Lord--that formed me from the womb
that I should be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him--though
Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the
Lord, and my God shall be my strength.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 6
6 And he said: It is a light thing that thou shouldst
be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the
preserved of Israel. I will also give thee for a light to the
Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the
earth.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 7
7 Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy
One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nations abhorreth,
to servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall
worship, because of the Lord that is faithful.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 8
8 Thus saith the Lord: In an acceptable time have I
heard thee, O isles of the sea, and in a day of salvation have I
helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee my servant for
a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to
inherit the desolate heritages;
1 Nephi 21:Verse 9
9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners: Go forth; to
them that sit in darkness: Show yourselves. They shall feed in the
ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 10
10 They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the
heat nor the sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall
lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 11
11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my
highways shall be exalted.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 12
12 And then, O house of Israel, behold, these shall
come from far; and lo, these from the north and from the west; and
these from the land of Sinim.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 13
13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the
feet of those who are in the east shall be established; and break
forth into singing, O mountains; for they shall be smitten no more;
for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon
his afflicted.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 14
14 But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken
me, and my Lord hath forgotten me--but he will show that he hath
not.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 15
15 For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she
should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may
forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 16
16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my
hands; thy walls are continually before me.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 17
17 Thy children shall make haste against thy
destroyers; and they that made thee waste shall go forth of
thee.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 18
18 Lift up thine eyes round about and behold; all these
gather themselves together, and they shall come to thee. And as I
live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all,
as with an ornament, and bind them on even as a bride.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 19
19 For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land
of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the
inhabitants; and they that swallowed thee up shall be far
away.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 20
20 The children whom thou shalt have, after thou hast
lost the first, shall again in thine ears say: The place is too
strait for me; give place to me that I may dwell.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 21
21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart: Who hath
begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate,
a captive, and removing to and fro? And who hath brought up these?
Behold, I was left alone; these, where have they been?
1 Nephi 21:Verse 22
22 Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will lift up mine
hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and
they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be
carried upon their shoulders.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 23
23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their
queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their
face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou
shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that
wait for me.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 24
24 For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the
lawful captives delivered?
1 Nephi 21:Verse 25
25 But thus saith the Lord, even the captives of the
mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be
delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee,
and I will save thy children.
1 Nephi 21:Verse 26
26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their
own flesh; they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet
wine; and all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am thy Savior and
thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Chapter 22
1 Nephi 22:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had read
these things which were engraven upon the plates of brass, my
brethren came unto me and said unto me: What meaneth these things
which ye have read? Behold, are they to be understood according to
things which are spiritual, which shall come to pass according to
the spirit and not the flesh?
1 Nephi 22:Verse 2
2 And I, Nephi, said unto them: Behold they were
manifest unto the prophet by the voice of the Spirit; for by the
Spirit are all things made known unto the prophets, which shall
come upon the children of men according to the flesh.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 3
3 Wherefore, the things of which I have read are things
pertaining to things both temporal and spiritual; for it appears
that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon
all the face of the earth, and also among all nations.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 4
4 And behold, there are many who are already lost from
the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of
all the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and
fro upon the isles of the sea; and whither they are none of us
knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 5
5 And since they have been led away, these things have
been prophesied concerning them, and also concerning all those who
shall hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy
One of Israel; for against him will they harden their hearts;
wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be
hated of all men.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 6
6 Nevertheless, after they shall be nursed by the
Gentiles, and the Lord has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and
set them up for a standard, and their children have been carried in
their arms, and their daughters have been carried upon their
shoulders, behold these things of which are spoken are temporal;
for thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers; and it
meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are
of the house of Israel.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 7
7 And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all
the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the
Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea,
even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be
scattered.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 8
8 And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will
proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be
of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their
being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and
upon their shoulders.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 9
9 And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles; and
not only unto the Gentiles but unto all the house of Israel, unto
the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto
Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be
blessed.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 10
10 And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that
all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall
make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 11
11 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare
his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his
covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of
Israel.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 12
12 Wherefore, he will bring them again out of
captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of
their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and
out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior
and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 13
13 And the blood of that great and abominable church,
which is the whore of all the earth, shall turn upon their own
heads; for they shall war among themselves, and the sword of their
own hands shall fall upon their own heads, and they shall be
drunken with their own blood.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 14
14 And every nation which shall war against thee, O
house of Israel, shall be turned one against another, and they
shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of
the Lord. And all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed, and
that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord,
yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the dust and
great shall be the fall of it.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 15
15 For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh
speedily that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the
children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud and
they who do wickedly shall be as stubble; and the day cometh that
they must be burned.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 16
16 For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the
wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for
he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the
righteous.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 17
17 Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his
power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come,
and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their
enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus
saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by
fire.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 18
18 Behold, my brethren, I say unto you, that these
things must shortly come; yea, even blood, and fire, and vapor of
smoke must come; and it must needs be upon the face of this earth;
and it cometh unto men according to the flesh if it so be that they
will harden their hearts against the Holy One of Israel.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 19
19 For behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the
time surely must come that all they who fight against Zion shall be
cut off.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 20
20 And the Lord will surely prepare a way for his
people, unto the fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spake,
saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like
unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say
unto you. And it shall come to pass that all those who will not
hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 21
21 And now I, Nephi, declare unto you, that this
prophet of whom Moses spake was the Holy One of Israel; wherefore,
he shall execute judgment in righteousness.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 22
22 And the righteous need not fear, for they are those
who shall not be confounded. But it is the kingdom of the devil,
which shall be built up among the children of men, which kingdom is
established among them which are in the flesh--
1 Nephi 22:Verse 23
23 For the time speedily shall come that all churches
which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to
get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become
popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of
the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of
iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the
devil are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are
those who must be brought low in the dust; they are those who must
be consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the
prophet.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 24
24 And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must
be led up as calves of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must
reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great glory.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 25
25 And he gathereth his children from the four quarters
of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and
there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his
sheep, and in him they shall find pasture.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 26
26 And because of the righteousness of his people,
Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of
many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for
they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel
reigneth.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 27
27 And now behold, I, Nephi, say unto you that all
these things must come according to the flesh.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 28
28 But, behold, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and
people shall dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel if it so be
that they will repent.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 29
29 And now I, Nephi, make an end; for I durst not speak
further as yet concerning these things.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 30
30 Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should
consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of
brass are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the
commandments of God.
1 Nephi 22:Verse 31
31 Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father
are the only ones that have testified, and also taught them.
Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure
to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is.
Amen.
2 Nephi
THE SECOND BOOK OF NEPHI
An account of the death of Lehi. Nephi's
brethren rebel against him. The Lord warns Nephi to depart into the
wilderness. His journeyings in the wilderness, and so forth.
Chapter 1
2 Nephi 1:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made
an end of teaching my brethren, our father, Lehi, also spake many
things unto them, and rehearsed unto them, how great things the
Lord had done for them in bringing them out of the land of
Jerusalem.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 2
2 And he spake unto them concerning their rebellions
upon the waters, and the mercies of God in sparing their lives,
that they were not swallowed up in the sea.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 3
3 And he also spake unto them concerning the land of
promise, which they had obtained--how merciful the Lord had been in
warning us that we should flee out of the land of Jerusalem.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 4
4 For, behold, said he, I have seen a vision, in which
I know that Jerusalem is destroyed; and had we remained in
Jerusalem we should also have perished.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 5
5 But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we
have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all
other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me
should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath
covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also
all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of
the Lord.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 6
6 Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the
workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come
into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the
Lord.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 7
7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he
shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to
the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty
unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into
captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity
shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the
righteous it shall be blessed forever.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 8
8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be
kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many
nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an
inheritance.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 9
9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that
inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of
Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the
face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations,
that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be
that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon
the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor
to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell
safely forever.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 10
10 But behold, when the time cometh that they shall
dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings
from the hand of the Lord--having a knowledge of the creation of
the earth, and all men, knowing the great and marvelous works of
the Lord from the creation of the world; having power given them to
do all things by faith; having all the commandments from the
beginning, and having been brought by his infinite goodness into
this precious land of promise--behold, I say, if the day shall come
that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah,
their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is
just shall rest upon them.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 11
11 Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he
will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the
lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered
and smitten.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 12
12 Yea, as one generation passeth to another there
shall be bloodsheds, and great visitations among them; wherefore,
my sons, I would that ye would remember; yea, I would that ye would
hearken unto my words.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 13
13 O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea,
even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by
which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of
men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of
misery and woe.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 14
14 Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words
of a trembling parent, whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the
cold and silent grave, from whence no traveler can return; a few
more days and I go the way of all the earth.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 15
15 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from
hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally
in the arms of his love.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 16
16 And I desire that ye should remember to observe the
statutes and the judgments of the Lord; behold, this hath been the
anxiety of my soul from the beginning.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 17
17 My heart hath been weighed down with sorrow from
time to time, for I have feared, lest for the hardness of your
hearts the Lord your God should come out in the fulness of his
wrath upon you, that ye be cut off and destroyed forever;
2 Nephi 1:Verse 18
18 Or, that a cursing should come upon you for the
space of many generations; and ye are visited by sword, and by
famine, and are hated, and are led according to the will and
captivity of the devil.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 19
19 O my sons, that these things might not come upon
you, but that ye might be a choice and a favored people of the
Lord. But behold, his will be done; for his ways are righteousness
forever.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 20
20 And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my
commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will
not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my
presence.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 21
21 And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that
my heart might leave this world with gladness because of you, that
I might not be brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave,
arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one
mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come
down into captivity;
2 Nephi 1:Verse 22
22 That ye may not be cursed with a sore cursing; and
also, that ye may not incur the displeasure of a just God upon you,
unto the destruction, yea, the eternal destruction of both soul and
body.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 23
23 Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness.
Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of
obscurity, and arise from the dust.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 24
24 Rebel no more against your brother, whose views have
been glorious, and who hath kept the commandments from the time
that we left Jerusalem; and who hath been an instrument in the
hands of God, in bringing us forth into the land of promise; for
were it not for him, we must have perished with hunger in the
wilderness; nevertheless, ye sought to take away his life; yea, and
he hath suffered much sorrow because of you.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 25
25 And I exceedingly fear and tremble because of you,
lest he shall suffer again; for behold, ye have accused him that he
sought power and authority over you; 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.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 26
26 And ye have murmured because he hath been plain unto
you. Ye say that he hath used sharpness; ye say that he hath been
angry with you; but behold, his sharpness was the sharpness of the
power of the word of God, which was in him; and that which ye call
anger was the truth, according to that which is in God, which he
could not restrain, manifesting boldly concerning your
iniquities.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 27
27 And it must needs be that the power of God must be
with him, even unto his commanding you that ye must obey. But
behold, it was not he, but it was the Spirit of the Lord which was
in him, which opened his mouth to utterance that he could not shut
it.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 28
28 And now my son, Laman, and also Lemuel and Sam, and
also my sons who are the sons of Ishmael, behold, if ye will
hearken unto the voice of Nephi ye shall not perish. And if ye will
hearken unto him I leave unto you a blessing, yea, even my first
blessing.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 29
29 But if ye will not hearken unto him I take away my
first blessing, yea, even my blessing, and it shall rest upon
him.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 30
30 And now, Zoram, I speak unto you: Behold, thou art
the servant of Laban; nevertheless, thou hast been brought out of
the land of Jerusalem, and I know that thou art a true friend unto
my son, Nephi, forever.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 31
31 Wherefore, because thou hast been faithful thy seed
shall be blessed with his seed, that they dwell in prosperity long
upon the face of this land; and nothing, save it shall be iniquity
among them, shall harm or disturb their prosperity upon the face of
this land forever.
2 Nephi 1:Verse 32
32 Wherefore, if ye shall keep the commandments of the
Lord, the Lord hath consecrated this land for the security of thy
seed with the seed of my son
Chapter 2
2 Nephi 2:Verse 1
1 AND now, Jacob, I speak unto you: Thou art my
first-born in the days of my tribulation in the wilderness. And
behold, in thy childhood thou hast suffered afflictions and much
sorrow, because of the rudeness of thy brethren.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 2
2 Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness,
thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine
afflictions for thy gain.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 3
3 Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt
dwell safely with thy brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent
in the service of thy God. Wherefore, I know that thou art
redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou
hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring
salvation unto men.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 4
4 And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory;
wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall
minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday,
today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man,
and salvation is free.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 5
5 And men are instructed sufficiently that they know
good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no
flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the
temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they
perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 6
6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy
Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 7
7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to
answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart
and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law
be answered.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 8
8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these
things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know
that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save
it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah,
who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it
again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the
resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 9
9 Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch
as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they
that believe in him shall be saved.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 10
10 And because of the intercession for all, all men
come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be
judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him.
Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto
the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment
that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is
affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement--
2 Nephi 2:Verse 11
11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in
all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness,
righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness,
neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all
things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be
one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither
death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery,
neither sense nor insensibility.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 12
12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a
thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the
end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the
wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the
mercy, and the justice of God.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 13
13 And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also
say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also
say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness
there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor
happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things
are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither
the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither
to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have
vanished away.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 14
14 And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for
your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created
all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in
them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 15
15 And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end
of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of
the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which
are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even
the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one
being sweet and the other bitter.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 16
16 Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should
act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it
should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 17
17 And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have
read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that
which is written, had fallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a
devil, having sought that which was evil before God.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 18
18 And because he had fallen from heaven, and had
become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind.
Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea, even that old serpent, who is the
devil, who is the father of all lies, wherefore he said: Partake of
the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye shall be as God,
knowing good and evil.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 19
19 And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden
fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the
earth.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 20
20 And they have brought forth children; yea, even the
family of all the earth.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 21
21 And the days of the children of men were prolonged,
according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the
flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and
their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the
Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment
that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were
lost, because of the transgression of their parents.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 22
22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he
would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of
Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the
same state in which they were after they were created; and they
must have remained forever, and had no end.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 23
23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they
would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for
they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 24
24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom
of him who knoweth all things.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 25
25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they
might have joy.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 26
26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that
he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that
they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever,
knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted
upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last
day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 27
27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and
all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they
are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great
Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to
the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men
might be miserable like unto himself.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 28
28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the
great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be
faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the
will of his Holy Spirit;
2 Nephi 2:Verse 29
29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will
of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit
of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he
may reign over you in his own kingdom.
2 Nephi 2:Verse 30
30 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons,
in the last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part,
according to the words of the prophet. And I have none other object
save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls. Amen.
Chapter 3
2 Nephi 3:Verse 1
1 AND now I speak unto you, Joseph, my last-born. Thou
wast born in the wilderness of mine afflictions; yea, in the days
of my greatest sorrow did thy mother bear thee.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 2
2 And may the Lord consecrate also unto thee this land,
which is a most precious land, for thine inheritance and the
inheritance of thy seed with thy brethren, for thy security
forever, if it so be that ye shall keep the commandments of the
Holy One of Israel.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 3
3 And now, Joseph, my last-born, whom I have brought
out of the wilderness of mine afflictions, may the Lord bless thee
forever, for thy seed shall not utterly be destroyed.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 4
4 For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am
a descendant of Joseph who was carried captive into Egypt. And
great were the covenants of the Lord which he made unto
Joseph.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 5
5 Wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. And he obtained
a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord
God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel; not
the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off, nevertheless,
to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that the Messiah
should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit
of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto
light--yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto
freedom.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 6
6 For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the
Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of
my loins.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 7
7 Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me:
A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he
shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him
will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of
thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them,
even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants
which I have made with thy fathers.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 8
8 And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall
do none other work, save the work which I shall command him. And I
will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 9
9 And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have
said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of
Israel.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 10
10 And Moses will I raise up, to deliver thy people out
of the land of Egypt.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 11
11 But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy
loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto
the seed of thy loins--and not to the bringing forth my word only,
saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall
have already gone forth among them.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 12
12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and
the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall
be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be
written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together,
unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of
contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins,
and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter
days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the
Lord.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 13
13 And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that
day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the
restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 14
14 And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that
seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall
be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord,
of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of
the fulfilling of this promise;
2 Nephi 3:Verse 15
15 And his name shall be called after me; and it shall
be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for
the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the
power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 16
16 Yea, thus prophesied Joseph: I am sure of this
thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses; for the Lord hath
said unto me, I will preserve thy seed forever.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 17
17 And the Lord hath said: I will raise up a Moses; and
I will give power unto him in a rod; and I will give judgment unto
him in writing. Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall
speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But I will
write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and I will
make a spokesman for him.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 18
18 And the Lord said unto me also: I will raise up unto
the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I,
behold, I will give unto him that he shall write the writing of the
fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman
of thy loins shall declare it.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 19
19 And the words which he shall write shall be the
words which are expedient in my wisdom should go forth unto the
fruit of thy loins. And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins
had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their faith.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 20
20 And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even
repentance unto their brethren, even after many generations have
gone by them. And it shall come to pass that their cry shall go,
even according to the simpleness of their words.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 21
21 Because of their faith their words shall proceed
forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy
loins; and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their
faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy
fathers.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 22
22 And now, behold, my son Joseph, after this manner
did my father of old prophesy.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 23
23 Wherefore, because of this covenant thou art
blessed; for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall
hearken unto the words of the book.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 24
24 And there shall rise up one mighty among them, who
shall do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument
in the hands of God, with exceeding faith, to work mighty wonders,
and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the
bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel, and
unto the seed of thy brethren.
2 Nephi 3:Verse 25
25 And now, blessed art thou, Joseph. Behold, thou art
little; wherefore hearken unto the words of thy brother, Nephi, and
it shall be done unto thee even according to the words which I have
spoken. Remember the words of thy dying father. Amen.
Chapter 4
2 Nephi 4:Verse 1
1 AND now, I, Nephi, speak concerning the prophecies of
which my father hath spoken, concerning Joseph, who was carried
into Egypt.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 2
2 For behold, he truly prophesied concerning all his
seed. And the prophecies which he wrote, there are not many
greater. And he prophesied concerning us, and our future
generations; and they are written upon the plates of brass.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 3
3 Wherefore, after my father had made an end of
speaking concerning the prophecies of Joseph, he called the
children of Laman, his sons, and his daughters, and said unto them:
Behold, my sons, and my daughters, who are the sons and the
daughters of my first-born, I would that ye should give ear unto my
words.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 4
4 For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall
keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as
ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my
presence.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 5
5 But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go
down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you; for
behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye
will not depart from it.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 6
6 Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my
blessing upon you, that the cursing may be taken from you and be
answered upon the heads of your parents.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 7
7 Wherefore, because of my blessing the Lord God will
not suffer that ye shall perish; wherefore, he will be merciful
unto you and unto your seed forever.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that after my father had made an
end of speaking to the sons and daughters of Laman, he caused the
sons and daughters of Lemuel to be brought before him.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 9
9 And he spake unto them, saying: Behold, my sons and
my daughters, who are the sons and the daughters of my second son;
behold I leave unto you the same blessing which I left unto the
sons and daughters of Laman; wherefore, thou shalt not utterly be
destroyed; but in the end thy seed shall be blessed.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that when my father had made an
end of speaking unto them, behold, he spake unto the sons of
Ishmael, yea, and even all his household.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 11
11 And after he had made an end of speaking unto them,
he spake unto Sam, saying: Blessed art thou, and thy seed; for thou
shalt inherit the land like unto thy brother Nephi. And thy seed
shall be numbered with his seed; and thou shalt be even like unto
thy brother, and thy seed like unto his seed; and thou shalt be
blessed in all thy days.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass after my father, Lehi, had
spoken unto all his household, according to the feelings of his
heart and the Spirit of the Lord which was in him, he waxed old.
And it came to pass that he died, and was buried.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that not many days after his
death, Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael were angry with me
because of the admonitions of the Lord.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 14
14 For I, Nephi, was constrained to speak unto them,
according to his word; for I had spoken many things unto them, and
also my father, before his death; many of which sayings are written
upon mine other plates; for a more history part are written upon
mine other plates.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 15
15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and
many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass.
For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth
them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my
children.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 16
16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the
Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I
have seen and heard.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 17
17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of
the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart
exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth
because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine
iniquities.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 18
18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations
and the sins which do so easily beset me.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 19
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth
because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have
trusted.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 20
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through
mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon
the waters of the great deep.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 21
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the
consuming of my flesh.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 22
22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of
them to quake before me.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 23
23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath
given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 24
24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before
him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and
ministered unto me.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 25
25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been
carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have
beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was
bidden that I should not write them.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 26
26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord
in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in
so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the
valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken,
because of mine afflictions?
2 Nephi 4:Verse 27
27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh?
Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have
place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I
angry because of mine enemy?
2 Nephi 4:Verse 28
28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O
my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 29
29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not
slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 30
30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say:
O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in
thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 31
31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver
me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may
shake at the appearance of sin?
2 Nephi 4:Verse 32
32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me,
because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord,
wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I
may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the
plain road!
2 Nephi 4:Verse 33
33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of
thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape
before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me!
Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way--but that thou
wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the
ways of mine enemy.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 34
34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in
thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I
know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh.
Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his
arm.
2 Nephi 4:Verse 35
35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that
asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I
will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God,
the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend
up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.
Chapter 5
2 Nephi 5:Verse 1
1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cry much
unto the Lord my God, because of the anger of my brethren.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 2
2 But behold, their anger did increase against me,
insomuch that they did seek to take away my life.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 3
3 Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: Our younger
brother thinks to rule over us; and we have had much trial because
of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be
afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we will not have
him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder
brethren, to rule over this people.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 4
4 Now I do not write upon these plates all the words
which they murmured against me. But it sufficeth me to say, that
they did seek to take away my life.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that
I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and
all those who would go with me.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 6
6 Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my
family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother
and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also
my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who
would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the
revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my
words.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 7
7 And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were
possible for us, and did journey in the wilderness for the space of
many days. And after we had journeyed for the space of many days we
did pitch our tents.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 8
8 And my people would that we should call the name of
the place Nephi; wherefore, we did call it Nephi.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 9
9 And all those who were with me did take upon them to
call themselves the people of Nephi.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 10
10 And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the
statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according
to the law of Moses.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 11
11 And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper
exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in
abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of
every kind.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 12
12 And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which
were engraven upon the plates of brass; and also the ball, or
compass, which was prepared for my father by the hand of the Lord,
according to that which is written.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that we began to prosper
exceedingly, and to multiply in the land.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 14
14 And I, Nephi, did take the sword of Laban, and after
the manner of it did make many swords, lest by any means the people
who were now called Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us;
for I knew their hatred towards me and my children and those who
were called my people.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 15
15 And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to
work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of
brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious
ores, which were in great abundance.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 16
16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did
construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were
not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found
upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon's
temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple
of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my
people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that they would that I should be
their king. But I, Nephi, was desirous that they should have no
king; nevertheless, I did for them according to that which was in
my power.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 19
19 And behold, the words of the Lord had been fulfilled
unto my brethren, which he spake concerning them, that I should be
their ruler and their teacher. Wherefore, I had been their ruler
and their teacher, according to the commandments of the Lord, until
the time they sought to take away my life.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 20
20 Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which
he spake unto me, saying that: Inasmuch as they will not hearken
unto thy words they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.
And behold, they were cut off from his presence.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 21
21 And he had caused the cursing to come upon them,
yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold,
they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become
like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly
fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my
people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon
them.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 22
22 And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they
shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their
iniquities.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 23
23 And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with
their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing.
And the Lord spake it, and it was done.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 24
24 And because of their cursing which was upon them
they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and
did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 25
25 And the Lord God said unto me: They shall be a
scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me; and
inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words,
they shall scourge them even unto destruction.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did consecrate
Jacob and Joseph, that they should be priests and teachers over the
land of my people.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner
of happiness.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 28
28 And thirty years had passed away from the time we
left Jerusalem.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 29
29 And I, Nephi, had kept the records upon my plates,
which I had made, of my people thus far.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me:
Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them
which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 31
31 Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the
commandments of the Lord, went and made these plates upon which I
have engraven these things.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 32
32 And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God. And
if my people are pleased with the things of God they will be
pleased with mine engravings which are upon these plates.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 33
33 And if my people desire to know the more particular
part of the history of my people they must search mine other
plates.
2 Nephi 5:Verse 34
34 And it sufficeth me to say that forty years had
passed away, and we had already had wars and contentions with our
brethren.
Chapter 6
2 Nephi 6:Verse 1
1 THE words of Jacob, the brother of Nephi, which he
spake unto the people of Nephi:
2 Nephi 6:Verse 2
2 Behold, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, having been
called of God, and ordained after the manner of his holy order, and
having been consecrated by my brother Nephi, unto whom ye look as a
king or a protector, and on whom ye depend for safety, behold ye
know that I have spoken unto you exceedingly many things.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 3
3 Nevertheless, I speak unto you again; for I am
desirous for the welfare of your souls. Yea, mine anxiety is great
for you; and ye yourselves know that it ever has been. For I have
exhorted you with all diligence; and I have taught you the words of
my father; and I have spoken unto you concerning all things which
are written, from the creation of the world.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 4
4 And now, behold, I would speak unto you concerning
things which are, and which are to come; wherefore, I will read you
the words of Isaiah. And they are the words which my brother has
desired that I should speak unto you. And I speak unto you for your
sakes, that ye may learn and glorify the name of your God.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 5
5 And now, the words which I shall read are they which
Isaiah spake concerning all the house of Israel; wherefore, they
may be likened unto you, for ye are of the house of Israel. And
there are many things which have been spoken by Isaiah which may be
likened unto you, because ye are of the house of Israel.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 6
6 And now, these are the words: Thus saith the Lord
God: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up
my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their
arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their
shoulders.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 7
7 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their
queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their
faces towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou
shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that
wait for me.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 8
8 And now I, Jacob, would speak somewhat concerning
these words. For behold, the Lord has shown me that those who were
at Jerusalem, from whence we came, have been slain and carried away
captive.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 9
9 Nevertheless, the Lord has shown unto me that they
should return again. And he also has shown unto me that the Lord
God, the Holy One of Israel, should manifest himself unto them in
the flesh; and after he should manifest himself they should scourge
him and crucify him, according to the words of the angel who spake
it unto me.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 10
10 And after they have hardened their hearts and
stiffened their necks against the Holy One of Israel, behold, the
judgments of the Holy One of Israel shall come upon them. And the
day cometh that they shall be smitten and afflicted.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 11
11 Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for
thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh, and
shall not be suffered to perish, because of the prayers of the
faithful; they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated;
nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that when they
shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be
gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 12
12 And blessed are the Gentiles, they of whom the
prophet has written; for behold, if it so be that they shall repent
and fight not against Zion, and do not unite themselves to that
great and abominable church, they shall be saved; for the Lord God
will fulfil his covenants which he has made unto his children; and
for this cause the prophet has written these things.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 13
13 Wherefore, they that fight against Zion and the
covenant people of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet;
and the people of the Lord shall not be ashamed. For the people of
the Lord are they who wait for him; for they still wait for the
coming of the Messiah.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 14
14 And behold, according to the words of the prophet,
the Messiah will set himself again the second time to recover them;
wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power and great
glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh
when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that
believe in him.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 15
15 And they that believe not in him shall be destroyed,
both by fire, and by tempest, and by earthquakes, and by
bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by famine. And they shall know
that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel.
2 Nephi 6:Verse 16
16 For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the
lawful captive delivered?
2 Nephi 6:Verse 17
17 But thus saith the Lord: Even the captives of the
mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be
delivered; for the Mighty God shall deliver his covenant people.
For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them that contendeth
with thee--
2 Nephi 6:Verse 18
18 And I will feed them that oppress thee, with their
own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with
sweet wine; and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Savior
and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Chapter 7
2 Nephi 7:Verse 1
1 Yea, for thus saith the Lord: Have I put thee away,
or have I cast thee off forever? For thus saith the Lord: Where is
the bill of your mother's divorcement? To whom have I put thee
away, or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Yea, to whom
have I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold
yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put
away.
2 Nephi 7:Verse 2
2 Wherefore, when I came, there was no man; when I
called, yea, there was none to answer. O house of Israel, is my
hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem, or have I no power to
deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make their rivers
a wilderness and their fish to stink because the waters are dried
up, and they die because of thirst.
2 Nephi 7:Verse 3
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make
sackcloth their covering.
2 Nephi 7:Verse 4
4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned,
that I should know how to speak a word in season unto thee, O house
of Israel. When ye are weary he waketh morning by morning. He
waketh mine ear to hear as the learned.
2 Nephi 7:Verse 5
5 The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not
rebellious, neither turned away back.
2 Nephi 7:Verse 6
6 I gave my back to the smiter, and my cheeks to them
that plucked off the hair. I hid not my face from shame and
spitting.
2 Nephi 7:Verse 7
7 For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not
be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I
know that I shall not be ashamed.
2 Nephi 7:Verse 8
8 And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will
contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is mine adversary? Let
him come near me, and I will smite him with the strength of my
mouth.
2 Nephi 7:Verse 9
9 For the Lord God will help me. And all they who shall
condemn me, behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, and the
moth shall eat them up.
2 Nephi 7:Verse 10
10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth
the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no
light?
2 Nephi 7:Verse 11
11 Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass
yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in
the sparks which ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine
hand--ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Chapter 8
2 Nephi 8:Verse 1
1 HEARKEN unto me, ye that follow after righteousness.
Look unto the rock from whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the
pit from whence ye are digged.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 2
2 Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah, she
that bare you; for I called him alone, and blessed him.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 3
3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all
her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and
her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be
found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 4
4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O
my nation; for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my
judgment to rest for a light for the people.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 5
5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth,
and mine arm shall judge the people. The isles shall wait upon me,
and on mine arm shall they trust.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 6
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the
earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and
the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein
shall die in like manner. But my salvation shall be forever, and my
righteousness shall not be abolished.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 7
7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the
people in whose heart I have written my law, fear ye not the
reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 8
8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and
the worm shall eat them like wool. But my righteousness shall be
forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 9
9 Awake, awake! Put on strength, O arm of the Lord;
awake as in the ancient days. Art thou not he that hath cut Rahab,
and wounded the dragon?
2 Nephi 8:Verse 10
10 Art thou not he who hath dried the sea, the waters
of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for
the ransomed to pass over?
2 Nephi 8:Verse 11
11 Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return,
and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy and holiness
shall be upon their heads; and they shall obtain gladness and joy;
sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 12
12 I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you. Behold,
who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of man, who shall die,
and of the son of man, who shall be made like unto grass?
2 Nephi 8:Verse 13
13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath
stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth,
and hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the
oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of
the oppressor?
2 Nephi 8:Verse 14
14 The captive exile hasteneth, that he may be loosed,
and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should
fail.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 15
15 But I am the Lord thy God, whose waves roared; the
Lord of Hosts is my name.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 16
16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and have
covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the
heavens and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion:
Behold, thou art my people.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 17
17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast
drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury--thou hast
drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling wrung out--
2 Nephi 8:Verse 18
18 And none to guide her among all the sons she hath
brought forth; neither that taketh her by the hand, of all the sons
she hath brought up.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 19
19 These two sons are come unto thee, who shall be
sorry for thee--thy desolation and destruction, and the famine and
the sword--and by whom shall I comfort thee?
2 Nephi 8:Verse 20
20 Thy sons have fainted, save these two; they lie at
the head of all the streets; as a wild bull in a net, they are full
of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 21
21 Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and
drunken, and not with wine:
2 Nephi 8:Verse 22
22 Thus saith thy Lord, the Lord and thy God pleadeth
the cause of his people; behold, I have taken out of thine hand the
cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no
more drink it again.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 23
23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict
thee; who have said to thy soul: Bow down, that we may go over--and
thou hast laid thy body as the ground and as the street to them
that went over.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 24
24 Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on
thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth
there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the
unclean.
2 Nephi 8:Verse 25
25 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O
Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive
daughter of Zion.
Chapter 9
2 Nephi 9:Verse 1
1 AND now, my beloved brethren, I have read these
things that ye might know concerning the covenants of the Lord that
he has covenanted with all the house of Israel--
2 Nephi 9:Verse 2
2 That he has spoken unto the Jews, by the mouth of his
holy prophets, even from the beginning down, from generation to
generation, until the time comes that they shall be restored to the
true church and fold of God; when they shall be gathered home to
the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all
their lands of promise.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 3
3 Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these
things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because
of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your
children.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 4
4 For I know that ye have searched much, many of you,
to know of things to come; wherefore I know that ye know that our
flesh must waste away and die; nevertheless, in our bodies we shall
see God.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 5
5 Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall
show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it
is expedient that it should be among them; for it behooveth the
great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man
in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become
subject unto him.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 6
6 For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the
merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of
resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by
reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression;
and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence
of the Lord.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 7
7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite
atonement--save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption
could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which
came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And
if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its
mother earth, to rise no more.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 8
8 O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold,
if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to
that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God,
and became the devil, to rise no more.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 9
9 And our spirits must have become like unto him, and
we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the
presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in
misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our
first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of
light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations
of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 10
10 O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a
way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that
monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and
also the death of the spirit.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 11
11 And because of the way of deliverance of our God,
the Holy One of Israel, this death, of which I have spoken, which
is the temporal, shall deliver up its dead; which death is the
grave.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 12
12 And this death of which I have spoken, which is the
spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death
is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and
hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must
deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of
men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of
the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 13
13 O how great the plan of our God! For on the other
hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the
righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and
the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men
become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls,
having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be
that our knowledge shall be perfect.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 14
14 Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all
our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the
righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and
their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the
robe of righteousness.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 15
15 And it shall come to pass that when all men shall
have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have
become immortal, they must appear before the judgment-seat of the
Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the judgment, and then must
they be judged according to the holy judgment of God.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 16
16 And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God
hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away,
that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who
are filthy shall be filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy
are the devil and his angels; and they shall go away into
everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake
of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever
and has no end.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 17
17 O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he
executeth all his words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth,
and his law must be fulfilled.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 18
18 But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy
One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel,
they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the
shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was
prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy
shall be full forever.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 19
19 O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy
One of Israel! For he delivereth his saints from that awful monster
the devil, and death, and hell, and that lake of fire and
brimstone, which is endless torment.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 20
20 O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth
all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 21
21 And he cometh into the world that he may save all
men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth
the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both
men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 22
22 And he suffereth this that the resurrection might
pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and
judgment day.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 23
23 And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and
be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of
Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 24
24 And if they will not repent and believe in his name,
and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be
damned; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken
it.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 25
25 Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no
law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment
there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the
mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of
the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 26
26 For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his
justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that
they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the
devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless
torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath,
which is the Holy One of Israel.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 27
27 But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that
has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that
transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for
awful is his state!
2 Nephi 9:Verse 28
28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness,
and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are
learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the
counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of
themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth
them not. And they shall perish.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 29
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the
counsels of God.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 30
30 But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things
of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and
they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures;
wherefore, their treasure is their God. And behold, their treasure
shall perish with them also.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 31
31 And wo unto the deaf that will not hear; for they
shall perish.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 32
32 Wo unto the blind that will not see; for they shall
perish also.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 33
33 Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart, for a knowledge
of their iniquities shall smite them at the last day.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 34
34 Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to
hell.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 35
35 Wo unto the murderer who deliberately killeth, for
he shall die.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 36
36 Wo unto them who commit whoredoms, for they shall be
thrust down to hell.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 37
37 Yea, wo unto those that worship idols, for the devil
of all devils delighteth in them.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 38
38 And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their
sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain
in their sins.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 39
39 O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in
transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of
yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be
carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life
eternal.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 40
40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words.
Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I
have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile
against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I
know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but
the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not
shaken.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 41
41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the
Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way
for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him,
and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he
employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be
by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his
name.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 42
42 And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the
wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up
because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches--yea,
they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these
things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come
down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 43
43 But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be
hid from them forever--yea, that happiness which is prepared for
the saints.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 44
44 O, my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I
take off my garments, and I shake them before you; I pray the God
of my salvation that he view me with his all-searching eye;
wherefore, ye shall know at the last day, when all men shall be
judged of their works, that the God of Israel did witness that I
shook your iniquities from my soul, and that I stand with
brightness before him, and am rid of your blood.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 45
45 O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins;
shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto
that God who is the rock of your salvation.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 46
46 Prepare your souls for that glorious day when
justice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of
judgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear; that ye may not
remember your awful guilt in perfectness, and be constrained to
exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty--but I
know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are
mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful
misery.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 47
47 But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I
should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I
harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto
you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from
sin?
2 Nephi 9:Verse 48
48 Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of
holiness; but as ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as a teacher,
it must needs be expedient that I teach you the consequences of
sin.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 49
49 Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart
delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my
God.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 50
50 Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye
to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea,
come buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 51
51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of
no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken
diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and
come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which
perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight
in fatness.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 52
52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of
your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto
his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 53
53 And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, and
how great his condescensions unto the children of men; and because
of his greatness, and his grace and mercy, he has promised unto us
that our seed shall not utterly be destroyed, according to the
flesh, but that he would preserve them; and in future generations
they shall become a righteous branch unto the house of
Israel.
2 Nephi 9:Verse 54
54 And now, my brethren, I would speak unto you more;
but on the morrow I will declare unto you the remainder of my
words. Amen.
Chapter 10
2 Nephi 10:Verse 1
1 AND now I, Jacob, speak unto you again, my beloved
brethren, concerning this righteous branch of which I have
spoken.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 2
2 For behold, the promises which we have obtained are
promises unto us according to the flesh; wherefore, as it has been
shown unto me that many of our children shall perish in the flesh
because of unbelief, nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many;
and our children shall be restored, that they may come to that
which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 3
3 Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be
expedient that Christ--for in the last night the angel spake unto
me that this should be his name--should come among the Jews, among
those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall
crucify him--for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other
nation on earth that would crucify their God.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 4
4 For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other
nations they would repent, and know that he be their God.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 5
5 But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at
Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be
crucified.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 6
6 Wherefore, because of their iniquities, destructions,
famines, pestilences, and bloodshed shall come upon them; and they
who shall not be destroyed shall be scattered among all
nations.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 7
7 But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day
cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I
covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the
flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 8
8 And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered
in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from
the four parts of the earth; and the nations of the Gentiles shall
be great in the eyes of me, saith God, in carrying them forth to
the lands of their inheritance.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 9
9 Yea, the kings of the Gentiles shall be nursing
fathers unto them, and their queens shall become nursing mothers;
wherefore, the promises of the Lord are great unto the Gentiles,
for he hath spoken it, and who can dispute?
2 Nephi 10:Verse 10
10 But behold, this land, said God, shall be a land of
thine inheritance, and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the
land.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 11
11 And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the
Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall
raise up unto the Gentiles.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 12
12 And I will fortify this land against all other
nations.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 13
13 And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish,
saith God.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 14
14 For he that raiseth up a king against me shall
perish, for I, the Lord, the king of heaven, will be their king,
and I will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 15
15 Wherefore, for this cause, that my covenants may be
fulfilled which I have made unto the children of men, that I will
do unto them while they are in the flesh, I must needs destroy the
secret works of darkness, and of murders, and of
abominations.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 16
16 Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew
and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall
perish; for they are they who are the whore of all the earth; for
they who are not for me are against me, saith our God.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 17
17 For I will fulfil my promises which I have made unto
the children of men, that I will do unto them while they are in the
flesh--
2 Nephi 10:Verse 18
18 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God:
I will afflict thy seed by the hand of the Gentiles; nevertheless,
I will soften the hearts of the Gentiles, that they shall be like
unto a father to them; wherefore, the Gentiles shall be blessed and
numbered among the house of Israel.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 19
19 Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy
seed, and them who shall be numbered among thy seed, forever, for
the land of their inheritance; for it is a choice land, saith God
unto me, above all other lands, wherefore I will have all men that
dwell thereon that they shall worship me, saith God.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 20
20 And now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our
merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these
things, let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang
down our heads, for we are not cast off; nevertheless, we have been
driven out of the land of our inheritance; but we have been led to
a better land, for the Lord has made the sea our path, and we are
upon an isle of the sea.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 21
21 But great are the promises of the Lord unto them who
are upon the isles of the sea; wherefore as it says isles, there
must needs be more than this, and they are inhabited also by our
brethren.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 22
22 For behold, the Lord God has led away from time to
time from the house of Israel, according to his will and pleasure.
And now behold, the Lord remembereth all them who have been broken
off, wherefore he remembereth us also.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 23
23 Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that
ye are free to act for yourselves--to choose the way of everlasting
death or the way of eternal life.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 24
24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves
to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh;
and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in
and through the grace of God that ye are saved.
2 Nephi 10:Verse 25
25 Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power
of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power
of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom
of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.
Chapter 11
2 Nephi 11:Verse 1
1 AND now, Jacob spake many more things to my people at
that time; nevertheless only these things have I caused to be
written, for the things which I have written sufficeth me.
2 Nephi 11:Verse 2
2 And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah,
for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words
unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children,
for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him.
2 Nephi 11:Verse 3
3 And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have
seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children
to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words
of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless,
God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.
2 Nephi 11:Verse 4
4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people
the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law
of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God
from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of
him.
2 Nephi 11:Verse 5
5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the
Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in
his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great
and eternal plan of deliverance from death.
2 Nephi 11:Verse 6
6 And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that
save Christ should come all men must perish.
2 Nephi 11:Verse 7
7 For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if
there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation.
But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness
of his own time.
2 Nephi 11:Verse 8
8 And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that
whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts
and rejoice for all men. Now these are the words, and ye may liken
them unto you and unto all men.
Chapter 12
2 Nephi 12:Verse 1
1 THE word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning
Judah and Jerusalem:
2 Nephi 12:Verse 2
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the
mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the
mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations
shall flow unto it.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 3
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us
go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of
Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his
paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 4
4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall
rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into
plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks--nation shall not
lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 5
5 O house of Jacob, come ye and let us walk in the
light of the Lord; yea, come, for ye have all gone astray, every
one to his wicked ways.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 6
6 Therefore, O Lord, thou hast forsaken thy people, the
house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and
hearken unto soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please
themselves in the children of strangers.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 7
7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither
is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of
horses, neither is there any end of their chariots.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 8
8 Their land is also full of idols; they worship the
work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have
made.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 9
9 And the mean man boweth not down, and the great man
humbleth himself not, therefore, forgive him not.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 10
10 O ye wicked ones, enter into the rock, and hide thee
in the dust, for the fear of the Lord and the glory of his majesty
shall smite thee.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 11
11 And it shall come to pass that the lofty looks of
man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed
down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 12
12 For the day of the Lord of Hosts soon cometh upon
all nations, yea, upon every one; yea, upon the proud and lofty,
and upon every one who is lifted up, and he shall be brought
low.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 13
13 Yea, and the day of the Lord shall come upon all the
cedars of Lebanon, for they are high and lifted up; and upon all
the oaks of Bashan;
2 Nephi 12:Verse 14
14 And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the
hills, and upon all the nations which are lifted up, and upon every
people;
2 Nephi 12:Verse 15
15 And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced
wall;
2 Nephi 12:Verse 16
16 And upon all the ships of the sea, and upon all the
ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 17
17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and
the haughtiness of men shall be made low; and the Lord alone shall
be exalted in that day.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 18
18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 19
19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and
into the caves of the earth, for the fear of the Lord shall come
upon them and the glory of his majesty shall smite them, when he
ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 20
20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver,
and his idols of gold, which he hath made for himself to worship,
to the moles and to the bats;
2 Nephi 12:Verse 21
21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the
tops of the ragged rocks, for the fear of the Lord shall come upon
them and the majesty of his glory shall smite them, when he ariseth
to shake terribly the earth.
2 Nephi 12:Verse 22
22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils;
for wherein is he to be accounted of?
Chapter 13
2 Nephi 13:Verse 1
1 FOR behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, doth take
away from Jerusalem, and from Judah, the stay and the staff, the
whole staff of bread, and the whole stay of water--
2 Nephi 13:Verse 2
2 The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and
the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient;
2 Nephi 13:Verse 3
3 The captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the
counselor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent
orator.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 4
4 And I will give children unto them to be their
princes, and babes shall rule over them.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 5
5 And the people shall be oppressed, every one by
another, and every one by his neighbor; the child shall behave
himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the
honorable.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 6
6 When a man shall take hold of his brother of the
house of his father, and shall say: Thou hast clothing, be thou our
ruler, and let not this ruin come under thy hand--
2 Nephi 13:Verse 7
7 In that day shall he swear, saying: I will not be a
healer; for in my house there is neither bread nor clothing; make
me not a ruler of the people.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 8
8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen, because
their tongues and their doings have been against the Lord, to
provoke the eyes of his glory.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 9
9 The show of their countenance doth witness against
them, and doth declare their sin to be even as Sodom, and they
cannot hide it. Wo unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil
unto themselves!
2 Nephi 13:Verse 10
10 Say unto the righteous that it is well with them;
for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 11
11 Wo unto the wicked, for they shall perish; for the
reward of their hands shall be upon them!
2 Nephi 13:Verse 12
12 And my people, children are their oppressors, and
women rule over them. O my people, they who lead thee cause thee to
err and destroy the way of thy paths.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 13
13 The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge
the people.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 14
14 The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients
of his people and the princes thereof; for ye have eaten up the
vineyard and the spoil of the poor in your houses.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 15
15 What mean ye? Ye beat my people to pieces, and grind
the faces of the poor, saith the Lord God of Hosts.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 16
16 Moreover, the Lord saith: Because the daughters of
Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched-forth necks and wanton
eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with
their feet--
2 Nephi 13:Verse 17
17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown
of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover
their secret parts.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 18
18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of
their tinkling ornaments, and cauls, and round tires like the
moon;
2 Nephi 13:Verse 19
19 The chains and the bracelets, and the
mufflers;
2 Nephi 13:Verse 20
20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the
headbands, and the tablets, and the ear-rings;
2 Nephi 13:Verse 21
21 The rings, and nose jewels;
2 Nephi 13:Verse 22
22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles,
and the wimples, and the crisping-pins;
2 Nephi 13:Verse 23
23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and hoods, and the
veils.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 24
24 And it shall come to pass, instead of sweet smell
there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle, a rent; and instead
of well set hair, baldness; and instead of a stomacher, a girding
of sackcloth; burning instead of beauty.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 25
25 Thy men shall fall by the sword and thy mighty in
the war.
2 Nephi 13:Verse 26
26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall
be desolate, and shall sit upon the ground.
Chapter 14
2 Nephi 14:Verse 1
1 AND in that day, seven women shall take hold of one
man, saying: We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel;
only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach.
2 Nephi 14:Verse 2
2 In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful
and glorious; the fruit of the earth excellent and comely to them
that are escaped of Israel.
2 Nephi 14:Verse 3
3 And it shall come to pass, they that are left in Zion
and remain in Jerusalem shall be called holy, every one that is
written among the living in Jerusalem--
2 Nephi 14:Verse 4
4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the
daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem
from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit
of burning.
2 Nephi 14:Verse 5
5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of
mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and
the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory of
Zion shall be a defence.
2 Nephi 14:Verse 6
6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the
daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and a covert from
storm and from rain.
Chapter 15
2 Nephi 15:Verse 1
1 AND then will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my
beloved, touching his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in
a very fruitful hill.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 2
2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones
thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower
in the midst of it, and also made a wine-press therein; and he
looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild
grapes.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 3
3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of
Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 4
4 What could have been done more to my vineyard that I
have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring
forth grapes it brought forth wild grapes.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 5
5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my
vineyard--I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten
up; and I will break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden
down;
2 Nephi 15:Verse 6
6 And I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor
digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns; I will also
command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 7
7 For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of
Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant; and he looked for
judgment, and behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a
cry.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 8
8 Wo unto them that join house to house, till there can
be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the
earth!
2 Nephi 15:Verse 9
9 In mine ears, said the Lord of Hosts, of a truth many
houses shall be desolate, and great and fair cities without
inhabitant.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 10
10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and
the seed of a homer shall yield an ephah.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 11
11 Wo unto them that rise up early in the morning, that
they may follow strong drink, that continue until night, and wine
inflame them!
2 Nephi 15:Verse 12
12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe,
and wine are in their feasts; but they regard not the work of the
Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 13
13 Therefore, my people are gone into captivity,
because they have no knowledge; and their honorable men are
famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 14
14 Therefore, hell hath enlarged herself, and opened
her mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude,
and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 15
15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the
mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be
humbled.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 16
16 But the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment,
and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 17
17 Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and
the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 18
18 Wo unto them that draw iniquity with cords of
vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope;
2 Nephi 15:Verse 19
19 That say: Let him make speed, hasten his work, that
we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw
nigh and come, that we may know it.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 20
20 Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil,
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put
bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
2 Nephi 15:Verse 21
21 Wo unto the wise in their own eyes and prudent in
their own sight!
2 Nephi 15:Verse 22
22 Wo unto the mighty to drink wine, and men of
strength to mingle strong drink;
2 Nephi 15:Verse 23
23 Who justify the wicked for reward, and take away the
righteousness of the righteous from him!
2 Nephi 15:Verse 24
24 Therefore, as the fire devoureth the stubble, and
the flame consumeth the chaff, their root shall be rottenness, and
their blossoms shall go up as dust; because they have cast away the
law of the Lord of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of
Israel.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 25
25 Therefore, is the anger of the Lord kindled against
his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and
hath smitten them; and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses
were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is
not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 26
26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from
far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth; and behold,
they shall come with speed swiftly; none shall be weary nor stumble
among them.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 27
27 None shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the
girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be
broken;
2 Nephi 15:Verse 28
28 Whose arrows shall be sharp, and all their bows
bent, and their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and
their wheels like a whirlwind, their roaring like a lion.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 29
29 They shall roar like young lions; yea, they shall
roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry away safe, and none
shall deliver.
2 Nephi 15:Verse 30
30 And in that day they shall roar against them like
the roaring of the sea; and if they look unto the land, behold,
darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens
thereof.
Chapter 16
2 Nephi 16:Verse 1
1 IN the year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the
Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train
filled the temple.
2 Nephi 16:Verse 2
2 Above it stood the seraphim; each one had six wings;
with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet,
and with twain he did fly.
2 Nephi 16:Verse 3
3 And one cried unto another, and said: Holy, holy,
holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of his
glory.
2 Nephi 16:Verse 4
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him
that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
2 Nephi 16:Verse 5
5 Then said I: Wo is unto me! for I am undone; because
I am a man of unclean lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of
unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of
Hosts.
2 Nephi 16:Verse 6
6 Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live
coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the
altar;
2 Nephi 16:Verse 7
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said: Lo, this has
touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin
purged.
2 Nephi 16:Verse 8
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom
shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said: Here am I; send
me.
2 Nephi 16:Verse 9
9 And he said: Go and tell this people--Hear ye indeed,
but they understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived
not.
2 Nephi 16:Verse 10
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their
ears heavy, and shut their eyes--lest they see with their eyes, and
hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be
converted and be healed.
2 Nephi 16:Verse 11
11 Then said I: Lord, how long? And he said: Until the
cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man,
and the land be utterly desolate;
2 Nephi 16:Verse 12
12 And the Lord have removed men far away, for there
shall be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
2 Nephi 16:Verse 13
13 But yet there shall be a tenth, and they shall
return, and shall be eaten, as a teil-tree, and as an oak whose
substance is in them when they cast their leaves; so the holy seed
shall be the substance thereof.
Chapter 17
2 Nephi 17:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of
Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, king of
Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up
toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against
it.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 2
2 And it was told the house of David, saying: Syria is
confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of
his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 3
3 Then said the Lord unto Isaiah: Go forth now to meet
Ahaz, thou and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of
the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;
2 Nephi 17:Verse 4
4 And say unto him: Take heed, and be quiet; fear not,
neither be faint-hearted for the two tails of these smoking
firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the
son of Remaliah.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 5
5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have
taken evil counsel against thee, saying:
2 Nephi 17:Verse 6
6 Let us go up against Judah and vex it, and let us
make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it,
yea, the son of Tabeal.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 7
7 Thus saith the Lord God: It shall not stand, neither
shall it come to pass.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 8
8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of
Damascus, Rezin; and within three score and five years shall
Ephraim be broken that it be not a people.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 9
9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of
Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe surely ye shall
not be established.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 10
10 Moreover, the Lord spake again unto Ahaz,
saying:
2 Nephi 17:Verse 11
11 Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either
in the depths, or in the heights above.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 12
12 But Ahaz said: I will not ask, neither will I tempt
the Lord.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 13
13 And he said: Hear ye now, O house of David; is it a
small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God
also?
2 Nephi 17:Verse 14
14 Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a
sign--Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and
shall call his name Immanuel.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 15
15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to
refuse the evil and to choose the good.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 16
16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil
and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken
of both her kings.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 17
17 The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people,
and upon thy father's house, days that have not come from the day
that Ephraim departed from Judah, the king of Assyria.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 18
18 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord
shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of Egypt, and
for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 19
19 And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in
the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all
thorns, and upon all bushes.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 20
20 In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor
that is hired, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria,
the head, and the hair of the feet; and it shall also consume the
beard.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 21
21 And it shall come to pass in that day, a man shall
nourish a young cow and two sheep;
2 Nephi 17:Verse 22
22 And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk
they shall give he shall eat butter; for butter and honey shall
every one eat that is left in the land.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 23
23 And it shall come to pass in that day, every place
shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand
silverlings, which shall be for briers and thorns.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 24
24 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither,
because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
2 Nephi 17:Verse 25
25 And all hills that shall be digged with the mattock,
there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns; but it
shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and the treading of lesser
cattle.
Chapter 18
2 Nephi 18:Verse 1
1 Moreover, the word of the Lord said unto me: Take
thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen, concerning
Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 2
2 And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record,
Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 3
3 And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived and
bare a son. Then said the Lord to me: Call his name,
Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 4
4 For behold, the child shall not have knowledge to
cry, My father, and my mother, before the riches of Damascus and
the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of
Assyria.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 5
5 The Lord spake also unto me again, saying:
2 Nephi 18:Verse 6
6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of
Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's
son;
2 Nephi 18:Verse 7
7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them
the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria
and all his glory; and he shall come up over all his channels, and
go over all his banks.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 8
8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow
and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching
out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O
Immanuel.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 9
9 Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be
broken in pieces; and give ear all ye of far countries; gird
yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and
ye shall be broken in pieces.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 10
10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught;
speak the word, and it shall not stand; for God is with us.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 11
11 For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand,
and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people,
saying:
2 Nephi 18:Verse 12
12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all to whom this
people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be
afraid.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 13
13 Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be
your fear, and let him be your dread.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 14
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of
stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel,
for a gin and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 15
15 And many among them shall stumble and fall, and be
broken, and be snared, and be taken.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 16
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my
disciples.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 17
17 And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face
from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 18
18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given
me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts,
which dwelleth in Mount Zion.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 19
19 And when they shall say unto you: Seek unto them
that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and
mutter--should not a people seek unto their God for the living to
hear from the dead?
2 Nephi 18:Verse 20
20 To the law and to the testimony; and if they speak
not according to this word, it is because there is no light in
them.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 21
21 And they shall pass through it hardly bestead and
hungry; and it shall come to pass that when they shall be hungry,
they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and
look upward.
2 Nephi 18:Verse 22
22 And they shall look unto the earth and behold
trouble, and darkness, dimness of anguish, and shall be driven to
darkness.
Chapter 19
2 Nephi 19:Verse 1
1 Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as was in
her vexation, when at first he lightly afflicted the land of
Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, and afterwards did more
grievously afflict by the way of the Red Sea beyond Jordan in
Galilee of the nations.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 2
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great
light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon
them hath the light shined.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 3
3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and increased the
joy--they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as
men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 4
4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the
staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 5
5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused
noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning
and fuel of fire.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 6
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall
be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 7
7 Of the increase of government and peace there is no
end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it,
and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth,
even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform
this.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 8
8 The Lord sent his word unto Jacob and it hath lighted
upon Israel.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 9
9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the
inhabitants of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of
heart:
2 Nephi 19:Verse 10
10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with
hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them
into cedars.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 11
11 Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of
Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
2 Nephi 19:Verse 12
12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and
they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is
not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 13
13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth
them, neither do they seek the Lord of Hosts.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 14
14 Therefore will the Lord cut off from Israel head and
tail, branch and rush in one day.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 15
15 The ancient, he is the head; and the prophet that
teacheth lies, he is the tail.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 16
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err;
and they that are led of them are destroyed.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 17
17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young
men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows; for
every one of them is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth
speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his
hand is stretched out still.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 18
18 For wickedness burneth as the fire; it shall devour
the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the
forests, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of
smoke.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 19
19 Through the wrath of the Lord of Hosts is the land
darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire; no man
shall spare his brother.
2 Nephi 19:Verse 20
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry;
and he shall eat on the left hand and they shall not be satisfied;
they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm--
2 Nephi 19:Verse 21
21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; they
together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not
turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Chapter 20
2 Nephi 20:Verse 1
1 WO unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and
that write grievousness which they have prescribed;
2 Nephi 20:Verse 2
2 To turn away the needy from judgment, and to take
away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their
prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
2 Nephi 20:Verse 3
3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in
the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for
help? and where will ye leave your glory?
2 Nephi 20:Verse 4
4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners,
and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not
turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 5
5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in
their hand is their indignation.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 6
6 I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and
against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the
spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire
of the streets.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 7
7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart
think so; but in his heart it is to destroy and cut off nations not
a few.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 8
8 For he saith: Are not my princes altogether
kings?
2 Nephi 20:Verse 9
9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad?
Is not Samaria as Damascus?
2 Nephi 20:Verse 10
10 As my hand hath founded the kingdoms of the idols,
and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of
Samaria;
2 Nephi 20:Verse 11
11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her
idols, so do to Jerusalem and to her idols?
2 Nephi 20:Verse 12
12 Wherefore it shall come to pass that when the Lord
hath performed his whole work upon Mount Zion and upon Jerusalem, I
will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria,
and the glory of his high looks.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 13
13 For he saith: By the strength of my hand and by my
wisdom I have done these things; for I am prudent; and I have moved
the borders of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I
have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man;
2 Nephi 20:Verse 14
14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the
people; and as one gathereth eggs that are left have I gathered all
the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the
mouth, or peeped.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 15
15 Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth
therewith? Shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh
it? As if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up,
or as if the staff should lift up itself as if it were no
wood!
2 Nephi 20:Verse 16
16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, send
among his fat ones, leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a
burning like the burning of a fire.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 17
17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his
Holy One for a flame, and shall burn and shall devour his thorns
and his briers in one day;
2 Nephi 20:Verse 18
18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of
his fruitful field, both soul and body; and they shall be as when a
standard-bearer fainteth.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 19
19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be
few, that a child may write them.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 20
20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the
remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob,
shall no more again stay upon him that smote them, but shall stay
upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 21
21 The remnant shall return, yea, even the remnant of
Jacob, unto the mighty God.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 22
22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the
sea, yet a remnant of them shall return; the consumption decreed
shall overflow with righteousness.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 23
23 For the Lord God of Hosts shall make a consumption,
even determined in all the land.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 24
24 Therefore, thus saith the Lord God of Hosts: O my
people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian; he
shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against
thee, after the manner of Egypt.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 25
25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation
shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 26
26 And the Lord of Hosts shall stir up a scourge for
him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; and
as his rod was upon the sea so shall he lift it up after the manner
of Egypt.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 27
27 And it shall come to pass in that day that his
burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from
off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the
anointing.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 28
28 He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at
Michmash he hath laid up his carriages.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 29
29 They are gone over the passage; they have taken up
their lodging at Geba; Ramath is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is
fled.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 30
30 Lift up the voice, O daughter of Gallim; cause it to
be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 31
31 Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather
themselves to flee.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 32
32 As yet shall he remain at Nob that day; he shall
shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill
of Jerusalem.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 33
33 Behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hosts shall lop the
bough with terror; and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down;
and the haughty shall be humbled.
2 Nephi 20:Verse 34
34 And he shall cut down the thickets of the forests
with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.
Chapter 21
2 Nephi 21:Verse 1
1 AND there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of
Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 2
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the
spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and
might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
2 Nephi 21:Verse 3
3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear
of the Lord; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes,
neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 4
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and
reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite
the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his
lips shall he slay the wicked.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 5
5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins,
and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 6
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the
leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young
lion and fatling together; and a little child shall lead
them.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 7
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones
shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the
ox.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 8
8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the
asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's
den.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 9
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 10
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse,
which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the
Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 11
11 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord
shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of
his people which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and
from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and
from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 12
12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and
shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the
dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 13
13 The envy of Ephraim also shall depart, and the
adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy
Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 14
14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the
Philistines towards the west; they shall spoil them of the east
together; they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the
children of Ammon shall obey them.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 15
15 And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the
Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind he shall shake his hand over
the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go
over dry shod.
2 Nephi 21:Verse 16
16 And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his
people which shall be left, from Assyria, like as it was to Israel
in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.
Chapter 22
2 Nephi 22:Verse 1
1 AND in that day thou shalt say: O Lord, I will praise
thee; though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away,
and thou comfortedst me.
2 Nephi 22:Verse 2
2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be
afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also
has become my salvation.
2 Nephi 22:Verse 3
3 Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the
wells of salvation.
2 Nephi 22:Verse 4
4 And in that day shall ye say: Praise the Lord, call
upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention
that his name is exalted.
2 Nephi 22:Verse 5
5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent
things; this is known in all the earth.
2 Nephi 22:Verse 6
6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great
is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
Chapter 23
2 Nephi 23:Verse 1
1 THE burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz
did see.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 2
2 Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the
voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of
the nobles.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 3
3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also
called my mighty ones, for mine anger is not upon them that rejoice
in my highness.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 4
4 The noise of the multitude in the mountains like as
of a great people, a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations
gathered together, the Lord of Hosts mustereth the hosts of the
battle.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 5
5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven,
yea, the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the
whole land.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 6
6 Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall
come as a destruction from the Almighty.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 7
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, every man's heart
shall melt;
2 Nephi 23:Verse 8
8 And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall
take hold of them; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces
shall be as flames.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 9
9 Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with
wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall
destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 10
10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations
thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in
his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to
shine.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 11
11 And I will punish the world for evil, and the wicked
for their iniquity; I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to
cease, and will lay down the haughtiness of the terrible.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 12
12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even
a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 13
13 Therefore, I will shake the heavens, and the earth
shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of Hosts,
and in the day of his fierce anger.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 14
14 And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep
that no man taketh up; and they shall every man turn to his own
people, and flee every one into his own land.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 15
15 Every one that is proud shall be thrust through;
yea, and every one that is joined to the wicked shall fall by the
sword.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 16
16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before
their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled and their wives
ravished.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 17
17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which
shall not regard silver and gold, nor shall they delight in
it.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 18
18 Their bows shall also dash the young men to pieces;
and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes
shall not spare children.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 19
19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of
the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and
Gomorrah.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 20
20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be
dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian
pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold
there.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 21
21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and
their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall
dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
2 Nephi 23:Verse 22
22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in
their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces; and
her time is near to come, and her day shall not be prolonged. For I
will destroy her speedily; yea, for I will be merciful unto my
people, but the wicked shall perish.
Chapter 24
2 Nephi 24:Verse 1
1 FOR the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet
choose Israel, and set them in their own land; and the strangers
shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of
Jacob.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 2
2 And the people shall take them and bring them to
their place; yea, from far unto the ends of the earth; and they
shall return to their lands of promise. And the house of Israel
shall possess them, and the land of the Lord shall be for servants
and handmaids; and they shall take them captives unto whom they
were captives; and they shall rule over their oppressors.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 3
3 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord
shall give thee rest, from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from
the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 4
4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that thou
shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say:
How hath the oppressor ceased, the golden city ceased!
2 Nephi 24:Verse 5
5 The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, the
scepters of the rulers.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 6
6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual
stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none
hindereth.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 7
7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet; they break
forth into singing.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 8
8 Yea, the fir-trees rejoice at thee, and also the
cedars of Lebanon, saying: Since thou art laid down no feller is
come up against us.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 9
9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at
thy coming; it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief
ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the
kings of the nations.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 10
10 All they shall speak and say unto thee: Art thou
also become weak as we? Art thou become like unto us?
2 Nephi 24:Verse 11
11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave; the noise of
thy viols is not heard; the worm is spread under thee, and the
worms cover thee.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 12
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of
the morning! Art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the
nations!
2 Nephi 24:Verse 13
13 For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into
heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit
also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the
north;
2 Nephi 24:Verse 14
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I
will be like the Most High.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 15
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides
of the pit.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 16
16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee,
and shall consider thee, and shall say: Is this the man that made
the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?
2 Nephi 24:Verse 17
17 And made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed
the cities thereof, and opened not the house of his
prisoners?
2 Nephi 24:Verse 18
18 All the kings of the nations, yea, all of them, lie
in glory, every one of them in his own house.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 19
19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an
abominable branch, and the remnant of those that are slain, thrust
through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a
carcass trodden under feet.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 20
20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial,
because thou hast destroyed thy land and slain thy people; the seed
of evil-doers shall never be renowned.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 21
21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the
iniquities of their fathers, that they do not rise, nor possess the
land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 22
22 For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of
Hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and
nephew, saith the Lord.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 23
23 I will also make it a possession for the bittern,
and pools of water; and I will sweep it with the besom of
destruction, saith the Lord of Hosts.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 24
24 The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I
have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so
shall it stand--
2 Nephi 24:Verse 25
25 That I will bring the Assyrian in my land, and upon
my mountains tread him under foot; then shall his yoke depart from
off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 26
26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole
earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all
nations.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 27
27 For the Lord of Hosts hath purposed, and who shall
disannul? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it
back?
2 Nephi 24:Verse 28
28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this
burden.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 29
29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod
of him that smote thee is broken; for out of the serpent's root
shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery
flying serpent.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 30
30 And the first-born of the poor shall feed, and the
needy shall lie down in safety; and I will kill thy root with
famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 31
31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina,
art dissolved; for there shall come from the north a smoke, and
none shall be alone in his appointed times.
2 Nephi 24:Verse 32
32 What shall then answer the messengers of the
nations? That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his
people shall trust in it.
Chapter 25
2 Nephi 25:Verse 1
1 NOW I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words
which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of
Isaiah. For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for
many of my people to understand; for they know not concerning the
manner of prophesying among the Jews.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 2
2 For I, Nephi, have not taught them many things
concerning the manner of the Jews; for their works were works of
darkness, and their doings were doings of abominations.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 3
3 Wherefore, I write unto my people, unto all those
that shall receive hereafter these things which I write, that they
may know the judgments of God, that they come upon all nations,
according to the word which he hath spoken.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 4
4 Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the
house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words
of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto
all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give
unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me;
wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath
been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my
father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people,
that they may learn.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 5
5 Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah,
for I came out from Jerusalem, and mine eyes hath beheld the things
of the Jews, and I know that the Jews do understand the things of
the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the
things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be
that they are taught after the manner of the things of the
Jews.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 6
6 But behold, I, Nephi, have not taught my children
after the manner of the Jews; but behold, I, of myself, have dwelt
at Jerusalem, wherefore I know concerning the regions round about;
and I have made mention unto my children concerning the judgments
of God, which hath come to pass among the Jews, unto my children,
according to all that which Isaiah hath spoken, and I do not write
them.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 7
7 But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy,
according to my plainness; in the which I know that no man can err;
nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be
fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall
come to pass.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 8
8 Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of
men, and he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I
speak particularly, and confine the words unto mine own people; for
I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last
days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for
their good have I written them.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 9
9 And as one generation hath been destroyed among the
Jews because of iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from
generation to generation according to their iniquities; and never
hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the
prophets of the Lord.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 10
10 Wherefore, it hath been told them concerning the
destruction which should come upon them, immediately after my
father left Jerusalem; nevertheless, they hardened their hearts;
and according to my prophecy they have been destroyed, save it be
those which are carried away captive into Babylon.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 11
11 And now this I speak because of the spirit which is
in me. And notwithstanding they have been carried away they shall
return again, and possess the land of Jerusalem; wherefore, they
shall be restored again to the land of their inheritance.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 12
12 But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of
wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father,
yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself
unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of
their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the
stiffness of their necks.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 13
13 Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid
in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the
dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on
his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul
delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and
my heart doth magnify his holy name.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 14
14 And behold it shall come to pass that after the
Messiah hath risen from the dead, and hath manifested himself unto
his people, unto as many as will believe on his name, behold,
Jerusalem shall be destroyed again; for wo unto them that fight
against God and the people of his church.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 15
15 Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all
nations; yea, and also Babylon shall be destroyed; wherefore, the
Jews shall be scattered by other nations.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 16
16 And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God
hath scourged them by other nations for the space of many
generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until
they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and
the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind--and when that day
shall come that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the
Father in his name, with pure hearts and clean hands, and look not
forward any more for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day
will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe
these things.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 17
17 And the Lord will set his hand again the second time
to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore,
he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the
children of men.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 18
18 Wherefore, he shall bring forth his words unto them,
which words shall judge them at the last day, for they shall be
given them for the purpose of convincing them of the true Messiah,
who was rejected by them; and unto the convincing of them that they
need not look forward any more for a Messiah to come, for there
should not any come, save it should be a false Messiah which should
deceive the people; for there is save one Messiah spoken of by the
prophets, and that Messiah is he who should be rejected of the
Jews.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 19
19 For according to the words of the prophets, the
Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father
left Jerusalem; and according to the words of the prophets, and
also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ,
the Son of God.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 20
20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye
cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out
of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal
the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents,
if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise
up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the
rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you,
that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is
none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of
which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 21
21 Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised
unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and
preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to
generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his
seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 22
22 Wherefore, these things shall go from generation to
generation as long as the earth shall stand; and they shall go
according to the will and pleasure of God; and the nations who
shall possess them shall be judged of them according to the words
which are written.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 23
23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our
children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be
reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are
saved, after all we can do.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 24
24 And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep
the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ,
until the law shall be fulfilled.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 25
25 For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the
law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ
because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the
commandments.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 26
26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we
preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to
our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may
look for a remission of their sins.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 27
27 Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our
children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the
deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in
Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law
is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts
against him when the law ought to be done away.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 28
28 And now behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked
people; wherefore, I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot
misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a
testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the
right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him
not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the
law.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 29
29 And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is
to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One
of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him
with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and
if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out.
2 Nephi 25:Verse 30
30 And, inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye must keep
the performances and ordinances of God until the law shall be
fulfilled which was given unto Moses.
Chapter 26
2 Nephi 26:Verse 1
1 AND after Christ shall have risen from the dead he
shall show himself unto you, my children, and my beloved brethren;
and the words which he shall speak unto you shall be the law which
ye shall do.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 2
2 For behold, I say unto you that I have beheld that
many generations shall pass away, and there shall be great wars and
contentions among my people.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 3
3 And after the Messiah shall come there shall be signs
given unto my people of his birth, and also of his death and
resurrection; and great and terrible shall that day be unto the
wicked, for they shall perish; and they perish because they cast
out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay them;
wherefore the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God
from the ground against them.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 4
4 Wherefore, all those who are proud, and that do
wickedly, the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of
Hosts, for they shall be as stubble.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 5
5 And they that kill the prophets, and the saints, the
depths of the earth shall swallow them up, saith the Lord of Hosts;
and mountains shall cover them, and whirlwinds shall carry them
away, and buildings shall fall upon them and crush them to pieces
and grind them to powder.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 6
6 And they shall be visited with thunderings, and
lightnings, and earthquakes, and all manner of destructions, for
the fire of the anger of the Lord shall be kindled against them,
and they shall be as stubble, and the day that cometh shall consume
them, saith the Lord of Hosts.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 7
7 O the pain, and the anguish of my soul for the loss
of the slain of my people! For I, Nephi, have seen it, and it well
nigh consumeth me before the presence of the Lord; but I must cry
unto my God: Thy ways are just.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 8
8 But behold, the righteous that hearken unto the words
of the prophets, and destroy them not, but look forward unto Christ
with steadfastness for the signs which are given, notwithstanding
all persecution--behold, they are they which shall not
perish.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 9
9 But the Son of righteousness shall appear unto them;
and he shall heal them, and they shall have peace with him, until
three generations shall have passed away, and many of the fourth
generation shall have passed away in righteousness.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 10
10 And when these things have passed away a speedy
destruction cometh unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains
of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to
pass; and they sell themselves for naught; for, for the reward of
their pride and their foolishness they shall reap destruction; for
because they yield unto the devil and choose works of darkness
rather than light, therefore they must go down to hell.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 11
11 For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive
with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then
cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 12
12 And as I spake concerning the convincing of the
Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the
Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal
God;
2 Nephi 26:Verse 13
13 And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who
believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every
nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles,
signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their
faith.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 14
14 But behold, I prophesy unto you concerning the last
days; concerning the days when the Lord God shall bring these
things forth unto the children of men.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 15
15 After my seed and the seed of my brethren shall have
dwindled in unbelief, and shall have been smitten by the Gentiles;
yea, after the Lord God shall have camped against them round about,
and shall have laid siege against them with a mount, and raised
forts against them; and after they shall have been brought down low
in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous
shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard,
and all those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be
forgotten.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 16
16 For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto
them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the
dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit;
for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper
concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their
speech shall whisper out of the dust.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 17
17 For thus saith the Lord God: They shall write the
things which shall be done among them, and they shall be written
and sealed up in a book, and those who have dwindled in unbelief
shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of
God.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 18
18 Wherefore, as those who have been destroyed have
been destroyed speedily; and the multitude of their terrible ones
shall be as chaff that passeth away--yea, thus saith the Lord God:
It shall be at an instant, suddenly--
2 Nephi 26:Verse 19
19 And it shall come to pass, that those who have
dwindled in unbelief shall be smitten by the hand of the
Gentiles.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 20
20 And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their
eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their
stumbling block, that they have built up many churches;
nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and
preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning,
that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 21
21 And there are many churches built up which cause
envyings, and strifes, and malice.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 22
22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in
times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is
the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and
works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a
flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords
forever.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 23
23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that
the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 24
24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of
the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his
own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he
commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 25
25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from
me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye
ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without
price.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 26
26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should
depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship?
Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 27
27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake
of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it
free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should
persuade all men to repentance.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 28
28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should
not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all
men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are
forbidden.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 29
29 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts;
for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up
for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of
the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 30
30 Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing;
wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men
should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should
have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have
charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 31
31 But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if
they labor for money they shall perish.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 32
32 And again, the Lord God hath commanded that men
should not murder; that they should not lie; that they should not
steal; that they should not take the name of the Lord their God in
vain; that they should not envy; that they should not have malice;
that they should not contend one with another; that they should not
commit whoredoms; and that they should do none of these things; for
whoso doeth them shall perish.
2 Nephi 26:Verse 33
33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for
he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth
nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth
them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he
denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free,
male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike
unto God, both Jew and Gentile.
Chapter 27
2 Nephi 27:Verse 1
1 But, behold, in the last days, or in the days of the
Gentiles--yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles and also the
Jews, both those who shall come upon this land and those who shall
be upon other lands, yea, even upon all the lands of the earth,
behold, they will be drunken with iniquity and all manner of
abominations--
2 Nephi 27:Verse 2
2 And when that day shall come they shall be visited of
the Lord of Hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a
great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the flame
of devouring fire.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 3
3 And all the nations that fight against Zion, and that
distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision; yea, it shall
be unto them, even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold
he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a
thirsty man which dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he awaketh
and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite; yea, even so
shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount
Zion.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 4
4 For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay
yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry; yea, ye shall
be drunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong
drink.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 5
5 For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the
spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye
have rejected the prophets; and your rulers, and the seers hath he
covered because of your iniquity.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 6
6 And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall
bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the
words of them which have slumbered.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 7
7 And behold the book shall be sealed; and in the book
shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to
the ending thereof.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 8
8 Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up,
the things which are sealed shall not be delivered in the day of
the wickedness and abominations of the people. Wherefore the book
shall be kept from them.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 9
9 But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he
shall deliver the words of the book, which are the words of those
who have slumbered in the dust, and he shall deliver these words
unto another;
2 Nephi 27:Verse 10
10 But the words which are sealed he shall not deliver,
neither shall he deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by
the power of God, and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept
in the book until the own due time of the Lord, that they may come
forth; for behold, they reveal all things from the foundation of
the world unto the end thereof.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 11
11 And the day cometh that the words of the book which
were sealed shall be read upon the house tops; and they shall be
read by the power of Christ; and all things shall be revealed unto
the children of men which ever have been among the children of men,
and which ever will be even unto the end of the earth.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 12
12 Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be
delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid
from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it
save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of
God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they
shall testify to the truth of the book and the things
therein.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 13
13 And there is none other which shall view it, save it
be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his
word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the
words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the
dead.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 14
14 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to bring forth
the words of the book; and in the mouth of as many witnesses as
seemeth him good will he establish his word; and wo be unto him
that rejecteth the word of God!
2 Nephi 27:Verse 15
15 But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God
shall say unto him to whom he shall deliver the book: Take these
words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he may
show them unto the learned, saying: Read this, I pray thee. And the
learned shall say: Bring hither the book, and I will read
them.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 16
16 And now, because of the glory of the world and to
get gain will they say this, and not for the glory of God.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 17
17 And the man shall say: I cannot bring the book, for
it is sealed.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 18
18 Then shall the learned say: I cannot read it.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 19
19 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that the Lord God
will deliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is
not learned; and the man that is not learned shall say: I am not
learned.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 20
20 Then shall the Lord God say unto him: The learned
shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to
do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall
give unto thee.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 21
21 Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will
bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the
children of men that I am able to do mine own work.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 22
22 Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I
have commanded thee, and obtained the witnesses which I have
promised unto thee, then shalt thou seal up the book again, and
hide it up unto me, that I may preserve the words which thou hast
not read, until I shall see fit in mine own wisdom to reveal all
things unto the children of men.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 23
23 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles;
and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today,
and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be
according to their faith.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 24
24 And again it shall come to pass that the Lord shall
say unto him that shall read the words that shall be delivered
him:
2 Nephi 27:Verse 25
25 Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with
their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed
their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by
the precepts of men--
2 Nephi 27:Verse 26
26 Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work
among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the
wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the
understanding of their prudent shall be hid.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 27
27 And wo unto them that seek deep to hide their
counsel from the Lord! And their works are in the dark; and they
say: Who seeth us, and who knoweth us? And they also say: Surely,
your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the
potter's clay. But behold, I will show unto them, saith the Lord of
Hosts, that I know all their works. For shall the work say of him
that made it, he made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him
that framed it, he had no understanding?
2 Nephi 27:Verse 28
28 But behold, saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show
unto the children of men that it is yet a very little while and
Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field; and the fruitful
field shall be esteemed as a forest.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 29
29 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the
book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out
of darkness.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 30
30 And the meek also shall increase, and their joy
shall be in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the
Holy One of Israel.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 31
31 For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that
the terrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed,
and all that watch for iniquity are cut off;
2 Nephi 27:Verse 32
32 And they that make a man an offender for a word, and
lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the
just for a thing of naught.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 33
33 Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed
Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be
ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 34
34 But when he seeth his children, the work of my
hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and
sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of
Israel.
2 Nephi 27:Verse 35
35 They also that erred in spirit shall come to
understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
Chapter 28
2 Nephi 28:Verse 1
1 AND now, behold, my brethren, I have spoken unto you,
according as the Spirit hath constrained me; wherefore, I know that
they must surely come to pass.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 2
2 And the things which shall be written out of the book
shall be of great worth unto the children of men, and especially
unto our seed, which is a remnant of the house of Israel.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 3
3 For it shall come to pass in that day that the
churches which are built up, and not unto the Lord, when the one
shall say unto the other: Behold, I, I am the Lord's; and the
others shall say: I, I am the Lord's; and thus shall every one say
that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord--
2 Nephi 28:Verse 4
4 And they shall contend one with another; and their
priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with
their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth
utterance.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 5
5 And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of
Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye
our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the
Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto
men;
2 Nephi 28:Verse 6
6 Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say
there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not;
for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his
work.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 7
7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat,
drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with
us.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 8
8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat,
drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God--he will justify in
committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of
one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no
harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if
it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes,
and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 9
9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after
this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be
puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their
counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 10
10 And the blood of the saints shall cry from the
ground against them.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 11
11 Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have
become corrupted.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 12
12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and
false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their
churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 13
13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries;
they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they
persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride
they are puffed up.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 14
14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and
because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms,
they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble
followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many
instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of
men.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 15
15 O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are
puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach
false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert
the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord
God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!
2 Nephi 28:Verse 16
16 Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of
naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it is of
no worth! For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily
visit the inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are
fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 17
17 But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall
repent of their wickedness and abominations they shall not be
destroyed, saith the Lord of Hosts.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 18
18 But behold, that great and abominable church, the
whore of all the earth, must tumble to the earth, and great must be
the fall thereof.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 19
19 For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they
which belong to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the
devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains, and they be
stirred up to anger, and perish;
2 Nephi 28:Verse 20
20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts
of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that
which is good.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 21
21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into
carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion
prospereth, all is well--and thus the devil cheateth their souls,
and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 22
22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth
them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for
there is none--and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he
grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no
deliverance.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 23
23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and
death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized
therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged
according to their works, from whence they must go into the place
prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is
endless torment.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 24
24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in
Zion!
2 Nephi 28:Verse 25
25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!
2 Nephi 28:Verse 26
26 Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the
precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the
Holy Ghost!
2 Nephi 28:Verse 27
27 Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received,
and we need no more!
2 Nephi 28:Verse 28
28 And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are
angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built
upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon
a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 29
29 Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the
word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have
enough!
2 Nephi 28:Verse 30
30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give
unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here
a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto
my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn
wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them
that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even
that which they have.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 31
31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or
maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men,
save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy
Ghost.
2 Nephi 28:Verse 32
32 Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of
Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them
from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be
merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and
come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long,
saith the Lord God of Hosts.
Chapter 29
2 Nephi 29:Verse 1
1 BUT behold, there shall be many--at that day when I
shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may
remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men,
that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people,
which are of the house of Israel;
2 Nephi 29:Verse 2
2 And also, that I may remember the promises which I
have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would
remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed
forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth
unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which
are of the house of Israel;
2 Nephi 29:Verse 3
3 And because my words shall hiss forth--many of the
Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and
there cannot be any more Bible.
2 Nephi 29:Verse 4
4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have
a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient
covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which
they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they
remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews,
and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the
Gentiles?
2 Nephi 29:Verse 5
5 O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine
ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have
hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will
return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have
not forgotten my people.
2 Nephi 29:Verse 6
6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a
Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it
were by the Jews?
2 Nephi 29:Verse 7
7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one?
Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and
that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I
rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring
forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the
nations of the earth?
2 Nephi 29:Verse 8
8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive
more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a
witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like
unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation
like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the
testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
2 Nephi 29:Verse 9
9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am
the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my
words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have
spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another;
for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end
of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.
2 Nephi 29:Verse 10
10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not
suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that
I have not caused more to be written.
2 Nephi 29:Verse 11
11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the
west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the
sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for
out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world,
every man according to their works, according to that which is
written.
2 Nephi 29:Verse 12
12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they
shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they
shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the
house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it;
and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall
write it.
2 Nephi 29:Verse 13
13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have
the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of
the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the
lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the
words of the Nephites and the Jews.
2 Nephi 29:Verse 14
14 And it shall come to pass that my people, which are
of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of
their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I
will show unto them that fight against my word and against my
people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I
covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed
forever.
Chapter 30
2 Nephi 30:Verse 1
1 AND now behold, my beloved brethren, I would speak
unto you; for I, Nephi, would not suffer that ye should suppose
that ye are more righteous than the Gentiles shall be. For behold,
except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall all likewise
perish; and because of the words which have been spoken ye need not
suppose that the Gentiles are utterly destroyed.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 2
2 For behold, I say unto you that as many of the
Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as
many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord
covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe
in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 3
3 And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning
the Jews and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have
spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and
sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall
believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them
forth unto the remnant of our seed.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 4
4 And then shall the remnant of our seed know
concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they
are descendants of the Jews.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 5
5 And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared
among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of
their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was
had among their fathers.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 6
6 And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that
it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales
of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many
generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a
pure and a delightsome people.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 7
7 And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are
scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall
begin to gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall
believe in Christ shall also become a delightsome people.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 8
8 And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall
commence his work among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people,
to bring about the restoration of his people upon the earth.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 9
9 And with righteousness shall the Lord God judge the
poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. And he
shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the
breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 10
10 For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall
cause a great division among the people, and the wicked will he
destroy; and he will spare his people, yea, even if it so be that
he must destroy the wicked by fire.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 11
11 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins,
and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 12
12 And then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb; and the
leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young
lion, and the fatling, together; and a little child shall lead
them.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 13
13 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young
ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the
ox.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 14
14 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the
asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's
den.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 15
15 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 16
16 Wherefore, the things of all nations shall be made
known; yea, all things shall be made known unto the children of
men.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 17
17 There is nothing which is secret save it shall be
revealed; there is no work of darkness save it shall be made
manifest in the light; and there is nothing which is sealed upon
the earth save it shall be loosed.
2 Nephi 30:Verse 18
18 Wherefore, all things which have been revealed unto
the children of men shall at that day be revealed; and Satan shall
have power over the hearts of the children of men no more, for a
long time. And now, my beloved brethren, I make an end of my
sayings.
Chapter 31
2 Nephi 31:Verse 1
1 AND now I, Nephi, make an end of my prophesying unto
you, my beloved brethren. And I cannot write but a few things,
which I know must surely come to pass; neither can I write but a
few of the words of my brother Jacob.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 2
2 Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth
me, save it be a few words which I must speak concerning the
doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly,
according to the plainness of my prophesying.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 3
3 For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this
manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the
Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto
men according to their language, unto their understanding.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 4
4 Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I
have spoken unto you concerning that prophet which the Lord showed
unto me, that should baptize the Lamb of God, which should take
away the sins of the world.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 5
5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should
have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O
then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized,
yea, even by water!
2 Nephi 31:Verse 6
6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren,
wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being
baptized by water?
2 Nephi 31:Verse 7
7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he
being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to
the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth
unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his
commandments.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 8
8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy
Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 9
9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the
straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which
they should enter, he having set the example before them.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 10
10 And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou
me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we
shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?
2 Nephi 31:Verse 11
11 And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be
baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 12
12 And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying:
He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the
Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things
which ye have seen me do.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 13
13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye
shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no
hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent,
repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are
willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism--yea, by
following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according
to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea,
then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can
ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy
One of Israel.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 14
14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the
voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your
sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my
commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the
baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new
tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should
deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known
me.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 15
15 And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea,
the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to
the end, the same shall be saved.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 16
16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that
unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of
the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 17
17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I
have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this
cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by
which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is
repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of
your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 18
18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which
leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have
done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and
ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and
the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made,
that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 19
19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten
into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?
Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it
were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying
wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 20
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a
steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a
love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward,
feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold,
thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
2 Nephi 31:Verse 21
21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the
way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven
whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold,
this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one
God, without end. Amen.
Chapter 32
2 Nephi 32:Verse 1
1 AND now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that
ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should
do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye
ponder these things in your hearts?
2 Nephi 32:Verse 2
2 Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye
had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of
angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save
it were by the Holy Ghost?
2 Nephi 32:Verse 3
3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost;
wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto
you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of
Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
2 Nephi 32:Verse 4
4 Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye
cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye
knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must
perish in the dark.
2 Nephi 32:Verse 5
5 For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will
enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto
you all things what ye should do.
2 Nephi 32:Verse 6
6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there
will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest
himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself
unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall
ye observe to do.
2 Nephi 32:Verse 7
7 And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit
stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the
unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the
stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor
understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in
plainness, even as plain as word can be.
2 Nephi 32:Verse 8
8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye
ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak
concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit
which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for
the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that
he must not pray.
2 Nephi 32:Verse 9
9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always,
and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord
save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name
of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that
thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.
Chapter 33
2 Nephi 33:Verse 1
1 AND now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which
were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like
unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy
Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of
the children of men.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 2
2 But behold, there are many that harden their hearts
against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore,
they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as
things of naught.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 3
3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I
esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I
pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by
night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know
that he will hear my cry.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 4
4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my
prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have
written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it
persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their
fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe
in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 5
5 And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the
plainness of the truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the
words which I have written save he shall be of the spirit of the
devil.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 6
6 I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my
Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 7
7 I have charity for my people, and great faith in
Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his
judgment-seat.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 8
8 I have charity for the Jew--I say Jew, because I mean
them from whence I came.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 9
9 I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for
none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto
Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path
which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the
day of probation.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 10
10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all
ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in
Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And
if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for
they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and
they teach all men that they should do good.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 11
11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge
ye--for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that
they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face
to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been
commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my
weakness.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 12
12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that
many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great
and last day.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 13
13 And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of
the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you
as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great
day shall come.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 14
14 And you that will not partake of the goodness of
God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the
words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of
God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words
shall condemn you at the last day.
2 Nephi 33:Verse 15
15 For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against
you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I
must obey. Amen.
Jacob
THE BOOK OF JACOB
THE BROTHER OF NEPHI
The words of his preaching unto his brethren.
He confoundeth a man who seeketh to overthrow the doctrine of
Christ. A few words concerning the history of the people of
Nephi.
Chapter 1
Jacob 1:Verse 1
1 FOR behold, it came to pass that fifty and five years
had passed away from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem; wherefore,
Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates,
upon which these things are engraven.
Jacob 1:Verse 2
2 And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should
write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to
be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly,
concerning the history of this people which are called the people
of Nephi.
Jacob 1:Verse 3
3 For he said that the history of his people should be
engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these
plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to
generation.
Jacob 1:Verse 4
4 And if there were preaching which was sacred, or
revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven
the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as
it were possible, for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our
people.
Jacob 1:Verse 5
5 For because of faith and great anxiety, it truly had
been made manifest unto us concerning our people, what things
should happen unto them.
Jacob 1:Verse 6
6 And we also had many revelations, and the spirit of
much prophecy; wherefore, we knew of Christ and his kingdom, which
should come.
Jacob 1:Verse 7
7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people,
that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the
goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any
means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in
the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of
Israel were in the wilderness.
Jacob 1:Verse 8
8 Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all
men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all
men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his
cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it
upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi.
Jacob 1:Verse 9
9 Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must
soon die; wherefore, he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler
over his people now, according to the reigns of the kings.
Jacob 1:Verse 10
10 The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having
been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban
in their defence, and having labored in all his days for their
welfare--
Jacob 1:Verse 11
11 Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in
remembrance his name. And whoso should reign in his stead were
called by the people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth,
according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by
the people, let them be of whatever name they would.
Jacob 1:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that Nephi died.
Jacob 1:Verse 13
13 Now the people which were not Lamanites were
Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites,
Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and
Ishmaelites.
Jacob 1:Verse 14
14 But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them
by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to
destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I
shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi, according to the
reigns of the kings.
Jacob 1:Verse 15
15 And now it came to pass that the people of Nephi,
under the reign of the second king, began to grow hard in their
hearts, and indulge themselves somewhat in wicked practices, such
as like unto David of old desiring many wives and concubines, and
also Solomon, his son.
Jacob 1:Verse 16
16 Yea, and they also began to search much gold and
silver, and began to be lifted up somewhat in pride.
Jacob 1:Verse 17
17 Wherefore I, Jacob, gave unto them these words as I
taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from
the Lord.
Jacob 1:Verse 18
18 For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been
consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of
Nephi.
Jacob 1:Verse 19
19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking
upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon
our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all
diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might
not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon
our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last
day.
Chapter 2
Jacob 2:Verse 1
1 THE words which Jacob, the brother of Nephi, spake
unto the people of Nephi, after the death of Nephi:
Jacob 2:Verse 2
2 Now, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, according to the
responsibility which I am under to God, to magnify mine office with
soberness, and that I might rid my garments of your sins, I come up
into the temple this day that I might declare unto you the word of
God.
Jacob 2:Verse 3
3 And ye yourselves know that I have hitherto been
diligent in the office of my calling; but I this day am weighed
down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your
souls than I have hitherto been.
Jacob 2:Verse 4
4 For behold, as yet, ye have been obedient unto the
word of the Lord, which I have given unto you.
Jacob 2:Verse 5
5 But behold, hearken ye unto me, and know that by the
help of the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you
concerning your thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in
sin, which sin appeareth very abominable unto me, yea, and
abominable unto God.
Jacob 2:Verse 6
6 Yea, it grieveth my soul and causeth me to shrink
with shame before the presence of my Maker, that I must testify
unto you concerning the wickedness of your hearts.
Jacob 2:Verse 7
7 And also it grieveth me that I must use so much
boldness of speech concerning you, before your wives and your
children, many of whose feelings are exceedingly tender and chaste
and delicate before God, which thing is pleasing unto God;
Jacob 2:Verse 8
8 And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to
hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the
wounded soul.
Jacob 2:Verse 9
9 Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be
constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have
received from God, to admonish you according to your crimes, to
enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of
consoling and healing their wounds; and those who have not been
wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have
daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate
minds.
Jacob 2:Verse 10
10 But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I
must do according to the strict commands of God, and tell you
concerning your wickedness and abominations, in the presence of the
pure in heart, and the broken heart, and under the glance of the
piercing eye of the Almighty God.
Jacob 2:Verse 11
11 Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to
the plainness of the word of God. For behold, as I inquired of the
Lord, thus came the word unto me, saying: Jacob, get thou up into
the temple on the morrow, and declare the word which I shall give
thee unto this people.
Jacob 2:Verse 12
12 And now behold, my brethren, this is the word which
I declare unto you, that many of you have begun to search for gold,
and for silver, and for all manner of precious ores, in the which
this land, which is a land of promise unto you and to your seed,
doth abound most plentifully.
Jacob 2:Verse 13
13 And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most
pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and because some of
you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are
lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and
high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute
your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than
they.
Jacob 2:Verse 14
14 And now, my brethren, do ye suppose that God
justifieth you in this thing? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. But he
condemneth you, and if ye persist in these things his judgments
must speedily come unto you.
Jacob 2:Verse 15
15 O that he would show you that he can pierce you, and
with one glance of his eye he can smite you to the dust!
Jacob 2:Verse 16
16 O that he would rid you from this iniquity and
abomination. And, O that ye would listen unto the word of his
commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your
souls!
Jacob 2:Verse 17
17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be
familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be
rich like unto you.
Jacob 2:Verse 18
18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the
kingdom of God.
Jacob 2:Verse 19
19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall
obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the
intent to do good--to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and
to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the
afflicted.
Jacob 2:Verse 20
20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken unto you
concerning pride; and those of you which have afflicted your
neighbor, and persecuted him because ye were proud in your hearts,
of the things which God hath given you, what say ye of it?
Jacob 2:Verse 21
21 Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable
unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in
his sight as the other. And all flesh is of the dust; and for the
selfsame end hath he created them, that they should keep his
commandments and glorify him forever.
Jacob 2:Verse 22
22 And now I make an end of speaking unto you
concerning this pride. And were it not that I must speak unto you
concerning a grosser crime, my heart would rejoice exceedingly
because of you.
Jacob 2:Verse 23
23 But the word of God burdens me because of your
grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin
to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they
seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the
things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his
son.
Jacob 2:Verse 24
24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and
concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the
Lord.
Jacob 2:Verse 25
25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this
people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine
arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the
fruit of the loins of Joseph.
Jacob 2:Verse 26
26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this
people shall do like unto them of old.
Jacob 2:Verse 27
27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the
word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save
it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none;
Jacob 2:Verse 28
28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of
women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the
Lord of Hosts.
Jacob 2:Verse 29
29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments,
saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their
sakes.
Jacob 2:Verse 30
30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up
seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall
hearken unto these things.
Jacob 2:Verse 31
31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and
heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of
Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the
wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
Jacob 2:Verse 32
32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that
the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led
out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men
of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.
Jacob 2:Verse 33
33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters
of my people because of their tenderness, save I shall visit them
with a sore curse, even unto destruction; for they shall not commit
whoredoms, like unto them of old, saith the Lord of Hosts.
Jacob 2:Verse 34
34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these
commandments were given to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have
known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye
have done these things which ye ought not to have done.
Jacob 2:Verse 35
35 Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the
Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender
wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your
bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend
up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of
God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with
deep wounds.
Chapter 3
Jacob 3:Verse 1
1 BUT behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are
pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto
him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your
afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice
upon those who seek your destruction.
Jacob 3:Verse 2
2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads
and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for
ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.
Jacob 3:Verse 3
3 But, wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart,
that are filthy this day before God; for except ye repent the land
is cursed for your sakes; and the Lamanites, which are not filthy
like unto you, nevertheless they are cursed with a sore cursing,
shall scourge you even unto destruction.
Jacob 3:Verse 4
4 And the time speedily cometh, that except ye repent
they shall possess the land of your inheritance, and the Lord God
will lead away the righteous out from among you.
Jacob 3:Verse 5
5 Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate
because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon
their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not
forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our
father--that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines
they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed
among them.
Jacob 3:Verse 6
6 And now, this commandment they observe to keep;
wherefore, because of this observance, in keeping this commandment,
the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them;
and one day they shall become a blessed people.
Jacob 3:Verse 7
7 Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their
wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love
their children; and their unbelief and their hatred towards you is
because of the iniquity of their fathers; wherefore, how much
better are you than they, in the sight of your great Creator?
Jacob 3:Verse 8
8 O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of
your sins that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall
be brought with them before the throne of God.
Jacob 3:Verse 9
9 Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, which is
the word of God, that ye revile no more against them because of the
darkness of their skins; neither shall ye revile against them
because of their filthiness; but ye shall remember your own
filthiness, and remember that their filthiness came because of
their fathers.
Jacob 3:Verse 10
10 Wherefore, ye shall remember your children, how that
ye have grieved their hearts because of the example that ye have
set before them; and also, remember that ye may, because of your
filthiness, bring your children unto destruction, and their sins be
heaped upon your heads at the last day.
Jacob 3:Verse 11
11 O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the
faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from
the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell
that ye may not become angels to the devil, to be cast into that
lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death.
Jacob 3:Verse 12
12 And now I, Jacob, spake many more things unto the
people of Nephi, warning them against fornication and
lasciviousness, and every kind of sin, telling them the awful
consequences of them.
Jacob 3:Verse 13
13 And a hundredth part of the proceedings of this
people, which now began to be numerous, cannot be written upon
these plates; but many of their proceedings are written upon the
larger plates, and their wars, and their contentions, and the
reigns of their kings.
Jacob 3:Verse 14
14 These plates are called the plates of Jacob, and
they were made by the hand of Nephi. And I make an end of speaking
these words.
Chapter 4
Jacob 4:Verse 1
1 NOW behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having
ministered much unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a
little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our
words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon
plates must remain;
Jacob 4:Verse 2
2 But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it
be upon plates must perish and vanish away; but we can write a few
words upon plates, which will give our children, and also our
beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or
concerning their fathers--
Jacob 4:Verse 3
3 Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor
diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our
beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful
hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not
with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first
parents.
Jacob 4:Verse 4
4 For, for this intent have we written these things,
that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his
glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we
ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets
which were before us.
Jacob 4:Verse 5
5 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the
Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And
for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to
him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness,
even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be
obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac,
which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son.
Jacob 4:Verse 6
6 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many
revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these
witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken,
insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the
very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the
sea.
Jacob 4:Verse 7
7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness
that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great
condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do
these things.
Jacob 4:Verse 8
8 Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the
Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and
it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man
knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore,
brethren, despise not the revelations of God.
Jacob 4:Verse 9
9 For behold, by the power of his word man came upon
the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his
word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and
to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the
earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it,
according to his will and pleasure?
Jacob 4:Verse 10
10 Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord,
but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know
that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy,
over all his works.
Jacob 4:Verse 11
11 Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him
through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may
obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection
which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ
unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him
before he manifesteth himself in the flesh.
Jacob 4:Verse 12
12 And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these
things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to
a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a
resurrection and the world to come?
Jacob 4:Verse 13
13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him
prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the
truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they
really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these
things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our
souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for
God also spake them unto prophets of old.
Jacob 4:Verse 14
14 But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and
they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and
sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore,
because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond
the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his
plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they
cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they
desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.
Jacob 4:Verse 15
15 And now I, Jacob, am led on by the Spirit unto
prophesying; for I perceive by the workings of the Spirit which is
in me, that by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone
upon which they might build and have safe foundation.
Jacob 4:Verse 16
16 But behold, according to the scriptures, this stone
shall become the great, and the last, and the only sure foundation,
upon which the Jews can build.
Jacob 4:Verse 17
17 And now, my beloved, how is it possible that these,
after having rejected the sure foundation, can ever build upon it,
that it may become the head of their corner?
Jacob 4:Verse 18
18 Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this
mystery unto you; if I do not, by any means, get shaken from my
firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my over anxiety for
you.
Chapter 5
Jacob 5:Verse 1
1 Behold, my brethren, do ye not remember to have read
the words of the prophet Zenos, which he spake unto the house of
Israel, saying:
Jacob 5:Verse 2
2 Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear the words of
me, a prophet of the Lord.
Jacob 5:Verse 3
3 For behold, thus saith the Lord, I will liken thee, O
house of Israel, like unto a tame olive-tree, which a man took and
nourished in his vineyard; and it grew, and waxed old, and began to
decay.
Jacob 5:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard
went forth, and he saw that his olive-tree began to decay; and he
said: I will prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it, that
perhaps it may shoot forth young and tender branches, and it perish
not.
Jacob 5:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that he pruned it, and digged
about it, and nourished it according to his word.
Jacob 5:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that after many days it began to
put forth somewhat a little, young and tender branches; but behold,
the main top thereof began to perish.
Jacob 5:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that the master of the vineyard
saw it, and he said unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should
lose this tree; wherefore, go and pluck the branches from a wild
olive-tree, and bring them hither unto me; and we will pluck off
those main branches which are beginning to wither away, and we will
cast them into the fire that they may be burned.
Jacob 5:Verse 8
8 And behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take
away many of these young and tender branches, and I will graft them
whithersoever I will; and it mattereth not that if it so be that
the root of this tree will perish, I may preserve the fruit thereof
unto myself; wherefore, I will take these young and tender
branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will.
Jacob 5:Verse 9
9 Take thou the branches of the wild olive-tree, and
graft them in, in the stead thereof; and these which I have plucked
off I will cast into the fire and burn them, that they may not
cumber the ground of my vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that the servant of the Lord of
the vineyard did according to the word of the Lord of the vineyard,
and grafted in the branches of the wild olive-tree.
Jacob 5:Verse 11
11 And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should
be digged about, and pruned, and nourished, saying unto his
servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore,
that perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish
not, that I might preserve them unto myself, I have done this
thing.
Jacob 5:Verse 12
12 Wherefore, go thy way; watch the tree, and nourish
it, according to my words.
Jacob 5:Verse 13
13 And these will I place in the nethermost part of my
vineyard, whithersoever I will, it mattereth not unto thee; and I
do it that I may preserve unto myself the natural branches of the
tree; and also, that I may lay up fruit thereof against the season,
unto myself; for it grieveth me that I should lose this tree and
the fruit thereof.
Jacob 5:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
went his way, and hid the natural branches of the tame olive-tree
in the nethermost parts of the vineyard, some in one and some in
another, according to his will and pleasure.
Jacob 5:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that a long time passed away,
and the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Come, let us go
down into the vineyard, that we may labor in the vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard,
and also the servant, went down into the vineyard to labor. And it
came to pass that the servant said unto his master: Behold, look
here; behold the tree.
Jacob 5:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
looked and beheld the tree in the which the wild olive branches had
been grafted; and it had sprung forth and begun to bear fruit. And
he beheld that it was good; and the fruit thereof was like unto the
natural fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 18
18 And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches
of the wild tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root
thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength;
and because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild
branches have brought forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not grafted
in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. And now,
behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath
brought forth; and the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the
season, unto mine own self.
Jacob 5:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto the servant: Come, let us go to the nethermost part of
the vineyard, and behold if the natural branches of the tree have
not brought forth much fruit also, that I may lay up of the fruit
thereof against the season, unto mine own self.
Jacob 5:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that they went forth whither the
master had hid the natural branches of the tree, and he said unto
the servant: Behold these; and he beheld the first that it had
brought forth much fruit; and he beheld also that it was good. And
he said unto the servant: Take of the fruit thereof, and lay it up
against the season, that I may preserve it unto mine own self; for
behold, said he, this long time have I nourished it, and it hath
brought forth much fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his
master: How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch
of the tree? For behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of
thy vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 22
22 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto him: Counsel
me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said
unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest
that it hath brought forth much fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto his servant: Look hither; behold I have planted another
branch of the tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground
was poorer than the first. But, behold the tree. I have nourished
it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit; therefore,
gather it, and lay it up against the season, that I may preserve it
unto mine own self.
Jacob 5:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said again unto his servant: Look hither, and behold another branch
also, which I have planted; behold that I have nourished it also,
and it hath brought forth fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 25
25 And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold
the last. Behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and
I have nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree
hath brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath
brought forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this tree like
unto the others.
Jacob 5:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto the servant: Pluck off the branches that have not brought
forth good fruit, and cast them into the fire.
Jacob 5:Verse 27
27 But behold, the servant said unto him: Let us prune
it, and dig about it, and nourish it a little longer, that perhaps
it may bring forth good fruit unto thee, that thou canst lay it up
against the season.
Jacob 5:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
and the servant of the Lord of the vineyard did nourish all the
fruit of the vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass that a long time had passed
away, and the Lord of the vineyard said unto his servant: Come, let
us go down into the vineyard, that we may labor again in the
vineyard. For behold, the time draweth near, and the end soon
cometh; wherefore, I must lay up fruit against the season, unto
mine own self.
Jacob 5:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
and the servant went down into the vineyard; and they came to the
tree whose natural branches had been broken off, and the wild
branches had been grafted in; and behold all sorts of fruit did
cumber the tree.
Jacob 5:Verse 31
31 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
did taste of the fruit, every sort according to its number. And the
Lord of the vineyard said: Behold, this long time have we nourished
this tree, and I have laid up unto myself against the season much
fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 32
32 But behold, this time it hath brought forth much
fruit, and there is none of it which is good. And behold, there are
all kinds of bad fruit; and it profiteth me nothing,
notwithstanding all our labor; and now it grieveth me that I should
lose this tree.
Jacob 5:Verse 33
33 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant:
What shall we do unto the tree, that I may preserve again good
fruit thereof unto mine own self?
Jacob 5:Verse 34
34 And the servant said unto his master: Behold,
because thou didst graft in the branches of the wild olive-tree
they have nourished the roots, that they are alive and they have
not perished; wherefore thou beholdest that they are yet
good.
Jacob 5:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto his servant: The tree profiteth me nothing, and the roots
thereof profit me nothing so long as it shall bring forth evil
fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 36
36 Nevertheless, I know that the roots are good, and
for mine own purpose I have preserved them; and because of their
much strength they have hitherto brought forth, from the wild
branches, good fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 37
37 But behold, the wild branches have grown and have
overrun the roots thereof; and because that the wild branches have
overcome the roots thereof it hath brought forth much evil fruit;
and because that it hath brought forth so much evil fruit thou
beholdest that it beginneth to perish; and it will soon become
ripened, that it may be cast into the fire, except we should do
something for it to preserve it.
Jacob 5:Verse 38
38 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto his servant: Let us go down into the nethermost parts of
the vineyard, and behold if the natural branches have also brought
forth evil fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 39
39 And it came to pass that they went down into the
nethermost parts of the vineyard. And it came to pass that they
beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupt
also; yea, the first and the second and also the last; and they had
all become corrupt.
Jacob 5:Verse 40
40 And the wild fruit of the last had overcome that
part of the tree which brought forth good fruit, even that the
branch had withered away and died.
Jacob 5:Verse 41
41 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my
vineyard?
Jacob 5:Verse 42
42 Behold, I knew that all the fruit of the vineyard,
save it were these, had become corrupted. And now these which have
once brought forth good fruit have also become corrupted; and now
all the trees of my vineyard are good for nothing save it be to be
hewn down and cast into the fire.
Jacob 5:Verse 43
43 And behold this last, whose branch hath withered
away, I did plant in a good spot of ground; yea, even that which
was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my
vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 44
44 And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which
cumbered this spot of ground, that I might plant this tree in the
stead thereof.
Jacob 5:Verse 45
45 And thou beheldest that a part thereof brought forth
good fruit, and a part thereof brought forth wild fruit; and
because I plucked not the branches thereof and cast them into the
fire, behold, they have overcome the good branch that it hath
withered away.
Jacob 5:Verse 46
46 And now, behold, notwithstanding all the care which
we have taken of my vineyard, the trees thereof have become
corrupted, that they bring forth no good fruit; and these I had
hoped to preserve, to have laid up fruit thereof against the
season, unto mine own self. But, behold, they have become like unto
the wild olive-tree, and they are of no worth but to be hewn down
and cast into the fire; and it grieveth me that I should lose
them.
Jacob 5:Verse 47
47 But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have
I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have
nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and
I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand almost all
the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I
should hew down all the trees of my vineyard, and cast them into
the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted
my vineyard?
Jacob 5:Verse 48
48 And it came to pass that the servant said unto his
master: Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard--have not the
branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the
branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster
than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves.
Behold, I say, is not this the cause that the trees of thy vineyard
have become corrupted?
Jacob 5:Verse 49
49 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
said unto the servant: Let us go to and hew down the trees of the
vineyard and cast them into the fire, that they shall not cumber
the ground of my vineyard, for I have done all. What could I have
done more for my vineyard?
Jacob 5:Verse 50
50 But, behold, the servant said unto the Lord of the
vineyard: Spare it a little longer.
Jacob 5:Verse 51
51 And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a little
longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my
vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 52
52 Wherefore, let us take of the branches of these
which I have planted in the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and
let us graft them into the tree from whence they came; and let us
pluck from the tree those branches whose fruit is most bitter, and
graft in the natural branches of the tree in the stead
thereof.
Jacob 5:Verse 53
53 And this will I do that the tree may not perish,
that, perhaps, I may preserve unto myself the roots thereof for
mine own purpose.
Jacob 5:Verse 54
54 And, behold, the roots of the natural branches of
the tree which I planted whithersoever I would are yet alive;
wherefore, that I may preserve them also for mine own purpose, I
will take of the branches of this tree, and I will graft them in
unto them. Yea, I will graft in unto them the branches of their
mother tree, that I may preserve the roots also unto mine own self,
that when they shall be sufficiently strong perhaps they may bring
forth good fruit unto me, and I may yet have glory in the fruit of
my vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 55
55 And it came to pass that they took from the natural
tree which had become wild, and grafted in unto the natural trees,
which also had become wild.
Jacob 5:Verse 56
56 And they also took of the natural trees which had
become wild, and grafted into their mother tree.
Jacob 5:Verse 57
57 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant:
Pluck not the wild branches from the trees, save it be those which
are most bitter; and in them ye shall graft according to that which
I have said.
Jacob 5:Verse 58
58 And we will nourish again the trees of the vineyard,
and we will trim up the branches thereof; and we will pluck from
the trees those branches which are ripened, that must perish, and
cast them into the fire.
Jacob 5:Verse 59
59 And this I do that, perhaps, the roots thereof may
take strength because of their goodness; and because of the change
of the branches, that the good may overcome the evil.
Jacob 5:Verse 60
60 And because that I have preserved the natural
branches and the roots thereof, and that I have grafted in the
natural branches again into their mother tree, and have preserved
the roots of their mother tree, that, perhaps, the trees of my
vineyard may bring forth again good fruit and that I may have joy
again in the fruit of my vineyard, and, perhaps, that I may rejoice
exceedingly that I have preserved the roots and the branches of the
first fruit--
Jacob 5:Verse 61
61 Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may
labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may
prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit,
which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other
fruit.
Jacob 5:Verse 62
62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might
this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for
the last time that I shall prune my vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 63
63 Graft in the branches; begin at the last that they
may be first, and that the first may be last, and dig about the
trees, both old and young, the first and the last; and the last and
the first, that all may be nourished once again for the last
time.
Jacob 5:Verse 64
64 Wherefore, dig about them, and prune them, and dung
them once more, for the last time, for the end draweth nigh. And if
it be so that these last grafts shall grow, and bring forth the
natural fruit, then shall ye prepare the way for them, that they
may grow.
Jacob 5:Verse 65
65 And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the
branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength
of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the
bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too
strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I
lose the trees of my vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 66
66 For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of
my vineyard; wherefore ye shall clear away the bad according as the
good shall grow, that the root and the top may be equal in
strength, until the good shall overcome the bad, and the bad be
hewn down and cast into the fire, that they cumber not the ground
of my vineyard; and thus will I sweep away the bad out of my
vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 67
67 And the branches of the natural tree will I graft in
again into the natural tree;
Jacob 5:Verse 68
68 And the branches of the natural tree will I graft
into the natural branches of the tree; and thus will I bring them
together again, that they shall bring forth the natural fruit, and
they shall be one.
Jacob 5:Verse 69
69 And the bad shall be cast away, yea, even out of all
the land of my vineyard; for behold, only this once will I prune my
vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 70
70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard
sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had
commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few.
Jacob 5:Verse 71
71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to,
and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the
last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at
hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your
might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up
unto myself against the time which will soon come.
Jacob 5:Verse 72
72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and
labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also
with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the
vineyard in all things.
Jacob 5:Verse 73
73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the
vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive
exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to
be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal,
according to the strength thereof.
Jacob 5:Verse 74
74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according
to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad
had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved
unto himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and
they became like unto one body; and the fruits were equal; and the
Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit,
which was most precious unto him from the beginning.
Jacob 5:Verse 75
75 And it came to pass that when the Lord of the
vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no
more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them:
Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou
beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have
preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was
in the beginning. And blessed art thou; for because ye have been
diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my
commandments, and have brought unto me again the natural fruit,
that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away,
behold ye shall have joy with me because of the fruit of my
vineyard.
Jacob 5:Verse 76
76 For behold, for a long time will I lay up of the
fruit of my vineyard unto mine own self against the season, which
speedily cometh; and for the last time have I nourished my
vineyard, and pruned it, and dug about it, and dunged it; wherefore
I will lay up unto mine own self of the fruit, for a long time,
according to that which I have spoken.
Jacob 5:Verse 77
77 And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again
come into my vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be
gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad
will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the season and
the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire.
Chapter 6
Jacob 6:Verse 1
1 AND now, behold, my brethren, as I said unto you that
I would prophesy, behold, this is my prophecy--that the things
which this prophet Zenos spake, concerning the house of Israel, in
the which he likened them unto a tame olive-tree, must surely come
to pass.
Jacob 6:Verse 2
2 And the day that he shall set his hand again the
second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last
time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power, to
nourish and prune his vineyard; and after that the end soon
cometh.
Jacob 6:Verse 3
3 And how blessed are they who have labored diligently
in his vineyard; and how cursed are they who shall be cast out into
their own place! And the world shall be burned with fire.
Jacob 6:Verse 4
4 And how merciful is our God unto us, for he
remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he
stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long; and they are
a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not
harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
Jacob 6:Verse 5
5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in
words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose
of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while
his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day,
harden not your hearts.
Jacob 6:Verse 6
6 Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not
your hearts; for why will ye die?
Jacob 6:Verse 7
7 For behold, after ye have been nourished by the good
word of God all the day long, will ye bring forth evil fruit, that
ye must be hewn down and cast into the fire?
Jacob 6:Verse 8
8 Behold, will ye reject these words? Will ye reject
the words of the prophets; and will ye reject all the words which
have been spoken concerning Christ, after so many have spoken
concerning him; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of
God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit,
and make a mock of the great plan of redemption, which hath been
laid for you?
Jacob 6:Verse 9
9 Know ye not that if ye will do these things, that the
power of the redemption and the resurrection, which is in Christ,
will bring you to stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar
of God?
Jacob 6:Verse 10
10 And according to the power of justice, for justice
cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and
brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth
up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless
torment.
Jacob 6:Verse 11
11 O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in
at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until
ye shall obtain eternal life.
Jacob 6:Verse 12
12 O be wise; what can I say more?
Jacob 6:Verse 13
13 Finally, I bid you farewell, until I shall meet you
before the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh the wicked with
awful dread and fear. Amen.
Chapter 7
Jacob 7:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass after some years had passed
away, there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was
Sherem.
Jacob 7:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that he began to preach among the
people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ.
And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people;
and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of
Christ.
Jacob 7:Verse 3
3 And he labored diligently that he might lead away the
hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts;
and he knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ who should come,
he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me.
Jacob 7:Verse 4
4 And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge
of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much
flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the
devil.
Jacob 7:Verse 5
5 And he had hope to shake me from the faith,
notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I
had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and
they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the
Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I
could not be shaken.
Jacob 7:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that he came unto me, and on this
wise did he speak unto me, saying: Brother Jacob, I have sought
much opportunity that I might speak unto you; for I have heard and
also know that thou goest about much, preaching that which ye call
the gospel, or the doctrine of Christ.
Jacob 7:Verse 7
7 And ye have led away much of this people that they
pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which
is the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship of
a being which ye say shall come many hundred years hence. And now
behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no
man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come.
And after this manner did Sherem contend against me.
Jacob 7:Verse 8
8 But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my
soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words.
Jacob 7:Verse 9
9 And I said unto him: Deniest thou the Christ who
shall come? And he said: If there should be a Christ, I would not
deny him; but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor
ever will be.
Jacob 7:Verse 10
10 And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures?
And he said, Yea.
Jacob 7:Verse 11
11 And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them;
for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none
of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken
concerning this Christ.
Jacob 7:Verse 12
12 And this is not all--it has been made manifest unto
me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest
unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there
should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost.
Jacob 7:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a
sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so
much.
Jacob 7:Verse 14
14 And I said unto him: What am I that I should tempt
God to show unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be
true? Yet thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil.
Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall smite thee, let
that be a sign unto thee that he has power, both in heaven and in
earth; and also, that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lord, be
done, and not mine.
Jacob 7:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken
these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he
fell to the earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for
the space of many days.
Jacob 7:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that he said unto the people:
Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire
to speak unto the people before I shall die.
Jacob 7:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that on the morrow the multitude
were gathered together; and he spake plainly unto them and denied
the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and
the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels.
Jacob 7:Verse 18
18 And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been
deceived by the power of the devil. And he spake of hell, and of
eternity, and of eternal punishment.
Jacob 7:Verse 19
19 And he said: I fear lest I have committed the
unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto God; for I denied the
Christ, and said that I believed the scriptures; and they truly
testify of him. And because I have thus lied unto God I greatly
fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto God.
Jacob 7:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that when he had said these
words he could say no more, and he gave up the ghost.
Jacob 7:Verse 21
21 And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake
these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were
astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came down
upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the
earth.
Jacob 7:Verse 22
22 Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I
had requested it of my Father who was in heaven; for he had heard
my cry and answered my prayer.
Jacob 7:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that peace and the love of God
was restored again among the people; and they searched the
scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked
man.
Jacob 7:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that many means were devised to
reclaim and restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth;
but it all was vain, for they delighted in wars and bloodshed, and
they had an eternal hatred against us, their brethren. And they
sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually.
Jacob 7:Verse 25
25 Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against
them with their arms, and with all their might, trusting in the God
and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet,
conquerors of their enemies.
Jacob 7:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old;
and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of
Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have
written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the
time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it
were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people,
wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a
wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and
contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.
Jacob 7:Verse 27
27 And I, Jacob, saw that I must soon go down to my
grave; wherefore, I said unto my son Enos: Take these plates. And I
told him the things which my brother Nephi had commanded me, and he
promised obedience unto the commands. And I make an end of my
writing upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to the
reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my
words. Brethren, adieu.
Enos
Chapter 1
Enos 1:Verse 1
1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my
father that he was a just man--for he taught me in his language,
and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord--and blessed be
the name of my God for it--
Enos 1:Verse 2
2 And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before
God, before I received a remission of my sins.
Enos 1:Verse 3
3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the
words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal
life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.
Enos 1:Verse 4
4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my
Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for
mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and
when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached
the heavens.
Enos 1:Verse 5
5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy
sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.
Enos 1:Verse 6
6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore,
my guilt was swept away.
Enos 1:Verse 7
7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?
Enos 1:Verse 8
8 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ,
whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass
away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go
to, thy faith hath made thee whole.
Enos 1:Verse 9
9 Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these
words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the
Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for
them.
Enos 1:Verse 10
10 And while I was thus struggling in the spirit,
behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind again, saying: I
will visit thy brethren according to their diligence in keeping my
commandments. I have given unto them this land, and it is a holy
land; and I curse it not save it be for the cause of iniquity;
wherefore, I will visit thy brethren according as I have said; and
their transgressions will I bring down with sorrow upon their own
heads.
Enos 1:Verse 11
11 And after I, Enos, had heard these words, my faith
began to be unshaken in the Lord; and I prayed unto him with many
long strugglings for my brethren, the Lamanites.
Enos 1:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that after I had prayed and
labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant
unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith.
Enos 1:Verse 13
13 And now behold, this was the desire which I desired
of him--that if it should so be, that my people, the Nephites,
should fall into transgression, and by any means be destroyed, and
the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God would
preserve a record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so be by
the power of his holy arm, that it might be brought forth at some
future day unto the Lamanites, that, perhaps, they might be brought
unto salvation--
Enos 1:Verse 14
14 For at the present our strugglings were vain in
restoring them to the true faith. And they swore in their wrath
that, if it were possible, they would destroy our records and us,
and also all the traditions of our fathers.
Enos 1:Verse 15
15 Wherefore, I knowing that the Lord God was able to
preserve our records, I cried unto him continually, for he had said
unto me: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye
shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it.
Enos 1:Verse 16
16 And I had faith, and I did cry unto God that he
would preserve the records; and he covenanted with me that he would
bring them forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time.
Enos 1:Verse 17
17 And I, Enos, knew it would be according to the
covenant which he had made; wherefore my soul did rest.
Enos 1:Verse 18
18 And the Lord said unto me: Thy fathers have also
required of me this thing; and it shall be done unto them according
to their faith; for their faith was like unto thine.
Enos 1:Verse 19
19 And now it came to pass that I, Enos, went about
among the people of Nephi, prophesying of things to come, and
testifying of the things which I had heard and seen.
Enos 1:Verse 20
20 And I bear record that the people of Nephi did seek
diligently to restore the Lamanites unto the true faith in God. But
our labors were vain; their hatred was fixed, and they were led by
their evil nature that they became wild, and ferocious, and a
blood-thirsty people, full of idolatry and filthiness; feeding upon
beasts of prey; dwelling in tents, and wandering about in the
wilderness with a short skin girdle about their loins and their
heads shaven; and their skill was in the bow, and in the cimeter,
and the ax. And many of them did eat nothing save it was raw meat;
and they were continually seeking to destroy us.
Enos 1:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that the people of Nephi did
till the land, and raise all manner of grain, and of fruit, and
flocks of herds, and flocks of all manner of cattle of every kind,
and goats, and wild goats, and also many horses.
Enos 1:Verse 22
22 And there were exceedingly many prophets among us.
And the people were a stiffnecked people, hard to understand.
Enos 1:Verse 23
23 And there was nothing save it was exceeding
harshness, preaching and prophesying of wars, and contentions, and
destructions, and continually reminding them of death, and the
duration of eternity, and the judgments and the power of God, and
all these things--stirring them up continually to keep them in the
fear of the Lord. I say there was nothing short of these things,
and exceedingly great plainness of speech, would keep them from
going down speedily to destruction. And after this manner do I
write concerning them.
Enos 1:Verse 24
24 And I saw wars between the Nephites and Lamanites in
the course of my days.
Enos 1:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that I began to be old, and an
hundred and seventy and nine years had passed away from the time
that our father Lehi left Jerusalem.
Enos 1:Verse 26
26 And I saw that I must soon go down to my grave,
having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and
prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the
truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days,
and have rejoiced in it above that of the world.
Enos 1:Verse 27
27 And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with
my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in
the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand
before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will
say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared
for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.
Jarom
Chapter 1
Jarom 1:Verse 1
1 NOW behold, I, Jarom, write a few words according to
the commandment of my father, Enos, that our genealogy may be
kept.
Jarom 1:Verse 2
2 And as these plates are small, and as these things
are written for the intent of the benefit of our brethren the
Lamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little; but I
shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my
revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have
written? For have not they revealed the plan of salvation? I say
unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me.
Jarom 1:Verse 3
3 Behold, it is expedient that much should be done
among this people, because of the hardness of their hearts, and the
deafness of their ears, and the blindness of their minds, and the
stiffness of their necks; nevertheless, God is exceedingly merciful
unto them, and has not as yet swept them off from the face of the
land.
Jarom 1:Verse 4
4 And there are many among us who have many
revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked. And as many as are
not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy
Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according
to their faith.
Jarom 1:Verse 5
5 And now, behold, two hundred years had passed away,
and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. They observed
to keep the law of Moses and the sabbath day holy unto the Lord.
And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme. And the laws of
the land were exceedingly strict.
Jarom 1:Verse 6
6 And they were scattered upon much of the face of the
land, and the Lamanites also. And they were exceedingly more
numerous than were they of the Nephites; and they loved murder and
would drink the blood of beasts.
Jarom 1:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that they came many times against
us, the Nephites, to battle. But our kings and our leaders were
mighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught the people the
ways of the Lord; wherefore, we withstood the Lamanites and swept
them away out of our lands, and began to fortify our cities, or
whatsoever place of our inheritance.
Jarom 1:Verse 8
8 And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the
face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in gold, and in
silver, and in precious things, and in fine workmanship of wood, in
buildings, and in machinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass
and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the
ground, and weapons of war--yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and the
quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for
war.
Jarom 1:Verse 9
9 And thus being prepared to meet the Lamanites, they
did not prosper against us. But the word of the Lord was verified,
which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will
keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land.
Jarom 1:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that the prophets of the Lord
did threaten the people of Nephi, according to the word of God,
that if they did not keep the commandments, but should fall into
transgression, they should be destroyed from off the face of the
land.
Jarom 1:Verse 11
11 Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the
teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering
the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent
for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the
Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was. And
after this manner did they teach them.
Jarom 1:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them
from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick
their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto
repentance.
Jarom 1:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that two hundred and thirty and
eight years had passed away--after the manner of wars, and
contentions, and dissensions, for the space of much of the
time.
Jarom 1:Verse 14
14 And I, Jarom, do not write more, for the plates are
small. But behold, my brethren, ye can go to the other plates of
Nephi; for behold, upon them the records of our wars are engraven,
according to the writings of the kings, or those which they caused
to be written.
Jarom 1:Verse 15
15 And I deliver these plates into the hands of my son
Omni, that they may be kept according to the commandments of my
fathers.
Omni
Chapter 1
Omni 1:Verse 1
1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded
by my father, Jarom, that I should write somewhat upon these
plates, to preserve our genealogy--
Omni 1:Verse 2
2 Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know
that I fought much with the sword to preserve my people, the
Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the
Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked man, and I have not
kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to
have done.
Omni 1:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and
six years had passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we
had many seasons of serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine,
two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had
kept these plates according to the commandments of my fathers; and
I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And I make an end.
Omni 1:Verse 4
4 And now I, Amaron, write the things whatsoever I
write, which are few, in the book of my father.
Omni 1:Verse 5
5 Behold, it came to pass that three hundred and twenty
years had passed away, and the more wicked part of the Nephites
were destroyed.
Omni 1:Verse 6
6 For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them
out of the land of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from
falling into the hands of their enemies, yea, he would not suffer
that the words should not be verified, which he spake unto our
fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments
ye shall not prosper in the land.
Omni 1:Verse 7
7 Wherefore, the Lord did visit them in great judgment;
nevertheless, he did spare the righteous that they should not
perish, but did deliver them out of the hands of their
enemies.
Omni 1:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates
unto my brother Chemish.
Omni 1:Verse 9
9 Now I, Chemish, write what few things I write, in the
same book with my brother; for behold, I saw the last which he
wrote, that he wrote it with his own hand; and he wrote it in the
day that he delivered them unto me. And after this manner we keep
the records, for it is according to the commandments of our
fathers. And I make an end.
Omni 1:Verse 10
10 Behold, I, Abinadom, am the son of Chemish. Behold,
it came to pass that I saw much war and contention between my
people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites; and I, with my own sword,
have taken the lives of many of the Lamanites in the defence of my
brethren.
Omni 1:Verse 11
11 And behold, the record of this people is engraven
upon plates which is had by the kings, according to the
generations; and I know of no revelation save that which has been
written, neither prophecy; wherefore, that which is sufficient is
written. And I make an end.
Omni 1:Verse 12
12 Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I
will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king
over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, he being warned of the Lord
that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would
hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also depart out of the
land with him, into the wilderness--
Omni 1:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that he did according as the
Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the
wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord;
and they were led by many preachings and prophesyings. And they
were admonished continually by the word of God; and they were led
by the power of his arm, through the wilderness until they came
down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla.
Omni 1:Verse 14
14 And they discovered a people, who were called the
people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the
people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly,
because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of
brass which contained the record of the Jews.
Omni 1:Verse 15
15 Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that
the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that
Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into
Babylon.
Omni 1:Verse 16
16 And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were
brought by the hand of the Lord across the great waters, into the
land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had dwelt there from
that time forth.
Omni 1:Verse 17
17 And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they
had become exceedingly numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many
wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time
to time; and their language had become corrupted; and they had
brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their
Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand
them.
Omni 1:Verse 18
18 But it came to pass that Mosiah caused that they
should be taught in his language. And it came to pass that after
they were taught in the language of Mosiah, Zarahemla gave a
genealogy of his fathers, according to his memory; and they are
written, but not in these plates.
Omni 1:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that the people of Zarahemla,
and of Mosiah, did unite together; and Mosiah was appointed to be
their king.
Omni 1:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was
a large stone brought unto him with engravings on it; and he did
interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God.
Omni 1:Verse 21
21 And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the
slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of
Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine
moons.
Omni 1:Verse 22
22 It also spake a few words concerning his fathers.
And his first parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord
confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord
fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and
their bones lay scattered in the land northward.
Omni 1:Verse 23
23 Behold, I, Amaleki, was born in the days of Mosiah;
and I have lived to see his death; and Benjamin, his son, reigneth
in his stead.
Omni 1:Verse 24
24 And behold, I have seen, in the days of king
Benjamin, a serious war and much bloodshed between the Nephites and
the Lamanites. But behold, the Nephites did obtain much advantage
over them; yea, insomuch that king Benjamin did drive them out of
the land of Zarahemla.
Omni 1:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that I began to be old; and,
having no seed, and knowing king Benjamin to be a just man before
the Lord, wherefore, I shall deliver up these plates unto him,
exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and
believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering
of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the
gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good;
for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord; and
that which is evil cometh from the devil.
Omni 1:Verse 26
26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should
come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his
salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and
offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in
fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth
ye will be saved.
Omni 1:Verse 27
27 And now I would speak somewhat concerning a certain
number who went up into the wilderness to return to the land of
Nephi; for there was a large number who were desirous to possess
the land of their inheritance.
Omni 1:Verse 28
28 Wherefore, they went up into the wilderness. And
their leader being a strong and mighty man, and a stiffnecked man,
wherefore he caused a contention among them; and they were all
slain, save fifty, in the wilderness, and they returned again to
the land of Zarahemla.
Omni 1:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass that they also took others to a
considerable number, and took their journey again into the
wilderness.
Omni 1:Verse 30
30 And I, Amaleki, had a brother, who also went with
them; and I have not since known concerning them. And I am about to
lie down in my grave; and these plates are full. And I make an end
of my speaking.
Words of Mormon
Chapter 1
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 1
1 AND now I, Mormon, being about to deliver up the
record which I have been making into the hands of my son Moroni,
behold I have witnessed almost all the destruction of my people,
the Nephites.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 2
2 And it is many hundred years after the coming of
Christ that I deliver these records into the hands of my son; and
it supposeth me that he will witness the entire destruction of my
people. But may God grant that he may survive them, that he may
write somewhat concerning them, and somewhat concerning Christ,
that perhaps some day it may profit them.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 3
3 And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I
have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of
Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki
spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into
my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small
account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king
Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 4
4 And the things which are upon these plates pleasing
me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my
fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I
also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us
down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this
day must surely come to pass--
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 5
5 Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record
upon them, which remainder of my record I shall take from the
plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the
things of my people.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 6
6 But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain
these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder
of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be
choice unto my brethren.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 7
7 And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it
whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord
which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord
knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me
to do according to his will.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 8
8 And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, that
they may once again come to the knowledge of God, yea, the
redemption of Christ; that they may once again be a delightsome
people.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 9
9 And now I, Mormon, proceed to finish out my record,
which I take from the plates of Nephi; and I make it according to
the knowledge and the understanding which God has given me.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 10
10 Wherefore, it came to pass that after Amaleki had
delivered up these plates into the hands of king Benjamin, he took
them and put them with the other plates, which contained records
which had been handed down by the kings, from generation to
generation until the days of king Benjamin.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 11
11 And they were handed down from king Benjamin, from
generation to generation until they have fallen into my hands. And
I, Mormon, pray to God that they may be preserved from this time
henceforth. And I know that they will be preserved; for there are
great things written upon them, out of which my people and their
brethren shall be judged at the great and last day, according to
the word of God which is written.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 12
12 And now, concerning this king Benjamin--he had
somewhat of contentions among his own people.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass also that the armies of the
Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephi, to battle against his
people. But behold, king Benjamin gathered together his armies, and
he did stand against them; and he did fight with the strength of
his own arm, with the sword of Laban.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 14
14 And in the strength of the Lord they did contend
against their enemies, until they had slain many thousands of the
Lamanites. And it came to pass that they did contend against the
Lamanites until they had driven them out of all the lands of their
inheritance.
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that after there had been false
Christs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished
according to their crimes;
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 16
16 And after there had been false prophets, and false
preachers and teachers among the people, and all these having been
punished according to their crimes; and after there having been
much contention and many dissensions away unto the Lamanites,
behold, it came to pass that king Benjamin, with the assistance of
the holy prophets who were among his people--
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 17
17 For behold, king Benjamin was a holy man, and he did
reign over his people in righteousness; and there were many holy
men in the land, and they did speak the word of God with power and
with authority; and they did use much sharpness because of the
stiffneckedness of the people--
Words Of Mormon 1:Verse 18
18 Wherefore, with the help of these, king Benjamin, by
laboring with all the might of his body and the faculty of his
whole soul, and also the prophets, did once more establish peace in
the land.
Mosiah
THE BOOK OF MOSIAH
Chapter 1
Mosiah 1:Verse 1
1 AND now there was no more contention in all the land
of Zarahemla, among all the people who belonged to king Benjamin,
so that king Benjamin had continual peace all the remainder of his
days.
Mosiah 1:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he
called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused
that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that
thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might
know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths
of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the
Lord.
Mosiah 1:Verse 3
3 And he also taught them concerning the records which
were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that
ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain
these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in
ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of
God.
Mosiah 1:Verse 4
4 For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could
have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his
children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he
having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he
could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that
thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling
the commandments of God, even down to this present time.
Mosiah 1:Verse 5
5 I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these
things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that
we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his
commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would
have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our
brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things,
or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of
the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct.
Mosiah 1:Verse 6
6 O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these
sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold,
also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings
of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and
they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them
before our eyes.
Mosiah 1:Verse 7
7 And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to
search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would
that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in
the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our
fathers.
Mosiah 1:Verse 8
8 And many more things did king Benjamin teach his
sons, which are not written in this book.
Mosiah 1:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that after king Benjamin had made
an end of teaching his sons, that he waxed old, and he saw that he
must very soon go the way of all the earth; therefore, he thought
it expedient that he should confer the kingdom upon one of his
sons.
Mosiah 1:Verse 10
10 Therefore, he had Mosiah brought before him; and
these are the words which he spake unto him, saying: My son, I
would that ye should make a proclamation throughout all this land
among all this people, or the people of Zarahemla, and the people
of Mosiah who dwell in the land, that thereby they may be gathered
together; for on the morrow I shall proclaim unto this my people
out of mine own mouth that thou art a king and a ruler over this
people, whom the Lord our God hath given us.
Mosiah 1:Verse 11
11 And moreover, I shall give this people a name, that
thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the
Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I do
because they have been a diligent people in keeping the
commandments of the Lord.
Mosiah 1:Verse 12
12 And I give unto them a name that never shall be
blotted out, except it be through transgression.
Mosiah 1:Verse 13
13 Yea, and moreover I say unto you, that if this
highly favored people of the Lord should fall into transgression,
and become a wicked and an adulterous people, that the Lord will
deliver them up, that thereby they become weak like unto their
brethren; and he will no more preserve them by his matchless and
marvelous power, as he has hitherto preserved our fathers.
Mosiah 1:Verse 14
14 For I say unto you, that if he had not extended his
arm in the preservation of our fathers they must have fallen into
the hands of the Lamanites, and become victims to their
hatred.
Mosiah 1:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that after king Benjamin had
made an end of these sayings to his son, that he gave him charge
concerning all the affairs of the kingdom.
Mosiah 1:Verse 16
16 And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the
records which were engraven on the plates of brass; and also the
plates of Nephi; and also, the sword of Laban, and the ball or
director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was
prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led,
every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto
him.
Mosiah 1:Verse 17
17 Therefore, as they were unfaithful they did not
prosper nor progress in their journey, but were driven back, and
incurred the displeasure of God upon them; and therefore they were
smitten with famine and sore afflictions, to stir them up in
remembrance of their duty.
Mosiah 1:Verse 18
18 And now, it came to pass that Mosiah went and did as
his father had commanded him, and proclaimed unto all the people
who were in the land of Zarahemla that thereby they might gather
themselves together, to go up to the temple to hear the words which
his father should speak unto them.
Chapter 2
Mosiah 2:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that after Mosiah had done as his
father had commanded him, and had made a proclamation throughout
all the land, that the people gathered themselves together
throughout all the land, that they might go up to the temple to
hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them.
Mosiah 2:Verse 2
2 And there were a great number, even so many that they
did not number them; for they had multiplied exceedingly and waxed
great in the land.
Mosiah 2:Verse 3
3 And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks,
that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to
the law of Moses;
Mosiah 2:Verse 4
4 And also that they might give thanks to the Lord
their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and
who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had
appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be
their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and
who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they
might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all
men.
Mosiah 2:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that when they came up to the
temple, they pitched their tents round about, every man according
to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his
daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest
down to the youngest, every family being separate one from
another.
Mosiah 2:Verse 6
6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple,
every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple,
that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words
which king Benjamin should speak unto them;
Mosiah 2:Verse 7
7 For the multitude being so great that king Benjamin
could not teach them all within the walls of the temple, therefore
he caused a tower to be erected, that thereby his people might hear
the words which he should speak unto them.
Mosiah 2:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that he began to speak to his
people from the tower; and they could not all hear his words
because of the greatness of the multitude; therefore he caused that
the words which he spake should be written and sent forth among
those that were not under the sound of his voice, that they might
also receive his words.
Mosiah 2:Verse 9
9 And these are the words which he spake and caused to
be written, saying: My brethren, all ye that have assembled
yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak
unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither
to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should
hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your
hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of
God may be unfolded to your view.
Mosiah 2:Verse 10
10 I have not commanded you to come up hither that ye
should fear me, or that ye should think that I of myself am more
than a mortal man.
Mosiah 2:Verse 11
11 But I am like as yourselves, subject to all manner
of infirmities in body and mind; yet I have been chosen by this
people, and consecrated by my father, and was suffered by the hand
of the Lord that I should be a ruler and a king over this people;
and have been kept and preserved by his matchless power, to serve
you with all the might, mind and strength which the Lord hath
granted unto me.
Mosiah 2:Verse 12
12 I say unto you that as I have been suffered to spend
my days in your service, even up to this time, and have not sought
gold nor silver nor any manner of riches of you;
Mosiah 2:Verse 13
13 Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined
in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another, nor
that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery;
nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of
wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the
commandments of the Lord, in all things which he hath commanded
you--
Mosiah 2:Verse 14
14 And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands
that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes,
and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to
be borne--and of all these things which I have spoken, ye
yourselves are witnesses this day.
Mosiah 2:Verse 15
15 Yet, my brethren, I have not done these things that
I might boast, neither do I tell these things that thereby I might
accuse you; but I tell you these things that ye may know that I can
answer a clear conscience before God this day.
Mosiah 2:Verse 16
16 Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you
that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast,
for I have only been in the service of God.
Mosiah 2:Verse 17
17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may
learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of
your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
Mosiah 2:Verse 18
18 Behold, ye have called me your king; and if I, whom
ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to
labor to serve one another?
Mosiah 2:Verse 19
19 And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who
has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service
of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your
heavenly King!
Mosiah 2:Verse 20
20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should
render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to
possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and
preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has
granted that ye should live in peace one with another--
Mosiah 2:Verse 21
21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has
created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to
day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do
according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment
to another--I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls
yet ye would be unprofitable servants.
Mosiah 2:Verse 22
22 And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep
his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his
commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary
from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his
commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.
Mosiah 2:Verse 23
23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you,
and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto
him.
Mosiah 2:Verse 24
24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as
he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately
bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still
indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever;
therefore, of what have ye to boast?
Mosiah 2:Verse 25
25 And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I
answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust
of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but
behold, it belongeth to him who created you.
Mosiah 2:Verse 26
26 And I, even I, whom ye call your king, am no better
than ye yourselves are; for I am also of the dust. And ye behold
that I am old, and am about to yield up this mortal frame to its
mother earth.
Mosiah 2:Verse 27
27 Therefore, as I said unto you that I had served you,
walking with a clear conscience before God, even so I at this time
have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together, that I
might be found blameless, and that your blood should not come upon
me, when I shall stand to be judged of God of the things whereof he
hath commanded me concerning you.
Mosiah 2:Verse 28
28 I say unto you that I have caused that ye should
assemble yourselves together that I might rid my garments of your
blood, at this period of time when I am about to go down to my
grave, that I might go down in peace, and my immortal spirit may
join the choirs above in singing the praises of a just God.
Mosiah 2:Verse 29
29 And moreover, I say unto you that I have caused that
ye should assemble yourselves together, that I might declare unto
you that I can no longer be your teacher, nor your king;
Mosiah 2:Verse 30
30 For even at this time, my whole frame doth tremble
exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you; but the Lord God
doth support me, and hath suffered me that I should speak unto you,
and hath commanded me that I should declare unto you this day, that
my son Mosiah is a king and a ruler over you.
Mosiah 2:Verse 31
31 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should do as
ye have hitherto done. As ye have kept my commandments, and also
the commandments of my father, and have prospered, and have been
kept from falling into the hands of your enemies, even so if ye
shall keep the commandments of my son, or the commandments of God
which shall be delivered unto you by him, ye shall prosper in the
land, and your enemies shall have no power over you.
Mosiah 2:Verse 32
32 But, O my people, beware lest there shall arise
contentions among you, and ye list to obey the evil spirit, which
was spoken of by my father Mosiah.
Mosiah 2:Verse 33
33 For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him who
listeth to obey that spirit; for if he listeth to obey him, and
remaineth and dieth in his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his
own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an everlasting punishment,
having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own
knowledge.
Mosiah 2:Verse 34
34 I say unto you, that there are not any among you,
except it be your little children that have not been taught
concerning these things, but what knoweth that ye are eternally
indebted to your heavenly Father, to render to him all that you
have and are; and also have been taught concerning the records
which contain the prophecies which have been spoken by the holy
prophets, even down to the time our father, Lehi, left
Jerusalem;
Mosiah 2:Verse 35
35 And also, all that has been spoken by our fathers
until now. And behold, also, they spake that which was commanded
them of the Lord; therefore, they are just and true.
Mosiah 2:Verse 36
36 And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye
have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should
transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye
do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may
have no place in you to guide you in wisdom's paths that ye may be
blessed, prospered, and preserved--
Mosiah 2:Verse 37
37 I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the
same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth
to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all
righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he
dwelleth not in unholy temples.
Mosiah 2:Verse 38
38 Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth
and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken
his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth
cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill
his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an
unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever.
Mosiah 2:Verse 39
39 And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on
that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending
torment.
Mosiah 2:Verse 40
40 O, all ye old men, and also ye young men, and you
little children who can understand my words, for I have spoken
plainly unto you that ye might understand, I pray that ye should
awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have
fallen into transgression.
Mosiah 2:Verse 41
41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider
on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments
of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal
and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are
received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a
state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these
things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
Chapter 3
Mosiah 3:Verse 1
1 AND again my brethren, I would call your attention,
for I have somewhat more to speak unto you; for behold, I have
things to tell you concerning that which is to come.
Mosiah 3:Verse 2
2 And the things which I shall tell you are made known
unto me by an angel from God. And he said unto me: Awake; and I
awoke, and behold he stood before me.
Mosiah 3:Verse 3
3 And he said unto me: Awake, and hear the words which
I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the
glad tidings of great joy.
Mosiah 3:Verse 4
4 For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged
of thy righteousness, and hath sent me to declare unto thee that
thou mayest rejoice; and that thou mayest declare unto thy people,
that they may also be filled with joy.
Mosiah 3:Verse 5
5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant,
that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is
from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven
among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay,
and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as
healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the
blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all
manner of diseases.
Mosiah 3:Verse 6
6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits
which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.
Mosiah 3:Verse 7
7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of
body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer,
except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore,
so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the
abominations of his people.
Mosiah 3:Verse 8
8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the
beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.
Mosiah 3:Verse 9
9 And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might
come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and
even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he
hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.
Mosiah 3:Verse 10
10 And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and
behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these
things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the
children of men.
Mosiah 3:Verse 11
11 For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins
of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have
died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have
ignorantly sinned.
Mosiah 3:Verse 12
12 But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth
against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through
repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mosiah 3:Verse 13
13 And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among
all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred,
nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that
Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins,
and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had
already come among them.
Mosiah 3:Verse 14
14 Yet the Lord God saw that his people were a
stiffnecked people, and he appointed unto them a law, even the law
of Moses.
Mosiah 3:Verse 15
15 And many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows
showed he unto them, concerning his coming; and also holy prophets
spake unto them concerning his coming; and yet they hardened their
hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing
except it were through the atonement of his blood.
Mosiah 3:Verse 16
16 And even if it were possible that little children
could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are
blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so
the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins.
Mosiah 3:Verse 17
17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no
other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can
come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of
Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
Mosiah 3:Verse 18
18 For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and
the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink
damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and
become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is,
and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the
Lord Omnipotent.
Mosiah 3:Verse 19
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been
from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he
yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the
natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ
the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble,
patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the
Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to
his father.
Mosiah 3:Verse 20
20 And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall
come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every
nation, kindred, tongue, and people.
Mosiah 3:Verse 21
21 And behold, when that time cometh, none shall be
found blameless before God, except it be little children, only
through repentance and faith on the name of the Lord God
Omnipotent.
Mosiah 3:Verse 22
22 And even at this time, when thou shalt have taught
thy people the things which the Lord thy God hath commanded thee,
even then are they found no more blameless in the sight of God,
only according to the words which I have spoken unto thee.
Mosiah 3:Verse 23
23 And now I have spoken the words which the Lord God
hath commanded me.
Mosiah 3:Verse 24
24 And thus saith the Lord: They shall stand as a
bright testimony against this people, at the judgment day; whereof
they shall be judged, every man according to his works, whether
they be good, or whether they be evil.
Mosiah 3:Verse 25
25 And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful
view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to
shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and
endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore
they have drunk damnation to their own souls.
Mosiah 3:Verse 26
26 Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the
wrath of God, which justice could no more deny unto them than it
could deny that Adam should fall because of his partaking of the
forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more
forever.
Mosiah 3:Verse 27
27 And their torment is as a lake of fire and
brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth
up forever and ever. Thus hath the Lord commanded me. Amen.
Chapter 4
Mosiah 4:Verse 1
1 AND now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had
made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him
by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the
multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of
the Lord had come upon them.
Mosiah 4:Verse 2
2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal
state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried
aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning
blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and
our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son
of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall
come down among the children of men.
Mosiah 4:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these
words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled
with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having
peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had
in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king
Benjamin had spoken unto them.
Mosiah 4:Verse 4
4 And king Benjamin again opened his mouth and began to
speak unto them, saying: My friends and my brethren, my kindred and
my people, I would again call your attention, that ye may hear and
understand the remainder of my words which I shall speak unto
you.
Mosiah 4:Verse 5
5 For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God
at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and
your worthless and fallen state--
Mosiah 4:Verse 6
6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the
goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his
patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and
also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of
the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put
his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his
commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his
life, I mean the life of the mortal body--
Mosiah 4:Verse 7
7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation,
through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the
world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or
who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the
world.
Mosiah 4:Verse 8
8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And
there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of;
neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except
the conditions which I have told you.
Mosiah 4:Verse 9
9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he
created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he
has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe
that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can
comprehend.
Mosiah 4:Verse 10
10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins
and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in
sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you
believe all these things see that ye do them.
Mosiah 4:Verse 11
11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that
as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have
known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have
received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly
great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember,
and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your
own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you,
unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of
humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing
steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken
by the mouth of the angel.
Mosiah 4:Verse 12
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye
shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and
always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the
knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge
of that which is just and true.
Mosiah 4:Verse 13
13 And ye will not have a mind to injure one another,
but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that
which is his due.
Mosiah 4:Verse 14
14 And ye will not suffer your children that they go
hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the
laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the
devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which
hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all
righteousness.
Mosiah 4:Verse 15
15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth
and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve
one another.
Mosiah 4:Verse 16
16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand
in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto
him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar
putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to
perish.
Mosiah 4:Verse 17
17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon
himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not
give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that
he may not suffer, for his punishments are just--
Mosiah 4:Verse 18
18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the
same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that
which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in
the kingdom of God.
Mosiah 4:Verse 19
19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all
depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which
we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver,
and for all the riches which we have of every kind?
Mosiah 4:Verse 20
20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling
on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he
suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his
Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled
with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye
could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.
Mosiah 4:Verse 21
21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you
are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth
grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing
that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the
substance that ye have one to another.
Mosiah 4:Verse 22
22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition
to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how
much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your
substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also
your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of
the thing which thou hast done.
Mosiah 4:Verse 23
23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his
substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto
those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.
Mosiah 4:Verse 24
24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and
yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you
who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in
your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I
would give.
Mosiah 4:Verse 25
25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain
guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is
just for ye covet that which ye have not received.
Mosiah 4:Verse 26
26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have
spoken unto you--that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of
your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God--I
would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every
man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry,
clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their
relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their
wants.
Mosiah 4:Verse 27
27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and
order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he
has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be
diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all
things must be done in order.
Mosiah 4:Verse 28
28 And I would that ye should remember, that whosoever
among you borroweth of his neighbor should return the thing that he
borroweth, according as he doth agree, or else thou shalt commit
sin; and perhaps thou shalt cause thy neighbor to commit sin
also.
Mosiah 4:Verse 29
29 And finally, I cannot tell you all the things
whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means,
even so many that I cannot number them.
Mosiah 4:Verse 30
30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not
watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your
deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the
faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even
unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man,
remember, and perish not.
Chapter 5
Mosiah 5:Verse 1
1 AND now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had
thus spoken to his people, he sent among them, desiring to know of
his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto
them.
Mosiah 5:Verse 2
2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we
believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we
know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord
Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our
hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good
continually.
Mosiah 5:Verse 3
3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite
goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great
views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could
prophesy of all things.
Mosiah 5:Verse 4
4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things
which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great
knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great
joy.
Mosiah 5:Verse 5
5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our
God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all
things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days,
that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has
been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of
the wrath of God.
Mosiah 5:Verse 6
6 And now, these are the words which king Benjamin
desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken
the words that I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a
righteous covenant.
Mosiah 5:Verse 7
7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made
ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his
daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you;
for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name;
therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his
daughters.
Mosiah 5:Verse 8
8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no
other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name
given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should
take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into
the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of
your lives.
Mosiah 5:Verse 9
9 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this
shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name
by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of
Christ.
Mosiah 5:Verse 10
10 And now it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall
not take upon him the name of Christ must be called by some other
name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God.
Mosiah 5:Verse 11
11 And I would that ye should remember also, that this
is the name that I said I should give unto you that never should be
blotted out, except it be through transgression; therefore, take
heed that ye do not transgress, that the name be not blotted out of
your hearts.
Mosiah 5:Verse 12
12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to
retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not
found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice
by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall
call you.
Mosiah 5:Verse 13
13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not
served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the
thoughts and intents of his heart?
Mosiah 5:Verse 14
14 And again, doth a man take an ass which belongeth to
his neighbor, and keep him? I say unto you, Nay; he will not even
suffer that he shall feed among his flocks, but will drive him
away, and cast him out. I say unto you, that even so shall it be
among you if ye know not the name by which ye are called.
Mosiah 5:Verse 15
15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and
immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord
God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to
heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life,
through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who
created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all.
Amen.
Chapter 6
Mosiah 6:Verse 1
1 AND now, king Benjamin thought it was expedient,
after having finished speaking to the people, that he should take
the names of all those who had entered into a covenant with God to
keep his commandments.
Mosiah 6:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that there was not one soul,
except it were little children, but who had entered into the
covenant and had taken upon them the name of Christ.
Mosiah 6:Verse 3
3 And again, it came to pass that when king Benjamin
had made an end of all these things, and had consecrated his son
Mosiah to be a ruler and a king over his people, and had given him
all the charges concerning the kingdom, and also had appointed
priests to teach the people, that thereby they might hear and know
the commandments of God, and to stir them up in remembrance of the
oath which they had made, he dismissed the multitude, and they
returned, every one, according to their families, to their own
houses.
Mosiah 6:Verse 4
4 And Mosiah began to reign in his father's stead. And
he began to reign in the thirtieth year of his age, making in the
whole, about four hundred and seventy-six years from the time that
Lehi left Jerusalem.
Mosiah 6:Verse 5
5 And king Benjamin lived three years and he
died.
Mosiah 6:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that king Mosiah did walk in the
ways of the Lord, and did observe his judgments and his statutes,
and did keep his commandments in all things whatsoever he commanded
him.
Mosiah 6:Verse 7
7 And king Mosiah did cause his people that they should
till the earth. And he also, himself, did till the earth, that
thereby he might not become burdensome to his people, that he might
do according to that which his father had done in all things. And
there was no contention among all his people for the space of three
years.
Chapter 7
Mosiah 7:Verse 1
1 AND now, it came to pass that after king Mosiah had
had continual peace for the space of three years, he was desirous
to know concerning the people who went up to dwell in the land of
Lehi-Nephi, or in the city of Lehi-Nephi; for his people had heard
nothing from them from the time they left the land of Zarahemla;
therefore, they wearied him with their teasings.
Mosiah 7:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted that
sixteen of their strong men might go up to the land of Lehi-Nephi,
to inquire concerning their brethren.
Mosiah 7:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that on the morrow they started
to go up, having with them one Ammon, he being a strong and mighty
man, and a descendant of Zarahemla; and he was also their
leader.
Mosiah 7:Verse 4
4 And now, they knew not the course they should travel
in the wilderness to go up to the land of Lehi-Nephi; therefore
they wandered many days in the wilderness, even forty days did they
wander.
Mosiah 7:Verse 5
5 And when they had wandered forty days they came to a
hill, which is north of the land of Shilom, and there they pitched
their tents.
Mosiah 7:Verse 6
6 And Ammon took three of his brethren, and their names
were Amaleki, Helem, and Hem, and they went down into the land of
Nephi.
Mosiah 7:Verse 7
7 And behold, they met the king of the people who were
in the land of Nephi, and in the land of Shilom; and they were
surrounded by the king's guard, and were taken, and were bound, and
were committed to prison.
Mosiah 7:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass when they had been in prison two
days they were again brought before the king, and their bands were
loosed; and they stood before the king, and were permitted, or
rather commanded, that they should answer the questions which he
should ask them.
Mosiah 7:Verse 9
9 And he said unto them: Behold, I am Limhi, the son of
Noah, who was the son of Zeniff, who came up out of the land of
Zarahemla to inherit this land, which was the land of their
fathers, who was made a king by the voice of the people.
Mosiah 7:Verse 10
10 And now, I desire to know the cause whereby ye were
so bold as to come near the walls of the city, when I, myself, was
with my guards without the gate?
Mosiah 7:Verse 11
11 And now, for this cause have I suffered that ye
should be preserved, that I might inquire of you, or else I should
have caused that my guards should have put you to death. Ye are
permitted to speak.
Mosiah 7:Verse 12
12 And now, when Ammon saw that he was permitted to
speak, he went forth and bowed himself before the king; and rising
again he said: O king, I am very thankful before God this day that
I am yet alive, and am permitted to speak; and I will endeavor to
speak with boldness;
Mosiah 7:Verse 13
13 For I am assured that if ye had known me ye would
not have suffered that I should have worn these bands. For I am
Ammon, and am a descendant of Zarahemla, and have come up out of
the land of Zarahemla to inquire concerning our brethren, whom
Zeniff brought up out of that land.
Mosiah 7:Verse 14
14 And now, it came to pass that after Limhi had heard
the words of Ammon, he was exceedingly glad, and said: Now, I know
of a surety that my brethren who were in the land of Zarahemla are
yet alive. And now, I will rejoice; and on the morrow I will cause
that my people shall rejoice also.
Mosiah 7:Verse 15
15 For behold, we are in bondage to the Lamanites, and
are taxed with a tax which is grievous to be borne. And now,
behold, our brethren will deliver us out of our bondage, or out of
the hands of the Lamanites, and we will be their slaves; for it is
better that we be slaves to the Nephites than to pay tribute to the
king of the Lamanites.
Mosiah 7:Verse 16
16 And now, king Limhi commanded his guards that they
should no more bind Ammon nor his brethren, but caused that they
should go to the hill which was north of Shilom, and bring their
brethren into the city, that thereby they might eat, and drink, and
rest themselves from the labors of their journey; for they had
suffered many things; they had suffered hunger, thirst, and
fatigue.
Mosiah 7:Verse 17
17 And now, it came to pass on the morrow that king
Limhi sent a proclamation among all his people, that thereby they
might gather themselves together to the temple, to hear the words
which he should speak unto them.
Mosiah 7:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that when they had gathered
themselves together that he spake unto them in this wise, saying: O
ye, my people, lift up your heads and be comforted; for behold, the
time is at hand, or is not far distant, when we shall no longer be
in subjection to our enemies, notwithstanding our many strugglings,
which have been in vain; yet I trust there remaineth an effectual
struggle to be made.
Mosiah 7:Verse 19
19 Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put
your trust in God, in that God who was the God of Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob; and also, that God who brought the children of
Israel out of the land of Egypt, and caused that they should walk
through the Red Sea on dry ground, and fed them with manna that
they might not perish in the wilderness; and many more things did
he do for them.
Mosiah 7:Verse 20
20 And again, that same God has brought our fathers out
of the land of Jerusalem, and has kept and preserved his people
even until now; and behold, it is because of our iniquities and
abominations that he has brought us into bondage.
Mosiah 7:Verse 21
21 And ye all are witnesses this day, that Zeniff, who
was made king over this people, he being over-zealous to inherit
the land of his fathers, therefore being deceived by the cunning
and craftiness of king Laman, who having entered into a treaty with
king Zeniff, and having yielded up into his hands the possessions
of a part of the land, or even the city of Lehi-Nephi, and the city
of Shilom; and the land round about--
Mosiah 7:Verse 22
22 And all this he did, for the sole purpose of
bringing this people into subjection or into bondage. And behold,
we at this time do pay tribute to the king of the Lamanites, to the
amount of one half of our corn, and our barley, and even all our
grain of every kind, and one half of the increase of our flocks and
our herds; and even one half of all we have or possess the king of
the Lamanites doth exact of us, or our lives.
Mosiah 7:Verse 23
23 And now, is not this grievous to be borne? And is
not this, our affliction, great? Now behold, how great reason we
have to mourn.
Mosiah 7:Verse 24
24 Yea, I say unto you, great are the reasons which we
have to mourn; for behold how many of our brethren have been slain,
and their blood has been spilt in vain, and all because of
iniquity.
Mosiah 7:Verse 25
25 For if this people had not fallen into transgression
the Lord would not have suffered that this great evil should come
upon them. But behold, they would not hearken unto his words; but
there arose contentions among them, even so much that they did shed
blood among themselves.
Mosiah 7:Verse 26
26 And a prophet of the Lord have they slain; yea, a
chosen man of God, who told them of their wickedness and
abominations, and prophesied of many things which are to come, yea,
even the coming of Christ.
Mosiah 7:Verse 27
27 And because he said unto them that Christ was the
God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon
him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man
was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that man
was created after the image of God, and that God should come down
among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and
go forth upon the face of the earth--
Mosiah 7:Verse 28
28 And now, because he said this, they did put him to
death; and many more things did they do which brought down the
wrath of God upon them. Therefore, who wondereth that they are in
bondage, and that they are smitten with sore afflictions?
Mosiah 7:Verse 29
29 For behold, the Lord hath said: I will not succor my
people in the day of their transgression; but I will hedge up their
ways that they prosper not; and their doings shall be as a
stumbling block before them.
Mosiah 7:Verse 30
30 And again, he saith: If my people shall sow
filthiness they shall reap the chaff thereof in the whirlwind; and
the effect thereof is poison.
Mosiah 7:Verse 31
31 And again he saith: If my people shall sow
filthiness they shall reap the east wind, which bringeth immediate
destruction.
Mosiah 7:Verse 32
32 And now, behold, the promise of the Lord is
fulfilled, and ye are smitten and afflicted.
Mosiah 7:Verse 33
33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of
heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence
of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and
pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.
Chapter 8
Mosiah 8:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that after king Limhi had made an
end of speaking to his people, for he spake many things unto them
and only a few of them have I written in this book, he told his
people all the things concerning their brethren who were in the
land of Zarahemla.
Mosiah 8:Verse 2
2 And he caused that Ammon should stand up before the
multitude, and rehearse unto them all that had happened unto their
brethren from the time that Zeniff went up out of the land even
until the time that he himself came up out of the land.
Mosiah 8:Verse 3
3 And he also rehearsed unto them the last words which
king Benjamin had taught them, and explained them to the people of
king Limhi, so that they might understand all the words which he
spake.
Mosiah 8:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that after he had done all this,
that king Limhi dismissed the multitude, and caused that they
should return every one unto his own house.
Mosiah 8:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that he caused that the plates
which contained the record of his people from the time that they
left the land of Zarahemla, should be brought before Ammon, that he
might read them.
Mosiah 8:Verse 6
6 Now, as soon as Ammon had read the record, the king
inquired of him to know if he could interpret languages, and Ammon
told him that he could not.
Mosiah 8:Verse 7
7 And the king said unto him: Being grieved for the
afflictions of my people, I caused that forty and three of my
people should take a journey into the wilderness, that thereby they
might find the land of Zarahemla, that we might appeal unto our
brethren to deliver us out of bondage.
Mosiah 8:Verse 8
8 And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of
many days, yet they were diligent, and found not the land of
Zarahemla but returned to this land, having traveled in a land
among many waters, having discovered a land which was covered with
bones of men, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of
buildings of every kind, having discovered a land which had been
peopled with a people who were as numerous as the hosts of
Israel.
Mosiah 8:Verse 9
9 And for a testimony that the things that they had
said are true they have brought twenty-four plates which are filled
with engravings, and they are of pure gold.
Mosiah 8:Verse 10
10 And behold, also, they have brought breastplates,
which are large, and they are of brass and of copper, and are
perfectly sound.
Mosiah 8:Verse 11
11 And again, they have brought swords, the hilts
thereof have perished, and the blades thereof were cankered with
rust; and there is no one in the land that is able to interpret the
language or the engravings that are on the plates. Therefore I said
unto thee: Canst thou translate?
Mosiah 8:Verse 12
12 And I say unto thee again: Knowest thou of any one
that can translate? For I am desirous that these records should be
translated into our language; for, perhaps, they will give us a
knowledge of a remnant of the people who have been destroyed, from
whence these records came; or, perhaps, they will give us a
knowledge of this very people who have been destroyed; and I am
desirous to know the cause of their destruction.
Mosiah 8:Verse 13
13 Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee,
O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has
wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of
ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called
interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded,
lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And
whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called
seer.
Mosiah 8:Verse 14
14 And behold, the king of the people who are in the
land of Zarahemla is the man that is commanded to do these things,
and who has this high gift from God.
Mosiah 8:Verse 15
15 And the king said that a seer is greater than a
prophet.
Mosiah 8:Verse 16
16 And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a
prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except
he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may
have great power given him from God.
Mosiah 8:Verse 17
17 But a seer can know of things which are past, and
also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be
revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and
hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known
shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by
them which otherwise could not be known.
Mosiah 8:Verse 18
18 Thus God has provided a means that man, through
faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great
benefit to his fellow beings.
Mosiah 8:Verse 19
19 And now, when Ammon had made an end of speaking
these words the king rejoiced exceedingly, and gave thanks to God,
saying: Doubtless a great mystery is contained within these plates,
and these interpreters were doubtless prepared for the purpose of
unfolding all such mysteries to the children of men.
Mosiah 8:Verse 20
20 O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how
long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and
impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for
they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should
rule over them!
Mosiah 8:Verse 21
21 Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the
shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the
beasts of the forest.
Chapter 9
Mosiah 9:Verse 1
1 I, Zeniff, having been taught in all the language of
the Nephites, and having had a knowledge of the land of Nephi, or
of the land of our fathers' first inheritance, and having been sent
as a spy among the Lamanites that I might spy out their forces,
that our army might come upon them and destroy them--but when I saw
that which was good among them I was desirous that they should not
be destroyed.
Mosiah 9:Verse 2
2 Therefore, I contended with my brethren in the
wilderness, for I would that our ruler should make a treaty with
them; but he being an austere and a blood-thirsty man commanded
that I should be slain; but I was rescued by the shedding of much
blood; for father fought against father, and brother against
brother, until the greater number of our army was destroyed in the
wilderness; and we returned, those of us that were spared, to the
land of Zarahemla, to relate that tale to their wives and their
children.
Mosiah 9:Verse 3
3 And yet, I being over-zealous to inherit the land of
our fathers, collected as many as were desirous to go up to possess
the land, and started again on our journey into the wilderness to
go up to the land; but we were smitten with famine and sore
afflictions; for we were slow to remember the Lord our God.
Mosiah 9:Verse 4
4 Nevertheless, after many days' wandering in the
wilderness we pitched our tents in the place where our brethren
were slain, which was near to the land of our fathers.
Mosiah 9:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that I went again with four of my
men into the city, in unto the king, that I might know of the
disposition of the king, and that I might know if I might go in
with my people and possess the land in peace.
Mosiah 9:Verse 6
6 And I went in unto the king, and he covenanted with
me that I might possess the land of Lehi-Nephi, and the land of
Shilom.
Mosiah 9:Verse 7
7 And he also commanded that his people should depart
out of the land, and I and my people went into the land that we
might possess it.
Mosiah 9:Verse 8
8 And we began to build buildings, and to repair the
walls of the city, yea, even the walls of the city of Lehi-Nephi,
and the city of Shilom.
Mosiah 9:Verse 9
9 And we began to till the ground, yea, even with all
manner of seeds, with seeds of corn, and of wheat, and of barley,
and with neas, and with sheum, and with seeds of all manner of
fruits; and we did begin to multiply and prosper in the land.
Mosiah 9:Verse 10
10 Now it was the cunning and the craftiness of king
Laman, to bring my people into bondage, that he yielded up the land
that we might possess it.
Mosiah 9:Verse 11
11 Therefore it came to pass, that after we had dwelt
in the land for the space of twelve years that king Laman began to
grow uneasy, lest by any means my people should wax strong in the
land, and that they could not overpower them and bring them into
bondage.
Mosiah 9:Verse 12
12 Now they were a lazy and an idolatrous people;
therefore they were desirous to bring us into bondage, that they
might glut themselves with the labors of our hands; yea, that they
might feast themselves upon the flocks of our fields.
Mosiah 9:Verse 13
13 Therefore it came to pass that king Laman began to
stir up his people that they should contend with my people;
therefore there began to be wars and contentions in the land.
Mosiah 9:Verse 14
14 For, in the thirteenth year of my reign in the land
of Nephi, away on the south of the land of Shilom, when my people
were watering and feeding their flocks, and tilling their lands, a
numerous host of Lamanites came upon them and began to slay them,
and to take off their flocks, and the corn of their fields.
Mosiah 9:Verse 15
15 Yea, and it came to pass that they fled, all that
were not overtaken, even into the city of Nephi, and did call upon
me for protection.
Mosiah 9:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that I did arm them with bows,
and with arrows, with swords, and with cimeters, and with clubs,
and with slings, and with all manner of weapons which we could
invent, and I and my people did go forth against the Lamanites to
battle.
Mosiah 9:Verse 17
17 Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to
battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily
to the Lord that he would deliver us out of the hands of our
enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance
of our fathers.
Mosiah 9:Verse 18
18 And God did hear our cries and did answer our
prayers; and we did go forth in his might; yea, we did go forth
against the Lamanites, and in one day and a night we did slay three
thousand and forty-three; we did slay them even until we had driven
them out of our land.
Mosiah 9:Verse 19
19 And I, myself, with mine own hands, did help to bury
their dead. And behold, to our great sorrow and lamentation, two
hundred and seventy-nine of our brethren were slain.
Chapter 10
Mosiah 10:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that we again began to establish
the kingdom and we again began to possess the land in peace. And I
caused that there should be weapons of war made of every kind, that
thereby I might have weapons for my people against the time the
Lamanites should come up again to war against my people.
Mosiah 10:Verse 2
2 And I set guards round about the land, that the
Lamanites might not come upon us again unawares and destroy us; and
thus I did guard my people and my flocks, and keep them from
falling into the hands of our enemies.
Mosiah 10:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that we did inherit the land of
our fathers for many years, yea, for the space of twenty and two
years.
Mosiah 10:Verse 4
4 And I did cause that the men should till the ground,
and raise all manner of grain and all manner of fruit of every
kind.
Mosiah 10:Verse 5
5 And I did cause that the women should spin, and toil,
and work, and work all manner of fine linen, yea, and cloth of
every kind, that we might clothe our nakedness; and thus we did
prosper in the land--thus we did have continual peace in the land
for the space of twenty and two years.
Mosiah 10:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that king Laman died, and his son
began to reign in his stead. And he began to stir his people up in
rebellion against my people; therefore they began to prepare for
war, and to come up to battle against my people.
Mosiah 10:Verse 7
7 But I had sent my spies out round about the land of
Shemlon, that I might discover their preparations, that I might
guard against them, that they might not come upon my people and
destroy them.
Mosiah 10:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that they came up upon the north
of the land of Shilom, with their numerous hosts, men armed with
bows, and with arrows, and with swords, and with cimeters, and with
stones, and with slings; and they had their heads shaved that they
were naked; and they were girded with a leathern girdle about their
loins.
Mosiah 10:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that I caused that the women and
children of my people should be hid in the wilderness; and I also
caused that all my old men that could bear arms, and also all my
young men that were able to bear arms, should gather themselves
together to go to battle against the Lamanites; and I did place
them in their ranks, every man according to his age.
Mosiah 10:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that we did go up to battle
against the Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to
battle against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did go up
in the strength of the Lord to battle.
Mosiah 10:Verse 11
11 Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord,
nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their
own strength. Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of
men.
Mosiah 10:Verse 12
12 They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty
people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is
this--Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem
because of the iniquities of their fathers, and that they were
wronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they were also
wronged while crossing the sea;
Mosiah 10:Verse 13
13 And again, that they were wronged while in the land
of their first inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all
this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the
commandments of the Lord--therefore he was favored of the Lord, for
the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and he took the lead
of their journey in the wilderness.
Mosiah 10:Verse 14
14 And his brethren were wroth with him because they
understood not the dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with
him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the
Lord.
Mosiah 10:Verse 15
15 And again, they were wroth with him when they had
arrived in the promised land, because they said that he had taken
the ruling of the people out of their hands; and they sought to
kill him.
Mosiah 10:Verse 16
16 And again, they were wroth with him because he
departed into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded him, and
took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, for
they said that he robbed them.
Mosiah 10:Verse 17
17 And thus they have taught their children that they
should hate them, and that they should murder them, and that they
should rob and plunder them, and do all they could to destroy them;
therefore they have an eternal hatred towards the children of
Nephi.
Mosiah 10:Verse 18
18 For this very cause has king Laman, by his cunning,
and lying craftiness, and his fair promises, deceived me, that I
have brought this my people up into this land, that they may
destroy them; yea, and we have suffered these many years in the
land.
Mosiah 10:Verse 19
19 And now I, Zeniff, after having told all these
things unto my people concerning the Lamanites, I did stimulate
them to go to battle with their might, putting their trust in the
Lord; therefore, we did contend with them, face to face.
Mosiah 10:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that we did drive them again out
of our land; and we slew them with a great slaughter, even so many
that we did not number them.
Mosiah 10:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that we returned again to our
own land, and my people again began to tend their flocks, and to
till their ground.
Mosiah 10:Verse 22
22 And now I, being old, did confer the kingdom upon
one of my sons; therefore, I say no more. And may the Lord bless my
people. Amen.
Chapter 11
Mosiah 11:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the
kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign
in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father.
Mosiah 11:Verse 2
2 For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God,
but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many
wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin,
and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and
they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness.
Mosiah 11:Verse 3
3 And he laid a tax of one fifth part of all they
possessed, a fifth part of their gold and of their silver, and a
fifth part of their ziff, and of their copper, and of their brass
and their iron; and a fifth part of their fatlings; and also a
fifth part of all their grain.
Mosiah 11:Verse 4
4 And all this did he take to support himself, and his
wives and his concubines; and also his priests, and their wives and
their concubines; thus he had changed the affairs of the
kingdom.
Mosiah 11:Verse 5
5 For he put down all the priests that had been
consecrated by his father, and consecrated new ones in their stead,
such as were lifted up in the pride of their hearts.
Mosiah 11:Verse 6
6 Yea, and thus they were supported in their laziness,
and in their idolatry, and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which
king Noah had put upon his people; thus did the people labor
exceedingly to support iniquity.
Mosiah 11:Verse 7
7 Yea, and they also became idolatrous, because they
were deceived by the vain and flattering words of the king and
priests; for they did speak flattering things unto them.
Mosiah 11:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that king Noah built many elegant
and spacious buildings; and he ornamented them with fine work of
wood, and of all manner of precious things, of gold, and of silver,
and of iron, and of brass, and of ziff, and of copper;
Mosiah 11:Verse 9
9 And he also built him a spacious palace, and a throne
in the midst thereof, all of which was of fine wood and was
ornamented with gold and silver and with precious things.
Mosiah 11:Verse 10
10 And he also caused that his workmen should work all
manner of fine work within the walls of the temple, of fine wood,
and of copper, and of brass.
Mosiah 11:Verse 11
11 And the seats which were set apart for the high
priests, which were above all the other seats, he did ornament with
pure gold; and he caused a breastwork to be built before them, that
they might rest their bodies and their arms upon while they should
speak lying and vain words to his people.
Mosiah 11:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that he built a tower near the
temple; yea, a very high tower, even so high that he could stand
upon the top thereof and overlook the land of Shilom, and also the
land of Shemlon, which was possessed by the Lamanites; and he could
even look over all the land round about.
Mosiah 11:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that he caused many buildings to
be built in the land Shilom; and he caused a great tower to be
built on the hill north of the land Shilom, which had been a resort
for the children of Nephi at the time they fled out of the land;
and thus he did do with the riches which he obtained by the
taxation of his people.
Mosiah 11:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that he placed his heart upon
his riches, and he spent his time in riotous living with his wives
and his concubines; and so did also his priests spend their time
with harlots.
Mosiah 11:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that he planted vineyards round
about in the land; and he built wine-presses, and made wine in
abundance; and therefore he became a wine-bibber, and also his
people.
Mosiah 11:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that the Lamanites began to come
in upon his people, upon small numbers, and to slay them in their
fields, and while they were tending their flocks.
Mosiah 11:Verse 17
17 And king Noah sent guards round about the land to
keep them off; but he did not send a sufficient number, and the
Lamanites came upon them and killed them, and drove many of their
flocks out of the land; thus the Lamanites began to destroy them,
and to exercise their hatred upon them.
Mosiah 11:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that king Noah sent his armies
against them, and they were driven back, or they drove them back
for a time; therefore, they returned rejoicing in their
spoil.
Mosiah 11:Verse 19
19 And now, because of this great victory they were
lifted up in the pride of their hearts; they did boast in their own
strength, saying that their fifty could stand against thousands of
the Lamanites; and thus they did boast, and did delight in blood,
and the shedding of the blood of their brethren, and this because
of the wickedness of their king and priests.
Mosiah 11:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that there was a man among them
whose name was Abinadi; and he went forth among them, and began to
prophesy, saying: Behold, thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he
commanded me, saying, Go forth, and say unto this people, thus
saith the Lord--Wo be unto this people, for I have seen their
abominations, and their wickedness, and their whoredoms; and except
they repent I will visit them in mine anger.
Mosiah 11:Verse 21
21 And except they repent and turn to the Lord their
God, behold, I will deliver them into the hands of their enemies;
yea, and they shall be brought into bondage; and they shall be
afflicted by the hand of their enemies.
Mosiah 11:Verse 22
22 And it shall come to pass that they shall know that
I am the Lord their God, and am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquities of my people.
Mosiah 11:Verse 23
23 And it shall come to pass that except this people
repent and turn unto the Lord their God, they shall be brought into
bondage; and none shall deliver them, except it be the Lord the
Almighty God.
Mosiah 11:Verse 24
24 Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall
cry unto me I will be slow to hear their cries; yea, and I will
suffer them that they be smitten by their enemies.
Mosiah 11:Verse 25
25 And except they repent in sackcloth and ashes, and
cry mightily to the Lord their God, I will not hear their prayers,
neither will I deliver them out of their afflictions; and thus
saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me.
Mosiah 11:Verse 26
26 Now it came to pass that when Abinadi had spoken
these words unto them they were wroth with him, and sought to take
away his life; but the Lord delivered him out of their hands.
Mosiah 11:Verse 27
27 Now when king Noah had heard of the words which
Abinadi had spoken unto the people, he was also wroth; and he said:
Who is Abinadi, that I and my people should be judged of him, or
who is the Lord, that shall bring upon my people such great
affliction?
Mosiah 11:Verse 28
28 I command you to bring Abinadi hither, that I may
slay him, for he has said these things that he might stir up my
people to anger one with another, and to raise contentions among my
people; therefore I will slay him.
Mosiah 11:Verse 29
29 Now the eyes of the people were blinded; therefore
they hardened their hearts against the words of Abinadi, and they
sought from that time forward to take him. And king Noah hardened
his heart against the word of the Lord, and he did not repent of
his evil doings.
Chapter 12
Mosiah 12:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that after the space of two years
that Abinadi came among them in disguise, that they knew him not,
and began to prophesy among them, saying: Thus has the Lord
commanded me, saying--Abinadi, go and prophesy unto this my people,
for they have hardened their hearts against my words; they have
repented not of their evil doings; therefore, I will visit them in
my anger, yea, in my fierce anger will I visit them in their
iniquities and abominations.
Mosiah 12:Verse 2
2 Yea, wo be unto this generation! And the Lord said
unto me: Stretch forth thy hand and prophesy, saying: Thus saith
the Lord, it shall come to pass that this generation, because of
their iniquities, shall be brought into bondage, and shall be
smitten on the cheek; yea, and shall be driven by men, and shall be
slain; and the vultures of the air, and the dogs, yea, and the wild
beasts, shall devour their flesh.
Mosiah 12:Verse 3
3 And it shall come to pass that the life of king Noah
shall be valued even as a garment in a hot furnace; for he shall
know that I am the Lord.
Mosiah 12:Verse 4
4 And it shall come to pass that I will smite this my
people with sore afflictions, yea, with famine and with pestilence;
and I will cause that they shall howl all the day long.
Mosiah 12:Verse 5
5 Yea, and I will cause that they shall have burdens
lashed upon their backs; and they shall be driven before like a
dumb ass.
Mosiah 12:Verse 6
6 And it shall come to pass that I will send forth hail
among them, and it shall smite them; and they shall also be smitten
with the east wind; and insects shall pester their land also, and
devour their grain.
Mosiah 12:Verse 7
7 And they shall be smitten with a great
pestilence--and all this will I do because of their iniquities and
abominations.
Mosiah 12:Verse 8
8 And it shall come to pass that except they repent I
will utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth; yet they
shall leave a record behind them, and I will preserve them for
other nations which shall possess the land; yea, even this will I
do that I may discover the abominations of this people to other
nations. And many things did Abinadi prophesy against this
people.
Mosiah 12:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that they were angry with him;
and they took him and carried him bound before the king, and said
unto the king: Behold, we have brought a man before thee who has
prophesied evil concerning thy people, and saith that God will
destroy them.
Mosiah 12:Verse 10
10 And he also prophesieth evil concerning thy life,
and saith that thy life shall be as a garment in a furnace of
fire.
Mosiah 12:Verse 11
11 And again, he saith that thou shalt be as a stalk,
even as a dry stalk of the field, which is run over by the beasts
and trodden under foot.
Mosiah 12:Verse 12
12 And again, he saith thou shalt be as the blossoms of
a thistle, which, when it is fully ripe, if the wind bloweth, it is
driven forth upon the face of the land. And he pretendeth the Lord
hath spoken it. And he saith all this shall come upon thee except
thou repent, and this because of thine iniquities.
Mosiah 12:Verse 13
13 And now, O king, what great evil hast thou done, or
what great sins have thy people committed, that we should be
condemned of God or judged of this man?
Mosiah 12:Verse 14
14 And now, O king, behold, we are guiltless, and thou,
O king, hast not sinned; therefore, this man has lied concerning
you, and he has prophesied in vain.
Mosiah 12:Verse 15
15 And behold, we are strong, we shall not come into
bondage, or be taken captive by our enemies; yea, and thou hast
prospered in the land, and thou shalt also prosper.
Mosiah 12:Verse 16
16 Behold, here is the man, we deliver him into thy
hands; thou mayest do with him as seemeth thee good.
Mosiah 12:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that king Noah caused that
Abinadi should be cast into prison; and he commanded that the
priests should gather themselves together that he might hold a
council with them what he should do with him.
Mosiah 12:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that they said unto the king:
Bring him hither that we may question him; and the king commanded
that he should be brought before them.
Mosiah 12:Verse 19
19 And they began to question him, that they might
cross him, that thereby they might have wherewith to accuse him;
but he answered them boldly, and withstood all their questions,
yea, to their astonishment; for he did withstand them in all their
questions, and did confound them in all their words.
Mosiah 12:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that one of them said unto him:
What meaneth the words which are written, and which have been
taught by our fathers, saying:
Mosiah 12:Verse 21
21 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him
that bringeth good tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth
good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto
Zion, Thy God reigneth;
Mosiah 12:Verse 22
22 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice
together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye when the
Lord shall bring again Zion;
Mosiah 12:Verse 23
23 Break forth into joy; sing together ye waste places
of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath
redeemed Jerusalem;
Mosiah 12:Verse 24
24 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of
all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the
salvation of our God?
Mosiah 12:Verse 25
25 And now Abinadi said unto them: Are you priests, and
pretend to teach this people, and to understand the spirit of
prophesying, and yet desire to know of me what these things
mean?
Mosiah 12:Verse 26
26 I say unto you, wo be unto you for perverting the
ways of the Lord! For if ye understand these things ye have not
taught them; therefore, ye have perverted the ways of the
Lord.
Mosiah 12:Verse 27
27 Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding;
therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this
people?
Mosiah 12:Verse 28
28 And they said: We teach the law of Moses.
Mosiah 12:Verse 29
29 And again he said unto them: If ye teach the law of
Moses why do ye not keep it? Why do ye set your hearts upon riches?
Why do ye commit whoredoms and spend your strength with harlots,
yea, and cause this people to commit sin, that the Lord has cause
to send me to prophesy against this people, yea, even a great evil
against this people?
Mosiah 12:Verse 30
30 Know ye not that I speak the truth? Yea, ye know
that I speak the truth; and you ought to tremble before God.
Mosiah 12:Verse 31
31 And it shall come to pass that ye shall be smitten
for your iniquities, for ye have said that ye teach the law of
Moses. And what know ye concerning the law of Moses? Doth salvation
come by the law of Moses? What say ye?
Mosiah 12:Verse 32
32 And they answered and said that salvation did come
by the law of Moses.
Mosiah 12:Verse 33
33 But now Abinadi said unto them: I know if ye keep
the commandments of God ye shall be saved; yea, if ye keep the
commandments which the Lord delivered unto Moses in the mount of
Sinai, saying:
Mosiah 12:Verse 34
34 I am the Lord thy God, who hath brought thee out of
the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Mosiah 12:Verse 35
35 Thou shalt have no other God before me.
Mosiah 12:Verse 36
36 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness of any thing in heaven above, or things which are in
the earth beneath.
Mosiah 12:Verse 37
37 Now Abinadi said unto them, Have ye done all this? I
say unto you, Nay, ye have not. And have ye taught this people that
they should do all these things? I say unto you, Nay, ye have
not.
Chapter 13
Mosiah 13:Verse 1
1 AND now when the king had heard these words, he said
unto his priests: Away with this fellow, and slay him; for what
have we to do with him, for he is mad.
Mosiah 13:Verse 2
2 And they stood forth and attempted to lay their hands
on him; but he withstood them, and said unto them:
Mosiah 13:Verse 3
3 Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your
hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord
sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested
that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be
destroyed at this time.
Mosiah 13:Verse 4
4 But I must fulfil the commandments wherewith God has
commanded me; and because I have told you the truth ye are angry
with me. And again, because I have spoken the word of God ye have
judged me that I am mad.
Mosiah 13:Verse 5
5 Now it came to pass after Abinadi had spoken these
words that the people of king Noah durst not lay their hands on
him, for the Spirit of the Lord was upon him; and his face shone
with exceeding luster, even as Moses' did while in the mount of
Sinai, while speaking with the Lord.
Mosiah 13:Verse 6
6 And he spake with power and authority from God; and
he continued his words, saying:
Mosiah 13:Verse 7
7 Ye see that ye have not power to slay me, therefore I
finish my message. Yea, and I perceive that it cuts you to your
hearts because I tell you the truth concerning your
iniquities.
Mosiah 13:Verse 8
8 Yea, and my words fill you with wonder and amazement,
and with anger.
Mosiah 13:Verse 9
9 But I finish my message; and then it matters not
whither I go, if it so be that I am saved.
Mosiah 13:Verse 10
10 But this much I tell you, what you do with me, after
this, shall be as a type and a shadow of things which are to
come.
Mosiah 13:Verse 11
11 And now I read unto you the remainder of the
commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in
your hearts; I perceive that ye have studied and taught iniquity
the most part of your lives.
Mosiah 13:Verse 12
12 And now, ye remember that I said unto you: Thou
shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of
things which are in heaven above, or which are in the earth
beneath, or which are in the water under the earth.
Mosiah 13:Verse 13
13 And again: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto
them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children, unto the
third and fourth generations of them that hate me;
Mosiah 13:Verse 14
14 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love
me and keep my commandments.
Mosiah 13:Verse 15
15 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in
vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name
in vain.
Mosiah 13:Verse 16
16 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Mosiah 13:Verse 17
17 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy
work;
Mosiah 13:Verse 18
18 But the seventh day, the sabbath of the Lord thy
God, thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy
daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle,
nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;
Mosiah 13:Verse 19
19 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and
the sea, and all that in them is; wherefore the Lord blessed the
sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Mosiah 13:Verse 20
20 Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may
be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Mosiah 13:Verse 21
21 Thou shalt not kill.
Mosiah 13:Verse 22
22 Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not
steal.
Mosiah 13:Verse 23
23 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbor.
Mosiah 13:Verse 24
24 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his
maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy
neighbor's.
Mosiah 13:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that after Abinadi had made an
end of these sayings that he said unto them: Have ye taught this
people that they should observe to do all these things for to keep
these commandments?
Mosiah 13:Verse 26
26 I say unto you, Nay; for if ye had, the Lord would
not have caused me to come forth and to prophesy evil concerning
this people.
Mosiah 13:Verse 27
27 And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the
law of Moses. I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should
keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time
shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of
Moses.
Mosiah 13:Verse 28
28 And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth
not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which
God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people,
that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of
Moses.
Mosiah 13:Verse 29
29 And now I say unto you that it was expedient that
there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a
very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, quick to do
iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their God;
Mosiah 13:Verse 30
30 Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of
performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe
strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and
their duty towards him.
Mosiah 13:Verse 31
31 But behold, I say unto you, that all these things
were types of things to come.
Mosiah 13:Verse 32
32 And now, did they understand the law? I say unto
you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of
the hardness of their hearts; for they understood not that there
could not any man be saved except it were through the redemption of
God.
Mosiah 13:Verse 33
33 For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them
concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem
his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever
since the world began--have they not spoken more or less concerning
these things?
Mosiah 13:Verse 34
34 Have they not said that God himself should come down
among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and
go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?
Mosiah 13:Verse 35
35 Yea, and have they not said also that he should
bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that he, himself,
should be oppressed and afflicted?
Chapter 14
Mosiah 14:Verse 1
1 Yea, even doth not Isaiah say: Who hath believed our
report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
Mosiah 14:Verse 2
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant,
and as a root out of dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness;
and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire
him.
Mosiah 14:Verse 3
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows,
and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from
him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Mosiah 14:Verse 4
4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our
sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted.
Mosiah 14:Verse 5
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon
him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Mosiah 14:Verse 6
6 All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned
every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the
iniquities of us all.
Mosiah 14:Verse 7
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened
not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a
sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth.
Mosiah 14:Verse 8
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who
shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of
the living; for the transgressions of my people was he
stricken.
Mosiah 14:Verse 9
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the
rich in his death; because he had done no evil, neither was any
deceit in his mouth.
Mosiah 14:Verse 10
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put
him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin he
shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of
the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Mosiah 14:Verse 11
11 He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be
satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify
many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Mosiah 14:Verse 12
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the
great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he
hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the
transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and made intercession
for the transgressors.
Chapter 15
Mosiah 15:Verse 1
1 AND now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye
should understand that God himself shall come down among the
children of men, and shall redeem his people.
Mosiah 15:Verse 2
2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called
the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the
Father, being the Father and the Son--
Mosiah 15:Verse 3
3 The Father, because he was conceived by the power of
God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father
and Son--
Mosiah 15:Verse 4
4 And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of
heaven and of earth.
Mosiah 15:Verse 5
5 And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or
the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and
yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked,
and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people.
Mosiah 15:Verse 6
6 And after all this, after working many mighty
miracles among the children of men, he shall be led, yea, even as
Isaiah said, as a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so he opened
not his mouth.
Mosiah 15:Verse 7
7 Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain,
the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son
being swallowed up in the will of the Father.
Mosiah 15:Verse 8
8 And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having
gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make
intercession for the children of men--
Mosiah 15:Verse 9
9 Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of
mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men;
standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of
death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions,
having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice.
Mosiah 15:Verse 10
10 And now I say unto you, who shall declare his
generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been
made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say
ye? And who shall be his seed?
Mosiah 15:Verse 11
11 Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the
words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have
prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord--I say unto you, that
all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that
the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that
day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are
his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.
Mosiah 15:Verse 12
12 For these are they whose sins he has borne; these
are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their
transgressions. And now, are they not his seed?
Mosiah 15:Verse 13
13 Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has
opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into
transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world
began? I say unto you that they are his seed.
Mosiah 15:Verse 14
14 And these are they who have published peace, who
have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation;
and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
Mosiah 15:Verse 15
15 And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their
feet!
Mosiah 15:Verse 16
16 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the
feet of those that are still publishing peace!
Mosiah 15:Verse 17
17 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the
feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this
time henceforth and forever!
Mosiah 15:Verse 18
18 And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O
how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth
good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who
has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto
his people;
Mosiah 15:Verse 19
19 For were it not for the redemption which he hath
made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the
world, I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have
perished.
Mosiah 15:Verse 20
20 But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and
the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he
bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead.
Mosiah 15:Verse 21
21 And there cometh a resurrection, even a first
resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and
who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of
Christ--for so shall he be called.
Mosiah 15:Verse 22
22 And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and
all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have
kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first
resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection.
Mosiah 15:Verse 23
23 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed
them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken
the bands of death.
Mosiah 15:Verse 24
24 And these are those who have part in the first
resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came,
in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And
thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they
have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being
redeemed by the Lord.
Mosiah 15:Verse 25
25 And little children also have eternal life.
Mosiah 15:Verse 26
26 But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye
ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel
against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have
perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have
wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of
God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in
the first resurrection.
Mosiah 15:Verse 27
27 Therefore ought ye not to tremble? For salvation
cometh to none such; for the Lord hath redeemed none such; yea,
neither can the Lord redeem such; for he cannot deny himself; for
he cannot deny justice when it has its claim.
Mosiah 15:Verse 28
28 And now I say unto you that the time shall come that
the salvation of the Lord shall be declared to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
Mosiah 15:Verse 29
29 Yea, Lord, thy watchmen shall lift up their voice;
with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to
eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.
Mosiah 15:Verse 30
30 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places
of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath
redeemed Jerusalem.
Mosiah 15:Verse 31
31 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of
all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the
salvation of our God.
Chapter 16
Mosiah 16:Verse 1
1 AND now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had
spoken these words he stretched forth his hand and said: The time
shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every
nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall
confess before God that his judgments are just.
Mosiah 16:Verse 2
2 And then shall the wicked be cast out, and they shall
have cause to howl, and weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and
this because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord;
therefore the Lord redeemeth them not.
Mosiah 16:Verse 3
3 For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has
power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our
first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the
cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing
evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.
Mosiah 16:Verse 4
4 Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would
have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people
from their lost and fallen state.
Mosiah 16:Verse 5
5 But remember that he that persists in his own carnal
nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God,
remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over
him. Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made, being
an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.
Mosiah 16:Verse 6
6 And now if Christ had not come into the world,
speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there
could have been no redemption.
Mosiah 16:Verse 7
7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have
broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory,
and that death should have no sting, there could have been no
resurrection.
Mosiah 16:Verse 8
8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath
no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
Mosiah 16:Verse 9
9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a
light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a
life which is endless, that there can be no more death.
Mosiah 16:Verse 10
10 Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this
corruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand
before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to their works
whether they be good or whether they be evil--
Mosiah 16:Verse 11
11 If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life
and happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless
damnation, being delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected
them, which is damnation--
Mosiah 16:Verse 12
12 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and
desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy
were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended
towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their
iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were
commanded to repent and yet they would not repent.
Mosiah 16:Verse 13
13 And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your
sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be
saved?
Mosiah 16:Verse 14
14 Therefore, if ye teach the law of Moses, also teach
that it is a shadow of those things which are to come--
Mosiah 16:Verse 15
15 Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the
Lord, who is the very Eternal Father. Amen.
Chapter 17
Mosiah 17:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that when Abinadi had
finished these sayings, that the king commanded that the priests
should take him and cause that he should be put to death.
Mosiah 17:Verse 2
2 But there was one among them whose name was Alma, he
also being a descendant of Nephi. And he was a young man, and he
believed the words which Abinadi had spoken, for he knew concerning
the iniquity which Abinadi had testified against them; therefore he
began to plead with the king that he would not be angry with
Abinadi, but suffer that he might depart in peace.
Mosiah 17:Verse 3
3 But the king was more wroth, and caused that Alma
should be cast out from among them, and sent his servants after him
that they might slay him.
Mosiah 17:Verse 4
4 But he fled from before them and hid himself that
they found him not. And he being concealed for many days did write
all the words which Abinadi had spoken.
Mosiah 17:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that the king caused that his
guards should surround Abinadi and take him; and they bound him and
cast him into prison.
Mosiah 17:Verse 6
6 And after three days, having counseled with his
priests, he caused that he should again be brought before
him.
Mosiah 17:Verse 7
7 And he said unto him: Abinadi, we have found an
accusation against thee, and thou art worthy of death.
Mosiah 17:Verse 8
8 For thou hast said that God himself should come down
among the children of men; and now, for this cause thou shalt be
put to death unless thou wilt recall all the words which thou hast
spoken evil concerning me and my people.
Mosiah 17:Verse 9
9 Now Abinadi said unto him: I say unto you, I will not
recall the words which I have spoken unto you concerning this
people, for they are true; and that ye may know of their surety I
have suffered myself that I have fallen into your hands.
Mosiah 17:Verse 10
10 Yea, and I will suffer even until death, and I will
not recall my words, and they shall stand as a testimony against
you. And if ye slay me ye will shed innocent blood, and this shall
also stand as a testimony against you at the last day.
Mosiah 17:Verse 11
11 And now king Noah was about to release him, for he
feared his word; for he feared that the judgments of God would come
upon him.
Mosiah 17:Verse 12
12 But the priests lifted up their voices against him,
and began to accuse him, saying: He has reviled the king. Therefore
the king was stirred up in anger against him, and he delivered him
up that he might be slain.
Mosiah 17:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that they took him and bound
him, and scourged his skin with faggots, yea, even unto
death.
Mosiah 17:Verse 14
14 And now when the flames began to scorch him, he
cried unto them, saying:
Mosiah 17:Verse 15
15 Behold, even as ye have done unto me, so shall it
come to pass that thy seed shall cause that many shall suffer the
pains that I do suffer, even the pains of death by fire; and this
because they believe in the salvation of the Lord their God.
Mosiah 17:Verse 16
16 And it will come to pass that ye shall be afflicted
with all manner of diseases because of your iniquities.
Mosiah 17:Verse 17
17 Yea, and ye shall be smitten on every hand, and
shall be driven and scattered to and fro, even as a wild flock is
driven by wild and ferocious beasts.
Mosiah 17:Verse 18
18 And in that day ye shall be hunted, and ye shall be
taken by the hand of your enemies, and then ye shall suffer, as I
suffer, the pains of death by fire.
Mosiah 17:Verse 19
19 Thus God executeth vengeance upon those that destroy
his people. O God, receive my soul.
Mosiah 17:Verse 20
20 And now, when Abinadi had said these words, he fell,
having suffered death by fire; yea, having been put to death
because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed
the truth of his words by his death.
Chapter 18
Mosiah 18:Verse 1
1 AND now, it came to pass that Alma, who had fled from
the servants of king Noah, repented of his sins and iniquities, and
went about privately among the people, and began to teach the words
of Abinadi--
Mosiah 18:Verse 2
2 Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also
concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the redemption of the
people, which was to be brought to pass through the power, and
sufferings, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension
into heaven.
Mosiah 18:Verse 3
3 And as many as would hear his word he did teach. And
he taught them privately, that it might not come to the knowledge
of the king. And many did believe his words.
Mosiah 18:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that as many as did believe him
did go forth to a place which was called Mormon, having received
its name from the king, being in the borders of the land having
been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild beasts.
Mosiah 18:Verse 5
5 Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water,
and Alma resorted thither, there being near the water a thicket of
small trees, where he did hide himself in the daytime from the
searches of the king.
Mosiah 18:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that as many as believed him went
thither to hear his words.
Mosiah 18:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass after many days there were a
goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the
words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his
word, to hear him. And he did teach them, and did preach unto them
repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord.
Mosiah 18:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold,
here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now,
as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called
his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that
they may be light;
Mosiah 18:Verse 9
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn;
yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand
as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all
places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed
of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that
ye may have eternal life--
Mosiah 18:Verse 10
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your
hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the
Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant
with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he
may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
Mosiah 18:Verse 11
11 And now when the people had heard these words, they
clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of
our hearts.
Mosiah 18:Verse 12
12 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he
being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and
cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that
he may do this work with holiness of heart.
Mosiah 18:Verse 13
13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the
Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having
authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have
entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the
mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you;
and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of
Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the
world.
Mosiah 18:Verse 14
14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and
Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out
of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.
Mosiah 18:Verse 15
15 And again, Alma took another, and went forth a
second time into the water, and baptized him according to the
first, only he did not bury himself again in the water.
Mosiah 18:Verse 16
16 And after this manner he did baptize every one that
went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about
two hundred and four souls; yea, and they were baptized in the
waters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace of God.
Mosiah 18:Verse 17
17 And they were called the church of God, or the
church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that
whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added
to his church.
Mosiah 18:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from
God, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their
number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them
concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Mosiah 18:Verse 19
19 And he commanded them that they should teach nothing
save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been
spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.
Mosiah 18:Verse 20
20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach
nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had
redeemed his people.
Mosiah 18:Verse 21
21 And he commanded them that there should be no
contention one with another, but that they should look forward with
one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit
together in unity and in love one towards another.
Mosiah 18:Verse 22
22 And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they
became the children of God.
Mosiah 18:Verse 23
23 And he commanded them that they should observe the
sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give
thanks to the Lord their God.
Mosiah 18:Verse 24
24 And he also commanded them that the priests whom he
had ordained should labor with their own hands for their
support.
Mosiah 18:Verse 25
25 And there was one day in every week that was set
apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the
people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also, as often as it
was in their power, to assemble themselves together.
Mosiah 18:Verse 26
26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people
for their support; but for their labor they were to receive the
grace of God, that they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the
knowledge of God, that they might teach with power and authority
from God.
Mosiah 18:Verse 27
27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the
church should impart of their substance, every one according to
that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more
abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be
required; and to him that had not should be given.
Mosiah 18:Verse 28
28 And thus they should impart of their substance of
their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those
priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked
soul.
Mosiah 18:Verse 29
29 And this he said unto them, having been commanded of
God; and they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one
another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs
and their wants.
Mosiah 18:Verse 30
30 And now it came to pass that all this was done in
Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near
the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of
Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of
them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and
how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise
forever.
Mosiah 18:Verse 31
31 And these things were done in the borders of the
land, that they might not come to the knowledge of the king.
Mosiah 18:Verse 32
32 But behold, it came to pass that the king, having
discovered a movement among the people, sent his servants to watch
them. Therefore on the day that they were assembling themselves
together to hear the word of the Lord they were discovered unto the
king.
Mosiah 18:Verse 33
33 And now the king said that Alma was stirring up the
people to rebellion against him; therefore he sent his army to
destroy them.
Mosiah 18:Verse 34
34 And it came to pass that Alma and the people of the
Lord were apprised of the coming of the king's army; therefore they
took their tents and their families and departed into the
wilderness.
Mosiah 18:Verse 35
35 And they were in number about four hundred and fifty
souls.
Chapter 19
Mosiah 19:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that the army of the king
returned, having searched in vain for the people of the Lord.
Mosiah 19:Verse 2
2 And now behold, the forces of the king were small,
having been reduced, and there began to be a division among the
remainder of the people.
Mosiah 19:Verse 3
3 And the lesser part began to breathe out threatenings
against the king, and there began to be a great contention among
them.
Mosiah 19:Verse 4
4 And now there was a man among them whose name was
Gideon, and he being a strong man and an enemy to the king,
therefore he drew his sword, and swore in his wrath that he would
slay the king.
Mosiah 19:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that he fought with the king; and
when the king saw that he was about to overpower him, he fled and
ran and got upon the tower which was near the temple.
Mosiah 19:Verse 6
6 And Gideon pursued after him and was about to get
upon the tower to slay the king, and the king cast his eyes round
about towards the land of Shemlon, and behold, the army of the
Lamanites were within the borders of the land.
Mosiah 19:Verse 7
7 And now the king cried out in the anguish of his
soul, saying: Gideon, spare me, for the Lamanites are upon us, and
they will destroy us; yea, they will destroy my people.
Mosiah 19:Verse 8
8 And now the king was not so much concerned about his
people as he was about his own life; nevertheless, Gideon did spare
his life.
Mosiah 19:Verse 9
9 And the king commanded the people that they should
flee before the Lamanites, and he himself did go before them, and
they did flee into the wilderness, with their women and their
children.
Mosiah 19:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue
them, and did overtake them, and began to slay them.
Mosiah 19:Verse 11
11 Now it came to pass that the king commanded them
that all the men should leave their wives and their children, and
flee before the Lamanites.
Mosiah 19:Verse 12
12 Now there were many that would not leave them, but
had rather stay and perish with them. And the rest left their wives
and their children and fled.
Mosiah 19:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that those who tarried with
their wives and their children caused that their fair daughters
should stand forth and plead with the Lamanites that they would not
slay them.
Mosiah 19:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that the Lamanites had
compassion on them, for they were charmed with the beauty of their
women.
Mosiah 19:Verse 15
15 Therefore the Lamanites did spare their lives, and
took them captives and carried them back to the land of Nephi, and
granted unto them that they might possess the land, under the
conditions that they would deliver up king Noah into the hands of
the Lamanites, and deliver up their property, even one half of all
they possessed, one half of their gold, and their silver, and all
their precious things, and thus they should pay tribute to the king
of the Lamanites from year to year.
Mosiah 19:Verse 16
16 And now there was one of the sons of the king among
those that were taken captive, whose name was Limhi.
Mosiah 19:Verse 17
17 And now Limhi was desirous that his father should
not be destroyed; nevertheless, Limhi was not ignorant of the
iniquities of his father, he himself being a just man.
Mosiah 19:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that Gideon sent men into the
wilderness secretly, to search for the king and those that were
with him. And it came to pass that they met the people in the
wilderness, all save the king and his priests.
Mosiah 19:Verse 19
19 Now they had sworn in their hearts that they would
return to the land of Nephi, and if their wives and their children
were slain, and also those that had tarried with them, that they
would seek revenge, and also perish with them.
Mosiah 19:Verse 20
20 And the king commanded them that they should not
return; and they were angry with the king, and caused that he
should suffer, even unto death by fire.
Mosiah 19:Verse 21
21 And they were about to take the priests also and put
them to death, and they fled before them.
Mosiah 19:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that they were about to return
to the land of Nephi, and they met the men of Gideon. And the men
of Gideon told them of all that had happened to their wives and
their children; and that the Lamanites had granted unto them that
they might possess the land by paying a tribute to the Lamanites of
one half of all they possessed.
Mosiah 19:Verse 23
23 And the people told the men of Gideon that they had
slain the king, and his priests had fled from them farther into the
wilderness.
Mosiah 19:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that after they had ended the
ceremony, that they returned to the land of Nephi, rejoicing,
because their wives and their children were not slain; and they
told Gideon what they had done to the king.
Mosiah 19:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites
made an oath unto them, that his people should not slay them.
Mosiah 19:Verse 26
26 And also Limhi, being the son of the king, having
the kingdom conferred upon him by the people, made oath unto the
king of the Lamanites that his people should pay tribute unto him,
even one half of all they possessed.
Mosiah 19:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that Limhi began to establish
the kingdom and to establish peace among his people.
Mosiah 19:Verse 28
28 And the king of the Lamanites set guards round about
the land, that he might keep the people of Limhi in the land, that
they might not depart into the wilderness; and he did support his
guards out of the tribute which he did receive from the
Nephites.
Mosiah 19:Verse 29
29 And now king Limhi did have continual peace in his
kingdom for the space of two years, that the Lamanites did not
molest them nor seek to destroy them.
Chapter 20
Mosiah 20:Verse 1
1 NOW there was a place in Shemlon where the daughters
of the Lamanites did gather themselves together to sing, and to
dance, and to make themselves merry.
Mosiah 20:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that there was one day a small
number of them gathered together to sing and to dance.
Mosiah 20:Verse 3
3 And now the priests of king Noah, being ashamed to
return to the city of Nephi, yea, and also fearing that the people
would slay them, therefore they durst not return to their wives and
their children.
Mosiah 20:Verse 4
4 And having tarried in the wilderness, and having
discovered the daughters of the Lamanites, they laid and watched
them;
Mosiah 20:Verse 5
5 And when there were but few of them gathered together
to dance, they came forth out of their secret places and took them
and carried them into the wilderness; yea, twenty and four of the
daughters of the Lamanites they carried into the wilderness.
Mosiah 20:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites found
that their daughters had been missing, they were angry with the
people of Limhi, for they thought it was the people of Limhi.
Mosiah 20:Verse 7
7 Therefore they sent their armies forth; yea, even the
king himself went before his people; and they went up to the land
of Nephi to destroy the people of Limhi.
Mosiah 20:Verse 8
8 And now Limhi had discovered them from the tower,
even all their preparations for war did he discover; therefore he
gathered his people together, and laid wait for them in the fields
and in the forests.
Mosiah 20:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had come
up, that the people of Limhi began to fall upon them from their
waiting places, and began to slay them.
Mosiah 20:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that the battle became
exceedingly sore, for they fought like lions for their prey.
Mosiah 20:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that the people of Limhi began
to drive the Lamanites before them; yet they were not half so
numerous as the Lamanites. But they fought for their lives, and for
their wives, and for their children; therefore they exerted
themselves and like dragons did they fight.
Mosiah 20:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that they found the king of the
Lamanites among the number of their dead; yet he was not dead,
having been wounded and left upon the ground, so speedy was the
flight of his people.
Mosiah 20:Verse 13
13 And they took him and bound up his wounds, and
brought him before Limhi, and said: Behold, here is the king of the
Lamanites; he having received a wound has fallen among their dead,
and they have left him; and behold, we have brought him before you;
and now let us slay him.
Mosiah 20:Verse 14
14 But Limhi said unto them: Ye shall not slay him, but
bring him hither that I may see him. And they brought him. And
Limhi said unto him: What cause have ye to come up to war against
my people? Behold, my people have not broken the oath that I made
unto you; therefore, why should ye break the oath which ye made
unto my people?
Mosiah 20:Verse 15
15 And now the king said: I have broken the oath
because thy people did carry away the daughters of my people;
therefore, in my anger I did cause my people to come up to war
against thy people.
Mosiah 20:Verse 16
16 And now Limhi had heard nothing concerning this
matter; therefore he said: I will search among my people and
whosoever has done this thing shall perish. Therefore he caused a
search to be made among his people.
Mosiah 20:Verse 17
17 Now when Gideon had heard these things, he being the
king's captain, he went forth and said unto the king: I pray thee
forbear, and do not search this people, and lay not this thing to
their charge.
Mosiah 20:Verse 18
18 For do ye not remember the priests of thy father,
whom this people sought to destroy? And are they not in the
wilderness? And are not they the ones who have stolen the daughters
of the Lamanites?
Mosiah 20:Verse 19
19 And now, behold, and tell the king of these things,
that he may tell his people that they may be pacified towards us;
for behold they are already preparing to come against us; and
behold also there are but few of us.
Mosiah 20:Verse 20
20 And behold, they come with their numerous hosts; and
except the king doth pacify them towards us we must perish.
Mosiah 20:Verse 21
21 For are not the words of Abinadi fulfilled, which he
prophesied against us--and all this because we would not hearken
unto the words of the Lord, and turn from our iniquities?
Mosiah 20:Verse 22
22 And now let us pacify the king, and we fulfil the
oath which we have made unto him; for it is better that we should
be in bondage than that we should lose our lives; therefore, let us
put a stop to the shedding of so much blood.
Mosiah 20:Verse 23
23 And now Limhi told the king all the things
concerning his father, and the priests that had fled into the
wilderness, and attributed the carrying away of their daughters to
them.
Mosiah 20:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that the king was pacified
towards his people; and he said unto them: Let us go forth to meet
my people, without arms; and I swear unto you with an oath that my
people shall not slay thy people.
Mosiah 20:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that they followed the king, and
went forth without arms to meet the Lamanites. And it came to pass
that they did meet the Lamanites; and the king of the Lamanites did
bow himself down before them, and did plead in behalf of the people
of Limhi.
Mosiah 20:Verse 26
26 And when the Lamanites saw the people of Limhi, that
they were without arms, they had compassion on them and were
pacified towards them, and returned with their king in peace to
their own land.
Chapter 21
Mosiah 21:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that Limhi and his people
returned to the city of Nephi, and began to dwell in the land again
in peace.
Mosiah 21:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that after many days the
Lamanites began again to be stirred up in anger against the
Nephites, and they began to come into the borders of the land round
about.
Mosiah 21:Verse 3
3 Now they durst not slay them, because of the oath
which their king had made unto Limhi; but they would smite them on
their cheeks, and exercise authority over them; and began to put
heavy burdens upon their backs, and drive them as they would a dumb
ass--
Mosiah 21:Verse 4
4 Yea, all this was done that the word of the Lord
might be fulfilled.
Mosiah 21:Verse 5
5 And now the afflictions of the Nephites were great,
and there was no way that they could deliver themselves out of
their hands, for the Lamanites had surrounded them on every
side.
Mosiah 21:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that the people began to murmur
with the king because of their afflictions; and they began to be
desirous to go against them to battle. And they did afflict the
king sorely with their complaints; therefore he granted unto them
that they should do according to their desires.
Mosiah 21:Verse 7
7 And they gathered themselves together again, and put
on their armor, and went forth against the Lamanites to drive them
out of their land.
Mosiah 21:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did beat them,
and drove them back, and slew many of them.
Mosiah 21:Verse 9
9 And now there was a great mourning and lamentation
among the people of Limhi, the widow mourning for her husband, the
son and the daughter mourning for their father, and the brothers
for their brethren.
Mosiah 21:Verse 10
10 Now there were a great many widows in the land, and
they did cry mightily from day to day, for a great fear of the
Lamanites had come upon them.
Mosiah 21:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that their continual cries did
stir up the remainder of the people of Limhi to anger against the
Lamanites; and they went again to battle, but they were driven back
again, suffering much loss.
Mosiah 21:Verse 12
12 Yea, they went again even the third time, and
suffered in the like manner; and those that were not slain returned
again to the city of Nephi.
Mosiah 21:Verse 13
13 And they did humble themselves even to the dust,
subjecting themselves to the yoke of bondage, submitting themselves
to be smitten, and to be driven to and fro, and burdened, according
to the desires of their enemies.
Mosiah 21:Verse 14
14 And they did humble themselves even in the depths of
humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day
long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of
their afflictions.
Mosiah 21:Verse 15
15 And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because
of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries,
and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to
ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them
out of bondage.
Mosiah 21:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that they began to prosper by
degrees in the land, and began to raise grain more abundantly, and
flocks, and herds, that they did not suffer with hunger.
Mosiah 21:Verse 17
17 Now there was a great number of women, more than
there was of men; therefore king Limhi commanded that every man
should impart to the support of the widows and their children, that
they might not perish with hunger; and this they did because of the
greatness of their number that had been slain.
Mosiah 21:Verse 18
18 Now the people of Limhi kept together in a body as
much as it was possible, and secured their grain and their
flocks;
Mosiah 21:Verse 19
19 And the king himself did not trust his person
without the walls of the city, unless he took his guards with him,
fearing that he might by some means fall into the hands of the
Lamanites.
Mosiah 21:Verse 20
20 And he caused that his people should watch the land
round about, that by some means they might take those priests that
fled into the wilderness, who had stolen the daughters of the
Lamanites, and that had caused such a great destruction to come
upon them.
Mosiah 21:Verse 21
21 For they were desirous to take them that they might
punish them; for they had come into the land of Nephi by night, and
carried off their grain and many of their precious things;
therefore they laid wait for them.
Mosiah 21:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that there was no more
disturbance between the Lamanites and the people of Limhi, even
until the time that Ammon and his brethren came into the
land.
Mosiah 21:Verse 23
23 And the king having been without the gates of the
city with his guard, discovered Ammon and his brethren; and
supposing them to be priests of Noah therefore he caused that they
should be taken, and bound, and cast into prison. And had they been
the priests of Noah he would have caused that they should be put to
death.
Mosiah 21:Verse 24
24 But when he found that they were not, but that they
were his brethren, and had come from the land of Zarahemla, he was
filled with exceedingly great joy.
Mosiah 21:Verse 25
25 Now king Limhi had sent, previous to the coming of
Ammon, a small number of men to search for the land of Zarahemla;
but they could not find it, and they were lost in the
wilderness.
Mosiah 21:Verse 26
26 Nevertheless, they did find a land which had been
peopled; yea, a land which was covered with dry bones; yea, a land
which had been peopled and which had been destroyed; and they,
having supposed it to be the land of Zarahemla, returned to the
land of Nephi, having arrived in the borders of the land not many
days before the coming of Ammon.
Mosiah 21:Verse 27
27 And they brought a record with them, even a record
of the people whose bones they had found; and it was engraven on
plates of ore.
Mosiah 21:Verse 28
28 And now Limhi was again filled with joy on learning
from the mouth of Ammon that king Mosiah had a gift from God,
whereby he could interpret such engravings; yea, and Ammon also did
rejoice.
Mosiah 21:Verse 29
29 Yet Ammon and his brethren were filled with sorrow
because so many of their brethren had been slain;
Mosiah 21:Verse 30
30 And also that king Noah and his priests had caused
the people to commit so many sins and iniquities against God; and
they also did mourn for the death of Abinadi; and also for the
departure of Alma and the people that went with him, who had formed
a church of God through the strength and power of God, and faith on
the words which had been spoken by Abinadi.
Mosiah 21:Verse 31
31 Yea, they did mourn for their departure, for they
knew not whither they had fled. Now they would have gladly joined
with them, for they themselves had entered into a covenant with God
to serve him and keep his commandments.
Mosiah 21:Verse 32
32 And now since the coming of Ammon, king Limhi had
also entered into a covenant with God, and also many of his people,
to serve him and keep his commandments.
Mosiah 21:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that king Limhi and many of his
people were desirous to be baptized; but there was none in the land
that had authority from God. And Ammon declined doing this thing,
considering himself an unworthy servant.
Mosiah 21:Verse 34
34 Therefore they did not at that time form themselves
into a church, waiting upon the Spirit of the Lord. Now they were
desirous to become even as Alma and his brethren, who had fled into
the wilderness.
Mosiah 21:Verse 35
35 They were desirous to be baptized as a witness and a
testimony that they were willing to serve God with all their
hearts; nevertheless they did prolong the time; and an account of
their baptism shall be given hereafter.
Mosiah 21:Verse 36
36 And now all the study of Ammon and his people, and
king Limhi and his people, was to deliver themselves out of the
hands of the Lamanites and from bondage.
Chapter 22
Mosiah 22:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that Ammon and king Limhi
began to consult with the people how they should deliver themselves
out of bondage; and even they did cause that all the people should
gather themselves together; and this they did that they might have
the voice of the people concerning the matter.
Mosiah 22:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that they could find no way to
deliver themselves out of bondage, except it were to take their
women and children, and their flocks, and their herds, and their
tents, and depart into the wilderness; for the Lamanites being so
numerous, it was impossible for the people of Limhi to contend with
them, thinking to deliver themselves out of bondage by the
sword.
Mosiah 22:Verse 3
3 Now it came to pass that Gideon went forth and stood
before the king, and said unto him: Now O king, thou hast hitherto
hearkened unto my words many times when we have been contending
with our brethren, the Lamanites.
Mosiah 22:Verse 4
4 And now O king, if thou hast not found me to be an
unprofitable servant, or if thou hast hitherto listened to my words
in any degree, and they have been of service to thee, even so I
desire that thou wouldst listen to my words at this time, and I
will be thy servant and deliver this people out of bondage.
Mosiah 22:Verse 5
5 And the king granted unto him that he might speak.
And Gideon said unto him:
Mosiah 22:Verse 6
6 Behold the back pass, through the back wall, on the
back side of the city. The Lamanites, or the guards of the
Lamanites, by night are drunken; therefore let us send a
proclamation among all this people that they gather together their
flocks and herds, that they may drive them into the wilderness by
night.
Mosiah 22:Verse 7
7 And I will go according to thy command and pay the
last tribute of wine to the Lamanites, and they will be drunken;
and we will pass through the secret pass on the left of their camp
when they are drunken and asleep.
Mosiah 22:Verse 8
8 Thus we will depart with our women and our children,
our flocks, and our herds into the wilderness; and we will travel
around the land of Shilom.
Mosiah 22:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that the king hearkened unto the
words of Gideon.
Mosiah 22:Verse 10
10 And king Limhi caused that his people should gather
their flocks together; and he sent the tribute of wine to the
Lamanites; and he also sent more wine, as a present unto them; and
they did drink freely of the wine which king Limhi did send unto
them.
Mosiah 22:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that the people of king Limhi
did depart by night into the wilderness with their flocks and their
herds, and they went round about the land of Shilom in the
wilderness, and bent their course towards the land of Zarahemla,
being led by Ammon and his brethren.
Mosiah 22:Verse 12
12 And they had taken all their gold, and silver, and
their precious things, which they could carry, and also their
provisions with them, into the wilderness; and they pursued their
journey.
Mosiah 22:Verse 13
13 And after being many days in the wilderness they
arrived in the land of Zarahemla, and joined Mosiah's people, and
became his subjects.
Mosiah 22:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that Mosiah received them with
joy; and he also received their records, and also the records which
had been found by the people of Limhi.
Mosiah 22:Verse 15
15 And now it came to pass when the Lamanites had found
that the people of Limhi had departed out of the land by night,
that they sent an army into the wilderness to pursue them;
Mosiah 22:Verse 16
16 And after they had pursued them two days, they could
no longer follow their tracks; therefore they were lost in the
wilderness.
Chapter 23
Mosiah 23:Verse 1
1 NOW Alma, having been warned of the Lord that the
armies of king Noah would come upon them, and having made it known
to his people, therefore they gathered together their flocks, and
took of their grain, and departed into the wilderness before the
armies of king Noah.
Mosiah 23:Verse 2
2 And the Lord did strengthen them, that the people of
king Noah could not overtake them to destroy them.
Mosiah 23:Verse 3
3 And they fled eight days' journey into the
wilderness.
Mosiah 23:Verse 4
4 And they came to a land, yea, even a very beautiful
and pleasant land, a land of pure water.
Mosiah 23:Verse 5
5 And they pitched their tents, and began to till the
ground, and began to build buildings; yea, they were industrious,
and did labor exceedingly.
Mosiah 23:Verse 6
6 And the people were desirous that Alma should be
their king, for he was beloved by his people.
Mosiah 23:Verse 7
7 But he said unto them: Behold, it is not expedient
that we should have a king; for thus saith the Lord: Ye shall not
esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself
above another; therefore I say unto you it is not expedient that ye
should have a king.
Mosiah 23:Verse 8
8 Nevertheless, if it were possible that ye could
always have just men to be your kings it would be well for you to
have a king.
Mosiah 23:Verse 9
9 But remember the iniquity of king Noah and his
priests; and I myself was caught in a snare, and did many things
which were abominable in the sight of the Lord, which caused me
sore repentance;
Mosiah 23:Verse 10
10 Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did
hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an
instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge
of his truth.
Mosiah 23:Verse 11
11 Nevertheless, in this I do not glory, for I am
unworthy to glory of myself.
Mosiah 23:Verse 12
12 And now I say unto you, ye have been oppressed by
king Noah, and have been in bondage to him and his priests, and
have been brought into iniquity by them; therefore ye were bound
with the bands of iniquity.
Mosiah 23:Verse 13
13 And now as ye have been delivered by the power of
God out of these bonds; yea, even out of the hands of king Noah and
his people, and also from the bonds of iniquity, even so I desire
that ye should stand fast in this liberty wherewith ye have been
made free, and that ye trust no man to be a king over you.
Mosiah 23:Verse 14
14 And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your
minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and
keeping his commandments.
Mosiah 23:Verse 15
15 Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man
should love his neighbor as himself, that there should be no
contention among them.
Mosiah 23:Verse 16
16 And now, Alma was their high priest, he being the
founder of their church.
Mosiah 23:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that none received authority to
preach or to teach except it were by him from God. Therefore he
consecrated all their priests and all their teachers; and none were
consecrated except they were just men.
Mosiah 23:Verse 18
18 Therefore they did watch over their people, and did
nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness.
Mosiah 23:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that they began to prosper
exceedingly in the land; and they called the land Helam.
Mosiah 23:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that they did multiply and
prosper exceedingly in the land of Helam; and they built a city,
which they called the city of Helam.
Mosiah 23:Verse 21
21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his
people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.
Mosiah 23:Verse 22
22 Nevertheless--whosoever putteth his trust in him the
same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with
this people.
Mosiah 23:Verse 23
23 For behold, I will show unto you that they were
brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord
their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of
Jacob.
Mosiah 23:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he
did show forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their
rejoicings.
Mosiah 23:Verse 25
25 For behold, it came to pass that while they were in
the land of Helam, yea, in the city of Helam, while tilling the
land round about, behold an army of the Lamanites was in the
borders of the land.
Mosiah 23:Verse 26
26 Now it came to pass that the brethren of Alma fled
from their fields, and gathered themselves together in the city of
Helam; and they were much frightened because of the appearance of
the Lamanites.
Mosiah 23:Verse 27
27 But Alma went forth and stood among them, and
exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they
should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them.
Mosiah 23:Verse 28
28 Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry
unto the Lord that he would soften the hearts of the Lamanites,
that they would spare them, and their wives, and their
children.
Mosiah 23:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass the the Lord did soften the
hearts of the Lamanites. And Alma and his brethren went forth and
delivered themselves up into their hands; and the Lamanites took
possession of the land of Helam.
Mosiah 23:Verse 30
30 Now the armies of the Lamanites, which had followed
after the people of king Limhi, had been lost in the wilderness for
many days.
Mosiah 23:Verse 31
31 And behold, they had found those priests of king
Noah, in a place which they called Amulon; and they had begun to
possess the land of Amulon and had begun to till the ground.
Mosiah 23:Verse 32
32 Now the name of the leader of those priests was
Amulon.
Mosiah 23:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that Amulon did plead with the
Lamanites; and he also sent forth their wives, who were the
daughters of the Lamanites, to plead with their brethren, that they
should not destroy their husbands.
Mosiah 23:Verse 34
34 And the Lamanites had compassion on Amulon and his
brethren, and did not destroy them, because of their wives.
Mosiah 23:Verse 35
35 And Amulon and his brethren did join the Lamanites,
and they were traveling in the wilderness in search of the land of
Nephi when they discovered the land of Helam, which was possessed
by Alma and his brethren.
Mosiah 23:Verse 36
36 And it came to pass that the Lamanites promised unto
Alma and his brethren, that if they would show them the way which
led to the land of Nephi that they would grant unto them their
lives and their liberty.
Mosiah 23:Verse 37
37 But after Alma had shown them the way that led to
the land of Nephi the Lamanites would not keep their promise; but
they set guards round about the land of Helam, over Alma and his
brethren.
Mosiah 23:Verse 38
38 And the remainder of them went to the land of Nephi;
and a part of them returned to the land of Helam, and also brought
with them the wives and the children of the guards who had been
left in the land.
Mosiah 23:Verse 39
39 And the king of the Lamanites had granted unto
Amulon that he should be a king and a ruler over his people, who
were in the land of Helam; nevertheless he should have no power to
do anything contrary to the will of the king of the
Lamanites.
Chapter 24
Mosiah 24:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that Amulon did gain favor in the
eyes of the king of the Lamanites; therefore, the king of the
Lamanites granted unto him and his brethren that they should be
appointed teachers over his people, yea, even over the people who
were in the land of Shemlon, and in the land of Shilom, and in the
land of Amulon.
Mosiah 24:Verse 2
2 For the Lamanites had taken possession of all these
lands; therefore, the king of the Lamanites had appointed kings
over all these lands.
Mosiah 24:Verse 3
3 And now the name of the king of the Lamanites was
Laman, being called after the name of his father; and therefore he
was called king Laman. And he was king over a numerous
people.
Mosiah 24:Verse 4
4 And he appointed teachers of the brethren of Amulon
in every land which was possessed by his people; and thus the
language of Nephi began to be taught among all the people of the
Lamanites.
Mosiah 24:Verse 5
5 And they were a people friendly one with another;
nevertheless they knew not God; neither did the brethren of Amulon
teach them anything concerning the Lord their God, neither the law
of Moses; nor did they teach them the words of Abinadi;
Mosiah 24:Verse 6
6 But they taught them that they should keep their
record, and that they might write one to another.
Mosiah 24:Verse 7
7 And thus the Lamanites began to increase in riches,
and began to trade one with another and wax great, and began to be
a cunning and a wise people, as to the wisdom of the world, yea, a
very cunning people, delighting in all manner of wickedness and
plunder, except it were among their own brethren.
Mosiah 24:Verse 8
8 And now it came to pass that Amulon began to exercise
authority over Alma and his brethren, and began to persecute him,
and cause that his children should persecute their children.
Mosiah 24:Verse 9
9 For Amulon knew Alma, that he had been one of the
king's priests, and that it was he that believed the words of
Abinadi and was driven out before the king, and therefore he was
wroth with him; for he was subject to king Laman, yet he exercised
authority over them, and put tasks upon them, and put task-masters
over them.
Mosiah 24:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that so great were their
afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.
Mosiah 24:Verse 11
11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop
their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that
whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to
death.
Mosiah 24:Verse 12
12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices
to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he
did know the thoughts of their hearts.
Mosiah 24:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came
to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of
good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto
me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of
bondage.
Mosiah 24:Verse 14
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon
your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs,
even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand
as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety
that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their
afflictions.
Mosiah 24:Verse 15
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were
laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did
strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease,
and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of
the Lord.
Mosiah 24:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith
and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again,
saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you
out of bondage.
Mosiah 24:Verse 17
17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this
people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of
bondage.
Mosiah 24:Verse 18
18 Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in the
night-time gathered their flocks together, and also of their grain;
yea, even all the night-time were they gathering the flocks
together.
Mosiah 24:Verse 19
19 And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to
come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a
profound sleep.
Mosiah 24:Verse 20
20 And Alma and his people departed into the
wilderness; and when they had traveled all day they pitched their
tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma, because he led
their way in the wilderness.
Mosiah 24:Verse 21
21 Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their
thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased
their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were
in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord
their God.
Mosiah 24:Verse 22
22 And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and
all their women and all their children that could speak lifted
their voices in the praises of their God.
Mosiah 24:Verse 23
23 And now the Lord said unto Alma: Haste thee and get
thou and this people out of this land, for the Lamanites have
awakened and do pursue thee; therefore get thee out of this land,
and I will stop the Lamanites in this valley that they come no
further in pursuit of this people.
Mosiah 24:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that they departed out of the
valley, and took their journey into the wilderness.
Mosiah 24:Verse 25
25 And after they had been in the wilderness twelve
days they arrived in the land of Zarahemla; and king Mosiah did
also receive them with joy.
Chapter 25
Mosiah 25:Verse 1
1 AND now king Mosiah caused that all the people should
be gathered together.
Mosiah 25:Verse 2
2 Now there were not so many of the children of Nephi,
or so many of those who were descendants of Nephi, as there were of
the people of Zarahemla, who was a descendant of Mulek, and those
who came with him into the wilderness.
Mosiah 25:Verse 3
3 And there were not so many of the people of Nephi and
of the people of Zarahemla as there were of the Lamanites; yea,
they were not half so numerous.
Mosiah 25:Verse 4
4 And now all the people of Nephi were assembled
together, and also all the people of Zarahemla, and they were
gathered together in two bodies.
Mosiah 25:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that Mosiah did read, and caused
to be read, the records of Zeniff to his people; yea, he read the
records of the people of Zeniff, from the time they left the land
of Zarahemla until they returned again.
Mosiah 25:Verse 6
6 And he also read the account of Alma and his
brethren, and all their afflictions, from the time they left the
land of Zarahemla until the time they returned again.
Mosiah 25:Verse 7
7 And now, when Mosiah had made an end of reading the
records, his people who tarried in the land were struck with wonder
and amazement.
Mosiah 25:Verse 8
8 For they knew not what to think; for when they beheld
those that had been delivered out of bondage they were filled with
exceedingly great joy.
Mosiah 25:Verse 9
9 And again, when they thought of their brethren who
had been slain by the Lamanites they were filled with sorrow, and
even shed many tears of sorrow.
Mosiah 25:Verse 10
10 And again, when they thought of the immediate
goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren
out of the hands of the Lamanites and of bondage, they did raise
their voices and give thanks to God.
Mosiah 25:Verse 11
11 And again, when they thought upon the Lamanites, who
were their brethren, of their sinful and polluted state, they were
filled with pain and anguish for the welfare of their souls.
Mosiah 25:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that those who were the children
of Amulon and his brethren, who had taken to wife the daughters of
the Lamanites, were displeased with the conduct of their fathers,
and they would no longer be called by the names of their fathers,
therefore they took upon themselves the name of Nephi, that they
might be called the children of Nephi and be numbered among those
who were called Nephites.
Mosiah 25:Verse 13
13 And now all the people of Zarahemla were numbered
with the Nephites, and this because the kingdom had been conferred
upon none but those who were descendants of Nephi.
Mosiah 25:Verse 14
14 And now it came to pass that when Mosiah had made an
end of speaking and reading to the people, he desired that Alma
should also speak to the people.
Mosiah 25:Verse 15
15 And Alma did speak unto them, when they were
assembled together in large bodies, and he went from one body to
another, preaching unto the people repentance and faith on the
Lord.
Mosiah 25:Verse 16
16 And he did exhort the people of Limhi and his
brethren, all those that had been delivered out of bondage, that
they should remember that it was the Lord that did deliver
them.
Mosiah 25:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that after Alma had taught the
people many things, and had made an end of speaking to them, that
king Limhi was desirous that he might be baptized; and all his
people were desirous that they might be baptized also.
Mosiah 25:Verse 18
18 Therefore, Alma did go forth into the water and did
baptize them; yea, he did baptize them after the manner he did his
brethren in the waters of Mormon; yea, and as many as he did
baptize did belong to the church of God; and this because of their
belief on the words of Alma.
Mosiah 25:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted unto
Alma that he might establish churches throughout all the land of
Zarahemla; and gave him power to ordain priests and teachers over
every church.
Mosiah 25:Verse 20
20 Now this was done because there were so many people
that they could not all be governed by one teacher; neither could
they all hear the word of God in one assembly;
Mosiah 25:Verse 21
21 Therefore they did assemble themselves together in
different bodies, being called churches; every church having their
priests and their teachers, and every priest preaching the word
according as it was delivered to him by the mouth of Alma.
Mosiah 25:Verse 22
22 And thus, notwithstanding there being many churches
they were all one church, yea, even the church of God; for there
was nothing preached in all the churches except it were repentance
and faith in God.
Mosiah 25:Verse 23
23 And now there were seven churches in the land of
Zarahemla. And it came to pass that whosoever were desirous to take
upon them the name of Christ, or of God, they did join the churches
of God;
Mosiah 25:Verse 24
24 And they were called the people of God. And the Lord
did pour out his Spirit upon them, and they were blessed, and
prospered in the land.
Chapter 26
Mosiah 26:Verse 1
1 NOW it came to pass that there were many of the
rising generation that could not understand the words of king
Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his
people; and they did not believe the tradition of their
fathers.
Mosiah 26:Verse 2
2 They did not believe what had been said concerning
the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning
the coming of Christ.
Mosiah 26:Verse 3
3 And now because of their unbelief they could not
understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened.
Mosiah 26:Verse 4
4 And they would not be baptized; neither would they
join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith,
and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state;
for they would not call upon the Lord their God.
Mosiah 26:Verse 5
5 And now in the reign of Mosiah they were not half so
numerous as the people of God; but because of the dissensions among
the brethren they became more numerous.
Mosiah 26:Verse 6
6 For it came to pass that they did deceive many with
their flattering words, who were in the church, and did cause them
to commit many sins; therefore it became expedient that those who
committed sin, that were in the church, should be admonished by the
church.
Mosiah 26:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that they were brought before the
priests, and delivered up unto the priests by the teachers; and the
priests brought them before Alma, who was the high priest.
Mosiah 26:Verse 8
8 Now king Mosiah had given Alma the authority over the
church.
Mosiah 26:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that Alma did not know concerning
them; but there were many witnesses against them; yea, the people
stood and testified of their iniquity in abundance.
Mosiah 26:Verse 10
10 Now there had not any such thing happened before in
the church; therefore Alma was troubled in his spirit, and he
caused that they should be brought before the king.
Mosiah 26:Verse 11
11 And he said unto the king: Behold, here are many
whom we have brought before thee, who are accused of their
brethren; yea, and they have been taken in divers iniquities. And
they do not repent of their iniquities; therefore we have brought
them before thee, that thou mayest judge them according to their
crimes.
Mosiah 26:Verse 12
12 But king Mosiah said unto Alma: Behold, I judge them
not; therefore I deliver them into thy hands to be judged.
Mosiah 26:Verse 13
13 And now the spirit of Alma was again troubled; and
he went and inquired of the Lord what he should do concerning this
matter, for he feared that he should do wrong in the sight of
God.
Mosiah 26:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that after he had poured out his
whole soul to God, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying:
Mosiah 26:Verse 15
15 Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who
were baptized in the waters of Mormon. Thou art blessed because of
thy exceeding faith in the words alone of my servant Abinadi.
Mosiah 26:Verse 16
16 And blessed are they because of their exceeding
faith in the words alone which thou hast spoken unto them.
Mosiah 26:Verse 17
17 And blessed art thou because thou hast established a
church among this people; and they shall be established, and they
shall be my people.
Mosiah 26:Verse 18
18 Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear
my name; for in my name shall they be called; and they are
mine.
Mosiah 26:Verse 19
19 And because thou hast inquired of me concerning the
transgressor, thou art blessed.
Mosiah 26:Verse 20
20 Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that
thou shalt have eternal life; and thou shalt serve me and go forth
in my name, and shalt gather together my sheep.
Mosiah 26:Verse 21
21 And he that will hear my voice shall be my sheep;
and him shall ye receive into the church, and him will I also
receive.
Mosiah 26:Verse 22
22 For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized
shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall
believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.
Mosiah 26:Verse 23
23 For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the
world; for it is I that hath created them; and it is I that
granteth unto him that believeth unto the end a place at my right
hand.
Mosiah 26:Verse 24
24 For behold, in my name are they called; and if they
know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at
my right hand.
Mosiah 26:Verse 25
25 And it shall come to pass that when the second trump
shall sound then shall they that never knew me come forth and shall
stand before me.
Mosiah 26:Verse 26
26 And then shall they know that I am the Lord their
God, that I am their Redeemer; but they would not be
redeemed.
Mosiah 26:Verse 27
27 And then I will confess unto them that I never knew
them; and they shall depart into everlasting fire prepared for the
devil and his angels.
Mosiah 26:Verse 28
28 Therefore I say unto you, that he that will not hear
my voice, the same shall ye not receive into my church, for him I
will not receive at the last day.
Mosiah 26:Verse 29
29 Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever
transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins
which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and
me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye
forgive, and I will forgive him also.
Mosiah 26:Verse 30
30 Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive
them their trespasses against me.
Mosiah 26:Verse 31
31 And ye shall also forgive one another your
trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his
neighbor's trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath
brought himself under condemnation.
Mosiah 26:Verse 32
32 Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not
repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people;
and this shall be observed from this time forward.
Mosiah 26:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass when Alma had heard these words
he wrote them down that he might have them, and that he might judge
the people of that church according to the commandments of
God.
Mosiah 26:Verse 34
34 And it came to pass that Alma went and judged those
that had been taken in iniquity, according to the word of the
Lord.
Mosiah 26:Verse 35
35 And whosoever repented of their sins and did confess
them, them he did number among the people of the church;
Mosiah 26:Verse 36
36 And those that would not confess their sins and
repent of their iniquity, the same were not numbered among the
people of the church, and their names were blotted out.
Mosiah 26:Verse 37
37 And it came to pass that Alma did regulate all the
affairs of the church; and they began again to have peace and to
prosper exceedingly in the affairs of the church, walking
circumspectly before God, receiving many, and baptizing many.
Mosiah 26:Verse 38
38 And now all these things did Alma and his fellow
laborers do who were over the church, walking in all diligence,
teaching the word of God in all things, suffering all manner of
afflictions, being persecuted by all those who did not belong to
the church of God.
Mosiah 26:Verse 39
39 And they did admonish their brethren; and they were
also admonished, every one by the word of God, according to his
sins, or to the sins which he had committed, being commanded of God
to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things.
Chapter 27
Mosiah 27:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that the persecutions which
were inflicted on the church by the unbelievers became so great
that the church began to murmur, and complain to their leaders
concerning the matter; and they did complain to Alma. And Alma laid
the case before their king, Mosiah. And Mosiah consulted with his
priests.
Mosiah 27:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that king Mosiah sent a
proclamation throughout the land round about that there should not
any unbeliever persecute any of those who belonged to the church of
God.
Mosiah 27:Verse 3
3 And there was a strict command throughout all the
churches that there should be no persecutions among them, that
there should be an equality among all men;
Mosiah 27:Verse 4
4 That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb
their peace; that every man should esteem his neighbor as himself,
laboring with their own hands for their support.
Mosiah 27:Verse 5
5 Yea, and all their priests and teachers should labor
with their own hands for their support, in all cases save it were
in sickness, or in much want; and doing these things, they did
abound in the grace of God.
Mosiah 27:Verse 6
6 And there began to be much peace again in the land;
and the people began to be very numerous, and began to scatter
abroad upon the face of the earth, yea, on the north and on the
south, on the east and on the west, building large cities and
villages in all quarters of the land.
Mosiah 27:Verse 7
7 And the Lord did visit them and prosper them, and
they became a large and wealthy people.
Mosiah 27:Verse 8
8 Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the
unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among
them, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he
became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of
many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he
led many of the people to do after the manner of his
iniquities.
Mosiah 27:Verse 9
9 And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of
the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people; causing
much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of
God to exercise his power over them.
Mosiah 27:Verse 10
10 And now it came to pass that while he was going
about to destroy the church of God, for he did go about secretly
with the sons of Mosiah seeking to destroy the church, and to lead
astray the people of the Lord, contrary to the commandments of God,
or even the king--
Mosiah 27:Verse 11
11 And as I said unto you, as they were going about
rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto
them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it
were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon
which they stood;
Mosiah 27:Verse 12
12 And so great was their astonishment, that they fell
to the earth, and understood not the words which he spake unto
them.
Mosiah 27:Verse 13
13 Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and
stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the
Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and
nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my
people.
Mosiah 27:Verse 14
14 And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath
heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his
servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith
concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of
the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee
of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants
might be answered according to their faith.
Mosiah 27:Verse 15
15 And now behold, can ye dispute the power of God? For
behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And can ye not also
behold me before you? And I am sent from God.
Mosiah 27:Verse 16
16 Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity
of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and
remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in
bondage, and he has delivered them. And now I say unto thee, Alma,
go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more, that their
prayers may be answered, and this even if thou wilt of thyself be
cast off.
Mosiah 27:Verse 17
17 And now it came to pass that these were the last
words which the angel spake unto Alma, and he departed.
Mosiah 27:Verse 18
18 And now Alma and those that were with him fell again
to the earth, for great was their astonishment; for with their own
eyes they had beheld an angel of the Lord; and his voice was as
thunder, which shook the earth; and they knew that there was
nothing save the power of God that could shake the earth and cause
it to tremble as though it would part asunder.
Mosiah 27:Verse 19
19 And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that
he became dumb, that he could not open his mouth; yea, and he
became weak, even that he could not move his hands; therefore he
was taken by those that were with him, and carried helpless, even
until he was laid before his father.
Mosiah 27:Verse 20
20 And they rehearsed unto his father all that had
happened unto them; and his father rejoiced, for he knew that it
was the power of God.
Mosiah 27:Verse 21
21 And he caused that a multitude should be gathered
together that they might witness what the Lord had done for his
son, and also for those that were with him.
Mosiah 27:Verse 22
22 And he caused that the priests should assemble
themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray to the
Lord their God that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might
speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength--that
the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the
goodness and glory of God.
Mosiah 27:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed
for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma
received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto
them, bidding them to be of good comfort:
Mosiah 27:Verse 24
24 For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have
been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.
Mosiah 27:Verse 25
25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all
mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and
people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their
carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being
redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
Mosiah 27:Verse 26
26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they
do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
Mosiah 27:Verse 27
27 I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must
be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast
off.
Mosiah 27:Verse 28
28 Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation,
repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to
snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of
God.
Mosiah 27:Verse 29
29 My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of
bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but
now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with
eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no
more.
Mosiah 27:Verse 30
30 I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had
been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that
he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his
creating, he will make himself manifest unto all.
Mosiah 27:Verse 31
31 Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess
before him. Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to
be judged of him, then shall they confess that he is God; then
shall they confess, who live without God in the world, that the
judgment of an everlasting punishment is just upon them; and they
shall quake, and tremble, and shrink beneath the glance of his
all-searching eye.
Mosiah 27:Verse 32
32 And now it came to pass that Alma began from this
time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at
the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about
through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which
they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much
tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were
unbelievers, being smitten by many of them.
Mosiah 27:Verse 33
33 But notwithstanding all this, they did impart much
consolation to the church, confirming their faith, and exhorting
them with long-suffering and much travail to keep the commandments
of God.
Mosiah 27:Verse 34
34 And four of them were the sons of Mosiah; and their
names were Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and Himni; these were the
names of the sons of Mosiah.
Mosiah 27:Verse 35
35 And they traveled throughout all the land of
Zarahemla, and among all the people who were under the reign of
king Mosiah, zealously striving to repair all the injuries which
they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and
publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the
prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear
them.
Mosiah 27:Verse 36
36 And thus they were instruments in the hands of God
in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the
knowledge of their Redeemer.
Mosiah 27:Verse 37
37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish
peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare
unto the people that the Lord reigneth.
Chapter 28
Mosiah 28:Verse 1
1 NOW it came to pass that after the sons of Mosiah had
done all these things, they took a small number with them and
returned to their father, the king, and desired of him that he
would grant unto them that they might, with these whom they had
selected, go up to the land of Nephi that they might preach the
things which they had heard, and that they might impart the word of
God to their brethren, the Lamanites--
Mosiah 28:Verse 2
2 That perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge
of the Lord their God, and convince them of the iniquity of their
fathers; and that perhaps they might cure them of their hatred
towards the Nephites, that they might also be brought to rejoice in
the Lord their God, that they might become friendly to one another,
and that there should be no more contentions in all the land which
the Lord their God had given them.
Mosiah 28:Verse 3
3 Now they were desirous that salvation should be
declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human
soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul
should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and
tremble.
Mosiah 28:Verse 4
4 And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon them,
for they were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in
his infinite mercy to spare them; nevertheless they suffered much
anguish of soul because of their iniquities, suffering much and
fearing that they should be cast off forever.
Mosiah 28:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that they did plead with their
father many days that they might go up to the land of Nephi.
Mosiah 28:Verse 6
6 And king Mosiah went and inquired of the Lord if he
should let his sons go up among the Lamanites to preach the
word.
Mosiah 28:Verse 7
7 And the Lord said unto Mosiah: Let them go up, for
many shall believe on their words, and they shall have eternal
life; and I will deliver thy sons out of the hands of the
Lamanites.
Mosiah 28:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that Mosiah granted that they
might go and do according to their request.
Mosiah 28:Verse 9
9 And they took their journey into the wilderness to go
up to preach the word among the Lamanites; and I shall give an
account of their proceedings hereafter.
Mosiah 28:Verse 10
10 Now king Mosiah had no one to confer the kingdom
upon, for there was not any of his sons who would accept of the
kingdom.
Mosiah 28:Verse 11
11 Therefore he took the records which were engraven on
the plates of brass, and also the plates of Nephi, and all the
things which he had kept and preserved according to the
commandments of God, after having translated and caused to be
written the records which were on the plates of gold which had been
found by the people of Limhi, which were delivered to him by the
hand of Limhi;
Mosiah 28:Verse 12
12 And this he did because of the great anxiety of his
people; for they were desirous beyond measure to know concerning
those people who had been destroyed.
Mosiah 28:Verse 13
13 And now he translated them by the means of those two
stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow.
Mosiah 28:Verse 14
14 Now these things were prepared from the beginning,
and were handed down from generation to generation, for the purpose
of interpreting languages;
Mosiah 28:Verse 15
15 And they have been kept and preserved by the hand of
the Lord, that he should discover to every creature who should
possess the land the iniquities and abominations of his
people;
Mosiah 28:Verse 16
16 And whosoever has these things is called seer, after
the manner of old times.
Mosiah 28:Verse 17
17 Now after Mosiah had finished translating these
records, behold, it gave an account of the people who were
destroyed, from the time that they were destroyed back to the
building of the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the
language of the people and they were scattered abroad upon the face
of all the earth, yea, and even from that time back until the
creation of Adam.
Mosiah 28:Verse 18
18 Now this account did cause the people of Mosiah to
mourn exceedingly, yea, they were filled with sorrow; nevertheless
it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice.
Mosiah 28:Verse 19
19 And this account shall be written hereafter; for
behold, it is expedient that all people should know the things
which are written in this account.
Mosiah 28:Verse 20
20 And now, as I said unto you, that after king Mosiah
had done these things, he took the plates of brass, and all the
things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the
son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and
conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and
preserve them, and also keep a record of the people, handing them
down from one generation to another, even as they had been handed
down from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem.
Chapter 29
Mosiah 29:Verse 1
1 NOW when Mosiah had done this he sent out throughout
all the land, among all the people, desiring to know their will
concerning who should be their king.
Mosiah 29:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that the voice of the people
came, saying: We are desirous that Aaron thy son should be our king
and our ruler.
Mosiah 29:Verse 3
3 Now Aaron had gone up to the land of Nephi, therefore
the king could not confer the kingdom upon him; neither would Aaron
take upon him the kingdom; neither were any of the sons of Mosiah
willing to take upon them the kingdom.
Mosiah 29:Verse 4
4 Therefore king Mosiah sent again among the people;
yea, even a written word sent he among the people. And these were
the words that were written, saying:
Mosiah 29:Verse 5
5 Behold, O ye my people, or my brethren, for I esteem
you as such, I desire that ye should consider the cause which ye
are called to consider--for ye are desirous to have a king.
Mosiah 29:Verse 6
6 Now I declare unto you that he to whom the kingdom
doth rightly belong has declined, and will not take upon him the
kingdom.
Mosiah 29:Verse 7
7 And now if there should be another appointed in his
stead, behold I fear there would rise contentions among you. And
who knoweth but what my son, to whom the kingdom doth belong,
should turn to be angry and draw away a part of this people after
him, which would cause wars and contentions among you, which would
be the cause of shedding much blood and perverting the way of the
Lord, yea, and destroy the souls of many people.
Mosiah 29:Verse 8
8 Now I say unto you let us be wise and consider these
things, for we have no right to destroy my son, neither should we
have any right to destroy another if he should be appointed in his
stead.
Mosiah 29:Verse 9
9 And if my son should turn again to his pride and vain
things he would recall the things which he had said, and claim his
right to the kingdom, which would cause him and also this people to
commit much sin.
Mosiah 29:Verse 10
10 And now let us be wise and look forward to these
things, and do that which will make for the peace of this
people.
Mosiah 29:Verse 11
11 Therefore I will be your king the remainder of my
days; nevertheless, let us appoint judges, to judge this people
according to our law; and we will newly arrange the affairs of this
people, for we will appoint wise men to be judges, that will judge
this people according to the commandments of God.
Mosiah 29:Verse 12
12 Now it is better that a man should be judged of God
than of man, for the judgments of God are always just, but the
judgments of man are not always just.
Mosiah 29:Verse 13
13 Therefore, if it were possible that you could have
just men to be your kings, who would establish the laws of God, and
judge this people according to his commandments, yea, if ye could
have men for your kings who would do even as my father Benjamin did
for this people--I say unto you, if this could always be the case
then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to rule
over you.
Mosiah 29:Verse 14
14 And even I myself have labored with all the power
and faculties which I have possessed, to teach you the commandments
of God, and to establish peace throughout the land, that there
should be no wars nor contentions, no stealing, nor plundering, nor
murdering, nor any manner of iniquity;
Mosiah 29:Verse 15
15 And whosoever has committed iniquity, him have I
punished according to the crime which he has committed, according
to the law which has been given to us by our fathers.
Mosiah 29:Verse 16
16 Now I say unto you, that because all men are not
just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to
rule over you.
Mosiah 29:Verse 17
17 For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king
cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!
Mosiah 29:Verse 18
18 Yea, remember king Noah, his wickedness and his
abominations, and also the wickedness and abominations of his
people. Behold what great destruction did come upon them; and also
because of their iniquities they were brought into bondage.
Mosiah 29:Verse 19
19 And were it not for the interposition of their
all-wise Creator, and this because of their sincere repentance,
they must unavoidably remain in bondage until now.
Mosiah 29:Verse 20
20 But behold, he did deliver them because they did
humble themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto
him he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work
with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending
the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him.
Mosiah 29:Verse 21
21 And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone
an iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the
shedding of much blood.
Mosiah 29:Verse 22
22 For behold, he has his friends in iniquity, and he
keepeth his guards about him; and he teareth up the laws of those
who have reigned in righteousness before him; and he trampleth
under his feet the commandments of God;
Mosiah 29:Verse 23
23 And he enacteth laws, and sendeth them forth among
his people, yea, laws after the manner of his own wickedness; and
whosoever doth not obey his laws he causeth to be destroyed; and
whosoever doth rebel against him he will send his armies against
them to war, and if he can he will destroy them; and thus an
unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all righteousness.
Mosiah 29:Verse 24
24 And now behold I say unto you, it is not expedient
that such abominations should come upon you.
Mosiah 29:Verse 25
25 Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people,
judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws which have been
given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given
them by the hand of the Lord.
Mosiah 29:Verse 26
26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people
desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common
for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not
right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law--to do
your business by the voice of the people.
Mosiah 29:Verse 27
27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people
doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God
will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with
great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.
Mosiah 29:Verse 28
28 And now if ye have judges, and they do not judge you
according to the law which has been given, ye can cause that they
may be judged of a higher judge.
Mosiah 29:Verse 29
29 If your higher judges do not judge righteous
judgments, ye shall cause that a small number of your lower judges
should be gathered together, and they shall judge your higher
judges, according to the voice of the people.
Mosiah 29:Verse 30
30 And I command you to do these things in the fear of
the Lord; and I command you to do these things, and that ye have no
king; that if these people commit sins and iniquities they shall be
answered upon their own heads.
Mosiah 29:Verse 31
31 For behold I say unto you, the sins of many people
have been caused by the iniquities of their kings; therefore their
iniquities are answered upon the heads of their kings.
Mosiah 29:Verse 32
32 And now I desire that this inequality should be no
more in this land, especially among this my people; but I desire
that this land be a land of liberty, and every man may enjoy his
rights and privileges alike, so long as the Lord sees fit that we
may live and inherit the land, yea, even as long as any of our
posterity remains upon the face of the land.
Mosiah 29:Verse 33
33 And many more things did king Mosiah write unto
them, unfolding unto them all the trials and troubles of a
righteous king, yea, all the travails of soul for their people, and
also all the murmurings of the people to their king; and he
explained it all unto them.
Mosiah 29:Verse 34
34 And he told them that these things ought not to be;
but that the burden should come upon all the people, that every man
might bear his part.
Mosiah 29:Verse 35
35 And he also unfolded unto them all the disadvantages
they labored under, by having an unrighteous king to rule over
them;
Mosiah 29:Verse 36
36 Yea, all his iniquities and abominations, and all
the wars, and contentions, and bloodshed, and the stealing, and the
plundering, and the committing of whoredoms, and all manner of
iniquities which cannot be enumerated--telling them that these
things ought not to be, that they were expressly repugnant to the
commandments of God.
Mosiah 29:Verse 37
37 And now it came to pass, after king Mosiah had sent
these things forth among the people they were convinced of the
truth of his words.
Mosiah 29:Verse 38
38 Therefore they relinquished their desires for a
king, and became exceedingly anxious that every man should have an
equal chance throughout all the land; yea, and every man expressed
a willingness to answer for his own sins.
Mosiah 29:Verse 39
39 Therefore, it came to pass that they assembled
themselves together in bodies throughout the land, to cast in their
voices concerning who should be their judges, to judge them
according to the law which had been given them; and they were
exceedingly rejoiced because of the liberty which had been granted
unto them.
Mosiah 29:Verse 40
40 And they did wax strong in love towards Mosiah; yea,
they did esteem him more than any other man; for they did not look
upon him as a tyrant who was seeking for gain, yea, for that lucre
which doth corrupt the soul; for he had not exacted riches of them,
neither had he delighted in the shedding of blood; but he had
established peace in the land, and he had granted unto his people
that they should be delivered from all manner of bondage; therefore
they did esteem him, yea, exceedingly, beyond measure.
Mosiah 29:Verse 41
41 And it came to pass that they did appoint judges to
rule over them, or to judge them according to the law; and this
they did throughout all the land.
Mosiah 29:Verse 42
42 And it came to pass that Alma was appointed to be
the first chief judge, he being also the high priest, his father
having conferred the office upon him, and having given him the
charge concerning all the affairs of the church.
Mosiah 29:Verse 43
43 And now it came to pass that Alma did walk in the
ways of the Lord, and he did keep his commandments, and he did
judge righteous judgments; and there was continual peace through
the land.
Mosiah 29:Verse 44
44 And thus commenced the reign of the judges
throughout all the land of Zarahemla, among all the people who were
called the Nephites; and Alma was the first and chief judge.
Mosiah 29:Verse 45
45 And now it came to pass that his father died, being
eighty and two years old, having lived to fulfil the commandments
of God.
Mosiah 29:Verse 46
46 And it came to pass that Mosiah died also, in the
thirty and third year of his reign, being sixty and three years
old; making in the whole, five hundred and nine years from the time
Lehi left Jerusalem.
Mosiah 29:Verse 47
47 And thus ended the reign of the kings over the
people of Nephi; and thus ended the days of Alma, who was the
founder of their church.
Alma
THE BOOK OF ALMA
THE SON OF ALMA
The account of Alma, who was the son of Alma,
the first and chief judge over the people of Nephi, and also the
high priest over the Church. An account of the reign of the judges,
and the wars and contentions among the people. And also an account
of a war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, according to the
record of Alma, the first and chief judge.
Chapter 1
Alma 1:Verse 1
1 NOW it came to pass that in the first year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, from this time
forward, king Mosiah having gone the way of all the earth, having
warred a good warfare, walking uprightly before God, leaving none
to reign in his stead; nevertheless he had established laws, and
they were acknowledged by the people; therefore they were obliged
to abide by the laws which he had made.
Alma 1:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that in the first year of the
reign of Alma in the judgment-seat, there was a man brought before
him to be judged, a man who was large, and was noted for his much
strength.
Alma 1:Verse 3
3 And he had gone about among the people, preaching to
them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down
against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and
teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with
their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the
people.
Alma 1:Verse 4
4 And he also testified unto the people that all
mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not
fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and
rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed
all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life.
Alma 1:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that he did teach these things so
much that many did believe on his words, even so many that they
began to support him and give him money.
Alma 1:Verse 6
6 And he began to be lifted up in the pride of his
heart, and to wear very costly apparel, yea, and even began to
establish a church after the manner of his preaching.
Alma 1:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass as he was going, to preach to
those who believed on his word, he met a man who belonged to the
church of God, yea, even one of their teachers; and he began to
contend with him sharply, that he might lead away the people of the
church; but the man withstood him, admonishing him with the words
of God.
Alma 1:Verse 8
8 Now the name of the man was Gideon; and it was he who
was an instrument in the hands of God in delivering the people of
Limhi out of bondage.
Alma 1:Verse 9
9 Now, because Gideon withstood him with the words of
God he was wroth with Gideon, and drew his sword and began to smite
him. Now Gideon being stricken with many years, therefore he was
not able to withstand his blows, therefore he was slain by the
sword.
Alma 1:Verse 10
10 And the man who slew him was taken by the people of
the church, and was brought before Alma, to be judged according to
the crimes which he had committed.
Alma 1:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that he stood before Alma and
pleaded for himself with much boldness.
Alma 1:Verse 12
12 But Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first
time that priestcraft has been introduced among this people. And
behold, thou art not only guilty of priestcraft, but hast
endeavored to enforce it by the sword; and were priestcraft to be
enforced among this people it would prove their entire
destruction.
Alma 1:Verse 13
13 And thou hast shed the blood of a righteous man,
yea, a man who has done much good among this people; and were we to
spare thee his blood would come upon us for vengeance.
Alma 1:Verse 14
14 Therefore thou art condemned to die, according to
the law which has been given us by Mosiah, our last king; and it
has been acknowledged by this people; therefore this people must
abide by the law.
Alma 1:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that they took him; and his name
was Nehor; and they carried him upon the top of the hill Manti, and
there he was caused, or rather did acknowledge, between the heavens
and the earth, that what he had taught to the people was contrary
to the word of God; and there he suffered an ignominious
death.
Alma 1:Verse 16
16 Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the
spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who
loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching
false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and
honor.
Alma 1:Verse 17
17 Nevertheless, they durst not lie, if it were known,
for fear of the law, for liars were punished; therefore they
pretended to preach according to their belief; and now the law
could have no power on any man for his belief.
Alma 1:Verse 18
18 And they durst not steal, for fear of the law, for
such were punished; neither durst they rob, nor murder, for he that
murdered was punished unto death.
Alma 1:Verse 19
19 But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to
the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the
church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ.
Alma 1:Verse 20
20 Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with
all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because
they were not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart
the word of God, one with another, without money and without
price.
Alma 1:Verse 21
21 Now there was a strict law among the people of the
church, that there should not any man, belonging to the church,
arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church, and
that there should be no persecution among themselves.
Alma 1:Verse 22
22 Nevertheless, there were many among them who began
to be proud, and began to contend warmly with their adversaries,
even unto blows; yea, they would smite one another with their
fists.
Alma 1:Verse 23
23 Now this was in the second year of the reign of
Alma, and it was a cause of much affliction to the church; yea, it
was the cause of much trial with the church.
Alma 1:Verse 24
24 For the hearts of many were hardened, and their
names were blotted out, that they were remembered no more among the
people of God. And also many withdrew themselves from among
them.
Alma 1:Verse 25
25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand
fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable
in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the
persecution which was heaped upon them.
Alma 1:Verse 26
26 And when the priests left their labor to impart the
word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to
hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them
the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their
labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers,
for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the
teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal,
and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.
Alma 1:Verse 27
27 And they did impart of their substance, every man
according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the
sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet
they were neat and comely.
Alma 1:Verse 28
28 And thus they did establish the affairs of the
church; and thus they began to have continual peace again,
notwithstanding all their persecutions.
Alma 1:Verse 29
29 And now, because of the steadiness of the church
they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things
whatsoever they stood in need--an abundance of flocks and herds,
and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of
gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk
and fine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth.
Alma 1:Verse 30
30 And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they
did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that
were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished;
and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were
liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male
and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no
respect to persons as to those who stood in need.
Alma 1:Verse 31
31 And thus they did prosper and become far more
wealthy than those who did not belong to their church.
Alma 1:Verse 32
32 For those who did not belong to their church did
indulge themselves in sorceries, and in idolatry or idleness, and
in babblings, and in envyings and strife; wearing costly apparel;
being lifted up in the pride of their own eyes; persecuting, lying,
thieving, robbing, committing whoredoms, and murdering, and all
manner of wickedness; nevertheless, the law was put in force upon
all those who did transgress it, inasmuch as it was possible.
Alma 1:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that by thus exercising the law
upon them, every man suffering according to that which he had done,
they became more still, and durst not commit any wickedness if it
were known; therefore, there was much peace among the people of
Nephi until the fifth year of the reign of the judges.
Chapter 2
Alma 2:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass in the commencement of the fifth
year of their reign there began to be a contention among the
people; for a certain man, being called Amlici, he being a very
cunning man, yea, a wise man as to the wisdom of the world, he
being after the order of the man that slew Gideon by the sword, who
was executed according to the law--
Alma 2:Verse 2
2 Now this Amlici had, by his cunning, drawn away much
people after him; even so much that they began to be very powerful;
and they began to endeavor to establish Amlici to be a king over
the people.
Alma 2:Verse 3
3 Now this was alarming to the people of the church,
and also to all those who had not been drawn away after the
persuasions of Amlici; for they knew that according to their law
that such things must be established by the voice of the
people.
Alma 2:Verse 4
4 Therefore, if it were possible that Amlici should
gain the voice of the people, he, being a wicked man, would deprive
them of their rights and privileges of the church; for it was his
intent to destroy the church of God.
Alma 2:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that the people assembled
themselves together throughout all the land, every man according to
his mind, whether it were for or against Amlici, in separate
bodies, having much dispute and wonderful contentions one with
another.
Alma 2:Verse 6
6 And thus they did assemble themselves together to
cast in their voices concerning the matter; and they were laid
before the judges.
Alma 2:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that the voice of the people came
against Amlici, that he was not made king over the people.
Alma 2:Verse 8
8 Now this did cause much joy in the hearts of those
who were against him; but Amlici did stir up those who were in his
favor to anger against those who were not in his favor.
Alma 2:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that they gathered themselves
together, and did consecrate Amlici to be their king.
Alma 2:Verse 10
10 Now when Amlici was made king over them he commanded
them that they should take up arms against their brethren; and this
he did that he might subject them to him.
Alma 2:Verse 11
11 Now the people of Amlici were distinguished by the
name of Amlici, being called Amlicites; and the remainder were
called Nephites, or the people of God.
Alma 2:Verse 12
12 Therefore the people of the Nephites were aware of
the intent of the Amlicites, and therefore they did prepare to meet
them; yea, they did arm themselves with swords, and with cimeters,
and with bows, and with arrows, and with stones, and with slings,
and with all manner of weapons of war, of every kind.
Alma 2:Verse 13
13 And thus they were prepared to meet the Amlicites at
the time of their coming. And there were appointed captains, and
higher captains, and chief captains, according to their
numbers.
Alma 2:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that Amlici did arm his men with
all manner of weapons of war of every kind; and he also appointed
rulers and leaders over his people, to lead them to war against
their brethren.
Alma 2:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that the Amlicites came upon the
hill Amnihu, which was east of the river Sidon, which ran by the
land of Zarahemla, and there they began to make war with the
Nephites.
Alma 2:Verse 16
16 Now Alma, being the chief judge and the governor of
the people of Nephi, therefore he went up with his people, yea,
with his captains, and chief captains, yea, at the head of his
armies, against the Amlicites to battle.
Alma 2:Verse 17
17 And they began to slay the Amlicites upon the hill
east of Sidon. And the Amlicites did contend with the Nephites with
great strength, insomuch that many of the Nephites did fall before
the Amlicites.
Alma 2:Verse 18
18 Nevertheless the Lord did strengthen the hand of the
Nephites, that they slew the Amlicites with great slaughter, that
they began to flee before them.
Alma 2:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that the Nephites did pursue the
Amlicites all that day, and did slay them with much slaughter,
insomuch that there were slain of the Amlicites twelve thousand
five hundred thirty and two souls; and there were slain of the
Nephites six thousand five hundred sixty and two souls.
Alma 2:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that when Alma could pursue the
Amlicites no longer he caused that his people should pitch their
tents in the valley of Gideon, the valley being called after that
Gideon who was slain by the hand of Nehor with the sword; and in
this valley the Nephites did pitch their tents for the night.
Alma 2:Verse 21
21 And Alma sent spies to follow the remnant of the
Amlicites, that he might know of their plans and their plots,
whereby he might guard himself against them, that he might preserve
his people from being destroyed.
Alma 2:Verse 22
22 Now those whom he had sent out to watch the camp of
the Amlicites were called Zeram, and Amnor, and Manti, and Limher;
these were they who went out with their men to watch the camp of
the Amlicites.
Alma 2:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that on the morrow they returned
into the camp of the Nephites in great haste, being greatly
astonished, and struck with much fear, saying:
Alma 2:Verse 24
24 Behold, we followed the camp of the Amlicites, and
to our great astonishment, in the land of Minon, above the land of
Zarahemla, in the course of the land of Nephi, we saw a numerous
host of the Lamanites; and behold, the Amlicites have joined
them;
Alma 2:Verse 25
25 And they are upon our brethren in that land; and
they are fleeing before them with their flocks, and their wives,
and their children, towards our city; and except we make haste they
obtain possession of our city, and our fathers, and our wives, and
our children be slain.
Alma 2:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that the people of Nephi took
their tents, and departed out of the valley of Gideon towards their
city, which was the city of Zarahemla.
Alma 2:Verse 27
27 And behold, as they were crossing the river Sidon,
the Lamanites and the Amlicites, being as numerous almost, as it
were, as the sands of the sea, came upon them to destroy
them.
Alma 2:Verse 28
28 Nevertheless, the Nephites being strengthened by the
hand of the Lord, having prayed mightily to him that he would
deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, therefore the Lord
did hear their cries, and did strengthen them, and the Lamanites
and the Amlicites did fall before them.
Alma 2:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass that Alma fought with Amlici
with the sword, face to face; and they did contend mightily, one
with another.
Alma 2:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass that Alma, being a man of God,
being exercised with much faith, cried, saying: O Lord, have mercy
and spare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands to save
and preserve this people.
Alma 2:Verse 31
31 Now when Alma had said these words he contended
again with Amlici; and he was strengthened, insomuch that he slew
Amlici with the sword.
Alma 2:Verse 32
32 And he also contended with the king of the
Lamanites; but the king of the Lamanites fled back from before Alma
and sent his guards to contend with Alma.
Alma 2:Verse 33
33 But Alma, with his guards, contended with the guards
of the king of the Lamanites until he slew and drove them
back.
Alma 2:Verse 34
34 And thus he cleared the ground, or rather the bank,
which was on the west of the river Sidon, throwing the bodies of
the Lamanites who had been slain into the waters of Sidon, that
thereby his people might have room to cross and contend with the
Lamanites and the Amlicites on the west side of the river
Sidon.
Alma 2:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that when they had all crossed
the river Sidon that the Lamanites and the Amlicites began to flee
before them, notwithstanding they were so numerous that they could
not be numbered.
Alma 2:Verse 36
36 And they fled before the Nephites towards the
wilderness which was west and north, away beyond the borders of the
land; and the Nephites did pursue them with their might, and did
slay them.
Alma 2:Verse 37
37 Yea, they were met on every hand, and slain and
driven, until they were scattered on the west, and on the north,
until they had reached the wilderness, which was called Hermounts;
and it was that part of the wilderness which was infested by wild
and ravenous beasts.
Alma 2:Verse 38
38 And it came to pass that many died in the wilderness
of their wounds, and were devoured by those beasts and also the
vultures of the air; and their bones have been found, and have been
heaped up on the earth.
Chapter 3
Alma 3:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that the Nephites who were not
slain by the weapons of war, after having buried those who had been
slain--now the number of the slain were not numbered, because of
the greatness of their number--after they had finished burying
their dead they all returned to their lands, and to their houses,
and their wives, and their children.
Alma 3:Verse 2
2 Now many women and children had been slain with the
sword, and also many of their flocks and their herds; and also many
of their fields of grain were destroyed, for they were trodden down
by the hosts of men.
Alma 3:Verse 3
3 And now as many of the Lamanites and the Amlicites
who had been slain upon the bank of the river Sidon were cast into
the waters of Sidon; and behold their bones are in the depths of
the sea, and they are many.
Alma 3:Verse 4
4 And the Amlicites were distinguished from the
Nephites, for they had marked themselves with red in their
foreheads after the manner of the Lamanites; nevertheless they had
not shorn their heads like unto the Lamanites.
Alma 3:Verse 5
5 Now the heads of the Lamanites were shorn; and they
were naked, save it were skin which was girded about their loins,
and also their armor, which was girded about them, and their bows,
and their arrows, and their stones, and their slings, and so
forth.
Alma 3:Verse 6
6 And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according
to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse
upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion
against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph,
and Sam, who were just and holy men.
Alma 3:Verse 7
7 And their brethren sought to destroy them, therefore
they were cursed; and the Lord God set a mark upon them, yea, upon
Laman and Lemuel, and also the sons of Ishmael, and Ishmaelitish
women.
Alma 3:Verse 8
8 And this was done that their seed might be
distinguished from the seed of their brethren, that thereby the
Lord God might preserve his people, that they might not mix and
believe in incorrect traditions which would prove their
destruction.
Alma 3:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that whosoever did mingle his
seed with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his
seed.
Alma 3:Verse 10
10 Therefore, whosoever suffered himself to be led away
by the Lamanites was called under that head, and there was a mark
set upon him.
Alma 3:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that whosoever would not believe
in the tradition of the Lamanites, but believed those records which
were brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and also in the
tradition of their fathers, which were correct, who believed in the
commandments of God and kept them, were called the Nephites, or the
people of Nephi, from that time forth--
Alma 3:Verse 12
12 And it is they who have kept the records which are
true of their people, and also of the people of the
Lamanites.
Alma 3:Verse 13
13 Now we will return again to the Amlicites, for they
also had a mark set upon them; yea, they set the mark upon
themselves, yea, even a mark of red upon their foreheads.
Alma 3:Verse 14
14 Thus the word of God is fulfilled, for these are the
words which he said to Nephi: Behold, the Lamanites have I cursed,
and I will set a mark on them that they and their seed may be
separated from thee and thy seed, from this time henceforth and
forever, except they repent of their wickedness and turn to me that
I may have mercy upon them.
Alma 3:Verse 15
15 And again: I will set a mark upon him that mingleth
his seed with thy brethren, that they may be cursed also.
Alma 3:Verse 16
16 And again: I will set a mark upon him that fighteth
against thee and thy seed.
Alma 3:Verse 17
17 And again, I say he that departeth from thee shall
no more be called thy seed; and I will bless thee, and whomsoever
shall be called thy seed, henceforth and forever; and these were
the promises of the Lord unto Nephi and to his seed.
Alma 3:Verse 18
18 Now the Amlicites knew not that they were fulfilling
the words of God when they began to mark themselves in their
foreheads; nevertheless they had come out in open rebellion against
God; therefore it was expedient that the curse should fall upon
them.
Alma 3:Verse 19
19 Now I would that ye should see that they brought
upon themselves the curse; and even so doth every man that is
cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation.
Alma 3:Verse 20
20 Now it came to pass that not many days after the
battle which was fought in the land of Zarahemla, by the Lamanites
and the Amlicites, that there was another army of the Lamanites
came in upon the people of Nephi, in the same place where the first
army met the Amlicites.
Alma 3:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that there was an army sent to
drive them out of their land.
Alma 3:Verse 22
22 Now Alma himself being afflicted with a wound did
not go up to battle at this time against the Lamanites;
Alma 3:Verse 23
23 But he sent up a numerous army against them; and
they went up and slew many of the Lamanites, and drove the
remainder of them out of the borders of their land.
Alma 3:Verse 24
24 And then they returned again and began to establish
peace in the land, being troubled no more for a time with their
enemies.
Alma 3:Verse 25
25 Now all these things were done, yea, all these wars
and contentions were commenced and ended in the fifth year of the
reign of the judges.
Alma 3:Verse 26
26 And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands
of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their
rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether
they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery,
according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a
good spirit or a bad one.
Alma 3:Verse 27
27 For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth
to obey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy;
therefore let it be according to the truth. And thus endeth the
fifth year of the reign of the judges.
Chapter 4
Alma 4:Verse 1
1 NOW it came to pass in the sixth year of the reign of
the judges over the people of Nephi, there were no contentions nor
wars in the land of Zarahemla;
Alma 4:Verse 2
2 But the people were afflicted, yea, greatly afflicted
for the loss of their brethren, and also for the loss of their
flocks and herds, and also for the loss of their fields of grain,
which were trodden under foot and destroyed by the Lamanites.
Alma 4:Verse 3
3 And so great were their afflictions that every soul
had cause to mourn; and they believed that it was the judgments of
God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their
abominations; therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of
their duty.
Alma 4:Verse 4
4 And they began to establish the church more fully;
yea, and many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and were joined
to the church of God; yea, they were baptized by the hand of Alma,
who had been consecrated the high priest over the people of the
church, by the hand of his father Alma.
Alma 4:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign
of the judges there were about three thousand five hundred souls
that united themselves to the church of God and were baptized. And
thus ended the seventh year of the reign of the judges over the
people of Nephi; and there was continual peace in all that
time.
Alma 4:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign
of the judges, that the people of the church began to wax proud,
because of their exceeding riches, and their fine silks, and their
fine-twined linen, and because of their many flocks and herds, and
their gold and their silver, and all manner of precious things,
which they had obtained by their industry; and in all these things
were they lifted up in the pride of their eyes, for they began to
wear very costly apparel.
Alma 4:Verse 7
7 Now this was the cause of much affliction to Alma,
yea, and to many of the people whom Alma had consecrated to be
teachers, and priests, and elders over the church; yea, many of
them were sorely grieved for the wickedness which they saw had
begun to be among their people.
Alma 4:Verse 8
8 For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the
people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their
eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things
of the world, that they began to be scornful, one towards another,
and they began to persecute those that did not believe according to
their own will and pleasure.
Alma 4:Verse 9
9 And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the
judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the
church; yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and
persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did
not belong to the church of God.
Alma 4:Verse 10
10 And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the
judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great
stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus
the church began to fail in its progress.
Alma 4:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth
year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that
the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers
on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the
destruction of the people.
Alma 4:Verse 12
12 Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some
lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning
their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry,
and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and
afflicted.
Alma 4:Verse 13
13 Now this was a great cause for lamentations among
the people, while others were abasing themselves, succoring those
who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their
substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and
suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ's sake, who should
come according to the spirit of prophecy;
Alma 4:Verse 14
14 Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a
remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the
resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and
deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death.
Alma 4:Verse 15
15 And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the
afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions
which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and
seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful;
nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him.
Alma 4:Verse 16
16 And he selected a wise man who was among the elders
of the church, and gave him power according to the voice of the
people, that he might have power to enact laws according to the
laws which had been given, and to put them in force according to
the wickedness and the crimes of the people.
Alma 4:Verse 17
17 Now this man's name was Nephihah, and he was
appointed chief judge; and he sat in the judgment-seat to judge and
to govern the people.
Alma 4:Verse 18
18 Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being
high priest over the church, but he retained the office of high
priest unto himself; but he delivered the judgment-seat unto
Nephihah.
Alma 4:Verse 19
19 And this he did that he himself might go forth among
his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the
word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their
duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the
pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his
people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in
bearing down in pure testimony against them.
Alma 4:Verse 20
20 And thus in the commencement of the ninth year of
the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Alma delivered up
the judgment-seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the
high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the
word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.
Chapter 5
Alma 5:Verse 1
1 NOW it came to pass that Alma began to deliver the
word of God unto the people, first in the land of Zarahemla, and
from thence throughout all the land.
Alma 5:Verse 2
2 And these are the words which he spake to the people
in the church which was established in the city of Zarahemla,
according to his own record, saying:
Alma 5:Verse 3
3 I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father, Alma,
to be a high priest over the church of God, he having power and
authority from God to do these things, behold, I say unto you that
he began to establish a church in the land which was in the borders
of Nephi; yea, the land which was called the land of Mormon; yea,
and he did baptize his brethren in the waters of Mormon.
Alma 5:Verse 4
4 And behold, I say unto you, they were delivered out
of the hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of
God.
Alma 5:Verse 5
5 And behold, after that, they were brought into
bondage by the hands of the Lamanites in the wilderness; yea, I say
unto you, they were in captivity, and again the Lord did deliver
them out of bondage by the power of his word; and we were brought
into this land, and here we began to establish the church of God
throughout this land also.
Alma 5:Verse 6
6 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that
belong to this church, have you sufficiently retained in
remembrance the captivity of your fathers? Yea, and have you
sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering
towards them? And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in
remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell?
Alma 5:Verse 7
7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened
them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they
were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were
illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were
encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and
an everlasting destruction did await them.
Alma 5:Verse 8
8 And now I ask of you, my brethren, were they
destroyed? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, they were not.
Alma 5:Verse 9
9 And again I ask, were the bands of death broken, and
the chains of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed? I
say unto you, Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand,
and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are
saved.
Alma 5:Verse 10
10 And now I ask of you on what conditions are they
saved? Yea, what grounds had they to hope for salvation? What is
the cause of their being loosed from the bands of death, yea, and
also the chains of hell?
Alma 5:Verse 11
11 Behold, I can tell you--did not my father Alma
believe in the words which were delivered by the mouth of Abinadi?
And was he not a holy prophet? Did he not speak the words of God,
and my father Alma believe them?
Alma 5:Verse 12
12 And according to his faith there was a mighty change
wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all
true.
Alma 5:Verse 13
13 And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers,
and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they
humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God.
And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were
saved.
Alma 5:Verse 14
14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the
church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his
image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change
in your hearts?
Alma 5:Verse 15
15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who
created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view
this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised
in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the
deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
Alma 5:Verse 16
16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that
ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come
unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of
righteousness upon the face of the earth?
Alma 5:Verse 17
17 Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto
the Lord in that day, and say--Lord, our works have been righteous
works upon the face of the earth--and that he will save you?
Alma 5:Verse 18
18 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought
before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and
remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect
remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have
set at defiance the commandments of God?
Alma 5:Verse 19
19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day
with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up,
having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?
Alma 5:Verse 20
20 I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you
have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?
Alma 5:Verse 21
21 I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye
cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments
are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are
cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has
been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people
from their sins.
Alma 5:Verse 22
22 And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of
you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your
garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold,
what will these things testify against you?
Alma 5:Verse 23
23 Behold will they not testify that ye are murderers,
yea, and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness?
Alma 5:Verse 24
24 Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose that such an one
can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham,
with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose
garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?
Alma 5:Verse 25
25 I say unto you, Nay; except ye make our Creator a
liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the
beginning, ye cannot suppose that such can have place in the
kingdom of heaven; but they shall be cast out for they are the
children of the kingdom of the devil.
Alma 5:Verse 26
26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye
have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the
song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
Alma 5:Verse 27
27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before
God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within
yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your
garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of
Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?
Alma 5:Verse 28
28 Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if
ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare
quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one
hath not eternal life.
Alma 5:Verse 29
29 Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not
stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared;
and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close
at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an
one is not found guiltless.
Alma 5:Verse 30
30 And again I say unto you, is there one among you
that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him
persecutions?
Alma 5:Verse 31
31 Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the
time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved!
Alma 5:Verse 32
32 Yea, even wo unto all ye workers of iniquity;
repent, repent, for the Lord God hath spoken it!
Alma 5:Verse 33
33 Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for
the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent,
and I will receive you.
Alma 5:Verse 34
34 Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of
the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the
bread and the waters of life freely;
Alma 5:Verse 35
35 Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of
righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the
fire--
Alma 5:Verse 36
36 For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever
bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of
righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn.
Alma 5:Verse 37
37 O ye workers of iniquity; ye that are puffed up in
the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to have known
the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone astray, as sheep
having no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after
you and is still calling after you, but ye will not hearken unto
his voice!
Alma 5:Verse 38
38 Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth
call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the
name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the
good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are
not the sheep of the good shepherd.
Alma 5:Verse 39
39 And now if ye are not the sheep of the good
shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the
devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can
deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar
and a child of the devil.
Alma 5:Verse 40
40 For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh
from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil.
Alma 5:Verse 41
41 Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he
hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow
him; but whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a
child of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth
follow him.
Alma 5:Verse 42
42 And whosoever doeth this must receive his wages of
him; therefore, for his wages he receiveth death, as to things
pertaining unto righteousness, being dead unto all good
works.
Alma 5:Verse 43
43 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should hear
me, for I speak in the energy of my soul; for behold, I have spoken
unto you plainly that ye cannot err, or have spoken according to
the commandments of God.
Alma 5:Verse 44
44 For I am called to speak after this manner,
according to the holy order of God, which is in Christ Jesus; yea,
I am commanded to stand and testify unto this people the things
which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the things which
are to come.
Alma 5:Verse 45
45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know
of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know
that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye
suppose that I know of their surety?
Alma 5:Verse 46
46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me
by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many
days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of
myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest
unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation
which is in me.
Alma 5:Verse 47
47 And moreover, I say unto you that it has thus been
revealed unto me, that the words which have been spoken by our
fathers are true, even so according to the spirit of prophecy which
is in me, which is also by the manifestation of the Spirit of
God.
Alma 5:Verse 48
48 I say unto you, that I know of myself that
whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come,
is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall
come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace,
and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away
the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly
believeth on his name.
Alma 5:Verse 49
49 And now I say unto you that this is the order after
which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea,
and every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all,
both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the
aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to
cry unto them that they must repent and be born again.
Alma 5:Verse 50
50 Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of
the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son
of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and
dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit
saith: Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the
King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children
of men.
Alma 5:Verse 51
51 And also the Spirit saith unto me, yea, crieth unto
me with a mighty voice, saying: Go forth and say unto this
people--Repent, for except ye repent ye can in nowise inherit the
kingdom of heaven.
Alma 5:Verse 52
52 And again I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Behold,
the ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that
bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the
fire, yea, a fire which cannot be consumed, even an unquenchable
fire. Behold, and remember, the Holy One hath spoken it.
Alma 5:Verse 53
53 And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye
withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and
trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in
the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing
of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of
the world, upon your riches?
Alma 5:Verse 54
54 Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better
one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your
brethren, who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of
God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been
sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which
are meet for repentance--
Alma 5:Verse 55
55 Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon
the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from
them?
Alma 5:Verse 56
56 And finally, all ye that will persist in your
wickedness, I say unto you that these are they who shall be hewn
down and cast into the fire except they speedily repent.
Alma 5:Verse 57
57 And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to
follow the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out from the wicked,
and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things; and behold,
their names shall be blotted out, that the names of the wicked
shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the
word of God may be fulfilled, which saith: The names of the wicked
shall not be mingled with the names of my people;
Alma 5:Verse 58
58 For the names of the righteous shall be written in
the book of life, and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my
right hand. And now, my brethren, what have ye to say against this?
I say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the
word of God must be fulfilled.
Alma 5:Verse 59
59 For what shepherd is there among you having many
sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and
devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not
drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy
him.
Alma 5:Verse 60
60 And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth
call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will
bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth
you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may
not be destroyed.
Alma 5:Verse 61
61 And now I, Alma, do command you in the language of
him who hath commanded me, that ye observe to do the words which I
have spoken unto you.
Alma 5:Verse 62
62 I speak by way of command unto you that belong to
the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak
by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance,
that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of
life.
Chapter 6
Alma 6:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that after Alma had made an
end of speaking unto the people of the church, which was
established in the city of Zarahemla, he ordained priests and
elders, by laying on his hands according to the order of God, to
preside and watch over the church.
Alma 6:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to
the church who repented of their sins were baptized unto
repentance, and were received into the church.
Alma 6:Verse 3
3 And it also came to pass that whosoever did belong to
the church that did not repent of their wickedness and humble
themselves before God--I mean those who were lifted up in the pride
of their hearts--the same were rejected, and their names were
blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the
righteous.
Alma 6:Verse 4
4 And thus they began to establish the order of the
church in the city of Zarahemla.
Alma 6:Verse 5
5 Now I would that ye should understand that the word
of God was liberal unto all, that none were deprived of the
privilege of assembling themselves together to hear the word of
God.
Alma 6:Verse 6
6 Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that
they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and
mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who
knew not God.
Alma 6:Verse 7
7 And now it came to pass that when Alma had made these
regulations he departed from them, yea, from the church which was
in the city of Zarahemla, and went over upon the east of the river
Sidon, into the valley of Gideon, there having been a city built,
which was called the city of Gideon, which was in the valley that
was called Gideon, being called after the man who was slain by the
hand of Nehor with the sword.
Alma 6:Verse 8
8 And Alma went and began to declare the word of God
unto the church which was established in the valley of Gideon,
according to the revelation of the truth of the word which had been
spoken by his fathers, and according to the spirit of prophecy
which was in him, according to the testimony of Jesus Christ, the
Son of God, who should come to redeem his people from their sins,
and the holy order by which he was called. And thus it is written.
Amen.
Chapter 7
Alma 7:Verse 1
1 BEHOLD my beloved brethren, seeing that I have been
permitted to come unto you, therefore I attempt to address you in
my language; yea, by my own mouth, seeing that it is the first time
that I have spoken unto you by the words of my mouth, I having been
wholly confined to the judgment-seat, having had much business that
I could not come unto you.
Alma 7:Verse 2
2 And even I could not have come now at this time were
it not that the judgment-seat hath been given to another, to reign
in my stead; and the Lord in much mercy hath granted that I should
come unto you.
Alma 7:Verse 3
3 And behold, I have come having great hopes and much
desire that I should find that ye had humbled yourselves before
God, and that ye had continued in the supplicating of his grace,
that I should find that ye were blameless before him, that I should
find that ye were not in the awful dilemma that our brethren were
in at Zarahemla.
Alma 7:Verse 4
4 But blessed be the name of God, that he hath given me
to know, yea, hath given unto me the exceedingly great joy of
knowing that they are established again in the way of his
righteousness.
Alma 7:Verse 5
5 And I trust, according to the Spirit of God which is
in me, that I shall also have joy over you; nevertheless I do not
desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much
afflictions and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at
Zarahemla, for behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through
much affliction and sorrow.
Alma 7:Verse 6
6 But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so
much unbelief as were your brethren; I trust that ye are not lifted
up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set
your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world; yea, I
trust that you do not worship idols, but that ye do worship the
true and the living God, and that ye look forward for the remission
of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come.
Alma 7:Verse 7
7 For behold, I say unto you there be many things to
come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance
than they all--for behold, the time is not far distant that the
Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.
Alma 7:Verse 8
8 Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at
the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the
Spirit hath not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as
to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord
God hath power to do all things which are according to his
word.
Alma 7:Verse 9
9 But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me,
saying: Cry unto this people, saying--Repent ye, and prepare the
way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for
behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh
upon the face of the earth.
Alma 7:Verse 10
10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem
which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a
precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive
by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even
the Son of God.
Alma 7:Verse 11
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and
afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word
might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and
the sicknesses of his people.
Alma 7:Verse 12
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose
the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him
their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy,
according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how
to succor his people according to their infirmities.
Alma 7:Verse 13
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the
Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon
him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their
transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now
behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
Alma 7:Verse 14
14 Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born
again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot
inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto
repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have
faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world,
who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all
unrighteousness.
Alma 7:Verse 15
15 Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside
every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to
destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye
are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with
him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by
going into the waters of baptism.
Alma 7:Verse 16
16 And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the
commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I
say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he
shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy
Spirit, which testifieth in me.
Alma 7:Verse 17
17 And now my beloved brethren, do you believe these
things? Behold, I say unto you, yea, I know that ye believe them;
and the way that I know that ye believe them is by the
manifestation of the Spirit which is in me. And now because your
faith is strong concerning that, yea, concerning the things which I
have spoken, great is my joy.
Alma 7:Verse 18
18 For as I said unto you from the beginning, that I
had much desire that ye were not in the state of dilemma like your
brethren, even so I have found that my desires have been
gratified.
Alma 7:Verse 19
19 For I perceive that ye are in the paths of
righteousness; I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to
the kingdom of God; yea, I perceive that ye are making his paths
straight.
Alma 7:Verse 20
20 I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by
the testimony of his word, that he cannot walk in crooked paths;
neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he
a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which
is right to that which is wrong; therefore, his course is one
eternal round.
Alma 7:Verse 21
21 And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can
filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the
kingdom of God; therefore I say unto you the time shall come, yea,
and it shall be at the last day, that he who is filthy shall remain
in his filthiness.
Alma 7:Verse 22
22 And now my beloved brethren, I have said these
things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to
God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after
the holy order of God, after which ye have been received.
Alma 7:Verse 23
23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be
submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and
long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in
keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever
things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always
returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do
receive.
Alma 7:Verse 24
24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and
then ye will always abound in good works.
Alma 7:Verse 25
25 And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments
spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since
the world began, having your garments spotless even as their
garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more
out.
Alma 7:Verse 26
26 And now my beloved brethren, I have spoken these
words unto you according to the Spirit which testifieth in me; and
my soul doth exceedingly rejoice, because of the exceeding
diligence and heed which ye have given unto my word.
Alma 7:Verse 27
27 And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and
upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all
that you possess, your women and your children, according to your
faith and good works, from this time forth and forever. And thus I
have spoken. Amen.
Chapter 8
Alma 8:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that Alma returned from the
land of Gideon, after having taught the people of Gideon many
things which cannot be written, having established the order of the
church, according as he had before done in the land of Zarahemla,
yea, he returned to his own house at Zarahemla to rest himself from
the labors which he had performed.
Alma 8:Verse 2
2 And thus ended the ninth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi.
Alma 8:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass in the commencement of the tenth
year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma
departed from thence and took his journey over into the land of
Melek, on the west of the river Sidon, on the west by the borders
of the wilderness.
Alma 8:Verse 4
4 And he began to teach the people in the land of Melek
according to the holy order of God, by which he had been called;
and he began to teach the people throughout all the land of
Melek.
Alma 8:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that the people came to him
throughout all the borders of the land which was by the wilderness
side. And they were baptized throughout all the land;
Alma 8:Verse 6
6 So that when he had finished his work at Melek he
departed thence, and traveled three days' journey on the north of
the land of Melek; and he came to a city which was called
Ammonihah.
Alma 8:Verse 7
7 Now it was the custom of the people of Nephi to call
their lands, and their cities, and their villages, yea, even all
their small villages, after the name of him who first possessed
them; and thus it was with the land of Ammonihah.
Alma 8:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that when Alma had come to the
city of Ammonihah he began to preach the word of God unto
them.
Alma 8:Verse 9
9 Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of
the people of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they would not
hearken unto the words of Alma.
Alma 8:Verse 10
10 Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit,
wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his
Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also
grant that he might baptize them unto repentance.
Alma 8:Verse 11
11 Nevertheless, they hardened their hearts, saying
unto him: Behold, we know that thou art Alma; and we know that thou
art high priest over the church which thou hast established in many
parts of the land, according to your tradition; and we are not of
thy church, and we do not believe in such foolish traditions.
Alma 8:Verse 12
12 And now we know that because we are not of thy
church we know that thou hast no power over us; and thou hast
delivered up the judgment-seat unto Nephihah; therefore thou art
not the chief judge over us.
Alma 8:Verse 13
13 Now when the people had said this, and withstood all
his words, and reviled him, and spit upon him, and caused that he
should be cast out of their city, he departed thence and took his
journey towards the city which was called Aaron.
Alma 8:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that while he was journeying
thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much
tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the
people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while
Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord
appeared unto him, saying:
Alma 8:Verse 15
15 Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head
and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast
been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time
which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he
that delivered it unto you.
Alma 8:Verse 16
16 And behold, I am sent to command thee that thou
return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people
of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea, say unto them, except they
repent the Lord God will destroy them.
Alma 8:Verse 17
17 For behold, they do study at this time that they may
destroy the liberty of thy people, (for thus saith the Lord) which
is contrary to the statutes, and judgments, and commandments which
he has given unto his people.
Alma 8:Verse 18
18 Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his
message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land
of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way, yea, by the
way which is on the south of the city of Ammonihah.
Alma 8:Verse 19
19 And as he entered the city he was an hungered, and
he said to a man: Will ye give to an humble servant of God
something to eat?
Alma 8:Verse 20
20 And the man said unto him: I am a Nephite, and I
know that thou art a holy prophet of God, for thou art the man whom
an angel said in a vision: Thou shalt receive. Therefore, go with
me into my house and I will impart unto thee of my food; and I know
that thou wilt be a blessing unto me and my house.
Alma 8:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that the man received him into
his house; and the man was called Amulek; and he brought forth
bread and meat and set before Alma.
Alma 8:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that Alma ate bread and was
filled; and he blessed Amulek and his house, and he gave thanks
unto God.
Alma 8:Verse 23
23 And after he had eaten and was filled he said unto
Amulek: I am Alma, and am the high priest over the church of God
throughout the land.
Alma 8:Verse 24
24 And behold, I have been called to preach the word of
God among all this people, according to the spirit of revelation
and prophecy; and I was in this land and they would not receive me,
but they cast me out and I was about to set my back towards this
land forever.
Alma 8:Verse 25
25 But behold, I have been commanded that I should turn
again and prophesy unto this people, yea, and to testify against
them concerning their iniquities.
Alma 8:Verse 26
26 And now, Amulek, because thou hast fed me and taken
me in, thou art blessed; for I was an hungered, for I had fasted
many days.
Alma 8:Verse 27
27 And Alma tarried many days with Amulek before he
began to preach unto the people.
Alma 8:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that the people did wax more
gross in their iniquities.
Alma 8:Verse 29
29 And the word came to Alma, saying: Go; and also say
unto my servant Amulek, go forth and prophesy unto this people,
saying--Repent ye, for thus saith the Lord, except ye repent I will
visit this people in mine anger; yea, and I will not turn my fierce
anger away.
Alma 8:Verse 30
30 And Alma went forth, and also Amulek, among the
people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they were filled
with the Holy Ghost.
Alma 8:Verse 31
31 And they had power given unto them, insomuch that
they could not be confined in dungeons; neither was it possible
that any man could slay them; nevertheless they did not exercise
their power until they were bound in bands and cast into prison.
Now, this was done that the Lord might show forth his power in
them.
Alma 8:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that they went forth and began
to preach and to prophesy unto the people, according to the spirit
and power which the Lord had given them.
Chapter 9
Alma 9:Verse 1
1 AND again, I, Alma, having been commanded of God that
I should take Amulek and go forth and preach again unto this
people, or the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to
pass as I began to preach unto them, they began to contend with me,
saying:
Alma 9:Verse 2
2 Who art thou? Suppose ye that we shall believe the
testimony of one man, although he should preach unto us that the
earth should pass away?
Alma 9:Verse 3
3 Now they understood not the words which they spake;
for they knew not that the earth should pass away.
Alma 9:Verse 4
4 And they said also: We will not believe thy words if
thou shouldst prophesy that this great city should be destroyed in
one day.
Alma 9:Verse 5
5 Now they knew not that God could do such marvelous
works, for they were a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people.
Alma 9:Verse 6
6 And they said: Who is God, that sendeth no more
authority than one man among this people, to declare unto them the
truth of such great and marvelous things?
Alma 9:Verse 7
7 And they stood forth to lay their hands on me; but
behold, they did not. And I stood with boldness to declare unto
them, yea, I did boldly testify unto them, saying:
Alma 9:Verse 8
8 Behold, O ye wicked and perverse generation, how have
ye forgotten the tradition of your fathers; yea, how soon ye have
forgotten the commandments of God.
Alma 9:Verse 9
9 Do ye not remember that our father, Lehi, was brought
out of Jerusalem by the hand of God? Do ye not remember that they
were all led by him through the wilderness?
Alma 9:Verse 10
10 And have ye forgotten so soon how many times he
delivered our fathers out of the hands of their enemies, and
preserved them from being destroyed, even by the hands of their own
brethren?
Alma 9:Verse 11
11 Yea, and if it had not been for his matchless power,
and his mercy, and his long-suffering towards us, we should
unavoidably have been cut off from the face of the earth long
before this period of time, and perhaps been consigned to a state
of endless misery and woe.
Alma 9:Verse 12
12 Behold, now I say unto you that he commandeth you to
repent; and except ye repent, ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom
of God. But behold, this is not all--he has commanded you to
repent, or he will utterly destroy you from off the face of the
earth; yea, he will visit you in his anger, and in his fierce anger
he will not turn away.
Alma 9:Verse 13
13 Behold, do ye not remember the words which he spake
unto Lehi, saying that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments,
ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch
as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the
presence of the Lord.
Alma 9:Verse 14
14 Now I would that ye should remember, that inasmuch
as the Lamanites have not kept the commandments of God, they have
been cut off from the presence of the Lord. Now we see that the
word of the Lord has been verified in this thing, and the Lamanites
have been cut off from his presence, from the beginning of their
transgressions in the land.
Alma 9:Verse 15
15 Nevertheless I say unto you, that it shall be more
tolerable for them in the day of judgment than for you, if ye
remain in your sins, yea, and even more tolerable for them in this
life than for you, except ye repent.
Alma 9:Verse 16
16 For there are many promises which are extended to
the Lamanites; for it is because of the traditions of their fathers
that caused them to remain in their state of ignorance; therefore
the Lord will be merciful unto them and prolong their existence in
the land.
Alma 9:Verse 17
17 And at some period of time they will be brought to
believe in his word, and to know of the incorrectness of the
traditions of their fathers; and many of them will be saved, for
the Lord will be merciful unto all who call on his name.
Alma 9:Verse 18
18 But behold, I say unto you that if ye persist in
your wickedness that your days shall not be prolonged in the land,
for the Lamanites shall be sent upon you; and if ye repent not they
shall come in a time when you know not, and ye shall be visited
with utter destruction; and it shall be according to the fierce
anger of the Lord.
Alma 9:Verse 19
19 For he will not suffer you that ye shall live in
your iniquities, to destroy his people. I say unto you, Nay; he
would rather suffer that the Lamanites might destroy all his people
who are called the people of Nephi, if it were possible that they
could fall into sins and transgressions, after having had so much
light and so much knowledge given unto them of the Lord their
God;
Alma 9:Verse 20
20 Yea, after having been such a highly favored people
of the Lord; yea, after having been favored above every other
nation, kindred, tongue, or people; after having had all things
made known unto them, according to their desires, and their faith,
and prayers, of that which has been, and which is, and which is to
come;
Alma 9:Verse 21
21 Having been visited by the Spirit of God; having
conversed with angels, and having been spoken unto by the voice of
the Lord; and having the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of
revelation, and also many gifts, the gift of speaking with tongues,
and the gift of preaching, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the
gift of translation;
Alma 9:Verse 22
22 Yea, and after having been delivered of God out of
the land of Jerusalem, by the hand of the Lord; having been saved
from famine, and from sickness, and all manner of diseases of every
kind; and they having waxed strong in battle, that they might not
be destroyed; having been brought out of bondage time after time,
and having been kept and preserved until now; and they have been
prospered until they are rich in all manner of things--
Alma 9:Verse 23
23 And now behold I say unto you, that if this people,
who have received so many blessings from the hand of the Lord,
should transgress contrary to the light and knowledge which they do
have, I say unto you that if this be the case, that if they should
fall into transgression, it would be far more tolerable for the
Lamanites than for them.
Alma 9:Verse 24
24 For behold, the promises of the Lord are extended to
the Lamanites, but they are not unto you if ye transgress; for has
not the Lord expressly promised and firmly decreed, that if ye will
rebel against him that ye shall utterly be destroyed from off the
face of the earth?
Alma 9:Verse 25
25 And now for this cause, that ye may not be
destroyed, the Lord has sent his angel to visit many of his people,
declaring unto them that they must go forth and cry mightily unto
this people, saying: Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is nigh
at hand;
Alma 9:Verse 26
26 And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in
his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of
the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience,
mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people
and to answer their prayers.
Alma 9:Verse 27
27 And behold, he cometh to redeem those who will be
baptized unto repentance, through faith on his name.
Alma 9:Verse 28
28 Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the
time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works,
according to that which they have been--if they have been righteous
they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the
power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil
they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the
power and captivation of the devil.
Alma 9:Verse 29
29 Now behold, this is the voice of the angel, crying
unto the people.
Alma 9:Verse 30
30 And now, my beloved brethren, for ye are my
brethren, and ye ought to be beloved, and ye ought to bring forth
works which are meet for repentance, seeing that your hearts have
been grossly hardened against the word of God, and seeing that ye
are a lost and a fallen people.
Alma 9:Verse 31
31 Now it came to pass that when I, Alma, had spoken
these words, behold, the people were wroth with me because I said
unto them that they were a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked
people.
Alma 9:Verse 32
32 And also because I said unto them that they were a
lost and a fallen people they were angry with me, and sought to lay
their hands upon me, that they might cast me into prison.
Alma 9:Verse 33
33 But it came to pass that the Lord did not suffer
them that they should take me at that time and cast me into
prison.
Alma 9:Verse 34
34 And it came to pass that Amulek went and stood
forth, and began to preach unto them also. And now the words of
Amulek are not all written, nevertheless a part of his words are
written in this book.
Chapter 10
Alma 10:Verse 1
1 NOW these are the words which Amulek preached unto
the people who were in the land of Ammonihah, saying:
Alma 10:Verse 2
2 I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the
son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was the
same Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of
the temple, which was written by the finger of God.
Alma 10:Verse 3
3 And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the
son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a
descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph who was sold into
Egypt by the hands of his brethren.
Alma 10:Verse 4
4 And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation
among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds
and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my
industry.
Alma 10:Verse 5
5 Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much
of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I
said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake,
for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea,
even in the preservation of the lives of this people.
Alma 10:Verse 6
6 Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called
many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these
things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against
God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of
this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the
judges.
Alma 10:Verse 7
7 As I was journeying to see a very near kindred,
behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek,
return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the
Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has
fasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an
hungered, and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him,
and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord
shall rest upon thee and thy house.
Alma 10:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the
angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I
found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into
thy house--and behold it was this same man who has been speaking
unto you concerning the things of God.
Alma 10:Verse 9
9 And the angel said unto me he is a holy man;
wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel
of God.
Alma 10:Verse 10
10 And again, I know that the things whereof he hath
testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord
liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest
unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my
house.
Alma 10:Verse 11
11 For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath
blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my
kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the
blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words
which he spake.
Alma 10:Verse 12
12 And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the
people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one
witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and
also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of
prophecy which was in them.
Alma 10:Verse 13
13 Nevertheless, there were some among them who thought
to question them, that by their cunning devices they might catch
them in their words, that they might find witness against them,
that they might deliver them to their judges that they might be
judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast
into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear or
witness against them.
Alma 10:Verse 14
14 Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who
were lawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to
administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of
the crimes of the people before the judges.
Alma 10:Verse 15
15 Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and
cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might
be skilful in their profession.
Alma 10:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that they began to question
Amulek, that thereby they might make him cross his words, or
contradict the words which he should speak.
Alma 10:Verse 17
17 Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their
designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he
perceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and
perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying
the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to
catch the holy ones of God.
Alma 10:Verse 18
18 Ye are laying plans to pervert the ways of the
righteous, and to bring down the wrath of God upon your heads, even
to the utter destruction of this people.
Alma 10:Verse 19
19 Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king,
when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to
confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by
their own voices--yea, well did he say that if the time should come
that the voice of this people should choose iniquity, that is, if
the time should come that this people should fall into
transgression, they would be ripe for destruction.
Alma 10:Verse 20
20 And now I say unto you that well doth the Lord judge
of your iniquities; well doth he cry unto this people, by the voice
of his angels: Repent ye, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand.
Alma 10:Verse 21
21 Yea, well doth he cry, by the voice of his angels
that: I will come down among my people, with equity and justice in
my hands.
Alma 10:Verse 22
22 Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the
prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would
even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by
flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by
famine, and by pestilence, and the sword.
Alma 10:Verse 23
23 But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye
are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from
among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce
anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by
famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon
at hand except ye repent.
Alma 10:Verse 24
24 And now it came to pass that the people were more
angry with Amulek, and they cried out, saying: This man doth revile
against our laws which are just, and our wise lawyers whom we have
selected.
Alma 10:Verse 25
25 But Amulek stretched forth his hand, and cried the
mightier unto them, saying: O ye wicked and perverse generation,
why hath Satan got such great hold upon your hearts? Why will ye
yield yourselves unto him that he may have power over you, to blind
your eyes, that ye will not understand the words which are spoken,
according to their truth?
Alma 10:Verse 26
26 For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do
not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I
have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your
condemnation.
Alma 10:Verse 27
27 And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation
of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the
unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges.
Alma 10:Verse 28
28 And now it came to pass that when Amulek had spoken
these words the people cried out against him, saying: Now we know
that this man is a child of the devil, for he hath lied unto us;
for he hath spoken against our law. And now he says that he has not
spoken against it.
Alma 10:Verse 29
29 And again, he has reviled against our lawyers, and
our judges.
Alma 10:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass that the lawyers put it into
their hearts that they should remember these things against
him.
Alma 10:Verse 31
31 And there was one among them whose name was Zeezrom.
Now he was the foremost to accuse Amulek and Alma, he being one of
the most expert among them, having much business to do among the
people.
Alma 10:Verse 32
32 Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and
they got gain according to their employ.
Chapter 11
Alma 11:Verse 1
1 NOW it was in the law of Mosiah that every man who
was a judge of the law, or those who were appointed to be judges,
should receive wages according to the time which they labored to
judge those who were brought before them to be judged.
Alma 11:Verse 2
2 Now if a man owed another, and he would not pay that
which he did owe, he was complained of to the judge; and the judge
executed authority, and sent forth officers that the man should be
brought before him; and he judged the man according to the law and
the evidences which were brought against him, and thus the man was
compelled to pay that which he owed, or be stripped, or be cast out
from among the people as a thief and a robber.
Alma 11:Verse 3
3 And the judge received for his wages according to his
time--a senine of gold for a day, or a senum of silver, which is
equal to a senine of gold; and this is according to the law which
was given.
Alma 11:Verse 4
4 Now these are the names of the different pieces of
their gold, and of their silver, according to their value. And the
names are given by the Nephites, for they did not reckon after the
manner of the Jews who were at Jerusalem; neither did they measure
after the manner of the Jews; but they altered their reckoning and
their measure, according to the minds and the circumstances of the
people, in every generation, until the reign of the judges, they
having been established by king Mosiah.
Alma 11:Verse 5
5 Now the reckoning is thus--a senine of gold, a seon
of gold, a shum of gold, and a limnah of gold.
Alma 11:Verse 6
6 A senum of silver, an amnor of silver, an ezrom of
silver, and an onti of silver.
Alma 11:Verse 7
7 A senum of silver was equal to a senine of gold, and
either for a measure of barley, and also for a measure of every
kind of grain.
Alma 11:Verse 8
8 Now the amount of a seon of gold was twice the value
of a senine.
Alma 11:Verse 9
9 And a shum of gold was twice the value of a
seon.
Alma 11:Verse 10
10 And a limnah of gold was the value of them
all.
Alma 11:Verse 11
11 And an amnor of silver was as great as two
senums.
Alma 11:Verse 12
12 And an ezrom of silver was as great as four
senums.
Alma 11:Verse 13
13 And an onti was as great as them all.
Alma 11:Verse 14
14 Now this is the value of the lesser numbers of their
reckoning--
Alma 11:Verse 15
15 A shiblon is half of a senum; therefore, a shiblon
for half a measure of barley.
Alma 11:Verse 16
16 And a shiblum is a half of a shiblon.
Alma 11:Verse 17
17 And a leah is the half of a shiblum.
Alma 11:Verse 18
18 Now this is their number, according to their
reckoning.
Alma 11:Verse 19
19 Now an antion of gold is equal to three
shiblons.
Alma 11:Verse 20
20 Now, it was for the sole purpose to get gain,
because they received their wages according to their employ,
therefore, they did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner
of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ,
that they might get money according to the suits which were brought
before them; therefore they did stir up the people against Alma and
Amulek.
Alma 11:Verse 21
21 And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying:
Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now
Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that
he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto
Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto
you?
Alma 11:Verse 22
22 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to
the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing
which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto
him: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I
give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being.
Alma 11:Verse 23
23 Now Amulek said: O thou child of hell, why tempt ye
me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such
temptations?
Alma 11:Verse 24
24 Believest thou that there is no God? I say unto you,
Nay, thou knowest that there is a God, but thou lovest that lucre
more than him.
Alma 11:Verse 25
25 And now thou hast lied before God unto me. Thou
saidst unto me--Behold these six onties, which are of great worth,
I will give unto thee--when thou hadst it in thy heart to retain
them from me; and it was only thy desire that I should deny the
true and living God, that thou mightest have cause to destroy me.
And now behold, for this great evil thou shalt have thy
reward.
Alma 11:Verse 26
26 And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a
true and living God?
Alma 11:Verse 27
27 And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living
God.
Alma 11:Verse 28
28 Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?
Alma 11:Verse 29
29 And he answered, No.
Alma 11:Verse 30
30 Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest thou
these things?
Alma 11:Verse 31
31 And he said: An angel hath made them known unto
me.
Alma 11:Verse 32
32 And Zeezrom said again: Who is he that shall come?
Is it the Son of God?
Alma 11:Verse 33
33 And he said unto him, Yea.
Alma 11:Verse 34
34 And Zeezrom said again: Shall he save his people in
their sins? And Amulek answered and said unto him: I say unto you
he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word.
Alma 11:Verse 35
35 Now Zeezrom said unto the people: See that ye
remember these things; for he said there is but one God; yet he
saith that the Son of God shall come, but he shall not save his
people--as though he had authority to command God.
Alma 11:Verse 36
36 Now Amulek saith again unto him: Behold thou hast
lied, for thou sayest that I spake as though I had authority to
command God because I said he shall not save his people in their
sins.
Alma 11:Verse 37
37 And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in
their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no
unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can
ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye
cannot be saved in your sins.
Alma 11:Verse 38
38 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God
the very Eternal Father?
Alma 11:Verse 39
39 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very
Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them
are; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;
Alma 11:Verse 40
40 And he shall come into the world to redeem his
people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who
believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal
life, and salvation cometh to none else.
Alma 11:Verse 41
41 Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been
no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death;
for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and
stand before God, and be judged according to their works.
Alma 11:Verse 42
42 Now, there is a death which is called a temporal
death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this
temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal
death.
Alma 11:Verse 43
43 The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in
its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its
proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be
brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have
a bright recollection of all our guilt.
Alma 11:Verse 44
44 Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old
and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the
wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a
hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to
its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be
brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God
the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be
judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether
they be evil.
Alma 11:Verse 45
45 Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the
death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of
the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to
an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death
unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with
their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming
spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.
Alma 11:Verse 46
46 Now, when Amulek had finished these words the people
began again to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble.
And thus ended the words of Amulek, or this is all that I have
written.
Chapter 12
Alma 12:Verse 1
1 NOW Alma, seeing that the words of Amulek had
silenced Zeezrom, for he beheld that Amulek had caught him in his
lying and deceiving to destroy him, and seeing that he began to
tremble under a consciousness of his guilt, he opened his mouth and
began to speak unto him, and to establish the words of Amulek, and
to explain things beyond, or to unfold the scriptures beyond that
which Amulek had done.
Alma 12:Verse 2
2 Now the words that Alma spake unto Zeezrom were heard
by the people round about; for the multitude was great, and he
spake on this wise:
Alma 12:Verse 3
3 Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy
lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only but thou
hast lied unto God; for behold, he knows all thy thoughts, and thou
seest that thy thoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit;
Alma 12:Verse 4
4 And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very
subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to
deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us, to
revile us and to cast us out--
Alma 12:Verse 5
5 Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath
exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember
that what I say unto thee I say unto all.
Alma 12:Verse 6
6 And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare
of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he
might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle
you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to
everlasting destruction, according to the power of his
captivity.
Alma 12:Verse 7
7 Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began
to tremble more exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of
the power of God; and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek
had a knowledge of him, for he was convinced that they knew the
thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them
that they might know of these things according to the spirit of
prophecy.
Alma 12:Verse 8
8 And Zeezrom began to inquire of them diligently, that
he might know more concerning the kingdom of God. And he said unto
Alma: What does this mean which Amulek hath spoken concerning the
resurrection of the dead, that all shall rise from the dead, both
the just and the unjust, and are brought to stand before God to be
judged according to their works?
Alma 12:Verse 9
9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him,
saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God;
nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall
not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth
grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence
which they give unto him.
Alma 12:Verse 10
10 And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the
same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not
harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word,
until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he
know them in full.
Alma 12:Verse 11
11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them is
given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing
concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the
devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is
meant by the chains of hell.
Alma 12:Verse 12
12 And Amulek hath spoken plainly concerning death, and
being raised from this mortality to a state of immortality, and
being brought before the bar of God, to be judged according to our
works.
Alma 12:Verse 13
13 Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we
have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not
been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall
be condemned.
Alma 12:Verse 14
14 For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works
will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts
will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to
look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command
the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his
presence.
Alma 12:Verse 15
15 But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand
before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might,
majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame
that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works,
and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has
all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth
forth fruit meet for repentance.
Alma 12:Verse 16
16 And now behold, I say unto you then cometh a death,
even a second death, which is a spiritual death; then is a time
that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall
also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things
pertaining unto righteousness.
Alma 12:Verse 17
17 Then is the time when their torments shall be as a
lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and
ever; and then is the time that they shall be chained down to an
everlasting destruction, according to the power and captivity of
Satan, he having subjected them according to his will.
Alma 12:Verse 18
18 Then, I say unto you, they shall be as though there
had been no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according
to God's justice; and they cannot die, seeing there is no more
corruption.
Alma 12:Verse 19
19 Now it came to pass that when Alma had made an end
of speaking these words, the people began to be more
astonished;
Alma 12:Verse 20
20 But there was one Antionah, who was a chief ruler
among them, came forth and said unto him: What is this that thou
hast said, that man should rise from the dead and be changed from
this mortal to an immortal state that the soul can never die?
Alma 12:Verse 21
21 What does the scripture mean, which saith that God
placed cherubim and a flaming sword on the east of the garden of
Eden, lest our first parents should enter and partake of the fruit
of the tree of life, and live forever? And thus we see that there
was no possible chance that they should live forever.
Alma 12:Verse 22
22 Now Alma said unto him: This is the thing which I
was about to explain. Now we see that Adam did fall by the
partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and
thus we see, that by his fall, all mankind became a lost and fallen
people.
Alma 12:Verse 23
23 And now behold, I say unto you that if it had been
possible for Adam to have partaken of the fruit of the tree of life
at that time, there would have been no death, and the word would
have been void, making God a liar, for he said: If thou eat thou
shalt surely die.
Alma 12:Verse 24
24 And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the
death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal
death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he
might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a
time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless
state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the
resurrection of the dead.
Alma 12:Verse 25
25 Now, if it had not been for the plan of redemption,
which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have
been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of
redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the
dead, of which has been spoken.
Alma 12:Verse 26
26 And now behold, if it were possible that our first
parents could have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they
would have been forever miserable, having no preparatory state; and
thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated, and the
word of God would have been void, taking none effect.
Alma 12:Verse 27
27 But behold, it was not so; but it was appointed unto
men that they must die; and after death, they must come to
judgment, even that same judgment of which we have spoken, which is
the end.
Alma 12:Verse 28
28 And after God had appointed that these things should
come unto man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man
should know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto
them;
Alma 12:Verse 29
29 Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who
caused men to behold of his glory.
Alma 12:Verse 30
30 And they began from that time forth to call on his
name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them
the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation
of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their
faith and repentance and their holy works.
Alma 12:Verse 31
31 Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they
having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which
were temporal, and becoming as Gods, knowing good from evil,
placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to
act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or
to do good--
Alma 12:Verse 32
32 Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after
having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they
should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which
was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto
righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no
power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according
to the supreme goodness of God.
Alma 12:Verse 33
33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son,
(this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye
will repent and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon
you, through mine Only Begotten Son;
Alma 12:Verse 34
34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not
his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten
Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my
rest.
Alma 12:Verse 35
35 And whosoever will harden his heart and will do
iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into
my rest.
Alma 12:Verse 36
36 And now, my brethren, behold I say unto you, that if
ye will harden your hearts ye shall not enter into the rest of the
Lord; therefore your iniquity provoketh him that he sendeth down
his wrath upon you as in the first provocation, yea, according to
his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to the
everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to his
word, unto the last death, as well as the first.
Alma 12:Verse 37
37 And now, my brethren, seeing we know these things,
and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that
we provoke not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in
these his second commandments which he has given unto us; but let
us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his
word.
Chapter 13
Alma 13:Verse 1
1 AND again, my brethren, I would cite your minds
forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto
his children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God
ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order
of his Son, to teach these things unto the people.
Alma 13:Verse 2
2 And those priests were ordained after the order of
his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what
manner to look forward to his Son for redemption.
Alma 13:Verse 3
3 And this is the manner after which they were
ordained--being called and prepared from the foundation of the
world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their
exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to
choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and
exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling,
yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according
to, a preparatory redemption for such.
Alma 13:Verse 4
4 And thus they have been called to this holy calling
on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of
God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of
their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had
as great privilege as their brethren.
Alma 13:Verse 5
5 Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same
standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared
from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their
hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten
Son, who was prepared--
Alma 13:Verse 6
6 And thus being called by this holy calling, and
ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to
teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also
might enter into his rest--
Alma 13:Verse 7
7 This high priesthood being after the order of his
Son, which order was from the foundation of the world; or in other
words, being without beginning of days or end of years, being
prepared from eternity to all eternity, according to his
foreknowledge of all things--
Alma 13:Verse 8
8 Now they were ordained after this manner--being
called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and
taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which
calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning
or end--
Alma 13:Verse 9
9 Thus they become high priests forever, after the
order of the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, who is without
beginning of days or end of years, who is full of grace, equity,
and truth. And thus it is. Amen.
Alma 13:Verse 10
10 Now, as I said concerning the holy order, or this
high priesthood, there were many who were ordained and became high
priests of God; and it was on account of their exceeding faith and
repentance, and their righteousness before God, they choosing to
repent and work righteousness rather than to perish;
Alma 13:Verse 11
11 Therefore they were called after this holy order,
and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through
the blood of the Lamb.
Alma 13:Verse 12
12 Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost,
having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before
God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and
there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and
entered into the rest of the Lord their God.
Alma 13:Verse 13
13 And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble
yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance,
that ye may also enter into that rest.
Alma 13:Verse 14
14 Yea, humble yourselves even as the people in the
days of Melchizedek, who was also a high priest after this same
order which I have spoken, who also took upon him the high
priesthood forever.
Alma 13:Verse 15
15 And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham
paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one-tenth
part of all he possessed.
Alma 13:Verse 16
16 Now these ordinances were given after this manner,
that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it
being a type of his order, or it being his order, and this that
they might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that
they might enter into the rest of the Lord.
Alma 13:Verse 17
17 Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of
Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination;
yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of
wickedness;
Alma 13:Verse 18
18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and
received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy
order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold,
they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in
his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was
the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father.
Alma 13:Verse 19
19 Now, there were many before him, and also there were
many afterwards, but none were greater; therefore, of him they have
more particularly made mention.
Alma 13:Verse 20
20 Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said
may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will
wrest them it shall be to your own destruction.
Alma 13:Verse 21
21 And now it came to pass that when Alma had said
these words unto them, he stretched forth his hand unto them and
cried with a mighty voice, saying: Now is the time to repent, for
the day of salvation draweth nigh;
Alma 13:Verse 22
22 Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of
angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it,
that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth
sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them
that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore
they have come unto us.
Alma 13:Verse 23
23 And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that
we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our
being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly
favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all
parts of our vineyard.
Alma 13:Verse 24
24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at
this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the
hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of
his coming in his glory.
Alma 13:Verse 25
25 And now we only wait to hear the joyful news
declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the
time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in
my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.
Alma 13:Verse 26
26 And it shall be made known unto just and holy men,
by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words
of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have
spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of
prophecy which was in them.
Alma 13:Verse 27
27 And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of
my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would
hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not
procrastinate the day of your repentance;
Alma 13:Verse 28
28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord,
and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye
may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by
the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full
of love and all long-suffering;
Alma 13:Verse 29
29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye
shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your
hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his
rest.
Alma 13:Verse 30
30 And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye
may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound
down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second
death.
Alma 13:Verse 31
31 And Alma spake many more words unto the people,
which are not written in this book.
Chapter 14
Alma 14:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass after he had made an end of
speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and
began to repent, and to search the scriptures.
Alma 14:Verse 2
2 But the more part of them were desirous that they
might destroy Alma and Amulek; for they were angry with Alma,
because of the plainness of his words unto Zeezrom; and they also
said that Amulek had lied unto them, and had reviled against their
law and also against their lawyers and judges.
Alma 14:Verse 3
3 And they were also angry with Alma and Amulek; and
because they had testified so plainly against their wickedness,
they sought to put them away privily.
Alma 14:Verse 4
4 But it came to pass that they did not; but they took
them and bound them with strong cords, and took them before the
chief judge of the land.
Alma 14:Verse 5
5 And the people went forth and witnessed against
them--testifying that they had reviled against the law, and their
lawyers and judges of the land, and also of all the people that
were in the land; and also testified that there was but one God,
and that he should send his Son among the people, but he should not
save them; and many such things did the people testify against Alma
and Amulek. Now this was done before the chief judge of the
land.
Alma 14:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that Zeezrom was astonished at
the words which had been spoken; and he also knew concerning the
blindness of the minds, which he had caused among the people by his
lying words; and his soul began to be harrowed up under a
consciousness of his own guilt; yea, he began to be encircled about
by the pains of hell.
Alma 14:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that he began to cry unto the
people, saying: Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless
before God. And he began to plead for them from that time forth;
but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the
devil? And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them,
and also all those who believed in the words which had been spoken
by Alma and Amulek; and they cast them out, and sent men to cast
stones at them.
Alma 14:Verse 8
8 And they brought their wives and children together,
and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of
God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they
also brought forth their records which contained the holy
scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be
burned and destroyed by fire.
Alma 14:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek,
and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might
witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.
Alma 14:Verse 10
10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and
children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he
said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let
us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is
in us, and save them from the flames.
Alma 14:Verse 11
11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me
that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord
receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that
they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto
them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments
which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the
blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea,
and cry mightily against them at the last day.
Alma 14:Verse 12
12 Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will
burn us also.
Alma 14:Verse 13
13 And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the
Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us
not.
Alma 14:Verse 14
14 Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those
who had been cast into the fire were consumed, and also the records
which were cast in with them, the chief judge of the land came and
stood before Alma and Amulek, as they were bound; and he smote them
with his hand upon their cheeks, and said unto them: After what ye
have seen, will ye preach again unto this people, that they shall
be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone?
Alma 14:Verse 15
15 Behold, ye see that ye had not power to save those
who had been cast into the fire; neither has God saved them because
they were of thy faith. And the judge smote them again upon their
cheeks, and asked: What say ye for yourselves?
Alma 14:Verse 16
16 Now this judge was after the order and faith of
Nehor, who slew Gideon.
Alma 14:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek answered
him nothing; and he smote them again, and delivered them to the
officers to be cast into prison.
Alma 14:Verse 18
18 And when they had been cast into prison three days,
there came many lawyers, and judges, and priests, and teachers, who
were of the profession of Nehor; and they came in unto the prison
to see them, and they questioned them about many words; but they
answered them nothing.
Alma 14:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that the judge stood before
them, and said: Why do ye not answer the words of this people? Know
ye not that I have power to deliver you up unto the flames? And he
commanded them to speak; but they answered nothing.
Alma 14:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that they departed and went
their ways, but came again on the morrow; and the judge also smote
them again on their cheeks. And many came forth also, and smote
them, saying: Will ye stand again and judge this people, and
condemn our law? If ye have such great power why do ye not deliver
yourselves?
Alma 14:Verse 21
21 And many such things did they say unto them,
gnashing their teeth upon them, and spitting upon them, and saying:
How shall we look when we are damned?
Alma 14:Verse 22
22 And many such things, yea, all manner of such things
did they say unto them; and thus they did mock them for many days.
And they did withhold food from them that they might hunger, and
water that they might thirst; and they also did take from them
their clothes that they were naked; and thus they were bound with
strong cords, and confined in prison.
Alma 14:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass after they had thus suffered for
many days, (and it was on the twelfth day, in the tenth month, in
the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi)
that the chief judge over the land of Ammonihah and many of their
teachers and their lawyers went in unto the prison where Alma and
Amulek were bound with cords.
Alma 14:Verse 24
24 And the chief judge stood before them, and smote
them again, and said unto them: If ye have the power of God deliver
yourselves from these bands, and then we will believe that the Lord
will destroy this people according to your words.
Alma 14:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that they all went forth and
smote them, saying the same words, even until the last; and when
the last had spoken unto them the power of God was upon Alma and
Amulek, and they rose and stood upon their feet.
Alma 14:Verse 26
26 And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer
these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according
to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance. And they
broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw
this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon
them.
Alma 14:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that so great was their fear
that they fell to the earth, and did not obtain the outer door of
the prison; and the earth shook mightily, and the walls of the
prison were rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the
chief judge, and the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote
upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof.
Alma 14:Verse 28
28 And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison,
and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them power,
according to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway
came forth out of the prison; and they were loosed from their
bands; and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul
within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain;
and they straightway came forth into the city.
Alma 14:Verse 29
29 Now the people having heard a great noise came
running together by multitudes to know the cause of it; and when
they saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the prison, and the
walls thereof had fallen to the earth, they were struck with great
fear, and fled from the presence of Alma and Amulek even as a goat
fleeth with her young from two lions; and thus they did flee from
the presence of Alma and Amulek.
Chapter 15
Alma 15:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that Alma and Amulek were
commanded to depart out of that city; and they departed, and came
out even into the land of Sidom; and behold, there they found all
the people who had departed out of the land of Ammonihah, who had
been cast out and stoned, because they believed in the words of
Alma.
Alma 15:Verse 2
2 And they related unto them all that had happened unto
their wives and children, and also concerning themselves, and of
their power of deliverance.
Alma 15:Verse 3
3 And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning
fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on
account of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek
were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of
his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did
harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no
deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning
heat.
Alma 15:Verse 4
4 Now, when he heard that Alma and Amulek were in the
land of Sidom, his heart began to take courage; and he sent a
message immediately unto them, desiring them to come unto
him.
Alma 15:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that they went immediately,
obeying the message which he had sent unto them; and they went in
unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him upon his bed, sick,
being very low with a burning fever; and his mind also was
exceedingly sore because of his iniquities; and when he saw them he
stretched forth his hand, and besought them that they would heal
him.
Alma 15:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking
him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto
salvation?
Alma 15:Verse 7
7 And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the
words that thou hast taught.
Alma 15:Verse 8
8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of
Christ thou canst be healed.
Alma 15:Verse 9
9 And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy
words.
Alma 15:Verse 10
10 And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord
our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his
faith which is in Christ.
Alma 15:Verse 11
11 And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped
upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was done to the great
astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge of this went
forth throughout all the land of Sidom.
Alma 15:Verse 12
12 And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he
began from that time forth to preach unto the people.
Alma 15:Verse 13
13 And Alma established a church in the land of Sidom,
and consecrated priests and teachers in the land, to baptize unto
the Lord whosoever were desirous to be baptized.
Alma 15:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that they were many; for they
did flock in from all the region round about Sidom, and were
baptized.
Alma 15:Verse 15
15 But as to the people that were in the land of
Ammonihah, they yet remained a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked
people; and they repented not of their sins, ascribing all the
power of Alma and Amulek to the devil; for they were of the
profession of Nehor, and did not believe in the repentance of their
sins.
Alma 15:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek
having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things,
which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being
rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father
and his kindred;
Alma 15:Verse 17
17 Therefore, after Alma having established the church
at Sidom, seeing a great check, yea, seeing that the people were
checked as to the pride of their hearts, and began to humble
themselves before God, and began to assemble themselves together at
their sanctuaries to worship God before the altar, watching and
praying continually, that they might be delivered from Satan, and
from death, and from destruction--
Alma 15:Verse 18
18 Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things,
therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla,
and took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his
tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord.
Alma 15:Verse 19
19 And thus ended the tenth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi.
Chapter 16
Alma 16:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass in the eleventh year of the reign
of the judges over the people of Nephi, on the fifth day of the
second month, there having been much peace in the land of
Zarahemla, there having been no wars nor contentions for a certain
number of years, even until the fifth day of the second month in
the eleventh year, there was a cry of war heard throughout the
land.
Alma 16:Verse 2
2 For behold, the armies of the Lamanites had come in
upon the wilderness side, into the borders of the land, even into
the city of Ammonihah, and began to slay the people and destroy the
city.
Alma 16:Verse 3
3 And now it came to pass, before the Nephites could
raise a sufficient army to drive them out of the land, they had
destroyed the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, and also
some around the borders of Noah, and taken others captive into the
wilderness.
Alma 16:Verse 4
4 Now it came to pass that the Nephites were desirous
to obtain those who had been carried away captive into the
wilderness.
Alma 16:Verse 5
5 Therefore, he that had been appointed chief captain
over the armies of the Nephites, (and his name was Zoram, and he
had two sons, Lehi and Aha)--now Zoram and his two sons, knowing
that Alma was high priest over the church, and having heard that he
had the spirit of prophecy, therefore they went unto him and
desired of him to know whither the Lord would that they should go
into the wilderness in search of their brethren, who had been taken
captive by the Lamanites.
Alma 16:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that Alma inquired of the Lord
concerning the matter. And Alma returned and said unto them:
Behold, the Lamanites will cross the river Sidon in the south
wilderness, away up beyond the borders of the land of Manti. And
behold there shall ye meet them, on the east of the river Sidon,
and there the Lord will deliver unto thee thy brethren who have
been taken captive by the Lamanites.
Alma 16:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that Zoram and his sons crossed
over the river Sidon, with their armies, and marched away beyond
the borders of Manti into the south wilderness, which was on the
east side of the river Sidon.
Alma 16:Verse 8
8 And they came upon the armies of the Lamanites, and
the Lamanites were scattered and driven into the wilderness; and
they took their brethren who had been taken captive by the
Lamanites, and there was not one soul of them had been lost that
were taken captive. And they were brought by their brethren to
possess their own lands.
Alma 16:Verse 9
9 And thus ended the eleventh year of the judges, the
Lamanites having been driven out of the land, and the people of
Ammonihah were destroyed; yea, every living soul of the
Ammonihahites was destroyed, and also their great city, which they
said God could not destroy, because of its greatness.
Alma 16:Verse 10
10 But behold, in one day it was left desolate; and the
carcases were mangled by dogs and wild beasts of the
wilderness.
Alma 16:Verse 11
11 Nevertheless, after many days their dead bodies were
heaped up upon the face of the earth, and they were covered with a
shallow covering. And now so great was the scent thereof that the
people did not go in to possess the land of Ammonihah for many
years. And it was called Desolation of Nehors; for they were of the
profession of Nehor, who were slain; and their lands remained
desolate.
Alma 16:Verse 12
12 And the Lamanites did not come again to war against
the Nephites until the fourteenth year of the reign of the judges
over the people of Nephi. And thus for three years did the people
of Nephi have continual peace in all the land.
Alma 16:Verse 13
13 And Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance
to the people in their temples, and in their sanctuaries, and also
in their synagogues, which were built after the manner of the
Jews.
Alma 16:Verse 14
14 And as many as would hear their words, unto them
they did impart the word of God, without any respect of persons,
continually.
Alma 16:Verse 15
15 And thus did Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many
more who had been chosen for the work, to preach the word
throughout all the land. And the establishment of the church became
general throughout the land, in all the region round about, among
all the people of the Nephites.
Alma 16:Verse 16
16 And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did
pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the
minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive
the word which should be taught among them at the time of his
coming--
Alma 16:Verse 17
17 That they might not be hardened against the word,
that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but
that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be
grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of
the Lord their God.
Alma 16:Verse 18
18 Now those priests who did go forth among the people
did preach against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and
strifes, and malice, and revilings, and stealing, robbing,
plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of
lasciviousness, crying that these things ought not so to be--
Alma 16:Verse 19
19 Holding forth things which must shortly come; yea,
holding forth the coming of the Son of God, his sufferings and
death, and also the resurrection of the dead.
Alma 16:Verse 20
20 And many of the people did inquire concerning the
place where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that
he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the
people did hear with great joy and gladness.
Alma 16:Verse 21
21 And now after the church had been established
throughout all the land--having got the victory over the devil, and
the word of God being preached in its purity in all the land, and
the Lord pouring out his blessings upon the people--thus ended the
fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi.
Chapter 17
Alma 17:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying
from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of Manti,
behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah
journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.
Alma 17:Verse 2
2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time
the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice
exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy,
they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed
strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound
understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that
they might know the word of God.
Alma 17:Verse 3
3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to
much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of
prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they
taught with power and authority of God.
Alma 17:Verse 4
4 And they had been teaching the word of God for the
space of fourteen years among the Lamanites, having had much
success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, by the
power of their words many were brought before the altar of God, to
call on his name and confess their sins before him.
Alma 17:Verse 5
5 Now these are the circumstances which attended them
in their journeyings, for they had many afflictions; they did
suffer much, both in body and in mind, such as hunger, thirst and
fatigue, and also much labor in the spirit.
Alma 17:Verse 6
6 Now these were their journeyings: Having taken leave
of their father, Mosiah, in the first year of the judges; having
refused the kingdom which their father was desirous to confer upon
them, and also this was the minds of the people;
Alma 17:Verse 7
7 Nevertheless they departed out of the land of
Zarahemla, and took their swords, and their spears, and their bows,
and their arrows, and their slings; and this they did that they
might provide food for themselves while in the wilderness.
Alma 17:Verse 8
8 And thus they departed into the wilderness with their
numbers which they had selected, to go up to the land of Nephi, to
preach the word of God unto the Lamanites.
Alma 17:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in
the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord
would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and
abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of
God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites,
to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of
the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.
Alma 17:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them
with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were
comforted.
Alma 17:Verse 11
11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the
Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be
patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth
good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of
thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.
Alma 17:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that the hearts of the sons of
Mosiah, and also those who were with them, took courage to go forth
unto the Lamanites to declare unto them the word of God.
Alma 17:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass when they had arrived in the
borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated
themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that
they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they
supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken.
Alma 17:Verse 14
14 And assuredly it was great, for they had undertaken
to preach the word of God to a wild and a hardened and a ferocious
people; a people who delighted in murdering the Nephites, and
robbing and plundering them; and their hearts were set upon riches,
or upon gold and silver, and precious stones; yet they sought to
obtain these things by murdering and plundering, that they might
not labor for them with their own hands.
Alma 17:Verse 15
15 Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom
did worship idols, and the curse of God had fallen upon them
because of the traditions of their fathers; notwithstanding the
promises of the Lord were extended unto them on the conditions of
repentance.
Alma 17:Verse 16
16 Therefore, this was the cause for which the sons of
Mosiah had undertaken the work, that perhaps they might bring them
unto repentance; that perhaps they might bring them to know of the
plan of redemption.
Alma 17:Verse 17
17 Therefore they separated themselves one from
another, and went forth among them, every man alone, according to
the word and power of God which was given unto him.
Alma 17:Verse 18
18 Now Ammon being the chief among them, or rather he
did administer unto them, and he departed from them, after having
blessed them according to their several stations, having imparted
the word of God unto them, or administered unto them before his
departure; and thus they took their several journeys throughout the
land.
Alma 17:Verse 19
19 And Ammon went to the land of Ishmael, the land
being called after the sons of Ishmael, who also became
Lamanites.
Alma 17:Verse 20
20 And as Ammon entered the land of Ishmael, the
Lamanites took him and bound him, as was their custom to bind all
the Nephites who fell into their hands, and carry them before the
king; and thus it was left to the pleasure of the king to slay
them, or to retain them in captivity, or to cast them into prison,
or to cast them out of his land, according to his will and
pleasure.
Alma 17:Verse 21
21 And thus Ammon was carried before the king who was
over the land of Ishmael; and his name was Lamoni; and he was a
descendant of Ishmael.
Alma 17:Verse 22
22 And the king inquired of Ammon if it were his desire
to dwell in the land among the Lamanites, or among his
people.
Alma 17:Verse 23
23 And Ammon said unto him: Yea, I desire to dwell
among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I
die.
Alma 17:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that king Lamoni was much
pleased with Ammon, and caused that his bands should be loosed; and
he would that Ammon should take one of his daughters to wife.
Alma 17:Verse 25
25 But Ammon said unto him: Nay, but I will be thy
servant. Therefore Ammon became a servant to king Lamoni. And it
came to pass that he was set among other servants to watch the
flocks of Lamoni, according to the custom of the Lamanites.
Alma 17:Verse 26
26 And after he had been in the service of the king
three days, as he was with the Lamanitish servants going forth with
their flocks to the place of water, which was called the water of
Sebus, and all the Lamanites drive their flocks hither, that they
may have water--
Alma 17:Verse 27
27 Therefore, as Ammon and the servants of the king
were driving forth their flocks to this place of water, behold, a
certain number of the Lamanites, who had been with their flocks to
water, stood and scattered the flocks of Ammon and the servants of
the king, and they scattered them insomuch that they fled many
ways.
Alma 17:Verse 28
28 Now the servants of the king began to murmur,
saying: Now the king will slay us, as he has our brethren because
their flocks were scattered by the wickedness of these men. And
they began to weep exceedingly, saying: Behold, our flocks are
scattered already.
Alma 17:Verse 29
29 Now they wept because of the fear of being slain.
Now when Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy;
for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my
fellow-servants, or the power which is in me, in restoring these
flocks unto the king, that I may win the hearts of these my
fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words.
Alma 17:Verse 30
30 And now, these were the thoughts of Ammon, when he
saw the afflictions of those whom he termed to be his
brethren.
Alma 17:Verse 31
31 And it came to pass that he flattered them by his
words, saying: My brethren, be of good cheer and let us go in
search of the flocks, and we will gather them together and bring
them back unto the place of water; and thus we will preserve the
flocks unto the king and he will not slay us.
Alma 17:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that they went in search of the
flocks, and they did follow Ammon, and they rushed forth with much
swiftness and did head the flocks of the king, and did gather them
together again to the place of water.
Alma 17:Verse 33
33 And those men again stood to scatter their flocks;
but Ammon said unto his brethren: Encircle the flocks round about
that they flee not; and I go and contend with these men who do
scatter our flocks.
Alma 17:Verse 34
34 Therefore, they did as Ammon commanded them, and he
went forth and stood to contend with those who stood by the waters
of Sebus; and they were in number not a few.
Alma 17:Verse 35
35 Therefore they did not fear Ammon, for they supposed
that one of their men could slay him according to their pleasure,
for they knew not that the Lord had promised Mosiah that he would
deliver his sons out of their hands; neither did they know anything
concerning the Lord; therefore they delighted in the destruction of
their brethren; and for this cause they stood to scatter the flocks
of the king.
Alma 17:Verse 36
36 But Ammon stood forth and began to cast stones at
them with his sling; yea, with mighty power he did sling stones
amongst them; and thus he slew a certain number of them insomuch
that they began to be astonished at his power; nevertheless they
were angry because of the slain of their brethren, and they were
determined that he should fall; therefore, seeing that they could
not hit him with their stones, they came forth with clubs to slay
him.
Alma 17:Verse 37
37 But behold, every man that lifted his club to smite
Ammon, he smote off their arms with his sword; for he did withstand
their blows by smiting their arms with the edge of his sword,
insomuch that they began to be astonished, and began to flee before
him; yea, and they were not few in number; and he caused them to
flee by the strength of his arm.
Alma 17:Verse 38
38 Now six of them had fallen by the sling, but he slew
none save it were their leader with his sword; and he smote off as
many of their arms as were lifted against him, and they were not a
few.
Alma 17:Verse 39
39 And when he had driven them afar off, he returned
and they watered their flocks and returned them to the pasture of
the king, and then went in unto the king, bearing the arms which
had been smitten off by the sword of Ammon, of those who sought to
slay him; and they were carried in unto the king for a testimony of
the things which they had done.
Chapter 18
Alma 18:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that king Lamoni caused that his
servants should stand forth and testify to all the things which
they had seen concerning the matter.
Alma 18:Verse 2
2 And when they had all testified to the things which
they had seen, and he had learned of the faithfulness of Ammon in
preserving his flocks, and also of his great power in contending
against those who sought to slay him, he was astonished
exceedingly, and said: Surely, this is more than a man. Behold, is
not this the Great Spirit who doth send such great punishments upon
this people, because of their murders?
Alma 18:Verse 3
3 And they answered the king, and said: Whether he be
the Great Spirit or a man, we know not; but this much we do know,
that he cannot be slain by the enemies of the king; neither can
they scatter the king's flocks when he is with us, because of his
expertness and great strength; therefore, we know that he is a
friend to the king. And now, O king, we do not believe that a man
has such great power, for we know he cannot be slain.
Alma 18:Verse 4
4 And now, when the king heard these words, he said
unto them: Now I know that it is the Great Spirit; and he has come
down at this time to preserve your lives, that I might not slay you
as I did your brethren. Now this is the Great Spirit of whom our
fathers have spoken.
Alma 18:Verse 5
5 Now this was the tradition of Lamoni, which he had
received from his father, that there was a Great Spirit.
Notwithstanding they believed in a Great Spirit they supposed that
whatsoever they did was right; nevertheless, Lamoni began to fear
exceedingly, with fear lest he had done wrong in slaying his
servants;
Alma 18:Verse 6
6 For he had slain many of them because their brethren
had scattered their flocks at the place of water; and thus, because
they had had their flocks scattered they were slain.
Alma 18:Verse 7
7 Now it was the practice of these Lamanites to stand
by the waters of Sebus to scatter the flocks of the people, that
thereby they might drive away many that were scattered unto their
own land, it being a practice of plunder among them.
Alma 18:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that king Lamoni inquired of his
servants, saying: Where is this man that has such great
power?
Alma 18:Verse 9
9 And they said unto him: Behold, he is feeding thy
horses. Now the king had commanded his servants, previous to the
time of the watering of their flocks, that they should prepare his
horses and chariots, and conduct him forth to the land of Nephi;
for there had been a great feast appointed at the land of Nephi, by
the father of Lamoni, who was king over all the land.
Alma 18:Verse 10
10 Now when king Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing
his horses and his chariots he was more astonished, because of the
faithfulness of Ammon, saying: Surely there has not been any
servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this
man; for even he doth remember all my commandments to execute
them.
Alma 18:Verse 11
11 Now I surely know that this is the Great Spirit, and
I would desire him that he come in unto me, but I durst not.
Alma 18:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that when Ammon had made ready
the horses and the chariots for the king and his servants, he went
in unto the king, and he saw that the countenance of the king was
changed; therefore he was about to return out of his
presence.
Alma 18:Verse 13
13 And one of the king's servants said unto him,
Rabbanah, which is, being interpreted, powerful or great king,
considering their kings to be powerful; and thus he said unto him:
Rabbanah, the king desireth thee to stay.
Alma 18:Verse 14
14 Therefore Ammon turned himself unto the king, and
said unto him: What wilt thou that I should do for thee, O king?
And the king answered him not for the space of an hour, according
to their time, for he knew not what he should say unto him.
Alma 18:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that Ammon said unto him again:
What desirest thou of me? But the king answered him not.
Alma 18:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that Ammon, being filled with
the Spirit of God, therefore he perceived the thoughts of the king.
And he said unto him: Is it because thou hast heard that I defended
thy servants and thy flocks, and slew seven of their brethren with
the sling and with the sword, and smote off the arms of others, in
order to defend thy flocks and thy servants; behold, is it this
that causeth thy marvelings?
Alma 18:Verse 17
17 I say unto you, what is it, that thy marvelings are
so great? Behold, I am a man, and am thy servant; therefore,
whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that will I do.
Alma 18:Verse 18
18 Now when the king had heard these words, he marveled
again, for he beheld that Ammon could discern his thoughts; but
notwithstanding this, king Lamoni did open his mouth, and said unto
him: Who art thou? Art thou that Great Spirit, who knows all
things?
Alma 18:Verse 19
19 Ammon answered and said unto him: I am not.
Alma 18:Verse 20
20 And the king said: How knowest thou the thoughts of
my heart? Thou mayest speak boldly, and tell me concerning these
things; and also tell me by what power ye slew and smote off the
arms of my brethren that scattered my flocks--
Alma 18:Verse 21
21 And now, if thou wilt tell me concerning these
things, whatsoever thou desirest I will give unto thee; and if it
were needed, I would guard thee with my armies; but I know that
thou art more powerful than all they; nevertheless, whatsoever thou
desirest of me I will grant it unto thee.
Alma 18:Verse 22
22 Now Ammon being wise, yet harmless, he said unto
Lamoni: Wilt thou hearken unto my words, if I tell thee by what
power I do these things? And this is the thing that I desire of
thee.
Alma 18:Verse 23
23 And the king answered him, and said: Yea, I will
believe all thy words. And thus he was caught with guile.
Alma 18:Verse 24
24 And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and
said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?
Alma 18:Verse 25
25 And he answered, and said unto him: I do not know
what that meaneth.
Alma 18:Verse 26
26 And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a
Great Spirit?
Alma 18:Verse 27
27 And he said, Yea.
Alma 18:Verse 28
28 And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him
again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created
all things which are in heaven and in the earth?
Alma 18:Verse 29
29 And he said: Yea, I believe that he created all
things which are in the earth; but I do not know the heavens.
Alma 18:Verse 30
30 And Ammon said unto him: The heavens is a place
where God dwells and all his holy angels.
Alma 18:Verse 31
31 And king Lamoni said: Is it above the earth?
Alma 18:Verse 32
32 And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all
the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of
the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the
beginning.
Alma 18:Verse 33
33 And king Lamoni said: I believe all these things
which thou hast spoken. Art thou sent from God?
Alma 18:Verse 34
34 Ammon said unto him: I am a man; and man in the
beginning was created after the image of God, and I am called by
his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they
may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true;
Alma 18:Verse 35
35 And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which
giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and
desires which are in God.
Alma 18:Verse 36
36 Now when Ammon had said these words, he began at the
creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam, and told him
all the things concerning the fall of man, and rehearsed and laid
before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which
had been spoken by the prophets, even down to the time that their
father, Lehi, left Jerusalem.
Alma 18:Verse 37
37 And he also rehearsed unto them (for it was unto the
king and to his servants) all the journeyings of their fathers in
the wilderness, and all their sufferings with hunger and thirst,
and their travail, and so forth.
Alma 18:Verse 38
38 And he also rehearsed unto them concerning the
rebellions of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, yea, all
their rebellions did he relate unto them; and he expounded unto
them all the records and scriptures from the time that Lehi left
Jerusalem down to the present time.
Alma 18:Verse 39
39 But this is not all; for he expounded unto them the
plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the
world; and he also made known unto them concerning the coming of
Christ, and all the works of the Lord did he make known unto
them.
Alma 18:Verse 40
40 And it came to pass that after he had said all these
things, and expounded them to the king, that the king believed all
his words.
Alma 18:Verse 41
41 And he began to cry unto the Lord, saying: O Lord,
have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had
upon the people of Nephi, have upon me, and my people.
Alma 18:Verse 42
42 And now, when he had said this, he fell unto the
earth, as if he were dead.
Alma 18:Verse 43
43 And it came to pass that his servants took him and
carried him in unto his wife, and laid him upon a bed; and he lay
as if he were dead for the space of two days and two nights; and
his wife, and his sons, and his daughters mourned over him, after
the manner of the Lamanites, greatly lamenting his loss.
Chapter 19
Alma 19:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that after two days and two
nights they were about to take his body and lay it in a sepulchre,
which they had made for the purpose of burying their dead.
Alma 19:Verse 2
2 Now the queen having heard of the fame of Ammon,
therefore she sent and desired that he should come in unto
her.
Alma 19:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that Ammon did as he was
commanded, and went in unto the queen, and desired to know what she
would that he should do.
Alma 19:Verse 4
4 And she said unto him: The servants of my husband
have made it known unto me that thou art a prophet of a holy God,
and that thou hast power to do many mighty works in his name;
Alma 19:Verse 5
5 Therefore, if this is the case, I would that ye
should go in and see my husband, for he has been laid upon his bed
for the space of two days and two nights; and some say that he is
not dead, but others say that he is dead and that he stinketh, and
that he ought to be placed in the sepulchre; but as for myself, to
me he doth not stink.
Alma 19:Verse 6
6 Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that
king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil
of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which
did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God,
which was a marvelous light of his goodness--yea, this light had
infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been
dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his
soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he
was carried away in God--
Alma 19:Verse 7
7 Therefore, what the queen desired of him was his only
desire. Therefore, he went in to see the king according as the
queen had desired him; and he saw the king, and he knew that he was
not dead.
Alma 19:Verse 8
8 And he said unto the queen: He is not dead, but he
sleepeth in God, and on the morrow he shall rise again; therefore
bury him not.
Alma 19:Verse 9
9 And Ammon said unto her: Believest thou this? And she
said unto him: I have had no witness save thy word, and the word of
our servants; nevertheless I believe that it shall be according as
thou hast said.
Alma 19:Verse 10
10 And Ammon said unto her: Blessed art thou because of
thy exceeding faith; I say unto thee, woman, there has not been
such great faith among all the people of the Nephites.
Alma 19:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that she watched over the bed of
her husband, from that time even until that time on the morrow
which Ammon had appointed that he should rise.
Alma 19:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that he arose, according to the
words of Ammon; and as he arose, he stretched forth his hand unto
the woman, and said: Blessed be the name of God, and blessed art
thou.
Alma 19:Verse 13
13 For as sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my
Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he
shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name. Now, when he had
said these words, his heart was swollen within him, and he sunk
again with joy; and the queen also sunk down, being overpowered by
the Spirit.
Alma 19:Verse 14
14 Now Ammon seeing the Spirit of the Lord poured out
according to his prayers upon the Lamanites, his brethren, who had
been the cause of so much mourning among the Nephites, or among all
the people of God because of their iniquities and their traditions,
he fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer
and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren; and
he was also overpowered with joy; and thus they all three had sunk
to the earth.
Alma 19:Verse 15
15 Now, when the servants of the king had seen that
they had fallen, they also began to cry unto God, for the fear of
the Lord had come upon them also, for it was they who had stood
before the king and testified unto him concerning the great power
of Ammon.
Alma 19:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that they did call on the name
of the Lord, in their might, even until they had all fallen to the
earth, save it were one of the Lamanitish women, whose name was
Abish, she having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on
account of a remarkable vision of her father--
Alma 19:Verse 17
17 Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never
having made it known, therefore, when she saw that all the servants
of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the
queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she
knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this
opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened
among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to
believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to
house, making it known unto the people.
Alma 19:Verse 18
18 And they began to assemble themselves together unto
the house of the king. And there came a multitude, and to their
astonishment they beheld the king, and the queen, and their
servants prostrate upon the earth, and they all lay there as though
they were dead; and they also saw Ammon, and behold, he was a
Nephite.
Alma 19:Verse 19
19 And now the people began to murmur among themselves;
some saying that it was a great evil that had come upon them, or
upon the king and his house, because he had suffered that the
Nephite should remain in the land.
Alma 19:Verse 20
20 But others rebuked them, saying: The king hath
brought this evil upon his house, because he slew his servants who
had had their flocks scattered at the waters of Sebus.
Alma 19:Verse 21
21 And they were also rebuked by those men who had
stood at the waters of Sebus and scattered the flocks which
belonged to the king, for they were angry with Ammon because of the
number which he had slain of their brethren at the waters of Sebus,
while defending the flocks of the king.
Alma 19:Verse 22
22 Now, one of them, whose brother had been slain with
the sword of Ammon, being exceedingly angry with Ammon, drew his
sword and went forth that he might let it fall upon Ammon, to slay
him; and as he lifted the sword to smite him, behold, he fell
dead.
Alma 19:Verse 23
23 Now we see that Ammon could not be slain, for the
Lord had said unto Mosiah, his father: I will spare him, and it
shall be unto him according to thy faith--therefore, Mosiah trusted
him unto the Lord.
Alma 19:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that when the multitude beheld
that the man had fallen dead, who lifted the sword to slay Ammon,
fear came upon them all, and they durst not put forth their hands
to touch him or any of those who had fallen; and they began to
marvel again among themselves what could be the cause of this great
power, or what all these things could mean.
Alma 19:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that there were many among them
who said that Ammon was the Great Spirit, and others said he was
sent by the Great Spirit;
Alma 19:Verse 26
26 But others rebuked them all, saying that he was a
monster, who had been sent from the Nephites to torment them.
Alma 19:Verse 27
27 And there were some who said that Ammon was sent by
the Great Spirit to afflict them because of their iniquities; and
that it was the Great Spirit that had always attended the Nephites,
who had ever delivered them out of their hands; and they said that
it was this Great Spirit who had destroyed so many of their
brethren, the Lamanites.
Alma 19:Verse 28
28 And thus the contention began to be exceedingly
sharp among them. And while they were thus contending, the woman
servant who had caused the multitude to be gathered together came,
and when she saw the contention which was among the multitude she
was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears.
Alma 19:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass that she went and took the queen
by the hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground; and
as soon as she touched her hand she arose and stood upon her feet,
and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved
me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this
people!
Alma 19:Verse 30
30 And when she had said this, she clasped her hands,
being filled with joy, speaking many words which were not
understood; and when she had done this, she took the king, Lamoni,
by the hand, and behold he arose and stood upon his feet.
Alma 19:Verse 31
31 And he, immediately, seeing the contention among his
people, went forth and began to rebuke them, and to teach them the
words which he had heard from the mouth of Ammon; and as many as
heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord.
Alma 19:Verse 32
32 But there were many among them who would not hear
his words; therefore they went their way.
Alma 19:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that when Ammon arose he also
administered unto them, and also did all the servants of Lamoni;
and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing--that
their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do
evil.
Alma 19:Verse 34
34 And behold, many did declare unto the people that
they had seen angels and had conversed with them; and thus they had
told them things of God, and of his righteousness.
Alma 19:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that there were many that did
believe in their words; and as many as did believe were baptized;
and they became a righteous people, and they did establish a church
among them.
Alma 19:Verse 36
36 And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the
Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon
them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will
repent and believe on his name.
Chapter 20
Alma 20:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that when they had established a
church in that land, that king Lamoni desired that Ammon should go
with him to the land of Nephi, that he might show him unto his
father.
Alma 20:Verse 2
2 And the voice of the Lord came to Ammon, saying: Thou
shalt not go up to the land of Nephi, for behold, the king will
seek thy life; but thou shalt go to the land of Middoni; for
behold, thy brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah are in
prison.
Alma 20:Verse 3
3 Now it came to pass that when Ammon had heard this,
he said unto Lamoni: Behold, my brother and brethren are in prison
at Middoni, and I go that I may deliver them.
Alma 20:Verse 4
4 Now Lamoni said unto Ammon: I know, in the strength
of the Lord thou canst do all things. But behold, I will go with
thee to the land of Middoni; for the king of the land of Middoni,
whose name is Antiomno, is a friend unto me; therefore I go to the
land of Middoni, that I may flatter the king of the land, and he
will cast thy brethren out of prison. Now Lamoni said unto him: Who
told thee that thy brethren were in prison?
Alma 20:Verse 5
5 And Ammon said unto him: No one hath told me, save it
be God; and he said unto me--Go and deliver thy brethren, for they
are in prison in the land of Middoni.
Alma 20:Verse 6
6 Now when Lamoni had heard this he caused that his
servants should make ready his horses and his chariots.
Alma 20:Verse 7
7 And he said unto Ammon: Come, I will go with thee
down to the land of Middoni, and there I will plead with the king
that he will cast thy brethren out of prison.
Alma 20:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that as Ammon and Lamoni were
journeying thither, they met the father of Lamoni, who was king
over all the land.
Alma 20:Verse 9
9 And behold, the father of Lamoni said unto him: Why
did ye not come to the feast on that great day when I made a feast
unto my sons, and unto my people?
Alma 20:Verse 10
10 And he also said: Whither art thou going with this
Nephite, who is one of the children of a liar?
Alma 20:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that Lamoni rehearsed unto him
whither he was going, for he feared to offend him.
Alma 20:Verse 12
12 And he also told him all the cause of his tarrying
in his own kingdom, that he did not go unto his father to the feast
which he had prepared.
Alma 20:Verse 13
13 And now when Lamoni had rehearsed unto him all these
things, behold, to his astonishment, his father was angry with him,
and said: Lamoni, thou art going to deliver these Nephites, who are
sons of a liar. Behold, he robbed our fathers; and now his children
are also come amongst us that they may, by their cunning and their
lyings, deceive us, that they again may rob us of our
property.
Alma 20:Verse 14
14 Now the father of Lamoni commanded him that he
should slay Ammon with the sword. And he also commanded him that he
should not go to the land of Middoni, but that he should return
with him to the land of Ishmael.
Alma 20:Verse 15
15 But Lamoni said unto him: I will not slay Ammon,
neither will I return to the land of Ishmael, but I go to the land
of Middoni that I may release the brethren of Ammon, for I know
that they are just men and holy prophets of the true God.
Alma 20:Verse 16
16 Now when his father had heard these words, he was
angry with him, and he drew his sword that he might smite him to
the earth.
Alma 20:Verse 17
17 But Ammon stood forth and said unto him: Behold,
thou shalt not slay thy son; nevertheless, it were better that he
should fall than thee, for behold, he has repented of his sins; but
if thou shouldst fall at this time, in thine anger, thy soul could
not be saved.
Alma 20:Verse 18
18 And again, it is expedient that thou shouldst
forbear; for if thou shouldst slay thy son, he being an innocent
man, his blood would cry from the ground to the Lord his God, for
vengeance to come upon thee; and perhaps thou wouldst lose thy
soul.
Alma 20:Verse 19
19 Now when Ammon had said these words unto him, he
answered him, saying: I know that if I should slay my son, that I
should shed innocent blood; for it is thou that hast sought to
destroy him.
Alma 20:Verse 20
20 And he stretched forth his hand to slay Ammon. But
Ammon withstood his blows, and also smote his arm that he could not
use it.
Alma 20:Verse 21
21 Now when the king saw that Ammon could slay him, he
began to plead with Ammon that he would spare his life.
Alma 20:Verse 22
22 But Ammon raised his sword, and said unto him:
Behold, I will smite thee except thou wilt grant unto me that my
brethren may be cast out of prison.
Alma 20:Verse 23
23 Now the king, fearing he should lose his life, said:
If thou wilt spare me I will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wilt
ask, even to half of the kingdom.
Alma 20:Verse 24
24 Now when Ammon saw that he had wrought upon the old
king according to his desire, he said unto him: If thou wilt grant
that my brethren may be cast out of prison, and also that Lamoni
may retain his kingdom, and that ye be not displeased with him, but
grant that he may do according to his own desires in whatsoever
thing he thinketh, then will I spare thee; otherwise I will smite
thee to the earth.
Alma 20:Verse 25
25 Now when Ammon had said these words, the king began
to rejoice because of his life.
Alma 20:Verse 26
26 And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy
him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni,
he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Because this is all that
thou hast desired, that I would release thy brethren, and suffer
that my son Lamoni should retain his kingdom, behold, I will grant
unto you that my son may retain his kingdom from this time and
forever; and I will govern him no more--
Alma 20:Verse 27
27 And I will also grant unto thee that thy brethren
may be cast out of prison, and thou and thy brethren may come unto
me, in my kingdom; for I shall greatly desire to see thee. For the
king was greatly astonished at the words which he had spoken, and
also at the words which had been spoken by his son Lamoni,
therefore he was desirous to learn them.
Alma 20:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni proceeded
on their journey towards the land of Middoni. And Lamoni found
favor in the eyes of the king of the land; therefore the brethren
of Ammon were brought forth out of prison.
Alma 20:Verse 29
29 And when Ammon did meet them he was exceedingly
sorrowful, for behold they were naked, and their skins were worn
exceedingly because of being bound with strong cords. And they also
had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions;
nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings.
Alma 20:Verse 30
30 And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen
into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people;
therefore they would not hearken unto their words, and they had
cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house
to house, and from place to place, even until they had arrived in
the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into
prison, and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many
days, and were delivered by Lamoni and Ammon.
Chapter 21
Alma 21:Verse 1
1 NOW when Ammon and his brethren separated themselves
in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold Aaron took his
journey towards the land which was called by the Lamanites,
Jerusalem, calling it after the land of their fathers' nativity;
and it was away joining the borders of Mormon.
Alma 21:Verse 2
2 Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the people
of Amulon had built a great city, which was called Jerusalem.
Alma 21:Verse 3
3 Now the Lamanites of themselves were sufficiently
hardened, but the Amalekites and the Amulonites were still harder;
therefore they did cause the Lamanites that they should harden
their hearts, that they should wax strong in wickedness and their
abominations.
Alma 21:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that Aaron came to the city of
Jerusalem, and first began to preach to the Amalekites. And he
began to preach to them in their synagogues, for they had built
synagogues after the order of the Nehors; for many of the
Amalekites and the Amulonites were after the order of the
Nehors.
Alma 21:Verse 5
5 Therefore, as Aaron entered into one of their
synagogues to preach unto the people, and as he was speaking unto
them, behold there arose an Amalekite and began to contend with
him, saying: What is that thou hast testified? Hast thou seen an
angel? Why do not angels appear unto us? Behold are not this people
as good as thy people?
Alma 21:Verse 6
6 Thou also sayest, except we repent we shall perish.
How knowest thou the thought and intent of our hearts? How knowest
thou that we have cause to repent? How knowest thou that we are not
a righteous people? Behold, we have built sanctuaries, and we do
assemble ourselves together to worship God. We do believe that God
will save all men.
Alma 21:Verse 7
7 Now Aaron said unto him: Believest thou that the Son
of God shall come to redeem mankind from their sins?
Alma 21:Verse 8
8 And the man said unto him: We do not believe that
thou knowest any such thing. We do not believe in these foolish
traditions. We do not believe that thou knowest of things to come,
neither do we believe that thy fathers and also that our fathers
did know concerning the things which they spake, of that which is
to come.
Alma 21:Verse 9
9 Now Aaron began to open the scriptures unto them
concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the
resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for
mankind save it were through the death and sufferings of Christ,
and the atonement of his blood.
Alma 21:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass as he began to expound these
things unto them they were angry with him, and began to mock him;
and they would not hear the words which he spake.
Alma 21:Verse 11
11 Therefore, when he saw that they would not hear his
words, he departed out of their synagogue, and came over to a
village which was called Ani-Anti, and there he found Muloki
preaching the word unto them; and also Ammah and his brethren. And
they contended with many about the word.
Alma 21:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that they saw that the people
would harden their hearts, therefore they departed and came over
into the land of Middoni. And they did preach the word unto many,
and few believed on the words which they taught.
Alma 21:Verse 13
13 Nevertheless, Aaron and a certain number of his
brethren were taken and cast into prison, and the remainder of them
fled out of the land of Middoni unto the regions round about.
Alma 21:Verse 14
14 And those who were cast into prison suffered many
things, and they were delivered by the hand of Lamoni and Ammon,
and they were fed and clothed.
Alma 21:Verse 15
15 And they went forth again to declare the word, and
thus they were delivered for the first time out of prison; and thus
they had suffered.
Alma 21:Verse 16
16 And they went forth whithersoever they were led by
the Spirit of the Lord, preaching the word of God in every
synagogue of the Amalekites, or in every assembly of the Lamanites
where they could be admitted.
Alma 21:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that the Lord began to bless
them, insomuch that they brought many to the knowledge of the
truth; yea, they did convince many of their sins, and of the
traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.
Alma 21:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni returned
from the land of Middoni to the land of Ishmael, which was the land
of their inheritance.
Alma 21:Verse 19
19 And king Lamoni would not suffer that Ammon should
serve him, or be his servant.
Alma 21:Verse 20
20 But he caused that there should be synagogues built
in the land of Ishmael; and he caused that his people, or the
people who were under his reign, should assemble themselves
together.
Alma 21:Verse 21
21 And he did rejoice over them, and he did teach them
many things. And he did also declare unto them that they were a
people who were under him, and that they were a free people, that
they were free from the oppressions of the king, his father; for
that his father had granted unto him that he might reign over the
people who were in the land of Ishmael, and in all the land round
about.
Alma 21:Verse 22
22 And he also declared unto them that they might have
the liberty of worshiping the Lord their God according to their
desires, in whatsoever place they were in, if it were in the land
which was under the reign of king Lamoni.
Alma 21:Verse 23
23 And Ammon did preach unto the people of king Lamoni;
and it came to pass that he did teach them all things concerning
things pertaining to righteousness. And he did exhort them daily,
with all diligence; and they gave heed unto his word, and they were
zealous for keeping the commandments of God.
Chapter 22
Alma 22:Verse 1
1 Now, as Ammon was thus teaching the people of Lamoni
continually, we will return to the account of Aaron and his
brethren; for after he departed from the land of Middoni he was led
by the Spirit to the land of Nephi, even to the house of the king
which was over all the land save it were the land of Ishmael; and
he was the father of Lamoni.
Alma 22:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that he went in unto him into the
king's palace, with his brethren, and bowed himself before the
king, and said unto him: Behold, O king, we are the brethren of
Ammon, whom thou hast delivered out of prison.
Alma 22:Verse 3
3 And now, O king, if thou wilt spare our lives, we
will be thy servants. And the king said unto them: Arise, for I
will grant unto you your lives, and I will not suffer that ye shall
be my servants; but I will insist that ye shall administer unto me;
for I have been somewhat troubled in mind because of the generosity
and the greatness of the words of thy brother Ammon; and I desire
to know the cause why he has not come up out of Middoni with
thee.
Alma 22:Verse 4
4 And Aaron said unto the king: Behold, the Spirit of
the Lord has called him another way; he has gone to the land of
Ishmael, to teach the people of Lamoni.
Alma 22:Verse 5
5 Now the king said unto them: What is this that ye
have said concerning the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, this is the
thing which doth trouble me.
Alma 22:Verse 6
6 And also, what is this that Ammon said--If ye will
repent ye shall be saved, and if ye will not repent, ye shall be
cast off at the last day?
Alma 22:Verse 7
7 And Aaron answered him and said unto him: Believest
thou that there is a God? And the king said: I know that the
Amalekites say that there is a God, and I have granted unto them
that they should build sanctuaries, that they may assemble
themselves together to worship him. And if now thou sayest there is
a God, behold I will believe.
Alma 22:Verse 8
8 And now when Aaron heard this, his heart began to
rejoice, and he said: Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king,
there is a God.
Alma 22:Verse 9
9 And the king said: Is God that Great Spirit that
brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem?
Alma 22:Verse 10
10 And Aaron said unto him: Yea, he is that Great
Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth.
Believest thou this?
Alma 22:Verse 11
11 And he said: Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit
created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning
all these things, and I will believe thy words.
Alma 22:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the
king would believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam,
reading the scriptures unto the king--how God created man after his
own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of
transgression, man had fallen.
Alma 22:Verse 13
13 And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from
the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their
carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared
from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever
would believe on his name.
Alma 22:Verse 14
14 And since man had fallen he could not merit anything
of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their
sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he
breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory,
and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of
glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king.
Alma 22:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded
these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may
have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I
do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out
of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with
joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I
will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom,
that I may receive this great joy.
Alma 22:Verse 16
16 But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this
thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent
of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name
in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive
the hope which thou desirest.
Alma 22:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these
words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea,
even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily,
saying:
Alma 22:Verse 18
18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and
if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself
known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and
that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day.
And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he
were dead.
Alma 22:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that his servants ran and told
the queen all that had happened unto the king. And she came in unto
the king; and when she saw him lay as if he were dead, and also
Aaron and his brethren standing as though they had been the cause
of his fall, she was angry with them, and commanded that her
servants, or the servants of the king, should take them and slay
them.
Alma 22:Verse 20
20 Now the servants had seen the cause of the king's
fall, therefore they durst not lay their hands on Aaron and his
brethren; and they pled with the queen saying: Why commandest thou
that we should slay these men, when behold one of them is mightier
than us all? Therefore we shall fall before them.
Alma 22:Verse 21
21 Now when the queen saw the fear of the servants she
also began to fear exceedingly, lest there should some evil come
upon her. And she commanded her servants that they should go and
call the people, that they might slay Aaron and his brethren.
Alma 22:Verse 22
22 Now when Aaron saw the determination of the queen,
he, also knowing the hardness of the hearts of the people, feared
lest that a multitude should assemble themselves together, and
there should be a great contention and a disturbance among them;
therefore he put forth his hand and raised the king from the earth,
and said unto him: Stand. And he stood upon his feet, receiving his
strength.
Alma 22:Verse 23
23 Now this was done in the presence of the queen and
many of the servants. And when they saw it they greatly marveled,
and began to fear. And the king stood forth, and began to minister
unto them. And he did minister unto them, insomuch that his whole
household were converted unto the Lord.
Alma 22:Verse 24
24 Now there was a multitude gathered together because
of the commandment of the queen, and there began to be great
murmurings among them because of Aaron and his brethren.
Alma 22:Verse 25
25 But the king stood forth among them and administered
unto them. And they were pacified towards Aaron and those who were
with him.
Alma 22:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that when the king saw that the
people were pacified, he caused that Aaron and his brethren should
stand forth in the midst of the multitude, and that they should
preach the word unto them.
Alma 22:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that the king sent a
proclamation throughout all the land, amongst all his people who
were in all his land, who were in all the regions round about,
which was bordering even to the sea, on the east and on the west,
and which was divided from the land of Zarahemla by a narrow strip
of wilderness, which ran from the sea east even to the sea west,
and round about on the borders of the seashore, and the borders of
the wilderness which was on the north by the land of Zarahemla,
through the borders of Manti, by the head of the river Sidon,
running from the east towards the west--and thus were the Lamanites
and the Nephites divided.
Alma 22:Verse 28
28 Now, the more idle part of the Lamanites lived in
the wilderness, and dwelt in tents; and they were spread through
the wilderness on the west, in the land of Nephi; yea, and also on
the west of the land of Zarahemla, in the borders by the seashore,
and on the west in the land of Nephi, in the place of their
fathers' first inheritance, and thus bordering along by the
seashore.
Alma 22:Verse 29
29 And also there were many Lamanites on the east by
the seashore, whither the Nephites had driven them. And thus the
Nephites were nearly surrounded by the Lamanites; nevertheless the
Nephites had taken possession of all the northern parts of the land
bordering on the wilderness, at the head of the river Sidon, from
the east to the west, round about on the wilderness side; on the
north, even until they came to the land which they called
Bountiful.
Alma 22:Verse 30
30 And it bordered upon the land which they called
Desolation, it being so far northward that it came into the land
which had been peopled and been destroyed, of whose bones we have
spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, it being
the place of their first landing.
Alma 22:Verse 31
31 And they came from there up into the south
wilderness. Thus the land on the northward was called Desolation,
and the land on the southward was called Bountiful, it being the
wilderness which is filled with all manner of wild animals of every
kind, a part of which had come from the land northward for
food.
Alma 22:Verse 32
32 And now, it was only the distance of a day and a
half's journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land
Desolation, from the east to the west sea; and thus the land of
Nephi and the land of Zarahemla were nearly surrounded by water,
there being a small neck of land between the land northward and the
land southward.
Alma 22:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that the Nephites had inhabited
the land Bountiful, even from the east unto the west sea, and thus
the Nephites in their wisdom, with their guards and their armies,
had hemmed in the Lamanites on the south, that thereby they should
have no more possession on the north, that they might not overrun
the land northward.
Alma 22:Verse 34
34 Therefore the Lamanites could have no more
possessions only in the land of Nephi, and the wilderness round
about. Now this was wisdom in the Nephites--as the Lamanites were
an enemy to them, they would not suffer their afflictions on every
hand, and also that they might have a country whither they might
flee, according to their desires.
Alma 22:Verse 35
35 And now I, after having said this, return again to
the account of Ammon and Aaron, Omner and Himni, and their
brethren.
Chapter 23
Alma 23:Verse 1
1 Behold, now it came to pass that the king of the
Lamanites sent a proclamation among all his people, that they
should not lay their hands on Ammon, or Aaron, or Omner, or Himni,
nor either of their brethren who should go forth preaching the word
of God, in whatsoever place they should be, in any part of their
land.
Alma 23:Verse 2
2 Yea, he sent a decree among them, that they should
not lay their hands on them to bind them, or to cast them into
prison; neither should they spit upon them, nor smite them, nor
cast them out of their synagogues, nor scourge them; neither should
they cast stones at them, but that they should have free access to
their houses, and also their temples, and their sanctuaries.
Alma 23:Verse 3
3 And thus they might go forth and preach the word
according to their desires, for the king had been converted unto
the Lord, and all his household; therefore he sent his proclamation
throughout the land unto his people, that the word of God might
have no obstruction, but that it might go forth throughout all the
land, that his people might be convinced concerning the wicked
traditions of their fathers, and that they might be convinced that
they were all brethren, and that they ought not to murder, nor to
plunder, nor to steal, nor to commit adultery, nor to commit any
manner of wickedness.
Alma 23:Verse 4
4 And now it came to pass that when the king had sent
forth this proclamation, that Aaron and his brethren went forth
from city to city, and from one house of worship to another,
establishing churches, and consecrating priests and teachers
throughout the land among the Lamanites, to preach and to teach the
word of God among them; and thus they began to have great
success.
Alma 23:Verse 5
5 And thousands were brought to the knowledge of the
Lord, yea, thousands were brought to believe in the traditions of
the Nephites; and they were taught the records and prophecies which
were handed down even to the present time.
Alma 23:Verse 6
6 And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as
believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth,
through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the
spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working
miracles in them--yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many
of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted
unto the Lord, never did fall away.
Alma 23:Verse 7
7 For they became a righteous people; they did lay down
the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God
any more, neither against any of their brethren.
Alma 23:Verse 8
8 Now, these are they who were converted unto the
Lord:
Alma 23:Verse 9
9 The people of the Lamanites who were in the land of
Ishmael;
Alma 23:Verse 10
10 And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in
the land of Middoni;
Alma 23:Verse 11
11 And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in
the city of Nephi;
Alma 23:Verse 12
12 And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in
the land of Shilom, and who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the
city of Lemuel, and in the city of Shimnilom.
Alma 23:Verse 13
13 And these are the names of the cities of the
Lamanites which were converted unto the Lord; and these are they
that laid down the weapons of their rebellion, yea, all their
weapons of war; and they were all Lamanites.
Alma 23:Verse 14
14 And the Amalekites were not converted, save only
one; neither were any of the Amulonites; but they did harden their
hearts, and also the hearts of the Lamanites in that part of the
land wheresoever they dwelt, yea, and all their villages and all
their cities.
Alma 23:Verse 15
15 Therefore, we have named all the cities of the
Lamanites in which they did repent and come to the knowledge of the
truth, and were converted.
Alma 23:Verse 16
16 And now it came to pass that the king and those who
were converted were desirous that they might have a name, that
thereby they might be distinguished from their brethren; therefore
the king consulted with Aaron and many of their priests, concerning
the name that they should take upon them, that they might be
distinguished.
Alma 23:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that they called their names
Anti-Nephi-Lehies; and they were called by this name and were no
more called Lamanites.
Alma 23:Verse 18
18 And they began to be a very industrious people; yea,
and they were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they did open
a correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow
them.
Chapter 24
Alma 24:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that the Amalekites and the
Amulonites and the Lamanites who were in the land of Amulon, and
also in the land of Helam, and who were in the land of Jerusalem,
and in fine, in all the land round about, who had not been
converted and had not taken upon them the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehi,
were stirred up by the Amalekites and by the Amulonites to anger
against their brethren.
Alma 24:Verse 2
2 And their hatred became exceedingly sore against
them, even insomuch that they began to rebel against their king,
insomuch that they would not that he should be their king;
therefore, they took up arms against the people of
Anti-Nephi-Lehi.
Alma 24:Verse 3
3 Now the king conferred the kingdom upon his son, and
he called his name Anti-Nephi-Lehi.
Alma 24:Verse 4
4 And the king died in that selfsame year that the
Lamanites began to make preparations for war against the people of
God.
Alma 24:Verse 5
5 Now when Ammon and his brethren and all those who had
come up with him saw the preparations of the Lamanites to destroy
their brethren, they came forth to the land of Midian, and there
Ammon met all his brethren; and from thence they came to the land
of Ishmael that they might hold a council with Lamoni and also with
his brother Anti-Nephi-Lehi, what they should do to defend
themselves against the Lamanites.
Alma 24:Verse 6
6 Now there was not one soul among all the people who
had been converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against
their brethren; nay, they would not even make any preparations for
war; yea, and also their king commanded them that they should
not.
Alma 24:Verse 7
7 Now, these are the words which he said unto the
people concerning the matter: I thank my God, my beloved people,
that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the
Nephites, unto us to preach unto us, and to convince us of the
traditions of our wicked fathers.
Alma 24:Verse 8
8 And behold, I thank my great God that he has given us
a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts, that we have opened a
correspondence with these brethren, the Nephites.
Alma 24:Verse 9
9 And behold, I also thank my God, that by opening this
correspondence we have been convinced of our sins, and of the many
murders which we have committed.
Alma 24:Verse 10
10 And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he
hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also
that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which
we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts,
through the merits of his Son.
Alma 24:Verse 11
11 And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all
that we could do, (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to
repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have
committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it
was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would
take away our stain--
Alma 24:Verse 12
12 Now, my best beloved brethren, since God hath taken
away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us
stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren.
Alma 24:Verse 13
13 Behold, I say unto you, Nay, let us retain our
swords that they be not stained with the blood of our brethren; for
perhaps, if we should stain our swords again they can no more be
washed bright through the blood of the Son of our great God, which
shall be shed for the atonement of our sins.
Alma 24:Verse 14
14 And the great God has had mercy on us, and made
these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he
has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth
our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his
mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation
might be made known unto us as well as unto future
generations.
Alma 24:Verse 15
15 Oh, how merciful is our God! And now behold, since
it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away
from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that
they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day,
or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be
judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our
brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean
thereby.
Alma 24:Verse 16
16 And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to
destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will
bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a
testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our
brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to our God and shall be
saved.
Alma 24:Verse 17
17 And now it came to pass that when the king had made
an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled
together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were
used for the shedding of man's blood, and they did bury them up
deep in the earth.
Alma 24:Verse 18
18 And this they did, it being in their view a
testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use
weapons again for the shedding of man's blood; and this they did,
vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood
of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather
than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather
than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with
their hands.
Alma 24:Verse 19
19 And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were
brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would
suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that
they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of
war, for peace.
Alma 24:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that their brethren, the
Lamanites, made preparations for war, and came up to the land of
Nephi for the purpose of destroying the king, and to place another
in his stead, and also of destroying the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi
out of the land.
Alma 24:Verse 21
21 Now when the people saw that they were coming
against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves
before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the
Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began
to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword.
Alma 24:Verse 22
22 And thus without meeting any resistance, they did
slay a thousand and five of them; and we know that they are
blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God.
Alma 24:Verse 23
23 Now when the Lamanites saw that their brethren would
not flee from the sword, neither would they turn aside to the right
hand or to the left, but that they would lie down and perish, and
praised God even in the very act of perishing under the
sword--
Alma 24:Verse 24
24 Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbear
from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in
them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword,
for they repented of the things which they had done.
Alma 24:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that they threw down their
weapons of war, and they would not take them again, for they were
stung for the murders which they had committed; and they came down
even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose
arms were lifted to slay them.
Alma 24:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that the people of God were
joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and
those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have
no reason to doubt but what they were saved.
Alma 24:Verse 27
27 And there was not a wicked man slain among them; but
there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the
truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the
salvation of his people.
Alma 24:Verse 28
28 Now the greatest number of those of the Lamanites
who slew so many of their brethren were Amalekites and Amulonites,
the greatest number of whom were after the order of the
Nehors.
Alma 24:Verse 29
29 Now, among those who joined the people of the Lord,
there were none who were Amalekites or Amulonites, or who were of
the order of Nehor, but they were actual descendants of Laman and
Lemuel.
Alma 24:Verse 30
30 And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people
have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great
knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have
fallen away into sin and transgression, they become more hardened,
and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known
these things.
Chapter 25
Alma 25:Verse 1
1 AND behold, now it came to pass that those Lamanites
were more angry because they had slain their brethren; therefore
they swore vengeance upon the Nephites; and they did no more
attempt to slay the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi at that time.
Alma 25:Verse 2
2 But they took their armies and went over into the
borders of the land of Zarahemla, and fell upon the people who were
in the land of Ammonihah and destroyed them.
Alma 25:Verse 3
3 And after that, they had many battles with the
Nephites, in the which they were driven and slain.
Alma 25:Verse 4
4 And among the Lamanites who were slain were almost
all the seed of Amulon and his brethren, who were the priests of
Noah, and they were slain by the hands of the Nephites;
Alma 25:Verse 5
5 And the remainder, having fled into the east
wilderness, and having usurped the power and authority over the
Lamanites, caused that many of the Lamanites should perish by fire
because of their belief--
Alma 25:Verse 6
6 For many of them, after having suffered much loss and
so many afflictions, began to be stirred up in remembrance of the
words which Aaron and his brethren had preached to them in their
land; therefore they began to disbelieve the traditions of their
fathers, and to believe in the Lord, and that he gave great power
unto the Nephites; and thus there were many of them converted in
the wilderness.
Alma 25:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that those rulers who were the
remnant of the children of Amulon caused that they should be put to
death, yea, all those that believed in these things.
Alma 25:Verse 8
8 Now this martyrdom caused that many of their brethren
should be stirred up to anger; and there began to be contention in
the wilderness; and the Lamanites began to hunt the seed of Amulon
and his brethren and began to slay them; and they fled into the
east wilderness.
Alma 25:Verse 9
9 And behold they are hunted at this day by the
Lamanites. Thus the words of Abinadi were brought to pass, which he
said concerning the seed of the priests who caused that he should
suffer death by fire.
Alma 25:Verse 10
10 For he said unto them: What ye shall do unto me
shall be a type of things to come.
Alma 25:Verse 11
11 And now Abinadi was the first that suffered death by
fire because of his belief in God; now this is what he meant, that
many should suffer death by fire, according as he had
suffered.
Alma 25:Verse 12
12 And he said unto the priests of Noah that their seed
should cause many to be put to death, in the like manner as he was,
and that they should be scattered abroad and slain, even as a sheep
having no shepherd is driven and slain by wild beasts; and now
behold, these words were verified, for they were driven by the
Lamanites, and they were hunted, and they were smitten.
Alma 25:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that
they could not overpower the Nephites they returned again to their
own land; and many of them came over to dwell in the land of
Ishmael and the land of Nephi, and did join themselves to the
people of God, who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi.
Alma 25:Verse 14
14 And they did also bury their weapons of war,
according as their brethren had, and they began to be a righteous
people; and they did walk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe
to keep his commandments and his statutes.
Alma 25:Verse 15
15 Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was
expedient that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was
not all fulfilled. But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did
look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of
Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep
those outward performances until the time that he should be
revealed unto them.
Alma 25:Verse 16
16 Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the
law of Moses; but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their
faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith,
unto eternal salvation, relying upon the spirit of prophecy, which
spake of those things to come.
Alma 25:Verse 17
17 And now behold, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and
Himni, and their brethren did rejoice exceedingly, for the success
which they had had among the Lamanites, seeing that the Lord had
granted unto them according to their prayers, and that he had also
verified his word unto them in every particular.
Chapter 26
Alma 26:Verse 1
1 AND now, these are the words of Ammon to his
brethren, which say thus: My brothers and my brethren, behold I say
unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have
supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would
have granted unto us such great blessings?
Alma 26:Verse 2
2 And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed
upon us? Can ye tell?
Alma 26:Verse 3
3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the
Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but
behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light
of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us,
that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring
about this great work.
Alma 26:Verse 4
4 Behold, thousands of them do rejoice, and have been
brought into the fold of God.
Alma 26:Verse 5
5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for
ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all
the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves!
And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not
wasted.
Alma 26:Verse 6
6 Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at
the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the
whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered
together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them;
yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever
the enemy listeth to carry them.
Alma 26:Verse 7
7 But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the
harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last
day.
Alma 26:Verse 8
8 Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his
praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work
righteousness forever.
Alma 26:Verse 9
9 For if we had not come up out of the land of
Zarahemla, these our dearly beloved brethren, who have so dearly
beloved us, would still have been racked with hatred against us,
yea, and they would also have been strangers to God.
Alma 26:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that when Ammon had said these
words, his brother Aaron rebuked him, saying: Ammon, I fear that
thy joy doth carry thee away unto boasting.
Alma 26:Verse 11
11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own
strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my
heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
Alma 26:Verse 12
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I
am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of
my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many
mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will
praise his name forever.
Alma 26:Verse 13
13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he
loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing
redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is
in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?
Alma 26:Verse 14
14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is
the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of
hell.
Alma 26:Verse 15
15 Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting
darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his
everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are
encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we
have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and
marvelous work.
Alma 26:Verse 16
16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the
Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will
praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord?
Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and
of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say
unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.
Alma 26:Verse 17
17 Who could have supposed that our God would have been
so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and
polluted state?
Alma 26:Verse 18
18 Behold, we went forth even in wrath, with mighty
threatenings to destroy his church.
Alma 26:Verse 19
19 Oh then, why did he not consign us to an awful
destruction, yea, why did he not let the sword of his justice fall
upon us, and doom us to eternal despair?
Alma 26:Verse 20
20 Oh, my soul, almost as it were, fleeth at the
thought. Behold, he did not exercise his justice upon us, but in
his great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death
and misery, even to the salvation of our souls.
Alma 26:Verse 21
21 And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is
there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that
knoweth these things, save it be the penitent.
Alma 26:Verse 22
22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and
bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without
ceasing--unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea,
unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been
revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands
of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring
these our brethren to repentance.
Alma 26:Verse 23
23 Now do ye remember, my brethren, that we said unto
our brethren in the land of Zarahemla, we go up to the land of
Nephi, to preach unto our brethren, the Lamanites, and they laughed
us to scorn?
Alma 26:Verse 24
24 For they said unto us: Do ye suppose that ye can
bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth? Do ye suppose
that ye can convince the Lamanites of the incorrectness of the
traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are;
whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have been
spent in the grossest iniquity; whose ways have been the ways of a
transgressor from the beginning? Now my brethren, ye remember that
this was their language.
Alma 26:Verse 25
25 And moreover they did say: Let us take up arms
against them, that we destroy them and their iniquity out of the
land, lest they overrun us and destroy us.
Alma 26:Verse 26
26 But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the
wilderness not with the intent to destroy our brethren, but with
the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their
souls.
Alma 26:Verse 27
27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were
about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go
amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine
afflictions, and I will give unto you success.
Alma 26:Verse 28
28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst
them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have
suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to
house, relying upon the mercies of the world--not upon the mercies
of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.
Alma 26:Verse 29
29 And we have entered into their houses and taught
them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have
taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their
temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast
out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we
have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast
into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been
delivered again.
Alma 26:Verse 30
30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and
all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul;
and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be
the means of saving some.
Alma 26:Verse 31
31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of
our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many;
yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love
towards their brethren and also towards us.
Alma 26:Verse 32
32 For behold, they had rather sacrifice their lives
than even to take the life of their enemy; and they have buried
their weapons of war deep in the earth, because of their love
towards their brethren.
Alma 26:Verse 33
33 And now behold I say unto you, has there been so
great love in all the land? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, there has
not, even among the Nephites.
Alma 26:Verse 34
34 For behold, they would take up arms against their
brethren; they would not suffer themselves to be slain. But behold
how many of these have laid down their lives; and we know that they
have gone to their God, because of their love and of their hatred
to sin.
Alma 26:Verse 35
35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto
you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as
we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even
unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all
understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful
Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on
his name.
Alma 26:Verse 36
36 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for
this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my
redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God,
who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree
of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea,
I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us,
wanderers in a strange land.
Alma 26:Verse 37
37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every
people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his
people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is
my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto
my God forever. Amen.
Chapter 27
Alma 27:Verse 1
1 NOW it came to pass that when those Lamanites who had
gone to war against the Nephites had found, after their many
struggles to destroy them, that it was in vain to seek their
destruction, they returned again to the land of Nephi.
Alma 27:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that the Amalekites, because of
their loss, were exceedingly angry. And when they saw that they
could not seek revenge from the Nephites, they began to stir up the
people in anger against their brethren, the people of
Anti-Nephi-Lehi; therefore they began again to destroy them.
Alma 27:Verse 3
3 Now this people again refused to take their arms, and
they suffered themselves to be slain according to the desires of
their enemies.
Alma 27:Verse 4
4 Now when Ammon and his brethren saw this work of
destruction among those whom they so dearly beloved, and among
those who had so dearly beloved them--for they were treated as
though they were angels sent from God to save them from everlasting
destruction--therefore, when Ammon and his brethren saw this great
work of destruction, they were moved with compassion, and they said
unto the king:
Alma 27:Verse 5
5 Let us gather together this people of the Lord, and
let us go down to the land of Zarahemla to our brethren the
Nephites, and flee out of the hands of our enemies, that we be not
destroyed.
Alma 27:Verse 6
6 But the king said unto them: Behold, the Nephites
will destroy us, because of the many murders and sins we have
committed against them.
Alma 27:Verse 7
7 And Ammon said: I will go and inquire of the Lord,
and if he say unto us, go down unto our brethren, will ye go?
Alma 27:Verse 8
8 And the king said unto him: Yea, if the Lord saith
unto us go, we will go down unto our brethren, and we will be their
slaves until we repair unto them the many murders and sins which we
have committed against them.
Alma 27:Verse 9
9 But Ammon said unto him: It is against the law of our
brethren, which was established by my father, that there should be
any slaves among them; therefore let us go down and rely upon the
mercies of our brethren.
Alma 27:Verse 10
10 But the king said unto him: Inquire of the Lord, and
if he saith unto us go, we will go; otherwise we will perish in the
land.
Alma 27:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that Ammon went and inquired of
the Lord, and the Lord said unto him:
Alma 27:Verse 12
12 Get this people out of this land, that they perish
not; for Satan has great hold on the hearts of the Amalekites, who
do stir up the Lamanites to anger against their brethren to slay
them; therefore get thee out of this land; and blessed are this
people in this generation, for I will preserve them.
Alma 27:Verse 13
13 And now it came to pass that Ammon went and told the
king all the words which the Lord had said unto him.
Alma 27:Verse 14
14 And they gathered together all their people, yea,
all the people of the Lord, and did gather together all their
flocks and herds, and departed out of the land, and came into the
wilderness which divided the land of Nephi from the land of
Zarahemla, and came over near the borders of the land.
Alma 27:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that Ammon said unto them:
Behold, I and my brethren will go forth into the land of Zarahemla,
and ye shall remain here until we return; and we will try the
hearts of our brethren, whether they will that ye shall come into
their land.
Alma 27:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that as Ammon was going forth
into the land, that he and his brethren met Alma, over in the place
of which has been spoken; and behold, this was a joyful
meeting.
Alma 27:Verse 17
17 Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was
full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the
exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth.
Alma 27:Verse 18
18 Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy
which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble
seeker of happiness.
Alma 27:Verse 19
19 Now the joy of Alma in meeting his brethren was
truly great, and also the joy of Aaron, of Omner, and Himni; but
behold their joy was not that to exceed their strength.
Alma 27:Verse 20
20 And now it came to pass that Alma conducted his
brethren back to the land of Zarahemla; even to his own house. And
they went and told the chief judge all the things that had happened
unto them in the land of Nephi, among their brethren, the
Lamanites.
Alma 27:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that the chief judge sent a
proclamation throughout all the land, desiring the voice of the
people concerning the admitting their brethren, who were the people
of Anti-Nephi-Lehi.
Alma 27:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that the voice of the people
came, saying: Behold, we will give up the land of Jershon, which is
on the east by the sea, which joins the land Bountiful, which is on
the south of the land Bountiful; and this land Jershon is the land
which we will give unto our brethren for an inheritance.
Alma 27:Verse 23
23 And behold, we will set our armies between the land
Jershon and the land Nephi, that we may protect our brethren in the
land Jershon; and this we do for our brethren, on account of their
fear to take up arms against their brethren lest they should commit
sin; and this their great fear came because of their sore
repentance which they had, on account of their many murders and
their awful wickedness.
Alma 27:Verse 24
24 And now behold, this will we do unto our brethren,
that they may inherit the land Jershon; and we will guard them from
their enemies with our armies, on condition that they will give us
a portion of their substance to assist us that we may maintain our
armies.
Alma 27:Verse 25
25 Now, it came to pass that when Ammon had heard this,
he returned to the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, and also Alma with
him, into the wilderness, where they had pitched their tents, and
made known unto them all these things. And Alma also related unto
them his conversion, with Ammon and Aaron, and his brethren.
Alma 27:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that it did cause great joy
among them. And they went down into the land of Jershon, and took
possession of the land of Jershon; and they were called by the
Nephites the people of Ammon; therefore they were distinguished by
that name ever after.
Alma 27:Verse 27
27 And they were among the people of Nephi, and also
numbered among the people who were of the church of God. And they
were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also
towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all
things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the
end.
Alma 27:Verse 28
28 And they did look upon shedding the blood of their
brethren with the greatest abhorrence; and they never could be
prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they
never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope
and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was
swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it.
Alma 27:Verse 29
29 Therefore, they would suffer death in the most
aggravating and distressing manner which could be inflicted by
their brethren, before they would take the sword or cimeter to
smite them.
Alma 27:Verse 30
30 And thus they were a zealous and beloved people, a
highly favored people of the Lord.
Chapter 28
Alma 28:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that after the people of
Ammon were established in the land of Jershon, and a church also
established in the land of Jershon, and the armies of the Nephites
were set round about the land of Jershon, yea, in all the borders
round about the land of Zarahemla; behold the armies of the
Lamanites had followed their brethren into the wilderness.
Alma 28:Verse 2
2 And thus there was a tremendous battle; yea, even
such an one as never had been known among all the people in the
land from the time Lehi left Jerusalem; yea, and tens of thousands
of the Lamanites were slain and scattered abroad.
Alma 28:Verse 3
3 Yea, and also there was a tremendous slaughter among
the people of Nephi; nevertheless, the Lamanites were driven and
scattered, and the people of Nephi returned again to their
land.
Alma 28:Verse 4
4 And now this was a time that there was a great
mourning and lamentation heard throughout all the land, among all
the people of Nephi--
Alma 28:Verse 5
5 Yea, the cry of widows mourning for their husbands,
and also of fathers mourning for their sons, and the daughter for
the brother, yea, the brother for the father; and thus the cry of
mourning was heard among all of them, mourning for their kindred
who had been slain.
Alma 28:Verse 6
6 And now surely this was a sorrowful day; yea, a time
of solemnity, and a time of much fasting and prayer.
Alma 28:Verse 7
7 And thus endeth the fifteenth year of the reign of
the judges over the people of Nephi;
Alma 28:Verse 8
8 And this is the account of Ammon and his brethren,
their journeyings in the land of Nephi, their sufferings in the
land, their sorrows, and their afflictions, and their
incomprehensible joy, and the reception and safety of the brethren
in the land of Jershon. And now may the Lord, the Redeemer of all
men, bless their souls forever.
Alma 28:Verse 9
9 And this is the account of the wars and contentions
among the Nephites, and also the wars between the Nephites and the
Lamanites; and the fifteenth year of the reign of the judges is
ended.
Alma 28:Verse 10
10 And from the first year to the fifteenth has brought
to pass the destruction of many thousand lives; yea, it has brought
to pass an awful scene of bloodshed.
Alma 28:Verse 11
11 And the bodies of many thousands are laid low in the
earth, while the bodies of many thousands are moldering in heaps
upon the face of the earth; yea, and many thousands are mourning
for the loss of their kindred, because they have reason to fear,
according to the promises of the Lord, that they are consigned to a
state of endless wo.
Alma 28:Verse 12
12 While many thousands of others truly mourn for the
loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and
even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are
raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of
never-ending happiness.
Alma 28:Verse 13
13 And thus we see how great the inequality of man is
because of sin and transgression, and the power of the devil, which
comes by the cunning plans which he hath devised to ensnare the
hearts of men.
Alma 28:Verse 14
14 And thus we see the great call of diligence of men
to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great
reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing--sorrow because of death
and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ
unto life.
Chapter 29
Alma 29:Verse 1
1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of
mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God,
with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every
people!
Alma 29:Verse 2
2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the
voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they
should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more
sorrow upon all the face of the earth.
Alma 29:Verse 3
3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I
ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted
unto me.
Alma 29:Verse 4
4 I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm
decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men
according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life;
yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them
decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether
they be unto salvation or unto destruction.
Alma 29:Verse 5
5 Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before
all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he
that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his
desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or
remorse of conscience.
Alma 29:Verse 6
6 Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I
desire more than to perform the work to which I have been
called?
Alma 29:Verse 7
7 Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I
could speak unto all the ends of the earth?
Alma 29:Verse 8
8 For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of
their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all
that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the
Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and
true.
Alma 29:Verse 9
9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I
glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which
the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps
I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to
repentance; and this is my joy.
Alma 29:Verse 10
10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly
penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled
with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea,
even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his
merciful arm which he extended towards me.
Alma 29:Verse 11
11 Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my
fathers; for I surely do know that the Lord did deliver them out of
bondage, and by this did establish his church; yea, the Lord God,
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did
deliver them out of bondage.
Alma 29:Verse 12
12 Yea, I have always remembered the captivity of my
fathers; and that same God who delivered them out of the hands of
the Egyptians did deliver them out of bondage.
Alma 29:Verse 13
13 Yea, and that same God did establish his church
among them; yea, and that same God hath called me by a holy
calling, to preach the word unto this people, and hath given me
much success, in the which my joy is full.
Alma 29:Verse 14
14 But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy
is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been
up to the land of Nephi.
Alma 29:Verse 15
15 Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have
brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their
reward!
Alma 29:Verse 16
16 Now, when I think of the success of these my
brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from
the body, as it were, so great is my joy.
Alma 29:Verse 17
17 And now may God grant unto these, my brethren, that
they may sit down in the kingdom of God; yea, and also all those
who are the fruit of their labors that they may go no more out, but
that they may praise him forever. And may God grant that it may be
done according to my words, even as I have spoken. Amen.
Chapter 30
Alma 30:Verse 1
1 Behold, now it came to pass that after the people of
Ammon were established in the land of Jershon, yea, and also after
the Lamanites were driven out of the land, and their dead were
buried by the people of the land--
Alma 30:Verse 2
2 Now their dead were not numbered because of the
greatness of their numbers; neither were the dead of the Nephites
numbered--but it came to pass after they had buried their dead, and
also after the days of fasting, and mourning, and prayer, (and it
was in the sixteenth year of the reign of the judges over the
people of Nephi) there began to be continual peace throughout all
the land.
Alma 30:Verse 3
3 Yea, and the people did observe to keep the
commandments of the Lord; and they were strict in observing the
ordinances of God, according to the law of Moses; for they were
taught to keep the law of Moses until it should be fulfilled.
Alma 30:Verse 4
4 And thus the people did have no disturbance in all
the sixteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi.
Alma 30:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the
seventeenth year of the reign of the judges, there was continual
peace.
Alma 30:Verse 6
6 But it came to pass in the latter end of the
seventeenth year, there came a man into the land of Zarahemla, and
he was Anti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people against
the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets, concerning
the coming of Christ.
Alma 30:Verse 7
7 Now there was no law against a man's belief; for it
was strictly contrary to the commands of God that there should be a
law which should bring men on to unequal grounds.
Alma 30:Verse 8
8 For thus saith the scripture: Choose ye this day,
whom ye will serve.
Alma 30:Verse 9
9 Now if a man desired to serve God, it was his
privilege; or rather, if he believed in God it was his privilege to
serve him; but if he did not believe in him there was no law to
punish him.
Alma 30:Verse 10
10 But if he murdered he was punished unto death; and
if he robbed he was also punished; and if he stole he was also
punished; and if he committed adultery he was also punished; yea,
for all this wickedness they were punished.
Alma 30:Verse 11
11 For there was a law that men should be judged
according to their crimes. Nevertheless, there was no law against a
man's belief; therefore, a man was punished only for the crimes
which he had done; therefore all men were on equal grounds.
Alma 30:Verse 12
12 And this Anti-Christ, whose name was Korihor, (and
the law could have no hold upon him) began to preach unto the
people that there should be no Christ. And after this manner did he
preach, saying:
Alma 30:Verse 13
13 O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain
hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye
look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to
come.
Alma 30:Verse 14
14 Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which
ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish
traditions of your fathers.
Alma 30:Verse 15
15 How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot
know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that
there shall be a Christ.
Alma 30:Verse 16
16 Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of
your sins. But behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind; and
this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of
your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are
not so.
Alma 30:Verse 17
17 And many more such things did he say unto them,
telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of
men, but every man fared in this life according to the management
of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his
genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and
whatsoever a man did was no crime.
Alma 30:Verse 18
18 And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the
hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their
wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit
whoredoms--telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end
thereof.
Alma 30:Verse 19
19 Now this man went over to the land of Jershon also,
to preach these things among the people of Ammon, who were once the
people of the Lamanites.
Alma 30:Verse 20
20 But behold they were more wise than many of the
Nephites; for they took him, and bound him, and carried him before
Ammon, who was a high priest over that people.
Alma 30:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that he caused that he should be
carried out of the land. And he came over into the land of Gideon,
and began to preach unto them also; and here he did not have much
success, for he was taken and bound and carried before the high
priest, and also the chief judge over the land.
Alma 30:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that the high priest said unto
him: Why do ye go about perverting the ways of the Lord? Why do ye
teach this people that there shall be no Christ, to interrupt their
rejoicings? Why do ye speak against all the prophecies of the holy
prophets?
Alma 30:Verse 23
23 Now the high priest's name was Giddonah. And Korihor
said unto him: Because I do not teach the foolish traditions of
your fathers, and because I do not teach this people to bind
themselves down under the foolish ordinances and performances which
are laid down by ancient priests, to usurp power and authority over
them, to keep them in ignorance, that they may not lift up their
heads, but be brought down according to thy words.
Alma 30:Verse 24
24 Ye say that this people is a free people. Behold, I
say they are in bondage. Ye say that those ancient prophecies are
true. Behold, I say that ye do not know that they are true.
Alma 30:Verse 25
25 Ye say that this people is a guilty and a fallen
people, because of the transgression of a parent. Behold, I say
that a child is not guilty because of its parents.
Alma 30:Verse 26
26 And ye also say that Christ shall come. But behold,
I say that ye do not know that there shall be a Christ. And ye say
also that he shall be slain for the sins of the world--
Alma 30:Verse 27
27 And thus ye lead away this people after the foolish
traditions of your fathers, and according to your own desires; and
ye keep them down, even as it were in bondage, that ye may glut
yourselves with the labors of their hands, that they durst not look
up with boldness, and that they durst not enjoy their rights and
privileges.
Alma 30:Verse 28
28 Yea, they durst not make use of that which is their
own lest they should offend their priests, who do yoke them
according to their desires, and have brought them to believe, by
their traditions and their dreams and their whims and their visions
and their pretended mysteries, that they should, if they did not do
according to their words, offend some unknown being, who they say
is God--a being who never has been seen or known, who never was nor
ever will be.
Alma 30:Verse 29
29 Now when the high priest and the chief judge saw the
hardness of his heart, yea, when they saw that he would revile even
against God, they would not make any reply to his words; but they
caused that he should be bound; and they delivered him up into the
hands of the officers, and sent him to the land of Zarahemla, that
he might be brought before Alma, and the chief judge who was
governor over all the land.
Alma 30:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass that when he was brought before
Alma and the chief judge, he did go on in the same manner as he did
in the land of Gideon; yea, he went on to blaspheme.
Alma 30:Verse 31
31 And he did rise up in great swelling words before
Alma, and did revile against the priests and teachers, accusing
them of leading away the people after the silly traditions of their
fathers, for the sake of glutting on the labors of the
people.
Alma 30:Verse 32
32 Now Alma said unto him: Thou knowest that we do not
glut ourselves upon the labors of this people; for behold I have
labored even from the commencement of the reign of the judges until
now, with mine own hands for my support, notwithstanding my many
travels round about the land to declare the word of God unto my
people.
Alma 30:Verse 33
33 And notwithstanding the many labors which I have
performed in the church, I have never received so much as even one
senine for my labor; neither has any of my brethren, save it were
in the judgment-seat; and then we have received only according to
law for our time.
Alma 30:Verse 34
34 And now, if we do not receive anything for our
labors in the church, what doth it profit us to labor in the church
save it were to declare the truth, that we may have rejoicings in
the joy of our brethren?
Alma 30:Verse 35
35 Then why sayest thou that we preach unto this people
to get gain, when thou, of thyself, knowest that we receive no
gain? And now, believest thou that we deceive this people, that
causes such joy in their hearts?
Alma 30:Verse 36
36 And Korihor answered him, Yea.
Alma 30:Verse 37
37 And then Alma said unto him: Believest thou that
there is a God?
Alma 30:Verse 38
38 And he answered, Nay.
Alma 30:Verse 39
39 Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that
there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto
you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.
Alma 30:Verse 40
40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no God,
or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save
it be your word only.
Alma 30:Verse 41
41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that
these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony
unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou
that these things are true?
Alma 30:Verse 42
42 Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou art
possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put off the Spirit of
God that it may have no place in you; but the devil has power over
you, and he doth carry you about, working devices that he may
destroy the children of God.
Alma 30:Verse 43
43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me
a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto
me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of
thy words.
Alma 30:Verse 44
44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough;
will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye
have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy
prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things
denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are
upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the
planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a
Supreme Creator.
Alma 30:Verse 45
45 And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of
this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet will ye
deny against all these witnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny,
except ye shall show me a sign.
Alma 30:Verse 46
46 And now it came to pass that Alma said unto him:
Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea,
that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul
may be destroyed.
Alma 30:Verse 47
47 But behold, it is better that thy soul should be
lost than that thou shouldst be the means of bringing many souls
down to destruction, by thy lying and by thy flattering words;
therefore if thou shalt deny again, behold God shall smite thee,
that thou shalt become dumb, that thou shalt never open thy mouth
any more, that thou shalt not deceive this people any more.
Alma 30:Verse 48
48 Now Korihor said unto him: I do not deny the
existence of a God, but I do not believe that there is a God; and I
say also, that ye do not know that there is a God; and except ye
show me a sign, I will not believe.
Alma 30:Verse 49
49 Now Alma said unto him: This will I give unto thee
for a sign, that thou shalt be struck dumb, according to my words;
and I say, that in the name of God, ye shall be struck dumb, that
ye shall no more have utterance.
Alma 30:Verse 50
50 Now when Alma had said these words, Korihor was
struck dumb, that he could not have utterance, according to the
words of Alma.
Alma 30:Verse 51
51 And now when the chief judge saw this, he put forth
his hand and wrote unto Korihor, saying: Art thou convinced of the
power of God? In whom did ye desire that Alma should show forth his
sign? Would ye that he should afflict others, to show unto thee a
sign? Behold, he has showed unto you a sign; and now will ye
dispute more?
Alma 30:Verse 52
52 And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I
know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing
save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I
always knew that there was a God.
Alma 30:Verse 53
53 But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he
appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and
reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown
God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me
that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught
them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught
them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily
believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the
truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.
Alma 30:Verse 54
54 Now when he had said this, he besought that Alma
should pray unto God, that the curse might be taken from him.
Alma 30:Verse 55
55 But Alma said unto him: If this curse should be
taken from thee thou wouldst again lead away the hearts of this
people; therefore, it shall be unto thee even as the Lord
will.
Alma 30:Verse 56
56 And it came to pass that the curse was not taken off
of Korihor; but he was cast out, and went about from house to house
begging for his food.
Alma 30:Verse 57
57 Now the knowledge of what had happened unto Korihor
was immediately published throughout all the land; yea, the
proclamation was sent forth by the chief judge to all the people in
the land, declaring unto those who had believed in the words of
Korihor that they must speedily repent, lest the same judgments
would come unto them.
Alma 30:Verse 58
58 And it came to pass that they were all convinced of
the wickedness of Korihor; therefore they were all converted again
unto the Lord; and this put an end to the iniquity after the manner
of Korihor. And Korihor did go about from house to house, begging
food for his support.
Alma 30:Verse 59
59 And it came to pass that as he went forth among the
people, yea, among a people who had separated themselves from the
Nephites and called themselves Zoramites, being led by a man whose
name was Zoram--and as he went forth amongst them, behold, he was
run upon and trodden down, even until he was dead.
Alma 30:Verse 60
60 And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the
ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support
his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to
hell.
Chapter 31
Alma 31:Verse 1
1 NOW it came to pass that after the end of Korihor,
Alma having received tidings that the Zoramites were perverting the
ways of the Lord, and that Zoram, who was their leader, was leading
the hearts of the people to bow down to dumb idols, his heart again
began to sicken because of the iniquity of the people.
Alma 31:Verse 2
2 For it was the cause of great sorrow to Alma to know
of iniquity among his people; therefore his heart was exceedingly
sorrowful because of the separation of the Zoramites from the
Nephites.
Alma 31:Verse 3
3 Now the Zoramites had gathered themselves together in
a land which they called Antionum, which was east of the land of
Zarahemla, which lay nearly bordering upon the seashore, which was
south of the land of Jershon, which also bordered upon the
wilderness south, which wilderness was full of the Lamanites.
Alma 31:Verse 4
4 Now the Nephites greatly feared that the Zoramites
would enter into a correspondence with the Lamanites, and that it
would be the means of great loss on the part of the Nephites.
Alma 31:Verse 5
5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great
tendency to lead the people to do that which was just--yea, it had
had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the
sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them--therefore
Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of
the word of God.
Alma 31:Verse 6
6 Therefore he took Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner; and
Himni he did leave in the church in Zarahemla; but the former three
he took with him, and also Amulek and Zeezrom, who were at Melek;
and he also took two of his sons.
Alma 31:Verse 7
7 Now the eldest of his sons he took not with him, and
his name was Helaman; but the names of those whom he took with him
were Shiblon and Corianton; and these are the names of those who
went with him among the Zoramites, to preach unto them the
word.
Alma 31:Verse 8
8 Now the Zoramites were dissenters from the Nephites;
therefore they had had the word of God preached unto them.
Alma 31:Verse 9
9 But they had fallen into great errors, for they would
not observe to keep the commandments of God, and his statutes,
according to the law of Moses.
Alma 31:Verse 10
10 Neither would they observe the performances of the
church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that
they might not enter into temptation.
Alma 31:Verse 11
11 Yea, in fine, they did pervert the ways of the Lord
in very many instances; therefore, for this cause, Alma and his
brethren went into the land to preach the word unto them.
Alma 31:Verse 12
12 Now, when they had come into the land, behold, to
their astonishment they found that the Zoramites had built
synagogues, and that they did gather themselves together on one day
of the week, which day they did call the day of the Lord; and they
did worship after a manner which Alma and his brethren had never
beheld;
Alma 31:Verse 13
13 For they had a place built up in the center of their
synagogue, a place for standing, which was high above the head; and
the top thereof would only admit one person.
Alma 31:Verse 14
14 Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go
forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth his hands
towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice, saying:
Alma 31:Verse 15
15 Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God, and we
believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that
thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.
Alma 31:Verse 16
16 Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us
from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our
brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of
their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy
holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there
shall be no Christ.
Alma 31:Verse 17
17 But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever;
and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around
us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which
holiness, O God, we thank thee; and we also thank thee that thou
hast elected us, that we may not be led away after the foolish
traditions of our brethren, which doth bind them down to a belief
of Christ, which doth lead their hearts to wander far from thee,
our God.
Alma 31:Verse 18
18 And again we thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen
and a holy people. Amen.
Alma 31:Verse 19
19 Now it came to pass that after Alma and his brethren
and his sons had heard these prayers, they were astonished beyond
all measure.
Alma 31:Verse 20
20 For behold, every man did go forth and offer up
these same prayers.
Alma 31:Verse 21
21 Now the place was called by them Rameumptom, which,
being interpreted, is the holy stand.
Alma 31:Verse 22
22 Now, from this stand they did offer up, every man,
the selfsame prayer unto God, thanking their God that they were
chosen of him, and that he did not lead them away after the
tradition of their brethren, and that their hearts were not stolen
away to believe in things to come, which they knew nothing
about.
Alma 31:Verse 23
23 Now, after the people had all offered up thanks
after this manner, they returned to their homes, never speaking of
their God again until they had assembled themselves together again
to the holy stand, to offer up thanks after their manner.
Alma 31:Verse 24
24 Now when Alma saw this his heart was grieved; for he
saw that they were a wicked and a perverse people; yea, he saw that
their hearts were set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon all
manner of fine goods.
Alma 31:Verse 25
25 Yea, and he also saw that their hearts were lifted
up unto great boasting, in their pride.
Alma 31:Verse 26
26 And he lifted up his voice to heaven, and cried,
saying: O, how long, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that thy servants
shall dwell here below in the flesh, to behold such gross
wickedness among the children of men?
Alma 31:Verse 27
27 Behold, O God, they cry unto thee, and yet their
hearts are swallowed up in their pride. Behold, O God, they cry
unto thee with their mouths, while they are puffed up, even to
greatness, with the vain things of the world.
Alma 31:Verse 28
28 Behold, O my God, their costly apparel, and their
ringlets, and their bracelets, and their ornaments of gold, and all
their precious things which they are ornamented with; and behold,
their hearts are set upon them, and yet they cry unto thee and
say--We thank thee, O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee,
while others shall perish.
Alma 31:Verse 29
29 Yea, and they say that thou hast made it known unto
them that there shall be no Christ.
Alma 31:Verse 30
30 O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such
wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people? O Lord, wilt
thou give me strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities. For I
am infirm, and such wickedness among this people doth pain my
soul.
Alma 31:Verse 31
31 O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou
comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I
may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these
afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of
this people.
Alma 31:Verse 32
32 O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me
success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me--yea, Ammon,
and Aaron, and Omner, and also Amulek and Zeezrom and also my two
sons--yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wilt thou
comfort their souls in Christ.
Alma 31:Verse 33
33 Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have
strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall come
upon them because of the iniquities of this people.
Alma 31:Verse 34
34 O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have
success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.
Alma 31:Verse 35
35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many
of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power
and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto
thee.
Alma 31:Verse 36
36 Now it came to pass that when Alma had said these
words, that he clapped his hands upon all them who were with him.
And behold, as he clapped his hands upon them, they were filled
with the Holy Spirit.
Alma 31:Verse 37
37 And after that they did separate themselves one from
another, taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or
what they should drink, or what they should put on.
Alma 31:Verse 38
38 And the Lord provided for them that they should
hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them
strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it
were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to
the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith.
Chapter 32
Alma 32:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that they did go forth, and began
to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their
synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach
the word in their streets.
Alma 32:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that after much labor among them,
they began to have success among the poor class of people; for
behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the
coarseness of their apparel--
Alma 32:Verse 3
3 Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their
synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore
they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross;
therefore they were poor as to things of the world; and also they
were poor in heart.
Alma 32:Verse 4
4 Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the
people upon the hill Onidah, there came a great multitude unto him,
who were those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were poor in
heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the
world.
Alma 32:Verse 5
5 And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the
foremost among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my
brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their
poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have
cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to
build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our
exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and
behold, what shall we do?
Alma 32:Verse 6
6 And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about,
his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for
he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that
they were in a preparation to hear the word.
Alma 32:Verse 7
7 Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude;
but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he
beheld, who were truly penitent, and said unto them:
Alma 32:Verse 8
8 I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so,
blessed are ye.
Alma 32:Verse 9
9 Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?--for
we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our
God.
Alma 32:Verse 10
10 Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot
worship God save it be in your synagogues only?
Alma 32:Verse 11
11 And moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye
must not worship God only once in a week?
Alma 32:Verse 12
12 I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of
your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn
wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is
because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren
because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a
lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be
humble.
Alma 32:Verse 13
13 And now, because ye are compelled to be humble
blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be
humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth
shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end
the same shall be saved.
Alma 32:Verse 14
14 And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were
compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they
are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the
word?
Alma 32:Verse 15
15 Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth
of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be
blessed--yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be
humble because of their exceeding poverty.
Alma 32:Verse 16
16 Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves
without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words,
blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized
without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know
the word, or even compelled to know, before they will
believe.
Alma 32:Verse 17
17 Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show
unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we
shall believe.
Alma 32:Verse 18
18 Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you,
Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for
he knoweth it.
Alma 32:Verse 19
19 And now, how much more cursed is he that knoweth the
will of God and doeth it not, than he that only believeth, or only
hath cause to believe, and falleth into transgression?
Alma 32:Verse 20
20 Now of this thing ye must judge. Behold, I say unto
you, that it is on the one hand even as it is on the other; and it
shall be unto every man according to his work.
Alma 32:Verse 21
21 And now as I said concerning faith--faith is not to
have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye
hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
Alma 32:Verse 22
22 And now, behold, I say unto you, and I would that ye
should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his
name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should
believe, yea, even on his word.
Alma 32:Verse 23
23 And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men,
yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little
children do have words given unto them many times, which confound
the wise and the learned.
Alma 32:Verse 24
24 And now, my beloved brethren, as ye have desired to
know of me what ye shall do because ye are afflicted and cast
out--now I do not desire that ye should suppose that I mean to
judge you only according to that which is true--
Alma 32:Verse 25
25 For I do not mean that ye all of you have been
compelled to humble yourselves; for I verily believe that there are
some among you who would humble themselves, let them be in
whatsoever circumstances they might.
Alma 32:Verse 26
26 Now, as I said concerning faith--that it was not a
perfect knowledge--even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of
their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a
perfect knowledge.
Alma 32:Verse 27
27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your
faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a
particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to
believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a
manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
Alma 32:Verse 28
28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if
ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if
it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your
unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it
will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these
swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves--It must
needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it
beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my
understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
Alma 32:Verse 29
29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I
say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect
knowledge.
Alma 32:Verse 30
30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and
beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good;
for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And
now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will
strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good
seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
Alma 32:Verse 31
31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good
seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its
own likeness.
Alma 32:Verse 32
32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it
groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast
away.
Alma 32:Verse 33
33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the
experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth,
and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is
good.
Alma 32:Verse 34
34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea,
your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant;
and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled
your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your
understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth
begin to expand.
Alma 32:Verse 35
35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea,
because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it
is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now
behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge
perfect?
Alma 32:Verse 36
36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay
aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant
the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was
good.
Alma 32:Verse 37
37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will
say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that
it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if
ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and
bring forth fruit.
Alma 32:Verse 38
38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for
its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat
of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it
withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.
Alma 32:Verse 39
39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good,
neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but
it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the
tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
Alma 32:Verse 40
40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking
forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never
pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.
Alma 32:Verse 41
41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the
tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence,
and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall
take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto
everlasting life.
Alma 32:Verse 42
42 And because of your diligence and your faith and
your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root
in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which
is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which
is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is
pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled,
that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
Alma 32:Verse 43
43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your
faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering,
waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.
Chapter 33
Alma 33:Verse 1
1 NOW after Alma had spoken these words, they sent
forth unto him desiring to know whether they should believe in one
God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, or
how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken,
which he said must be planted in their hearts; or in what manner
they should begin to exercise their faith.
Alma 33:Verse 2
2 And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye
could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your
synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye
cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the
scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not
understand them.
Alma 33:Verse 3
3 Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet
of old, has said concerning prayer or worship?
Alma 33:Verse 4
4 For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast
heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast
merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and
thou didst turn them to me.
Alma 33:Verse 5
5 Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did
cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer,
and thou didst hear me.
Alma 33:Verse 6
6 And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou
didst hear me in my prayer.
Alma 33:Verse 7
7 And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and
prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me.
Alma 33:Verse 8
8 Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they
cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt
hear them.
Alma 33:Verse 9
9 Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and
heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations.
Alma 33:Verse 10
10 Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been
cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst
hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst
visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction.
Alma 33:Verse 11
11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions
and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been
thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine
afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy
judgments away from me, because of thy Son.
Alma 33:Verse 12
12 And now Alma said unto them: Do ye believe those
scriptures which have been written by them of old?
Alma 33:Verse 13
13 Behold, if ye do, ye must believe what Zenos said;
for, behold he said: Thou hast turned away thy judgments because of
thy Son.
Alma 33:Verse 14
14 Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read
the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of
God?
Alma 33:Verse 15
15 For it is not written that Zenos alone spake of
these things, but Zenock also spake of these things--
Alma 33:Verse 16
16 For behold, he said: Thou art angry, O Lord, with
this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which
thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son.
Alma 33:Verse 17
17 And now, my brethren, ye see that a second prophet
of old has testified of the Son of God, and because the people
would not understand his words they stoned him to death.
Alma 33:Verse 18
18 But behold, this is not all; these are not the only
ones who have spoken concerning the Son of God.
Alma 33:Verse 19
19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a
type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look
upon it might live. And many did look and live.
Alma 33:Verse 20
20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and
this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many
who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they
perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did
not believe that it would heal them.
Alma 33:Verse 21
21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely
casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not
behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief,
and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye
might perish?
Alma 33:Verse 22
22 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then
cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that
he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die
to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the
dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men
shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day,
according to their works.
Alma 33:Verse 23
23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant
this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so
nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree,
springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant
unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his
Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen.
Chapter 34
Alma 34:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that after Alma had spoken
these words unto them he sat down upon the ground, and Amulek arose
and began to teach them, saying:
Alma 34:Verse 2
2 My brethren, I think that it is impossible that ye
should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning
the coming of Christ, who is taught by us to be the Son of God;
yea, I know that these things were taught unto you bountifully
before your dissension from among us.
Alma 34:Verse 3
3 And as ye have desired of my beloved brother that he
should make known unto you what ye should do, because of your
afflictions; and he hath spoken somewhat unto you to prepare your
minds; yea, and he hath exhorted you unto faith and to
patience--
Alma 34:Verse 4
4 Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to
plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of
its goodness.
Alma 34:Verse 5
5 And we have beheld that the great question which is
in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether
there shall be no Christ.
Alma 34:Verse 6
6 And ye also beheld that my brother has proved unto
you, in many instances, that the word is in Christ unto
salvation.
Alma 34:Verse 7
7 My brother has called upon the words of Zenos, that
redemption cometh through the Son of God, and also upon the words
of Zenock; and also he has appealed unto Moses, to prove that these
things are true.
Alma 34:Verse 8
8 And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself
that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know
that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him
the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the
sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
Alma 34:Verse 9
9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made;
for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an
atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea,
all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish
except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be
made.
Alma 34:Verse 10
10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and
last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast,
neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human
sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
Alma 34:Verse 11
11 Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own
blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man
murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his
brother? I say unto you, Nay.
Alma 34:Verse 12
12 But the law requireth the life of him who hath
murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an
infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the
world.
Alma 34:Verse 13
13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a
great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is
expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then
shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all
fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed
away.
Alma 34:Verse 14
14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law,
every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that
great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and
eternal.
Alma 34:Verse 15
15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who
shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last
sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth
justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith
unto repentance.
Alma 34:Verse 16
16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice,
and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises
no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands
of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance
is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.
Alma 34:Verse 17
17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that
ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin
to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon
you;
Alma 34:Verse 18
18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to
save.
Alma 34:Verse 19
19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto
him.
Alma 34:Verse 20
20 Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over
all your flocks.
Alma 34:Verse 21
21 Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your
household, both morning, mid-day, and evening.
Alma 34:Verse 22
22 Yea, cry unto him against the power of your
enemies.
Alma 34:Verse 23
23 Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy
to all righteousness.
Alma 34:Verse 24
24 Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye
may prosper in them.
Alma 34:Verse 25
25 Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may
increase.
Alma 34:Verse 26
26 But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in
your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
Alma 34:Verse 27
27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your
hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your
welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around
you.
Alma 34:Verse 28
28 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you,
do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these
things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the
sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to
those who stand in need--I say unto you, if ye do not any of these
things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and
ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith.
Alma 34:Verse 29
29 Therefore, if ye do not remember to be charitable,
ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no
worth) and is trodden under foot of men.
Alma 34:Verse 30
30 And now, my brethren, I would that, after ye have
received so many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify
of these things, ye come forth and bring fruit unto
repentance.
Alma 34:Verse 31
31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not
your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of
your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not
your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be
brought about unto you.
Alma 34:Verse 32
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare
to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to
perform their labors.
Alma 34:Verse 33
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had
so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not
procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after
this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity,
behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then
cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor
performed.
Alma 34:Verse 34
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful
crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye
cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your
bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit
will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
Alma 34:Verse 35
35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of
your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected
to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore,
the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place
in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the
final state of the wicked.
Alma 34:Verse 36
36 And this I know, because the Lord hath said he
dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous
doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall
sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments
should be made white through the blood of the Lamb.
Alma 34:Verse 37
37 And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye
should remember these things, and that ye should work out your
salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the
coming of Christ;
Alma 34:Verse 38
38 That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but
that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye
humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever
place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in
thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he
doth bestow upon you.
Alma 34:Verse 39
39 Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be
watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by
the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that
ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he
rewardeth you no good thing.
Alma 34:Verse 40
40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to
have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions;
that ye do not revile against those who do cast you out because of
your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto
them;
Alma 34:Verse 41
41 But that ye have patience, and bear with those
afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all
your afflictions.
Chapter 35
Alma 35:Verse 1
1 NOW it came to pass that after Amulek had made an end
of these words, they withdrew themselves from the multitude and
came over into the land of Jershon.
Alma 35:Verse 2
2 Yea, and the rest of the brethren, after they had
preached the word unto the Zoramites, also came over into the land
of Jershon.
Alma 35:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that after the more popular part
of the Zoramites had consulted together concerning the words which
had been preached unto them, they were angry because of the word,
for it did destroy their craft; therefore they would not hearken
unto the words.
Alma 35:Verse 4
4 And they sent and gathered together throughout all
the land all the people, and consulted with them concerning the
words which had been spoken.
Alma 35:Verse 5
5 Now their rulers and their priests and their teachers
did not let the people know concerning their desires; therefore
they found out privily the minds of all the people.
Alma 35:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that after they had found out the
minds of all the people, those who were in favor of the words which
had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of the land;
and they were many; and they came over also into the land of
Jershon.
Alma 35:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that Alma and his brethren did
minister unto them.
Alma 35:Verse 8
8 Now the people of the Zoramites were angry with the
people of Ammon who were in Jershon, and the chief ruler of the
Zoramites, being a very wicked man, sent over unto the people of
Ammon desiring them that they should cast out of their land all
those who came over from them into their land.
Alma 35:Verse 9
9 And he breathed out many threatenings against them.
And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words; therefore
they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of
the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them,
and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their
inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their
wants.
Alma 35:Verse 10
10 Now this did stir up the Zoramites to anger against
the people of Ammon, and they began to mix with the Lamanites and
to stir them up also to anger against them.
Alma 35:Verse 11
11 And thus the Zoramites and the Lamanites began to
make preparations for war against the people of Ammon, and also
against the Nephites.
Alma 35:Verse 12
12 And thus ended the seventeenth year of the reign of
the judges over the people of Nephi.
Alma 35:Verse 13
13 And the people of Ammon departed out of the land of
Jershon, and came over into the land of Melek, and gave place in
the land of Jershon for the armies of the Nephites, that they might
contend with the armies of the Lamanites and the armies of the
Zoramites; and thus commenced a war betwixt the Lamanites and the
Nephites, in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges; and an
account shall be given of their wars hereafter.
Alma 35:Verse 14
14 And Alma, and Ammon, and their brethren, and also
the two sons of Alma returned to the land of Zarahemla, after
having been instruments in the hands of God of bringing many of the
Zoramites to repentance; and as many as were brought to repentance
were driven out of their land; but they have lands for their
inheritance in the land of Jershon, and they have taken up arms to
defend themselves, and their wives, and children, and their
lands.
Alma 35:Verse 15
15 Now Alma, being grieved for the iniquity of his
people, yea for the wars, and the bloodsheds, and the contentions
which were among them; and having been to declare the word, or sent
to declare the word, among all the people in every city; and seeing
that the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and that they
began to be offended because of the strictness of the word, his
heart was exceedingly sorrowful.
Alma 35:Verse 16
16 Therefore, he caused that his sons should be
gathered together, that he might give unto them every one his
charge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto
righteousness. And we have an account of his commandments, which he
gave unto them according to his own record.
Chapter 36
Alma 36:Verse 1
1 MY son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you,
that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall
prosper in the land.
Alma 36:Verse 2
2 I would that ye should do as I have done, in
remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage,
and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abraham, and
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he surely did deliver
them in their afflictions.
Alma 36:Verse 3
3 And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy
youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my
words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their
trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their
troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last
day.
Alma 36:Verse 4
4 And I would not that ye think that I know of
myself--not of the temporal but of the spiritual, not of the carnal
mind but of God.
Alma 36:Verse 5
5 Now, behold, I say unto you, if I had not been born
of God I should not have known these things; but God has, by the
mouth of his holy angel, made these things known unto me, not of
any worthiness of myself;
Alma 36:Verse 6
6 For I went about with the sons of Mosiah, seeking to
destroy the church of God; but behold, God sent his holy angel to
stop us by the way.
Alma 36:Verse 7
7 And behold, he spake unto us, as it were the voice of
thunder, and the whole earth did tremble beneath our feet; and we
all fell to the earth, for the fear of the Lord came upon us.
Alma 36:Verse 8
8 But behold, the voice said unto me: Arise. And I
arose and stood up, and beheld the angel.
Alma 36:Verse 9
9 And he said unto me: If thou wilt of thyself be
destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God.
Alma 36:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that I fell to the earth; and it
was for the space of three days and three nights that I could not
open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs.
Alma 36:Verse 11
11 And the angel spake more things unto me, which were
heard by my brethren, but I did not hear them; for when I heard the
words--If thou wilt be destroyed of thyself, seek no more to
destroy the church of God--I was struck with such great fear and
amazement lest perhaps I should be destroyed, that I fell to the
earth and I did hear no more.
Alma 36:Verse 12
12 But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul
was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my
sins.
Alma 36:Verse 13
13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for
which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had
rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy
commandments.
Alma 36:Verse 14
14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or
rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great
had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the
presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible
horror.
Alma 36:Verse 15
15 Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become
extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in
the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.
Alma 36:Verse 16
16 And now, for three days and for three nights was I
racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.
Alma 36:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with
torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins,
behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the
people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to
atone for the sins of the world.
Alma 36:Verse 18
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I
cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me,
who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the
everlasting chains of death.
Alma 36:Verse 19
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could
remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of
my sins no more.
Alma 36:Verse 20
20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did
behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my
pain!
Alma 36:Verse 21
21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be
nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again
I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be
nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
Alma 36:Verse 22
22 Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw,
God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses
of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea,
and my soul did long to be there.
Alma 36:Verse 23
23 But behold, my limbs did receive their strength
again, and I stood upon my feet, and did manifest unto the people
that I had been born of God.
Alma 36:Verse 24
24 Yea, and from that time even until now, I have
labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance;
that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I
did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with
the Holy Ghost.
Alma 36:Verse 25
25 Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me
exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labors;
Alma 36:Verse 26
26 For because of the word which he has imparted unto
me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have
tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen; therefore they do
know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the
knowledge which I have is of God.
Alma 36:Verse 27
27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles
of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has
delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and
I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.
Alma 36:Verse 28
28 And I know that he will raise me up at the last day,
to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever, for
he has brought our fathers out of Egypt, and he has swallowed up
the Egyptians in the Red Sea; and he led them by his power into the
promised land; yea, and he has delivered them out of bondage and
captivity from time to time.
Alma 36:Verse 29
29 Yea, and he has also brought our fathers out of the
land of Jerusalem; and he has also, by his everlasting power,
delivered them out of bondage and captivity, from time to time even
down to the present day; and I have always retained in remembrance
their captivity; yea, and ye also ought to retain in remembrance,
as I have done, their captivity.
Alma 36:Verse 30
30 But behold, my son, this is not all; for ye ought to
know as I do know, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments
of God ye shall prosper in the land; and ye ought to know also,
that inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall
be cut off from his presence. Now this is according to his
word.
Chapter 37
Alma 37:Verse 1
1 AND now, my son Helaman, I command you that ye take
the records which have been entrusted with me;
Alma 37:Verse 2
2 And I also command you that ye keep a record of this
people, according as I have done, upon the plates of Nephi, and
keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept
them; for it is for a wise purpose that they are kept.
Alma 37:Verse 3
3 And these plates of brass, which contain these
engravings, which have the records of the holy scriptures upon
them, which have the genealogy of our forefathers, even from the
beginning--
Alma 37:Verse 4
4 Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that
they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another,
and be kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should
go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they
shall know of the mysteries contained thereon.
Alma 37:Verse 5
5 And now behold, if they are kept they must retain
their brightness; yea, and they will retain their brightness; yea,
and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy
writ.
Alma 37:Verse 6
6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me;
but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are
great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances
doth confound the wise.
Alma 37:Verse 7
7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about
his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord
doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many
souls.
Alma 37:Verse 8
8 And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that
these things should be preserved; for behold, they have enlarged
the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of
their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the
salvation of their souls.
Alma 37:Verse 9
9 Yea, I say unto you, were it not for these things
that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and
his brethren could not have convinced so many thousands of the
Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers; yea, these
records and their words brought them unto repentance; that is, they
brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice
in Jesus Christ their Redeemer.
Alma 37:Verse 10
10 And who knoweth but what they will be the means of
bringing many thousands of them, yea, and also many thousands of
our stiffnecked brethren, the Nephites, who are now hardening their
hearts in sin and iniquities, to the knowledge of their
Redeemer?
Alma 37:Verse 11
11 Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known
unto me; therefore I shall forbear.
Alma 37:Verse 12
12 And it may suffice if I only say they are preserved
for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God; for he doth
counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight,
and his course is one eternal round.
Alma 37:Verse 13
13 O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict are
the commandments of God. And he said: If ye will keep my
commandments ye shall prosper in the land--but if ye keep not his
commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence.
Alma 37:Verse 14
14 And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you
with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and
also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him,
that he may show forth his power unto future generations.
Alma 37:Verse 15
15 And now behold, I tell you by the spirit of
prophecy, that if ye transgress the commandments of God, behold,
these things which are sacred shall be taken away from you by the
power of God, and ye shall be delivered up unto Satan, that he may
sift you as chaff before the wind.
Alma 37:Verse 16
16 But if ye keep the commandments of God, and do with
these things which are sacred according to that which the Lord doth
command you, (for you must appeal unto the Lord for all things
whatsoever ye must do with them) behold, no power of earth or hell
can take them from you, for God is powerful to the fulfilling of
all his words.
Alma 37:Verse 17
17 For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall
make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made
unto our fathers.
Alma 37:Verse 18
18 For he promised unto them that he would preserve
these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might show forth
his power unto future generations.
Alma 37:Verse 19
19 And now behold, one purpose hath he fulfilled, even
to the restoration of many thousands of the Lamanites to the
knowledge of the truth; and he hath shown forth his power in them,
and he will also still show forth his power in them unto future
generations; therefore they shall be preserved.
Alma 37:Verse 20
20 Therefore I command you, my son Helaman, that ye be
diligent in fulfilling all my words, and that ye be diligent in
keeping the commandments of God as they are written.
Alma 37:Verse 21
21 And now, I will speak unto you concerning those
twenty-four plates, that ye keep them, that the mysteries and the
works of darkness, and their secret works, or the secret works of
those people who have been destroyed, may be made manifest unto
this people; yea, all their murders, and robbings, and their
plunderings, and all their wickedness and abominations, may be made
manifest unto this people; yea, and that ye preserve these
interpreters.
Alma 37:Verse 22
22 For behold, the Lord saw that his people began to
work in darkness, yea, work secret murders and abominations;
therefore the Lord said, if they did not repent they should be
destroyed from off the face of the earth.
Alma 37:Verse 23
23 And the Lord said: I will prepare unto my servant
Gazelem, a stone, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light,
that I may discover unto my people who serve me, that I may
discover unto them the works of their brethren, yea, their secret
works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and
abominations.
Alma 37:Verse 24
24 And now, my son, these interpreters were prepared
that the word of God might be fulfilled, which he spake,
saying:
Alma 37:Verse 25
25 I will bring forth out of darkness unto light all
their secret works and their abominations; and except they repent I
will destroy them from off the face of the earth; and I will bring
to light all their secrets and abominations, unto every nation that
shall hereafter possess the land.
Alma 37:Verse 26
26 And now, my son, we see that they did not repent;
therefore they have been destroyed, and thus far the word of God
has been fulfilled; yea, their secret abominations have been
brought out of darkness and made known unto us.
Alma 37:Verse 27
27 And now, my son, I command you that ye retain all
their oaths, and their covenants, and their agreements in their
secret abominations; yea, and all their signs and their wonders ye
shall keep from this people, that they know them not, lest
peradventure they should fall into darkness also and be
destroyed.
Alma 37:Verse 28
28 For behold, there is a curse upon all this land,
that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness,
according to the power of God, when they are fully ripe; therefore
I desire that this people might not be destroyed.
Alma 37:Verse 29
29 Therefore ye shall keep these secret plans of their
oaths and their covenants from this people, and only their
wickedness and their murders and their abominations shall ye make
known unto them; and ye shall teach them to abhor such wickedness
and abominations and murders; and ye shall also teach them that
these people were destroyed on account of their wickedness and
abominations and their murders.
Alma 37:Verse 30
30 For behold, they murdered all the prophets of the
Lord who came among them to declare unto them concerning their
iniquities; and the blood of those whom they murdered did cry unto
the Lord their God for vengeance upon those who were their
murderers; and thus the judgments of God did come upon these
workers of darkness and secret combinations.
Alma 37:Verse 31
31 Yea, and cursed be the land forever and ever unto
those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even unto
destruction, except they repent before they are fully ripe.
Alma 37:Verse 32
32 And now, my son, remember the words which I have
spoken unto you; trust not those secret plans unto this people, but
teach them an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity.
Alma 37:Verse 33
33 Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord
Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and
lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the
devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alma 37:Verse 34
34 Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to
be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their
souls.
Alma 37:Verse 35
35 O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth;
yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.
Alma 37:Verse 36
36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let
all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let
it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the
Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord
forever.
Alma 37:Verse 37
37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will
direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down
unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when
thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto
God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last
day.
Alma 37:Verse 38
38 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning
the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director--or our
fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass;
and the Lord prepared it.
Alma 37:Verse 39
39 And behold, there cannot any man work after the
manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to
show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the
wilderness.
Alma 37:Verse 40
40 And it did work for them according to their faith in
God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause
that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it
was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other
miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.
Alma 37:Verse 41
41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by
small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were
slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then
those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their
journey;
Alma 37:Verse 42
42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did
not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and
thirst, because of their transgressions.
Alma 37:Verse 43
43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand
that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were
slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were
temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are
spiritual.
Alma 37:Verse 44
44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word
of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal
bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass,
which would point unto them a straight course to the promised
land.
Alma 37:Verse 45
45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing?
For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by
following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of
Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of
sorrow into a far better land of promise.
Alma 37:Verse 46
46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the
easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it
prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so
it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live
forever.
Alma 37:Verse 47
47 And now, my son, see that ye take care of these
sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this
people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.
Chapter 38
Alma 38:Verse 1
1 MY son, give ear to my words, for I say unto you,
even as I said unto Helaman, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the
commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as
ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from
his presence.
Alma 38:Verse 2
2 And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy
in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God;
for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your
God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his
commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end.
Alma 38:Verse 3
3 I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in
thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and
thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the
Zoramites.
Alma 38:Verse 4
4 For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also
know that thou wast stoned for the word's sake; and thou didst bear
all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and
now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee.
Alma 38:Verse 5
5 And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should
remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so
much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles,
and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last
day.
Alma 38:Verse 6
6 Now, my son, I would not that ye should think that I
know these things of myself, but it is the Spirit of God which is
in me which maketh these things known unto me; for if I had not
been born of God I should not have known these things.
Alma 38:Verse 7
7 But behold, the Lord in his great mercy sent his
angel to declare unto me that I must stop the work of destruction
among his people; yea, and I have seen an angel face to face, and
he spake with me, and his voice was as thunder, and it shook the
whole earth.
Alma 38:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that I was three days and three
nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never,
until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I
receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and
I did find peace to my soul.
Alma 38:Verse 9
9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may
learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or
means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold,
he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word
of truth and righteousness.
Alma 38:Verse 10
10 And now, as ye have begun to teach the word even so
I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye would
be diligent and temperate in all things.
Alma 38:Verse 11
11 See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see
that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much
strength.
Alma 38:Verse 12
12 Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see
that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love;
see that ye refrain from idleness.
Alma 38:Verse 13
13 Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen
that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their
wisdom.
Alma 38:Verse 14
14 Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better
than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness,
and remember my brethren in mercy--yea, acknowledge your
unworthiness before God at all times.
Alma 38:Verse 15
15 And may the Lord bless your soul, and receive you at
the last day into his kingdom, to sit down in peace. Now go, my
son, and teach the word unto this people. Be sober. My son,
farewell.
Chapter 39
Alma 39:Verse 1
1 AND now, my son, I have somewhat more to say unto
thee than what I said unto thy brother; for behold, have ye not
observed the steadiness of thy brother, his faithfulness, and his
diligence in keeping the commandments of God? Behold, has he not
set a good example for thee?
Alma 39:Verse 2
2 For thou didst not give so much heed unto my words as
did thy brother, among the people of the Zoramites. Now this is
what I have against thee; thou didst go on unto boasting in thy
strength and thy wisdom.
Alma 39:Verse 3
3 And this is not all, my son. Thou didst do that which
was grievous unto me; for thou didst forsake the ministry, and did
go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites,
after the harlot Isabel.
Alma 39:Verse 4
4 Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this
was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the
ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted.
Alma 39:Verse 5
5 Know ye not, my son, that these things are an
abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above
all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the
Holy Ghost?
Alma 39:Verse 6
6 For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once
has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is
a sin which is unpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against
the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain
forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for
him to obtain a forgiveness.
Alma 39:Verse 7
7 And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been
guilty of so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to
harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good.
Alma 39:Verse 8
8 But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and
except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the
last day.
Alma 39:Verse 9
9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake
your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross
yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in
nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon
you, and cross yourself in these things.
Alma 39:Verse 10
10 And I command you to take it upon you to counsel
with your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art
in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your
brothers. And give heed to their counsel.
Alma 39:Verse 11
11 Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or
foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again
after those wicked harlots. Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye
brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they
would not believe in my words.
Alma 39:Verse 12
12 And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me:
Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of
many people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the
fear of God, that ye refrain from your iniquities;
Alma 39:Verse 13
13 That ye turn to the Lord with all your mind, might,
and strength; that ye lead away the hearts of no more to do
wickedly; but rather return unto them, and acknowledge your faults
and that wrong which ye have done.
Alma 39:Verse 14
14 Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this
world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you.
Alma 39:Verse 15
15 And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you
concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is
he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea,
he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his
people.
Alma 39:Verse 16
16 And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye
were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to
prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them,
that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word
at the time of his coming.
Alma 39:Verse 17
17 And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this
subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so
long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time
as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his
coming?
Alma 39:Verse 18
18 Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption
should be made known unto this people as well as unto their
children?
Alma 39:Verse 19
19 Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send
his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our
children, or as after the time of his coming?
Chapter 40
Alma 40:Verse 1
1 NOW my son, here is somewhat more I would say unto
thee; for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the
resurrection of the dead.
Alma 40:Verse 2
2 Behold, I say unto you, that there is no
resurrection--or, I would say, in other words, that this mortal
does not put on immortality, this corruption does not put on
incorruption--until after the coming of Christ.
Alma 40:Verse 3
3 Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the
dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I
unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries
which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I
show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God
that I might know--that is concerning the resurrection.
Alma 40:Verse 4
4 Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come
forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but
God knoweth the time which is appointed.
Alma 40:Verse 5
5 Now, whether there shall be one time, or a second
time, or a third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it
mattereth not; for God knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth
me to know that this is the case--that there is a time appointed
that all shall rise from the dead.
Alma 40:Verse 6
6 Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of
death and the time of the resurrection.
Alma 40:Verse 7
7 And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of
men from this time of death to the time appointed for the
resurrection?
Alma 40:Verse 8
8 Now whether there is more than one time appointed for
men to rise it mattereth not; for all do not die at once, and this
mattereth not; all is as one day with God, and time only is
measured unto men.
Alma 40:Verse 9
9 Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that
they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the
time of death and the resurrection. And now, concerning this space
of time, what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I
have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing
of which I do know.
Alma 40:Verse 10
10 And when the time cometh when all shall rise, then
shall they know that God knoweth all the times which are appointed
unto man.
Alma 40:Verse 11
11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death
and the resurrection--Behold, it has been made known unto me by an
angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed
from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be
good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
Alma 40:Verse 12
12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of
those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness,
which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where
they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and
sorrow.
Alma 40:Verse 13
13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of
the wicked, yea, who are evil--for behold, they have no part nor
portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil
works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter
into them, and take possession of their house--and these shall be
cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing,
and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity,
being led captive by the will of the devil.
Alma 40:Verse 14
14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked,
yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the
fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain
in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time
of their resurrection.
Alma 40:Verse 15
15 Now, there are some that have understood that this
state of happiness and this state of misery of the soul, before the
resurrection, was a first resurrection. Yea, I admit it may be
termed a resurrection, the raising of the spirit or the soul and
their consignation to happiness or misery, according to the words
which have been spoken.
Alma 40:Verse 16
16 And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is
a first resurrection, a resurrection of all those who have been, or
who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from
the dead.
Alma 40:Verse 17
17 Now, we do not suppose that this first resurrection,
which is spoken of in this manner, can be the resurrection of the
souls and their consignation to happiness or misery. Ye cannot
suppose that this is what it meaneth.
Alma 40:Verse 18
18 Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but it meaneth the
reuniting of the soul with the body, of those from the days of Adam
down to the resurrection of Christ.
Alma 40:Verse 19
19 Now, whether the souls and the bodies of those of
whom has been spoken shall all be reunited at once, the wicked as
well as the righteous, I do not say; let it suffice, that I say
that they all come forth; or in other words, their resurrection
cometh to pass before the resurrection of those who die after the
resurrection of Christ.
Alma 40:Verse 20
20 Now, my son, I do not say that their resurrection
cometh at the resurrection of Christ; but behold, I give it as my
opinion, that the souls and the bodies are reunited, of the
righteous, at the resurrection of Christ, and his ascension into
heaven.
Alma 40:Verse 21
21 But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do
not say; but this much I say, that there is a space between death
and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in
happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God
that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and
body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according
to their works.
Alma 40:Verse 22
22 Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those
things of which has been spoken by the mouths of the
prophets.
Alma 40:Verse 23
23 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body
to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its
body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all
things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.
Alma 40:Verse 24
24 And now, my son, this is the restoration of which
has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets--
Alma 40:Verse 25
25 And then shall the righteous shine forth in the
kingdom of God.
Alma 40:Verse 26
26 But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked;
for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness;
for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom
of God; but they are cast out, and consigned to partake of the
fruits of their labors or their works, which have been evil; and
they drink the dregs of a bitter cup.
Chapter 41
Alma 41:Verse 1
1 AND now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning
the restoration of which has been spoken; for behold, some have
wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray because of this
thing. And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also
concerning this thing. But behold, I will explain it unto
thee.
Alma 41:Verse 2
2 I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration
is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all
things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is
requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of
Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and
that every part of the body should be restored to itself.
Alma 41:Verse 3
3 And it is requisite with the justice of God that men
should be judged according to their works; and if their works were
good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that
they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is
good.
Alma 41:Verse 4
4 And if their works are evil they shall be restored
unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to
their proper order, every thing to its natural frame--mortality
raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption--raised to
endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless
misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand,
the other on the other--
Alma 41:Verse 5
5 The one raised to happiness according to his desires
of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the
other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has
desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his
reward of evil when the night cometh.
Alma 41:Verse 6
6 And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented
of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days,
even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness.
Alma 41:Verse 7
7 These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea,
these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that
endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold,
they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.
Alma 41:Verse 8
8 Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore,
the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be
saved.
Alma 41:Verse 9
9 And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense
against your God upon those points of doctrine, which ye have
hitherto risked to commit sin.
Alma 41:Verse 10
10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken
concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to
happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was
happiness.
Alma 41:Verse 11
11 And now, my son, all men that are in a state of
nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of
bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in
the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God;
therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of
happiness.
Alma 41:Verse 12
12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word
restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an
unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its
nature?
Alma 41:Verse 13
13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of
the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or
carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish--good for that which is
good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is
just; merciful for that which is merciful.
Alma 41:Verse 14
14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto
your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good
continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive
your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye
shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a
righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good
rewarded unto you again.
Alma 41:Verse 15
15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you
again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully
condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.
Chapter 42
Alma 42:Verse 1
1 AND now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more
which doth worry your mind, which ye cannot understand--which is
concerning the justice of God in the punishment of the sinner; for
ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be
consigned to a state of misery.
Alma 42:Verse 2
2 Now behold, my son, I will explain this thing unto
thee. For behold, after the Lord God sent our first parents forth
from the garden of Eden, to till the ground, from whence they were
taken--yea, he drew out the man, and he placed at the east end of
the garden of Eden, cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned
every way, to keep the tree of life--
Alma 42:Verse 3
3 Now, we see that the man had become as God, knowing
good and evil; and lest he should put forth his hand, and take also
of the tree of life, and eat and live forever, the Lord God placed
cherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not partake of the
fruit--
Alma 42:Verse 4
4 And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto
man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve
God.
Alma 42:Verse 5
5 For behold, if Adam had put forth his hand
immediately, and partaken of the tree of life, he would have lived
forever, according to the word of God, having no space for
repentance; yea, and also the word of God would have been void, and
the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated.
Alma 42:Verse 6
6 But behold, it was appointed unto man to
die--therefore, as they were cut off from the tree of life they
should be cut off from the face of the earth--and man became lost
forever, yea, they became fallen man.
Alma 42:Verse 7
7 And now, ye see by this that our first parents were
cut off both temporally and spiritually from the presence of the
Lord; and thus we see they became subjects to follow after their
own will.
Alma 42:Verse 8
8 Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be
reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the
great plan of happiness.
Alma 42:Verse 9
9 Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall
had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a
temporal, that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord,
it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this
spiritual death.
Alma 42:Verse 10
10 Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and
devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for
them to prepare; it became a preparatory state.
Alma 42:Verse 11
11 And now remember, my son, if it were not for the
plan of redemption, (laying it aside) as soon as they were dead
their souls were miserable, being cut off from the presence of the
Lord.
Alma 42:Verse 12
12 And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this
fallen state, which man had brought upon himself because of his own
disobedience;
Alma 42:Verse 13
13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of
redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of
repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory
state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not
take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the
work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to
be God.
Alma 42:Verse 14
14 And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and
they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which
consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.
Alma 42:Verse 15
15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought
about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself
atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of
mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a
perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.
Alma 42:Verse 16
16 Now, repentance could not come unto men except there
were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul
should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as
eternal also as the life of the soul.
Alma 42:Verse 17
17 Now, how could a man repent except he should sin?
How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save
there was a punishment?
Alma 42:Verse 18
18 Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law
given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man.
Alma 42:Verse 19
19 Now, if there was no law given--if a man murdered he
should die--would he be afraid he would die if he should
murder?
Alma 42:Verse 20
20 And also, if there was no law given against sin men
would not be afraid to sin.
Alma 42:Verse 21
21 And if there was no law given, if men sinned what
could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim
upon the creature?
Alma 42:Verse 22
22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed,
and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth;
otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and
the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice
would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.
Alma 42:Verse 23
23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth
the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the
atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the
resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of
God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged
according to their works, according to the law and justice.
Alma 42:Verse 24
24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and
also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the
truly penitent are saved.
Alma 42:Verse 25
25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I
say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be
God.
Alma 42:Verse 26
26 And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal
purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And
thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also
their destruction and misery.
Alma 42:Verse 27
27 Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come
and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not
come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it
shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.
Alma 42:Verse 28
28 If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented
in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the
restoration of God.
Alma 42:Verse 29
29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these
things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you,
with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.
Alma 42:Verse 30
30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice
of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least
point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do
you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering
have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust
in humility.
Alma 42:Verse 31
31 And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach
the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy way, declare the
word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto
repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them.
And may God grant unto you even according to my words. Amen.
Chapter 43
Alma 43:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that the sons of Alma did go
forth among the people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma,
also, himself, could not rest, and he also went forth.
Alma 43:Verse 2
2 Now we shall say no more concerning their preaching,
except that they preached the word, and the truth, according to the
spirit of prophecy and revelation; and they preached after the holy
order of God by which they were called.
Alma 43:Verse 3
3 And now I return to an account of the wars between
the Nephites and the Lamanites, in the eighteenth year of the reign
of the judges.
Alma 43:Verse 4
4 For behold, it came to pass that the Zoramites became
Lamanites; therefore, in the commencement of the eighteenth year
the people of the Nephites saw that the Lamanites were coming upon
them; therefore they made preparations for war; yea, they gathered
together their armies in the land of Jershon.
Alma 43:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came with
their thousands; and they came into the land of Antionum, which is
the land of the Zoramites; and a man by the name of Zerahemnah was
their leader.
Alma 43:Verse 6
6 And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and
murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of
themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the
Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites.
Alma 43:Verse 7
7 Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred
towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to
the accomplishment of his designs.
Alma 43:Verse 8
8 For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites
to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp
great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the
Nephites by bringing them into bondage.
Alma 43:Verse 9
9 And now the design of the Nephites was to support
their lands, and their houses, and their wives, and their children,
that they might preserve them from the hands of their enemies; and
also that they might preserve their rights and their privileges,
yea, and also their liberty, that they might worship God according
to their desires.
Alma 43:Verse 10
10 For they knew that if they should fall into the
hands of the Lamanites, that whosoever should worship God in spirit
and in truth, the true and the living God, the Lamanites would
destroy.
Alma 43:Verse 11
11 Yea, and they also knew the extreme hatred of the
Lamanites towards their brethren, who were the people of
Anti-Nephi-Lehi, who were called the people of Ammon--and they
would not take up arms, yea, they had entered into a covenant and
they would not break it--therefore, if they should fall into the
hands of the Lamanites they would be destroyed.
Alma 43:Verse 12
12 And the Nephites would not suffer that they should
be destroyed; therefore they gave them lands for their
inheritance.
Alma 43:Verse 13
13 And the people of Ammon did give unto the Nephites a
large portion of their substance to support their armies; and thus
the Nephites were compelled, alone, to withstand against the
Lamanites, who were a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of
Ishmael, and all those who had dissented from the Nephites, who
were Amalekites and Zoramites, and the descendants of the priests
of Noah.
Alma 43:Verse 14
14 Now those descendants were as numerous, nearly, as
were the Nephites; and thus the Nephites were obliged to contend
with their brethren, even unto bloodshed.
Alma 43:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass as the armies of the Lamanites
had gathered together in the land of Antionum, behold, the armies
of the Nephites were prepared to meet them in the land of
Jershon.
Alma 43:Verse 16
16 Now, the leader of the Nephites, or the man who had
been appointed to be the chief captain over the Nephites--now the
chief captain took the command of all the armies of the
Nephites--and his name was Moroni;
Alma 43:Verse 17
17 And Moroni took all the command, and the government
of their wars. And he was only twenty and five years old when he
was appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites.
Alma 43:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the
borders of Jershon, and his people were armed with swords, and with
cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war.
Alma 43:Verse 19
19 And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the
people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had prepared his people with
breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend
their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing--
Alma 43:Verse 20
20 Now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any
such thing; they had only their swords and their cimeters, their
bows and their arrows, their stones and their slings; and they were
naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins; yea,
all were naked, save it were the Zoramites and the
Amalekites;
Alma 43:Verse 21
21 But they were not armed with breastplates, nor
shields--therefore, they were exceedingly afraid of the armies of
the Nephites because of their armor, notwithstanding their number
being so much greater than the Nephites.
Alma 43:Verse 22
22 Behold, now it came to pass that they durst not come
against the Nephites in the borders of Jershon; therefore they
departed out of the land of Antionum into the wilderness, and took
their journey round about in the wilderness, away by the head of
the river Sidon, that they might come into the land of Manti and
take possession of the land; for they did not suppose that the
armies of Moroni would know whither they had gone.
Alma 43:Verse 23
23 But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed
into the wilderness Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch
their camp; and Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma,
sent certain men unto him, desiring him that he should inquire of
the Lord whither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend
themselves against the Lamanites.
Alma 43:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that the word of the Lord came
unto Alma, and Alma informed the messengers of Moroni, that the
armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the
wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that
they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people.
And those messengers went and delivered the message unto
Moroni.
Alma 43:Verse 25
25 Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land
of Jershon, lest by any means a part of the Lamanites should come
into that land and take possession of the city, took the remaining
part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti.
Alma 43:Verse 26
26 And he caused that all the people in that quarter of
the land should gather themselves together to battle against the
Lamanites, to defend their lands and their country, their rights
and their liberties; therefore they were prepared against the time
of the coming of the Lamanites.
Alma 43:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his army
should be secreted in the valley which was near the bank of the
river Sidon, which was on the west of the river Sidon in the
wilderness.
Alma 43:Verse 28
28 And Moroni placed spies round about, that he might
know when the camp of the Lamanites should come.
Alma 43:Verse 29
29 And now, as Moroni knew the intention of the
Lamanites, that it was their intention to destroy their brethren,
or to subject them and bring them into bondage that they might
establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land;
Alma 43:Verse 30
30 And he also knowing that it was the only desire of
the Nephites to preserve their lands, and their liberty, and their
church, therefore he thought it no sin that he should defend them
by stratagem; therefore, he found by his spies which course the
Lamanites were to take.
Alma 43:Verse 31
31 Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part
over into the valley, and concealed them on the east, and on the
south of the hill Riplah;
Alma 43:Verse 32
32 And the remainder he concealed in the west valley,
on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the
land Manti.
Alma 43:Verse 33
33 And thus having placed his army according to his
desire, he was prepared to meet them.
Alma 43:Verse 34
34 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on
the north of the hill, where a part of the army of Moroni was
concealed.
Alma 43:Verse 35
35 And as the Lamanites had passed the hill Riplah, and
came into the valley, and began to cross the river Sidon, the army
which was concealed on the south of the hill, which was led by a
man whose name was Lehi, and he led his army forth and encircled
the Lamanites about on the east in their rear.
Alma 43:Verse 36
36 And it came to pass that the Lamanites, when they
saw the Nephites coming upon them in their rear, turned them about
and began to contend with the army of Lehi.
Alma 43:Verse 37
37 And the work of death commenced on both sides, but
it was more dreadful on the part of the Lamanites, for their
nakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites with their
swords and their cimeters, which brought death almost at every
stroke.
Alma 43:Verse 38
38 While on the other hand, there was now and then a
man fell among the Nephites, by their swords and the loss of blood,
they being shielded from the more vital parts of the body, or the
more vital parts of the body being shielded from the strokes of the
Lamanites, by their breastplates, and their armshields, and their
head-plates; and thus the Nephites did carry on the work of death
among the Lamanites.
Alma 43:Verse 39
39 And it came to pass that the Lamanites became
frightened, because of the great destruction among them, even until
they began to flee towards the river Sidon.
Alma 43:Verse 40
40 And they were pursued by Lehi and his men; and they
were driven by Lehi into the waters of Sidon, and they crossed the
waters of Sidon. And Lehi retained his armies upon the bank of the
river Sidon that they should not cross.
Alma 43:Verse 41
41 And it came to pass that Moroni and his army met the
Lamanites in the valley, on the other side of the river Sidon, and
began to fall upon them and to slay them.
Alma 43:Verse 42
42 And the Lamanites did flee again before them,
towards the land of Manti; and they were met again by the armies of
Moroni.
Alma 43:Verse 43
43 Now in this case the Lamanites did fight
exceedingly; yea, never had the Lamanites been known to fight with
such exceedingly great strength and courage, no, not even from the
beginning.
Alma 43:Verse 44
44 And they were inspired by the Zoramites and the
Amalekites, who were their chief captains and leaders, and by
Zerahemnah, who was their chief captain, or their chief leader and
commander; yea, they did fight like dragons, and many of the
Nephites were slain by their hands, yea, for they did smite in two
many of their head-plates, and they did pierce many of their
breastplates, and they did smite off many of their arms; and thus
the Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger.
Alma 43:Verse 45
45 Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better
cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they
were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and
their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and
their church.
Alma 43:Verse 46
46 And they were doing that which they felt was the
duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them,
and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of
the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer
yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies.
Alma 43:Verse 47
47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend
your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were
the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves,
and their families, and their lands, their country, and their
rights, and their religion.
Alma 43:Verse 48
48 And it came to pass that when the men of Moroni saw
the fierceness and the anger of the Lamanites, they were about to
shrink and flee from them. And Moroni, perceiving their intent,
sent forth and inspired their hearts with these thoughts--yea, the
thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea, their freedom from
bondage.
Alma 43:Verse 49
49 And it came to pass that they turned upon the
Lamanites, and they cried with one voice unto the Lord their God,
for their liberty and their freedom from bondage.
Alma 43:Verse 50
50 And they began to stand against the Lamanites with
power; and in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for
their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them; and they
fled even to the waters of Sidon.
Alma 43:Verse 51
51 Now, the Lamanites were more numerous, yea, by more
than double the number of the Nephites; nevertheless, they were
driven insomuch that they were gathered together in one body in the
valley, upon the bank by the river Sidon.
Alma 43:Verse 52
52 Therefore the armies of Moroni encircled them about,
yea, even on both sides of the river, for behold, on the east were
the men of Lehi.
Alma 43:Verse 53
53 Therefore when Zerahemnah saw the men of Lehi on the
east of the river Sidon, and the armies of Moroni on the west of
the river Sidon, that they were encircled about by the Nephites,
they were struck with terror.
Alma 43:Verse 54
54 Now Moroni, when he saw their terror, commanded his
men that they should stop shedding their blood.
Chapter 44
Alma 44:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that they did stop and withdrew a
pace from them. And Moroni said unto Zerahemnah: Behold,
Zerahemnah, that we do not desire to be men of blood. Ye know that
ye are in our hands, yet we do not desire to slay you.
Alma 44:Verse 2
2 Behold, we have not come out to battle against you
that we might shed your blood for power; neither do we desire to
bring any one to the yoke of bondage. But this is the very cause
for which ye have come against us; yea, and ye are angry with us
because of our religion.
Alma 44:Verse 3
3 But now, ye behold that the Lord is with us; and ye
behold that he has delivered you into our hands. And now I would
that ye should understand that this is done unto us because of our
religion and our faith in Christ. And now ye see that ye cannot
destroy this our faith.
Alma 44:Verse 4
4 Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea,
ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as
we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and
never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we
should fall into transgression and deny our faith.
Alma 44:Verse 5
5 And now, Zerahemnah, I command you, in the name of
that all-powerful God, who has strengthened our arms that we have
gained power over you, by our faith, by our religion, and by our
rites of worship, and by our church, and by the sacred support
which we owe to our wives and our children, by that liberty which
binds us to our lands and our country; yea, and also by the
maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our
happiness; and by all that is most dear unto us--
Alma 44:Verse 6
6 Yea, and this is not all; I command you by all the
desires which ye have for life, that ye deliver up your weapons of
war unto us, and we will seek not your blood, but we will spare
your lives, if ye will go your way and come not again to war
against us.
Alma 44:Verse 7
7 And now, if ye do not this, behold, ye are in our
hands, and I will command my men that they shall fall upon you, and
inflict the wounds of death in your bodies, that ye may become
extinct; and then we will see who shall have power over this
people; yea, we will see who shall be brought into bondage.
Alma 44:Verse 8
8 And now it came to pass that when Zerahemnah had
heard these sayings he came forth and delivered up his sword and
his cimeter, and his bow into the hands of Moroni, and said unto
him: Behold, here are our weapons of war; we will deliver them up
unto you, but we will not suffer ourselves to take an oath unto
you, which we know that we shall break, and also our children; but
take our weapons of war, and suffer that we may depart into the
wilderness; otherwise we will retain our swords, and we will perish
or conquer.
Alma 44:Verse 9
9 Behold, we are not of your faith; we do not believe
that it is God that has delivered us into your hands; but we
believe that it is your cunning that has preserved you from our
swords. Behold, it is your breastplates and your shields that have
preserved you.
Alma 44:Verse 10
10 And now when Zerahemnah had made an end of speaking
these words, Moroni returned the sword and the weapons of war,
which he had received, unto Zerahemnah, saying: Behold, we will end
the conflict.
Alma 44:Verse 11
11 Now I cannot recall the words which I have spoken,
therefore as the Lord liveth, ye shall not depart except ye depart
with an oath that ye will not return again against us to war. Now
as ye are in our hands we will spill your blood upon the ground, or
ye shall submit to the conditions which I have proposed.
Alma 44:Verse 12
12 And now when Moroni had said these words, Zerahemnah
retained his sword, and he was angry with Moroni, and he rushed
forward that he might slay Moroni; but as he raised his sword,
behold, one of Moroni's soldiers smote it even to the earth, and it
broke by the hilt; and he also smote Zerahemnah that he took off
his scalp and it fell to the earth. And Zerahemnah withdrew from
before them into the midst of his soldiers.
Alma 44:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that the soldier who stood by,
who smote off the scalp of Zerahemnah, took up the scalp from off
the ground by the hair, and laid it upon the point of his sword,
and stretched it forth unto them, saying unto them with a loud
voice:
Alma 44:Verse 14
14 Even as this scalp has fallen to the earth, which is
the scalp of your chief, so shall ye fall to the earth except ye
will deliver up your weapons of war and depart with a covenant of
peace.
Alma 44:Verse 15
15 Now there were many, when they heard these words and
saw the scalp which was upon the sword, that were struck with fear;
and many came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet
of Moroni, and entered into a covenant of peace. And as many as
entered into a covenant they suffered to depart into the
wilderness.
Alma 44:Verse 16
16 Now it came to pass that Zerahemnah was exceedingly
wroth, and he did stir up the remainder of his soldiers to anger,
to contend more powerfully against the Nephites.
Alma 44:Verse 17
17 And now Moroni was angry, because of the
stubbornness of the Lamanites; therefore he commanded his people
that they should fall upon them and slay them. And it came to pass
that they began to slay them; yea, and the Lamanites did contend
with their swords and their might.
Alma 44:Verse 18
18 But behold, their naked skins and their bare heads
were exposed to the sharp swords of the Nephites; yea, behold they
were pierced and smitten, yea, and did fall exceedingly fast before
the swords of the Nephites; and they began to be swept down, even
as the soldier of Moroni had prophesied.
Alma 44:Verse 19
19 Now Zerahemnah, when he saw that they were all about
to be destroyed, cried mightily unto Moroni, promising that he
would covenant and also his people with them, if they would spare
the remainder of their lives, that they never would come to war
again against them.
Alma 44:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that the work
of death should cease again among the people. And he took the
weapons of war from the Lamanites; and after they had entered into
a covenant with him of peace they were suffered to depart into the
wilderness.
Alma 44:Verse 21
21 Now the number of their dead was not numbered
because of the greatness of the number; yea, the number of their
dead was exceedingly great, both on the Nephites and on the
Lamanites.
Alma 44:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that they did cast their dead
into the waters of Sidon, and they have gone forth and are buried
in the depths of the sea.
Alma 44:Verse 23
23 And the armies of the Nephites, or of Moroni,
returned and came to their houses and their lands.
Alma 44:Verse 24
24 And thus ended the eighteenth year of the reign of
the judges over the people of Nephi. And thus ended the record of
Alma, which was written upon the plates of Nephi.
Chapter 45
Alma 45:Verse 1
1 Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi
were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered
them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks
unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much,
and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy.
Alma 45:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass in the nineteenth year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma came unto
his son Helaman and said unto him: Believest thou the words which I
spake unto thee concerning those records which have been
kept?
Alma 45:Verse 3
3 And Helaman said unto him: Yea, I believe.
Alma 45:Verse 4
4 And Alma said again: Believest thou in Jesus Christ,
who shall come?
Alma 45:Verse 5
5 And he said: Yea, I believe all the words which thou
hast spoken.
Alma 45:Verse 6
6 And Alma said unto him again: Will ye keep my
commandments?
Alma 45:Verse 7
7 And he said: Yea, I will keep thy commandments with
all my heart.
Alma 45:Verse 8
8 Then Alma said unto him: Blessed art thou; and the
Lord shall prosper thee in this land.
Alma 45:Verse 9
9 But behold, I have somewhat to prophesy unto thee;
but what I prophesy unto thee ye shall not make known; yea, what I
prophesy unto thee shall not be made known, even until the prophecy
is fulfilled; therefore write the words which I shall say.
Alma 45:Verse 10
10 And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that
this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of
revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that
Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in
unbelief.
Alma 45:Verse 11
11 Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences,
yea, famines and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall
become extinct--
Alma 45:Verse 12
12 Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief
and fall into the works of darkness, and lasciviousness, and all
manner of iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall
sin against so great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that
from that day, even the fourth generation shall not all pass away
before this great iniquity shall come.
Alma 45:Verse 13
13 And when that great day cometh, behold, the time
very soon cometh that those who are now, or the seed of those who
are now numbered among the people of Nephi, shall no more be
numbered among the people of Nephi.
Alma 45:Verse 14
14 But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in
that great and dreadful day, shall be numbered among the Lamanites,
and shall become like unto them, all, save it be a few who shall be
called the disciples of the Lord; and them shall the Lamanites
pursue even until they shall become extinct. And now, because of
iniquity, this prophecy shall be fulfilled.
Alma 45:Verse 15
15 And now it came to pass that after Alma had said
these things to Helaman, he blessed him, and also his other sons;
and he also blessed the earth for the righteous' sake.
Alma 45:Verse 16
16 And he said: Thus saith the Lord God--Cursed shall
be the land, yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue,
and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are
fully ripe; and as I have said so shall it be; for this is the
cursing and the blessing of God upon the land, for the Lord cannot
look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.
Alma 45:Verse 17
17 And now, when Alma had said these words he blessed
the church, yea, all those who should stand fast in the faith from
that time henceforth.
Alma 45:Verse 18
18 And when Alma had done this he departed out of the
land of Zarahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek. And it came
to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial
we know not of.
Alma 45:Verse 19
19 Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man;
and the saying went abroad in the church that he was taken up by
the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses. But
behold, the scriptures saith the Lord took Moses unto himself; and
we suppose that he has also received Alma in the spirit, unto
himself; therefore, for this cause we know nothing concerning his
death and burial.
Alma 45:Verse 20
20 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the
nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi, that Helaman went forth among the people to declare the word
unto them.
Alma 45:Verse 21
21 For behold, because of their wars with the Lamanites
and the many little dissensions and disturbances which had been
among the people, it became expedient that the word of God should
be declared among them, yea, and that a regulation should be made
throughout the church.
Alma 45:Verse 22
22 Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth to
establish the church again in all the land, yea, in every city
throughout all the land which was possessed by the people of Nephi.
And it came to pass that they did appoint priests and teachers
throughout all the land, over all the churches.
Alma 45:Verse 23
23 And now it came to pass that after Helaman and his
brethren had appointed priests and teachers over the churches that
there arose a dissension among them, and they would not give heed
to the words of Helaman and his brethren;
Alma 45:Verse 24
24 But they grew proud, being lifted up in their
hearts, because of their exceedingly great riches; therefore they
grew rich in their own eyes, and would not give heed to their
words, to walk uprightly before God.
Chapter 46
Alma 46:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that as many as would not hearken
to the words of Helaman and his brethren were gathered together
against their brethren.
Alma 46:Verse 2
2 And now behold, they were exceedingly wroth, insomuch
that they were determined to slay them.
Alma 46:Verse 3
3 Now the leader of those who were wroth against their
brethren was a large and a strong man; and his name was
Amalickiah.
Alma 46:Verse 4
4 And Amalickiah was desirous to be a king; and those
people who were wroth were also desirous that he should be their
king; and they were the greater part of them the lower judges of
the land, and they were seeking for power.
Alma 46:Verse 5
5 And they had been led by the flatteries of
Amalickiah, that if they would support him and establish him to be
their king that he would make them rulers over the people.
Alma 46:Verse 6
6 Thus they were led away by Amalickiah to dissensions,
notwithstanding the preaching of Helaman and his brethren, yea,
notwithstanding their exceedingly great care over the church, for
they were high priests over the church.
Alma 46:Verse 7
7 And there were many in the church who believed in the
flattering words of Amalickiah, therefore they dissented even from
the church; and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi
exceedingly precarious and dangerous, notwithstanding their great
victory which they had had over the Lamanites, and their great
rejoicings which they had had because of their deliverance by the
hand of the Lord.
Alma 46:Verse 8
8 Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget
the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led
away by the evil one.
Alma 46:Verse 9
9 Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very
wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men.
Alma 46:Verse 10
10 Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of
cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away
the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to
destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty
which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent
upon the face of the land for the righteous' sake.
Alma 46:Verse 11
11 And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was
the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of
these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah.
Alma 46:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he
took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it--In memory of our God, our
religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our
children--and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
Alma 46:Verse 13
13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his
breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his
loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent
coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself
to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings
of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a
band of Christians remain to possess the land--
Alma 46:Verse 14
14 For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who
belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong
to the church.
Alma 46:Verse 15
15 And those who did belong to the church were
faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took
upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were
called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.
Alma 46:Verse 16
16 And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the
cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be
favored.
Alma 46:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that when he had poured out his
soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land
Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and
on the south--A chosen land, and the land of liberty.
Alma 46:Verse 18
18 And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we,
who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall
be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own
transgressions.
Alma 46:Verse 19
19 And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth
among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air,
that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent
part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:
Alma 46:Verse 20
20 Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the
land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter
into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their
religion, that the Lord God may bless them.
Alma 46:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed
these words, behold, the people came running together with their
armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or
as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or,
in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God,
or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the
name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent
their garments.
Alma 46:Verse 22
22 Now this was the covenant which they made, and they
cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with
our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the
land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may
cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our
garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall
into transgression.
Alma 46:Verse 23
23 Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of
the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph,
whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now
behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our
garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison,
or be sold, or be slain.
Alma 46:Verse 24
24 Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of
Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death,
for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph
was preserved and had not decayed. And he said--Even as this
remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a
remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and
be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph
shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.
Alma 46:Verse 25
25 Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow;
nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because of that part of
his seed which shall be taken unto God.
Alma 46:Verse 26
26 Now behold, this was the language of Jacob.
Alma 46:Verse 27
27 And now who knoweth but what the remnant of the seed
of Joseph, which shall perish as his garment, are those who have
dissented from us? Yea, and even it shall be ourselves if we do not
stand fast in the faith of Christ.
Alma 46:Verse 28
28 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said
these words he went forth, and also sent forth in all the parts of
the land where there were dissensions, and gathered together all
the people who were desirous to maintain their liberty, to stand
against Amalickiah and those who had dissented, who were called
Amalickiahites.
Alma 46:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass that when Amalickiah saw that
the people of Moroni were more numerous than the
Amalickiahites--and he also saw that his people were doubtful
concerning the justice of the cause in which they had
undertaken--therefore, fearing that he should not gain the point,
he took those of his people who would and departed into the land of
Nephi.
Alma 46:Verse 30
30 Now Moroni thought it was not expedient that the
Lamanites should have any more strength; therefore he thought to
cut off the people of Amalickiah, or to take them and bring them
back, and put Amalickiah to death; yea, for he knew that he would
stir up the Lamanites to anger against them, and cause them to come
to battle against them; and this he knew that Amalickiah would do
that he might obtain his purposes.
Alma 46:Verse 31
31 Therefore Moroni thought it was expedient that he
should take his armies, who had gathered themselves together, and
armed themselves, and entered into a covenant to keep the
peace--and it came to pass that he took his army and marched out
with his tents into the wilderness, to cut off the course of
Amalickiah in the wilderness.
Alma 46:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that he did according to his
desires, and marched forth into the wilderness, and headed the
armies of Amalickiah.
Alma 46:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that Amalickiah fled with a
small number of his men, and the remainder were delivered up into
the hands of Moroni and were taken back into the land of
Zarahemla.
Alma 46:Verse 34
34 Now, Moroni being a man who was appointed by the
chief judges and the voice of the people, therefore he had power
according to his will with the armies of the Nephites, to establish
and to exercise authority over them.
Alma 46:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that whomsoever of the
Amalickiahites that would not enter into a covenant to support the
cause of freedom, that they might maintain a free government, he
caused to be put to death; and there were but few who denied the
covenant of freedom.
Alma 46:Verse 36
36 And it came to pass also, that he caused the title
of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the
land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted
the standard of liberty among the Nephites.
Alma 46:Verse 37
37 And they began to have peace again in the land; and
thus they did maintain peace in the land until nearly the end of
the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges.
Alma 46:Verse 38
38 And Helaman and the high priests did also maintain
order in the church; yea, even for the space of four years did they
have much peace and rejoicing in the church.
Alma 46:Verse 39
39 And it came to pass that there were many who died,
firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus
Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing.
Alma 46:Verse 40
40 And there were some who died with fevers, which at
some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land--but not so
much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many
plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of
diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the
climate--
Alma 46:Verse 41
41 But there were many who died with old age; and those
who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs
suppose.
Chapter 47
Alma 47:Verse 1
1 NOW we will return in our record to Amalickiah and
those who had fled with him into the wilderness; for, behold, he
had taken those who went with him, and went up in the land of Nephi
among the Lamanites, and did stir up the Lamanites to anger against
the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a
proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that
they should gather themselves together again to go to battle
against the Nephites.
Alma 47:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that when the proclamation had
gone forth among them they were exceedingly afraid; yea, they
feared to displease the king, and they also feared to go to battle
against the Nephites lest they should lose their lives. And it came
to pass that they would not, or the more part of them would not,
obey the commandments of the king.
Alma 47:Verse 3
3 And now it came to pass that the king was wroth
because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the
command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his
commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and compel them
to arms.
Alma 47:Verse 4
4 Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he
being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in
his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites.
Alma 47:Verse 5
5 And now he had got the command of those parts of the
Lamanites who were in favor of the king; and he sought to gain
favor of those who were not obedient; therefore he went forward to
the place which was called Onidah, for thither had all the
Lamanites fled; for they discovered the army coming, and, supposing
that they were coming to destroy them, therefore they fled to
Onidah, to the place of arms.
Alma 47:Verse 6
6 And they had appointed a man to be a king and a
leader over them, being fixed in their minds with a determined
resolution that they would not be subjected to go against the
Nephites.
Alma 47:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that they had gathered themselves
together upon the top of the mount which was called Antipas, in
preparation to battle.
Alma 47:Verse 8
8 Now it was not Amalickiah's intention to give them
battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it
was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites,
that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and
take possession of the kingdom.
Alma 47:Verse 9
9 And behold, it came to pass that he caused his army
to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount
Antipas.
Alma 47:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a
secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of
those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he
should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak
with him.
Alma 47:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the
message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came
to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to
come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent
again the third time.
Alma 47:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that
he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went
up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti's camp; and he sent again the
fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come
down, and that he would bring his guards with him.
Alma 47:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down
with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come
down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in
their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he
would deliver them up into Lehonti's hands, if he would make him
(Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army.
Alma 47:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his
men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke
at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of
Lehonti.
Alma 47:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that when they saw that they
were surrounded, they plead with Amalickiah that he would suffer
them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be
destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah
desired.
Alma 47:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that he delivered his men,
contrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that
Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in
dethroning the king.
Alma 47:Verse 17
17 Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their
chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their
chief leader.
Alma 47:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one
of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti,
that he died.
Alma 47:Verse 19
19 Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed
Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander.
Alma 47:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that Amalickiah marched with his
armies (for he had gained his desires) to the land of Nephi, to the
city of Nephi, which was the chief city.
Alma 47:Verse 21
21 And the king came out to meet him with his guards,
for he supposed that Amalickiah had fulfilled his commands, and
that Amalickiah had gathered together so great an army to go
against the Nephites to battle.
Alma 47:Verse 22
22 But behold, as the king came out to meet him
Amalickiah caused that his servants should go forth to meet the
king. And they went and bowed themselves before the king, as if to
reverence him because of his greatness.
Alma 47:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand
to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of
peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites.
Alma 47:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that when he had raised the
first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and
he fell to the earth.
Alma 47:Verse 25
25 Now the servants of the king fled; and the servants
of Amalickiah raised a cry, saying:
Alma 47:Verse 26
26 Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to
the heart, and he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and
see.
Alma 47:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that Amalickiah commanded that
his armies should march forth and see what had happened to the
king; and when they had come to the spot, and found the king lying
in his gore, Amalickiah pretended to be wroth, and said: Whosoever
loved the king, let him go forth, and pursue his servants that they
may be slain.
Alma 47:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that all they who loved the
king, when they heard these words, came forth and pursued after the
servants of the king.
Alma 47:Verse 29
29 Now when the servants of the king saw an army
pursuing after them, they were frightened again, and fled into the
wilderness, and came over into the land of Zarahemla and joined the
people of Ammon.
Alma 47:Verse 30
30 And the army which pursued after them returned,
having pursued after them in vain; and thus Amalickiah, by his
fraud, gained the hearts of the people.
Alma 47:Verse 31
31 And it came to pass on the morrow he entered the
city Nephi with his armies, and took possession of the city.
Alma 47:Verse 32
32 And now it came to pass that the queen, when she had
heard that the king was slain--for Amalickiah had sent an embassy
to the queen informing her that the king had been slain by his
servants, that he had pursued them with his army, but it was in
vain, and they had made their escape--
Alma 47:Verse 33
33 Therefore, when the queen had received this message
she sent unto Amalickiah, desiring him that he would spare the
people of the city; and she also desired him that he should come in
unto her; and she also desired him that he should bring witnesses
with him to testify concerning the death of the king.
Alma 47:Verse 34
34 And it came to pass that Amalickiah took the same
servant that slew the king, and all them who were with him, and
went in unto the queen, unto the place where she sat; and they all
testified unto her that the king was slain by his own servants; and
they said also: They have fled; does not this testify against them?
And thus they satisfied the queen concerning the death of the
king.
Alma 47:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that Amalickiah sought the favor
of the queen, and took her unto him to wife; and thus by his fraud,
and by the assistance of his cunning servants, he obtained the
kingdom; yea, he was acknowledged king throughout all the land,
among all the people of the Lamanites, who were composed of the
Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites, and all the
dissenters of the Nephites, from the reign of Nephi down to the
present time.
Alma 47:Verse 36
36 Now these dissenters, having the same instruction
and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been
instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is
strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became
more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious
than the Lamanites--drinking in with the traditions of the
Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of
lasciviousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God.
Chapter 48
Alma 48:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that, as soon as Amalickiah
had obtained the kingdom he began to inspire the hearts of the
Lamanites against the people of Nephi; yea, he did appoint men to
speak unto the Lamanites from their towers, against the
Nephites.
Alma 48:Verse 2
2 And thus he did inspire their hearts against the
Nephites, insomuch that in the latter end of the nineteenth year of
the reign of the judges, he having accomplished his designs thus
far, yea, having been made king over the Lamanites, he sought also
to reign over all the land, yea, and all the people who were in the
land, the Nephites as well as the Lamanites.
Alma 48:Verse 3
3 Therefore he had accomplished his design, for he had
hardened the hearts of the Lamanites and blinded their minds, and
stirred them up to anger, insomuch that he had gathered together a
numerous host to go to battle against the Nephites.
Alma 48:Verse 4
4 For he was determined, because of the greatness of
the number of his people, to overpower the Nephites and to bring
them into bondage.
Alma 48:Verse 5
5 And thus he did appoint chief captains of the
Zoramites, they being the most acquainted with the strength of the
Nephites, and their places of resort, and the weakest parts of
their cities; therefore he appointed them to be chief captains over
his armies.
Alma 48:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that they took their camp, and
moved forth toward the land of Zarahemla in the wilderness.
Alma 48:Verse 7
7 Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus
been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other
hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful
unto the Lord their God.
Alma 48:Verse 8
8 Yea, he had been strengthening the armies of the
Nephites, and erecting small forts, or places of resort; throwing
up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also
building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their
cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the
land.
Alma 48:Verse 9
9 And in their weakest fortifications he did place the
greater number of men; and thus he did fortify and strengthen the
land which was possessed by the Nephites.
Alma 48:Verse 10
10 And thus he was preparing to support their liberty,
their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and
that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might
maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of
Christians.
Alma 48:Verse 11
11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a
man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in
bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom
of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;
Alma 48:Verse 12
12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving
to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed
upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare
and safety of his people.
Alma 48:Verse 13
13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of
Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his
rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his
blood.
Alma 48:Verse 14
14 Now the Nephites were taught to defend themselves
against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were
necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense,
yea, and never to raise the sword except it were against an enemy,
except it were to preserve their lives.
Alma 48:Verse 15
15 And this was their faith, that by so doing God would
prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful
in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in
the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according
to their danger;
Alma 48:Verse 16
16 And also, that God would make it known unto them
whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies,
and by so doing, the Lord would deliver them; and this was the
faith of Moroni, and his heart did glory in it; not in the shedding
of blood but in doing good, in preserving his people, yea, in
keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity.
Alma 48:Verse 17
17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had
been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the
very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil
would never have power over the hearts of the children of
men.
Alma 48:Verse 18
18 Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon, the son of
Mosiah, yea, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma
and his sons, for they were all men of God.
Alma 48:Verse 19
19 Now behold, Helaman and his brethren were no less
serviceable unto the people than was Moroni; for they did preach
the word of God, and they did baptize unto repentance all men
whosoever would hearken unto their words.
Alma 48:Verse 20
20 And thus they went forth, and the people did humble
themselves because of their words, insomuch that they were highly
favored of the Lord, and thus they were free from wars and
contentions among themselves, yea, even for the space of four
years.
Alma 48:Verse 21
21 But, as I have said, in the latter end of the
nineteenth year, yea, notwithstanding their peace amongst
themselves, they were compelled reluctantly to contend with their
brethren, the Lamanites.
Alma 48:Verse 22
22 Yea, and in fine, their wars never did cease for the
space of many years with the Lamanites, notwithstanding their much
reluctance.
Alma 48:Verse 23
23 Now, they were sorry to take up arms against the
Lamanites, because they did not delight in the shedding of blood;
yea, and this was not all--they were sorry to be the means of
sending so many of their brethren out of this world into an eternal
world, unprepared to meet their God.
Alma 48:Verse 24
24 Nevertheless, they could not suffer to lay down
their lives, that their wives and their children should be
massacred by the barbarous cruelty of those who were once their
brethren, yea, and had dissented from their church, and had left
them and had gone to destroy them by joining the Lamanites.
Alma 48:Verse 25
25 Yea, they could not bear that their brethren should
rejoice over the blood of the Nephites, so long as there were any
who should keep the commandments of God, for the promise of the
Lord was, if they should keep his commandments they should prosper
in the land.
Chapter 49
Alma 49:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass in the eleventh month of the
nineteenth year, on the tenth day of the month, the armies of the
Lamanites were seen approaching towards the land of
Ammonihah.
Alma 49:Verse 2
2 And behold, the city had been rebuilt, and Moroni had
stationed an army by the borders of the city, and they had cast up
dirt round about to shield them from the arrows and the stones of
the Lamanites; for behold, they fought with stones and with
arrows.
Alma 49:Verse 3
3 Behold, I said that the city of Ammonihah had been
rebuilt. I say unto you, yea, that it was in part rebuilt; and
because the Lamanites had destroyed it once because of the iniquity
of the people, they supposed that it would again become an easy
prey for them.
Alma 49:Verse 4
4 But behold, how great was their disappointment; for
behold, the Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them,
which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones
and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither could
they come upon them save it was by their place of entrance.
Alma 49:Verse 5
5 Now at this time the chief captains of the Lamanites
were astonished exceedingly, because of the wisdom of the Nephites
in preparing their places of security.
Alma 49:Verse 6
6 Now the leaders of the Lamanites had supposed,
because of the greatness of their numbers, yea, they supposed that
they should be privileged to come upon them as they had hitherto
done; yea, and they had also prepared themselves with shields, and
with breastplates; and they had also prepared themselves with
garments of skins, yea, very thick garments to cover their
nakedness.
Alma 49:Verse 7
7 And being thus prepared they supposed that they
should easily overpower and subject their brethren to the yoke of
bondage, or slay and massacre them according to their
pleasure.
Alma 49:Verse 8
8 But behold, to their uttermost astonishment, they
were prepared for them, in a manner which never had been known
among the children of Lehi. Now they were prepared for the
Lamanites, to battle after the manner of the instructions of
Moroni.
Alma 49:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that the Lamanites, or the
Amalickiahites, were exceedingly astonished at their manner of
preparation for war.
Alma 49:Verse 10
10 Now, if king Amalickiah had come down out of the
land of Nephi, at the head of his army, perhaps he would have
caused the Lamanites to have attacked the Nephites at the city of
Ammonihah; for behold, he did care not for the blood of his
people.
Alma 49:Verse 11
11 But behold, Amalickiah did not come down himself to
battle. And behold, his chief captains durst not attack the
Nephites at the city of Ammonihah, for Moroni had altered the
management of affairs among the Nephites, insomuch that the
Lamanites were disappointed in their places of retreat and they
could not come upon them.
Alma 49:Verse 12
12 Therefore they retreated into the wilderness, and
took their camp and marched towards the land of Noah, supposing
that to be the next best place for them to come against the
Nephites.
Alma 49:Verse 13
13 For they knew not that Moroni had fortified, or had
built forts of security, for every city in all the land round
about; therefore, they marched forward to the land of Noah with a
firm determination; yea, their chief captains came forward and took
an oath that they would destroy the people of that city.
Alma 49:Verse 14
14 But behold, to their astonishment, the city of Noah,
which had hitherto been a weak place, had now, by the means of
Moroni, become strong, yea, even to exceed the strength of the city
Ammonihah.
Alma 49:Verse 15
15 And now, behold, this was wisdom in Moroni; for he
had supposed that they would be frightened at the city Ammonihah;
and as the city of Noah had hitherto been the weakest part of the
land, therefore they would march thither to battle; and thus it was
according to his desires.
Alma 49:Verse 16
16 And behold, Moroni had appointed Lehi to be chief
captain over the men of that city; and it was that same Lehi who
fought with the Lamanites in the valley on the east of the river
Sidon.
Alma 49:Verse 17
17 And now behold it came to pass, that when the
Lamanites had found that Lehi commanded the city they were again
disappointed, for they feared Lehi exceedingly; nevertheless their
chief captains had sworn with an oath to attack the city;
therefore, they brought up their armies.
Alma 49:Verse 18
18 Now behold, the Lamanites could not get into their
forts of security by any other way save by the entrance, because of
the highness of the bank which had been thrown up, and the depth of
the ditch which had been dug round about, save it were by the
entrance.
Alma 49:Verse 19
19 And thus were the Nephites prepared to destroy all
such as should attempt to climb up to enter the fort by any other
way, by casting over stones and arrows at them.
Alma 49:Verse 20
20 Thus they were prepared, yea, a body of their
strongest men, with their swords and their slings, to smite down
all who should attempt to come into their place of security by the
place of entrance; and thus were they prepared to defend themselves
against the Lamanites.
Alma 49:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that the captains of the
Lamanites brought up their armies before the place of entrance, and
began to contend with the Nephites, to get into their place of
security; but behold, they were driven back from time to time,
insomuch that they were slain with an immense slaughter.
Alma 49:Verse 22
22 Now when they found that they could not obtain power
over the Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks
of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies, that they
might have an equal chance to fight; but behold, in these attempts
they were swept off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at
them; and instead of filling up their ditches by pulling down the
banks of earth, they were filled up in a measure with their dead
and wounded bodies.
Alma 49:Verse 23
23 Thus the Nephites had all power over their enemies;
and thus the Lamanites did attempt to destroy the Nephites until
their chief captains were all slain; yea, and more than a thousand
of the Lamanites were slain; while, on the other hand, there was
not a single soul of the Nephites which was slain.
Alma 49:Verse 24
24 There were about fifty who were wounded, who had
been exposed to the arrows of the Lamanites through the pass, but
they were shielded by their shields, and their breastplates, and
their head-plates, insomuch that their wounds were upon their legs,
many of which were very severe.
Alma 49:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass, that when the Lamanites saw
that their chief captains were all slain they fled into the
wilderness. And it came to pass that they returned to the land of
Nephi, to inform their king, Amalickiah, who was a Nephite by
birth, concerning their great loss.
Alma 49:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that he was exceedingly angry
with his people, because he had not obtained his desire over the
Nephites; he had not subjected them to the yoke of bondage.
Alma 49:Verse 27
27 Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God,
and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his
blood; and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in
preparing for the safety of his people.
Alma 49:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass, that on the other hand, the
people of Nephi did thank the Lord their God, because of his
matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their
enemies.
Alma 49:Verse 29
29 And thus ended the nineteenth year of the reign of
the judges over the people of Nephi.
Alma 49:Verse 30
30 Yea, and there was continual peace among them, and
exceedingly great prosperity in the church because of their heed
and diligence which they gave unto the word of God, which was
declared unto them by Helaman, and Shiblon, and Corianton, and
Ammon and his brethren, yea, and by all those who had been ordained
by the holy order of God, being baptized unto repentance, and sent
forth to preach among the people.
Chapter 50
Alma 50:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop
making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the
Lamanites; for he caused that his armies should commence in the
commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that
they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all
the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the
Nephites.
Alma 50:Verse 2
2 And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused
that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the
height of a man, round about the cities.
Alma 50:Verse 3
3 And he caused that upon those works of timbers there
should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about;
and they were strong and high.
Alma 50:Verse 4
4 And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked
those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be
built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the
Lamanites could not hurt them.
Alma 50:Verse 5
5 And they were prepared that they could cast stones
from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their
strength, and slay him who should attempt to approach near the
walls of the city.
Alma 50:Verse 6
6 Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the
coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the
land.
Alma 50:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his
armies should go forth into the east wilderness; yea, and they went
forth and drove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness
into their own lands, which were south of the land of
Zarahemla.
Alma 50:Verse 8
8 And the land of Nephi did run in a straight course
from the east sea to the west.
Alma 50:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that when Moroni had driven all
the Lamanites out of the east wilderness, which was north of the
lands of their own possessions, he caused that the inhabitants who
were in the land of Zarahemla and in the land round about should go
forth into the east wilderness, even to the borders by the
seashore, and possess the land.
Alma 50:Verse 10
10 And he also placed armies on the south, in the
borders of their possessions, and caused them to erect
fortifications that they might secure their armies and their people
from the hands of their enemies.
Alma 50:Verse 11
11 And thus he cut off all the strongholds of the
Lamanites in the east wilderness, yea, and also on the west,
fortifying the line between the Nephites and the Lamanites, between
the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi, from the west sea,
running by the head of the river Sidon--the Nephites possessing all
the land northward, yea, even all the land which was northward of
the land Bountiful, according to their pleasure.
Alma 50:Verse 12
12 Thus Moroni, with his armies, which did increase
daily because of the assurance of protection which his works did
bring forth unto them, did seek to cut off the strength and the
power of the Lamanites from off the lands of their possessions,
that they should have no power upon the lands of their
possession.
Alma 50:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that the Nephites began the
foundation of a city, and they called the name of the city Moroni;
and it was by the east sea; and it was on the south by the line of
the possessions of the Lamanites.
Alma 50:Verse 14
14 And they also began a foundation for a city between
the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the borders of
Aaron and Moroni; and they called the name of the city, or the
land, Nephihah.
Alma 50:Verse 15
15 And they also began in that same year to build many
cities on the north, one in a particular manner which they called
Lehi, which was in the north by the borders of the seashore.
Alma 50:Verse 16
16 And thus ended the twentieth year.
Alma 50:Verse 17
17 And in these prosperous circumstances were the
people of Nephi in the commencement of the twenty and first year of
the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Alma 50:Verse 18
18 And they did prosper exceedingly, and they became
exceedingly rich; yea, and they did multiply and wax strong in the
land.
Alma 50:Verse 19
19 And thus we see how merciful and just are all the
dealings of the Lord, to the fulfilling of all his words unto the
children of men; yea, we can behold that his words are verified,
even at this time, which he spake unto Lehi, saying:
Alma 50:Verse 20
20 Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be
blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall
prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep
my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the
Lord.
Alma 50:Verse 21
21 And we see that these promises have been verified to
the people of Nephi; for it has been their quarrelings and their
contentions, yea, their murderings, and their plunderings, their
idolatry, their whoredoms, and their abominations, which were among
themselves, which brought upon them their wars and their
destructions.
Alma 50:Verse 22
22 And those who were faithful in keeping the
commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times, whilst
thousands of their wicked brethren have been consigned to bondage,
or to perish by the sword, or to dwindle in unbelief, and mingle
with the Lamanites.
Alma 50:Verse 23
23 But behold there never was a happier time among the
people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of
Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the
reign of the judges.
Alma 50:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that the twenty and second year
of the reign of the judges also ended in peace; yea, and also the
twenty and third year.
Alma 50:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the
twenty and fourth year of the reign of the judges, there would also
have been peace among the people of Nephi had it not been for a
contention which took place among them concerning the land of Lehi,
and the land of Morianton, which joined upon the borders of Lehi;
both of which were on the borders by the seashore.
Alma 50:Verse 26
26 For behold, the people who possessed the land of
Morianton did claim a part of the land of Lehi; therefore there
began to be a warm contention between them, insomuch that the
people of Morianton took up arms against their brethren, and they
were determined by the sword to slay them.
Alma 50:Verse 27
27 But behold, the people who possessed the land of
Lehi fled to the camp of Moroni, and appealed unto him for
assistance; for behold they were not in the wrong.
Alma 50:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that when the people of
Morianton, who were led by a man whose name was Morianton, found
that the people of Lehi had fled to the camp of Moroni, they were
exceedingly fearful lest the army of Moroni should come upon them
and destroy them.
Alma 50:Verse 29
29 Therefore, Morianton put it into their hearts that
they should flee to the land which was northward, which was covered
with large bodies of water, and take possession of the land which
was northward.
Alma 50:Verse 30
30 And behold, they would have carried this plan into
effect, (which would have been a cause to have been lamented) but
behold, Morianton being a man of much passion, therefore he was
angry with one of his maid servants, and he fell upon her and beat
her much.
Alma 50:Verse 31
31 And it came to pass that she fled, and came over to
the camp of Moroni, and told Moroni all things concerning the
matter, and also concerning their intentions to flee into the land
northward.
Alma 50:Verse 32
32 Now behold, the people who were in the land
Bountiful, or rather Moroni, feared that they would hearken to the
words of Morianton and unite with his people, and thus he would
obtain possession of those parts of the land, which would lay a
foundation for serious consequences among the people of Nephi, yea,
which consequences would lead to the overthrow of their
liberty.
Alma 50:Verse 33
33 Therefore Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to
head the people of Morianton, to stop their flight into the land
northward.
Alma 50:Verse 34
34 And it came to pass that they did not head them
until they had come to the borders of the land Desolation; and
there they did head them, by the narrow pass which led by the sea
into the land northward, yea, by the sea, on the west and on the
east.
Alma 50:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that the army which was sent by
Moroni, which was led by a man whose name was Teancum, did meet the
people of Morianton; and so stubborn were the people of Morianton,
(being inspired by his wickedness and his flattering words) that a
battle commenced between them, in the which Teancum did slay
Morianton and defeat his army, and took them prisoners, and
returned to the camp of Moroni. And thus ended the twenty and
fourth year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi.
Alma 50:Verse 36
36 And thus were the people of Morianton brought back.
And upon their covenanting to keep the peace they were restored to
the land of Morianton, and a union took place between them and the
people of Lehi; and they were also restored to their lands.
Alma 50:Verse 37
37 And it came to pass that in the same year that the
people of Nephi had peace restored unto them, that Nephihah, the
second chief judge, died, having filled the judgment-seat with
perfect uprightness before God.
Alma 50:Verse 38
38 Nevertheless, he had refused Alma to take possession
of those records and those things which were esteemed by Alma and
his fathers to be most sacred; therefore Alma had conferred them
upon his son, Helaman.
Alma 50:Verse 39
39 Behold, it came to pass that the son of Nephihah was
appointed to fill the judgment-seat, in the stead of his father;
yea, he was appointed chief judge and governor over the people,
with an oath and sacred ordinance to judge righteously, and to keep
the peace and the freedom of the people, and to grant unto them
their sacred privileges to worship the Lord their God, yea, to
support and maintain the cause of God all his days, and to bring
the wicked to justice according to their crime.
Alma 50:Verse 40
40 Now behold, his name was Pahoran. And Pahoran did
fill the seat of his father, and did commence his reign in the end
of the twenty and fourth year, over the people of Nephi.
Chapter 51
Alma 51:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass in the commencement of the
twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi, they having established peace between the people of Lehi and
the people of Morianton concerning their lands, and having
commenced the twenty and fifth year in peace;
Alma 51:Verse 2
2 Nevertheless, they did not long maintain an entire
peace in the land, for there began to be a contention among the
people concerning the chief judge Pahoran; for behold, there were a
part of the people who desired that a few particular points of the
law should be altered.
Alma 51:Verse 3
3 But behold, Pahoran would not alter nor suffer the
law to be altered; therefore, he did not hearken to those who had
sent in their voices with their petitions concerning the altering
of the law.
Alma 51:Verse 4
4 Therefore, those who were desirous that the law
should be altered were angry with him, and desired that he should
no longer be chief judge over the land; therefore there arose a
warm dispute concerning the matter, but not unto bloodshed.
Alma 51:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that those who were desirous that
Pahoran should be dethroned from the judgment-seat were called
king-men, for they were desirous that the law should be altered in
a manner to overthrow the free government and to establish a king
over the land.
Alma 51:Verse 6
6 And those who were desirous that Pahoran should
remain chief judge over the land took upon them the name of
freemen; and thus was the division among them, for the freemen had
sworn or covenanted to maintain their rights and the privileges of
their religion by a free government.
Alma 51:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that this matter of their
contention was settled by the voice of the people. And it came to
pass that the voice of the people came in favor of the freemen, and
Pahoran retained the judgment-seat, which caused much rejoicing
among the brethren of Pahoran and also many of the people of
liberty, who also put the king-men to silence, that they durst not
oppose but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom.
Alma 51:Verse 8
8 Now those who were in favor of kings were those of
high birth, and they sought to be kings; and they were supported by
those who sought power and authority over the people.
Alma 51:Verse 9
9 But behold, this was a critical time for such
contentions to be among the people of Nephi; for behold, Amalickiah
had again stirred up the hearts of the people of the Lamanites
against the people of the Nephites, and he was gathering together
soldiers from all parts of his land, and arming them, and preparing
for war with all diligence; for he had sworn to drink the blood of
Moroni.
Alma 51:Verse 10
10 But behold, we shall see that his promise which he
made was rash; nevertheless, he did prepare himself and his armies
to come to battle against the Nephites.
Alma 51:Verse 11
11 Now his armies were not so great as they had
hitherto been, because of the many thousands who had been slain by
the hand of the Nephites; but notwithstanding their great loss,
Amalickiah had gathered together a wonderfully great army, insomuch
that he feared not to come down to the land of Zarahemla.
Alma 51:Verse 12
12 Yea, even Amalickiah did himself come down, at the
head of the Lamanites. And it was in the twenty and fifth year of
the reign of the judges; and it was at the same time that they had
begun to settle the affairs of their contentions concerning the
chief judge, Pahoran.
Alma 51:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that when the men who were
called king-men had heard that the Lamanites were coming down to
battle against them, they were glad in their hearts; and they
refused to take up arms, for they were so wroth with the chief
judge, and also with the people of liberty, that they would not
take up arms to defend their country.
Alma 51:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that when Moroni saw this, and
also saw that the Lamanites were coming into the borders of the
land, he was exceedingly wroth because of the stubbornness of those
people whom he had labored with so much diligence to preserve; yea,
he was exceedingly wroth; his soul was filled with anger against
them.
Alma 51:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that he sent a petition, with
the voice of the people, unto the governor of the land, desiring
that he should read it, and give him (Moroni) power to compel those
dissenters to defend their country or to put them to death.
Alma 51:Verse 16
16 For it was his first care to put an end to such
contentions and dissensions among the people; for behold, this had
been hitherto a cause of all their destruction. And it came to pass
that it was granted according to the voice of the people.
Alma 51:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that Moroni commanded that his
army should go against those king-men, to pull down their pride and
their nobility and level them with the earth, or they should take
up arms and support the cause of liberty.
Alma 51:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that the armies did march forth
against them; and they did pull down their pride and their
nobility, insomuch that as they did lift their weapons of war to
fight against the men of Moroni they were hewn down and leveled to
the earth.
Alma 51:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that there were four thousand of
those dissenters who were hewn down by the sword; and those of
their leaders who were not slain in battle were taken and cast into
prison, for there was no time for their trials at this
period.
Alma 51:Verse 20
20 And the remainder of those dissenters, rather than
be smitten down to the earth by the sword, yielded to the standard
of liberty, and were compelled to hoist the title of liberty upon
their towers, and in their cities, and to take up arms in defence
of their country.
Alma 51:Verse 21
21 And thus Moroni put an end to those king-men, that
there were not any known by the appellation of king-men; and thus
he put an end to the stubbornness and the pride of those people who
professed the blood of nobility; but they were brought down to
humble themselves like unto their brethren, and to fight valiantly
for their freedom from bondage.
Alma 51:Verse 22
22 Behold, it came to pass that while Moroni was thus
breaking down the wars and contentions among his own people, and
subjecting them to peace and civilization, and making regulations
to prepare for war against the Lamanites, behold, the Lamanites had
come into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the
seashore.
Alma 51:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that the Nephites were not
sufficiently strong in the city of Moroni; therefore Amalickiah did
drive them, slaying many. And it came to pass that Amalickiah took
possession of the city, yea, possession of all their
fortifications.
Alma 51:Verse 24
24 And those who fled out of the city of Moroni came to
the city of Nephihah; and also the people of the city of Lehi
gathered themselves together, and made preparations and were ready
to receive the Lamanites to battle.
Alma 51:Verse 25
25 But it came to pass that Amalickiah would not suffer
the Lamanites to go against the city of Nephihah to battle, but
kept them down by the seashore, leaving men in every city to
maintain and defend it.
Alma 51:Verse 26
26 And thus he went on, taking possession of many
cities, the city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of
Morianton, and the city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city
of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders by the
seashore.
Alma 51:Verse 27
27 And thus had the Lamanites obtained, by the cunning
of Amalickiah, so many cities, by their numberless hosts, all of
which were strongly fortified after the manner of the
fortifications of Moroni; all of which afforded strongholds for the
Lamanites.
Alma 51:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that they marched to the borders
of the land Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and slaying
many.
Alma 51:Verse 29
29 But it came to pass that they were met by Teancum,
who had slain Morianton and had headed his people in his
flight.
Alma 51:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass that he headed Amalickiah also,
as he was marching forth with his numerous army that he might take
possession of the land Bountiful, and also the land
northward.
Alma 51:Verse 31
31 But behold he met with a disappointment by being
repulsed by Teancum and his men, for they were great warriors; for
every man of Teancum did exceed the Lamanites in their strength and
in their skill of war, insomuch that they did gain advantage over
the Lamanites.
Alma 51:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that they did harass them,
insomuch that they did slay them even until it was dark. And it
came to pass that Teancum and his men did pitch their tents in the
borders of the land Bountiful; and Amalickiah did pitch his tents
in the borders on the beach by the seashore, and after this manner
were they driven.
Alma 51:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that when the night had come,
Teancum and his servant stole forth and went out by night, and went
into the camp of Amalickiah; and behold, sleep had overpowered them
because of their much fatigue, which was caused by the labors and
heat of the day.
Alma 51:Verse 34
34 And it came to pass that Teancum stole privily into
the tent of the king, and put a javelin to his heart; and he did
cause the death of the king immediately that he did not awake his
servants.
Alma 51:Verse 35
35 And he returned again privily to his own camp, and
behold, his men were asleep, and he awoke them and told them all
the things that he had done.
Alma 51:Verse 36
36 And he caused that his armies should stand in
readiness, lest the Lamanites had awakened and should come upon
them.
Alma 51:Verse 37
37 And thus endeth the twenty and fifth year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and thus endeth the
days of Amalickiah.
Chapter 52
Alma 52:Verse 1
1 AND now, it came to pass in the twenty and sixth year
of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, behold, when
the Lamanites awoke on the first morning of the first month,
behold, they found Amalickiah was dead in his own tent; and they
also saw that Teancum was ready to give them battle on that
day.
Alma 52:Verse 2
2 And now, when the Lamanites saw this they were
affrighted; and they abandoned their design in marching into the
land northward, and retreated with all their army into the city of
Mulek, and sought protection in their fortifications.
Alma 52:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that the brother of Amalickiah
was appointed king over the people; and his name was Ammoron; thus
king Ammoron, the brother of king Amalickiah, was appointed to
reign in his stead.
Alma 52:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that he did command that his
people should maintain those cities, which they had taken by the
shedding of blood; for they had not taken any cities save they had
lost much blood.
Alma 52:Verse 5
5 And now, Teancum saw that the Lamanites were
determined to maintain those cities which they had taken, and those
parts of the land which they had obtained possession of; and also
seeing the enormity of their number, Teancum thought it was not
expedient that he should attempt to attack them in their
forts.
Alma 52:Verse 6
6 But he kept his men round about, as if making
preparations for war; yea, and truly he was preparing to defend
himself against them, by casting up walls round about and preparing
places of resort.
Alma 52:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that he kept thus preparing for
war until Moroni had sent a large number of men to strengthen his
army.
Alma 52:Verse 8
8 And Moroni also sent orders unto him that he should
retain all the prisoners who fell into his hands; for as the
Lamanites had taken many prisoners, that he should retain all the
prisoners of the Lamanites as a ransom for those whom the Lamanites
had taken.
Alma 52:Verse 9
9 And he also sent orders unto him that he should
fortify the land Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led
into the land northward, lest the Lamanites should obtain that
point and should have power to harass them on every side.
Alma 52:Verse 10
10 And Moroni also sent unto him, desiring him that he
would be faithful in maintaining that quarter of the land, and that
he would seek every opportunity to scourge the Lamanites in that
quarter, as much as was in his power, that perhaps he might take
again by stratagem or some other way those cities which had been
taken out of their hands; and that he also would fortify and
strengthen the cities round about, which had not fallen into the
hands of the Lamanites.
Alma 52:Verse 11
11 And he also said unto him, I would come unto you,
but behold, the Lamanites are upon us in the borders of the land by
the west sea; and behold, I go against them, therefore I cannot
come unto you.
Alma 52:Verse 12
12 Now, the king (Ammoron) had departed out of the land
of Zarahemla, and had made known unto the queen concerning the
death of his brother, and had gathered together a large number of
men, and had marched forth against the Nephites on the borders by
the west sea.
Alma 52:Verse 13
13 And thus he was endeavoring to harass the Nephites,
and to draw away a part of their forces to that part of the land,
while he had commanded those whom he had left to possess the cities
which he had taken, that they should also harass the Nephites on
the borders by the east sea, and should take possession of their
lands as much as it was in their power, according to the power of
their armies.
Alma 52:Verse 14
14 And thus were the Nephites in those dangerous
circumstances in the ending of the twenty and sixth year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Alma 52:Verse 15
15 But behold, it came to pass in the twenty and
seventh year of the reign of the judges, that Teancum, by the
command of Moroni--who had established armies to protect the south
and the west borders of the land, and had begun his march towards
the land Bountiful, that he might assist Teancum with his men in
retaking the cities which they had lost--
Alma 52:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that Teancum had received orders
to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and retake it if it were
possible.
Alma 52:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that Teancum made preparations
to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and march forth with his
army against the Lamanites; but he saw that it was impossible that
he could overpower them while they were in their fortifications;
therefore he abandoned his designs and returned again to the city
Bountiful, to wait for the coming of Moroni, that he might receive
strength to his army.
Alma 52:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that Moroni did arrive with his
army at the land of Bountiful, in the latter end of the twenty and
seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi.
Alma 52:Verse 19
19 And in the commencement of the twenty and eighth
year, Moroni and Teancum and many of the chief captains held a
council of war--what they should do to cause the Lamanites to come
out against them to battle; or that they might by some means
flatter them out of their strongholds, that they might gain
advantage over them and take again the city of Mulek.
Alma 52:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass they sent embassies to the army
of the Lamanites, which protected the city of Mulek, to their
leader, whose name was Jacob, desiring him that he would come out
with his armies to meet them upon the plains between the two
cities. But behold, Jacob, who was a Zoramite, would not come out
with his army to meet them upon the plains.
Alma 52:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that Moroni, having no hopes of
meeting them upon fair grounds, therefore, he resolved upon a plan
that he might decoy the Lamanites out of their strongholds.
Alma 52:Verse 22
22 Therefore he caused that Teancum should take a small
number of men and march down near the seashore; and Moroni and his
army, by night, marched in the wilderness, on the west of the city
Mulek; and thus, on the morrow, when the guards of the Lamanites
had discovered Teancum, they ran and told it unto Jacob, their
leader.
Alma 52:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites
did march forth against Teancum, supposing by their numbers to
overpower Teancum because of the smallness of his numbers. And as
Teancum saw the armies of the Lamanites coming out against him he
began to retreat down by the seashore, northward.
Alma 52:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that
he began to flee, they took courage and pursued them with vigor.
And while Teancum was thus leading away the Lamanites who were
pursuing them in vain, behold, Moroni commanded that a part of his
army who were with him should march forth into the city, and take
possession of it.
Alma 52:Verse 25
25 And thus they did, and slew all those who had been
left to protect the city, yea, all those who would not yield up
their weapons of war.
Alma 52:Verse 26
26 And thus Moroni had obtained possession of the city
Mulek with a part of his army, while he marched with the remainder
to meet the Lamanites when they should return from the pursuit of
Teancum.
Alma 52:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue
Teancum until they came near the city Bountiful, and then they were
met by Lehi and a small army, which had been left to protect the
city Bountiful.
Alma 52:Verse 28
28 And now behold, when the chief captains of the
Lamanites had beheld Lehi with his army coming against them, they
fled in much confusion, lest perhaps they should not obtain the
city Mulek before Lehi should overtake them; for they were wearied
because of their march, and the men of Lehi were fresh.
Alma 52:Verse 29
29 Now the Lamanites did not know that Moroni had been
in their rear with his army; and all they feared was Lehi and his
men.
Alma 52:Verse 30
30 Now Lehi was not desirous to overtake them till they
should meet Moroni and his army.
Alma 52:Verse 31
31 And it came to pass that before the Lamanites had
retreated far they were surrounded by the Nephites, by the men of
Moroni on one hand, and the men of Lehi on the other, all of whom
were fresh and full of strength; but the Lamanites were wearied
because of their long march.
Alma 52:Verse 32
32 And Moroni commanded his men that they should fall
upon them until they had given up their weapons of war.
Alma 52:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that Jacob, being their leader,
being also a Zoramite, and having an unconquerable spirit, he led
the Lamanites forth to battle with exceeding fury against
Moroni.
Alma 52:Verse 34
34 Moroni being in their course of march, therefore
Jacob was determined to slay them and cut his way through to the
city of Mulek. But behold, Moroni and his men were more powerful;
therefore they did not give way before the Lamanites.
Alma 52:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that they fought on both hands
with exceeding fury; and there were many slain on both sides; yea,
and Moroni was wounded and Jacob was killed.
Alma 52:Verse 36
36 And Lehi pressed upon their rear with such fury with
his strong men, that the Lamanites in the rear delivered up their
weapons of war; and the remainder of them, being much confused,
knew not whither to go or to strike.
Alma 52:Verse 37
37 Now Moroni seeing their confusion, he said unto
them: If ye will bring forth your weapons of war and deliver them
up, behold we will forbear shedding your blood.
Alma 52:Verse 38
38 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had
heard these words, their chief captains, all those who were not
slain, came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet
of Moroni, and also commanded their men that they should do the
same.
Alma 52:Verse 39
39 But behold, there were many that would not; and
those who would not deliver up their swords were taken and bound,
and their weapons of war were taken from them, and they were
compelled to march with their brethren forth into the land
Bountiful.
Alma 52:Verse 40
40 And now the number of prisoners who were taken
exceeded more than the number of those who had been slain, yea,
more than those who had been slain on both sides.
Chapter 53
Alma 53:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that they did set guards over the
prisoners of the Lamanites, and did compel them to go forth and
bury their dead, yea, and also the dead of the Nephites who were
slain; and Moroni placed men over them to guard them while they
should perform their labors.
Alma 53:Verse 2
2 And Moroni went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, and
took command of the city and gave it unto Lehi. Now behold, this
Lehi was a man who had been with Moroni in the more part of all his
battles; and he was a man like unto Moroni, and they rejoiced in
each other's safety; yea, they were beloved by each other, and also
beloved by all the people of Nephi.
Alma 53:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had
finished burying their dead and also the dead of the Nephites, they
were marched back into the land Bountiful; and Teancum, by the
orders of Moroni, caused that they should commence laboring in
digging a ditch round about the land, or the city, Bountiful.
Alma 53:Verse 4
4 And he caused that they should build a breastwork of
timbers upon the inner bank of the ditch; and they cast up dirt out
of the ditch against the breastwork of timbers; and thus they did
cause the Lamanites to labor until they had encircled the city of
Bountiful round about with a strong wall of timbers and earth, to
an exceeding height.
Alma 53:Verse 5
5 And this city became an exceeding stronghold ever
after; and in this city they did guard the prisoners of the
Lamanites; yea, even within a wall which they had caused them to
build with their own hands. Now Moroni was compelled to cause the
Lamanites to labor, because it was easy to guard them while at
their labor; and he desired all his forces when he should make an
attack upon the Lamanites.
Alma 53:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that Moroni had thus gained a
victory over one of the greatest of the armies of the Lamanites,
and had obtained possession of the city of Mulek, which was one of
the strongest holds of the Lamanites in the land of Nephi; and thus
he had also built a stronghold to retain his prisoners.
Alma 53:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that he did no more attempt a
battle with the Lamanites in that year, but he did employ his men
in preparing for war, yea, and in making fortifications to guard
against the Lamanites, yea, and also delivering their women and
their children from famine and affliction, and providing food for
their armies.
Alma 53:Verse 8
8 And now it came to pass that the armies of the
Lamanites, on the west sea, south, while in the absence of Moroni
on account of some intrigue amongst the Nephites, which caused
dissensions amongst them, had gained some ground over the Nephites,
yea, insomuch that they had obtained possession of a number of
their cities in that part of the land.
Alma 53:Verse 9
9 And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea,
because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were
placed in the most dangerous circumstances.
Alma 53:Verse 10
10 And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning
the people of Ammon, who, in the beginning, were Lamanites; but by
Ammon and his brethren, or rather by the power and word of God,
they had been converted unto the Lord; and they had been brought
down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected
by the Nephites.
Alma 53:Verse 11
11 And because of their oath they had been kept from
taking up arms against their brethren; for they had taken an oath
that they never would shed blood more; and according to their oath
they would have perished; yea, they would have suffered themselves
to have fallen into the hands of their brethren, had it not been
for the pity and the exceeding love which Ammon and his brethren
had had for them.
Alma 53:Verse 12
12 And for this cause they were brought down into the
land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the
Nephites.
Alma 53:Verse 13
13 But it came to pass that when they saw the danger,
and the many afflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore
for them, they were moved with compassion and were desirous to take
up arms in the defence of their country.
Alma 53:Verse 14
14 But behold, as they were about to take their weapons
of war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Helaman and his
brethren, for they were about to break the oath which they had
made.
Alma 53:Verse 15
15 And Helaman feared lest by so doing they should lose
their souls; therefore all those who had entered into this covenant
were compelled to behold their brethren wade through their
afflictions, in their dangerous circumstances at this time.
Alma 53:Verse 16
16 But behold, it came to pass they had many sons, who
had not entered into a covenant that they would not take their
weapons of war to defend themselves against their enemies;
therefore they did assemble themselves together at this time, as
many as were able to take up arms, and they called themselves
Nephites.
Alma 53:Verse 17
17 And they entered into a covenant to fight for the
liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the laying
down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never
would give up their liberty, but they would fight in all cases to
protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.
Alma 53:Verse 18
18 Now behold, there were two thousand of those young
men, who entered into this covenant and took their weapons of war
to defend their country.
Alma 53:Verse 19
19 And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a
disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of
time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and
they would that Helaman should be their leader.
Alma 53:Verse 20
20 And they were all young men, and they were
exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and
activity; but behold, this was not all--they were men who were true
at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
Alma 53:Verse 21
21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they
had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk
uprightly before him.
Alma 53:Verse 22
22 And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at
the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of
the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west
sea.
Alma 53:Verse 23
23 And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Chapter 54
Alma 54:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass in the commencement of the
twenty and ninth year of the judges, that Ammoron sent unto Moroni
desiring that he would exchange prisoners.
Alma 54:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that Moroni felt to rejoice
exceedingly at this request, for he desired the provisions which
were imparted for the support of the Lamanite prisoners for the
support of his own people; and he also desired his own people for
the strengthening of his army.
Alma 54:Verse 3
3 Now the Lamanites had taken many women and children,
and there was not a woman nor a child among all the prisoners of
Moroni, or the prisoners whom Moroni had taken; therefore Moroni
resolved upon a stratagem to obtain as many prisoners of the
Nephites from the Lamanites as it were possible.
Alma 54:Verse 4
4 Therefore he wrote an epistle, and sent it by the
servant of Ammoron, the same who had brought an epistle to Moroni.
Now these are the words which he wrote unto Ammoron, saying:
Alma 54:Verse 5
5 Behold, Ammoron, I have written unto you somewhat
concerning this war which ye have waged against my people, or
rather which thy brother hath waged against them, and which ye are
still determined to carry on after his death.
Alma 54:Verse 6
6 Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the
justice of God, and the sword of his almighty wrath, which doth
hang over you except ye repent and withdraw your armies into your
own lands, or the land of your possessions, which is the land of
Nephi.
Alma 54:Verse 7
7 Yea, I would tell you these things if ye were capable
of hearkening unto them; yea, I would tell you concerning that
awful hell that awaits to receive such murderers as thou and thy
brother have been, except ye repent and withdraw your murderous
purposes, and return with your armies to your own lands.
Alma 54:Verse 8
8 But as ye have once rejected these things, and have
fought against the people of the Lord, even so I may expect you
will do it again.
Alma 54:Verse 9
9 And now behold, we are prepared to receive you; yea,
and except you withdraw your purposes, behold, ye will pull down
the wrath of that God whom you have rejected upon you, even to your
utter destruction.
Alma 54:Verse 10
10 But, as the Lord liveth, our armies shall come upon
you except ye withdraw, and ye shall soon be visited with death,
for we will retain our cities and our lands; yea, and we will
maintain our religion and the cause of our God.
Alma 54:Verse 11
11 But behold, it supposeth me that I talk to you
concerning these things in vain; or it supposeth me that thou art a
child of hell; therefore I will close my epistle by telling you
that I will not exchange prisoners, save it be on conditions that
ye will deliver up a man and his wife and his children, for one
prisoner; if this be the case that ye will do it, I will
exchange.
Alma 54:Verse 12
12 And behold, if ye do not this, I will come against
you with my armies; yea, even I will arm my women and my children,
and I will come against you, and I will follow you even into your
own land, which is the land of our first inheritance; yea, and it
shall be blood for blood, yea, life for life; and I will give you
battle even until you are destroyed from off the face of the
earth.
Alma 54:Verse 13
13 Behold, I am in my anger, and also my people; ye
have sought to murder us, and we have only sought to defend
ourselves. But behold, if ye seek to destroy us more we will seek
to destroy you; yea, and we will seek our land, the land of our
first inheritance.
Alma 54:Verse 14
14 Now I close my epistle. I am Moroni; I am a leader
of the people of the Nephites.
Alma 54:Verse 15
15 Now it came to pass that Ammoron, when he had
received this epistle, was angry; and he wrote another epistle unto
Moroni, and these are the words which he wrote, saying:
Alma 54:Verse 16
16 I am Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites; I am the
brother of Amalickiah whom ye have murdered. Behold, I will avenge
his blood upon you, yea, and I will come upon you with my armies
for I fear not your threatenings.
Alma 54:Verse 17
17 For behold, your fathers did wrong their brethren,
insomuch that they did rob them of their right to the government
when it rightly belonged unto them.
Alma 54:Verse 18
18 And now behold, if ye will lay down your arms, and
subject yourselves to be governed by those to whom the government
doth rightly belong, then will I cause that my people shall lay
down their weapons and shall be at war no more.
Alma 54:Verse 19
19 Behold, ye have breathed out many threatenings
against me and my people; but behold, we fear not your
threatenings.
Alma 54:Verse 20
20 Nevertheless, I will grant to exchange prisoners
according to your request, gladly, that I may preserve my food for
my men of war; and we will wage a war which shall be eternal,
either to the subjecting the Nephites to our authority or to their
eternal extinction.
Alma 54:Verse 21
21 And as concerning that God whom ye say we have
rejected, behold, we know not such a being; neither do ye; but if
it so be that there is such a being, we know not but that he hath
made us as well as you.
Alma 54:Verse 22
22 And if it so be that there is a devil and a hell,
behold will he not send you there to dwell with my brother whom ye
have murdered, whom ye have hinted that he hath gone to such a
place? But behold these things matter not.
Alma 54:Verse 23
23 I am Ammoron, and a descendant of Zoram, whom your
fathers pressed and brought out of Jerusalem.
Alma 54:Verse 24
24 And behold now, I am a bold Lamanite; behold, this
war hath been waged to avenge their wrongs, and to maintain and to
obtain their rights to the government; and I close my epistle to
Moroni.
Chapter 55
Alma 55:Verse 1
1 NOW it came to pass that when Moroni had received
this epistle he was more angry, because he knew that Ammoron had a
perfect knowledge of his fraud; yea, he knew that Ammoron knew that
it was not a just cause that had caused him to wage a war against
the people of Nephi.
Alma 55:Verse 2
2 And he said: Behold, I will not exchange prisoners
with Ammoron save he will withdraw his purpose, as I have stated in
my epistle; for I will not grant unto him that he shall have any
more power than what he hath got.
Alma 55:Verse 3
3 Behold, I know the place where the Lamanites do guard
my people whom they have taken prisoners; and as Ammoron would not
grant unto me mine epistle, behold, I will give unto him according
to my words; yea, I will seek death among them until they shall sue
for peace.
Alma 55:Verse 4
4 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said
these words, he caused that a search should be made among his men,
that perhaps he might find a man who was a descendant of Laman
among them.
Alma 55:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that they found one, whose name
was Laman; and he was one of the servants of the king who was
murdered by Amalickiah.
Alma 55:Verse 6
6 Now Moroni caused that Laman and a small number of
his men should go forth unto the guards who were over the
Nephites.
Alma 55:Verse 7
7 Now the Nephites were guarded in the city of Gid;
therefore Moroni appointed Laman and caused that a small number of
men should go with him.
Alma 55:Verse 8
8 And when it was evening Laman went to the guards who
were over the Nephites, and behold, they saw him coming and they
hailed him; but he saith unto them: Fear not; behold, I am a
Lamanite. Behold, we have escaped from the Nephites, and they
sleep; and behold we have taken of their wine and brought with
us.
Alma 55:Verse 9
9 Now when the Lamanites heard these words they
received him with joy; and they said unto him: Give us of your
wine, that we may drink; we are glad that ye have thus taken wine
with you for we are weary.
Alma 55:Verse 10
10 But Laman said unto them: Let us keep of our wine
till we go against the Nephites to battle. But this saying only
made them more desirous to drink of the wine;
Alma 55:Verse 11
11 For, said they: We are weary, therefore let us take
of the wine, and by and by we shall receive wine for our rations,
which will strengthen us to go against the Nephites.
Alma 55:Verse 12
12 And Laman said unto them: You may do according to
your desires.
Alma 55:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that they did take of the wine
freely; and it was pleasant to their taste, therefore they took of
it more freely; and it was strong, having been prepared in its
strength.
Alma 55:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass they did drink and were merry,
and by and by they were all drunken.
Alma 55:Verse 15
15 And now when Laman and his men saw that they were
all drunken, and were in a deep sleep, they returned to Moroni and
told him all the things that had happened.
Alma 55:Verse 16
16 And now this was according to the design of Moroni.
And Moroni had prepared his men with weapons of war; and he went to
the city Gid, while the Lamanites were in a deep sleep and drunken,
and cast in weapons of war unto the prisoners, insomuch that they
were all armed;
Alma 55:Verse 17
17 Yea, even to their women, and all those of their
children, as many as were able to use a weapon of war, when Moroni
had armed all those prisoners; and all those things were done in a
profound silence.
Alma 55:Verse 18
18 But had they awakened the Lamanites, behold they
were drunken and the Nephites could have slain them.
Alma 55:Verse 19
19 But behold, this was not the desire of Moroni; he
did not delight in murder or bloodshed, but he delighted in the
saving of his people from destruction; and for this cause he might
not bring upon him injustice, he would not fall upon the Lamanites
and destroy them in their drunkenness.
Alma 55:Verse 20
20 But he had obtained his desires; for he had armed
those prisoners of the Nephites who were within the wall of the
city, and had given them power to gain possession of those parts
which were within the walls.
Alma 55:Verse 21
21 And then he caused the men who were with him to
withdraw a pace from them, and surround the armies of the
Lamanites.
Alma 55:Verse 22
22 Now behold this was done in the night-time, so that
when the Lamanites awoke in the morning they beheld that they were
surrounded by the Nephites without, and that their prisoners were
armed within.
Alma 55:Verse 23
23 And thus they saw that the Nephites had power over
them; and in these circumstances they found that it was not
expedient that they should fight with the Nephites; therefore their
chief captains demanded their weapons of war, and they brought them
forth and cast them at the feet of the Nephites, pleading for
mercy.
Alma 55:Verse 24
24 Now behold, this was the desire of Moroni. He took
them prisoners of war, and took possession of the city, and caused
that all the prisoners should be liberated, who were Nephites; and
they did join the army of Moroni, and were a great strength to his
army.
Alma 55:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that he did cause the Lamanites,
whom he had taken prisoners, that they should commence a labor in
strengthening the fortifications round about the city Gid.
Alma 55:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that when he had fortified the
city Gid, according to his desires, he caused that his prisoners
should be taken to the city Bountiful; and he also guarded that
city with an exceedingly strong force.
Alma 55:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that they did, notwithstanding
all the intrigues of the Lamanites, keep and protect all the
prisoners whom they had taken, and also maintain all the ground and
the advantage which they had retaken.
Alma 55:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that the Nephites began again to
be victorious, and to reclaim their rights and their
privileges.
Alma 55:Verse 29
29 Many times did the Lamanites attempt to encircle
them about by night, but in these attempts they did lose many
prisoners.
Alma 55:Verse 30
30 And many times did they attempt to administer of
their wine to the Nephites, that they might destroy them with
poison or with drunkenness.
Alma 55:Verse 31
31 But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember
the Lord their God in this their time of affliction. They could not
be taken in their snares; yea, they would not partake of their
wine, save they had first given to some of the Lamanite
prisoners.
Alma 55:Verse 32
32 And they were thus cautious that no poison should be
administered among them; for if their wine would poison a Lamanite
it would also poison a Nephite; and thus they did try all their
liquors.
Alma 55:Verse 33
33 And now it came to pass that it was expedient for
Moroni to make preparations to attack the city Morianton; for
behold, the Lamanites had, by their labors, fortified the city
Morianton until it had become an exceeding stronghold.
Alma 55:Verse 34
34 And they were continually bringing new forces into
that city, and also new supplies of provisions.
Alma 55:Verse 35
35 And thus ended the twenty and ninth year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Chapter 56
Alma 56:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass in the commencement of the
thirtieth year of the reign of the judges, on the second day in the
first month, Moroni received an epistle from Helaman, stating the
affairs of the people in that quarter of the land.
Alma 56:Verse 2
2 And these are the words which he wrote, saying: My
dearly beloved brother, Moroni, as well in the Lord as in the
tribulations of our warfare; behold, my beloved brother, I have
somewhat to tell you concerning our warfare in this part of the
land.
Alma 56:Verse 3
3 Behold, two thousand of the sons of those men whom
Ammon brought down out of the land of Nephi--now ye have known that
these were descendants of Laman, who was the eldest son of our
father Lehi;
Alma 56:Verse 4
4 Now I need not rehearse unto you concerning their
traditions or their unbelief, for thou knowest concerning all these
things--
Alma 56:Verse 5
5 Therefore it sufficeth me that I tell you that two
thousand of these young men have taken their weapons of war, and
would that I should be their leader; and we have come forth to
defend our country.
Alma 56:Verse 6
6 And now ye also know concerning the covenant which
their fathers made, that they would not take up their weapons of
war against their brethren to shed blood.
Alma 56:Verse 7
7 But in the twenty and sixth year, when they saw our
afflictions and our tribulations for them, they were about to break
the covenant which they had made and take up their weapons of war
in our defence.
Alma 56:Verse 8
8 But I would not suffer them that they should break
this covenant which they had made, supposing that God would
strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of
the fulfilling the oath which they had taken.
Alma 56:Verse 9
9 But behold, here is one thing in which we may have
great joy. For behold, in the twenty and sixth year, I, Helaman,
did march at the head of these two thousand young men to the city
of Judea, to assist Antipus, whom ye had appointed a leader over
the people of that part of the land.
Alma 56:Verse 10
10 And I did join my two thousand sons, (for they are
worthy to be called sons) to the army of Antipus, in which strength
Antipus did rejoice exceedingly; for behold, his army had been
reduced by the Lamanites because their forces had slain a vast
number of our men, for which cause we have to mourn.
Alma 56:Verse 11
11 Nevertheless, we may console ourselves in this
point, that they have died in the cause of their country and of
their God, yea, and they are happy.
Alma 56:Verse 12
12 And the Lamanites had also retained many prisoners,
all of whom are chief captains, for none other have they spared
alive. And we suppose that they are now at this time in the land of
Nephi; it is so if they are not slain.
Alma 56:Verse 13
13 And now these are the cities of which the Lamanites
have obtained possession by the shedding of the blood of so many of
our valiant men;
Alma 56:Verse 14
14 The land of Manti, or the city of Manti, and the
city of Zeezrom, and the city of Cumeni, and the city of
Antiparah.
Alma 56:Verse 15
15 And these are the cities which they possessed when I
arrived at the city of Judea; and I found Antipus and his men
toiling with their might to fortify the city.
Alma 56:Verse 16
16 Yea, and they were depressed in body as well as in
spirit, for they had fought valiantly by day and toiled by night to
maintain their cities; and thus they had suffered great afflictions
of every kind.
Alma 56:Verse 17
17 And now they were determined to conquer in this
place or die; therefore you may well suppose that this little force
which I brought with me, yea, those sons of mine, gave them great
hopes and much joy.
Alma 56:Verse 18
18 And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw
that Antipus had received a greater strength to his army, they were
compelled by the orders of Ammoron to not come against the city of
Judea, or against us, to battle.
Alma 56:Verse 19
19 And thus were we favored of the Lord; for had they
come upon us in this our weakness they might have perhaps destroyed
our little army; but thus were we preserved.
Alma 56:Verse 20
20 They were commanded by Ammoron to maintain those
cities which they had taken. And thus ended the twenty and sixth
year. And in the commencement of the twenty and seventh year we had
prepared our city and ourselves for defence.
Alma 56:Verse 21
21 Now we were desirous that the Lamanites should come
upon us; for we were not desirous to make an attack upon them in
their strongholds.
Alma 56:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that we kept spies out round
about, to watch the movements of the Lamanites, that they might not
pass us by night nor by day to make an attack upon our other cities
which were on the northward.
Alma 56:Verse 23
23 For we knew in those cities they were not
sufficiently strong to meet them; therefore we were desirous, if
they should pass by us, to fall upon them in their rear, and thus
bring them up in the rear at the same time they were met in the
front. We supposed that we could overpower them; but behold, we
were disappointed in this our desire.
Alma 56:Verse 24
24 They durst not pass by us with their whole army,
neither durst they with a part, lest they should not be
sufficiently strong and they should fall.
Alma 56:Verse 25
25 Neither durst they march down against the city of
Zarahemla; neither durst they cross the head of Sidon, over to the
city of Nephihah.
Alma 56:Verse 26
26 And thus, with their forces, they were determined to
maintain those cities which they had taken.
Alma 56:Verse 27
27 And now it came to pass in the second month of this
year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of
those my two thousand sons.
Alma 56:Verse 28
28 And also there were sent two thousand men unto us
from the land of Zarahemla. And thus we were prepared with ten
thousand men, and provisions for them, and also for their wives and
their children.
Alma 56:Verse 29
29 And the Lamanites, thus seeing our forces increase
daily, and provisions arrive for our support, they began to be
fearful, and began to sally forth, if it were possible to put an
end to our receiving provisions and strength.
Alma 56:Verse 30
30 Now when we saw that the Lamanites began to grow
uneasy on this wise, we were desirous to bring a stratagem into
effect upon them; therefore Antipus ordered that I should march
forth with my little sons to a neighboring city, as if we were
carrying provisions to a neighboring city.
Alma 56:Verse 31
31 And we were to march near the city of Antiparah, as
if we were going to the city beyond, in the borders by the
seashore.
Alma 56:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that we did march forth, as if
with our provisions, to go to that city.
Alma 56:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that Antipus did march forth
with a part of his army, leaving the remainder to maintain the
city. But he did not march forth until I had gone forth with my
little army, and came near the city Antiparah.
Alma 56:Verse 34
34 And now, in the city Antiparah were stationed the
strongest army of the Lamanites; yea, the most numerous.
Alma 56:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that when they had been informed
by their spies, they came forth with their army and marched against
us.
Alma 56:Verse 36
36 And it came to pass that we did flee before them,
northward. And thus we did lead away the most powerful army of the
Lamanites;
Alma 56:Verse 37
37 Yea, even to a considerable distance, insomuch that
when they saw the army of Antipus pursuing them, with their might,
they did not turn to the right nor to the left, but pursued their
march in a straight course after us; and, as we suppose, it was
their intent to slay us before Antipus should overtake them, and
this that they might not be surrounded by our people.
Alma 56:Verse 38
38 And now Antipus, beholding our danger, did speed the
march of his army. But behold, it was night; therefore they did not
overtake us, neither did Antipus overtake them; therefore we did
camp for the night.
Alma 56:Verse 39
39 And it came to pass that before the dawn of the
morning, behold, the Lamanites were pursuing us. Now we were not
sufficiently strong to contend with them; yea, I would not suffer
that my little sons should fall into their hands; therefore we did
continue our march, and we took our march into the
wilderness.
Alma 56:Verse 40
40 Now they durst not turn to the right nor to the left
lest they should be surrounded; neither would I turn to the right
nor to the left lest they should overtake me, and we could not
stand against them, but be slain, and they would make their escape;
and thus we did flee all that day into the wilderness, even until
it was dark.
Alma 56:Verse 41
41 And it came to pass that again, when the light of
the morning came we saw the Lamanites upon us, and we did flee
before them.
Alma 56:Verse 42
42 But it came to pass that they did not pursue us far
before they halted; and it was in the morning of the third day of
the seventh month.
Alma 56:Verse 43
43 And now, whether they were overtaken by Antipus we
knew not, but I said unto my men: Behold, we know not but they have
halted for the purpose that we should come against them, that they
might catch us in their snare;
Alma 56:Verse 44
44 Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against
them to battle?
Alma 56:Verse 45
45 And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni,
that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the
Nephites.
Alma 56:Verse 46
46 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were
all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold
our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall;
then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would
let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the
army of Antipus.
Alma 56:Verse 47
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear
death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers
than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their
mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
Alma 56:Verse 48
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their
mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.
Alma 56:Verse 49
49 And it came to pass that I did return with my two
thousand against these Lamanites who had pursued us. And now
behold, the armies of Antipus had overtaken them, and a terrible
battle had commenced.
Alma 56:Verse 50
50 The army of Antipus being weary, because of their
long march in so short a space of time, were about to fall into the
hands of the Lamanites; and had I not returned with my two thousand
they would have obtained their purpose.
Alma 56:Verse 51
51 For Antipus had fallen by the sword, and many of his
leaders, because of their weariness, which was occasioned by the
speed of their march--therefore the men of Antipus, being confused
because of the fall of their leaders, began to give way before the
Lamanites.
Alma 56:Verse 52
52 And it came to pass that the Lamanites took courage,
and began to pursue them; and thus were the Lamanites pursuing them
with great vigor when Helaman came upon their rear with his two
thousand, and began to slay them exceedingly, insomuch that the
whole army of the Lamanites halted and turned upon Helaman.
Alma 56:Verse 53
53 Now when the people of Antipus saw that the
Lamanites had turned them about, they gathered together their men
and came again upon the rear of the Lamanites.
Alma 56:Verse 54
54 And now it came to pass that we, the people of
Nephi, the people of Antipus, and I with my two thousand, did
surround the Lamanites, and did slay them; yea, insomuch that they
were compelled to deliver up their weapons of war and also
themselves as prisoners of war.
Alma 56:Verse 55
55 And now it came to pass that when they had
surrendered themselves up unto us, behold, I numbered those young
men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them
slain.
Alma 56:Verse 56
56 But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul
of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with
the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with
such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall
upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause
did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war.
Alma 56:Verse 57
57 And as we had no place for our prisoners, that we
could guard them to keep them from the armies of the Lamanites,
therefore we sent them to the land of Zarahemla, and a part of
those men who were not slain of Antipus, with them; and the
remainder I took and joined them to my stripling Ammonites, and
took our march back to the city of Judea.
Chapter 57
Alma 57:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that I received an epistle
from Ammoron, the king, stating that if I would deliver up those
prisoners of war whom we had taken that he would deliver up the
city of Antiparah unto us.
Alma 57:Verse 2
2 But I sent an epistle unto the king, that we were
sure our forces were sufficient to take the city of Antiparah by
our force; and by delivering up the prisoners for that city we
should suppose ourselves unwise, and that we would only deliver up
our prisoners on exchange.
Alma 57:Verse 3
3 And Ammoron refused mine epistle, for he would not
exchange prisoners; therefore we began to make preparations to go
against the city of Antiparah.
Alma 57:Verse 4
4 But the people of Antiparah did leave the city, and
fled to their other cities, which they had possession of, to
fortify them; and thus the city of Antiparah fell into our
hands.
Alma 57:Verse 5
5 And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the
reign of the judges.
Alma 57:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the
twenty and ninth year, we received a supply of provisions, and also
an addition to our army, from the land of Zarahemla, and from the
land round about, to the number of six thousand men, besides sixty
of the sons of the Ammonites who had come to join their brethren,
my little band of two thousand. And now behold, we were strong,
yea, and we had also plenty of provisions brought unto us.
Alma 57:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that it was our desire to wage a
battle with the army which was placed to protect the city
Cumeni.
Alma 57:Verse 8
8 And now behold, I will show unto you that we soon
accomplished our desire; yea, with our strong force, or with a part
of our strong force, we did surround, by night, the city Cumeni, a
little before they were to receive a supply of provisions.
Alma 57:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that we did camp round about the
city for many nights; but we did sleep upon our swords, and keep
guards, that the Lamanites could not come upon us by night and slay
us, which they attempted many times; but as many times as they
attempted this their blood was spilt.
Alma 57:Verse 10
10 At length their provisions did arrive, and they were
about to enter the city by night. And we, instead of being
Lamanites, were Nephites; therefore, we did take them and their
provisions.
Alma 57:Verse 11
11 And notwithstanding the Lamanites being cut off from
their support after this manner, they were still determined to
maintain the city; therefore it became expedient that we should
take those provisions and send them to Judea, and our prisoners to
the land of Zarahemla.
Alma 57:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that not many days had passed
away before the Lamanites began to lose all hopes of succor;
therefore they yielded up the city unto our hands; and thus we had
accomplished our designs in obtaining the city Cumeni.
Alma 57:Verse 13
13 But it came to pass that our prisoners were so
numerous that, notwithstanding the enormity of our numbers, we were
obliged to employ all our force to keep them, or to put them to
death.
Alma 57:Verse 14
14 For behold, they would break out in great numbers,
and would fight with stones, and with clubs, or whatsoever thing
they could get into their hands, insomuch that we did slay upwards
of two thousand of them after they had surrendered themselves
prisoners of war.
Alma 57:Verse 15
15 Therefore it became expedient for us, that we should
put an end to their lives, or guard them, sword in hand, down to
the land of Zarahemla; and also our provisions were not any more
than sufficient for our own people, notwithstanding that which we
had taken from the Lamanites.
Alma 57:Verse 16
16 And now, in those critical circumstances, it became
a very serious matter to determine concerning these prisoners of
war; nevertheless, we did resolve to send them down to the land of
Zarahemla; therefore we selected a part of our men, and gave them
charge over our prisoners to go down to the land of
Zarahemla.
Alma 57:Verse 17
17 But it came to pass that on the morrow they did
return. And now behold, we did not inquire of them concerning the
prisoners; for behold, the Lamanites were upon us, and they
returned in season to save us from falling into their hands. For
behold, Ammoron had sent to their support a new supply of
provisions and also a numerous army of men.
Alma 57:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that those men whom we sent with
the prisoners did arrive in season to check them, as they were
about to overpower us.
Alma 57:Verse 19
19 But behold, my little band of two thousand and sixty
fought most desperately; yea, they were firm before the Lamanites,
and did administer death unto all those who opposed them.
Alma 57:Verse 20
20 And as the remainder of our army were about to give
way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were
firm and undaunted.
Alma 57:Verse 21
21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every
word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their
faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which
they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.
Alma 57:Verse 22
22 And now behold, it was these my sons, and those men
who had been selected to convey the prisoners, to whom we owe this
great victory; for it was they who did beat the Lamanites;
therefore they were driven back to the city of Manti.
Alma 57:Verse 23
23 And we retained our city Cumeni, and were not all
destroyed by the sword; nevertheless, we had suffered great
loss.
Alma 57:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had
fled, I immediately gave orders that my men who had been wounded
should be taken from among the dead, and caused that their wounds
should be dressed.
Alma 57:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out
of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss
of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to
our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there
was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there
one soul among them who had not received many wounds.
Alma 57:Verse 26
26 And now, their preservation was astonishing to our
whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a
thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe
it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith
in that which they had been taught to believe--that there was a
just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be
preserved by his marvelous power.
Alma 57:Verse 27
27 Now this was the faith of these of whom I have
spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put
their trust in God continually.
Alma 57:Verse 28
28 And now it came to pass that after we had thus taken
care of our wounded men, and had buried our dead and also the dead
of the Lamanites, who were many, behold, we did inquire of Gid
concerning the prisoners whom they had started to go down to the
land of Zarahemla with.
Alma 57:Verse 29
29 Now Gid was the chief captain over the band who was
appointed to guard them down to the land.
Alma 57:Verse 30
30 And now, these are the words which Gid said unto me:
Behold, we did start to go down to the land of Zarahemla with our
prisoners. And it came to pass that we did meet the spies of our
armies, who had been sent out to watch the camp of the
Lamanites.
Alma 57:Verse 31
31 And they cried unto us, saying--Behold, the armies
of the Lamanites are marching towards the city of Cumeni; and
behold, they will fall upon them, yea, and will destroy our
people.
Alma 57:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that our prisoners did hear
their cries, which caused them to take courage; and they did rise
up in rebellion against us.
Alma 57:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass because of their rebellion we
did cause that our swords should come upon them. And it came to
pass that they did in a body run upon our swords, in the which, the
greater number of them were slain; and the remainder of them broke
through and fled from us.
Alma 57:Verse 34
34 And behold, when they had fled and we could not
overtake them, we took our march with speed towards the city
Cumeni; and behold, we did arrive in time that we might assist our
brethren in preserving the city.
Alma 57:Verse 35
35 And behold, we are again delivered out of the hands
of our enemies. And blessed is the name of our God; for behold, it
is he that has delivered us; yea, that has done this great thing
for us.
Alma 57:Verse 36
36 Now it came to pass that when I, Helaman, had heard
these words of Gid, I was filled with exceeding joy because of the
goodness of God in preserving us, that we might not all perish;
yea, and I trust that the souls of them who have been slain have
entered into the rest of their God.
Chapter 58
Alma 58:Verse 1
1 AND behold, now it came to pass that our next object
was to obtain the city of Manti; but behold, there was no way that
we could lead them out of the city by our small bands. For behold,
they remembered that which we had hitherto done; therefore we could
not decoy them away from their strongholds.
Alma 58:Verse 2
2 And they were so much more numerous than was our army
that we durst not go forth and attack them in their
strongholds.
Alma 58:Verse 3
3 Yea, and it became expedient that we should employ
our men to the maintaining those parts of the land which we had
regained of our possessions; therefore it became expedient that we
should wait, that we might receive more strength from the land of
Zarahemla and also a new supply of provisions.
Alma 58:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that I thus did send an embassy
to the governor of our land, to acquaint him concerning the affairs
of our people. And it came to pass that we did wait to receive
provisions and strength from the land of Zarahemla.
Alma 58:Verse 5
5 But behold, this did profit us but little; for the
Lamanites were also receiving great strength from day to day, and
also many provisions; and thus were our circumstances at this
period of time.
Alma 58:Verse 6
6 And the Lamanites were sallying forth against us from
time to time, resolving by stratagem to destroy us; nevertheless we
could not come to battle with them, because of their retreats and
their strongholds.
Alma 58:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that we did wait in these
difficult circumstances for the space of many months, even until we
were about to perish for the want of food.
Alma 58:Verse 8
8 But it came to pass that we did receive food, which
was guarded to us by an army of two thousand men to our assistance;
and this is all the assistance which we did receive, to defend
ourselves and our country from falling into the hands of our
enemies, yea, to contend with an enemy which was innumerable.
Alma 58:Verse 9
9 And now the cause of these our embarrassments, or the
cause why they did not send more strength unto us, we knew not;
therefore we were grieved and also filled with fear, lest by any
means the judgments of God should come upon our land, to our
overthrow and utter destruction.
Alma 58:Verse 10
10 Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to
God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of
our enemies, yea, and also give us strength that we might retain
our cities, and our lands, and our possessions, for the support of
our people.
Alma 58:Verse 11
11 Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did
visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch
that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great
faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in
him.
Alma 58:Verse 12
12 And we did take courage with our small force which
we had received, and were fixed with a determination to conquer our
enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our
wives, and our children, and the cause of our liberty.
Alma 58:Verse 13
13 And thus we did go forth with all our might against
the Lamanites, who were in the city of Manti; and we did pitch our
tents by the wilderness side, which was near to the city.
Alma 58:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that on the morrow, that when
the Lamanites saw that we were in the borders by the wilderness
which was near the city, that they sent out their spies round about
us that they might discover the number and the strength of our
army.
Alma 58:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that when they saw that we were
not strong, according to our numbers, and fearing that we should
cut them off from their support except they should come out to
battle against us and kill us, and also supposing that they could
easily destroy us with their numerous hosts, therefore they began
to make preparations to come out against us to battle.
Alma 58:Verse 16
16 And when we saw that they were making preparations
to come out against us, behold, I caused that Gid, with a small
number of men, should secrete himself in the wilderness, and also
that Teomner and a small number of men should secrete themselves
also in the wilderness.
Alma 58:Verse 17
17 Now Gid and his men were on the right and the others
on the left; and when they had thus secreted themselves, behold, I
remained, with the remainder of my army, in that same place where
we had first pitched our tents against the time that the Lamanites
should come out to battle.
Alma 58:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come out
with their numerous army against us. And when they had come and
were about to fall upon us with the sword, I caused that my men,
those who were with me, should retreat into the wilderness.
Alma 58:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did follow
after us with great speed, for they were exceedingly desirous to
overtake us that they might slay us; therefore they did follow us
into the wilderness; and we did pass by in the midst of Gid and
Teomner, insomuch that they were not discovered by the
Lamanites.
Alma 58:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had
passed by, or when the army had passed by, Gid and Teomner did rise
up from their secret places, and did cut off the spies of the
Lamanites that they should not return to the city.
Alma 58:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that when they had cut them off,
they ran to the city and fell upon the guards who were left to
guard the city, insomuch that they did destroy them and did take
possession of the city.
Alma 58:Verse 22
22 Now this was done because the Lamanites did suffer
their whole army, save a few guards only, to be led away into the
wilderness.
Alma 58:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that Gid and Teomner by this
means had obtained possession of their strongholds. And it came to
pass that we took our course, after having traveled much in the
wilderness towards the land of Zarahemla.
Alma 58:Verse 24
24 And when the Lamanites saw that they were marching
towards the land of Zarahemla, they were exceedingly afraid, lest
there was a plan laid to lead them on to destruction; therefore
they began to retreat into the wilderness again, yea, even back by
the same way which they had come.
Alma 58:Verse 25
25 And behold, it was night and they did pitch their
tents, for the chief captains of the Lamanites had supposed that
the Nephites were weary because of their march; and supposing that
they had driven their whole army therefore they took no thought
concerning the city of Manti.
Alma 58:Verse 26
26 Now it came to pass that when it was night, I caused
that my men should not sleep, but that they should march forward by
another way towards the land of Manti.
Alma 58:Verse 27
27 And because of this our march in the night-time,
behold, on the morrow we were beyond the Lamanites, insomuch that
we did arrive before them at the city of Manti.
Alma 58:Verse 28
28 And thus it came to pass, that by this stratagem we
did take possession of the city of Manti without the shedding of
blood.
Alma 58:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass that when the armies of the
Lamanites did arrive near the city, and saw that we were prepared
to meet them, they were astonished exceedingly and struck with
great fear, insomuch that they did flee into the wilderness.
Alma 58:Verse 30
30 Yea, and it came to pass that the armies of the
Lamanites did flee out of all this quarter of the land. But behold,
they have carried with them many women and children out of the
land.
Alma 58:Verse 31
31 And those cities which had been taken by the
Lamanites, all of them are at this period of time in our
possession; and our fathers and our women and our children are
returning to their homes, all save it be those who have been taken
prisoners and carried off by the Lamanites.
Alma 58:Verse 32
32 But behold, our armies are small to maintain so
great a number of cities and so great possessions.
Alma 58:Verse 33
33 But behold, we trust in our God who has given us
victory over those lands, insomuch that we have obtained those
cities and those lands, which were our own.
Alma 58:Verse 34
34 Now we do not know the cause that the government
does not grant us more strength; neither do those men who came up
unto us know why we have not received greater strength.
Alma 58:Verse 35
35 Behold, we do not know but what ye are unsuccessful,
and ye have drawn away the forces into that quarter of the land; if
so, we do not desire to murmur.
Alma 58:Verse 36
36 And if it is not so, behold, we fear that there is
some faction in the government, that they do not send more men to
our assistance; for we know that they are more numerous than that
which they have sent.
Alma 58:Verse 37
37 But, behold, it mattereth not--we trust God will
deliver us, notwithstanding the weakness of our armies, yea, and
deliver us out of the hands of our enemies.
Alma 58:Verse 38
38 Behold, this is the twenty and ninth year, in the
latter end, and we are in the possession of our lands; and the
Lamanites have fled to the land of Nephi.
Alma 58:Verse 39
39 And those sons of the people of Ammon, of whom I
have so highly spoken, are with me in the city of Manti; and the
Lord has supported them, yea, and kept them from falling by the
sword, insomuch that even one soul has not been slain.
Alma 58:Verse 40
40 But behold, they have received many wounds;
nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made
them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from
day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his
judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is
strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.
Alma 58:Verse 41
41 And now, my beloved brother, Moroni, may the Lord
our God, who has redeemed us and made us free, keep you continually
in his presence; yea, and may he favor this people, even that ye
may have success in obtaining the possession of all that which the
Lamanites have taken from us, which was for our support. And now,
behold, I close mine epistle. I am Helaman, the son of Alma.
Chapter 59
Alma 59:Verse 1
1 NOW it came to pass in the thirtieth year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, after Moroni had
received and had read Helaman's epistle, he was exceedingly
rejoiced because of the welfare, yea, the exceeding success which
Helaman had had, in obtaining those lands which were lost.
Alma 59:Verse 2
2 Yea, and he did make it known unto all his people, in
all the land round about in that part where he was, that they might
rejoice also.
Alma 59:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that he immediately sent an
epistle to Pahoran, desiring that he should cause men to be
gathered together to strengthen Helaman, or the armies of Helaman,
insomuch that he might with ease maintain that part of the land
which he had been so miraculously prospered in regaining.
Alma 59:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass when Moroni had sent this epistle
to the land of Zarahemla, he began again to lay a plan that he
might obtain the remainder of those possessions and cities which
the Lamanites had taken from them.
Alma 59:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that while Moroni was thus making
preparations to go against the Lamanites to battle, behold, the
people of Nephihah, who were gathered together from the city of
Moroni and the city of Lehi and the city of Morianton, were
attacked by the Lamanites.
Alma 59:Verse 6
6 Yea, even those who had been compelled to flee from
the land of Manti, and from the land round about, had come over and
joined the Lamanites in this part of the land.
Alma 59:Verse 7
7 And thus being exceedingly numerous, yea, and
receiving strength from day to day, by the command of Ammoron they
came forth against the people of Nephihah, and they did begin to
slay them with an exceedingly great slaughter.
Alma 59:Verse 8
8 And their armies were so numerous that the remainder
of the people of Nephihah were obliged to flee before them; and
they came even and joined the army of Moroni.
Alma 59:Verse 9
9 And now as Moroni had supposed that there should be
men sent to the city of Nephihah, to the assistance of the people
to maintain that city, and knowing that it was easier to keep the
city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it
from them, he supposed that they would easily maintain that
city.
Alma 59:Verse 10
10 Therefore he retained all his force to maintain
those places which he had recovered.
Alma 59:Verse 11
11 And now, when Moroni saw that the city of Nephihah
was lost he was exceedingly sorrowful, and began to doubt, because
of the wickedness of the people, whether they should not fall into
the hands of their brethren.
Alma 59:Verse 12
12 Now this was the case with all his chief captains.
They doubted and marveled also because of the wickedness of the
people, and this because of the success of the Lamanites over
them.
Alma 59:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the
government, because of their indifference concerning the freedom of
their country.
Chapter 60
Alma 60:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that he wrote again to the
governor of the land, who was Pahoran, and these are the words
which he wrote, saying: Behold, I direct mine epistle to Pahoran,
in the city of Zarahemla, who is the chief judge and the governor
over the land, and also to all those who have been chosen by this
people to govern and manage the affairs of this war.
Alma 60:Verse 2
2 For behold, I have somewhat to say unto them by the
way of condemnation; for behold, ye yourselves know that ye have
been appointed to gather together men, and arm them with swords,
and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war of every kind,
and send forth against the Lamanites, in whatsoever parts they
should come into our land.
Alma 60:Verse 3
3 And now behold, I say unto you that myself, and also
my men, and also Helaman and his men, have suffered exceedingly
great sufferings; yea, even hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and all
manner of afflictions of every kind.
Alma 60:Verse 4
4 But behold, were this all we had suffered we would
not murmur nor complain.
Alma 60:Verse 5
5 But behold, great has been the slaughter among our
people; yea, thousands have fallen by the sword, while it might
have otherwise been if ye had rendered unto our armies sufficient
strength and succor for them. Yea, great has been your neglect
towards us.
Alma 60:Verse 6
6 And now behold, we desire to know the cause of this
exceedingly great neglect; yea, we desire to know the cause of your
thoughtless state.
Alma 60:Verse 7
7 Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of
thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of
death around you? Yea, while they are murdering thousands of your
brethren--
Alma 60:Verse 8
8 Yea, even they who have looked up to you for
protection, yea, have placed you in a situation that ye might have
succored them, yea, ye might have sent armies unto them, to have
strengthened them, and have saved thousands of them from falling by
the sword.
Alma 60:Verse 9
9 But behold, this is not all--ye have withheld your
provisions from them, insomuch that many have fought and bled out
their lives because of their great desires which they had for the
welfare of this people; yea, and this they have done when they were
about to perish with hunger, because of your exceedingly great
neglect towards them.
Alma 60:Verse 10
10 And now, my beloved brethren--for ye ought to be
beloved; yea, and ye ought to have stirred yourselves more
diligently for the welfare and the freedom of this people; but
behold, ye have neglected them insomuch that the blood of thousands
shall come upon your heads for vengeance; yea, for known unto God
were all their cries, and all their sufferings--
Alma 60:Verse 11
11 Behold, could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your
thrones, and because of the exceeding goodness of God ye could do
nothing and he would deliver you? Behold, if ye have supposed this
ye have supposed in vain.
Alma 60:Verse 12
12 Do ye suppose that, because so many of your brethren
have been killed it is because of their wickedness? I say unto you,
if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain; for I say unto
you, there are many who have fallen by the sword; and behold it is
to your condemnation;
Alma 60:Verse 13
13 For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain
that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore
ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are
slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their
God.
Alma 60:Verse 14
14 And now behold, I say unto you, I fear exceedingly
that the judgments of God will come upon this people, because of
their exceeding slothfulness, yea, even the slothfulness of our
government, and their exceedingly great neglect towards their
brethren, yea, towards those who have been slain.
Alma 60:Verse 15
15 For were it not for the wickedness which first
commenced at our head, we could have withstood our enemies that
they could have gained no power over us.
Alma 60:Verse 16
16 Yea, had it not been for the war which broke out
among ourselves; yea, were it not for these king-men, who caused so
much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, at the time we were contending
among ourselves, if we had united our strength as we hitherto have
done; yea, had it not been for the desire of power and authority
which those king-men had over us; had they been true to the cause
of our freedom, and united with us, and gone forth against our
enemies, instead of taking up their swords against us, which was
the cause of so much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, if we had gone
forth against them in the strength of the Lord, we should have
dispersed our enemies, for it would have been done, according to
the fulfilling of his word.
Alma 60:Verse 17
17 But behold, now the Lamanites are coming upon us,
taking possession of our lands, and they are murdering our people
with the sword, yea, our women and our children, and also carrying
them away captive, causing them that they should suffer all manner
of afflictions, and this because of the great wickedness of those
who are seeking for power and authority, yea, even those
king-men.
Alma 60:Verse 18
18 But why should I say much concerning this matter?
For we know not but what ye yourselves are seeking for authority.
We know not but what ye are also traitors to your country.
Alma 60:Verse 19
19 Or is it that ye have neglected us because ye are in
the heart of our country and ye are surrounded by security, that ye
do not cause food to be sent unto us, and also men to strengthen
our armies?
Alma 60:Verse 20
20 Have ye forgotten the commandments of the Lord your
God? Yea, have ye forgotten the captivity of our fathers? Have ye
forgotten the many times we have been delivered out of the hands of
our enemies?
Alma 60:Verse 21
21 Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver
us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means
which the Lord has provided for us?
Alma 60:Verse 22
22 Yea, will ye sit in idleness while ye are surrounded
with thousands of those, yea, and tens of thousands, who do also
sit in idleness, while there are thousands round about in the
borders of the land who are falling by the sword, yea, wounded and
bleeding?
Alma 60:Verse 23
23 Do ye suppose that God will look upon you as
guiltless while ye sit still and behold these things? Behold I say
unto you, Nay. Now I would that ye should remember that God has
said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall
the outer vessel be cleansed also.
Alma 60:Verse 24
24 And now, except ye do repent of that which ye have
done, and begin to be up and doing, and send forth food and men
unto us, and also unto Helaman, that he may support those parts of
our country which he has regained, and that we may also recover the
remainder of our possessions in these parts, behold it will be
expedient that we contend no more with the Lamanites until we have
first cleansed our inward vessel, yea, even the great head of our
government.
Alma 60:Verse 25
25 And except ye grant mine epistle, and come out and
show unto me a true spirit of freedom, and strive to strengthen and
fortify our armies, and grant unto them food for their support,
behold I will leave a part of my freemen to maintain this part of
our land, and I will leave the strength and the blessings of God
upon them, that none other power can operate against them--
Alma 60:Verse 26
26 And this because of their exceeding faith, and their
patience in their tribulations--
Alma 60:Verse 27
27 And I will come unto you, and if there be any among
you that has a desire for freedom, yea, if there be even a spark of
freedom remaining, behold I will stir up insurrections among you,
even until those who have desires to usurp power and authority
shall become extinct.
Alma 60:Verse 28
28 Yea, behold I do not fear your power nor your
authority, but it is my God whom I fear; and it is according to his
commandments that I do take my sword to defend the cause of my
country, and it is because of your iniquity that we have suffered
so much loss.
Alma 60:Verse 29
29 Behold it is time, yea, the time is now at hand,
that except ye do bestir yourselves in the defence of your country
and your little ones, the sword of justice doth hang over you; yea,
and it shall fall upon you and visit you even to your utter
destruction.
Alma 60:Verse 30
30 Behold, I wait for assistance from you; and, except
ye do administer unto our relief, behold, I come unto you, even in
the land of Zarahemla, and smite you with the sword, insomuch that
ye can have no more power to impede the progress of this people in
the cause of our freedom.
Alma 60:Verse 31
31 For behold, the Lord will not suffer that ye shall
live and wax strong in your iniquities to destroy his righteous
people.
Alma 60:Verse 32
32 Behold, can you suppose that the Lord will spare you
and come out in judgment against the Lamanites, when it is the
tradition of their fathers that has caused their hatred, yea, and
it has been redoubled by those who have dissented from us, while
your iniquity is for the cause of your love of glory and the vain
things of the world?
Alma 60:Verse 33
33 Ye know that ye do transgress the laws of God, and
ye do know that ye do trample them under your feet. Behold, the
Lord saith unto me: If those whom ye have appointed your governors
do not repent of their sins and iniquities, ye shall go up to
battle against them.
Alma 60:Verse 34
34 And now behold, I, Moroni, am constrained, according
to the covenant which I have made to keep the commandments of my
God; therefore I would that ye should adhere to the word of God,
and send speedily unto me of your provisions and of your men, and
also to Helaman.
Alma 60:Verse 35
35 And behold, if ye will not do this I come unto you
speedily; for behold, God will not suffer that we should perish
with hunger; therefore he will give unto us of your food, even if
it must be by the sword. Now see that ye fulfil the word of
God.
Alma 60:Verse 36
36 Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not
for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world,
but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my
country. And thus I close mine epistle.
Chapter 61
Alma 61:Verse 1
1 Behold, now it came to pass that soon after Moroni
had sent his epistle unto the chief governor, he received an
epistle from Pahoran, the chief governor. And these are the words
which he received:
Alma 61:Verse 2
2 I, Pahoran, who am the chief governor of this land,
do send these words unto Moroni, the chief captain over the army.
Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great
afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul.
Alma 61:Verse 3
3 But behold, there are those who do joy in your
afflictions, yea, insomuch that they have risen up in rebellion
against me, and also those of my people who are freemen, yea, and
those who have risen up are exceedingly numerous.
Alma 61:Verse 4
4 And it is those who have sought to take away the
judgment-seat from me that have been the cause of this great
iniquity; for they have used great flattery, and they have led away
the hearts of many people, which will be the cause of sore
affliction among us; they have withheld our provisions, and have
daunted our freemen that they have not come unto you.
Alma 61:Verse 5
5 And behold, they have driven me out before them, and
I have fled to the land of Gideon, with as many men as it were
possible that I could get.
Alma 61:Verse 6
6 And behold, I have sent a proclamation throughout
this part of the land; and behold, they are flocking to us daily,
to their arms, in the defence of their country and their freedom,
and to avenge our wrongs.
Alma 61:Verse 7
7 And they have come unto us, insomuch that those who
have risen up in rebellion against us are set at defiance, yea,
insomuch that they do fear us and durst not come out against us to
battle.
Alma 61:Verse 8
8 They have got possession of the land, or the city, of
Zarahemla; they have appointed a king over them, and he hath
written unto the king of the Lamanites, in the which he hath joined
an alliance with him; in the which alliance he hath agreed to
maintain the city of Zarahemla, which maintenance he supposeth will
enable the Lamanites to conquer the remainder of the land, and he
shall be placed king over this people when they shall be conquered
under the Lamanites.
Alma 61:Verse 9
9 And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it
mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of
your heart. I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain
my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of
my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God
hath made us free.
Alma 61:Verse 10
10 And now, behold, we will resist wickedness even unto
bloodshed. We would not shed the blood of the Lamanites if they
would stay in their own land.
Alma 61:Verse 11
11 We would not shed the blood of our brethren if they
would not rise up in rebellion and take the sword against us.
Alma 61:Verse 12
12 We would subject ourselves to the yoke of bondage if
it were requisite with the justice of God, or if he should command
us so to do.
Alma 61:Verse 13
13 But behold he doth not command us that we shall
subject ourselves to our enemies, but that we should put our trust
in him, and he will deliver us.
Alma 61:Verse 14
14 Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist
evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea,
such as rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our
swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the
great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and
our God.
Alma 61:Verse 15
15 Therefore, come unto me speedily with a few of your
men, and leave the remainder in the charge of Lehi and Teancum;
give unto them power to conduct the war in that part of the land,
according to the Spirit of God, which is also the Spirit of freedom
which is in them.
Alma 61:Verse 16
16 Behold I have sent a few provisions unto them, that
they may not perish until ye can come unto me.
Alma 61:Verse 17
17 Gather together whatsoever force ye can upon your
march hither, and we will go speedily against those dissenters, in
the strength of our God according to the faith which is in
us.
Alma 61:Verse 18
18 And we will take possession of the city of
Zarahemla, that we may obtain more food to send forth unto Lehi and
Teancum; yea, we will go forth against them in the strength of the
Lord, and we will put an end to this great iniquity.
Alma 61:Verse 19
19 And now, Moroni, I do joy in receiving your epistle,
for I was somewhat worried concerning what we should do, whether it
should be just in us to go against our brethren.
Alma 61:Verse 20
20 But ye have said, except they repent the Lord hath
commanded you that ye should go against them.
Alma 61:Verse 21
21 See that ye strengthen Lehi and Teancum in the Lord;
tell them to fear not, for God will deliver them, yea, and also all
those who stand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them
free. And now I close mine epistle to my beloved brother,
Moroni.
Chapter 62
Alma 62:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that when Moroni had received
this epistle his heart did take courage, and was filled with
exceedingly great joy because of the faithfulness of Pahoran, that
he was not also a traitor to the freedom and cause of his
country.
Alma 62:Verse 2
2 But he did also mourn exceedingly because of the
iniquity of those who had driven Pahoran from the judgment-seat,
yea, in fine because of those who had rebelled against their
country and also their God.
Alma 62:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that Moroni took a small number
of men, according to the desire of Pahoran, and gave Lehi and
Teancum command over the remainder of his army, and took his march
towards the land of Gideon.
Alma 62:Verse 4
4 And he did raise the standard of liberty in
whatsoever place he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could
in all his march towards the land of Gideon.
Alma 62:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that thousands did flock unto his
standard, and did take up their swords in the defence of their
freedom, that they might not come into bondage.
Alma 62:Verse 6
6 And thus, when Moroni had gathered together
whatsoever men he could in all his march, he came to the land of
Gideon; and uniting his forces with those of Pahoran they became
exceedingly strong, even stronger than the men of Pachus, who was
the king of those dissenters who had driven the freemen out of the
land of Zarahemla and had taken possession of the land.
Alma 62:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran went down
with their armies into the land of Zarahemla, and went forth
against the city, and did meet the men of Pachus, insomuch that
they did come to battle.
Alma 62:Verse 8
8 And behold, Pachus was slain and his men were taken
prisoners, and Pahoran was restored to his judgment-seat.
Alma 62:Verse 9
9 And the men of Pachus received their trial, according
to the law, and also those king-men who had been taken and cast
into prison; and they were executed according to the law; yea,
those men of Pachus and those king-men, whosoever would not take up
arms in the defence of their country, but would fight against it,
were put to death.
Alma 62:Verse 10
10 And thus it became expedient that this law should be
strictly observed for the safety of their country; yea, and
whosoever was found denying their freedom was speedily executed
according to the law.
Alma 62:Verse 11
11 And thus ended the thirtieth year of the reign of
the judges over the people of Nephi; Moroni and Pahoran having
restored peace to the land of Zarahemla, among their own people,
having inflicted death upon all those who were not true to the
cause of freedom.
Alma 62:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass in the commencement of the
thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi, Moroni immediately caused that provisions should be sent,
and also an army of six thousand men should be sent unto Helaman,
to assist him in preserving that part of the land.
Alma 62:Verse 13
13 And he also caused that an army of six thousand men,
with a sufficient quantity of food, should be sent to the armies of
Lehi and Teancum. And it came to pass that this was done to fortify
the land against the Lamanites.
Alma 62:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran, leaving
a large body of men in the land of Zarahemla, took their march with
a large body of men towards the land of Nephihah, being determined
to overthrow the Lamanites in that city.
Alma 62:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that as they were marching
towards the land, they took a large body of men of the Lamanites,
and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons
of war.
Alma 62:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass after they had taken them, they
caused them to enter into a covenant that they would no more take
up their weapons of war against the Nephites.
Alma 62:Verse 17
17 And when they had entered into this covenant they
sent them to dwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in
number about four thousand who had not been slain.
Alma 62:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that when they had sent them
away they pursued their march towards the land of Nephihah. And it
came to pass that when they had come to the city of Nephihah, they
did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near the
city of Nephihah.
Alma 62:Verse 19
19 Now Moroni was desirous that the Lamanites should
come out to battle against them, upon the plains; but the
Lamanites, knowing of their exceedingly great courage, and
beholding the greatness of their numbers, therefore they durst not
come out against them; therefore they did not come to battle in
that day.
Alma 62:Verse 20
20 And when the night came, Moroni went forth in the
darkness of the night, and came upon the top of the wall to spy out
in what part of the city the Lamanites did camp with their
army.
Alma 62:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that they were on the east, by
the entrance; and they were all asleep. And now Moroni returned to
his army, and caused that they should prepare in haste strong cords
and ladders, to be let down from the top of the wall into the inner
part of the wall.
Alma 62:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his men
should march forth and come upon the top of the wall, and let
themselves down into that part of the city, yea, even on the west,
where the Lamanites did not camp with their armies.
Alma 62:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that they were all let down into
the city by night, by the means of their strong cords and their
ladders; thus when the morning came they were all within the walls
of the city.
Alma 62:Verse 24
24 And now, when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the
armies of Moroni were within the walls, they were affrighted
exceedingly, insomuch that they did flee out by the pass.
Alma 62:Verse 25
25 And now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing
before him, he did cause that his men should march forth against
them, and slew many, and surrounded many others, and took them
prisoners; and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moroni,
which was in the borders by the seashore.
Alma 62:Verse 26
26 Thus had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the possession
of the city of Nephihah without the loss of one soul; and there
were many of the Lamanites who were slain.
Alma 62:Verse 27
27 Now it came to pass that many of the Lamanites that
were prisoners were desirous to join the people of Ammon and become
a free people.
Alma 62:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that as many as were desirous,
unto them it was granted according to their desires.
Alma 62:Verse 29
29 Therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did
join the people of Ammon, and did begin to labor exceedingly,
tilling the ground, raising all manner of grain, and flocks and
herds of every kind; and thus were the Nephites relieved from a
great burden; yea, insomuch that they were relieved from all the
prisoners of the Lamanites.
Alma 62:Verse 30
30 Now it came to pass that Moroni, after he had
obtained possession of the city of Nephihah, having taken many
prisoners, which did reduce the armies of the Lamanites
exceedingly, and having regained many of the Nephites who had been
taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of Moroni
exceedingly; therefore Moroni went forth from the land of Nephihah
to the land of Lehi.
Alma 62:Verse 31
31 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that
Moroni was coming against them, they were again frightened and fled
before the army of Moroni.
Alma 62:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that Moroni and his army did
pursue them from city to city, until they were met by Lehi and
Teancum; and the Lamanites fled from Lehi and Teancum, even down
upon the borders by the seashore, until they came to the land of
Moroni.
Alma 62:Verse 33
33 And the armies of the Lamanites were all gathered
together, insomuch that they were all in one body in the land of
Moroni. Now Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites, was also with
them.
Alma 62:Verse 34
34 And it came to pass that Moroni and Lehi and Teancum
did encamp with their armies round about in the borders of the land
of Moroni, insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about in the
borders by the wilderness on the south, and in the borders by the
wilderness on the east.
Alma 62:Verse 35
35 And thus they did encamp for the night. For behold,
the Nephites and the Lamanites also were weary because of the
greatness of the march; therefore they did not resolve upon any
stratagem in the night-time, save it were Teancum; for he was
exceedingly angry with Ammoron, insomuch that he considered that
Ammoron, and Amalickiah his brother, had been the cause of this
great and lasting war between them and the Lamanites, which had
been the cause of so much war and bloodshed, yea, and so much
famine.
Alma 62:Verse 36
36 And it came to pass that Teancum in his anger did go
forth into the camp of the Lamanites, and did let himself down over
the walls of the city. And he went forth with a cord, from place to
place, insomuch that he did find the king; and he did cast a
javelin at him, which did pierce him near the heart. But behold,
the king did awaken his servants before he died, insomuch that they
did pursue Teancum, and slew him.
Alma 62:Verse 37
37 Now it came to pass that when Lehi and Moroni knew
that Teancum was dead they were exceedingly sorrowful; for behold,
he had been a man who had fought valiantly for his country, yea, a
true friend to liberty; and he had suffered very many exceedingly
sore afflictions. But behold, he was dead, and had gone the way of
all the earth.
Alma 62:Verse 38
38 Now it came to pass that Moroni marched forth on the
morrow, and came upon the Lamanites, insomuch that they did slay
them with a great slaughter; and they did drive them out of the
land; and they did flee, even that they did not return at that time
against the Nephites.
Alma 62:Verse 39
39 And thus ended the thirty and first year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and thus they had had
wars, and bloodsheds, and famine, and affliction, for the space of
many years.
Alma 62:Verse 40
40 And there had been murders, and contentions, and
dissensions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi;
nevertheless for the righteous' sake, yea, because of the prayers
of the righteous, they were spared.
Alma 62:Verse 41
41 But behold, because of the exceedingly great length
of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become
hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and
many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they
did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of
humility.
Alma 62:Verse 42
42 And it came to pass that after Moroni had fortified
those parts of the land which were most exposed to the Lamanites,
until they were sufficiently strong, he returned to the city of
Zarahemla; and also Helaman returned to the place of his
inheritance; and there was once more peace established among the
people of Nephi.
Alma 62:Verse 43
43 And Moroni yielded up the command of his armies into
the hands of his son, whose name was Moronihah; and he retired to
his own house that he might spend the remainder of his days in
peace.
Alma 62:Verse 44
44 And Pahoran did return to his judgment-seat; and
Helaman did take upon him again to preach unto the people the word
of God; for because of so many wars and contentions it had become
expedient that a regulation should be made again in the
church.
Alma 62:Verse 45
45 Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth, and
did declare the word of God with much power unto the convincing of
many people of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of
their sins and to be baptized unto the Lord their God.
Alma 62:Verse 46
46 And it came to pass that they did establish again
the church of God, throughout all the land.
Alma 62:Verse 47
47 Yea, and regulations were made concerning the law.
And their judges, and their chief judges were chosen.
Alma 62:Verse 48
48 And the people of Nephi began to prosper again in
the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again
in the land. And they began to grow exceedingly rich.
Alma 62:Verse 49
49 But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength,
or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their
eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but
they did humble themselves exceedingly before him.
Alma 62:Verse 50
50 Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had
done for them, that he had delivered them from death, and from
bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of afflictions and he
had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies.
Alma 62:Verse 51
51 And they did pray unto the Lord their God
continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to
his word, so that they did wax strong and prosper in the
land.
Alma 62:Verse 52
52 And it came to pass that all these things were done.
And Helaman died, in the thirty and fifth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi.
Chapter 63
Alma 63:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty
and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi,
that Shiblon took possession of those sacred things which had been
delivered unto Helaman by Alma.
Alma 63:Verse 2
2 And he was a just man, and he did walk uprightly
before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the
commandments of the Lord his God; and also did his brother.
Alma 63:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that Moroni died also. And thus
ended the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the judges.
Alma 63:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that in the thirty and seventh
year of the reign of the judges, there was a large company of men,
even to the amount of five thousand and four hundred men, with
their wives and their children, departed out of the land of
Zarahemla into the land which was northward.
Alma 63:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an
exceedingly curious man, therefore he went forth and built him an
exceedingly large ship, on the borders of the land Bountiful, by
the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west sea, by
the narrow neck which led into the land northward.
Alma 63:Verse 6
6 And behold, there were many of the Nephites who did
enter therein and did sail forth with much provisions, and also
many women and children; and they took their course northward. And
thus ended the thirty and seventh year.
Alma 63:Verse 7
7 And in the thirty and eighth year, this man built
other ships. And the first ship did also return, and many more
people did enter into it; and they also took much provisions, and
set out again to the land northward.
Alma 63:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that they were never heard of
more. And we suppose that they were drowned in the depths of the
sea. And it came to pass that one other ship also did sail forth;
and whither she did go we know not.
Alma 63:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that in this year there were many
people who went forth into the land northward. And thus ended the
thirty and eighth year.
Alma 63:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass in the thirty and ninth year of
the reign of the judges, Shiblon died also, and Corianton had gone
forth to the land northward in a ship, to carry forth provisions
unto the people who had gone forth into that land.
Alma 63:Verse 11
11 Therefore it became expedient for Shiblon to confer
those sacred things, before his death, upon the son of Helaman, who
was called Helaman, being called after the name of his
father.
Alma 63:Verse 12
12 Now behold, all those engravings which were in the
possession of Helaman were written and sent forth among the
children of men throughout all the land, save it were those parts
which had been commanded by Alma should not go forth.
Alma 63:Verse 13
13 Nevertheless, these things were to be kept sacred,
and handed down from one generation to another; therefore, in this
year, they had been conferred upon Helaman, before the death of
Shiblon.
Alma 63:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass also in this year that there
were some dissenters who had gone forth unto the Lamanites; and
they were stirred up again to anger against the Nephites.
Alma 63:Verse 15
15 And also in this same year they came down with a
numerous army to war against the people of Moronihah, or against
the army of Moronihah, in the which they were beaten and driven
back again to their own lands, suffering great loss.
Alma 63:Verse 16
16 And thus ended the thirty and ninth year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Alma 63:Verse 17
17 And thus ended the account of Alma, and Helaman his
son, and also Shiblon, who was his son.
Helaman
THE BOOK OF HELAMAN
An account of the Nephites. Their wars and
contentions, and their dissensions. And also the prophecies of many
holy prophets, before the coming of Christ, according to the
records of Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, and also according
to the records of his sons, even down to the coming of Christ. And
also many of the Lamanites are converted. An account of their
conversion. An account of the righteousness of the Lamanites, and
the wickedness and abominations of the Nephites, according to the
record of Helaman and his sons, even down to the coming of Christ,
which is called the book of Helaman.
Chapter 1
Helaman 1:Verse 1
1 AND now behold, it came to pass in the commencement
of the fortieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi, there began to be a serious difficulty among the people of
the Nephites.
Helaman 1:Verse 2
2 For behold, Pahoran had died, and gone the way of all
the earth; therefore there began to be a serious contention
concerning who should have the judgment-seat among the brethren,
who were the sons of Pahoran.
Helaman 1:Verse 3
3 Now these are their names who did contend for the
judgment-seat, who did also cause the people to contend: Pahoran,
Paanchi, and Pacumeni.
Helaman 1:Verse 4
4 Now these are not all the sons of Pahoran (for he had
many), but these are they who did contend for the judgment-seat;
therefore, they did cause three divisions among the people.
Helaman 1:Verse 5
5 Nevertheless, it came to pass that Pahoran was
appointed by the voice of the people to be chief judge and a
governor over the people of Nephi.
Helaman 1:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that Pacumeni, when he saw that
he could not obtain the judgment-seat, he did unite with the voice
of the people.
Helaman 1:Verse 7
7 But behold, Paanchi, and that part of the people that
were desirous that he should be their governor, was exceedingly
wroth; therefore, he was about to flatter away those people to rise
up in rebellion against their brethren.
Helaman 1:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass as he was about to do this,
behold, he was taken, and was tried according to the voice of the
people, and condemned unto death; for he had raised up in rebellion
and sought to destroy the liberty of the people.
Helaman 1:Verse 9
9 Now when those people who were desirous that he
should be their governor saw that he was condemned unto death,
therefore they were angry, and behold, they sent forth one
Kishkumen, even to the judgment-seat of Pahoran, and murdered
Pahoran as he sat upon the judgment-seat.
Helaman 1:Verse 10
10 And he was pursued by the servants of Pahoran; but
behold, so speedy was the flight of Kishkumen that no man could
overtake him.
Helaman 1:Verse 11
11 And he went unto those that sent him, and they all
entered into a covenant, yea, swearing by their everlasting Maker,
that they would tell no man that Kishkumen had murdered
Pahoran.
Helaman 1:Verse 12
12 Therefore, Kishkumen was not known among the people
of Nephi, for he was in disguise at the time that he murdered
Pahoran. And Kishkumen and his band, who had covenanted with him,
did mingle themselves among the people, in a manner that they all
could not be found; but as many as were found were condemned unto
death.
Helaman 1:Verse 13
13 And now behold, Pacumeni was appointed, according to
the voice of the people, to be a chief judge and a governor over
the people, to reign in the stead of his brother Pahoran; and it
was according to his right. And all this was done in the fortieth
year of the reign of the judges; and it had an end.
Helaman 1:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass in the forty and first year of
the reign of the judges, that the Lamanites had gathered together
an innumerable army of men, and armed them with swords, and with
cimeters and with bows, and with arrows, and with head-plates, and
with breastplates, and with all manner of shields of every
kind.
Helaman 1:Verse 15
15 And they came down again that they might pitch
battle against the Nephites. And they were led by a man whose name
was Coriantumr; and he was a descendant of Zarahemla; and he was a
dissenter from among the Nephites; and he was a large and a mighty
man.
Helaman 1:Verse 16
16 Therefore, the king of the Lamanites, whose name was
Tubaloth, who was the son of Ammoron, supposing that Coriantumr,
being a mighty man, could stand against the Nephites, with his
strength and also with his great wisdom, insomuch that by sending
him forth he should gain power over the Nephites--
Helaman 1:Verse 17
17 Therefore he did stir them up to anger, and he did
gather together his armies, and he did appoint Coriantumr to be
their leader, and did cause that they should march down to the land
of Zarahemla to battle against the Nephites.
Helaman 1:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that because of so much
contention and so much difficulty in the government, that they had
not kept sufficient guards in the land of Zarahemla; for they had
supposed that the Lamanites durst not come into the heart of their
lands to attack that great city Zarahemla.
Helaman 1:Verse 19
19 But it came to pass that Coriantumr did march forth
at the head of his numerous host, and came upon the inhabitants of
the city, and their march was with such exceedingly great speed
that there was no time for the Nephites to gather together their
armies.
Helaman 1:Verse 20
20 Therefore Coriantumr did cut down the watch by the
entrance of the city, and did march forth with his whole army into
the city, and they did slay every one who did oppose them, insomuch
that they did take possession of the whole city.
Helaman 1:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that Pacumeni, who was the chief
judge, did flee before Coriantumr, even to the walls of the city.
And it came to pass that Coriantumr did smite him against the wall,
insomuch that he died. And thus ended the days of Pacumeni.
Helaman 1:Verse 22
22 And now when Coriantumr saw that he was in
possession of the city of Zarahemla, and saw that the Nephites had
fled before them, and were slain, and were taken, and were cast
into prison, and that he had obtained the possession of the
strongest hold in all the land, his heart took courage insomuch
that he was about to go forth against all the land.
Helaman 1:Verse 23
23 And now he did not tarry in the land of Zarahemla,
but he did march forth with a large army, even towards the city of
Bountiful; for it was his determination to go forth and cut his way
through with the sword, that he might obtain the north parts of the
land.
Helaman 1:Verse 24
24 And, supposing that their greatest strength was in
the center of the land, therefore he did march forth, giving them
no time to assemble themselves together save it were in small
bodies; and in this manner they did fall upon them and cut them
down to the earth.
Helaman 1:Verse 25
25 But behold, this march of Coriantumr through the
center of the land gave Moronihah great advantage over them,
notwithstanding the greatness of the number of the Nephites who
were slain.
Helaman 1:Verse 26
26 For behold, Moronihah had supposed that the
Lamanites durst not come into the center of the land, but that they
would attack the cities round about in the borders as they had
hitherto done; therefore Moronihah had caused that their strong
armies should maintain those parts round about by the
borders.
Helaman 1:Verse 27
27 But behold, the Lamanites were not frightened
according to his desire, but they had come into the center of the
land, and had taken the capital city which was the city of
Zarahemla, and were marching through the most capital parts of the
land, slaying the people with a great slaughter, both men, women,
and children, taking possession of many cities and of many
strongholds.
Helaman 1:Verse 28
28 But when Moronihah had discovered this, he
immediately sent forth Lehi with an army round about to head them
before they should come to the land Bountiful.
Helaman 1:Verse 29
29 And thus he did; and he did head them before they
came to the land Bountiful, and gave unto them battle, insomuch
that they began to retreat back towards the land of
Zarahemla.
Helaman 1:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass that Moronihah did head them in
their retreat, and did give unto them battle, insomuch that it
became an exceedingly bloody battle; yea, many were slain, and
among the number who were slain Coriantumr was also found.
Helaman 1:Verse 31
31 And now, behold, the Lamanites could not retreat
either way, neither on the north, nor on the south, nor on the
east, nor on the west, for they were surrounded on every hand by
the Nephites.
Helaman 1:Verse 32
32 And thus had Coriantumr plunged the Lamanites into
the midst of the Nephites, insomuch that they were in the power of
the Nephites, and he himself was slain, and the Lamanites did yield
themselves into the hands of the Nephites.
Helaman 1:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that Moronihah took possession
of the city of Zarahemla again, and caused that the Lamanites who
had been taken prisoners should depart out of the land in
peace.
Helaman 1:Verse 34
34 And thus ended the forty and first year of the reign
of the judges.
Chapter 2
Helaman 2:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass in the forty and second year of
the reign of the judges, after Moronihah had established again
peace between the Nephites and the Lamanites, behold there was no
one to fill the judgment-seat; therefore there began to be a
contention again among the people concerning who should fill the
judgment-seat.
Helaman 2:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that Helaman, who was the son of
Helaman, was appointed to fill the judgment-seat, by the voice of
the people.
Helaman 2:Verse 3
3 But behold, Kishkumen, who had murdered Pahoran, did
lay wait to destroy Helaman also; and he was upheld by his band,
who had entered into a covenant that no one should know his
wickedness.
Helaman 2:Verse 4
4 For there was one Gadianton, who was exceedingly
expert in many words, and also in his craft, to carry on the secret
work of murder and of robbery; therefore he became the leader of
the band of Kishkumen.
Helaman 2:Verse 5
5 Therefore he did flatter them, and also Kishkumen,
that if they would place him in the judgment-seat he would grant
unto those who belonged to his band that they should be placed in
power and authority among the people; therefore Kishkumen sought to
destroy Helaman.
Helaman 2:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass as he went forth towards the
judgment-seat to destroy Helaman, behold one of the servants of
Helaman, having been out by night, and having obtained, through
disguise, a knowledge of those plans which had been laid by this
band to destroy Helaman--
Helaman 2:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that he met Kishkumen, and he
gave unto him a sign; therefore Kishkumen made known unto him the
object of his desire, desiring that he would conduct him to the
judgment-seat that he might murder Helaman.
Helaman 2:Verse 8
8 And when the servant of Helaman had known all the
heart of Kishkumen, and how that it was his object to murder, and
also that it was the object of all those who belonged to his band
to murder, and to rob, and to gain power, (and this was their
secret plan, and their combination) the servant of Helaman said
unto Kishkumen: Let us go forth unto the judgment-seat.
Helaman 2:Verse 9
9 Now this did please Kishkumen exceedingly, for he did
suppose that he should accomplish his design; but behold, the
servant of Helaman, as they were going forth unto the
judgment-seat, did stab Kishkumen even to the heart, that he fell
dead without a groan. And he ran and told Helaman all the things
which he had seen, and heard, and done.
Helaman 2:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that Helaman did send forth to
take this band of robbers and secret murderers, that they might be
executed according to the law.
Helaman 2:Verse 11
11 But behold, when Gadianton had found that Kishkumen
did not return he feared lest that he should be destroyed;
therefore he caused that his band should follow him. And they took
their flight out of the land, by a secret way, into the wilderness;
and thus when Helaman sent forth to take them they could nowhere be
found.
Helaman 2:Verse 12
12 And more of this Gadianton shall be spoken
hereafter. And thus ended the forty and second year of the reign of
the judges over the people of Nephi.
Helaman 2:Verse 13
13 And behold, in the end of this book ye shall see
that this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire
destruction of the people of Nephi.
Helaman 2:Verse 14
14 Behold I do not mean the end of the book of Helaman,
but I mean the end of the book of Nephi, from which I have taken
all the account which I have written.
Chapter 3
Helaman 3:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass in the forty and third year
of the reign of the judges, there was no contention among the
people of Nephi save it were a little pride which was in the
church, which did cause some little dissensions among the people,
which affairs were settled in the ending of the forty and third
year.
Helaman 3:Verse 2
2 And there was no contention among the people in the
forty and fourth year; neither was there much contention in the
forty and fifth year.
Helaman 3:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass in the forty and sixth, yea,
there was much contention and many dissensions; in the which there
were an exceedingly great many who departed out of the land of
Zarahemla, and went forth unto the land northward to inherit the
land.
Helaman 3:Verse 4
4 And they did travel to an exceedingly great distance,
insomuch that they came to large bodies of water and many
rivers.
Helaman 3:Verse 5
5 Yea, and even they did spread forth into all parts of
the land, into whatever parts it had not been rendered desolate and
without timber, because of the many inhabitants who had before
inherited the land.
Helaman 3:Verse 6
6 And now no part of the land was desolate, save it
were for timber; but because of the greatness of the destruction of
the people who had before inhabited the land it was called
desolate.
Helaman 3:Verse 7
7 And there being but little timber upon the face of
the land, nevertheless the people who went forth became exceedingly
expert in the working of cement; therefore they did build houses of
cement, in the which they did dwell.
Helaman 3:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that they did multiply and
spread, and did go forth from the land southward to the land
northward, and did spread insomuch that they began to cover the
face of the whole earth, from the sea south to the sea north, from
the sea west to the sea east.
Helaman 3:Verse 9
9 And the people who were in the land northward did
dwell in tents, and in houses of cement, and they did suffer
whatsoever tree should spring up upon the face of the land that it
should grow up, that in time they might have timber to build their
houses, yea, their cities, and their temples, and their synagogues,
and their sanctuaries, and all manner of their buildings.
Helaman 3:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass as timber was exceedingly scarce
in the land northward, they did send forth much by the way of
shipping.
Helaman 3:Verse 11
11 And thus they did enable the people in the land
northward that they might build many cities, both of wood and of
cement.
Helaman 3:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that there were many of the
people of Ammon, who were Lamanites by birth, did also go forth
into this land.
Helaman 3:Verse 13
13 And now there are many records kept of the
proceedings of this people, by many of this people, which are
particular and very large, concerning them.
Helaman 3:Verse 14
14 But behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of
this people, yea, the account of the Lamanites and of the Nephites,
and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and their
preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and their
building of ships, and their building of temples, and of synagogues
and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their
wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their
plundering, and all manner of abominations and whoredoms, cannot be
contained in this work.
Helaman 3:Verse 15
15 But behold, there are many books and many records of
every kind, and they have been kept chiefly by the Nephites.
Helaman 3:Verse 16
16 And they have been handed down from one generation
to another by the Nephites, even until they have fallen into
transgression and have been murdered, plundered, and hunted, and
driven forth, and slain, and scattered upon the face of the earth,
and mixed with the Lamanites until they are no more called the
Nephites, becoming wicked, and wild, and ferocious, yea, even
becoming Lamanites.
Helaman 3:Verse 17
17 And now I return again to mine account; therefore,
what I have spoken had passed after there had been great
contentions, and disturbances, and wars, and dissensions, among the
people of Nephi.
Helaman 3:Verse 18
18 The forty and sixth year of the reign of the judges
ended;
Helaman 3:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that there was still great
contention in the land, yea, even in the forty and seventh year,
and also in the forty and eighth year.
Helaman 3:Verse 20
20 Nevertheless Helaman did fill the judgment-seat with
justice and equity; yea, he did observe to keep the statutes, and
the judgments, and the commandments of God; and he did do that
which was right in the sight of God continually; and he did walk
after the ways of his father, insomuch that he did prosper in the
land.
Helaman 3:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that he had two sons. He gave
unto the eldest the name of Nephi, and unto the youngest, the name
of Lehi. And they began to grow up unto the Lord.
Helaman 3:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that the wars and contentions
began to cease, in a small degree, among the people of the
Nephites, in the latter end of the forty and eighth year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Helaman 3:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass in the forty and ninth year of
the reign of the judges, there was continual peace established in
the land, all save it were the secret combinations which Gadianton
the robber had established in the more settled parts of the land,
which at that time were not known unto those who were at the head
of government; therefore they were not destroyed out of the
land.
Helaman 3:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that in this same year there was
exceedingly great prosperity in the church, insomuch that there
were thousands who did join themselves unto the church and were
baptized unto repentance.
Helaman 3:Verse 25
25 And so great was the prosperity of the church, and
so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that
even the high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished
beyond measure.
Helaman 3:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did
prosper unto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, many
souls, yea, even tens of thousands.
Helaman 3:Verse 27
27 Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all
who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy
name.
Helaman 3:Verse 28
28 Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open
unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus
Christ, who is the Son of God.
Helaman 3:Verse 29
29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon
the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide
asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil,
and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across
that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the
wicked--
Helaman 3:Verse 30
30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at
the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with
Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers,
to go no more out.
Helaman 3:Verse 31
31 And in this year there was continual rejoicing in
the land of Zarahemla, and in all the regions round about, even in
all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.
Helaman 3:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that there was peace and
exceedingly great joy in the remainder of the forty and ninth year;
yea, and also there was continual peace and great joy in the
fiftieth year of the reign of the judges.
Helaman 3:Verse 33
33 And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the
judges there was peace also, save it were the pride which began to
enter into the church--not into the church of God, but into the
hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of
God--
Helaman 3:Verse 34
34 And they were lifted up in pride, even to the
persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil,
which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great
persecutions, and to wade through much affliction.
Helaman 3:Verse 35
35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax
stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in
the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and
consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of
their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding
their hearts unto God.
Helaman 3:Verse 36
36 And it came to pass that the fifty and second year
ended in peace also, save it were the exceedingly great pride which
had gotten into the hearts of the people; and it was because of
their exceedingly great riches and their prosperity in the land;
and it did grow upon them from day to day.
Helaman 3:Verse 37
37 And it came to pass in the fifty and third year of
the reign of the judges, Helaman died, and his eldest son Nephi
began to reign in his stead. And it came to pass that he did fill
the judgment-seat with justice and equity; yea, he did keep the
commandments of God, and did walk in the ways of his father.
Chapter 4
Helaman 4:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass in the fifty and fourth year
there were many dissensions in the church, and there was also a
contention among the people, insomuch that there was much
bloodshed.
Helaman 4:Verse 2
2 And the rebellious part were slain and driven out of
the land, and they did go unto the king of the Lamanites.
Helaman 4:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that they did endeavor to stir up
the Lamanites to war against the Nephites; but behold, the
Lamanites were exceedingly afraid, insomuch that they would not
hearken to the words of those dissenters.
Helaman 4:Verse 4
4 But it came to pass in the fifty and sixth year of
the reign of the judges, there were dissenters who went up from the
Nephites unto the Lamanites; and they succeeded with those others
in stirring them up to anger against the Nephites; and they were
all that year preparing for war.
Helaman 4:Verse 5
5 And in the fifty and seventh year they did come down
against the Nephites to battle, and they did commence the work of
death; yea, insomuch that in the fifty and eighth year of the reign
of the judges they succeeded in obtaining possession of the land of
Zarahemla; yea, and also all the lands, even unto the land which
was near the land Bountiful.
Helaman 4:Verse 6
6 And the Nephites and the armies of Moronihah were
driven even into the land of Bountiful;
Helaman 4:Verse 7
7 And there they did fortify against the Lamanites,
from the west sea, even unto the east; it being a day's journey for
a Nephite, on the line which they had fortified and stationed their
armies to defend their north country.
Helaman 4:Verse 8
8 And thus those dissenters of the Nephites, with the
help of a numerous army of the Lamanites, had obtained all the
possession of the Nephites which was in the land southward. And all
this was done in the fifty and eighth and ninth years of the reign
of the judges.
Helaman 4:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass in the sixtieth year of the reign
of the judges, Moronihah did succeed with his armies in obtaining
many parts of the land; yea, they regained many cities which had
fallen into the hands of the Lamanites.
Helaman 4:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass in the sixty and first year of
the reign of the judges they succeeded in regaining even the half
of all their possessions.
Helaman 4:Verse 11
11 Now this great loss of the Nephites, and the great
slaughter which was among them, would not have happened had it not
been for their wickedness and their abomination which was among
them; yea, and it was among those also who professed to belong to
the church of God.
Helaman 4:Verse 12
12 And it was because of the pride of their hearts,
because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their
oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry,
withholding their clothing from the naked, and smiting their humble
brethren upon the cheek, making a mock of that which was sacred,
denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering,
plundering, lying, stealing, committing adultery, rising up in
great contentions, and deserting away into the land of Nephi, among
the Lamanites--
Helaman 4:Verse 13
13 And because of this their great wickedness, and
their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own
strength; therefore they did not prosper, but were afflicted and
smitten, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost
possession of almost all their lands.
Helaman 4:Verse 14
14 But behold, Moronihah did preach many things unto
the people because of their iniquity, and also Nephi and Lehi, who
were the sons of Helaman, did preach many things unto the people,
yea, and did prophesy many things unto them concerning their
iniquities, and what should come unto them if they did not repent
of their sins.
Helaman 4:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that they did repent, and
inasmuch as they did repent they did begin to prosper.
Helaman 4:Verse 16
16 For when Moronihah saw that they did repent he did
venture to lead them forth from place to place, and from city to
city, even until they had regained the one-half of their property
and the one-half of all their lands.
Helaman 4:Verse 17
17 And thus ended the sixty and first year of the reign
of the judges.
Helaman 4:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass in the sixty and second year of
the reign of the judges, that Moronihah could obtain no more
possessions over the Lamanites.
Helaman 4:Verse 19
19 Therefore they did abandon their design to obtain
the remainder of their lands, for so numerous were the Lamanites
that it became impossible for the Nephites to obtain more power
over them; therefore Moronihah did employ all his armies in
maintaining those parts which he had taken.
Helaman 4:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass, because of the greatness of the
number of the Lamanites the Nephites were in great fear, lest they
should be overpowered, and trodden down, and slain, and
destroyed.
Helaman 4:Verse 21
21 Yea, they began to remember the prophecies of Alma,
and also the words of Mosiah; and they saw that they had been a
stiffnecked people, and that they had set at naught the
commandments of God;
Helaman 4:Verse 22
22 And that they had altered and trampled under their
feet the laws of Mosiah, or that which the Lord commanded him to
give unto the people; and they saw that their laws had become
corrupted, and that they had become a wicked people, insomuch that
they were wicked even like unto the Lamanites.
Helaman 4:Verse 23
23 And because of their iniquity the church had begun
to dwindle; and they began to disbelieve in the spirit of prophecy
and in the spirit of revelation; and the judgments of God did stare
them in the face.
Helaman 4:Verse 24
24 And they saw that they had become weak, like unto
their brethren, the Lamanites, and that the Spirit of the Lord did
no more preserve them; yea, it had withdrawn from them because the
Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples--
Helaman 4:Verse 25
25 Therefore the Lord did cease to preserve them by his
miraculous and matchless power, for they had fallen into a state of
unbelief and awful wickedness; and they saw that the Lamanites were
exceedingly more numerous than they, and except they should cleave
unto the Lord their God they must unavoidably perish.
Helaman 4:Verse 26
26 For behold, they saw that the strength of the
Lamanites was as great as their strength, even man for man. And
thus had they fallen into this great transgression; yea, thus had
they become weak, because of their transgression, in the space of
not many years.
Chapter 5
Helaman 5:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that in this same year, behold,
Nephi delivered up the judgment-seat to a man whose name was
Cezoram.
Helaman 5:Verse 2
2 For as their laws and their governments were
established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil
were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were
ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.
Helaman 5:Verse 3
3 Yea, and this was not all; they were a stiffnecked
people, insomuch that they could not be governed by the law nor
justice, save it were to their destruction.
Helaman 5:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that Nephi had become weary
because of their iniquity; and he yielded up the judgment-seat, and
took it upon him to preach the word of God all the remainder of his
days, and his brother Lehi also, all the remainder of his
days;
Helaman 5:Verse 5
5 For they remembered the words which their father
Helaman spake unto them. And these are the words which he
spake:
Helaman 5:Verse 6
6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to
keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare
unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the
names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem;
and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may
remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their
works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is
said, and also written, that they were good.
Helaman 5:Verse 7
7 Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that
which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even
as it has been said and written of them.
Helaman 5:Verse 8
8 And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to
desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things
that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for
yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which
fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift of
eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to
our fathers.
Helaman 5:Verse 9
9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king
Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no
other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the
atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that
he cometh to redeem the world.
Helaman 5:Verse 10
10 And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto
Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the
Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should
not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from
their sins.
Helaman 5:Verse 11
11 And he hath power given unto him from the Father to
redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he
hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of
repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the
salvation of their souls.
Helaman 5:Verse 12
12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon
the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye
must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth
his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all
his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no
power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless
wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure
foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot
fall.
Helaman 5:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that these were the words which
Helaman taught to his sons; yea, he did teach them many things
which are not written, and also many things which are
written.
Helaman 5:Verse 14
14 And they did remember his words; and therefore they
went forth, keeping the commandments of God, to teach the word of
God among all the people of Nephi, beginning at the city
Bountiful;
Helaman 5:Verse 15
15 And from thenceforth to the city of Gid; and from
the city of Gid to the city of Mulek;
Helaman 5:Verse 16
16 And even from one city to another, until they had
gone forth among all the people of Nephi who were in the land
southward; and from thence into the land of Zarahemla, among the
Lamanites.
Helaman 5:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that they did preach with great
power, insomuch that they did confound many of those dissenters who
had gone over from the Nephites, insomuch that they came forth and
did confess their sins and were baptized unto repentance, and
immediately returned to the Nephites to endeavor to repair unto
them the wrongs which they had done.
Helaman 5:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did preach
unto the Lamanites with such great power and authority, for they
had power and authority given unto them that they might speak, and
they also had what they should speak given unto them--
Helaman 5:Verse 19
19 Therefore they did speak unto the great astonishment
of the Lamanites, to the convincing them, insomuch that there were
eight thousand of the Lamanites who were in the land of Zarahemla
and round about baptized unto repentance, and were convinced of the
wickedness of the traditions of their fathers.
Helaman 5:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did proceed
from thence to go to the land of Nephi.
Helaman 5:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that they were taken by an army
of the Lamanites and cast into prison; yea, even in that same
prison in which Ammon and his brethren were cast by the servants of
Limhi.
Helaman 5:Verse 22
22 And after they had been cast into prison many days
without food, behold, they went forth into the prison to take them
that they might slay them.
Helaman 5:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi were
encircled about as if by fire, even insomuch that they durst not
lay their hands upon them for fear lest they should be burned.
Nevertheless, Nephi and Lehi were not burned; and they were as
standing in the midst of fire and were not burned.
Helaman 5:Verse 24
24 And when they saw that they were encircled about
with a pillar of fire, and that it burned them not, their hearts
did take courage.
Helaman 5:Verse 25
25 For they saw that the Lamanites durst not lay their
hands upon them; neither durst they come near unto them, but stood
as if they were struck dumb with amazement.
Helaman 5:Verse 26
26 And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did stand
forth and began to speak unto them, saying: Fear not, for behold,
it is God that has shown unto you this marvelous thing, in the
which is shown unto you that ye cannot lay your hands on us to slay
us.
Helaman 5:Verse 27
27 And behold, when they had said these words, the
earth shook exceedingly, and the walls of the prison did shake as
if they were about to tumble to the earth; but behold, they did not
fall. And behold, they that were in the prison were Lamanites and
Nephites who were dissenters.
Helaman 5:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that they were overshadowed with
a cloud of darkness, and an awful solemn fear came upon them.
Helaman 5:Verse 29
29 And it came to pass that there came a voice as if it
were above the cloud of darkness, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, and
seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to
declare good tidings.
Helaman 5:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and
beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice
of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of
perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce
even to the very soul--
Helaman 5:Verse 31
31 And notwithstanding the mildness of the voice,
behold the earth shook exceedingly, and the walls of the prison
trembled again, as if it were about to tumble to the earth; and
behold the cloud of darkness, which had overshadowed them, did not
disperse--
Helaman 5:Verse 32
32 And behold the voice came again, saying: Repent ye,
repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; and seek no more
to destroy my servants. And it came to pass that the earth shook
again, and the walls trembled.
Helaman 5:Verse 33
33 And also again the third time the voice came, and
did speak unto them marvelous words which cannot be uttered by man;
and the walls did tremble again, and the earth shook as if it were
about to divide asunder.
Helaman 5:Verse 34
34 And it came to pass that the Lamanites could not
flee because of the cloud of darkness which did overshadow them;
yea, and also they were immovable because of the fear which did
come upon them.
Helaman 5:Verse 35
35 Now there was one among them who was a Nephite by
birth, who had once belonged to the church of God but had dissented
from them.
Helaman 5:Verse 36
36 And it came to pass that he turned him about, and
behold, he saw through the cloud of darkness the faces of Nephi and
Lehi; and behold, they did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of
angels. And he beheld that they did lift their eyes to heaven; and
they were in the attitude as if talking or lifting their voices to
some being whom they beheld.
Helaman 5:Verse 37
37 And it came to pass that this man did cry unto the
multitude, that they might turn and look. And behold, there was
power given unto them that they did turn and look; and they did
behold the faces of Nephi and Lehi.
Helaman 5:Verse 38
38 And they said unto the man: Behold, what do all
these things mean, and who is it with whom these men do
converse?
Helaman 5:Verse 39
39 Now the man's name was Aminadab. And Aminadab said
unto them: They do converse with the angels of God.
Helaman 5:Verse 40
40 And it came to pass that the Lamanites said unto
him: What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed
from overshadowing us?
Helaman 5:Verse 41
41 And Aminadab said unto them: You must repent, and
cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who
was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye
shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from
overshadowing you.
Helaman 5:Verse 42
42 And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry
unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth; yea, they did cry
even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed.
Helaman 5:Verse 43
43 And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes
about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from
overshadowing them, behold, they saw that they were encircled
about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire.
Helaman 5:Verse 44
44 And Nephi and Lehi were in the midst of them; yea,
they were encircled about; yea, they were as if in the midst of a
flaming fire, yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold
upon the walls of the prison; and they were filled with that joy
which is unspeakable and full of glory.
Helaman 5:Verse 45
45 And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down
from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled
as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words.
Helaman 5:Verse 46
46 And it came to pass that there came a voice unto
them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying:
Helaman 5:Verse 47
47 Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in
my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world.
Helaman 5:Verse 48
48 And now, when they heard this they cast up their
eyes as if to behold from whence the voice came; and behold, they
saw the heavens open; and angels came down out of heaven and
ministered unto them.
Helaman 5:Verse 49
49 And there were about three hundred souls who saw and
heard these things; and they were bidden to go forth and marvel
not, neither should they doubt.
Helaman 5:Verse 50
50 And it came to pass that they did go forth, and did
minister unto the people, declaring throughout all the regions
round about all the things which they had heard and seen, insomuch
that the more part of the Lamanites were convinced of them, because
of the greatness of the evidences which they had received.
Helaman 5:Verse 51
51 And as many as were convinced did lay down their
weapons of war, and also their hatred and the tradition of their
fathers.
Helaman 5:Verse 52
52 And it came to pass that they did yield up unto the
Nephites the lands of their possession.
Chapter 6
Helaman 6:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that when the sixty and second
year of the reign of the judges had ended, all these things had
happened and the Lamanites had become, the more part of them, a
righteous people, insomuch that their righteousness did exceed that
of the Nephites, because of their firmness and their steadiness in
the faith.
Helaman 6:Verse 2
2 For behold, there were many of the Nephites who had
become hardened and impenitent and grossly wicked, insomuch that
they did reject the word of God and all the preaching and
prophesying which did come among them.
Helaman 6:Verse 3
3 Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great
joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the
church of God, which had been established among them. And they did
fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and
did have great joy.
Helaman 6:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that many of the Lamanites did
come down into the land of Zarahemla, and did declare unto the
people of the Nephites the manner of their conversion, and did
exhort them to faith and repentance.
Helaman 6:Verse 5
5 Yea, and many did preach with exceedingly great power
and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths
of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb.
Helaman 6:Verse 6
6 And it came to pass that many of the Lamanites did go
into the land northward; and also Nephi and Lehi went into the land
northward, to preach unto the people. And thus ended the sixty and
third year.
Helaman 6:Verse 7
7 And behold, there was peace in all the land, insomuch
that the Nephites did go into whatsoever part of the land they
would, whether among the Nephites or the Lamanites.
Helaman 6:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did also go
whithersoever they would, whether it were among the Lamanites or
among the Nephites; and thus they did have free intercourse one
with another, to buy and to sell, and to get gain, according to
their desire.
Helaman 6:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that they became exceedingly
rich, both the Lamanites and the Nephites; and they did have an
exceeding plenty of gold, and of silver, and of all manner of
precious metals, both in the land south and in the land
north.
Helaman 6:Verse 10
10 Now the land south was called Lehi and the land
north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for
the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the
land south.
Helaman 6:Verse 11
11 And behold, there was all manner of gold in both
these lands, and of silver, and of precious ore of every kind; and
there were also curious workmen, who did work all kinds of ore and
did refine it; and thus they did become rich.
Helaman 6:Verse 12
12 They did raise grain in abundance, both in the north
and in the south; and they did flourish exceedingly, both in the
north and in the south. And they did multiply and wax exceedingly
strong in the land. And they did raise many flocks and herds, yea,
many fatlings.
Helaman 6:Verse 13
13 Behold their women did toil and spin, and did make
all manner of cloth, of fine-twined linen and cloth of every kind,
to clothe their nakedness. And thus the sixty and fourth year did
pass away in peace.
Helaman 6:Verse 14
14 And in the sixty and fifth year they did also have
great joy and peace, yea, much preaching and many prophecies
concerning that which was to come. And thus passed away the sixty
and fifth year.
Helaman 6:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that in the sixty and sixth year
of the reign of the judges, behold, Cezoram was murdered by an
unknown hand as he sat upon the judgment-seat. And it came to pass
that in the same year, that his son, who had been appointed by the
people in his stead, was also murdered. And thus ended the sixty
and sixth year.
Helaman 6:Verse 16
16 And in the commencement of the sixty and seventh
year the people began to grow exceedingly wicked again.
Helaman 6:Verse 17
17 For behold, the Lord had blessed them so long with
the riches of the world that they had not been stirred up to anger,
to wars, nor to bloodshed; therefore they began to set their hearts
upon their riches; yea, they began to seek to get gain that they
might be lifted up one above another; therefore they began to
commit secret murders, and to rob and to plunder, that they might
get gain.
Helaman 6:Verse 18
18 And now behold, those murderers and plunderers were
a band who had been formed by Kishkumen and Gadianton. And now it
had come to pass that there were many, even among the Nephites, of
Gadianton's band. But behold, they were more numerous among the
more wicked part of the Lamanites. And they were called Gadianton's
robbers and murderers.
Helaman 6:Verse 19
19 And it was they who did murder the chief judge
Cezoram, and his son, while in the judgment-seat; and behold, they
were not found.
Helaman 6:Verse 20
20 And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites
found that there were robbers among them they were exceedingly
sorrowful; and they did use every means in their power to destroy
them off the face of the earth.
Helaman 6:Verse 21
21 But behold, Satan did stir up the hearts of the more
part of the Nephites, insomuch that they did unite with those bands
of robbers, and did enter into their covenants and their oaths,
that they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever
difficult circumstances they should be placed, that they should not
suffer for their murders, and their plunderings, and their
stealings.
Helaman 6:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that they did have their signs,
yea, their secret signs, and their secret words; and this that they
might distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant, that
whatsoever wickedness his brother should do he should not be
injured by his brother, nor by those who did belong to his band,
who had taken this covenant.
Helaman 6:Verse 23
23 And thus they might murder, and plunder, and steal,
and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the
laws of their country and also the laws of their God.
Helaman 6:Verse 24
24 And whosoever of those who belonged to their band
should reveal unto the world of their wickedness and their
abominations, should be tried, not according to the laws of their
country, but according to the laws of their wickedness, which had
been given by Gadianton and Kishkumen.
Helaman 6:Verse 25
25 Now behold, it is these secret oaths and covenants
which Alma commanded his son should not go forth unto the world,
lest they should be a means of bringing down the people unto
destruction.
Helaman 6:Verse 26
26 Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not
come forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered
unto Helaman; but behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton
by that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of
the forbidden fruit--
Helaman 6:Verse 27
27 Yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if
he would murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the
world. And he did plot with Cain and his followers from that time
forth.
Helaman 6:Verse 28
28 And also it is that same being who put it into the
hearts of the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they
might get to heaven. And it was that same being who led on the
people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the
works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land,
until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to
an everlasting hell.
Helaman 6:Verse 29
29 Yea, it is that same being who put it into the heart
of Gadianton to still carry on the work of darkness, and of secret
murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man even
down to this time.
Helaman 6:Verse 30
30 And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin.
And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret
murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their
covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to
generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the
children of men.
Helaman 6:Verse 31
31 And now behold, he had got great hold upon the
hearts of the Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had become
exceedingly wicked; yea, the more part of them had turned out of
the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the
commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did
build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their
silver.
Helaman 6:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that all these iniquities did
come unto them in the space of not many years, insomuch that a more
part of it had come unto them in the sixty and seventh year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Helaman 6:Verse 33
33 And they did grow in their iniquities in the sixty
and eighth year also, to the great sorrow and lamentation of the
righteous.
Helaman 6:Verse 34
34 And thus we see that the Nephites did begin to
dwindle in unbelief, and grow in wickedness and abominations, while
the Lamanites began to grow exceedingly in the knowledge of their
God; yea, they did begin to keep his statutes and commandments, and
to walk in truth and uprightness before him.
Helaman 6:Verse 35
35 And thus we see that the Spirit of the Lord began to
withdraw from the Nephites, because of the wickedness and the
hardness of their hearts.
Helaman 6:Verse 36
36 And thus we see that the Lord began to pour out his
Spirit upon the Lamanites, because of their easiness and
willingness to believe in his words.
Helaman 6:Verse 37
37 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the
band of robbers of Gadianton; and they did preach the word of God
among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of
robbers was utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites.
Helaman 6:Verse 38
38 And it came to pass on the other hand, that the
Nephites did build them up and support them, beginning at the more
wicked part of them, until they had overspread all the land of the
Nephites, and had seduced the more part of the righteous until they
had come down to believe in their works and partake of their
spoils, and to join with them in their secret murders and
combinations.
Helaman 6:Verse 39
39 And thus they did obtain the sole management of the
government, insomuch that they did trample under their feet and
smite and rend and turn their backs upon the poor and the meek, and
the humble followers of God.
Helaman 6:Verse 40
40 And thus we see that they were in an awful state,
and ripening for an everlasting destruction.
Helaman 6:Verse 41
41 And it came to pass that thus ended the sixty and
eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi.
Chapter 7
Helaman 7:Verse 1
1 Behold, now it came to pass in the sixty and ninth
year of the reign of the judges over the people of the Nephites,
that Nephi, the son of Helaman, returned to the land of Zarahemla
from the land northward.
Helaman 7:Verse 2
2 For he had been forth among the people who were in
the land northward and did preach the word of God unto them, and
did prophesy many things unto them;
Helaman 7:Verse 3
3 And they did reject all his words, insomuch that he
could not stay among them, but returned again unto the land of his
nativity.
Helaman 7:Verse 4
4 And seeing the people in a state of such awful
wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the
judgment-seats--having usurped the power and authority of the land;
laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright
before him; doing no justice unto the children of men;
Helaman 7:Verse 5
5 Condemning the righteous because of their
righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished
because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the
head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that
they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that
they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill,
and do according to their own wills--
Helaman 7:Verse 6
6 Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites,
in the space of not many years; and when Nephi saw it, his heart
was swollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaim in
the agony of his soul:
Helaman 7:Verse 7
7 Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my
father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could
have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy
to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to
be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the
words of the Lord--
Helaman 7:Verse 8
8 Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then
would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my
brethren.
Helaman 7:Verse 9
9 But behold, I am consigned that these are my days,
and that my soul shall be filled with sorrow because of this the
wickedness of my brethren.
Helaman 7:Verse 10
10 And behold, now it came to pass that it was upon a
tower, which was in the garden of Nephi, which was by the highway
which led to the chief market, which was in the city of Zarahemla;
therefore, Nephi had bowed himself upon the tower which was in his
garden, which tower was also near unto the garden gate by which led
the highway.
Helaman 7:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that there were certain men
passing by and saw Nephi as he was pouring out his soul unto God
upon the tower; and they ran and told the people what they had
seen, and the people came together in multitudes that they might
know the cause of so great mourning for the wickedness of the
people.
Helaman 7:Verse 12
12 And now, when Nephi arose he beheld the multitudes
of people who had gathered together.
Helaman 7:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that he opened his mouth and
said unto them: Behold, why have ye gathered yourselves together?
That I may tell you of your iniquities?
Helaman 7:Verse 14
14 Yea, because I have got upon my tower that I might
pour out my soul unto my God, because of the exceeding sorrow of my
heart, which is because of your iniquities!
Helaman 7:Verse 15
15 And because of my mourning and lamentation ye have
gathered yourselves together, and do marvel; yea, and ye have great
need to marvel; yea, ye ought to marvel because ye are given away
that the devil has got so great hold upon your hearts.
Helaman 7:Verse 16
16 Yea, how could you have given way to the enticing of
him who is seeking to hurl away your souls down to everlasting
misery and endless wo?
Helaman 7:Verse 17
17 O repent ye, repent ye! Why will ye die? Turn ye,
turn ye unto the Lord your God. Why has he forsaken you?
Helaman 7:Verse 18
18 It is because you have hardened your hearts; yea, ye
will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd; yea, ye have
provoked him to anger against you.
Helaman 7:Verse 19
19 And behold, instead of gathering you, except ye will
repent, behold, he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become
meat for dogs and wild beasts.
Helaman 7:Verse 20
20 O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very
day that he has delivered you?
Helaman 7:Verse 21
21 But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men,
yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your
hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the
which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness
against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity.
Helaman 7:Verse 22
22 And for this cause wo shall come unto you except ye
shall repent. For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city,
and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in
the land of our possession, shall be taken away that ye shall have
no place in them; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you
strength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your
enemies.
Helaman 7:Verse 23
23 For behold, thus saith the Lord: I will not show
unto the wicked of my strength, to one more than the other, save it
be unto those who repent of their sins, and hearken unto my words.
Now therefore, I would that ye should behold, my brethren, that it
shall be better for the Lamanites than for you except ye shall
repent.
Helaman 7:Verse 24
24 For behold, they are more righteous than you, for
they have not sinned against that great knowledge which ye have
received; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them; yea, he
will lengthen out their days and increase their seed, even when
thou shalt be utterly destroyed except thou shalt repent.
Helaman 7:Verse 25
25 Yea, wo be unto you because of that great
abomination which has come among you; and ye have united yourselves
unto it, yea, to that secret band which was established by
Gadianton!
Helaman 7:Verse 26
26 Yea, wo shall come unto you because of that pride
which ye have suffered to enter your hearts, which has lifted you
up beyond that which is good because of your exceedingly great
riches!
Helaman 7:Verse 27
27 Yea, wo be unto you because of your wickedness and
abominations!
Helaman 7:Verse 28
28 And except ye repent ye shall perish; yea, even your
lands shall be taken from you, and ye shall be destroyed from off
the face of the earth.
Helaman 7:Verse 29
29 Behold now, I do not say that these things shall be,
of myself, because it is not of myself that I know these things;
but behold, I know that these things are true because the Lord God
has made them known unto me, therefore I testify that they shall
be.
Chapter 8
Helaman 8:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that when Nephi had said
these words, behold, there were men who were judges, who also
belonged to the secret band of Gadianton, and they were angry, and
they cried out against him, saying unto the people: Why do ye not
seize upon this man and bring him forth, that he may be condemned
according to the crime which he has done?
Helaman 8:Verse 2
2 Why seest thou this man, and hearest him revile
against this people and against our law?
Helaman 8:Verse 3
3 For behold, Nephi had spoken unto them concerning the
corruptness of their law; yea, many things did Nephi speak which
cannot be written; and nothing did he speak which was contrary to
the commandments of God.
Helaman 8:Verse 4
4 And those judges were angry with him because he spake
plainly unto them concerning their secret works of darkness;
nevertheless, they durst not lay their own hands upon him, for they
feared the people lest they should cry out against them.
Helaman 8:Verse 5
5 Therefore they did cry unto the people, saying: Why
do you suffer this man to revile against us? For behold he doth
condemn all this people, even unto destruction; yea, and also that
these our great cities shall be taken from us, that we shall have
no place in them.
Helaman 8:Verse 6
6 And now we know that this is impossible, for behold,
we are powerful, and our cities great, therefore our enemies can
have no power over us.
Helaman 8:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that thus they did stir up the
people to anger against Nephi, and raised contentions among them;
for there were some who did cry out: Let this man alone, for he is
a good man, and those things which he saith will surely come to
pass except we repent;
Helaman 8:Verse 8
8 Yea, behold, all the judgments will come upon us
which he has testified unto us; for we know that he has testified
aright unto us concerning our iniquities. And behold they are many,
and he knoweth as well all things which shall befall us as he
knoweth of our iniquities;
Helaman 8:Verse 9
9 Yea, and behold, if he had not been a prophet he
could not have testified concerning those things.
Helaman 8:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that those people who sought to
destroy Nephi were compelled because of their fear, that they did
not lay their hands on him; therefore he began again to speak unto
them, seeing that he had gained favor in the eyes of some, insomuch
that the remainder of them did fear.
Helaman 8:Verse 11
11 Therefore he was constrained to speak more unto them
saying: Behold, my brethren, have ye not read that God gave power
unto one man, even Moses, to smite upon the waters of the Red Sea,
and they parted hither and thither, insomuch that the Israelites,
who were our fathers, came through upon dry ground, and the waters
closed upon the armies of the Egyptians and swallowed them
up?
Helaman 8:Verse 12
12 And now behold, if God gave unto this man such
power, then why should ye dispute among yourselves, and say that he
hath given unto me no power whereby I may know concerning the
judgments that shall come upon you except ye repent?
Helaman 8:Verse 13
13 But, behold, ye not only deny my words, but ye also
deny all the words which have been spoken by our fathers, and also
the words which were spoken by this man, Moses, who had such great
power given unto him, yea, the words which he hath spoken
concerning the coming of the Messiah.
Helaman 8:Verse 14
14 Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God
should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the
wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.
Helaman 8:Verse 15
15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should
live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with
faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life
which is eternal.
Helaman 8:Verse 16
16 And now behold, Moses did not only testify of these
things, but also all the holy prophets, from his days even to the
days of Abraham.
Helaman 8:Verse 17
17 Yea, and behold, Abraham saw of his coming, and was
filled with gladness and did rejoice.
Helaman 8:Verse 18
18 Yea, and behold I say unto you, that Abraham not
only knew of these things, but there were many before the days of
Abraham who were called by the order of God; yea, even after the
order of his Son; and this that it should be shown unto the people,
a great many thousand years before his coming, that even redemption
should come unto them.
Helaman 8:Verse 19
19 And now I would that ye should know, that even since
the days of Abraham there have been many prophets that have
testified these things; yea, behold, the prophet Zenos did testify
boldly; for the which he was slain.
Helaman 8:Verse 20
20 And behold, also Zenock, and also Ezias, and also
Isaiah, and Jeremiah, (Jeremiah being that same prophet who
testified of the destruction of Jerusalem) and now we know that
Jerusalem was destroyed according to the words of Jeremiah. O then
why not the Son of God come, according to his prophecy?
Helaman 8:Verse 21
21 And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was
destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not slain,
all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold that the seed
of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out of the land of
Jerusalem? But behold, this is not all--
Helaman 8:Verse 22
22 Our father Lehi was driven out of Jerusalem because
he testified of these things. Nephi also testified of these things,
and also almost all of our fathers, even down to this time; yea,
they have testified of the coming of Christ, and have looked
forward, and have rejoiced in his day which is to come.
Helaman 8:Verse 23
23 And behold, he is God, and he is with them, and he
did manifest himself unto them, that they were redeemed by him; and
they gave unto him glory, because of that which is to come.
Helaman 8:Verse 24
24 And now, seeing ye know these things and cannot deny
them except ye shall lie, therefore in this ye have sinned, for ye
have rejected all these things, notwithstanding so many evidences
which ye have received; yea, even ye have received all things, both
things in heaven, and all things which are in the earth, as a
witness that they are true.
Helaman 8:Verse 25
25 But behold, ye have rejected the truth, and rebelled
against your holy God; and even at this time, instead of laying up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where nothing doth corrupt, and
where nothing can come which is unclean, ye are heaping up for
yourselves wrath against the day of judgment.
Helaman 8:Verse 26
26 Yea, even at this time ye are ripening, because of
your murders and your fornication and wickedness, for everlasting
destruction; yea, and except ye repent it will come unto you
soon.
Helaman 8:Verse 27
27 Yea, behold it is now even at your doors; yea, go ye
in unto the judgment-seat, and search; and behold, your judge is
murdered, and he lieth in his blood; and he hath been murdered by
his brother, who seeketh to sit in the judgment-seat.
Helaman 8:Verse 28
28 And behold, they both belong to your secret band,
whose author is Gadianton and the evil one who seeketh to destroy
the souls of men.
Chapter 9
Helaman 9:Verse 1
1 Behold, now it came to pass that when Nephi had
spoken these words, certain men who were among them ran to the
judgment-seat; yea, even there were five who went, and they said
among themselves, as they went:
Helaman 9:Verse 2
2 Behold, now we will know of a surety whether this man
be a prophet and God hath commanded him to prophesy such marvelous
things unto us. Behold, we do not believe that he hath; yea, we do
not believe that he is a prophet; nevertheless, if this thing which
he has said concerning the chief judge be true, that he be dead,
then will we believe that the other words which he has spoken are
true.
Helaman 9:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that they ran in their might, and
came in unto the judgment-seat; and behold, the chief judge had
fallen to the earth, and did lie in his blood.
Helaman 9:Verse 4
4 And now behold, when they saw this they were
astonished exceedingly, insomuch that they fell to the earth; for
they had not believed the words which Nephi had spoken concerning
the chief judge.
Helaman 9:Verse 5
5 But now, when they saw they believed, and fear came
upon them lest all the judgments which Nephi had spoken should come
upon the people; therefore they did quake, and had fallen to the
earth.
Helaman 9:Verse 6
6 Now, immediately when the judge had been murdered--he
being stabbed by his brother by a garb of secrecy, and he fled, and
the servants ran and told the people, raising the cry of murder
among them;
Helaman 9:Verse 7
7 And behold the people did gather themselves together
unto the place of the judgment-seat--and behold, to their
astonishment they saw those five men who had fallen to the
earth.
Helaman 9:Verse 8
8 And now behold, the people knew nothing concerning
the multitude who had gathered together at the garden of Nephi;
therefore they said among themselves: These men are they who have
murdered the judge, and God has smitten them that they could not
flee from us.
Helaman 9:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that they laid hold on them, and
bound them and cast them into prison. And there was a proclamation
sent abroad that the judge was slain, and that the murderers had
been taken and were cast into prison.
Helaman 9:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that on the morrow the people
did assemble themselves together to mourn and to fast, at the
burial of the great chief judge who had been slain.
Helaman 9:Verse 11
11 And thus also those judges who were at the garden of
Nephi, and heard his words, were also gathered together at the
burial.
Helaman 9:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that they inquired among the
people, saying: Where are the five who were sent to inquire
concerning the chief judge whether he was dead? And they answered
and said: Concerning this five whom ye say ye have sent, we know
not; but there are five who are the murderers, whom we have cast
into prison.
Helaman 9:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that the judges desired that
they should be brought; and they were brought, and behold they were
the five who were sent; and behold the judges inquired of them to
know concerning the matter, and they told them all that they had
done, saying:
Helaman 9:Verse 14
14 We ran and came to the place of the judgment-seat,
and when we saw all things even as Nephi had testified, we were
astonished insomuch that we fell to the earth; and when we were
recovered from our astonishment, behold they cast us into
prison.
Helaman 9:Verse 15
15 Now, as for the murder of this man, we know not who
has done it; and only this much we know, we ran and came according
as ye desired, and behold he was dead, according to the words of
Nephi.
Helaman 9:Verse 16
16 And now it came to pass that the judges did expound
the matter unto the people, and did cry out against Nephi, saying:
Behold, we know that this Nephi must have agreed with some one to
slay the judge, and then he might declare it unto us, that he might
convert us unto his faith, that he might raise himself to be a
great man, chosen of God, and a prophet.
Helaman 9:Verse 17
17 And now behold, we will detect this man, and he
shall confess his fault and make known unto us the true murderer of
this judge.
Helaman 9:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that the five were liberated on
the day of the burial. Nevertheless, they did rebuke the judges in
the words which they had spoken against Nephi, and did contend with
them one by one, insomuch that they did confound them.
Helaman 9:Verse 19
19 Nevertheless, they caused that Nephi should be taken
and bound and brought before the multitude, and they began to
question him in divers ways that they might cross him, that they
might accuse him to death--
Helaman 9:Verse 20
20 Saying unto him: Thou art confederate; who is this
man that hath done this murder? Now tell us, and acknowledge thy
fault; saying, Behold here is money; and also we will grant unto
thee thy life if thou wilt tell us, and acknowledge the agreement
which thou hast made with him.
Helaman 9:Verse 21
21 But Nephi said unto them: O ye fools, ye
uncircumcised of heart, ye blind, and ye stiffnecked people, do ye
know how long the Lord your God will suffer you that ye shall go on
in this your way of sin?
Helaman 9:Verse 22
22 O ye ought to begin to howl and mourn, because of
the great destruction which at this time doth await you, except ye
shall repent.
Helaman 9:Verse 23
23 Behold ye say that I have agreed with a man that he
should murder Seezoram, our chief judge. But behold, I say unto
you, that this is because I have testified unto you that ye might
know concerning this thing; yea, even for a witness unto you, that
I did know of the wickedness and abominations which are among
you.
Helaman 9:Verse 24
24 And because I have done this, ye say that I have
agreed with a man that he should do this thing; yea, because I
showed unto you this sign ye are angry with me, and seek to destroy
my life.
Helaman 9:Verse 25
25 And now behold, I will show unto you another sign,
and see if ye will in this thing seek to destroy me.
Helaman 9:Verse 26
26 Behold I say unto you: Go to the house of Seantum,
who is the brother of Seezoram, and say unto him--
Helaman 9:Verse 27
27 Has Nephi, the pretended prophet, who doth prophesy
so much evil concerning this people, agreed with thee, in the which
ye have murdered Seezoram, who is your brother?
Helaman 9:Verse 28
28 And behold, he shall say unto you, Nay.
Helaman 9:Verse 29
29 And ye shall say unto him: Have ye murdered your
brother?
Helaman 9:Verse 30
30 And he shall stand with fear, and wist not what to
say. And behold, he shall deny unto you; and he shall make as if he
were astonished; nevertheless, he shall declare unto you that he is
innocent.
Helaman 9:Verse 31
31 But behold, ye shall examine him, and ye shall find
blood upon the skirts of his cloak.
Helaman 9:Verse 32
32 And when ye have seen this, ye shall say: From
whence cometh this blood? Do we not know that it is the blood of
your brother?
Helaman 9:Verse 33
33 And then shall he tremble, and shall look pale, even
as if death had come upon him.
Helaman 9:Verse 34
34 And then shall ye say: Because of this fear and this
paleness which has come upon your face, behold, we know that thou
art guilty.
Helaman 9:Verse 35
35 And then shall greater fear come upon him; and then
shall he confess unto you, and deny no more that he has done this
murder.
Helaman 9:Verse 36
36 And then shall he say unto you, that I, Nephi, know
nothing concerning the matter save it were given unto me by the
power of God. And then shall ye know that I am an honest man, and
that I am sent unto you from God.
Helaman 9:Verse 37
37 And it came to pass that they went and did, even
according as Nephi had said unto them. And behold, the words which
he had said were true; for according to the words he did deny; and
also according to the words he did confess.
Helaman 9:Verse 38
38 And he was brought to prove that he himself was the
very murderer, insomuch that the five were set at liberty, and also
was Nephi.
Helaman 9:Verse 39
39 And there were some of the Nephites who believed on
the words of Nephi; and there were some also, who believed because
of the testimony of the five, for they had been converted while
they were in prison.
Helaman 9:Verse 40
40 And now there were some among the people, who said
that Nephi was a prophet.
Helaman 9:Verse 41
41 And there were others who said: Behold, he is a god,
for except he was a god he could not know of all things. For
behold, he has told us the thoughts of our hearts, and also has
told us things; and even he has brought unto our knowledge the true
murderer of our chief judge.
Chapter 10
Helaman 10:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that there arose a division among
the people, insomuch that they divided hither and thither and went
their ways, leaving Nephi alone, as he was standing in the midst of
them.
Helaman 10:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that Nephi went his way towards
his own house, pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown
unto him.
Helaman 10:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass as he was thus pondering--being
much cast down because of the wickedness of the people of the
Nephites, their secret works of darkness, and their murderings, and
their plunderings, and all manner of iniquities--and it came to
pass as he was thus pondering in his heart, behold, a voice came
unto him saying:
Helaman 10:Verse 4
4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou
hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness
declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people.
And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life,
but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
Helaman 10:Verse 5
5 And now, because thou hast done this with such
unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make
thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even
that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for
thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.
Helaman 10:Verse 6
6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I
declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall
have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine,
and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness
of this people.
Helaman 10:Verse 7
7 Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye
shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye
shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye
have power among this people.
Helaman 10:Verse 8
8 And thus, if ye shall say unto this temple it shall
be rent in twain, it shall be done.
Helaman 10:Verse 9
9 And if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou cast
down and become smooth, it shall be done.
Helaman 10:Verse 10
10 And behold, if ye shall say that God shall smite
this people, it shall come to pass.
Helaman 10:Verse 11
11 And now behold, I command you, that ye shall go and
declare unto this people, that thus saith the Lord God, who is the
Almighty: Except ye repent ye shall be smitten, even unto
destruction.
Helaman 10:Verse 12
12 And behold, now it came to pass that when the Lord
had spoken these words unto Nephi, he did stop and did not go unto
his own house, but did return unto the multitudes who were
scattered about upon the face of the land, and began to declare
unto them the word of the Lord which had been spoken unto him,
concerning their destruction if they did not repent.
Helaman 10:Verse 13
13 Now behold, notwithstanding that great miracle which
Nephi had done in telling them concerning the death of the chief
judge, they did harden their hearts and did not hearken unto the
words of the Lord.
Helaman 10:Verse 14
14 Therefore Nephi did declare unto them the word of
the Lord, saying: Except ye repent, thus saith the Lord, ye shall
be smitten even unto destruction.
Helaman 10:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that when Nephi had declared
unto them the word, behold, they did still harden their hearts and
would not hearken unto his words; therefore they did revile against
him, and did seek to lay their hands upon him that they might cast
him into prison.
Helaman 10:Verse 16
16 But behold, the power of God was with him, and they
could not take him to cast him into prison, for he was taken by the
Spirit and conveyed away out of the midst of them.
Helaman 10:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that thus he did go forth in the
Spirit, from multitude to multitude, declaring the word of God,
even until he had declared it unto them all, or sent it forth among
all the people.
Helaman 10:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that they would not hearken unto
his words; and there began to be contentions, insomuch that they
were divided against themselves and began to slay one another with
the sword.
Helaman 10:Verse 19
19 And thus ended the seventy and first year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Chapter 11
Helaman 11:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass in the seventy and second
year of the reign of the judges that the contentions did increase,
insomuch that there were wars throughout all the land among all the
people of Nephi.
Helaman 11:Verse 2
2 And it was this secret band of robbers who did carry
on this work of destruction and wickedness. And this war did last
all that year; and in the seventy and third year it did also
last.
Helaman 11:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that in this year Nephi did cry
unto the Lord, saying:
Helaman 11:Verse 4
4 O Lord, do not suffer that this people shall be
destroyed by the sword; but O Lord, rather let there be a famine in
the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and
perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee.
Helaman 11:Verse 5
5 And so it was done, according to the words of Nephi.
And there was a great famine upon the land, among all the people of
Nephi. And thus in the seventy and fourth year the famine did
continue, and the work of destruction did cease by the sword but
became sore by famine.
Helaman 11:Verse 6
6 And this work of destruction did also continue in the
seventy and fifth year. For the earth was smitten that it was dry,
and did not yield forth grain in the season of grain; and the whole
earth was smitten, even among the Lamanites as well as among the
Nephites, so that they were smitten that they did perish by
thousands in the more wicked parts of the land.
Helaman 11:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that the people saw that they
were about to perish by famine, and they began to remember the Lord
their God; and they began to remember the words of Nephi.
Helaman 11:Verse 8
8 And the people began to plead with their chief judges
and their leaders, that they would say unto Nephi: Behold, we know
that thou art a man of God, and therefore cry unto the Lord our God
that he turn away from us this famine, lest all the words which
thou hast spoken concerning our destruction be fulfilled.
Helaman 11:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that the judges did say unto
Nephi, according to the words which had been desired. And it came
to pass that when Nephi saw that the people had repented and did
humble themselves in sackcloth, he cried again unto the Lord,
saying:
Helaman 11:Verse 10
10 O Lord, behold this people repenteth; and they have
swept away the band of Gadianton from amongst them insomuch that
they have become extinct, and they have concealed their secret
plans in the earth.
Helaman 11:Verse 11
11 Now, O Lord, because of this their humility wilt
thou turn away thine anger, and let thine anger be appeased in the
destruction of those wicked men whom thou hast already
destroyed.
Helaman 11:Verse 12
12 O Lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger, yea, thy
fierce anger, and cause that this famine may cease in this
land.
Helaman 11:Verse 13
13 O Lord, wilt thou hearken unto me, and cause that it
may be done according to my words, and send forth rain upon the
face of the earth, that she may bring forth her fruit, and her
grain in the season of grain.
Helaman 11:Verse 14
14 O Lord, thou didst hearken unto my words when I
said, Let there be a famine, that the pestilence of the sword might
cease; and I know that thou wilt, even at this time, hearken unto
my words, for thou saidst that: If this people repent I will spare
them.
Helaman 11:Verse 15
15 Yea, O Lord, and thou seest that they have repented,
because of the famine and the pestilence and destruction which has
come unto them.
Helaman 11:Verse 16
16 And now, O Lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger,
and try again if they will serve thee? And if so, O Lord, thou
canst bless them according to thy words which thou hast said.
Helaman 11:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that in the seventy and sixth
year the Lord did turn away his anger from the people, and caused
that rain should fall upon the earth, insomuch that it did bring
forth her fruit in the season of her fruit. And it came to pass
that it did bring forth her grain in the season of her grain.
Helaman 11:Verse 18
18 And behold, the people did rejoice and glorify God,
and the whole face of the land was filled with rejoicing; and they
did no more seek to destroy Nephi, but they did esteem him as a
great prophet, and a man of God, having great power and authority
given unto him from God.
Helaman 11:Verse 19
19 And behold, Lehi, his brother, was not a whit behind
him as to things pertaining to righteousness.
Helaman 11:Verse 20
20 And thus it did come to pass that the people of
Nephi began to prosper again in the land, and began to build up
their waste places, and began to multiply and spread, even until
they did cover the whole face of the land, both on the northward
and on the southward, from the sea west to the sea east.
Helaman 11:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that the seventy and sixth year
did end in peace. And the seventy and seventh year began in peace;
and the church did spread throughout the face of all the land; and
the more part of the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites,
did belong to the church; and they did have exceedingly great peace
in the land; and thus ended the seventy and seventh year.
Helaman 11:Verse 22
22 And also they had peace in the seventy and eighth
year, save it were a few contentions concerning the points of
doctrine which had been laid down by the prophets.
Helaman 11:Verse 23
23 And in the seventy and ninth year there began to be
much strife. But it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi, and many of
their brethren who knew concerning the true points of doctrine,
having many revelations daily, therefore they did preach unto the
people, insomuch that they did put an end to their strife in that
same year.
Helaman 11:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that in the eightieth year of
the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there were a
certain number of the dissenters from the people of Nephi, who had
some years before gone over unto the Lamanites, and taken upon
themselves the name of Lamanites, and also a certain number who
were real descendants of the Lamanites, being stirred up to anger
by them, or by those dissenters, therefore they commenced a war
with their brethren.
Helaman 11:Verse 25
25 And they did commit murder and plunder; and then
they would retreat back into the mountains, and into the wilderness
and secret places, hiding themselves that they could not be
discovered, receiving daily an addition to their numbers, inasmuch
as there were dissenters that went forth unto them.
Helaman 11:Verse 26
26 And thus in time, yea, even in the space of not many
years, they became an exceedingly great band of robbers; and they
did search out all the secret plans of Gadianton; and thus they
became robbers of Gadianton.
Helaman 11:Verse 27
27 Now behold, these robbers did make great havoc, yea,
even great destruction among the people of Nephi, and also among
the people of the Lamanites.
Helaman 11:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that it was expedient that there
should be a stop put to this work of destruction; therefore they
sent an army of strong men into the wilderness and upon the
mountains to search out this band of robbers, and to destroy
them.
Helaman 11:Verse 29
29 But behold, it came to pass that in that same year
they were driven back even into their own lands. And thus ended the
eightieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi.
Helaman 11:Verse 30
30 And it came to pass in the commencement of the
eighty and first year they did go forth again against this band of
robbers, and did destroy many; and they were also visited with much
destruction.
Helaman 11:Verse 31
31 And they were again obliged to return out of the
wilderness and out of the mountains unto their own lands, because
of the exceeding greatness of the numbers of those robbers who
infested the mountains and the wilderness.
Helaman 11:Verse 32
32 And it came to pass that thus ended this year. And
the robbers did still increase and wax strong, insomuch that they
did defy the whole armies of the Nephites, and also of the
Lamanites; and they did cause great fear to come unto the people
upon all the face of the land.
Helaman 11:Verse 33
33 Yea, for they did visit many parts of the land, and
did do great destruction unto them; yea, did kill many, and did
carry away others captive into the wilderness, yea, and more
especially their women and their children.
Helaman 11:Verse 34
34 Now this great evil, which came unto the people
because of their iniquity, did stir them up again in remembrance of
the Lord their God.
Helaman 11:Verse 35
35 And thus ended the eighty and first year of the
reign of the judges.
Helaman 11:Verse 36
36 And in the eighty and second year they began again
to forget the Lord their God. And in the eighty and third year they
began to wax strong in iniquity. And in the eighty and fourth year
they did not mend their ways.
Helaman 11:Verse 37
37 And it came to pass in the eighty and fifth year
they did wax stronger and stronger in their pride, and in their
wickedness; and thus they were ripening again for
destruction.
Helaman 11:Verse 38
38 And thus ended the eighty and fifth year.
Chapter 12
Helaman 12:Verse 1
1 AND thus we can behold how false, and also the
unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see
that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper
those who put their trust in him.
Helaman 12:Verse 2
2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth
prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their
flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all
manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their
lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies;
softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare
wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the
welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that
they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and
do trample under their feet the Holy One--yea, and this because of
their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.
Helaman 12:Verse 3
3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his
people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with
death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of
pestilence, they will not remember him.
Helaman 12:Verse 4
4 O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and
devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good,
are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words
of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of
the world!
Helaman 12:Verse 5
5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how
quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and
how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear
unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths!
Helaman 12:Verse 6
6 Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God,
who hath created them, should rule and reign over them;
notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they
do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be
their guide.
Helaman 12:Verse 7
7 O how great is the nothingness of the children of
men; yea, even they are less than the dust of the earth.
Helaman 12:Verse 8
8 For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and
thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and
everlasting God.
Helaman 12:Verse 9
9 Yea, behold at his voice do the hills and the
mountains tremble and quake.
Helaman 12:Verse 10
10 And by the power of his voice they are broken up,
and become smooth, yea, even like unto a valley.
Helaman 12:Verse 11
11 Yea, by the power of his voice doth the whole earth
shake;
Helaman 12:Verse 12
12 Yea, by the power of his voice, do the foundations
rock, even to the very center.
Helaman 12:Verse 13
13 Yea, and if he say unto the earth--Move--it is
moved.
Helaman 12:Verse 14
14 Yea, if he say unto the earth--Thou shalt go back,
that it lengthen out the day for many hours--it is done;
Helaman 12:Verse 15
15 And thus, according to his word the earth goeth
back, and it appeareth unto man that the sun standeth still; yea,
and behold, this is so; for surely it is the earth that moveth and
not the sun.
Helaman 12:Verse 16
16 And behold, also, if he say unto the waters of the
great deep--Be thou dried up--it is done.
Helaman 12:Verse 17
17 Behold, if he say unto this mountain--Be thou raised
up, and come over and fall upon that city, that it be buried
up--behold it is done.
Helaman 12:Verse 18
18 And behold, if a man hide up a treasure in the
earth, and the Lord shall say--Let it be accursed, because of the
iniquity of him who hath hid it up--behold, it shall be
accursed.
Helaman 12:Verse 19
19 And if the Lord shall say--Be thou accursed, that no
man shall find thee from this time henceforth and forever--behold,
no man getteth it henceforth and forever.
Helaman 12:Verse 20
20 And behold, if the Lord shall say unto a
man--Because of thine iniquities, thou shalt be accursed
forever--it shall be done.
Helaman 12:Verse 21
21 And if the Lord shall say--Because of thine
iniquities thou shalt be cut off from my presence--he will cause
that it shall be so.
Helaman 12:Verse 22
22 And wo unto him to whom he shall say this, for it
shall be unto him that will do iniquity, and he cannot be saved;
therefore, for this cause, that men might be saved, hath repentance
been declared.
Helaman 12:Verse 23
23 Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and
hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they
that shall be saved.
Helaman 12:Verse 24
24 And may God grant, in his great fulness, that men
might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be
restored unto grace for grace, according to their works.
Helaman 12:Verse 25
25 And I would that all men might be saved. But we read
that in the great and last day there are some who shall be cast
out, yea, who shall be cast off from the presence of the
Lord;
Helaman 12:Verse 26
26 Yea, who shall be consigned to a state of endless
misery, fulfilling the words which say: They that have done good
shall have everlasting life; and they that have done evil shall
have everlasting damnation. And thus it is. Amen.
Chapter 13
Helaman 13:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass in the eighty and sixth year,
the Nephites did still remain in wickedness, yea, in great
wickedness, while the Lamanites did observe strictly to keep the
commandments of God, according to the law of Moses.
Helaman 13:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that in this year there was one
Samuel, a Lamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to
preach unto the people. And it came to pass that he did preach,
many days, repentance unto the people, and they did cast him out,
and he was about to return to his own land.
Helaman 13:Verse 3
3 But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that
he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever
things should come into his heart.
Helaman 13:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that they would not suffer that
he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the
wall thereof, and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud
voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord
put into his heart.
Helaman 13:Verse 5
5 And he said unto them: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite,
do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart; and
behold he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that
the sword of justice hangeth over this people; and four hundred
years pass not away save the sword of justice falleth upon this
people.
Helaman 13:Verse 6
6 Yea, heavy destruction awaiteth this people, and it
surely cometh unto this people, and nothing can save this people
save it be repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, who
surely shall come into the world, and shall suffer many things and
shall be slain for his people.
Helaman 13:Verse 7
7 And behold, an angel of the Lord hath declared it
unto me, and he did bring glad tidings to my soul. And behold, I
was sent unto you to declare it unto you also, that ye might have
glad tidings; but behold ye would not receive me.
Helaman 13:Verse 8
8 Therefore, thus saith the Lord: Because of the
hardness of the hearts of the people of the Nephites, except they
repent I will take away my word from them, and I will withdraw my
Spirit from them, and I will suffer them no longer, and I will turn
the hearts of their brethren against them.
Helaman 13:Verse 9
9 And four hundred years shall not pass away before I
will cause that they shall be smitten; yea, I will visit them with
the sword and with famine and with pestilence.
Helaman 13:Verse 10
10 Yea, I will visit them in my fierce anger, and there
shall be those of the fourth generation who shall live, of your
enemies, to behold your utter destruction; and this shall surely
come except ye repent, saith the Lord; and those of the fourth
generation shall visit your destruction.
Helaman 13:Verse 11
11 But if ye will repent and return unto the Lord your
God I will turn away mine anger, saith the Lord; yea, thus saith
the Lord, blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me, but wo
unto him that repenteth not.
Helaman 13:Verse 12
12 Yea, wo unto this great city of Zarahemla; for
behold, it is because of those who are righteous that it is saved;
yea, wo unto this great city, for I perceive, saith the Lord, that
there are many, yea, even the more part of this great city, that
will harden their hearts against me, saith the Lord.
Helaman 13:Verse 13
13 But blessed are they who will repent, for them will
I spare. But behold, if it were not for the righteous who are in
this great city, behold, I would cause that fire should come down
out of heaven and destroy it.
Helaman 13:Verse 14
14 But behold, it is for the righteous' sake that it is
spared. But behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye
shall cast out the righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe
for destruction; yea, wo be unto this great city, because of the
wickedness and abominations which are in her.
Helaman 13:Verse 15
15 Yea, and wo be unto the city of Gideon, for the
wickedness and abominations which are in her.
Helaman 13:Verse 16
16 Yea, and wo be unto all the cities which are in the
land round about, which are possessed by the Nephites, because of
the wickedness and abominations which are in them.
Helaman 13:Verse 17
17 And behold, a curse shall come upon the land, saith
the Lord of Hosts, because of the peoples' sake who are upon the
land, yea, because of their wickedness and their
abominations.
Helaman 13:Verse 18
18 And it shall come to pass, saith the Lord of Hosts,
yea, our great and true God, that whoso shall hide up treasures in
the earth shall find them again no more, because of the great curse
of the land, save he be a righteous man and shall hide it up unto
the Lord.
Helaman 13:Verse 19
19 For I will, saith the Lord, that they shall hide up
their treasures unto me; and cursed be they who hide not up their
treasures unto me; for none hideth up their treasures unto me save
it be the righteous; and he that hideth not up his treasures unto
me, cursed is he, and also the treasure, and none shall redeem it
because of the curse of the land.
Helaman 13:Verse 20
20 And the day shall come that they shall hide up their
treasures, because they have set their hearts upon riches; and
because they have set their hearts upon their riches, and will hide
up their treasures when they shall flee before their enemies;
because they will not hide them up unto me, cursed be they and also
their treasures; and in that day shall they be smitten, saith the
Lord.
Helaman 13:Verse 21
21 Behold ye, the people of this great city, and
hearken unto my words; yea, hearken unto the words which the Lord
saith; for behold, he saith that ye are cursed because of your
riches, and also are your riches cursed because ye have set your
hearts upon them, and have not hearkened unto the words of him who
gave them unto you.
Helaman 13:Verse 22
22 Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things
with which he hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your
riches, not to thank the Lord your God for them; yea, your hearts
are not drawn out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great
pride, unto boasting, and unto great swelling, envyings, strifes,
malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of
iniquities.
Helaman 13:Verse 23
23 For this cause hath the Lord God caused that a curse
should come upon the land, and also upon your riches, and this
because of your iniquities.
Helaman 13:Verse 24
24 Yea, wo unto this people, because of this time which
has arrived, that ye do cast out the prophets, and do mock them,
and cast stones at them, and do slay them, and do all manner of
iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time.
Helaman 13:Verse 25
25 And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been
in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the
prophets; we would not have stoned them, and cast them out.
Helaman 13:Verse 26
26 Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord
liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word
of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are
angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to
destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that
he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your
deeds are evil.
Helaman 13:Verse 27
27 But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall
say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not
suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts;
yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your
heart desireth--and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye
will receive him, and say that he is a prophet.
Helaman 13:Verse 28
28 Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him
of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your
silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he
speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well,
then ye will not find fault with him.
Helaman 13:Verse 29
29 O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened
and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord
will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led
by foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness
rather than light?
Helaman 13:Verse 30
30 Yea, behold, the anger of the Lord is already
kindled against you; behold, he hath cursed the land because of
your iniquity.
Helaman 13:Verse 31
31 And behold, the time cometh that he curseth your
riches, that they become slippery, that ye cannot hold them; and in
the days of your poverty ye cannot retain them.
Helaman 13:Verse 32
32 And in the days of your poverty ye shall cry unto
the Lord; and in vain shall ye cry, for your desolation is already
come upon you, and your destruction is made sure; and then shall ye
weep and howl in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts. And then shall
ye lament, and say:
Helaman 13:Verse 33
33 O that I had repented, and had not killed the
prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out. Yea, in that day ye
shall say: O that we had remembered the Lord our God in the day
that he gave us our riches, and then they would not have become
slippery that we should lose them; for behold, our riches are gone
from us.
Helaman 13:Verse 34
34 Behold, we lay a tool here and on the morrow it is
gone; and behold, our swords are taken from us in the day we have
sought them for battle.
Helaman 13:Verse 35
35 Yea, we have hid up our treasures and they have
slipped away from us, because of the curse of the land.
Helaman 13:Verse 36
36 O that we had repented in the day that the word of
the Lord came unto us; for behold the land is cursed, and all
things are become slippery, and we cannot hold them.
Helaman 13:Verse 37
37 Behold, we are surrounded by demons, yea, we are
encircled about by the angels of him who hath sought to destroy our
souls. Behold, our iniquities are great. O Lord, canst thou not
turn away thine anger from us? And this shall be your language in
those days.
Helaman 13:Verse 38
38 But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have
procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly
too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have
sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not
obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which
thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in
our great and Eternal Head.
Helaman 13:Verse 39
39 O ye people of the land, that ye would hear my
words! And I pray that the anger of the Lord be turned away from
you, and that ye would repent and be saved.
Chapter 14
Helaman 14:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that Samuel, the Lamanite,
did prophesy a great many more things which cannot be
written.
Helaman 14:Verse 2
2 And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto
you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the
Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.
Helaman 14:Verse 3
3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at
the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in
heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be
no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was
day.
Helaman 14:Verse 4
4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a
day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall
be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun
and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that
there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall
not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.
Helaman 14:Verse 5
5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one
as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto
you.
Helaman 14:Verse 6
6 And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs
and wonders in heaven.
Helaman 14:Verse 7
7 And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be
amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall fall to the earth.
Helaman 14:Verse 8
8 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall
believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting
life.
Helaman 14:Verse 9
9 And behold, thus hath the Lord commanded me, by his
angel, that I should come and tell this thing unto you; yea, he
hath commanded that I should prophesy these things unto you; yea,
he hath said unto me: Cry unto this people, repent and prepare the
way of the Lord.
Helaman 14:Verse 10
10 And now, because I am a Lamanite, and have spoken
unto you the words which the Lord hath commanded me, and because it
was hard against you, ye are angry with me and do seek to destroy
me, and have cast me out from among you.
Helaman 14:Verse 11
11 And ye shall hear my words, for, for this intent
have I come up upon the walls of this city, that ye might hear and
know of the judgments of God which do await you because of your
iniquities, and also that ye might know the conditions of
repentance;
Helaman 14:Verse 12
12 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the
Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of
the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his
name.
Helaman 14:Verse 13
13 And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all
your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his
merits.
Helaman 14:Verse 14
14 And behold, again, another sign I give unto you,
yea, a sign of his death.
Helaman 14:Verse 15
15 For behold, he surely must die that salvation may
come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth,
to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may
be brought into the presence of the Lord.
Helaman 14:Verse 16
16 Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the
resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death--that
spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off
from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to
things temporal and to things spiritual.
Helaman 14:Verse 17
17 But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth
mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the
presence of the Lord.
Helaman 14:Verse 18
18 Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of
repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and
cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and
cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual
death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things
pertaining to righteousness.
Helaman 14:Verse 19
19 Therefore repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing
these things and not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come
under condemnation, and ye are brought down unto this second
death.
Helaman 14:Verse 20
20 But behold, as I said unto you concerning another
sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer
death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto
you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light
upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer
death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise
again from the dead.
Helaman 14:Verse 21
21 Yea, at the time that he shall yield up the ghost
there shall be thunderings and lightnings for the space of many
hours, and the earth shall shake and tremble; and the rocks which
are upon the face of this earth, which are both above the earth and
beneath, which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of
it is one solid mass, shall be broken up;
Helaman 14:Verse 22
22 Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever
after be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon
the face of the whole earth, yea, both above the earth and
beneath.
Helaman 14:Verse 23
23 And behold, there shall be great tempests, and there
shall be many mountains laid low, like unto a valley, and there
shall be many places which are now called valleys which shall
become mountains, whose height is great.
Helaman 14:Verse 24
24 And many highways shall be broken up, and many
cities shall become desolate.
Helaman 14:Verse 25
25 And many graves shall be opened, and shall yield up
many of their dead; and many saints shall appear unto many.
Helaman 14:Verse 26
26 And behold, thus hath the angel spoken unto me; for
he said unto me that there should be thunderings and lightnings for
the space of many hours.
Helaman 14:Verse 27
27 And he said unto me that while the thunder and the
lightning lasted, and the tempest, that these things should be, and
that darkness should cover the face of the whole earth for the
space of three days.
Helaman 14:Verse 28
28 And the angel said unto me that many shall see
greater things than these, to the intent that they might believe
that these signs and these wonders should come to pass upon all the
face of this land, to the intent that there should be no cause for
unbelief among the children of men--
Helaman 14:Verse 29
29 And this to the intent that whosoever will believe
might be saved, and that whosoever will not believe, a righteous
judgment might come upon them; and also if they are condemned they
bring upon themselves their own condemnation.
Helaman 14:Verse 30
30 And now remember, remember, my brethren, that
whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth
iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are
permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto
you a knowledge and he hath made you free.
Helaman 14:Verse 31
31 He hath given unto you that ye might know good from
evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or
death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good,
or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil,
and have that which is evil restored unto you.
Chapter 15
Helaman 15:Verse 1
1 AND now, my beloved brethren, behold, I declare unto
you that except ye shall repent your houses shall be left unto you
desolate.
Helaman 15:Verse 2
2 Yea, except ye repent, your women shall have great
cause to mourn in the day that they shall give suck; for ye shall
attempt to flee and there shall be no place for refuge; yea, and wo
unto them which are with child, for they shall be heavy and cannot
flee; therefore, they shall be trodden down and shall be left to
perish.
Helaman 15:Verse 3
3 Yea, wo unto this people who are called the people of
Nephi except they shall repent, when they shall see all these signs
and wonders which shall be showed unto them; for behold, they have
been a chosen people of the Lord; yea, the people of Nephi hath he
loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea, in the days of their
iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them.
Helaman 15:Verse 4
4 But behold my brethren, the Lamanites hath he hated
because their deeds have been evil continually, and this because of
the iniquity of the tradition of their fathers. But behold,
salvation hath come unto them through the preaching of the
Nephites; and for this intent hath the Lord prolonged their
days.
Helaman 15:Verse 5
5 And I would that ye should behold that the more part
of them are in the path of their duty, and they do walk
circumspectly before God, and they do observe to keep his
commandments and his statutes and his judgments according to the
law of Moses.
Helaman 15:Verse 6
6 Yea, I say unto you, that the more part of them are
doing this, and they are striving with unwearied diligence that
they may bring the remainder of their brethren to the knowledge of
the truth; therefore there are many who do add to their numbers
daily.
Helaman 15:Verse 7
7 And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have
witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge
of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions
of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea,
the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which
leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith
and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them--
Helaman 15:Verse 8
8 Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of
yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing
wherewith they have been made free.
Helaman 15:Verse 9
9 And ye know also that they have buried their weapons
of war, and they fear to take them up lest by any means they should
sin; yea, ye can see that they fear to sin--for behold they will
suffer themselves that they be trodden down and slain by their
enemies, and will not lift their swords against them, and this
because of their faith in Christ.
Helaman 15:Verse 10
10 And now, because of their steadfastness when they do
believe in that thing which they do believe, for because of their
firmness when they are once enlightened, behold, the Lord shall
bless them and prolong their days, notwithstanding their
iniquity--
Helaman 15:Verse 11
11 Yea, even if they should dwindle in unbelief the
Lord shall prolong their days, until the time shall come which hath
been spoken of by our fathers, and also by the prophet Zenos, and
many other prophets, concerning the restoration of our brethren,
the Lamanites, again to the knowledge of the truth--
Helaman 15:Verse 12
12 Yea, I say unto you, that in the latter times the
promises of the Lord have been extended to our brethren, the
Lamanites; and notwithstanding the many afflictions which they
shall have, and notwithstanding they shall be driven to and fro
upon the face of the earth, and be hunted, and shall be smitten and
scattered abroad, having no place for refuge, the Lord shall be
merciful unto them.
Helaman 15:Verse 13
13 And this is according to the prophecy, that they
shall again be brought to the true knowledge, which is the
knowledge of their Redeemer, and their great and true shepherd, and
be numbered among his sheep.
Helaman 15:Verse 14
14 Therefore I say unto you, it shall be better for
them than for you except ye repent.
Helaman 15:Verse 15
15 For behold, had the mighty works been shown unto
them which have been shown unto you, yea, unto them who have
dwindled in unbelief because of the traditions of their fathers, ye
can see of yourselves that they never would again have dwindled in
unbelief.
Helaman 15:Verse 16
16 Therefore, saith the Lord: I will not utterly
destroy them, but I will cause that in the day of my wisdom they
shall return again unto me, saith the Lord.
Helaman 15:Verse 17
17 And now behold, saith the Lord, concerning the
people of the Nephites: If they will not repent, and observe to do
my will, I will utterly destroy them, saith the Lord, because of
their unbelief notwithstanding the many mighty works which I have
done among them; and as surely as the Lord liveth shall these
things be, saith the Lord.
Chapter 16
Helaman 16:Verse 1
1 AND now, it came to pass that there were many who
heard the words of Samuel, the Lamanite, which he spake upon the
walls of the city. And as many as believed on his word went forth
and sought for Nephi; and when they had come forth and found him
they confessed unto him their sins and denied not, desiring that
they might be baptized unto the Lord.
Helaman 16:Verse 2
2 But as many as there were who did not believe in the
words of Samuel were angry with him; and they cast stones at him
upon the wall, and also many shot arrows at him as he stood upon
the wall; but the Spirit of the Lord was with him, insomuch that
they could not hit him with their stones neither with their
arrows.
Helaman 16:Verse 3
3 Now when they saw that they could not hit him, there
were many more who did believe on his words, insomuch that they
went away unto Nephi to be baptized.
Helaman 16:Verse 4
4 For behold, Nephi was baptizing, and prophesying, and
preaching, crying repentance unto the people, showing signs and
wonders, working miracles among the people, that they might know
that the Christ must shortly come--
Helaman 16:Verse 5
5 Telling them of things which must shortly come, that
they might know and remember at the time of their coming that they
had been made known unto them beforehand, to the intent that they
might believe; therefore as many as believed on the words of Samuel
went forth unto him to be baptized, for they came repenting and
confessing their sins.
Helaman 16:Verse 6
6 But the more part of them did not believe in the
words of Samuel; therefore when they saw that they could not hit
him with their stones and their arrows, they cried unto their
captains, saying: Take this fellow and bind him, for behold he hath
a devil; and because of the power of the devil which is in him we
cannot hit him with our stones and our arrows; therefore take him
and bind him, and away with him.
Helaman 16:Verse 7
7 And as they went forth to lay their hands on him,
behold, he did cast himself down from the wall, and did flee out of
their lands, yea, even unto his own country, and began to preach
and to prophesy among his own people.
Helaman 16:Verse 8
8 And behold, he was never heard of more among the
Nephites; and thus were the affairs of the people.
Helaman 16:Verse 9
9 And thus ended the eighty and sixth year of the reign
of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Helaman 16:Verse 10
10 And thus ended also the eighty and seventh year of
the reign of the judges, the more part of the people remaining in
their pride and wickedness, and the lesser part walking more
circumspectly before God.
Helaman 16:Verse 11
11 And these were the conditions also, in the eighty
and eighth year of the reign of the judges.
Helaman 16:Verse 12
12 And there was but little alteration in the affairs
of the people, save it were the people began to be more hardened in
iniquity, and do more and more of that which was contrary to the
commandments of God, in the eighty and ninth year of the reign of
the judges.
Helaman 16:Verse 13
13 But it came to pass in the ninetieth year of the
reign of the judges, there were great signs given unto the people,
and wonders; and the words of the prophets began to be
fulfilled.
Helaman 16:Verse 14
14 And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did
declare unto them glad tidings of great joy; thus in this year the
scriptures began to be fulfilled.
Helaman 16:Verse 15
15 Nevertheless, the people began to harden their
hearts, all save it were the most believing part of them, both of
the Nephites and also of the Lamanites, and began to depend upon
their own strength and upon their own wisdom, saying:
Helaman 16:Verse 16
16 Some things they may have guessed right, among so
many; but behold, we know that all these great and marvelous works
cannot come to pass, of which has been spoken.
Helaman 16:Verse 17
17 And they began to reason and to contend among
themselves, saying:
Helaman 16:Verse 18
18 That it is not reasonable that such a being as a
Christ shall come; if so, and he be the Son of God, the Father of
heaven and of earth, as it has been spoken, why will he not show
himself unto us as well as unto them who shall be at
Jerusalem?
Helaman 16:Verse 19
19 Yea, why will he not show himself in this land as
well as in the land of Jerusalem?
Helaman 16:Verse 20
20 But behold, we know that this is a wicked tradition,
which has been handed down unto us by our fathers, to cause us that
we should believe in some great and marvelous thing which should
come to pass, but not among us, but in a land which is far distant,
a land which we know not; therefore they can keep us in ignorance,
for we cannot witness with our own eyes that they are true.
Helaman 16:Verse 21
21 And they will, by the cunning and the mysterious
arts of the evil one, work some great mystery which we cannot
understand, which will keep us down to be servants to their words,
and also servants unto them, for we depend upon them to teach us
the word; and thus will they keep us in ignorance if we will yield
ourselves unto them, all the days of our lives.
Helaman 16:Verse 22
22 And many more things did the people imagine up in
their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much
disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually;
yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the
face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the people
against that which was good and against that which should
come.
Helaman 16:Verse 23
23 And notwithstanding the signs and the wonders which
were wrought among the people of the Lord, and the many miracles
which they did, Satan did get great hold upon the hearts of the
people upon all the face of the land.
Helaman 16:Verse 24
24 And thus ended the ninetieth year of the reign of
the judges over the people of Nephi.
Helaman 16:Verse 25
25 And thus ended the book of Helaman, according to the
record of Helaman and his sons.
3 Nephi
THIRD NEPHI
THE BOOK OF NEPHI
THE SON OF NEPHI, WHO WAS THE SON OF HELAMAN
And Helaman was the son of Helaman, who was the
son of Alma, who was the son of Alma, being a descendant of Nephi
who was the son of Lehi, who came out of Jerusalem in the first
year of the reign of Zedekiah, the king of Judah.
Chapter 1
3 Nephi 1:Verse 1
1 NOW it came to pass that the ninety and first year
had passed away and it was six hundred years from the time that
Lehi left Jerusalem; and it was in the year that Lachoneus was the
chief judge and the governor over the land.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 2
2 And Nephi, the son of Helaman, had departed out of
the land of Zarahemla, giving charge unto his son Nephi, who was
his eldest son, concerning the plates of brass, and all the records
which had been kept, and all those things which had been kept
sacred from the departure of Lehi out of Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 3
3 Then he departed out of the land, and whither he
went, no man knoweth; and his son Nephi did keep the records in his
stead, yea, the record of this people.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the
ninety and second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophets
began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater
signs and greater miracles wrought among the people.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 5
5 But there were some who began to say that the time
was past for the words to be fulfilled, which were spoken by
Samuel, the Lamanite.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 6
6 And they began to rejoice over their brethren,
saying: Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not
fulfilled; therefore, your joy and your faith concerning this thing
hath been vain.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that they did make a great uproar
throughout the land; and the people who believed began to be very
sorrowful, lest by any means those things which had been spoken
might not come to pass.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 8
8 But behold, they did watch steadfastly for that day
and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there
were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been
vain.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 9
9 Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by
the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions
should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which
had been given by Samuel the prophet.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 10
10 Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of
Nephi, saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly
sorrowful.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that he went out and bowed
himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in
behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed
because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the
Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
saying:
3 Nephi 1:Verse 13
13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold,
the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and
on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I
will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth
of my holy prophets.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 14
14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things
which I have made known unto the children of men from the
foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and
of the Son--of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of
my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the
sign be given.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that the words which came unto
Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for
behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the
people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when
the night came.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 16
16 And there were many, who had not believed the words
of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were
dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they
had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had
been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at
hand.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 17
17 And they began to know that the Son of God must
shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the
whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and
in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to
the earth.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 18
18 For they knew that the prophets had testified of
these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given
was already at hand; and they began to fear because of their
iniquity and their unbelief.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that there was no darkness in
all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And
it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again,
according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day
that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been
given.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 20
20 And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every
whit, according to the words of the prophets.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass also that a new star did appear,
according to the word.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that from this time forth there
began to be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden
their hearts, to the intent that they might not believe in those
signs and wonders which they had seen; but notwithstanding these
lyings and deceivings the more part of the people did believe, and
were converted unto the Lord.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that Nephi went forth among the
people, and also many others, baptizing unto repentance, in the
which there was a great remission of sins. And thus the people
began again to have peace in the land.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 24
24 And there were no contentions, save it were a few
that began to preach, endeavoring to prove by the scriptures that
it was no more expedient to observe the law of Moses. Now in this
thing they did err, having not understood the scriptures.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 25
25 But it came to pass that they soon became converted,
and were convinced of the error which they were in, for it was made
known unto them that the law was not yet fulfilled, and that it
must be fulfilled in every whit; yea, the word came unto them that
it must be fulfilled; yea, that one jot or tittle should not pass
away till it should all be fulfilled; therefore in this same year
were they brought to a knowledge of their error and did confess
their faults.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 26
26 And thus the ninety and second year did pass away,
bringing glad tidings unto the people because of the signs which
did come to pass, according to the words of the prophecy of all the
holy prophets.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that the ninety and third year
did also pass away in peace, save it were for the Gadianton
robbers, who dwelt upon the mountains, who did infest the land; for
so strong were their holds and their secret places that the people
could not overpower them; therefore they did commit many murders,
and did do much slaughter among the people.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 28
28 And it came to pass that in the ninety and fourth
year they began to increase in a great degree, because there were
many dissenters of the Nephites who did flee unto them, which did
cause much sorrow unto those Nephites who did remain in the
land.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 29
29 And there was also a cause of much sorrow among the
Lamanites; for behold, they had many children who did grow up and
began to wax strong in years, that they became for themselves, and
were led away by some who were Zoramites, by their lyings and their
flattering words, to join those Gadianton robbers.
3 Nephi 1:Verse 30
30 And thus were the Lamanites afflicted also, and
began to decrease as to their faith and righteousness, because of
the wickedness of the rising generation.
Chapter 2
3 Nephi 2:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that thus passed away the ninety
and fifth year also, and the people began to forget those signs and
wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less
astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they
began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and
began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen--
3 Nephi 2:Verse 2
2 Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it
was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and
deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession
of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their
eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was
a foolish and a vain thing.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that the people began to wax
strong in wickedness and abominations; and they did not believe
that there should be any more signs or wonders given; and Satan did
go about, leading away the hearts of the people, tempting them and
causing them that they should do great wickedness in the
land.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 4
4 And thus did pass away the ninety and sixth year; and
also the ninety and seventh year; and also the ninety and eighth
year; and also the ninety and ninth year;
3 Nephi 2:Verse 5
5 And also an hundred years had passed away since the
days of Mosiah, who was king over the people of the Nephites.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 6
6 And six hundred and nine years had passed away since
Lehi left Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 7
7 And nine years had passed away from the time when the
sign was given, which was spoken of by the prophets, that Christ
should come into the world.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 8
8 Now the Nephites began to reckon their time from this
period when the sign was given, or from the coming of Christ;
therefore, nine years had passed away.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 9
9 And Nephi, who was the father of Nephi, who had the
charge of the records, did not return to the land of Zarahemla, and
could nowhere be found in all the land.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that the people did still remain
in wickedness, notwithstanding the much preaching and prophesying
which was sent among them; and thus passed away the tenth year
also; and the eleventh year also passed away in iniquity.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass in the thirteenth year there
began to be wars and contentions throughout all the land; for the
Gadianton robbers had become so numerous, and did slay so many of
the people, and did lay waste so many cities, and did spread so
much death and carnage throughout the land, that it became
expedient that all the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites,
should take up arms against them.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 12
12 Therefore, all the Lamanites who had become
converted unto the Lord did unite with their brethren, the
Nephites, and were compelled, for the safety of their lives and
their women and their children, to take up arms against those
Gadianton robbers, yea, and also to maintain their rights, and the
privileges of their church and of their worship, and their freedom
and their liberty.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that before this thirteenth year
had passed away the Nephites were threatened with utter destruction
because of this war, which had become exceedingly sore.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that those Lamanites who had
united with the Nephites were numbered among the Nephites;
3 Nephi 2:Verse 15
15 And their curse was taken from them, and their skin
became white like unto the Nephites;
3 Nephi 2:Verse 16
16 And their young men and their daughters became
exceedingly fair, and they were numbered among the Nephites, and
were called Nephites. And thus ended the thirteenth year.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass in the commencement of the
fourteenth year, the war between the robbers and the people of
Nephi did continue and did become exceedingly sore; nevertheless,
the people of Nephi did gain some advantage of the robbers,
insomuch that they did drive them back out of their lands into the
mountains and into their secret places.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 18
18 And thus ended the fourteenth year. And in the
fifteenth year they did come forth against the people of Nephi; and
because of the wickedness of the people of Nephi, and their many
contentions and dissensions, the Gadianton robbers did gain many
advantages over them.
3 Nephi 2:Verse 19
19 And thus ended the fifteenth year, and thus were the
people in a state of many afflictions; and the sword of destruction
did hang over them, insomuch that they were about to be smitten
down by it, and this because of their iniquity.
Chapter 3
3 Nephi 3:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that in the sixteenth year
from the coming of Christ, Lachoneus, the governor of the land,
received an epistle from the leader and the governor of this band
of robbers; and these were the words which were written,
saying:
3 Nephi 3:Verse 2
2 Lachoneus, most noble and chief governor of the land,
behold, I write this epistle unto you, and do give unto you
exceedingly great praise because of your firmness, and also the
firmness of your people, in maintaining that which ye suppose to be
your right and liberty; yea, ye do stand well, as if ye were
supported by the hand of a god, in the defence of your liberty, and
your property, and your country, or that which ye do call so.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 3
3 And it seemeth a pity unto me, most noble Lachoneus,
that ye should be so foolish and vain as to suppose that ye can
stand against so many brave men who are at my command, who do now
at this time stand in their arms, and do await with great anxiety
for the word--Go down upon the Nephites and destroy them.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 4
4 And I, knowing of their unconquerable spirit, having
proved them in the field of battle, and knowing of their
everlasting hatred towards you because of the many wrongs which ye
have done unto them, therefore if they should come down against you
they would visit you with utter destruction.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 5
5 Therefore I have written this epistle, sealing it
with mine own hand, feeling for your welfare, because of your
firmness in that which ye believe to be right, and your noble
spirit in the field of battle.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 6
6 Therefore I write unto you, desiring that ye would
yield up unto this my people, your cities, your lands, and your
possessions, rather than that they should visit you with the sword
and that destruction should come upon you.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 7
7 Or in other words, yield yourselves up unto us, and
unite with us and become acquainted with our secret works, and
become our brethren that ye may be like unto us--not our slaves,
but our brethren and partners of all our substance.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 8
8 And behold, I swear unto you, if ye will do this,
with an oath, ye shall not be destroyed; but if ye will not do
this, I swear unto you with an oath, that on the morrow month I
will command that my armies shall come down against you, and they
shall not stay their hand and shall spare not, but shall slay you,
and shall let fall the sword upon you even until ye shall become
extinct.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 9
9 And behold, I am Giddianhi; and I am the governor of
this the secret society of Gadianton; which society and the works
thereof I know to be good; and they are of ancient date and they
have been handed down unto us.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 10
10 And I write this epistle unto you, Lachoneus, and I
hope that ye will deliver up your lands and your possessions,
without the shedding of blood, that this my people may recover
their rights and government, who have dissented away from you
because of your wickedness in retaining from them their rights of
government, and except ye do this, I will avenge their wrongs. I am
Giddianhi.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 11
11 And now it came to pass when Lachoneus received this
epistle he was exceedingly astonished, because of the boldness of
Giddianhi demanding the possession of the land of the Nephites, and
also of threatening the people and avenging the wrongs of those
that had received no wrong, save it were they had wronged
themselves by dissenting away unto those wicked and abominable
robbers.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 12
12 Now behold, this Lachoneus, the governor, was a just
man, and could not be frightened by the demands and the
threatenings of a robber; therefore he did not hearken to the
epistle of Giddianhi, the governor of the robbers, but he did cause
that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength against the
time that the robbers should come down against them.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 13
13 Yea, he sent a proclamation among all the people,
that they should gather together their women, and their children,
their flocks and their herds, and all their substance, save it were
their land, unto one place.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 14
14 And he caused that fortifications should be built
round about them, and the strength thereof should be exceedingly
great. And he caused that armies, both of the Nephites and of the
Lamanites, or of all them who were numbered among the Nephites,
should be placed as guards round about to watch them, and to guard
them from the robbers day and night.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 15
15 Yea, he said unto them: As the Lord liveth, except
ye repent of all your iniquities, and cry unto the Lord, ye will in
no wise be delivered out of the hands of those Gadianton
robbers.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 16
16 And so great and marvelous were the words and
prophecies of Lachoneus that they did cause fear to come upon all
the people; and they did exert themselves in their might to do
according to the words of Lachoneus.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that Lachoneus did appoint chief
captains over all the armies of the Nephites, to command them at
the time that the robbers should come down out of the wilderness
against them.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 18
18 Now the chiefest among all the chief captains and
the great commander of all the armies of the Nephites was
appointed, and his name was Gidgiddoni.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 19
19 Now it was the custom among all the Nephites to
appoint for their chief captains, (save it were in their times of
wickedness) some one that had the spirit of revelation and also
prophecy; therefore, this Gidgiddoni was a great prophet among
them, as also was the chief judge.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 20
20 Now the people said unto Gidgiddoni: Pray unto the
Lord, and let us go up upon the mountains and into the wilderness,
that we may fall upon the robbers and destroy them in their own
lands.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 21
21 But Gidgiddoni saith unto them: The Lord forbid; for
if we should go up against them the Lord would deliver us into
their hands; therefore we will prepare ourselves in the center of
our lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will
not go against them, but we will wait till they shall come against
us; therefore as the Lord liveth, if we do this he will deliver
them into our hands.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass in the seventeenth year, in the
latter end of the year, the proclamation of Lachoneus had gone
forth throughout all the face of the land, and they had taken their
horses, and their chariots, and their cattle, and all their flocks,
and their herds, and their grain, and all their substance, and did
march forth by thousands and by tens of thousands, until they had
all gone forth to the place which had been appointed that they
should gather themselves together, to defend themselves against
their enemies.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 23
23 And the land which was appointed was the land of
Zarahemla, and the land which was between the land Zarahemla and
the land Bountiful, yea, to the line which was between the land
Bountiful and the land Desolation.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 24
24 And there were a great many thousand people who were
called Nephites, who did gather themselves together in this land.
Now Lachoneus did cause that they should gather themselves together
in the land southward, because of the great curse which was upon
the land northward.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 25
25 And they did fortify themselves against their
enemies; and they did dwell in one land, and in one body, and they
did fear the words which had been spoken by Lachoneus, insomuch
that they did repent of all their sins; and they did put up their
prayers unto the Lord their God, that he would deliver them in the
time that their enemies should come down against them to
battle.
3 Nephi 3:Verse 26
26 And they were exceedingly sorrowful because of their
enemies. And Gidgiddoni did cause that they should make weapons of
war of every kind, and they should be strong with armor, and with
shields, and with bucklers, after the manner of his
instruction.
Chapter 4
3 Nephi 4:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that in the latter end of the
eighteenth year those armies of robbers had prepared for battle,
and began to come down and to sally forth from the hills, and out
of the mountains, and the wilderness, and their strongholds, and
their secret places, and began to take possession of the lands,
both which were in the land south and which were in the land north,
and began to take possession of all the lands which had been
deserted by the Nephites, and the cities which had been left
desolate.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 2
2 But behold, there were no wild beasts nor game in
those lands which had been deserted by the Nephites, and there was
no game for the robbers save it were in the wilderness.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 3
3 And the robbers could not exist save it were in the
wilderness, for the want of food; for the Nephites had left their
lands desolate, and had gathered their flocks and their herds and
all their substance, and they were in one body.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 4
4 Therefore, there was no chance for the robbers to
plunder and to obtain food, save it were to come up in open battle
against the Nephites; and the Nephites being in one body, and
having so great a number, and having reserved for themselves
provisions, and horses and cattle, and flocks of every kind, that
they might subsist for the space of seven years, in the which time
they did hope to destroy the robbers from off the face of the land;
and thus the eighteenth year did pass away.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that in the nineteenth year
Giddianhi found that it was expedient that he should go up to
battle against the Nephites, for there was no way that they could
subsist save it were to plunder and rob and murder.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 6
6 And they durst not spread themselves upon the face of
the land insomuch that they could raise grain, lest the Nephites
should come upon them and slay them; therefore Giddianhi gave
commandment unto his armies that in this year they should go up to
battle against the Nephites.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that they did come up to battle;
and it was in the sixth month; and behold, great and terrible was
the day that they did come up to battle; and they were girded about
after the manner of robbers; and they had a lamb-skin about their
loins, and they were dyed in blood, and their heads were shorn, and
they had head-plates upon them; and great and terrible was the
appearance of the armies of Giddianhi, because of their armor, and
because of their being dyed in blood.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites,
when they saw the appearance of the army of Giddianhi, had all
fallen to the earth, and did lift their cries to the Lord their
God, that he would spare them and deliver them out of the hands of
their enemies.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that when the armies of Giddianhi
saw this they began to shout with a loud voice, because of their
joy, for they had supposed that the Nephites had fallen with fear
because of the terror of their armies.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 10
10 But in this thing they were disappointed, for the
Nephites did not fear them; but they did fear their God and did
supplicate him for protection; therefore, when the armies of
Giddianhi did rush upon them they were prepared to meet them; yea,
in the strength of the Lord they did receive them.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 11
11 And the battle commenced in this the sixth month;
and great and terrible was the battle thereof, yea, great and
terrible was the slaughter thereof, insomuch that there never was
known so great a slaughter among all the people of Lehi since he
left Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 12
12 And notwithstanding the threatenings and the oaths
which Giddianhi had made, behold, the Nephites did beat them,
insomuch that they did fall back from before them.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that Gidgiddoni commanded that
his armies should pursue them as far as the borders of the
wilderness, and that they should not spare any that should fall
into their hands by the way; and thus they did pursue them and did
slay them, to the borders of the wilderness, even until they had
fulfilled the commandment of Gidgiddoni.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that Giddianhi, who had stood
and fought with boldness, was pursued as he fled; and being weary
because of his much fighting he was overtaken and slain. And thus
was the end of Giddianhi the robber.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites
did return again to their place of security. And it came to pass
that this nineteenth year did pass away, and the robbers did not
come again to battle; neither did they come again in the twentieth
year.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 16
16 And in the twenty and first year they did not come
up to battle, but they came up on all sides to lay siege round
about the people of Nephi; for they did suppose that if they should
cut off the people of Nephi from their lands, and should hem them
in on every side, and if they should cut them off from all their
outward privileges, that they could cause them to yield themselves
up according to their wishes.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 17
17 Now they had appointed unto themselves another
leader, whose name was Zemnarihah; therefore it was Zemnarihah that
did cause that this siege should take place.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 18
18 But behold, this was an advantage to the Nephites;
for it was impossible for the robbers to lay siege sufficiently
long to have any effect upon the Nephites, because of their much
provision which they had laid up in store,
3 Nephi 4:Verse 19
19 And because of the scantiness of provisions among
the robbers; for behold, they had nothing save it were meat for
their subsistence, which meat they did obtain in the
wilderness;
3 Nephi 4:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that the wild game became scarce
in the wilderness insomuch that the robbers were about to perish
with hunger.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 21
21 And the Nephites were continually marching out by
day and by night, and falling upon their armies, and cutting them
off by thousands and by tens of thousands.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 22
22 And thus it became the desire of the people of
Zemnarihah to withdraw from their design, because of the great
destruction which came upon them by night and by day.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that Zemnarihah did give command
unto his people that they should withdraw themselves from the
siege, and march into the furthermost parts of the land
northward.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 24
24 And now, Gidgiddoni being aware of their design, and
knowing of their weakness because of the want of food, and the
great slaughter which had been made among them, therefore he did
send out his armies in the night-time, and did cut off the way of
their retreat, and did place his armies in the way of their
retreat.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 25
25 And this did they do in the night-time, and got on
their march beyond the robbers, so that on the morrow, when the
robbers began their march, they were met by the armies of the
Nephites both in their front and in their rear.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 26
26 And the robbers who were on the south were also cut
off in their places of retreat. And all these things were done by
command of Gidgiddoni.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 27
27 And there were many thousands who did yield
themselves up prisoners unto the Nephites, and the remainder of
them were slain.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 28
28 And their leader, Zemnarihah, was taken and hanged
upon a tree, yea, even upon the top thereof until he was dead. And
when they had hanged him until he was dead they did fell the tree
to the earth, and did cry with a loud voice, saying:
3 Nephi 4:Verse 29
29 May the Lord preserve his people in righteousness
and in holiness of heart, that they may cause to be felled to the
earth all who shall seek to slay them because of power and secret
combinations, even as this man hath been felled to the earth.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 30
30 And they did rejoice and cry again with one voice,
saying: May the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob, protect this people in righteousness, so long as they
shall call on the name of their God for protection.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 31
31 And it came to pass that they did break forth, all
as one, in singing, and praising their God for the great thing
which he had done for them, in preserving them from falling into
the hands of their enemies.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 32
32 Yea, they did cry: Hosanna to the Most High God. And
they did cry: Blessed be the name of the Lord God Almighty, the
Most High God.
3 Nephi 4:Verse 33
33 And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the
gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in
delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it
was because of their repentance and their humility that they had
been delivered from an everlasting destruction.
Chapter 5
3 Nephi 5:Verse 1
1 AND now behold, there was not a living soul among all
the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of
all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must
needs be that they must be fulfilled.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 2
2 And they knew that it must be expedient that Christ
had come, because of the many signs which had been given, according
to the words of the prophets; and because of the things which had
come to pass already they knew that it must needs be that all
things should come to pass according to that which had been
spoken.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 3
3 Therefore they did forsake all their sins, and their
abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve God with all
diligence day and night.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 4
4 And now it came to pass that when they had taken all
the robbers prisoners, insomuch that none did escape who were not
slain, they did cast their prisoners into prison, and did cause the
word of God to be preached unto them; and as many as would repent
of their sins and enter into a covenant that they would murder no
more were set at liberty.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 5
5 But as many as there were who did not enter into a
covenant, and who did still continue to have those secret murders
in their hearts, yea, as many as were found breathing out
threatenings against their brethren were condemned and punished
according to the law.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 6
6 And thus they did put an end to all those wicked, and
secret, and abominable combinations, in the which there was so much
wickedness, and so many murders committed.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 7
7 And thus had the twenty and second year passed away,
and the twenty and third year also, and the twenty and fourth, and
the twenty and fifth; and thus had twenty and five years passed
away.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 8
8 And there had many things transpired which, in the
eyes of some, would be great and marvelous; nevertheless, they
cannot all be written in this book; yea, this book cannot contain
even a hundredth part of what was done among so many people in the
space of twenty and five years;
3 Nephi 5:Verse 9
9 But behold there are records which do contain all the
proceedings of this people; and a shorter but true account was
given by Nephi.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 10
10 Therefore I have made my record of these things
according to the record of Nephi, which was engraven on the plates
which were called the plates of Nephi.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 11
11 And behold, I do make the record on plates which I
have made with mine own hands.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 12
12 And behold, I am called Mormon, being called after
the land of Mormon, the land in which Alma did establish the church
among the people, yea, the first church which was established among
them after their transgression.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 13
13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of
God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his
people, that they might have everlasting life.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 14
14 And it hath become expedient that I, according to
the will of God, that the prayers of those who have gone hence, who
were the holy ones, should be fulfilled according to their faith,
should make a record of these things which have been done--
3 Nephi 5:Verse 15
15 Yea, a small record of that which hath taken place
from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem, even down until the present
time.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 16
16 Therefore I do make my record from the accounts
which have been given by those who were before me, until the
commencement of my day;
3 Nephi 5:Verse 17
17 And then I do make a record of the things which I
have seen with mine own eyes.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 18
18 And I know the record which I make to be a just and
a true record; nevertheless there are many things which, according
to our language, we are not able to write.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 19
19 And now I make an end of my saying, which is of
myself, and proceed to give my account of the things which have
been before me.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 20
20 I am Mormon, and a pure descendant of Lehi. I have
reason to bless my God and my Savior Jesus Christ, that he brought
our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem, (and no one knew it save
it were himself and those whom he brought out of that land) and
that he hath given me and my people so much knowledge unto the
salvation of our souls.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 21
21 Surely he hath blessed the house of Jacob, and hath
been merciful unto the seed of Joseph.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 22
22 And insomuch as the children of Lehi have kept his
commandments he hath blessed them and prospered them according to
his word.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 23
23 Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of
the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 24
24 And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he gather in
from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed of
Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the
earth.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 25
25 And as he hath covenanted with all the house of
Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with
the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the
restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant
that he hath covenanted with them.
3 Nephi 5:Verse 26
26 And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is
Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in
from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from
whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall
it be. Amen.
Chapter 6
3 Nephi 6:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that the people of the
Nephites did all return to their own lands in the twenty and sixth
year, every man, with his family, his flocks and his herds, his
horses and his cattle, and all things whatsoever did belong unto
them.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that they had not eaten up all
their provisions; therefore they did take with them all that they
had not devoured, of all their grain of every kind, and their gold,
and their silver, and all their precious things, and they did
return to their own lands and their possessions, both on the north
and on the south, both on the land northward and on the land
southward.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 3
3 And they granted unto those robbers who had entered
into a covenant to keep the peace of the land, who were desirous to
remain Lamanites, lands, according to their numbers, that they
might have, with their labors, wherewith to subsist upon; and thus
they did establish peace in all the land.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 4
4 And they began again to prosper and to wax great; and
the twenty and sixth and seventh years passed away, and there was
great order in the land; and they had formed their laws according
to equity and justice.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 5
5 And now there was nothing in all the land to hinder
the people from prospering continually, except they should fall
into transgression.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 6
6 And now it was Gidgiddoni, and the judge, Lachoneus,
and those who had been appointed leaders, who had established this
great peace in the land.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that there were many cities built
anew, and there were many old cities repaired.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 8
8 And there were many highways cast up, and many roads
made, which led from city to city, and from land to land, and from
place to place.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 9
9 And thus passed away the twenty and eighth year, and
the people had continual peace.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 10
10 But it came to pass in the twenty and ninth year
there began to be some disputings among the people; and some were
lifted up unto pride and boastings because of their exceedingly
great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions;
3 Nephi 6:Verse 11
11 For there were many merchants in the land, and also
many lawyers, and many officers.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 12
12 And the people began to be distinguished by ranks,
according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some
were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive
great learning because of their riches.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 13
13 Some were lifted up in pride, and others were
exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while
others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of
afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble
and penitent before God.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 14
14 And thus there became a great inequality in all the
land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch
that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land
save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto
the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were
firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to
keep the commandments of the Lord.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 15
15 Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was
this--Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to
do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride,
tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the
vain things of the world.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 16
16 And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the
people to do all manner of iniquity; therefore they had enjoyed
peace but a few years.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 17
17 And thus, in the commencement of the thirtieth
year--the people having been delivered up for the space of a long
time to be carried about by the temptations of the devil
whithersoever he desired to carry them, and to do whatsoever
iniquity he desired they should--and thus in the commencement of
this, the thirtieth year, they were in a state of awful
wickedness.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 18
18 Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the
will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them;
therefore they did wilfully rebel against God.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 19
19 And now it was in the days of Lachoneus, the son of
Lachoneus, for Lachoneus did fill the seat of his father and did
govern the people that year.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 20
20 And there began to be men inspired from heaven and
sent forth, standing among the people in all the land, preaching
and testifying boldly of the sins and iniquities of the people, and
testifying unto them concerning the redemption which the Lord would
make for his people, or in other words, the resurrection of Christ;
and they did testify boldly of his death and sufferings.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 21
21 Now there were many of the people who were
exceedingly angry because of those who testified of these things;
and those who were angry were chiefly the chief judges, and they
who had been high priests and lawyers; yea, all those who were
lawyers were angry with those who testified of these things.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 22
22 Now there was no lawyer nor judge nor high priest
that could have power to condemn any one to death save their
condemnation was signed by the governor of the land.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 23
23 Now there were many of those who testified of the
things pertaining to Christ who testified boldly, who were taken
and put to death secretly by the judges, that the knowledge of
their death came not unto the governor of the land until after
their death.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 24
24 Now behold, this was contrary to the laws of the
land, that any man should be put to death except they had power
from the governor of the land--
3 Nephi 6:Verse 25
25 Therefore a complaint came up unto the land of
Zarahemla, to the governor of the land, against these judges who
had condemned the prophets of the Lord unto death, not according to
the law.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 26
26 Now it came to pass that they were taken and brought
up before the judge, to be judged of the crime which they had done,
according to the law which had been given by the people.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 27
27 Now it came to pass that those judges had many
friends and kindreds; and the remainder, yea, even almost all the
lawyers and the high priests, did gather themselves together, and
unite with the kindreds of those judges who were to be tried
according to the law.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 28
28 And they did enter into a covenant one with another,
yea, even into that covenant which was given by them of old, which
covenant was given and administered by the devil, to combine
against all righteousness.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 29
29 Therefore they did combine against the people of the
Lord, and enter into a covenant to destroy them, and to deliver
those who were guilty of murder from the grasp of justice, which
was about to be administered according to the law.
3 Nephi 6:Verse 30
30 And they did set at defiance the law and the rights
of their country; and they did covenant one with another to destroy
the governor, and to establish a king over the land, that the land
should no more be at liberty but should be subject unto
kings.
Chapter 7
3 Nephi 7:Verse 1
1 NOW behold, I will show unto you that they did not
establish a king over the land; but in this same year, yea, the
thirtieth year, they did destroy upon the judgment-seat, yea, did
murder the chief judge of the land.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 2
2 And the people were divided one against another; and
they did separate one from another into tribes, every man according
to his family and his kindred and friends; and thus they did
destroy the government of the land.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 3
3 And every tribe did appoint a chief or a leader over
them; and thus they became tribes and leaders of tribes.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 4
4 Now behold, there was no man among them save he had
much family and many kindreds and friends; therefore their tribes
became exceedingly great.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 5
5 Now all this was done, and there were no wars as yet
among them; and all this iniquity had come upon the people because
they did yield themselves unto the power of Satan.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 6
6 And the regulations of the government were destroyed,
because of the secret combination of the friends and kindreds of
those who murdered the prophets.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 7
7 And they did cause a great contention in the land,
insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had nearly all
become wicked; yea, there were but few righteous men among
them.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 8
8 And thus six years had not passed away since the more
part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the
dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her wallowing in the
mire.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 9
9 Now this secret combination, which had brought so
great iniquity upon the people, did gather themselves together, and
did place at their head a man whom they did call Jacob;
3 Nephi 7:Verse 10
10 And they did call him their king; therefore he
became a king over this wicked band; and he was one of the chiefest
who had given his voice against the prophets who testified of
Jesus.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that they were not so strong in
number as the tribes of the people, who were united together save
it were their leaders did establish their laws, every one according
to his tribe; nevertheless they were enemies; notwithstanding they
were not a righteous people, yet they were united in the hatred of
those who had entered into a covenant to destroy the
government.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 12
12 Therefore, Jacob seeing that their enemies were more
numerous than they, he being the king of the band, therefore he
commanded his people that they should take their flight into the
northernmost part of the land, and there build up unto themselves a
kingdom, until they were joined by dissenters, (for he flattered
them that there would be many dissenters) and they become
sufficiently strong to contend with the tribes of the people; and
they did so.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 13
13 And so speedy was their march that it could not be
impeded until they had gone forth out of the reach of the people.
And thus ended the thirtieth year; and thus were the affairs of the
people of Nephi.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass in the thirty and first year
that they were divided into tribes, every man according to his
family, kindred and friends; nevertheless they had come to an
agreement that they would not go to war one with another; but they
were not united as to their laws, and their manner of government,
for they were established according to the minds of those who were
their chiefs and their leaders. But they did establish very strict
laws that one tribe should not trespass against another, insomuch
that in some degree they had peace in the land; nevertheless, their
hearts were turned from the Lord their God, and they did stone the
prophets and did cast them out from among them.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that Nephi--having been visited
by angels and also the voice of the Lord, therefore having seen
angels, and being eye-witness, and having had power given unto him
that he might know concerning the ministry of Christ, and also
being eye-witness to their quick return from righteousness unto
their wickedness and abominations;
3 Nephi 7:Verse 16
16 Therefore, being grieved for the hardness of their
hearts and the blindness of their minds--went forth among them in
that same year, and began to testify, boldly, repentance and
remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 17
17 And he did minister many things unto them; and all
of them cannot be written, and a part of them would not suffice,
therefore they are not written in this book. And Nephi did minister
with power and with great authority.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that they were angry with him,
even because he had greater power than they, for it were not
possible that they could disbelieve his words, for so great was his
faith on the Lord Jesus Christ that angels did minister unto him
daily.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 19
19 And in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and
unclean spirits; and even his brother did he raise from the dead,
after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 20
20 And the people saw it, and did witness of it, and
were angry with him because of his power; and he did also do many
more miracles, in the sight of the people, in the name of
Jesus.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that the thirty and first year
did pass away, and there were but few who were converted unto the
Lord; but as many as were converted did truly signify unto the
people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God,
which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 22
22 And as many as had devils cast out from them, and
were healed of their sicknesses and their infirmities, did truly
manifest unto the people that they had been wrought upon by the
Spirit of God, and had been healed; and they did show forth signs
also and did do some miracles among the people.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 23
23 Thus passed away the thirty and second year also.
And Nephi did cry unto the people in the commencement of the thirty
and third year; and he did preach unto them repentance and
remission of sins.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 24
24 Now I would have you to remember also, that there
were none who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized
with water.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 25
25 Therefore, there were ordained of Nephi, men unto
this ministry, that all such as should come unto them should be
baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before
God, and unto the people, that they had repented and received a
remission of their sins.
3 Nephi 7:Verse 26
26 And there were many in the commencement of this year
that were baptized unto repentance; and thus the more part of the
year did pass away.
Chapter 8
3 Nephi 8:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that according to our record,
and we know our record to be true, for behold, it was a just man
who did keep the record--for he truly did many miracles in the name
of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the
name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his
iniquity--
3 Nephi 8:Verse 2
2 And now it came to pass, if there was no mistake made
by this man in the reckoning of our time, the thirty and third year
had passed away;
3 Nephi 8:Verse 3
3 And the people began to look with great earnestness
for the sign which had been given by the prophet Samuel, the
Lamanite, yea, for the time that there should be darkness for the
space of three days over the face of the land.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 4
4 And there began to be great doubtings and
disputations among the people, notwithstanding so many signs had
been given.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in
the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a
great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the
land.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 6
6 And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and
there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole
earth as if it was about to divide asunder.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 7
7 And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as
never had been known in all the land.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 8
8 And the city of Zarahemla did take fire.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 9
9 And the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of
the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 10
10 And the earth was carried up upon the city of
Moronihah, that in the place of the city there became a great
mountain.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 11
11 And there was a great and terrible destruction in
the land southward.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 12
12 But behold, there was a more great and terrible
destruction in the land northward; for behold, the whole face of
the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds,
and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great
quaking of the whole earth;
3 Nephi 8:Verse 13
13 And the highways were broken up, and the level roads
were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 14
14 And many great and notable cities were sunk, and
many were burned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof
had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain,
and the places were left desolate.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 15
15 And there were some cities which remained; but the
damage thereof was exceedingly great, and there were many in them
who were slain.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 16
16 And there were some who were carried away in the
whirlwind; and whither they went no man knoweth, save they know
that they were carried away.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 17
17 And thus the face of the whole earth became
deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the
lightnings, and the quaking of the earth.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 18
18 And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were
broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were
found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the
face of the land.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that when the thunderings, and
the lightnings, and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakings of
the earth did cease--for behold, they did last for about the space
of three hours; and it was said by some that the time was greater;
nevertheless, all these great and terrible things were done in
about the space of three hours--and then behold, there was darkness
upon the face of the land.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that there was thick darkness
upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants
thereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness;
3 Nephi 8:Verse 21
21 And there could be no light, because of the
darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be
fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that
there could not be any light at all;
3 Nephi 8:Verse 22
22 And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor
glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great
were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the
land.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that it did last for the space
of three days that there was no light seen; and there was great
mourning and howling and weeping among all the people continually;
yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the
darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 24
24 And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O
that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then
would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been
burned in that great city Zarahemla.
3 Nephi 8:Verse 25
25 And in another place they were heard to cry and
mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and
terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast
them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our
children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that
great city Moronihah. And thus were the howlings of the people
great and terrible.
Chapter 9
3 Nephi 9:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that there was a voice heard
among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this
land, crying:
3 Nephi 9:Verse 2
2 Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants
of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil
laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair
sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their
iniquity and abominations that they are fallen!
3 Nephi 9:Verse 3
3 Behold, that great city Zarahemla have I burned with
fire, and the inhabitants thereof.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 4
4 And behold, that great city Moroni have I caused to
be sunk in the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be
drowned.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 5
5 And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered
with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities
and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the
prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against
them.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 6
6 And behold, the city of Gilgal have I caused to be
sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of
the earth;
3 Nephi 9:Verse 7
7 Yea, and the city of Onihah and the inhabitants
thereof, and the city of Mocum and the inhabitants thereof, and the
city of Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof; and waters have I
caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness
and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the
prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against
them.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 8
8 And behold, the city of Gadiandi, and the city of
Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of Gimgimno, all
these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the
places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the
depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from
before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints
should not come up any more unto me against them.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 9
9 And behold, that great city Jacobugath, which was
inhabited by the people of king Jacob, have I caused to be burned
with fire because of their sins and their wickedness, which was
above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their
secret murders and combinations; for it was they that did destroy
the peace of my people and the government of the land; therefore I
did cause them to be burned, to destroy them from before my face,
that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up
unto me any more against them.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 10
10 And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh,
and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be
burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their
wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I
did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their
abominations.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 11
11 And because they did cast them all out, that there
were none righteous among them, I did send down fire and destroy
them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from
before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints whom
I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against
them.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 12
12 And many great destructions have I caused to come
upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness
and their abominations.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 13
13 O all ye that are spared because ye were more
righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of
your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
3 Nephi 9:Verse 14
14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me
ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended
towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and
blessed are those who come unto me.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 15
15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created
the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was
with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the
Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 16
16 I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And
the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 17
17 And as many as have received me, to them have I
given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as
shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and
in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 18
18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha
and Omega, the beginning and the end.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 19
19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding
of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be
done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt
offerings.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 20
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken
heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken
heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with
the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me
at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with
the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 21
21 Behold, I have come unto the world to bring
redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.
3 Nephi 9:Verse 22
22 Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a
little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of
God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it
up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth,
and be saved.
Chapter 10
3 Nephi 10:Verse 1
1 AND now behold, it came to pass that all the people
of the land did hear these sayings, and did witness of it. And
after these sayings there was silence in the land for the space of
many hours;
3 Nephi 10:Verse 2
2 For so great was the astonishment of the people that
they did cease lamenting and howling for the loss of their kindred
which had been slain; therefore there was silence in all the land
for the space of many hours.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that there came a voice again
unto the people, and all the people did hear, and did witness of
it, saying:
3 Nephi 10:Verse 4
4 O ye people of these great cities which have fallen,
who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel,
how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under
her wings, and have nourished you.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 5
5 And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen
gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the
house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of
Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea,
how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens,
and ye would not.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 6
6 O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will
I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye
will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 7
7 But if not, O house of Israel, the places of your
dwellings shall become desolate until the time of the fulfilling of
the covenant to your fathers.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 8
8 And now it came to pass that after the people had
heard these words, behold, they began to weep and howl again
because of the loss of their kindred and friends.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that thus did the three days pass
away. And it was in the morning, and the darkness dispersed from
off the face of the land, and the earth did cease to tremble, and
the rocks did cease to rend, and the dreadful groanings did cease,
and all the tumultuous noises did pass away.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 10
10 And the earth did cleave together again, that it
stood; and the mourning, and the weeping, and the wailing of the
people who were spared alive did cease; and their mourning was
turned into joy, and their lamentations into the praise and
thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their Redeemer.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 11
11 And thus far were the scriptures fulfilled which had
been spoken by the prophets.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 12
12 And it was the more righteous part of the people who
were saved, and it was they who received the prophets and stoned
them not; and it was they who had not shed the blood of the saints,
who were spared--
3 Nephi 10:Verse 13
13 And they were spared and were not sunk and buried up
in the earth; and they were not drowned in the depths of the sea;
and they were not burned by fire, neither were they fallen upon and
crushed to death; and they were not carried away in the whirlwind;
neither were they overpowered by the vapor of smoke and of
darkness.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 14
14 And now, whoso readeth, let him understand; he that
hath the scriptures, let him search them, and see and behold if all
these deaths and destructions by fire, and by smoke, and by
tempests, and by whirlwinds, and by the opening of the earth to
receive them, and all these things are not unto the fulfilling of
the prophecies of many of the holy prophets.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 15
15 Behold, I say unto you, Yea, many have testified of
these things at the coming of Christ, and were slain because they
testified of these things.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 16
16 Yea, the prophet Zenos did testify of these things,
and also Zenock spake concerning these things, because they
testified particularly concerning us, who are the remnant of their
seed.
3 Nephi 10:Verse 17
17 Behold, our father Jacob also testified concerning a
remnant of the seed of Joseph. And behold, are not we a remnant of
the seed of Joseph? And these things which testify of us, are they
not written upon the plates of brass which our father Lehi brought
out of Jerusalem?
3 Nephi 10:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty
and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of
Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called
Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto
them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch
that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly
manifest himself unto them--
3 Nephi 10:Verse 19
19 Showing his body unto them, and ministering unto
them; and an account of his ministry shall be given hereafter.
Therefore for this time I make an end of my sayings.
Chapter 11
3 Nephi 11:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that there were a great
multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about
the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling
and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the
great and marvelous change which had taken place.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 2
2 And they were also conversing about this Jesus
Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that while they were thus
conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out
of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they
understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh
voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and
notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did
hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame
that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very
soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that again they heard the voice,
and they understood it not.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 5
5 And again the third time they did hear the voice, and
did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the
sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from
whence the sound came.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 6
6 And behold, the third time they did understand the
voice which they heard; and it said unto them:
3 Nephi 11:Verse 7
7 Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in
whom I have glorified my name--hear ye him.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass, as they understood they cast
their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man
descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and
he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the
whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their
mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they
thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand
and spake unto the people, saying:
3 Nephi 11:Verse 10
10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets
testified shall come into the world.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 11
11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the
world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father
hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the
sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the
Father in all things from the beginning.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these
words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered
that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show
himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them
saying:
3 Nephi 11:Verse 14
14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust
your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of
the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am
the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been
slain for the sins of the world.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth,
and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of
the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going
forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with
their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety
and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the
prophets, that should come.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 16
16 And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed
for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:
3 Nephi 11:Verse 17
17 Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God!
And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship
him.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that he spake unto Nephi (for
Nephi was among the multitude) and he commanded him that he should
come forth.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 19
19 And Nephi arose and went forth, and bowed himself
before the Lord and did kiss his feet.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 20
20 And the Lord commanded him that he should arise. And
he arose and stood before him.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 21
21 And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you power
that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into
heaven.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 22
22 And again the Lord called others, and said unto them
likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto
them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no
disputations among you.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 23
23 Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his
sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on
this wise shall ye baptize them--Behold, ye shall go down and stand
in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 24
24 And now behold, these are the words which ye shall
say, calling them by name, saying:
3 Nephi 11:Verse 25
25 Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize
you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Amen.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 26
26 And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and
come forth again out of the water.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 27
27 And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name;
for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father
in me, and the Father and I are one.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 28
28 And according as I have commanded you thus shall ye
baptize. And there shall be no disputations among you, as there
have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you
concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto
been.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 29
29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the
spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the
father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to
contend with anger, one with another.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 30
30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the
hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my
doctrine, that such things should be done away.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 31
31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will
declare unto you my doctrine.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 32
32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine
which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the
Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost
beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the
Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in
me.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 33
33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same
shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of
God.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 34
34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized,
shall be damned.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 35
35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my
doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso
believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the
Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with
the Holy Ghost.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 36
36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the
Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the
Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 37
37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become
as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise
receive these things.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 38
38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be
baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in
nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 39
39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my
doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 40
40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and
establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not
built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and
the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come
and the winds beat upon them.
3 Nephi 11:Verse 41
41 Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare
the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth.
Chapter 12
3 Nephi 12:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these
words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called, (now the number
of them who had been called, and received power and authority to
baptize, was twelve) and behold, he stretched forth his hand unto
the multitude, and cried unto them, saying: Blessed are ye if ye
shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen
from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and
unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water;
and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize
you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if
ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me
and know that I am.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 2
2 And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in
your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and
that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in
your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be
baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy
Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 3
3 Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 4
4 And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they
shall be comforted.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 5
5 And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the
earth.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 6
6 And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst
after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy
Ghost.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 7
7 And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain
mercy.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 8
8 And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall
see God.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 9
9 And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall
be called the children of God.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 10
10 And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my
name's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 11
11 And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and
persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,
for my sake;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 12
12 For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad,
for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they
the prophets who were before you.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 13
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to
be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor
wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth
good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot
of men.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 14
14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to
be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be
hid.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 15
15 Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a
bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that
are in the house;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 16
16 Therefore let your light so shine before this
people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father
who is in heaven.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 17
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the
prophets. I am not come to destroy but to fulfil;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 18
18 For verily I say unto you, one jot nor one tittle
hath not passed away from the law, but in me it hath all been
fulfilled.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 19
19 And behold, I have given you the law and the
commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye
shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and
a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and
the law is fulfilled.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 20
20 Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I
say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I
have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the
kingdom of heaven.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 21
21 Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old
time, and it is also written before you, that thou shalt not kill,
and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of
God;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 22
22 But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his
brother shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say
to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and
whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell
fire.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 23
23 Therefore, if ye shall come unto me, or shall desire
to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught
against thee--
3 Nephi 12:Verse 24
24 Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled
to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart,
and I will receive you.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 25
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in
the way with him, lest at any time he shall get thee, and thou
shalt be cast into prison.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 26
26 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, thou shalt by no
means come out thence until thou hast paid the uttermost senine.
And while ye are in prison can ye pay even one senine? Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Nay.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 27
27 Behold, it is written by them of old time, that thou
shalt not commit adultery;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 28
28 But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a
woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery already in his
heart.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 29
29 Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye
suffer none of these things to enter into your heart;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 30
30 For it is better that ye should deny yourselves of
these things, wherein ye will take up your cross, than that ye
should be cast into hell.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 31
31 It hath been written, that whosoever shall put away
his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 32
32 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that whosoever shall
put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her
to commit adultery; and whoso shall marry her who is divorced
committeth adultery.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 33
33 And again it is written, thou shalt not forswear
thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 34
34 But verily, verily, I say unto you, swear not at
all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 35
35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 36
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou
canst not make one hair black or white;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 37
37 But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay;
for whatsoever cometh of more than these is evil.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 38
38 And behold, it is written, an eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 39
39 But I say unto you, that ye shall not resist evil,
but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the
other also;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 40
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law and take
away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 41
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go
with him twain.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 42
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that
would borrow of thee turn thou not away.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 43
43 And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love
thy neighbor and hate thine enemy;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 44
44 But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for
them who despitefully use you and persecute you;
3 Nephi 12:Verse 45
45 That ye may be the children of your Father who is in
heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the
good.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 46
46 Therefore those things which were of old time, which
were under the law, in me are all fulfilled.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 47
47 Old things are done away, and all things have become
new.
3 Nephi 12:Verse 48
48 Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as
I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
Chapter 13
3 Nephi 13:Verse 1
1 Verily, verily, I say that I would that ye should do
alms unto the poor; but take heed that ye do not your alms before
men to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father
who is in heaven.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 2
2 Therefore, when ye shall do your alms do not sound a
trumpet before you, as will hypocrites do in the synagogues and in
the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto
you, they have their reward.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 3
3 But when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know
what thy right hand doeth;
3 Nephi 13:Verse 4
4 That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who
seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 5
5 And when thou prayest thou shalt not do as the
hypocrites, for they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and
in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily
I say unto you, they have their reward.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 6
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,
and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in
secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee
openly.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 7
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the
heathen, for they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 8
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them, for your Father
knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 9
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who
art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 10
10 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 11
11 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 12
12 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 13
13 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the
glory, forever. Amen.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 14
14 For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your
heavenly Father will also forgive you;
3 Nephi 13:Verse 15
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither
will your Father forgive your trespasses.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 16
16 Moreover, when ye fast be not as the hypocrites, of
a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may
appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their
reward.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 17
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and
wash thy face;
3 Nephi 13:Verse 18
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy
Father, who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret,
shall reward thee openly.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 19
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and
steal;
3 Nephi 13:Verse 20
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor steal.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 21
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 22
22 The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore,
thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 23
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be
full of darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in thee be
darkness, how great is that darkness!
3 Nephi 13:Verse 24
24 No man can serve two masters; for either he will
hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one
and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 25
25 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken
these words he looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen, and said
unto them: Remember the words which I have spoken. For behold, ye
are they whom I have chosen to minister unto this people. Therefore
I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat,
or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put
on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than
raiment?
3 Nephi 13:Verse 26
26 Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not,
neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly
Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
3 Nephi 13:Verse 27
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit
unto his stature?
3 Nephi 13:Verse 28
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the
lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they
spin;
3 Nephi 13:Verse 29
29 And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all
his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 30
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field,
which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he
clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 31
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we
eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be
clothed?
3 Nephi 13:Verse 32
32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need
of all these things.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
3 Nephi 13:Verse 34
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the
morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is
the day unto the evil thereof.
Chapter 14
3 Nephi 14:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken
these words he turned again to the multitude, and did open his
mouth unto them again, saying: Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 2
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged;
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you
again.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 3
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy
brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own
eye?
3 Nephi 14:Verse 4
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the
mote out of thine eye--and behold, a beam is in thine own
eye?
3 Nephi 14:Verse 5
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own
eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy
brother's eye.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 6
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither
cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under
their feet, and turn again and rend you.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 7
7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 8
8 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that
seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be
opened.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 9
9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask
bread, will give him a stone?
3 Nephi 14:Verse 10
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a
serpent?
3 Nephi 14:Verse 11
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in
heaven give good things to them that ask him?
3 Nephi 14:Verse 12
12 Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and
the prophets.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 13
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the
gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and many
there be who go in thereat;
3 Nephi 14:Verse 14
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 15
15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 16
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather
grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
3 Nephi 14:Verse 17
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 18
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither a
corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 19
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 20
20 Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 21
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my
Father who is in heaven.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 22
22 Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils,
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
3 Nephi 14:Verse 23
23 And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you;
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 24
24 Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and
doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house
upon a rock--
3 Nephi 14:Verse 25
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the
winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was
founded upon a rock.
3 Nephi 14:Verse 26
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and
doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his
house upon the sand--
3 Nephi 14:Verse 27
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the
winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was
the fall of it.
Chapter 15
3 Nephi 15:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that when Jesus had ended
these sayings he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and
said unto them: Behold, ye have heard the things which I taught
before I ascended to my Father; therefore, whoso remembereth these
sayings of mine and doeth them, him will I raise up at the last
day.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these
words he perceived that there were some among them who marveled,
and wondered what he would concerning the law of Moses; for they
understood not the saying that old things had passed away, and that
all things had become new.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 3
3 And he said unto them: Marvel not that I said unto
you that old things had passed away, and that all things had become
new.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 4
4 Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that
was given unto Moses.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 5
5 Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who
covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is
fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an
end.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 6
6 Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as
have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be
fulfilled.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 7
7 And because I said unto you that old things have
passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken
concerning things which are to come.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 8
8 For behold, the covenant which I have made with my
people is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses
hath an end in me.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 9
9 Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me,
and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that
endureth to the end will I give eternal life.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 10
10 Behold, I have given unto you the commandments;
therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law and the
prophets, for they truly testified of me.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 11
11 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken
these words, he said unto those twelve whom he had chosen:
3 Nephi 15:Verse 12
12 Ye are my disciples; and ye are a light unto this
people, who are a remnant of the house of Joseph.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 13
13 And behold, this is the land of your inheritance;
and the Father hath given it unto you.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 14
14 And not at any time hath the Father given me
commandment that I should tell it unto your brethren at
Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 15
15 Neither at any time hath the Father given me
commandment that I should tell unto them concerning the other
tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away out of
the land.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 16
16 This much did the Father command me, that I should
tell unto them:
3 Nephi 15:Verse 17
17 That other sheep I have which are not of this fold;
them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there
shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 18
18 And now, because of stiffneckedness and unbelief
they understood not my word; therefore I was commanded to say no
more of the Father concerning this thing unto them.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 19
19 But, verily, I say unto you that the Father hath
commanded me, and I tell it unto you, that ye were separated from
among them because of their iniquity; therefore it is because of
their iniquity that they know not of you.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 20
20 And verily, I say unto you again that the other
tribes hath the Father separated from them; and it is because of
their iniquity that they know not of them.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 21
21 And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom
I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I
must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one
fold, and one shepherd.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 22
22 And they understood me not, for they supposed it had
been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should
be converted through their preaching.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 23
23 And they understood me not that I said they shall
hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should
not at any time hear my voice--that I should not manifest myself
unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost.
3 Nephi 15:Verse 24
24 But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen
me; and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the
Father hath given me.
Chapter 16
3 Nephi 16:Verse 1
1 AND verily, verily, I say unto you that I have other
sheep, which are not of this land, neither of the land of
Jerusalem, neither in any parts of that land round about whither I
have been to minister.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 2
2 For they of whom I speak are they who have not as yet
heard my voice; neither have I at any time manifested myself unto
them.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 3
3 But I have received a commandment of the Father that
I shall go unto them, and that they shall hear my voice, and shall
be numbered among my sheep, that there may be one fold and one
shepherd; therefore I go to show myself unto them.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 4
4 And I command you that ye shall write these sayings
after I am gone, that if it so be that my people at Jerusalem, they
who have seen me and been with me in my ministry, do not ask the
Father in my name, that they may receive a knowledge of you by the
Holy Ghost, and also of the other tribes whom they know not of,
that these sayings which ye shall write shall be kept and shall be
manifested unto the Gentiles, that through the fulness of the
Gentiles, the remnant of their seed, who shall be scattered forth
upon the face of the earth because of their unbelief, may be
brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their
Redeemer.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 5
5 And then will I gather them in from the four quarters
of the earth; and then will I fulfil the covenant which the Father
hath made unto all the people of the house of Israel.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 6
6 And blessed are the Gentiles, because of their belief
in me, in and of the Holy Ghost, which witnesses unto them of me
and of the Father.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 7
7 Behold, because of their belief in me, saith the
Father, and because of the unbelief of you, O house of Israel, in
the latter day shall the truth come unto the Gentiles, that the
fulness of these things shall be made known unto them.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 8
8 But wo, saith the Father, unto the unbelieving of the
Gentiles--for notwithstanding they have come forth upon the face of
this land, and have scattered my people who are of the house of
Israel; and my people who are of the house of Israel have been cast
out from among them, and have been trodden under feet by
them;
3 Nephi 16:Verse 9
9 And because of the mercies of the Father unto the
Gentiles, and also the judgments of the Father upon my people who
are of the house of Israel, verily, verily, I say unto you, that
after all this, and I have caused my people who are of the house of
Israel to be smitten, and to be afflicted, and to be slain, and to
be cast out from among them, and to become hated by them, and to
become a hiss and a byword among them--
3 Nephi 16:Verse 10
10 And thus commandeth the Father that I should say
unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my
gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be
lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above
all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all
manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner
of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of
secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and
shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I
will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 11
11 And then will I remember my covenant which I have
made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel
unto them.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 12
12 And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that
the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my
covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the
knowledge of the fulness of my gospel.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 13
13 But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me,
saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O
house of Israel.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 14
14 And I will not suffer my people, who are of the
house of Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down,
saith the Father.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 15
15 But if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto
my voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house
of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread
them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor,
which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be
trodden under foot of my people, O house of Israel.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 16
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, thus hath the Father
commanded me--that I should give unto this people this land for
their inheritance.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 17
17 And then the words of the prophet Isaiah shall be
fulfilled, which say:
3 Nephi 16:Verse 18
18 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice
together shall they sing, for they shall see eye to eye when the
Lord shall bring again Zion.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 19
19 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places
of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath
redeemed Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 16:Verse 20
20 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of
all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the
salvation of God.
Chapter 17
3 Nephi 17:Verse 1
1 Behold, now it came to pass that when Jesus had
spoken these words he looked round about again on the multitude,
and he said unto them: Behold, my time is at hand.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 2
2 I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot
understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak
unto you at this time.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 3
3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the
things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that
ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I
come unto you again.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 4
4 But now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself
unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the
Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 5
5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken,
he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld
they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they
would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 6
6 And he said unto them: Behold, my bowels are filled
with compassion towards you.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 7
7 Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them
hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or
leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are
afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them,
for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with
mercy.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 8
8 For I perceive that ye desire that I should show unto
you what I have done unto your brethren at Jerusalem, for I see
that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that when he had thus spoken, all
the multitude, with one accord, did go forth with their sick and
their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with
their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner;
and he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto
him.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 10
10 And they did all, both they who had been healed and
they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and
as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch
that they did bathe his feet with their tears.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that he commanded that their
little children should be brought.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 12
12 So they brought their little children and set them
down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst;
and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto
him.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that when they had all been
brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude
that they should kneel down upon the ground.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon
the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am
troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of
Israel.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 15
15 And when he had said these words, he himself also
knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the
things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did
bear record who heard him.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 16
16 And after this manner do they bear record: The eye
hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and
marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the
Father;
3 Nephi 17:Verse 17
17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be
written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great
and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no
one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we
heard him pray for us unto the Father.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 18
18 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end
of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of
the multitude that they were overcome.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that Jesus spake unto them, and
bade them arise.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 20
20 And they arose from the earth, and he said unto
them: Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy
is full.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 21
21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the
multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one
by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for
them.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 22
22 And when he had done this he wept again;
3 Nephi 17:Verse 23
23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them:
Behold your little ones.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 24
24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes
towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels
descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they
came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were
encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto
them.
3 Nephi 17:Verse 25
25 And the multitude did see and hear and bear record;
and they know that their record is true for they all of them did
see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about
two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men,
women, and children.
Chapter 18
3 Nephi 18:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that Jesus commanded his
disciples that they should bring forth some bread and wine unto
him.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 2
2 And while they were gone for bread and wine, he
commanded the multitude that they should sit themselves down upon
the earth.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 3
3 And when the disciples had come with bread and wine,
he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the
disciples and commanded that they should eat.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 4
4 And when they had eaten and were filled, he commanded
that they should give unto the multitude.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 5
5 And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he
said unto the disciples: Behold there shall one be ordained among
you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and
bless it and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those
who shall believe and be baptized in my name.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 6
6 And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I
have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it and given it
unto you.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 7
7 And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which
I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father
that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye
shall have my Spirit to be with you.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 8
8 And it came to pass that when he said these words, he
commanded his disciples that they should take of the wine of the
cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the
multitude that they might drink of it.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 9
9 And it came to pass that they did so, and did drink
of it and were filled; and they gave unto the multitude, and they
did drink, and they were filled.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 10
10 And when the disciples had done this, Jesus said
unto them: Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for
this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the
Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded
you.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 11
11 And this shall ye always do to those who repent and
are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my
blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the
Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember
me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 12
12 And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do
these things. And if ye shall always do these things blessed are
ye, for ye are built upon my rock.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 13
13 But whoso among you shall do more or less than these
are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation;
and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds
blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the gates of hell
are ready open to receive them.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 14
14 Therefore blessed are ye if ye shall keep my
commandments, which the Father hath commanded me that I should give
unto you.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 15
15 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and
pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away
captive by him.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 16
16 And as I have prayed among you even so shall ye pray
in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my
name. Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these
words unto his disciples, he turned again unto the multitude and
said unto them:
3 Nephi 18:Verse 18
18 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must
watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan
desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 19
19 Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my
name;
3 Nephi 18:Verse 20
20 And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name,
which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be
given unto you.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 21
21 Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my
name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 22
22 And behold, ye shall meet together oft; and ye shall
not forbid any man from coming unto you when ye shall meet
together, but suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid
them not;
3 Nephi 18:Verse 23
23 But ye shall pray for them, and shall not cast them
out; and if it so be that they come unto you oft ye shall pray for
them unto the Father, in my name.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 24
24 Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto
the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up--that which
ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the
Father, and ye all have witnessed.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 25
25 And ye see that I have commanded that none of you
should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto
me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world;
and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led
into temptation.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 26
26 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken
these words, he turned his eyes again upon the disciples whom he
had chosen, and said unto them:
3 Nephi 18:Verse 27
27 Behold verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto
you another commandment, and then I must go unto my Father that I
may fulfil other commandments which he hath given me.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 28
28 And now behold, this is the commandment which I give
unto you, that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly to partake of
my flesh and blood unworthily, when ye shall minister it;
3 Nephi 18:Verse 29
29 For whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood
unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul; therefore if
ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and
blood ye shall forbid him.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 30
30 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among
you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the
Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is
baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister
unto him of my flesh and blood.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 31
31 But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among
my people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I know my
sheep, and they are numbered.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 32
32 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your
synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye
continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and
repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall
heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto
them.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 33
33 Therefore, keep these sayings which I have commanded
you that ye come not under condemnation; for wo unto him whom the
Father condemneth.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 34
34 And I give you these commandments because of the
disputations which have been among you. And blessed are ye if ye
have no disputations among you.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 35
35 And now I go unto the Father, because it is
expedient that I should go unto the Father for your sakes.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 36
36 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end
of these sayings, he touched with his hand the disciples whom he
had chosen, one by one, even until he had touched them all, and
spake unto them as he touched them.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 37
37 And the multitude heard not the words which he
spake, therefore they did not bear record; but the disciples bare
record that he gave them power to give the Holy Ghost. And I will
show unto you hereafter that this record is true.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 38
38 And it came to pass that when Jesus had touched them
all, there came a cloud and overshadowed the multitude that they
could not see Jesus.
3 Nephi 18:Verse 39
39 And while they were overshadowed he departed from
them, and ascended into heaven. And the disciples saw and did bear
record that he ascended again into heaven.
Chapter 19
3 Nephi 19:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that when Jesus had ascended
into heaven, the multitude did disperse, and every man did take his
wife and his children and did return to his own home.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 2
2 And it was noised abroad among the people
immediately, before it was yet dark, that the multitude had seen
Jesus, and that he had ministered unto them, and that he would also
show himself on the morrow unto the multitude.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 3
3 Yea, and even all the night it was noised abroad
concerning Jesus; and insomuch did they send forth unto the people
that there were many, yea, an exceedingly great number, did labor
exceedingly all that night, that they might be on the morrow in the
place where Jesus should show himself unto the multitude.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that on the morrow, when the
multitude was gathered together, behold, Nephi and his brother whom
he had raised from the dead, whose name was Timothy, and also his
son, whose name was Jonas, and also Mathoni, and Mathonihah, his
brother, and Kumen, and Kumenonhi, and Jeremiah, and Shemnon, and
Jonas, and Zedekiah, and Isaiah--now these were the names of the
disciples whom Jesus had chosen--and it came to pass that they went
forth and stood in the midst of the multitude.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 5
5 And behold, the multitude was so great that they did
cause that they should be separated into twelve bodies.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 6
6 And the twelve did teach the multitude; and behold,
they did cause that the multitude should kneel down upon the face
of the earth, and should pray unto the Father in the name of
Jesus.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 7
7 And the disciples did pray unto the Father also in
the name of Jesus. And it came to pass that they arose and
ministered unto the people.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 8
8 And when they had ministered those same words which
Jesus had spoken--nothing varying from the words which Jesus had
spoken--behold, they knelt again and prayed to the Father in the
name of Jesus.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 9
9 And they did pray for that which they most desired;
and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto
them.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 10
10 And when they had thus prayed they went down unto
the water's edge, and the multitude followed them.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 11
11 And it came to pass that Nephi went down into the
water and was baptized.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 12
12 And he came up out of the water and began to
baptize. And he baptized all those whom Jesus had chosen.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass when they were all baptized and
had come up out of the water, the Holy Ghost did fall upon them,
and they were filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 14
14 And behold, they were encircled about as if it were
by fire; and it came down from heaven, and the multitude did
witness it, and did bear record; and angels did come down out of
heaven and did minister unto them.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that while the angels were
ministering unto the disciples, behold, Jesus came and stood in the
midst and ministered unto them.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 16
16 And it came to pass that he spake unto the
multitude, and commanded them that they should kneel down again
upon the earth, and also that his disciples should kneel down upon
the earth.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that when they had all knelt
down upon the earth, he commanded his disciples that they should
pray.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 18
18 And behold, they began to pray; and they did pray
unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that Jesus departed out of the
midst of them, and went a little way off from them and bowed
himself to the earth, and he said:
3 Nephi 19:Verse 20
20 Father, I thank thee that thou hast given the Holy
Ghost unto these whom I have chosen; and it is because of their
belief in me that I have chosen them out of the world.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 21
21 Father, I pray thee that thou wilt give the Holy
Ghost unto all them that shall believe in their words.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 22
22 Father, thou hast given them the Holy Ghost because
they believe in me; and thou seest that they believe in me because
thou hearest them, and they pray unto me; and they pray unto me
because I am with them.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 23
23 And now Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also
for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may
believe in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me,
that we may be one.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 24
24 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed
unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did
still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not
multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should
pray, and they were filled with desire.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 25
25 And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they
did pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the
light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were
as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and
behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea,
even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness
thereof.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 26
26 And Jesus said unto them: Pray on; nevertheless they
did not cease to pray.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 27
27 And he turned from them again, and went a little way
off and bowed himself to the earth; and he prayed again unto the
Father, saying:
3 Nephi 19:Verse 28
28 Father, I thank thee that thou hast purified those
whom I have chosen, because of their faith, and I pray for them,
and also for them who shall believe on their words, that they may
be purified in me, through faith on their words, even as they are
purified in me.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 29
29 Father, I pray not for the world, but for those whom
thou hast given me out of the world, because of their faith, that
they may be purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father,
art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in
them.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 30
30 And when Jesus had spoken these words he came again
unto his disciples; and behold they did pray steadfastly, without
ceasing, unto him; and he did smile upon them again; and behold
they were white, even as Jesus.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 31
31 And it came to pass that he went again a little way
off and prayed unto the Father;
3 Nephi 19:Verse 32
32 And tongue cannot speak the words which he prayed,
neither can be written by man the words which he prayed.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 33
33 And the multitude did hear and do bear record; and
their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the
words which he prayed.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 34
34 Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words
which he prayed that they cannot be written, neither can they be
uttered by man.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 35
35 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end
of praying he came again to the disciples, and said unto them: So
great faith have I never seen among all the Jews; wherefore I could
not show unto them so great miracles, because of their
unbelief.
3 Nephi 19:Verse 36
36 Verily I say unto you, there are none of them that
have seen so great things as ye have seen; neither have they heard
so great things as ye have heard.
Chapter 20
3 Nephi 20:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that he commanded the multitude
that they should cease to pray, and also his disciples. And he
commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their
hearts.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 2
2 And he commanded them that they should arise and
stand up upon their feet. And they arose up and stood upon their
feet.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 3
3 And it came to pass that he brake bread again and
blessed it, and gave to the disciples to eat.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 4
4 And when they had eaten he commanded them that they
should break bread, and give unto the multitude.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 5
5 And when they had given unto the multitude he also
gave them wine to drink, and commanded them that they should give
unto the multitude.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 6
6 Now, there had been no bread, neither wine, brought
by the disciples, neither by the multitude;
3 Nephi 20:Verse 7
7 But he truly gave unto them bread to eat, and also
wine to drink.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 8
8 And he said unto them: He that eateth this bread
eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine
drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger
nor thirst, but shall be filled.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 9
9 Now, when the multitude had all eaten and drunk,
behold, they were filled with the Spirit; and they did cry out with
one voice, and gave glory to Jesus, whom they both saw and
heard.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 10
10 And it came to pass that when they had all given
glory unto Jesus, he said unto them: Behold now I finish the
commandment which the Father hath commanded me concerning this
people, who are a remnant of the house of Israel.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 11
11 Ye remember that I spake unto you, and said that
when the words of Isaiah should be fulfilled--behold they are
written, ye have them before you, therefore search them--
3 Nephi 20:Verse 12
12 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that when they
shall be fulfilled then is the fulfilling of the covenant which the
Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 13
13 And then shall the remnants, which shall be
scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from
the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north;
and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God,
who hath redeemed them.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 14
14 And the Father hath commanded me that I should give
unto you this land, for your inheritance.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 15
15 And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not
repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have
scattered my people--
3 Nephi 20:Verse 16
16 Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of
Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them
who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the
beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of
sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in
pieces, and none can deliver.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 17
17 Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries,
and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 18
18 And I will gather my people together as a man
gathereth his sheaves into the floor.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 19
19 For I will make my people with whom the Father hath
covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy
hoofs brass. And thou shalt beat in pieces many people; and I will
consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the
Lord of the whole earth. And behold, I am he who doeth it.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 20
20 And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that
the sword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and
except they repent it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea,
even upon all the nations of the Gentiles.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 21
21 And it shall come to pass that I will establish my
people, O house of Israel.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 22
22 And behold, this people will I establish in this
land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your
father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of
heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in
the midst of you.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 23
23 Behold, I am he of whom Moses spake, saying: A
prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren,
like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall
say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul who will
not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 24
24 Verily I say unto you, yea, and all the prophets
from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken,
have testified of me.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 25
25 And behold, ye are the children of the prophets; and
ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the
Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham: And in thy seed
shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 26
26 The Father having raised me up unto you first, and
sent me to bless you in turning away every one of you from his
iniquities; and this because ye are the children of the
covenant--
3 Nephi 20:Verse 27
27 And after that ye were blessed then fulfilleth the
Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying: In thy seed
shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed--unto the pouring
out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing
upon the Gentiles shall make them mighty above all, unto the
scattering of my people, O house of Israel.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 28
28 And they shall be a scourge unto the people of this
land. Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fulness of my
gospel, then if they shall harden their hearts against me I will
return their iniquities upon their own heads, saith the
Father.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 29
29 And I will remember the covenant which I have made
with my people; and I have covenanted with them that I would gather
them together in mine own due time, that I would give unto them
again the land of their fathers for their inheritance, which is the
land of Jerusalem, which is the promised land unto them forever,
saith the Father.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 30
30 And it shall come to pass that the time cometh, when
the fulness of my gospel shall be preached unto them;
3 Nephi 20:Verse 31
31 And they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my
name.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 32
32 Then shall their watchmen lift up their voice, and
with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to
eye.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 33
33 Then will the Father gather them together again, and
give unto them Jerusalem for the land of their inheritance.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 34
34 Then shall they break forth into joy--Sing together,
ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Father hath comforted his
people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 35
35 The Father hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes
of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the
salvation of the Father; and the Father and I are one.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 36
36 And then shall be brought to pass that which is
written: Awake, awake again, and put on thy strength, O Zion; put
on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, for
henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and
the unclean.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 37
37 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O
Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive
daughter of Zion.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 38
38 For thus saith the Lord: Ye have sold yourselves for
naught, and ye shall be redeemed without money.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 39
39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that my people shall
know my name; yea, in that day they shall know that I am he that
doth speak.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 40
40 And then shall they say: How beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings unto them,
that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings unto them of
good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion: Thy God
reigneth!
3 Nephi 20:Verse 41
41 And then shall a cry go forth: Depart ye, depart ye,
go ye out from thence, touch not that which is unclean; go ye out
of the midst of her; be ye clean that bear the vessels of the
Lord.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 42
42 For ye shall not go out with haste nor go by flight;
for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be
your rearward.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 43
43 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently; he shall be
exalted and extolled and be very high.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 44
44 As many were astonished at thee--his visage was so
marred, more than any man, and his form more than the sons of
men--
3 Nephi 20:Verse 45
45 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall
shut their mouths at him, for that which had not been told them
shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they
consider.
3 Nephi 20:Verse 46
46 Verily, verily, I say unto you, all these things
shall surely come, even as the Father hath commanded me. Then shall
this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people be
fulfilled; and then shall Jerusalem be inhabited again with my
people, and it shall be the land of their inheritance.
Chapter 21
3 Nephi 21:Verse 1
1 AND verily I say unto you, I give unto you a sign,
that ye may know the time when these things shall be about to take
place--that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my
people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my
Zion;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 2
2 And behold, this is the thing which I will give unto
you for a sign--for verily I say unto you that when these things
which I declare unto you, and which I shall declare unto you
hereafter of myself, and by the power of the Holy Ghost which shall
be given unto you of the Father, shall be made known unto the
Gentiles that they may know concerning this people who are a
remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who
shall be scattered by them;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 3
3 Verily, verily, I say unto you, when these things
shall be made known unto them of the Father, and shall come forth
of the Father, from them unto you;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 4
4 For it is wisdom in the Father that they should be
established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the
power of the Father, that these things might come forth from them
unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be
fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of
Israel;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 5
5 Therefore, when these works and the works which shall
be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the Gentiles,
unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of
iniquity;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 6
6 For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come
forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the
Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden
their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized
in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they
may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 7
7 And when these things come to pass that thy seed
shall begin to know these things--it shall be a sign unto them,
that they may know that the work of the Father hath already
commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made
unto the people who are of the house of Israel.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 8
8 And when that day shall come, it shall come to pass
that kings shall shut their mouths; for that which had not been
told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall
they consider.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 9
9 For in that day, for my sake shall the Father work a
work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them; and
there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a
man shall declare it unto them.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 10
10 But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my
hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be
marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto
them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 11
11 Therefore it shall come to pass that whosoever will
not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, which the Father
shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give
unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles,
(it shall be done even as Moses said) they shall be cut off from
among my people who are of the covenant.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 12
12 And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be
among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the
beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep,
who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and
none can deliver.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 13
13 Their hand shall be lifted up upon their
adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 14
14 Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles except they repent; for
it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will
cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy
chariots;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 15
15 And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw
down all thy strongholds;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 16
16 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy land, and
thou shalt have no more soothsayers;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 17
17 Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy
standing images out of the midst of thee, and thou shalt no more
worship the works of thy hands;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 18
18 And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of
thee; so will I destroy thy cities.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 19
19 And it shall come to pass that all lyings, and
deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts, and
whoredoms, shall be done away.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 20
20 For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at
that day whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son,
them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 21
21 And I will execute vengeance and fury upon them,
even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 22
22 But if they will repent and hearken unto my words,
and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them,
and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this
the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their
inheritance;
3 Nephi 21:Verse 23
23 And they shall assist my people, the remnant of
Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that
they may build a city, which shall be called the New
Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 24
24 And then shall they assist my people that they may
be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in
unto the New Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 25
25 And then shall the power of heaven come down among
them; and I also will be in the midst.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 26
26 And then shall the work of the Father commence at
that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant
of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work
of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea,
even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led
away out of Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 27
27 Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed
of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may
come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 28
28 Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the
Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people
may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance.
3 Nephi 21:Verse 29
29 And they shall go out from all nations; and they
shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for I will go before
them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward.
Chapter 22
3 Nephi 22:Verse 1
1 AND then shall that which is written come to pass:
Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing,
and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; for more are
the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,
saith the Lord.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 2
2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch
forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not, lengthen thy
cords and strengthen thy stakes;
3 Nephi 22:Verse 3
3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on
the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the
desolate cities to be inhabited.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 4
4 Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be
thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame; for thou shalt
forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach
of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood
any more.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 5
5 For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his
name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel--the God of the
whole earth shall he be called.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 6
6 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and
grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused,
saith thy God.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 7
7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with
great mercies will I gather thee.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 8
8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a
moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee,
saith the Lord thy Redeemer.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 9
9 For this, the waters of Noah unto me, for as I have
sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so
have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 10
10 For the mountains shall depart and the hills be
removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall
the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy
on thee.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 11
11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not
comforted! Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay
thy foundations with sapphires.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 12
12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates
of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 13
13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord;
and great shall be the peace of thy children.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 14
14 In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou
shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear, and from
terror for it shall not come near thee.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 15
15 Behold, they shall surely gather together against
thee, not by me; whosoever shall gather together against thee shall
fall for thy sake.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 16
16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the
coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his
work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
3 Nephi 22:Verse 17
17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;
and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou
shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
Chapter 23
3 Nephi 23:Verse 1
1 AND now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to
search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye
search these things diligently; for great are the words of
Isaiah.
3 Nephi 23:Verse 2
2 For surely he spake as touching all things concerning
my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs
be that he must speak also to the Gentiles.
3 Nephi 23:Verse 3
3 And all things that he spake have been and shall be,
even according to the words which he spake.
3 Nephi 23:Verse 4
4 Therefore give heed to my words; write the things
which I have told you; and according to the time and the will of
the Father they shall go forth unto the Gentiles.
3 Nephi 23:Verse 5
5 And whosoever will hearken unto my words and
repenteth and is baptized, the same shall be saved. Search the
prophets, for many there be that testify of these things.
3 Nephi 23:Verse 6
6 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had said
these words he said unto them again, after he had expounded all the
scriptures unto them which they had received, he said unto them:
Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have
not.
3 Nephi 23:Verse 7
7 And it came to pass that he said unto Nephi: Bring
forth the record which ye have kept.
3 Nephi 23:Verse 8
8 And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and
laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said:
3 Nephi 23:Verse 9
9 Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel,
the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the
day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were
many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto
many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it
not so?
3 Nephi 23:Verse 10
10 And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord,
Samuel did prophesy according to thy words, and they were all
fulfilled.
3 Nephi 23:Verse 11
11 And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not
written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many
and did minister unto them?
3 Nephi 23:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this
thing had not been written.
3 Nephi 23:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it
should be written; therefore it was written according as he
commanded.
3 Nephi 23:Verse 14
14 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had
expounded all the scriptures in one, which they had written, he
commanded them that they should teach the things which he had
expounded unto them.
Chapter 24
3 Nephi 24:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that he commanded them that they
should write the words which the Father had given unto Malachi,
which he should tell unto them. And it came to pass that after they
were written he expounded them. And these are the words which he
did tell unto them, saying: Thus said the Father unto
Malachi--Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the
way before me, and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his
temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in;
behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 2
2 But who may abide the day of his coming, and who
shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and
like fuller's soap.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 3
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver;
and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and
silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in
righteousness.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 4
4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be
pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former
years.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 5
5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will
be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the
adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that
oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless,
and that turn aside the stranger, and fear not me, saith the Lord
of Hosts.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 6
6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of
Jacob are not consumed.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 7
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away
from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me and I
will return unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts. But ye say: Wherein
shall we return?
3 Nephi 24:Verse 8
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye
say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 9
9 Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me,
even this whole nation.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 10
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that
there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the
Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and
pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to
receive it.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 11
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and
he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your
vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord
of Hosts.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 12
12 And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall
be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 13
13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the
Lord. Yet ye say: What have we spoken against thee?
3 Nephi 24:Verse 14
14 Ye have said: It is vain to serve God, and what doth
it profit that we have kept his ordinances and that we have walked
mournfully before the Lord of Hosts?
3 Nephi 24:Verse 15
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work
wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even
delivered.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 16
16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to
another, and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of
remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord,
and that thought upon his name.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 17
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in
that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man
spareth his own son that serveth him.
3 Nephi 24:Verse 18
18 Then shall ye return and discern between the
righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that
serveth him not.
Chapter 25
3 Nephi 25:Verse 1
1 FOR behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an
oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be
stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord
of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
3 Nephi 25:Verse 2
2 But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of
Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go
forth and grow up as calves in the stall.
3 Nephi 25:Verse 3
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be
ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this,
saith the Lord of Hosts.
3 Nephi 25:Verse 4
4 Remember ye the law of Moses, my servant, which I
commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and
judgments.
3 Nephi 25:Verse 5
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the
coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;
3 Nephi 25:Verse 6
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the
children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I
come and smite the earth with a curse.
Chapter 26
3 Nephi 26:Verse 1
1 AND now it came to pass that when Jesus had told
these things he expounded them unto the multitude; and he did
expound all things unto them, both great and small.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 2
2 And he saith: These scriptures, which ye had not with
you, the Father commanded that I should give unto you; for it was
wisdom in him that they should be given unto future
generations.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 3
3 And he did expound all things, even from the
beginning until the time that he should come in his glory--yea,
even all things which should come upon the face of the earth, even
until the elements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth
should be wrapt together as a scroll, and the heavens and the earth
should pass away;
3 Nephi 26:Verse 4
4 And even unto the great and last day, when all
people, and all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall stand
before God, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or
whether they be evil--
3 Nephi 26:Verse 5
5 If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting
life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation; being
on a parallel, the one on the one hand and the other on the other
hand, according to the mercy, and the justice, and the holiness
which is in Christ, who was before the world began.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 6
6 And now there cannot be written in this book even a
hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the
people;
3 Nephi 26:Verse 7
7 But behold the plates of Nephi do contain the more
part of the things which he taught the people.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 8
8 And these things have I written, which are a lesser
part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written
them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people,
from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath
spoken.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 9
9 And when they shall have received this, which is
expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if
it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the
greater things be made manifest unto them.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 10
10 And if it so be that they will not believe these
things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto
their condemnation.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 11
11 Behold, I was about to write them, all which were
engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying:
I will try the faith of my people.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 12
12 Therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have
been commanded me of the Lord. And now I, Mormon, make an end of my
sayings, and proceed to write the things which have been commanded
me.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 13
13 Therefore, I would that ye should behold that the
Lord truly did teach the people, for the space of three days; and
after that he did show himself unto them oft, and did break bread
oft, and bless it, and give it unto them.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that he did teach and minister
unto the children of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he
did loose their tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers
great and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto
the people; and he loosed their tongues that they could
utter.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that after he had ascended into
heaven--the second time that he showed himself unto them, and had
gone unto the Father, after having healed all their sick, and their
lame, and opened the eyes of their blind and unstopped the ears of
the deaf, and even had done all manner of cures among them, and
raised a man from the dead, and had shown forth his power unto
them, and had ascended unto the Father--
3 Nephi 26:Verse 16
16 Behold, it came to pass on the morrow that the
multitude gathered themselves together, and they both saw and heard
these children; yea, even babes did open their mouths and utter
marvelous things; and the things which they did utter were
forbidden that there should not any man write them.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 17
17 And it came to pass that the disciples whom Jesus
had chosen began from that time forth to baptize and to teach as
many as did come unto them; and as many as were baptized in the
name of Jesus were filled with the Holy Ghost.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 18
18 And many of them saw and heard unspeakable things,
which are not lawful to be written.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 19
19 And they taught, and did minister one to another;
and they had all things common among them, every man dealing
justly, one with another.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 20
20 And it came to pass that they did do all things even
as Jesus had commanded them.
3 Nephi 26:Verse 21
21 And they who were baptized in the name of Jesus were
called the church of Christ.
Chapter 27
3 Nephi 27:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus
were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both
heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to
pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in
mighty prayer and fasting.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 2
2 And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they
were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood
in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall
give unto you?
3 Nephi 27:Verse 3
3 And they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou
wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church; for
there are disputations among the people concerning this
matter.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 4
4 And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say
unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute
because of this thing?
3 Nephi 27:Verse 5
5 Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must
take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this
name shall ye be called at the last day;
3 Nephi 27:Verse 6
6 And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to
the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 7
7 Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in
my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye
shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church
for my sake.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 8
8 And how be it my church save it be called in my name?
For if a church be called in Moses' name then it be Moses' church;
or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a
man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so
be that they are built upon my gospel.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 9
9 Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my
gospel; therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my
name; therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church, if it
be in my name the Father will hear you;
3 Nephi 27:Verse 10
10 And if it so be that the church is built upon my
gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 11
11 But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built
upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say
unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by
the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from
whence there is no return.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 12
12 For their works do follow them, for it is because of
their works that they are hewn down; therefore remember the things
that I have told you.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 13
13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is
the gospel which I have given unto you--that I came into the world
to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 14
14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon
the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that
I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men
even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me,
to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they
be evil--
3 Nephi 27:Verse 15
15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore,
according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me,
that they may be judged according to their works.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 16
16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and
is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the
end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day
when I shall stand to judge the world.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 17
17 And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is
he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they
can no more return, because of the justice of the Father.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 18
18 And this is the word which he hath given unto the
children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which
he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his
words.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 19
19 And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom;
therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have
washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the
repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the
end.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 20
20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of
the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may
be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand
spotless before me at the last day.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 21
21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel;
and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works
which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye
have seen me do even that shall ye do;
3 Nephi 27:Verse 22
22 Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for
ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 23
23 Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save
it be those which are forbidden.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 24
24 Write the works of this people, which shall be, even
as hath been written, of that which hath been.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 25
25 For behold, out of the books which have been
written, and which shall be written, shall this people be judged,
for by them shall their works be known unto men.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 26
26 And behold, all things are written by the Father;
therefore out of the books which shall be written shall the world
be judged.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 27
27 And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people,
according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall
be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say
unto you, even as I am.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 28
28 And now I go unto the Father. And verily I say unto
you, whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name shall be
given unto you.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 29
29 Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto
him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 30
30 And now, behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness,
because of you, and also this generation; yea, and even the Father
rejoiceth, and also all the holy angels, because of you and this
generation; for none of them are lost.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 31
31 Behold, I would that ye should understand; for I
mean them who are now alive of this generation; and none of them
are lost; and in them I have fulness of joy.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 32
32 But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth
generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by
him even as was the son of perdition; for they will sell me for
silver and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt and which
thieves can break through and steal. And in that day will I visit
them, even in turning their works upon their own heads.
3 Nephi 27:Verse 33
33 And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these
sayings he said unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate;
for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life,
and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the
way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein,
until the night cometh, wherein no man can work.
Chapter 28
3 Nephi 28:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass when Jesus had said these words,
he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is
it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?
3 Nephi 28:Verse 2
2 And they all spake, save it were three, saying: We
desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our
ministry, wherein thou hast called us, may have an end, that we may
speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 3
3 And he said unto them: Blessed are ye because ye
desired this thing of me; therefore, after that ye are seventy and
two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye
shall find rest.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 4
4 And when he had spoken unto them, he turned himself
unto the three, and said unto them: What will ye that I should do
unto you, when I am gone unto the Father?
3 Nephi 28:Verse 5
5 And they sorrowed in their hearts, for they durst not
speak unto him the thing which they desired.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 6
6 And he said unto them: Behold, I know your thoughts,
and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with
me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired
of me.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 7
7 Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never
taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the
Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be
fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in
my glory with the powers of heaven.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 8
8 And ye shall never endure the pains of death; but
when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling
of an eye from mortality to immortality; and then shall ye be
blessed in the kingdom of my Father.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 9
9 And again, ye shall not have pain while ye shall
dwell in the flesh, neither sorrow save it be for the sins of the
world; and all this will I do because of the thing which ye have
desired of me, for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of
men unto me, while the world shall stand.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 10
10 And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and
ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall
be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye
shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father
and I are one;
3 Nephi 28:Verse 11
11 And the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and
me; and the Father giveth the Holy Ghost unto the children of men,
because of me.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 12
12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these
words, he touched every one of them with his finger save it were
the three who were to tarry, and then he departed.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 13
13 And behold, the heavens were opened, and they were
caught up into heaven, and saw and heard unspeakable things.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 14
14 And it was forbidden them that they should utter;
neither was it given unto them power that they could utter the
things which they saw and heard;
3 Nephi 28:Verse 15
15 And whether they were in the body or out of the
body, they could not tell; for it did seem unto them like a
transfiguration of them, that they were changed from this body of
flesh into an immortal state, that they could behold the things of
God.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 16
16 But it came to pass that they did again minister
upon the face of the earth; nevertheless they did not minister of
the things which they had heard and seen, because of the
commandment which was given them in heaven.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 17
17 And now, whether they were mortal or immortal, from
the day of their transfiguration, I know not;
3 Nephi 28:Verse 18
18 But this much I know, according to the record which
hath been given--they did go forth upon the face of the land, and
did minister unto all the people, uniting as many to the church as
would believe in their preaching; baptizing them, and as many as
were baptized did receive the Holy Ghost.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 19
19 And they were cast into prison by them who did not
belong to the church. And the prisons could not hold them, for they
were rent in twain.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 20
20 And they were cast down into the earth; but they did
smite the earth with the word of God, insomuch that by his power
they were delivered out of the depths of the earth; and therefore
they could not dig pits sufficient to hold them.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 21
21 And thrice they were cast into a furnace and
received no harm.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 22
22 And twice were they cast into a den of wild beasts;
and behold they did play with the beasts as a child with a suckling
lamb, and received no harm.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 23
23 And it came to pass that thus they did go forth
among all the people of Nephi, and did preach the gospel of Christ
unto all people upon the face of the land; and they were converted
unto the Lord, and were united unto the church of Christ, and thus
the people of that generation were blessed, according to the word
of Jesus.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 24
24 And now I, Mormon, make an end of speaking
concerning these things for a time.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 25
25 Behold, I was about to write the names of those who
were never to taste of death, but the Lord forbade; therefore I
write them not, for they are hid from the world.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 26
26 But behold, I have seen them, and they have
ministered unto me.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 27
27 And behold they will be among the Gentiles, and the
Gentiles shall know them not.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 28
28 They will also be among the Jews, and the Jews shall
know them not.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 29
29 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord seeth fit
in his wisdom that they shall minister unto all the scattered
tribes of Israel, and unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and
people, and shall bring out of them unto Jesus many souls, that
their desire may be fulfilled, and also because of the convincing
power of God which is in them.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 30
30 And they are as the angels of God, and if they shall
pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus they can show themselves
unto whatsoever man it seemeth them good.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 31
31 Therefore, great and marvelous works shall be
wrought by them, before the great and coming day when all people
must surely stand before the judgment-seat of Christ;
3 Nephi 28:Verse 32
32 Yea even among the Gentiles shall there be a great
and marvelous work wrought by them, before that judgment day.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 33
33 And if ye had all the scriptures which give an
account of all the marvelous works of Christ, ye would, according
to the words of Christ, know that these things must surely
come.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 34
34 And wo be unto him that will not hearken unto the
words of Jesus, and also to them whom he hath chosen and sent among
them; for whoso receiveth not the words of Jesus and the words of
those whom he hath sent receiveth not him; and therefore he will
not receive them at the last day;
3 Nephi 28:Verse 35
35 And it would be better for them if they had not been
born. For do ye suppose that ye can get rid of the justice of an
offended God, who hath been trampled under feet of men, that
thereby salvation might come?
3 Nephi 28:Verse 36
36 And now behold, as I spake concerning those whom the
Lord hath chosen, yea, even three who were caught up into the
heavens, that I knew not whether they were cleansed from mortality
to immortality--
3 Nephi 28:Verse 37
37 But behold, since I wrote, I have inquired of the
Lord, and he hath made it manifest unto me that there must needs be
a change wrought upon their bodies, or else it needs be that they
must taste of death;
3 Nephi 28:Verse 38
38 Therefore, that they might not taste of death there
was a change wrought upon their bodies, that they might not suffer
pain nor sorrow save it were for the sins of the world.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 39
39 Now this change was not equal to that which shall
take place at the last day; but there was a change wrought upon
them, insomuch that Satan could have no power over them, that he
could not tempt them; and they were sanctified in the flesh, that
they were holy, and that the powers of the earth could not hold
them.
3 Nephi 28:Verse 40
40 And in this state they were to remain until the
judgment day of Christ; and at that day they were to receive a
greater change, and to be received into the kingdom of the Father
to go no more out, but to dwell with God eternally in the
heavens.
Chapter 29
3 Nephi 29:Verse 1
1 AND now behold, I say unto you that when the Lord
shall see fit, in his wisdom, that these sayings shall come unto
the Gentiles according to his word, then ye may know that the
covenant which the Father hath made with the children of Israel,
concerning their restoration to the lands of their inheritance, is
already beginning to be fulfilled.
3 Nephi 29:Verse 2
2 And ye may know that the words of the Lord, which
have been spoken by the holy prophets, shall all be fulfilled; and
ye need not say that the Lord delays his coming unto the children
of Israel.
3 Nephi 29:Verse 3
3 And ye need not imagine in your hearts that the words
which have been spoken are vain, for behold, the Lord will remember
his covenant which he hath made unto his people of the house of
Israel.
3 Nephi 29:Verse 4
4 And when ye shall see these sayings coming forth
among you, then ye need not any longer spurn at the doings of the
Lord, for the sword of his justice is in his right hand; and
behold, at that day, if ye shall spurn at his doings he will cause
that it shall soon overtake you.
3 Nephi 29:Verse 5
5 Wo unto him that spurneth at the doings of the Lord;
yea, wo unto him that shall deny the Christ and his works!
3 Nephi 29:Verse 6
6 Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of
the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by
revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by
healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost!
3 Nephi 29:Verse 7
7 Yea, and wo unto him that shall say at that day, to
get gain, that there can be no miracle wrought by Jesus Christ; for
he that doeth this shall become like unto the son of perdition, for
whom there was no mercy, according to the word of Christ!
3 Nephi 29:Verse 8
8 Yea, and ye need not any longer hiss, nor spurn, nor
make game of the Jews, nor any of the remnant of the house of
Israel; for behold, the Lord remembereth his covenant unto them,
and he will do unto them according to that which he hath
sworn.
3 Nephi 29:Verse 9
9 Therefore ye need not suppose that ye can turn the
right hand of the Lord unto the left, that he may not execute
judgment unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made
unto the house of Israel.
Chapter 30
3 Nephi 30:Verse 1
1 Hearken, O ye Gentiles, and hear the words of Jesus
Christ, the Son of the living God, which he hath commanded me that
I should speak concerning you, for, behold he commandeth me that I
should write, saying:
3 Nephi 30:Verse 2
2 Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and
repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of
your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your
idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your
envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and
abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye
may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy
Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house
of Israel.
4 Nephi
FOURTH NEPHI
THE BOOK OF NEPHI
WHO IS THE SON OF NEPHI--ONE OF THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS
CHRIST
An account of the people of Nephi, according to
his record.
Chapter 1
4 Nephi 1:Verse 1
1 AND it came to pass that the thirty and fourth year
passed away, and also the thirty and fifth, and behold the
disciples of Jesus had formed a church of Christ in all the lands
round about. And as many as did come unto them, and did truly
repent of their sins, were baptized in the name of Jesus; and they
did also receive the Holy Ghost.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 2
2 And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the
people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the
land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions
and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with
another.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 3
3 And they had all things common among them; therefore
there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made
free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 4
4 And it came to pass that the thirty and seventh year
passed away also, and there still continued to be peace in the
land.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 5
5 And there were great and marvelous works wrought by
the disciples of Jesus, insomuch that they did heal the sick, and
raise the dead, and cause the lame to walk, and the blind to
receive their sight, and the deaf to hear; and all manner of
miracles did they work among the children of men; and in nothing
did they work miracles save it were in the name of Jesus.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 6
6 And thus did the thirty and eighth year pass away,
and also the thirty and ninth, and forty and first, and the forty
and second, yea, even until forty and nine years had passed away,
and also the fifty and first, and the fifty and second; yea, and
even until fifty and nine years had passed away.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 7
7 And the Lord did prosper them exceedingly in the
land; yea, insomuch that they did build cities again where there
had been cities burned.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 8
8 Yea, even that great city Zarahemla did they cause to
be built again.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 9
9 But there were many cities which had been sunk, and
waters came up in the stead thereof; therefore these cities could
not be renewed.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 10
10 And now, behold, it came to pass that the people of
Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became
an exceedingly fair and delightsome people.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 11
11 And they were married, and given in marriage, and
were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the
Lord had made unto them.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 12
12 And they did not walk any more after the
performances and ordinances of the law of Moses; but they did walk
after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and
their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting
together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 13
13 And it came to pass that there was no contention
among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty
miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 14
14 And it came to pass that the seventy and first year
passed away, and also the seventy and second year, yea, and in
fine, till the seventy and ninth year had passed away; yea, even an
hundred years had passed away, and the disciples of Jesus, whom he
had chosen, had all gone to the paradise of God, save it were the
three who should tarry; and there were other disciples ordained in
their stead; and also many of that generation had passed
away.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 15
15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in
the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts
of the people.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 16
16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor
tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of
lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people
among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 17
17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were
there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the
children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 18
18 And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless
them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered
until an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first
generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no contention
in all the land.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 19
19 And it came to pass that Nephi, he that kept this
last record, (and he kept it upon the plates of Nephi) died, and
his son Amos kept it in his stead; and he kept it upon the plates
of Nephi also.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 20
20 And he kept it eighty and four years, and there was
still peace in the land, save it were a small part of the people
who had revolted from the church and taken upon them the name of
Lamanites; therefore there began to be Lamanites again in the
land.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 21
21 And it came to pass that Amos died also, (and it was
an hundred and ninety and four years from the coming of Christ) and
his son Amos kept the record in his stead; and he also kept it upon
the plates of Nephi; and it was also written in the book of Nephi,
which is this book.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 22
22 And it came to pass that two hundred years had
passed away; and the second generation had all passed away save it
were a few.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 23
23 And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that
the people had multiplied, insomuch that they were spread upon all
the face of the land, and that they had become exceedingly rich,
because of their prosperity in Christ.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 24
24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there
began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as
the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and
of the fine things of the world.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 25
25 And from that time forth they did have their goods
and their substance no more common among them.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 26
26 And they began to be divided into classes; and they
began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began
to deny the true church of Christ.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 27
27 And it came to pass that when two hundred and ten
years had passed away there were many churches in the land; yea,
there were many churches which professed to know the Christ, and
yet they did deny the more parts of his gospel, insomuch that they
did receive all manner of wickedness, and did administer that which
was sacred unto him to whom it had been forbidden because of
unworthiness.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 28
28 And this church did multiply exceedingly because of
iniquity, and because of the power of Satan who did get hold upon
their hearts.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 29
29 And again, there was another church which denied the
Christ; and they did persecute the true church of Christ, because
of their humility and their belief in Christ; and they did despise
them because of the many miracles which were wrought among
them.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 30
30 Therefore they did exercise power and authority over
the disciples of Jesus who did tarry with them, and they did cast
them into prison; but by the power of the word of God, which was in
them, the prisons were rent in twain, and they went forth doing
mighty miracles among them.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 31
31 Nevertheless, and notwithstanding all these
miracles, the people did harden their hearts, and did seek to kill
them, even as the Jews at Jerusalem sought to kill Jesus, according
to his word.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 32
32 And they did cast them into furnaces of fire, and
they came forth receiving no harm.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 33
33 And they also cast them into dens of wild beasts,
and they did play with the wild beasts even as a child with a lamb;
and they did come forth from among them, receiving no harm.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 34
34 Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts,
for they were led by many priests and false prophets to build up
many churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. And they did smite
upon the people of Jesus; but the people of Jesus did not smite
again. And thus they did dwindle in unbelief and wickedness, from
year to year, even until two hundred and thirty years had passed
away.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 35
35 And now it came to pass in this year, yea, in the
two hundred and thirty and first year, there was a great division
among the people.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 36
36 And it came to pass that in this year there arose a
people who were called the Nephites, and they were true believers
in Christ; and among them there were those who were called by the
Lamanites--Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites;
4 Nephi 1:Verse 37
37 Therefore the true believers in Christ, and the true
worshipers of Christ, (among whom were the three disciples of Jesus
who should tarry) were called Nephites, and Jacobites, and
Josephites, and Zoramites.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 38
38 And it came to pass that they who rejected the
gospel were called Lamanites, and Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites; and
they did not dwindle in unbelief, but they did wilfully rebel
against the gospel of Christ; and they did teach their children
that they should not believe, even as their fathers, from the
beginning, did dwindle.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 39
39 And it was because of the wickedness and abomination
of their fathers, even as it was in the beginning. And they were
taught to hate the children of God, even as the Lamanites were
taught to hate the children of Nephi from the beginning.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 40
40 And it came to pass that two hundred and forty and
four years had passed away, and thus were the affairs of the
people. And the more wicked part of the people did wax strong, and
became exceedingly more numerous than were the people of God.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 41
41 And they did still continue to build up churches
unto themselves, and adorn them with all manner of precious things.
And thus did two hundred and fifty years pass away, and also two
hundred and sixty years.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 42
42 And it came to pass that the wicked part of the
people began again to build up the secret oaths and combinations of
Gadianton.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 43
43 And also the people who were called the people of
Nephi began to be proud in their hearts, because of their exceeding
riches, and become vain like unto their brethren, the
Lamanites.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 44
44 And from this time the disciples began to sorrow for
the sins of the world.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 45
45 And it came to pass that when three hundred years
had passed away, both the people of Nephi and the Lamanites had
become exceedingly wicked one like unto another.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 46
46 And it came to pass that the robbers of Gadianton
did spread over all the face of the land; and there were none that
were righteous save it were the disciples of Jesus. And gold and
silver did they lay up in store in abundance, and did traffic in
all manner of traffic.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 47
47 And it came to pass that after three hundred and
five years had passed away, (and the people did still remain in
wickedness) Amos died; and his brother, Ammaron, did keep the
record in his stead.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 48
48 And it came to pass that when three hundred and
twenty years had passed away, Ammaron, being constrained by the
Holy Ghost, did hide up the records which were sacred--yea, even
all the sacred records which had been handed down from generation
to generation, which were sacred--even until the three hundred and
twentieth year from the coming of Christ.
4 Nephi 1:Verse 49
49 And he did hide them up unto the Lord, that they
might come again unto the remnant of the house of Jacob, according
to the prophecies and the promises of the Lord. And thus is the end
of the record of Ammaron.
THE BOOK OF MORMON
1 1 AND now I, Mormon, make a record of the things
which I have both seen and heard, and call it the Book of
Mormon.
2 And about the time that Ammaron hid up the records
unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age,
and I began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning
of my people) and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a
sober child, and art quick to observe;
3 Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years
old I would that ye should remember the things that ye have
observed concerning this people; and when ye are of that age go to
the land Antum, unto a hill which shall be called Shim; and there
have I deposited unto the Lord all the sacred engravings concerning
this people.
4 And behold, ye shall take the plates of Nephi unto
yourself, and the remainder shall ye leave in the place where they
are; and ye shall engrave on the plates of Nephi all the things
that ye have observed concerning this people.
5 And I, Mormon, being a descendant of Nephi, (and my
father's name was Mormon) I remembered the things which Ammaron
commanded me.
6 And it came to pass that I, being eleven years old,
was carried by my father into the land southward, even to the land
of Zarahemla.
7 The whole face of the land had become covered with
buildings, and the people were as numerous almost, as it were the
sand of the sea.
8 And it came to pass in this year there began to be a
war between the Nephites, who consisted of the Nephites and the
Jacobites and the Josephites and the Zoramites; and this war was
between the Nephites, and the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the
Ishmaelites.
9 Now the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the
Ishmaelites were called Lamanites, and the two parties were
Nephites and Lamanites.
10 And it came to pass that the war began to be among
them in the borders of Zarahemla, by the waters of Sidon.
11 And it came to pass that the Nephites had gathered
together a great number of men, even to exceed the number of thirty
thousand. And it came to pass that they did have in this same year
a number of battles, in which the Nephites did beat the Lamanites
and did slay many of them.
12 And it came to pass that the Lamanites withdrew
their design, and there was peace settled in the land; and peace
did remain for the space of about four years, that there was no
bloodshed.
13 But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the
whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved
disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease
because of the iniquity of the people.
14 And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy
Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness and
unbelief.
15 And I, being fifteen years of age and being somewhat
of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted
and knew of the goodness of Jesus.
16 And I did endeavor to preach unto this people, but
my mouth was shut, and I was forbidden that I should preach unto
them; for behold they had wilfully rebelled against their God; and
the beloved disciples were taken away out of the land, because of
their iniquity.
17 But I did remain among them, but I was forbidden to
preach unto them, because of the hardness of their hearts; and
because of the hardness of their hearts the land was cursed for
their sake.
18 And these Gadianton robbers, who were among the
Lamanites, did infest the land, insomuch that the inhabitants
thereof began to hide up their treasures in the earth; and they
became slippery, because the Lord had cursed the land, that they
could not hold them, nor retain them again.
19 And it came to pass that there were sorceries, and
witchcrafts, and magics; and the power of the evil one was wrought
upon all the face of the land, even unto the fulfilling of all the
words of Abinadi, and also Samuel the Lamanite.
2 1 AND it came to pass in that same year there began
to be a war again between the Nephites and the Lamanites. And
notwithstanding I being young, was large in stature; therefore the
people of Nephi appointed me that I should be their leader, or the
leader of their armies.
2 Therefore it came to pass that in my sixteenth year I
did go forth at the head of an army of the Nephites, against the
Lamanites; therefore three hundred and twenty and six years had
passed away.
3 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and
twenty and seventh year the Lamanites did come upon us with
exceedingly great power, insomuch that they did frighten my armies;
therefore they would not fight, and they began to retreat towards
the north countries.
4 And it came to pass that we did come to the city of
Angola, and we did take possession of the city, and make
preparations to defend ourselves against the Lamanites. And it came
to pass that we did fortify the city with our might; but
notwithstanding all our fortifications the Lamanites did come upon
us and did drive us out of the city.
5 And they did also drive us forth out of the land of
David.
6 And we marched forth and came to the land of Joshua,
which was in the borders west by the seashore.
7 And it came to pass that we did gather in our people
as fast as it were possible, that we might get them together in one
body.
8 But behold, the land was filled with robbers and with
Lamanites; and notwithstanding the great destruction which hung
over my people, they did not repent of their evil doings; therefore
there was blood and carnage spread throughout all the face of the
land, both on the part of the Nephites and also on the part of the
Lamanites; and it was one complete revolution throughout all the
face of the land.
9 And now, the Lamanites had a king, and his name was
Aaron; and he came against us with an army of forty and four
thousand. And behold, I withstood him with forty and two thousand.
And it came to pass that I beat him with my army that he fled
before me. And behold, all this was done, and three hundred and
thirty years had passed away.
10 And it came to pass that the Nephites began to
repent of their iniquity, and began to cry even as had been
prophesied by Samuel the prophet; for behold no man could keep that
which was his own, for the thieves, and the robbers, and the
murderers, and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the
land.
11 Thus there began to be a mourning and a lamentation
in all the land because of these things, and more especially among
the people of Nephi.
12 And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their
lamentation and their mourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my
heart did begin to rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and the
long-suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be
merciful unto them that they would again become a righteous
people.
13 But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing
was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was
rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not
always suffer them to take happiness in sin.
14 And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts
and contrite spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die.
Nevertheless they would struggle with the sword for their
lives.
15 And it came to pass that my sorrow did return unto
me again, and I saw that the day of grace was passed with them,
both temporally and spiritually; for I saw thousands of them hewn
down in open rebellion against their God, and heaped up as dung
upon the face of the land. And thus three hundred and forty and
four years had passed away.
16 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and
forty and fifth year the Nephites did begin to flee before the
Lamanites; and they were pursued until they came even to the land
of Jashon, before it was possible to stop them in their
retreat.
17 And now, the city of Jashon was near the land where
Ammaron had deposited the records unto the Lord, that they might
not be destroyed. And behold I had gone according to the word of
Ammaron, and taken the plates of Nephi, and did make a record
according to the words of Ammaron.
18 And upon the plates of Nephi I did make a full
account of all the wickedness and abominations; but upon these
plates I did forbear to make a full account of their wickedness and
abominations, for behold, a continual scene of wickedness and
abominations has been before mine eyes ever since I have been
sufficient to behold the ways of man.
19 And wo is me because of their wickedness; for my
heart has been filled with sorrow because of their wickedness, all
my days; nevertheless, I know that I shall be lifted up at the last
day.
20 And it came to pass that in this year the people of
Nephi again were hunted and driven. And it came to pass that we
were driven forth until we had come northward to the land which was
called Shem.
21 And it came to pass that we did fortify the city of
Shem, and we did gather in our people as much as it were possible,
that perhaps we might save them from destruction.
22 And it came to pass in the three hundred and forty
and sixth year they began to come upon us again.
23 And it came to pass that I did speak unto my people,
and did urge them with great energy, that they would stand boldly
before the Lamanites and fight for their wives, and their children,
and their houses, and their homes.
24 And my words did arouse them somewhat to vigor, insomuch that
they did not flee from before the Lamanites, but did stand with
boldness against them.
25 And it came to pass that we did contend with an army
of thirty thousand against an army of fifty thousand. And it came
to pass that we did stand before them with such firmness that they
did flee from before us.
26 And it came to pass that when they had fled we did
pursue them with our armies, and did meet them again, and did beat
them; nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea,
we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not
abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our
brethren.
7 And my heart did sorrow because of this the great calamity of my
people, because of their wickedness and their abominations. But
behold, we did go forth against the Lamanites and the robbers of
Gadianton, until we had again taken possession of the lands of our
inheritance.
28 And the three hundred and forty and ninth year had
passed away. And in the three hundred and fiftieth year we made a
treaty with the Lamanites and the robbers of Gadianton, in which we
did get the lands of our inheritance divided.
29 And the Lamanites did give unto us the land
northward, yea, even to the narrow passage which led into the land
southward. And we did give unto the Lamanites all the land
southward.
3 1 AND it came to pass that the Lamanites did not
come to battle again until ten years more had passed away. And
behold, I had employed my people, the Nephites, in preparing their
lands and their arms against the time of battle.
2 And it came to pass that the Lord did say unto me:
Cry unto this people--Repent ye, and come unto me, and be ye
baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be
spared.
3 And I did cry unto this people, but it was in vain;
and they did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them,
and granted unto them a chance for repentance. And behold they did
harden their hearts against the Lord their God.
4 And it came to pass that after this tenth year had
passed away, making, in the whole, three hundred and sixty years
from the coming of Christ, the king of the Lamanites sent an
epistle unto me, which gave unto me to know that they were
preparing to come again to battle against us.
5 And it came to pass that I did cause my people that
they should gather themselves together at the land Desolation, to a
city which was in the borders, by the narrow pass which led into
the land southward.
6 And there we did place our armies, that we might stop
the armies of the Lamanites, that they might not get possession of
any of our lands; therefore we did fortify against them with all
our force.
7 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and
sixty and first year the Lamanites did come down to the city of
Desolation to battle against us; and it came to pass that in that
year we did beat them, insomuch that they did return to their own
lands again.
8 And in the three hundred and sixty and second year
they did come down again to battle. And we did beat them again, and
did slay a great number of them, and their dead were cast into the
sea.
9 And now, because of this great thing which my people,
the Nephites, had done, they began to boast in their own strength,
and began to swear before the heavens that they would avenge
themselves of the blood of their brethren who had been slain by
their enemies.
10 And they did swear by the heavens, and also by the
throne of God, that they would go up to battle against their
enemies, and would cut them off from the face of the land.
11 And it came to pass that I, Mormon, did utterly
refuse from this time forth to be a commander and a leader of this
people, because of their wickedness and abomination.
12 Behold, I had led them, notwithstanding their
wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them,
according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart;
and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day
long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the
hardness of their hearts.
13 And thrice have I delivered them out of the hands of
their enemies, and they have repented not of their sins.
14 And when they had sworn by all that had been
forbidden them by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that they would
go up unto their enemies to battle, and avenge themselves of the
blood of their brethren, behold the voice of the Lord came unto me,
saying:
15 Vengeance is mine, and I will repay; and because
this people repented not after I had delivered them, behold, they
shall be cut off from the face of the earth.
16 And it came to pass that I utterly refused to go up
against mine enemies; and I did even as the Lord had commanded me;
and I did stand as an idle witness to manifest unto the world the
things which I saw and heard, according to the manifestations of
the Spirit which had testified of things to come.
17 Therefore I write unto you, Gentiles, and also unto
you, house of Israel, when the work shall commence, that ye shall
be about to prepare to return to the land of your
inheritance;
18 Yea, behold, I write unto all the ends of the earth;
yea, unto you, twelve tribes of Israel, who shall be judged
according to your works by the twelve whom Jesus chose to be his
disciples in the land of Jerusalem.
19 And I write also unto the remnant of this people,
who shall also be judged by the twelve whom Jesus chose in this
land; and they shall be judged by the other twelve whom Jesus chose
in the land of Jerusalem.
20 And these things doth the Spirit manifest unto me;
therefore I write unto you all. And for this cause I write unto
you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the
judgment-seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole
human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works,
whether they be good or evil;
21 And also that ye may believe the gospel of Jesus
Christ, which ye shall have among you; and also that the Jews, the
covenant people of the Lord, shall have other witness besides him
whom they saw and heard, that Jesus, whom they slew, was the very
Christ and the very God.
22 And I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the
earth to repent and prepare to stand before the judgment-seat of
Christ.
4 1 AND now it came to pass that in the three hundred
and sixty and third year the Nephites did go up with their armies
to battle against the Lamanites, out of the land Desolation.
2 And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites
were driven back again to the land of Desolation. And while they
were yet weary, a fresh army of the Lamanites did come upon them;
and they had a sore battle, insomuch that the Lamanites did take
possession of the city Desolation, and did slay many of the
Nephites, and did take many prisoners.
3 And the remainder did flee and join the inhabitants
of the city Teancum. Now the city Teancum lay in the borders by the
seashore; and it was also near the city Desolation.
4 And it was because the armies of the Nephites went up
unto the Lamanites that they began to be smitten; for were it not
for that, the Lamanites could have had no power over them.
5 But, behold, the judgments of God will overtake the
wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for
it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men
unto bloodshed.
6 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did make
preparations to come against the city Teancum.
7 And it came to pass in the three hundred and sixty
and fourth year the Lamanites did come against the city Teancum,
that they might take possession of the city Teancum also.
8 And it came to pass that they were repulsed and
driven back by the Nephites. And when the Nephites saw that they
had driven the Lamanites they did again boast of their own
strength; and they went forth in their own might, and took
possession again of the city Desolation.
9 And now all these things had been done, and there had
been thousands slain on both sides, both the Nephites and the
Lamanites.
10 And it came to pass that the three hundred and sixty
and sixth year had passed away, and the Lamanites came again upon
the Nephites to battle; and yet the Nephites repented not of the
evil they had done, but persisted in their wickedness
continually.
11 And it is impossible for the tongue to describe, or
for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the
blood and carnage which was among the people, both of the Nephites
and of the Lamanites; and every heart was hardened, so that they
delighted in the shedding of blood continually.
12 And there never had been so great wickedness among
all the children of Lehi, nor even among all the house of Israel,
according to the words of the Lord, as was among this people.
13 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did take
possession of the city Desolation, and this because their number
did exceed the number of the Nephites.
14 And they did also march forward against the city
Teancum, and did drive the inhabitants forth out of her, and did
take many prisoners both women and children, and did offer them up
as sacrifices unto their idol gods.
15 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and
sixty and seventh year, the Nephites being angry because the
Lamanites had sacrificed their women and their children, that they
did go against the Lamanites with exceedingly great anger, insomuch
that they did beat again the Lamanites, and drive them out of their
lands.
16 And the Lamanites did not come again against the
Nephites until the three hundred and seventy and fifth year.
17 And in this year they did come down against the
Nephites with all their powers; and they were not numbered because
of the greatness of their number.
18 And from this time forth did the Nephites gain no
power over the Lamanites, but began to be swept off by them even as
a dew before the sun.
19 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come down
against the city Desolation; and there was an exceedingly sore
battle fought in the land Desolation, in the which they did beat
the Nephites.
20 And they fled again from before them, and they came
to the city Boaz; and there they did stand against the Lamanites
with exceeding boldness, insomuch that the Lamanites did not beat
them until they had come again the second time.
21 And when they had come the second time, the Nephites
were driven and slaughtered with an exceedingly great slaughter;
their women and their children were again sacrificed unto
idols.
22 And it came to pass that the Nephites did again flee
from before them, taking all the inhabitants with them, both in
towns and villages.
23 And now I, Mormon, seeing that the Lamanites were
about to overthrow the land, therefore I did go to the hill Shim,
and did take up all the records which Ammaron had hid up unto the
Lord.
5 1 AND it came to pass that I did go forth among the
Nephites, and did repent of the oath which I had made that I would
no more assist them; and they gave me command again of their
armies, for they looked upon me as though I could deliver them from
their afflictions.
2 But behold, I was without hope, for I knew the
judgments of the Lord which should come upon them; for they
repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives
without calling upon that Being who created them.
3 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come
against us as we had fled to the city of Jordan; but behold, they
were driven back that they did not take the city at that
time.
4 And it came to pass that they came against us again,
and we did maintain the city. And there were also other cities
which were maintained by the Nephites, which strongholds did cut
them off that they could not get into the country which lay before
us, to destroy the inhabitants of our land.
5 And it came to pass that whatsoever lands we had
passed by, and the inhabitants thereof were not gathered in, were
destroyed by the Lamanites, and their towns, and villages, and
cities were burned with fire; and thus three hundred and seventy
and nine years passed away.
6 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and
eightieth year the Lamanites did come again against us to battle,
and we did stand against them boldly; but it was all in vain, for
so great were their numbers that they did tread the people of the
Nephites under their feet.
7 And it came to pass that we did again take to flight,
and those whose flight was swifter than the Lamanites' did escape,
and those whose flight did not exceed the Lamanites' were swept
down and destroyed.
8 And now behold, I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up
the souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of
blood and carnage as was laid before mine eyes; but I, knowing that
these things must surely be made known, and that all things which
are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops--
9 And also that a knowledge of these things must come
unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who
the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people
should be counted as naught among them--therefore I write a small
abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I
have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and
also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the
wickedness of this people.
10 And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and
also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that
realize and know from whence their blessings come.
11 For I know that such will sorrow for the calamity of
the house of Israel; yea, they will sorrow for the destruction of
this people; they will sorrow that this people had not repented
that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus.
12 Now these things are written unto the remnant of the
house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it
is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto
them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come
forth in his own due time.
13 And this is the commandment which I have received;
and behold, they shall come forth according to the commandment of
the Lord, when he shall see fit, in his wisdom.
14 And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of
the Jews; and for this intent shall they go--that they may be
persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that
the Father may bring about, through his most Beloved, his great and
eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel,
to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath
given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant;
15 And also that the seed of this people may more fully
believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the
Gentiles; for this people shall be scattered, and shall become a
dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of
that which ever hath been amongst us, yea, even that which hath
been among the Lamanites, and this because of their unbelief and
idolatry.
16 For behold, the Spirit of the Lord hath already
ceased to strive with their fathers; and they are without Christ
and God in the world; and they are driven about as chaff before the
wind.
17 They were once a delightsome people, and they had
Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the
Father.
18 But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even
as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about
upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything
wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they.
19 And behold, the Lord hath reserved their blessings,
which they might have received in the land, for the Gentiles who
shall possess the land.
20 But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and
scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and
scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the
covenant which he made unto Abraham and unto all the house of
Israel.
21 And also the Lord will remember the prayers of the
righteous, which have been put up unto him for them.
22 And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the
power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil
ways?
23 Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye
not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth
shall be rolled together as a scroll?
24 Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before
him, lest he shall come out in justice against you--lest a remnant
of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear
you in pieces, and there is none to deliver.
6 1 AND now I finish my record concerning the
destruction of my people, the Nephites. And it came to pass that we
did march forth before the Lamanites.
2 And I, Mormon, wrote an epistle unto the king of the
Lamanites, and desired of him that he would grant unto us that we
might gather together our people unto the land of Cumorah, by a
hill which was called Cumorah, and there we could give them
battle.
3 And it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites
did grant unto me the thing which I desired.
4 And it came to pass that we did march forth to the
land of Cumorah, and we did pitch our tents around about the hill
Cumorah; and it was in a land of many waters, rivers, and
fountains; and here we had hope to gain advantage over the
Lamanites.
5 And when three hundred and eighty and four years had
passed away, we had gathered in all the remainder of our people
unto the land of Cumorah.
6 And it came to pass that when we had gathered in all
our people in one to the land of Cumorah, behold I, Mormon, began
to be old; and knowing it to be the last struggle of my people, and
having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer the
records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were
sacred, to fall into the hands of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites
would destroy them) therefore I made this record out of the plates
of Nephi, and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had
been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these
few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni.
7 And it came to pass that my people, with their wives
and their children, did now behold the armies of the Lamanites
marching towards them; and with that awful fear of death which
fills the breasts of all the wicked, did they await to receive
them.
8 And it came to pass that they came to battle against
us, and every soul was filled with terror because of the greatness
of their numbers.
9 And it came to pass that they did fall upon my people
with the sword, and with the bow, and with the arrow, and with the
ax, and with all manner of weapons of war.
10 And it came to pass that my men were hewn down, yea,
even my ten thousand who were with me, and I fell wounded in the
midst; and they passed by me that they did not put an end to my
life.
11 And when they had gone through and hewn down all my
people save it were twenty and four of us, (among whom was my son
Moroni) and we having survived the dead of our people, did behold
on the morrow, when the Lamanites had returned unto their camps,
from the top of the hill Cumorah, the ten thousand of my people who
were hewn down, being led in the front by me.
12 And we also beheld the ten thousand of my people who
were led by my son Moroni.
13 And behold, the ten thousand of Gidgiddonah had
fallen, and he also in the midst.
14 And Lamah had fallen with his ten thousand; and
Gilgal had fallen with his ten thousand; and Limhah had fallen with
his ten thousand; and Jeneum had fallen with his ten thousand; and
Cumenihah, and Moronihah, and Antionum, and Shiblom, and Shem, and
Josh, had fallen with their ten thousand each.
15 And it came to pass that there were ten more who did
fall by the sword, with their ten thousand each; yea, even all my
people, save it were those twenty and four who were with me, and
also a few who had escaped into the south countries, and a few who
had deserted over unto the Lamanites, had fallen; and their flesh,
and bones, and blood lay upon the face of the earth, being left by
the hands of those who slew them to molder upon the land, and to
crumble and to return to their mother earth.
16 And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the
slain of my people, and I cried:
17 O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the
ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that
Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!
18 Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have
fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss.
19 O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and
mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye
could have fallen!
20 But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring
your return.
21 And the day soon cometh that your mortal must put on
immortality, and these bodies which are now moldering in corruption
must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must stand
before the judgment-seat of Christ to be judged according to your
works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed
with your fathers who have gone before you.
22 O that ye had repented before this great destruction
had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone, and the Father, yea,
the Eternal Father of heaven, knoweth your state; and he doeth with
you according to his justice and mercy.
7 1 AND now, behold, I would speak somewhat unto the
remnant of this people who are spared, if it so be that God may
give unto them my words, that they may know of the things of their
fathers; yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel;
and these are the words which I speak:
2 Know ye that ye are of the house of Israel.
3 Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye
cannot be saved.
4 Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war,
and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not
again, save it be that God shall command you.
5 Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your
fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in
Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by
the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again,
whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him
is the sting of death swallowed up.
6 And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead,
whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat.
7 And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the
world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the
judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God
in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above,
unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which
are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.
8 Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of
Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set
before you, not only in this record but also in the record which
shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come
from the Gentiles unto you.
9 For behold, this is written for the intent that ye
may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also;
and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and
also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God
among them.
10 And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the
seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the
first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are
baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost,
following the example of our Savior, according to that which he
hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of
judgment. Amen.
8 1 BEHOLD I, Moroni, do finish the record of my
father, Mormon. Behold, I have but few things to write, which
things I have been commanded by my father.
2 And now it came to pass that after the great and
tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped
into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they
were all destroyed.
3 And my father also was killed by them, and I even
remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people.
But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my
father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.
4 Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the
earth; and whither I go it mattereth not.
5 Behold, my father hath made this record, and he hath
written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I
had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none, for
I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my
kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long
the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not.
6 Behold, four hundred years have passed away since the
coming of our Lord and Savior.
7 And behold, the Lamanites have hunted my people, the
Nephites, down from city to city and from place to place, even
until they are no more; and great has been their fall; yea, great
and marvelous is the destruction of my people, the Nephites.
8 And behold, it is the hand of the Lord which hath
done it. And behold also, the Lamanites are at war one with
another; and the whole face of this land is one continual round of
murder and bloodshed; and no one knoweth the end of the war.
9 And now, behold, I say no more concerning them, for
there are none save it be the Lamanites and robbers that do exist
upon the face of the land.
10 And there are none that do know the true God save it
be the disciples of Jesus, who did tarry in the land until the
wickedness of the people was so great that the Lord would not
suffer them to remain with the people; and whether they be upon the
face of the land no man knoweth.
11 But behold, my father and I have seen them, and they
have ministered unto us.
12 And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not
condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same
shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and
were it possible, I would make all things known unto you.
13 Behold, I make an end of speaking concerning this
people. I am the son of Mormon, and my father was a descendant of
Nephi.
14 And I am the same who hideth up this record unto the
Lord; the plates thereof are of no worth, because of the
commandment of the Lord. For he truly saith that no one shall have
them to get gain; but the record thereof is of great worth; and
whoso shall bring it to light, him will the Lord bless.
15 For none can have power to bring it to light save it
be given him of God; for God wills that it shall be done with an
eye single to his glory, or the welfare of the ancient and long
dispersed covenant people of the Lord.
16 And blessed be he that shall bring this thing to
light; for it shall be brought out of darkness unto light,
according to the word of God; yea, it shall be brought out of the
earth, and it shall shine forth out of darkness, and come unto the
knowledge of the people; and it shall be done by the power of
God.
17 And if there be faults they be the faults of a man.
But behold, we know no fault; nevertheless God knoweth all things;
therefore, he that condemneth, let him be aware lest he shall be in
danger of hell fire.
18 And he that saith: Show unto me, or ye shall be
smitten--let him beware lest he commandeth that which is forbidden
of the Lord.
19 For behold, the same that judgeth rashly shall be
judged rashly again; for according to his works shall his wages be;
therefore, he that smiteth shall be smitten again, of the
Lord.
20 Behold what the scripture says--man shall not smite,
neither shall he judge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord, and
vengeance is mine also, and I will repay.
21 And he that shall breathe out wrath and strifes
against the work of the Lord, and against the covenant people of
the Lord who are the house of Israel, and shall say: We will
destroy the work of the Lord, and the Lord will not remember his
covenant which he hath made unto the house of Israel--the same is
in danger to be hewn down and cast into the fire;
22 For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on,
until all his promises shall be fulfilled.
23 Search the prophecies of Isaiah. Behold, I cannot
write them. Yea, behold I say unto you, that those saints who have
gone before me, who have possessed this land, shall cry, yea, even
from the dust will they cry unto the Lord; and as the Lord liveth
he will remember the covenant which he hath made with them.
24 And he knoweth their prayers, that they were in
behalf of their brethren. And he knoweth their faith, for in his
name could they remove mountains; and in his name could they cause
the earth to shake; and by the power of his word did they cause
prisons to tumble to the earth; yea, even the fiery furnace could
not harm them, neither wild beasts nor poisonous serpents, because
of the power of his word.
25 And behold, their prayers were also in behalf of him
that the Lord should suffer to bring these things forth.
26 And no one need say they shall not come, for they
surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for out of the earth
shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it; and
it shall come in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done
away; and it shall come even as if one should speak from the
dead.
27 And it shall come in a day when the blood of saints
shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the
works of darkness.
28 Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God
shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in
the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of
churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even
to the envying of them who belong to their churches.
29 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be
heard of fires, and tempests, and vapors of smoke in foreign
lands;
30 And there shall also be heard of wars, rumors of
wars, and earthquakes in divers places.
31 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be
great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be
murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and
all manner of abominations; when there shall be many who will say,
Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold
such at the last day. But wo unto such, for they are in the gall of
bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity.
32 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be
churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money
you shall be forgiven of your sins.
33 O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why
have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye
transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation
upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for
behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be
fulfilled.
34 Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and
marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that
day when these things shall come forth among you.
35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and
yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me,
and I know your doing.
36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your
hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift
themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of
very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and
persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea,
even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your
hearts.
37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance,
and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than
ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.
38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who
sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted
the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the
name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an
endless happiness than that misery which never dies--because of the
praise of the world?
39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no
life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and
the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them
not?
40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to
get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and
also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their
fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground,
for vengeance upon your heads?
41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and
the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon
you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.
9 1 AND now, I speak also concerning those who do not
believe in Christ.
2 Behold, will ye believe in the day of your
visitation--behold, when the Lord shall come, yea, even that great
day when the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat, yea, in that great day when
ye shall be brought to stand before the Lamb of God--then will ye
say that there is no God?
3 Then will ye longer deny the Christ, or can ye behold
the Lamb of God? Do ye suppose that ye shall dwell with him under a
consciousness of your guilt? Do ye suppose that ye could be happy
to dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are racked with a
consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his laws?
4 Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more
miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness
of your filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the
damned souls in hell.
5 For behold, when ye shall be brought to see your
nakedness before God, and also the glory of God, and the holiness
of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon
you.
6 O then ye unbelieving, turn ye unto the Lord; cry
mightily unto the Father in the name of Jesus, that perhaps ye may
be found spotless, pure, fair, and white, having been cleansed by
the blood of the Lamb, at that great and last day.
7 And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations
of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no
revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking
with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues;
8 Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things
knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the
scriptures; if so, he does not understand them.
9 For do we not read that God is the same yesterday,
today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither
shadow of changing?
10 And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a
god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then
have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of
miracles.
11 But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles,
even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the
earth, and all things that in them are.
12 Behold, he created Adam, and by Adam came the fall
of man. And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, even the
Father and the Son; and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption
of man.
13 And because of the redemption of man, which came by
Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord;
yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of
Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a
redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be
awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound; and they
shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before
his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death,
which death is a temporal death.
4 And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then
cometh the time that he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and
he that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is happy
shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy
still.
15 And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto
yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have
all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come
yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God
of miracles.
16 Behold, are not the things that God hath wrought
marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous
works of God?
17 Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his
word the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his
word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of
his word have miracles been wrought?
18 And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many
mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the
hands of the apostles.
19 And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God
ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being?
And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to
be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of
miracles.
20 And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among
the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and
depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should
trust.
21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in
Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the
name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto
all, even unto the ends of the earth.
22 For behold, thus said Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
unto his disciples who should tarry, yea, and also to all his
disciples, in the hearing of the multitude: Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature;
23 And he that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned;
24 And these signs shall follow them that believe--in
my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new
tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly
thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and
they shall recover;
25 And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting
nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends
of the earth.
26 And now, behold, who can stand against the works of
the Lord? Who can deny his sayings? Who will rise up against the
almighty power of the Lord? Who will despise the works of the Lord?
Who will despise the children of Christ? Behold, all ye who are
despisers of the works of the Lord, for ye shall wonder and
perish.
27 O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto
the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for
what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be
believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord
with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling before him.
28 Be wise in the days of your probation; strip
yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on
your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to
no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living
God.
29 See that ye are not baptized unworthily; see that ye
partake not of the sacrament of Christ unworthily; but see that ye
do all things in worthiness, and do it in the name of Jesus Christ,
the Son of the living God; and if ye do this, and endure to the
end, ye will in nowise be cast out.
30 Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the
dead; for I know that ye shall have my words.
31 Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither
my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have
written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath
made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be
more wise than we have been.
32 And now, behold, we have written this record
according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called
among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by
us, according to our manner of speech.
33 And if our plates had been sufficiently large we
should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by
us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would
have had no imperfection in our record.
34 But the Lord knoweth the things which we have
written, and also that none other people knoweth our language; and
because that none other people knoweth our language, therefore he
hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof.
35 And these things are written that we may rid our
garments of the blood of our brethren, who have dwindled in
unbelief.
36 And behold, these things which we have desired
concerning our brethren, yea, even their restoration to the
knowledge of Christ, are according to the prayers of all the saints
who have dwelt in the land.
37 And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their
prayers may be answered according to their faith; and may God the
Father remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of
Israel; and may he bless them forever, through faith on the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ether
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.
THE BOOK OF MORONI
1 1 NOW I, Moroni, after having made an end of
abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to
have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not
myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me.
2 For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among
themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every
Nephite that will not deny the Christ.
3 And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I
wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.
4 Wherefore, I write a few more things, contrary to
that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written
any more; but I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be
of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day,
according to the will of the Lord.
2 1 THE words of Christ, which he spake unto his
disciples, the twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands upon
them-
2 And he called them by name, saying: Ye shall call on the Father
in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall
have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, ye shall
give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do
mine apostles.
3 Now Christ spake these words unto them at the time of
his first appearing; and the multitude heard it not, but the
disciples heard it; and on as many as they laid their hands, fell
the Holy Ghost.
3 1 THE manner which the disciples, who were called the
elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers--
2 After they had prayed unto the Father in the name of
Christ, they laid their hands upon them, and said:
3 In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a
priest, (or, if he be a teacher) I ordain you to be a teacher, to
preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by
the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen.
4 And after this manner did they ordain priests and
teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and
they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in
them.
4 1 THE manner of their elders and priests
administering the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church; and
they administered it according to the commandments of Christ;
wherefore we know the manner to be true; and the elder or priest
did minister it--
2 And they did kneel down with the church, and pray to
the Father in the name of Christ, saying:
3 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of
thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the
souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in
remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God,
the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the
name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments
which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to
be with them. Amen.
5 1 THE manner of administering the wine--Behold, they
took the cup, and said:
2 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name
of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the
souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in
remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that
they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do
always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them.
Amen.
6 1 AND now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders,
priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized
save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of
it.
2 Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they
came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed
unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.
3 And none were received unto baptism save they took
upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him
to the end.
4 And after they had been received unto baptism, and
were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they
were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their
names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by
the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them
continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of
Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.
5 And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to
pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their
souls.
6 And they did meet together oft to partake of bread
and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.
7 And they were strict to observe that there should be
no iniquity among them; and whoso was found to commit iniquity, and
three witnesses of the church did condemn them before the elders,
and if they repented not, and confessed not, their names were
blotted out, and they were not numbered among the people of
Christ.
8 But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness,
with real intent, they were forgiven.
9 And their meetings were conducted by the church after
the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the
Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to
preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing,
even so it was done.
7 1 AND now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my
father Mormon, which he spake concerning faith, hope, and charity;
for after this manner did he speak unto the people, as he taught
them in the synagogue which they had built for the place of
worship.
2 And now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved
brethren; and it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord
Jesus Christ, and his holy will, because of the gift of his calling
unto me, that I am permitted to speak unto you at this time.
3 Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the
church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have
obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of
the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in
heaven.
4 And now my brethren, I judge these things of you
because of your peaceable walk with the children of men.
5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their
works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are
good also.
6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do
that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God,
except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him
nothing.
7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for
righteousness.
8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he
doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as
if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before
God.
9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if
he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it
profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
10 Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is
good; neither will he give a good gift.
11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth
good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water;
wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ;
and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.
12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God;
and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an
enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth
and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil
continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and
enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which
inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve
him, is inspired of God.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye
do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good
and of God to be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to
judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as
plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight
is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every
man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you
the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to
persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift
of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of
God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and
believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may
know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this
manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good,
no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject
themselves unto him.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light
by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that
ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye
judge ye shall also be judged.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye
should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know
good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and
condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can
lay hold upon every good thing?
21 And now I come to that faith, of which I said I
would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on
every good thing.
22 For behold, God knowing all things, being from
everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto
the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of
Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing.
23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own
mouth, that Christ should come.
24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did
manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all
things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen,
and there could no good thing come unto them.
25 Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by
every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began
to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold
upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of
Christ.
26 And after that he came men also were saved by faith
in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as
surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers,
saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which
is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall
be done unto you.
27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased
because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the
right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which
he hath upon the children of men?
28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he
claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith
in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth
the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the
heavens.
29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren,
have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have
angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.
30 For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister
according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them
of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.
31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto
repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of
the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare
the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ
unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony
of him.
32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that
the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost
may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and
after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which
he hath made unto the children of men.
33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye
shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
34 And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth,
and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me,
that ye may be saved.
35 And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case
that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God
will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day,
that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles
ceased?
36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of
men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or
will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or
there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that
miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and
minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be
unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is
vain.
38 For no man can be saved, according to the words of
Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these
things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the
state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption
made.
39 But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better
things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of
your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit
to be numbered among the people of his church.
40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto
you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save
ye shall have hope?
41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say
unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ
and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal,
and this because of your faith in him according to the
promise.
42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have
hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.
43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have
faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is
acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a
man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the
Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity;
for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs
have charity.
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth
not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but
rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not
charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore,
cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things
must fail--
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it
endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last
day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father
with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love,
which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son,
Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he
shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is;
that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is
pure. Amen.
8 1 AN epistle of my father Mormon, written to me,
Moroni; and it was written unto me soon after my calling to the
ministry. And on this wise did he write unto me, saying:
2 My beloved son, Moroni, I rejoice exceedingly that
your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called
you to his ministry, and to his holy work.
3 I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually
praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus,
that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you
through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.
4 And now, my son, I speak unto you concerning that
which grieveth me exceedingly; for it grieveth me that there should
disputations rise among you.
5 For, if I have learned the truth, there have been
disputations among you concerning the baptism of your little
children.
6 And now, my son, I desire that ye should labor
diligently, that this gross error should be removed from among you;
for, for this intent I have written this epistle.
7 For immediately after I had learned these things of
you I inquired of the Lord concerning the matter. And the word of
the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying:
8 Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your
Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the
righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician,
but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for
they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam
is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the
law of circumcision is done away in me.
9 And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the
word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is
solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little
children.
10 Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye
teach--repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and
capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent
and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children,
and they shall all be saved with their little children.
11 And their little children need no repentance,
neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the
fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
12 But little children are alive in Christ, even from
the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and
also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many
little children have died without baptism!
13 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved
without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.
14 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that
little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in
the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor
charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he
must go down to hell.
15 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God
saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish
because he hath no baptism.
16 Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the
Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent.
Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I
fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all
fear.
17 And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting
love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love
little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and
partakers of salvation.
18 For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a
changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all
eternity.
19 Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is
awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for
they are all alive in him because of his mercy.
20 And he that saith that little children need baptism
denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement
of him and the power of his redemption.
21 Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell,
and an endless torment. I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me.
Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the
judgment-seat of Christ.
22 For behold that all little children are alive in
Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power
of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he
that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot
repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing--
23 But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of
Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead
works.
24 Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for
repentance is unto them that are under condemnation and under the
curse of a broken law.
25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and
baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and
the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;
26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and
lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart
cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth
with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto
prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell
with God.
27 Behold, my son, I will write unto you again if I go
not out soon against the Lamanites. Behold, the pride of this
nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their
destruction except they should repent.
28 Pray for them, my son, that repentance may come unto
them. But behold, I fear lest the Spirit hath ceased striving with
them; and in this part of the land they are also seeking to put
down all power and authority which cometh from God; and they are
denying the Holy Ghost.
29 And after rejecting so great a knowledge, my son,
they must perish soon, unto the fulfilling of the prophecies which
were spoken by the prophets, as well as the words of our Savior
himself.
30 Farewell, my son, until I shall write unto you, or
shall meet you again. Amen.
9 1 MY beloved son, I write unto you again that ye may
know that I am yet alive; but I write somewhat of that which is
grievous.
2 For behold, I have had a sore battle with the
Lamanites, in which we did not conquer; and Archeantus has fallen
by the sword, and also Luram and Emron; yea, and we have lost a
great number of our choice men.
3 And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites
shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and Satan
stirreth them up continually to anger one with another.
4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when
I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger
against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts
against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath
ceased striving with them.
5 For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me
that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one
towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge
continually.
6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their
hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor,
we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to
perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the
enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of
God.
7 And now I write somewhat concerning the sufferings of
this people. For according to the knowledge which I have received
from Amoron, behold, the Lamanites have many prisoners, which they
took from the tower of Sherrizah; and there were men, women, and
children.
8 And the husbands and fathers of those women and
children they have slain; and they feed the women upon the flesh of
their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers;
and no water, save a little, do they give unto them.
9 And notwithstanding this great abomination of the
Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For
behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken
prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and
precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue--
10 And after they had done this thing, they did murder
them in a most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto
death; and after they have done this, they devour their flesh like
unto wild beasts, because of the hardness of their hearts; and they
do it for a token of bravery.
11 O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that
are without civilization--
12 (And only a few years have passed away, and they
were a civil and a delightsome people)
13 But O my son, how can a people like this, whose
delight is in so much abomination--
14 How can we expect that God will stay his hand in
judgment against us?
15 Behold, my heart cries: Wo unto this people. Come
out in judgment, O God, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and
abominations from before thy face!
16 And again, my son, there are many widows and their
daughters who remain in Sherrizah; and that part of the provisions
which the Lamanites did not carry away, behold, the army of Zenephi
has carried away, and left them to wander whithersoever they can
for food; and many old women do faint by the way and die.
17 And the army which is with me is weak; and the
armies of the Lamanites are betwixt Sherrizah and me; and as many
as have fled to the army of Aaron have fallen victims to their
awful brutality.
18 O the depravity of my people! They are without order
and without mercy. Behold, I am but a man, and I have but the
strength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my
commands.
19 And they have become strong in their perversion; and
they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young; and
they delight in everything save that which is good; and the
suffering of our women and our children upon all the face of this
land doth exceed everything; yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can
it be written.
20 And now, my son, I dwell no longer upon this
horrible scene. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people;
thou knowest that they are without principle, and past feeling; and
their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites.
21 Behold, my son, I cannot recommend them unto God
lest he should smite me.
22 But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God, and I
trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved; and I pray unto God that
he will spare thy life, to witness the return of his people unto
him, or their utter destruction; for I know that they must perish
except they repent and return unto him.
23 And if they perish it will be like unto the
Jaredites, because of the wilfulness of their hearts, seeking for
blood and revenge.
24 And if it so be that they perish, we know that many
of our brethren have deserted over unto the Lamanites, and many
more will also desert over unto them; wherefore, write somewhat a
few things, if thou art spared and I shall perish and not see thee;
but I trust that I may see thee soon; for I have sacred records
that I would deliver up unto thee.
25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the
things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto
death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and
death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and
long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest
in your mind forever.
26 And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is
high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the
right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto
him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.
10 1 NOW I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good;
and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; and I would that they
should know that more than four hundred and twenty years have
passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ.
2 And I seal up these records, after I have spoken a
few words by way of exhortation unto you.
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read
these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that
ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children
of men, from the creation of Adam even down unto the time that ye
shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would
exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name
of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a
sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will
manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy
Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the
truth of all things.
6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true;
wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but
acknowledgeth that he is.
7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy
Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of
God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the
children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.
8 And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny
not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the
same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are
administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and
they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men,
to profit them.
9 For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God,
that he may teach the word of wisdom;
10 And to another, that he may teach the word of
knowledge by the same Spirit;
11 And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to
another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
12 And again, to another, that he may work mighty
miracles;
13 And again, to another, that he may prophesy
concerning all things;
14 And again, to another, the beholding of angels and
ministering spirits;
15 And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;
16 And again, to another, the interpretation of
languages and of divers kinds of tongues.
17 And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ;
and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.
18 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye
remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.
19 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye
remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and
that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual,
never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand,
only according to the unbelief of the children of men.
20 Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be
faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must
also be charity.
21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved
in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of
God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope.
22 And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair;
and despair cometh because of iniquity.
23 And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have
faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.
24 And now I speak unto all the ends of the earth--that
if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done
away among you, it shall be because of unbelief.
25 And wo be unto the children of men if this be the
case; for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not
one. For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work
by the power and gifts of God.
26 And wo unto them who shall do these things away and die, for
they die in their sins, and they cannot be saved in the kingdom of
God; and I speak it according to the words of Christ; and I lie
not.
27 And I exhort you to remember these things; for the
time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye
shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you:
Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this
man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking
out of the dust?
28 I declare these things unto the fulfilling of the
prophecies. And behold, they shall proceed forth out of the mouth
of the everlasting God; and his word shall hiss forth from
generation to generation.
29 And God shall show unto you, that that which I have
written is true.
30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto
Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil
gift, nor the unclean thing.
31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem;
yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and
strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou
mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal
Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be
fulfilled.
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny
yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of
all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and
strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace
ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are
perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and
deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace
of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in
the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye
become holy, without spot.
34 And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the
paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and
I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before
the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both
quick and dead. Amen.