| 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. |
|
| 12:2 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. |
|
| 12:3 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-- |
|
| 12:4 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, 1maketh
an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure
and steadfast, always 2abounding in good works, being led to glorify
God. |
[1] Hebrews 6:19: ...we have as an anchor of the
soul, both sure and stedfast...
[2] II Corinthians 9:8:
...that ye...may abound to every good work... |
| 12:5 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. |
|
| 12:6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat
concerning these things; I would show unto the world that
1faith 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. |
[1] Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Compare the remainder of this passage with
Hebrews 11. It is evident that Smith was inspired by the
Hebrews ‘Hall of Faith’.)
|
| 12:7 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. |
|
| 12:8 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 1partakers
of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those
things which they have not seen. |
[1] Hebrews 6:4: ...and have tasted of the
heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy
Ghost... |
| 12:9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be
partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith. |
|
| 12:10 Behold it was by faith that they of old were
called after the holy order of God. |
|
| 12:11 Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given.
But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a 1more
excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been
fulfilled. |
[1] I Corinthians 12:31: ...and yet show I unto
you a more excellent way. |
| 12:12 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. |
|
| 12:13 Behold, it was the 1faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison
to tumble to the earth. |
[1] Hebrews 11:30: By faith the walls of Jericho
fell down... |
| 12:14 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. |
|
| 12:15 Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his
brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the
Lamanites. |
|
| 12:16 Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles
wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ
and also those who were after. |
|
| 12:17 And it was by faith that the three disciples
obtained a promise that they should 1not taste of death; and they obtained not the
promise until after their faith. |
[1] Hebrews 11:5: By faith Enoch was translated
that he should not see death... |
| 12:18 And neither at any time hath any wrought
miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first
believed in the Son of God. |
|
| 12:19 And there were many whose faith was so
exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could
not be kept from 1within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes
the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith,
and they were glad. |
[1] Hebrews 6:19: ...which entereth into that
within the veil... |
| 12:20 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. |
|
| 12:21 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. |
|
| 12:22 And it is 1by 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. |
[1] Hebrews 11:33: Who through faith...obtained
promises... |
| 12:23 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; |
|
| 12:24 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. |
|
| 12:25 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. |
|
| 12:26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto
me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my 1grace
is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no
advantage of your weakness; |
[1] II Corinthians 12:9: ...My grace is sufficient
for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. |
| 12:27 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. |
|
| 12:28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their
weakness and I will show unto them that 1faith,
hope and charity bringeth unto me--the fountain of all
righteousness. |
[1] I Corinthians 13:13: And now abideth faith,
hope, charity, these three... |
| 12:29 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; |
|
| 12:30 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. |
|
| 12:31 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. |
|
| 12:32 And I also remember that thou hast said that
thou hast 1prepared 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. |
[1] John 14:2: In my Father's house are many
mansions... I go to prepare a place for you. |
| 12:33 And again, I remember that thou hast said that
thou hast loved the world, even unto the 1laying
down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take
it again to prepare a place for the children of men. |
[1] John 10:17: ...I lay down my life, that I
might take it again. |
| 12:34 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 1prepared
in the mansions of thy Father. |
[1] John 14:2: In my Father's house are many
mansions... I go to prepare a place for you. |
| 12:35 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 1take
away their talent, yea, even that which they have
received, and give unto them who shall have more
abundantly. |
[1] Matthew 25:28-29: Take therefore the talent
from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall
have abundance... |
| 12:36 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord
that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they
might have charity. |
|
| 12:37 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 1I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. |
[1] John 14:2: In my Father's house are many
mansions... I go to prepare a place for you. |
| 12:38 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. |
|
| 12:39 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; |
|
| 12:40 And only a few have I written, because of my
weakness in writing. |
|
| 12:41 And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus
of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the 1grace
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. |
[1] II Corinthians 13:14: The grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of
the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. |
